Monday, June 10, 2013

Classic Endorsement: Jean Shrimpton in 1967 for Lambretta Scooters

Lambretta Scooter 1967 and Jean Shrimpton

(Originally published for Vintage Fashion at The Examiner.)

Italian motor scooters Lambretta (by Innocenti) were a popular alternative to the Vespa, also Italian, in the 1950s and 1960s. The ideas and principles that guided what the Lambretta would become were originally conceived in the pre-WWII era.
Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Gennaio/Febbraio|January/February
The scooter was designed by Corradino D'Ascanio, who was hired by Innocenti to create a motorbike that could appeal to both men and women. D'Ascanio's solution was a vehicle with a 'pass-through leg area design' to allow women wearing dresses or skirts to ride.
Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Marzo/Aprile|March/April
By 1967, Lambretta hired Jean Shrimpton to pose for their calendar to memorable effect. Jean Shrimpton was known for her beautifully balanced features, her great poise, and for being the premiere representative of Swinging London and mod fashion.
Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Maggio/Giugno|May/June
Shrimpton was the right model to globally endorse the Lambretta as a sleek vehicle of choice for the youth and mod culture of 1967. Shrimpton's stature in the fashion world drew attention to the elegance and design of the Lambretta.
Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Luglio/Agosto|July/August
The Shrimp, as she had been monikered, was styled in miniskirts and colorful ensembles for the Lambretta calendar. She posed next to each scooter as if she and the scooter were modeling together. Again, this pointed to the beauty of the Lambretta itself. Shrimpton's beauty and relaxed poses were well in synch with the elements of fun, freedom, and functionality inherent in the use of motor scooters as a mode of transport.  
Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Settembre/Ottobre|September/October
Despite countless fashion shoots and magazine covers, the images of Jean Shrimpton posing with Lambretta scooters for their 1967 calendar remain some of her most iconic.
Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Novembre/Decembre|November/December

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