Are you looking for something for the weekend, sir? How about a little bit of Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor?

Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor are a USA based four piece band who succinctly describe themselves as 'Detroit Psych', (Detroit, Michigan being there home town). They’ve shared the stage with The Black Angels, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Dead Meadow, and Acid Mothers Temple; joined the elite ranks of psych bands at Austin’s Psych Fest for the second time in 2014; toured with Holydrug Couple, Loop, The Warlocks, and The Telescopes, and played SXSW and CBGB Music & Film Festival.

Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor write and perform moody electrifying psych rock, recorded in their aptly named Space Camp Studios. Sean Morrow (guitar, vocals), Eric Oppitz (bass, organ) and Rick Sawoscinski (drums, percussion) are unified in their pursuit of SOYSV’s vision. Wayne Woodward adds stunning visuals to the band’s live set - anyone who has experienced a Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor performance has felt the power of the swirling, ever-changing images he shapes. “It’s critical that the live visuals, artwork, and music all work in equilibrium to achieve the specific aesthetic we’re after” says front-man Sean Morrow of the look, sound and feel of his band.

Their new full length album, Desert Brain not only brings this aesthetic to life, but brings to fruition years spent planning the ultimate immersive listening experience. The band are also offering a free download from their bandcamp site - so that's a must. You can also purchase the CD or vinyl copy of the album there. The album, in keeping with Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor’s tradition of covering all aesthetic bases, is released on clear and splattered blue vinyl.

“I think we were a bit scared to make it,” says Oppitz. “It took us much longer than a typical record of a collection of songs would have taken us.  Not only did we have to write the songs, but we had to compose the transitions between them and then think about how each song fit into the overall concept of the entire record.”




See Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor live: 

Catch SOYSV on their European tour this summer - check their site for info: -http://www.sistersofyoursunshinevapor.com/tour-date/

Get Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor's music:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/41SQ9t6vaYksDYn0VHojpl
Bandcamp: sistersofyoursunshinevapor.bandcamp.com
Free download of the new album at Bandcamp! 

Find Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor online: 

Website: http://www.sistersofyoursunshinevapor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOYSV
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sistersofyoursunshinevapor

Cool retro looks and vintage style is hot this summer, with bold prints, fresh colours and classic iconic sunglasses that are never out of fashion. Here's our quick guide to bagging the retro look this summer:

Outfit #1: Chilled




Outfit #3: Swagger


A classic retro summer ensemble - nifty graphic tee, chino shorts, a straw trilby and retro 80s inspired deck shoes, all topped off with a rock and roll pair of Aviator sunglasses. Simple, stylish, easy to wear and effortlessly cool.

1. Pretty Green CND Peace Print Tee, £34.99
2. Dasmarca Adrian Straw Trilby Hat, £44.99
3. Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses in Gold/Green, £124.99
4. Luke 1977 Frigate Deck Shoes, £74.99
5. Pepe Jeans McQueen Chino Shorts, £44.99

(Note: Prices correct at time of publication. May be subject to change)


Further Reading: 

• Ray-Ban Icons Sunglasses: The Aviator
• Ray-Ban Icons Sunglasses: The Wayfarer
• Ray-Ban Icons Sunglasses: The Clubmaster
• New Saddle Shoes from GH Bass for Summer 2016

John Stephen, The King of Carnaby Street (b. 28/08/1932 d. 01/02/2004)

(This article was originally published on Atom Retro's Mod Clothing Chronicles)

This is the in place to be!

A figurehead of British fashion, a lost icon rediscovered and perhaps previously overshadowed by his contemporaries. The name John Stephen, the legacy Carnaby Street.

John Stephen's success in the Menswear arena more than matched the impact of Quant and Hulanicki on Women's fast fashion in the Swinging Sixties. Whilst not always being recognised in such high esteem as some of his peers, John Stephen is gradually coming to prominence, now regarded as one of the Uk's most innovative and inspirational fashion entrepreneurs.

