Biba began from very humble beginnings. Barbara Hulanicki and her husband, Stephen Fitz-Simon designed a simple gingham dress which was featured in London's Daily Mirror for postal order, priced at just under three pounds. She did not expect the overwhelming response when fourteen thousand pounds worth of orders came flooding in.
As a result of this success they opened a small, shabby boutique in Notting Hill. Biba soon became infamous, with its affordable yet glamorous fashions, booming rock music, bohemian magpies nest interior, it epitomised the swinging sixties. You could find yourself undressing in the communal dressing rooms with the likes of Sonny and Cher, Yoko Ono, Mia Farrow, Barbara Striessand or Brigitte Bardot.
As Biba expanded, the premises that housed it became bigger in both size and grandeur. At its pinnacle, Biba was deemed by some to be the most beautiful store in the world. It was a spectacular five level fantasy land, housed in an Art Deco department store on Kensington High Street. It included:
- Moroccan Casbah filled with cushions and stoner hippies.
- Kids' floor with trees, castles and merry-go-round fixtures.
- Mistress room selling naughty undies and kinky erotica.
- Basement foodstore selling everything from Biba champagne to Biba dog food.
- Rooftop terrace garden with flower sculptures and real life flamingos and penguins.
- The Rainbow Room 1930's style cabaret bar and restaurant featuring acts such as The Pointer Sisters, The Kinks and The Bay City Rollers.
Biba is inspiring because it is a story of a simple idea becoming a fantasy come true.
Barbara Hulinicki by the flamingo pond on the rooftop terrace garden.
'Big Biba's' Art Deco staircase.
The Rainbow Room
The Cosmetics Counter
From shadowy boudoir to glorious emporium
Taut roxy chic
Champagne and Novacaine
Pin-legged seductive waifs
Big eyes and misty curls
