Vintage magazine collector, Jo Claire Dodson, at Laurel Park on an art class outing with her students..
photography, theatre... all genres were experimenting with new concepts and it all flowed right to the runway. There was Plastic Age sculpture in the galleries, on the runways and featured in fashion magazines. Fashion suddenly got very colorful and fresh. Mini skirts, scarves, sparkles, abstract designs,
flowing fabrics, knee high boots, oh my goodness, how exciting it was to pick up a fashion magazine! My dad worked in downtown Little Rock and there was one international maga- zine stand there. He would bring home the latest issues of the London Times and magazines from around the world so my exposure to the latest trends came from those sources as well as the American publishing industry.
What do you feel is the main differences in magazines from the 1960's and 1970's eras and today's magazines like Vogue or Elle?
The main difference I see in maga- zines today is in the quality and cost of goods. When I was a teen, clothing was well-made and affordable. There was a shop in Little Rock called The Village where you could find clothing straight out of Seventeen and Glamour maga-zines. The cost of a dress or shirt was within reach of the average family. These were quality fabrics
with top of the line brand names for youth such as Lady Bug, The Villager, Pied Piper, Evan Picone, Jr. Petites, Bass and Nina shoes...to name a few. When I look at maga- zines now and see that a pair of designer shoes start at three hundred dollars or a shirt or jacket is priced in the thousands, I feel sorry for young people today. I wonder how they can aspire to
such a dream of owning anything quality made by a designer for an affordable price. I still have clothes from The Village, The Horse and Gus Blass Store from downtown Little Rock that are in excellent condition. Not one lose thread! My sister and I wore this clothing on a
69