As you know by now, I am obsessed with the bygone era of the Swinging 60’s – the fashion and the style!! So it should come as no surprise that one of my all time favorite models and style icon is the quintessential 60’s British “It Girl,” Jean Shrimpton, aka “The Shrimp,” as she is known in the fashion and modeling world.
Jean Shrimpton, the original Supermodel
Jean began her modeling career in 1960, at the age of 17, after she graduated from London’s famed Lucie Clayton Modeling School. Soon after she was getting noticed for her pouty lips, big blue eyes and gamine features. At 5 feet and 9 1/2 inches (which was rather tall for a model at that time) and with super long legs and a gangly frame, she was quickly dubbed “The Shrimp.”
"The Shrimp's" long legs
Britain's Quintessential "It Girl"
Models at that time usually had to do their own hair and make-up, completely different than how things are today. They also dressed themselves as there were no stylists. The models nowadays have a whole team working on them – from head to toe. Jean’s distinctive look with her bangs, big eyes, frosted pink lips and penchant for mini-skirts contributed to her iconic look, which made her an international sensation and one of the first supermodels.
Ready for her close up
She was also a true chameleon, much like Linda Evangelista, Jean could easily transform in photos from a young ingenue to the consummate sophisticate, donning the most exquisite couture.
Jean as the "Ingenue" a la Audrey Hepburn
And Jean as the ultimate lady and sophisticate…
Jean photographed at the height of fashion
She could easily transform for the camera from the downtown Chelsea girl to the cover of Vogue. To me, that is what makes her look so appealing and enduring…
Jean in an editorial layout
All done up...
Jean’s career really took off when she met famed photographer and ladies man, David Bailey in 1960. She became his muse when they started dating on the set of a photo shoot and eventually became engaged, before ending their relationship in 1964.
Bailey directing Jean on set
In fact, many of the photos in this post of Jean were taken by Bailey. His book, which consists of photos he took from the 60’s, is truly remarkable and full of some of the most iconic fashion images ever captured, in my humble opinion.
On the beach
Jean also briefly dated the British actor Terence Stamp after she and Bailey ended their romance. They made quite the good looking pair.
Terence Stamp and Jean Shrimpton out on the town
Love this picture of Stamp and the Shrimp
Jean eventually retired from modeling in 1974, got married and had a baby. She now owns a small hotel named the Abbey Hotel with her husband in England. I would love to stay there some day just to meet the women behind the face.
I have so many beautiful photos of Shrimpton that I could share with you readers, but this entry would never end. I have been stockpiling them for years, starting at age 13, when I first discovered Jean while talking to my mom. She was my mother’s favorite model growing up as a girl in the 60’s/70’s and now she is mine. My mother always referenced the ad that Jean was in (and the one she remembers the most). It was for the lipstick that she wore, a pink frost lipstick dubbed “slickers” by Yardleys of London and Jean was the model in the ad. Some things never change…
Jean in the Yardleys Ad for my Mom's lipstick growing up
A few parting shots of one of the best, Jean Shrimpton…
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I could go on forever with the photos of “The Shrimp”, but it’s time to sign off…enjoy your day.
Until next time Covet Shop readers….
xoxo
BPT
Tags: 60's model, Jean Shrimpton, The Shrimp
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