Granny Takes a Trip: High Fashion and High Times at the Wildest Rock ’N’ Roll Boutique

In this colorful chronicle, music journalist Gorman (The Story of the Face) traces the eponymous boutique’s rise from quirky, two-room London shop to psychedelia-inflected outfitter of some of rock’s biggest names. The store was founded in 1966 by scenesters Sheila Cohen, a sometimes–film extra who sold secondhand clothing in bazaars; her boyfriend Nigel Waymouth; and John Pearse, a tailor who made bespoke clothing for his stylish friends (the name was picked out by Waymouth, who commented that “we were going to be selling... ‘granny clothes,’ and everyone was talking about tripping, so we thought it was a funny joke”). Granny first sold down its secondhand stock, before introducing flared trousers and floral-patterned fitted jackets. It then joined the ranks of several other “acid-infused” stores, among them Dandie Fashions, whose co-owner Freddy Hornick bought out Granny in 1969 and opened additional stores in Los Angeles and New York (all had closed by 1980). Drawing on interviews with key players (including two of the store’s founders) and Freddy Hornick’s writings, Gorman contrasts Granny’s style philosophy—which focused on tailoring and bespoke clothing—with the concurrent rise of fast fashion, while vividly depicting the “countercultural” appeal that made it a favorite of musicians at the time. Fashion lovers of any generation would do well to pick this up. (Sept.)