Avenging Style

I am so excited, because my cousin Erin just told me the most fabulous family story! If you are familiar with the popular 60s British spy-core TV series The Avengers, then you know the character of Emma Peel (played by Diana Rigg) and her amazing leather catsuit. Even if you don't know the name or the actress, these images are probably familiar to you, as they have become iconic in popular culture. Come to find out that Erin's mom Mary (who is, properly speaking, my mom's first cousin) was actually the brains behind this signature piece!

 

Here is the lowdown, in Erin's own words:

"The story is that the BBC - which really doesn't have a huge budget, it relies on TV license money for it's production budget, it doesn't show ads, in other words - wanted fresh ideas for the Emma Peel character and my Mum was in design school in London. She made a few things, one of which was a leather catsuit and they loved it. She also made the yellow tracksuit. She was basically paid for her designs (I think it was about 100 pounds, which was a decent amount of money) and then Rigg mostly looked after her own costumes. She just did the designs and made the original items and attended some fittings (obviously). I have the boots that were used for the fittings and rehearsals."

Um, hello, cousin, you have Emma Peel's freaking boots?!?!?!?

The Wikipedia, naturally, makes no mention of the little design school girl with Big Ideas, and instead gives all the credit to the major designers who were involved later on. But that is history, written by the victors-- as usual! Well, consider this a major addendum, Wikipedia, cause I am giving credit where credit is due!

Erin, incidentally, is the spitting image of Diana Rigg. You see what I mean?

 

Before Maggie Gyllenhaal came along, she used to get the Diana Rigg comparisons all the time. By the way, I have to brag about my cousin a little-- not only is she darn cute, but she lives in Los Angeles and is a screenwriter. She is my big glamorous heroine. Look for her name in lights soon!

Comments

[Erin]

How fab! Mum was never bitter about it - I think the true mark of an artist, which she absolutely was and still is, is that she was quite happy just knowing that she'd been a part of it. But she'll be delighted that her cousin, who is following in her fashion-footsteps, wrote a beautiful piece about her contribution.

Now, if only I can create something that will have even a smidge of the life-span that Emma Peel's costume has had! Those are big, knee-length boots to fill. But, Sasha love, we can't help but get even more and more fabulous-er, it's in our genes. :-)

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