John Stephen's flagship store, His Clothes on Carnaby Street

Moving from his native Glasgow to London at the age of 18 in 1952, Stephen found work within the Military Department at Moss Bros in Covent Garden. Here he honed his talent as a tailor, studying and practicing in traditional tailoring. Soon, Stephen moved on to find work at avant-garde and pioneering menswear shop Vince Man shop situated in Newburgh Street, London. Here, John Stephen saw first hand the huge potential and indeed the longing of the gentleman customer for a neoteric Fashion Menswear Boutique. One that expressed freedom through fashion, a modern outlook and that was in tune with the youth of the today and their social scene. As John Stephen was already part of this scene he already had a key understanding of customers wants and desires. Using Vince as a stepping stone to further his fledgling fashion career, Stephen worked double shifts as a waiter and at Vince to save up enough money.

(This article was original published on Atom Retro's Mod Clothing Chronicles).

Our new Sixties Boutiques blog series will take a look into the roles of key players within the Sixties fashion industry, celebrating their inspiring stories and innovative ideas. Kicking off with the tale of Barbara Hulanicki's and Stephen Fitz-Simons famous BIBA store.

From Art College to freelance fashion illustrator to mail order innovator to boutique proprietor. A whirlwind exploration of Barbara Hulinicki's BIBA.

There's always been a certain propensity for the avid fashion connoisseur to acquire designs that their beloved icons so gracefully adorn. Biba's Postal Boutique was the first instance of Barbara Hulanicki pursuing avenues that explored the desirability of the 'As worn by' celebrity culture. The ability to affordably design and dress fashion fans in styles akin to icons such as Bardot was to prove a lucrative career choice. BIBA's Postal Boutique unleashed a suitably chic Retro gingham dress to the Sixties scenesters via an advert in the Daily Mail (May 1964). In less than one day the response was emphatic, with four thousand orders taken and the total eventually reaching a staggering seventeen thousand. Fast forward less than 4 months and BIBA's first store was all set to open. A haven for Mod Girls with boundless Retro wares, Mod Clothing and raving sounds!

Biba's original Pink Gingham Dress

Barbara Hulanicki was always keen on developing Mod silhouettes into a more three dimensional style. She pictured her happy clients looking just like the designs she had originally drawn...Extravagant, decadent and the place to be, The first BIBA store opened in Kensington in September, 1964. A walk in cat-walk with Retro, Art Deco influences and lavish scenes, BIBA set out to be style, substance and a hip hangout. A beacon of celebrity couture and Mod chic styles, BIBA's reputation rapidly grew. A rock and roll and celebrity haunt, the BIBA interior was a stage, complete with it's own wardrobe designer, a plethora of willing performers and artistes as well as a confident crowd of affluent, young clientele. Delightful Mod clothing in clever and innovative colour palettes set against a backdrop of Victorian furniture and Retro antiques caused a stir amongst the customer base of mainly women under the age of 25.

Clever marketing campaigns saw clothes draped on hat stands or period furniture and accessories neatly displayed in bowls. The frenzy for the latest BIBA designs was immense and the shop would be over-run by eager customers. BIBA witnessed unequivocal growth from an entirely unwitting viral marketing campaign that saw brand recognition surge through unbridled word of mouth, after all even the staff formed part of BIBA's loyal customer base. A certain air of sophistication and authority could be assumed by working in a place of such social stature. The instant understanding of what customers wanted, their desire to dress like icons and idols of stage, screen and music made BIBA a hot spot for young society girls, but moreover the affordable prices made their dreams come true and thankfully not at the expense of their bank balance.

For just 10% of the average weekly wage, BIBA could kit girls out like the stars. Even the stars themselves got in on the action, gratefully snapping up the latest new and trendy threads from the boutique BIBA. The relatively new concept of fast fashion it could be argued was born in the Sixties. What the Mod Girls, Cathy McGowan et al dressed in on Friday's Ready Steady Go would be on the shelves of BIBA boutique in the form of an affordable replica first thing Monday morning.