PRESTON & YORK LADIES (2) PIECE LUXURY LEATHER VEST/DRESS SET (VINTAGE)

PRESTON & YORK LADIES (2) PIECE LUXURY LEATHER VEST/DRESS SET (VINTAGE) GENUINE LEATHER VEST (FULLY LINED) MAXI GENUINE LEATHER SPLIT DRESS (FULLY LINED) Maxfield Parrish was a British fashion brand founded by Nigel Preston in the early 1970s. With an international reputation – especially for its work in leathers – it was selected as part of the Dress of the Year in 1982. The brand was named after the American artist and illustrator Maxfield Parrish, who was admired by founder Nigel Preston. Preston, who had trained in art and then dabbled in the music industry – once supporting Hawkwind at a gig in Hampstead – began with a stall on Portobello Road selling women's tops made of chamois leather. He was self-taught and had made clothes for many years, learning pattern making by deconstructing clothes. Originally the store focused on what Preston's obituary described as men's clothes "of dandyesque theatricality". He was soon attracting pop stars of both sexes and his clothes were worn by, among others, Suzi Quatro. Another fan was Julie Andrews who, it was reported, would only buy her leather trousers from Maxfield Parrish. In the early days, the business was underfunded and Preston lived out of a suitcase; he received financial support from David Ford, who was his business partner. Move into high fashion The label very quickly found an audience – thanks in part to a huge revival of interest in wearing suede and leather at the start of the 1980s.