50s fashion has bounced back into the high street.   Suddenly stores like Dorothy Perkins and River Island are a sea of pink and black.   The media are catching on too.   50s clothing specialist Marina Retro was asked to dress the contestants of ITV's 24 Hour Quiz.   Marina's Wendy Phipps told us more...

• How did you get involved with 24 Hour Quiz?

They searched the web and found our website.   They were doing a rock'n'roll theme night and were looking for a company to lend them some costumes for their contestants to wear for it.   They didn't want the teddy boy look but more of an American 50s/Grease look for the bloke.

• What was your reaction when they got in touch?

We were really surprised.   They phoned us the afternoon before and to begin with I assumed they were trying to sell something!   We've just launched a new website so we were really pleased to have such a good reaction to it so quickly.   We said yes like a shot!   We were completely flattered... there's more and more competition out there all the time, but we excel in our men's shirts mainly so tend to get overlooked by the petticoat brigade!)

• Can you describe the outfits worn by the three contestants?

Caron (left in picture) wore a turquoise circular skirt and matching tie blouse with colourful rock'n'roll embroidery designs on, a blue net petticoat, glittery socks and a chiffon scarf.

Dan wore an American 50s retro cream, black and checked bowling shirt, with 'kingpin' diamonds embroidered on it.   He wore black peg trousers and an Elvis wig.

Jackie wore a purple circular skirt and matching tie blouse, again with rock'n'roll embroidery designs, a lilac net petticoat, glittery socks and a chiffon scarf to match.

To be fair it was a really odd show, but all advertising's good advertising.   (I'm not so sure!)   Anyway, we did get our name on the credits at the end and we're also on the ITV website now.

• How did it feel to see your stuff on TV?

I couldn't quite believe it.   Unfortunately I was sat there - very excited, all on my own... wishing I'd gone round someone's house to watch it so I could have taken my excitement out on them!

• Do you have any idea why the 50s have come back onto the fashion radar and how do you feel about the current revival?

I think they just keep bringing the various eras around again and again.   We've had "50s-throwback" Mark Lamaar, Vic and Bob, Frank Skinner, Johnny Vegas and now Harry Hill all wearing drapes and bowling shirts.   It just seems to rub off onto the mainstream now and again.   There's always a slight twist to it though.   The high street stores may have the classic 'Pink and Black' colours but there's a modern edge to the designs...   Lower necklines, higher hemlines, that kind of thing.   There has to be to appeal to the less-antiquated out there.

• Is it good news for a specialist supplier like you because it helps popularise the 50s... or bad news because of the sudden burst of competition?

I don't think it particularly popularises the 50s and it is definitely competition.   But then we'd noticed a change in the way women had been dressing on the rockin' scene in the last year anyway.   A lot less women seem to be wearing circular skirts and dresses... and much more are wearing modern trousers and blouses.   Some traders were buying modern clothes and just embroidering rock'n'roll designs on them.   This seemed to encourage the crowd away from the unfortunately more costly 50s clothes.   This seems such a shame, only it looks so much nicer when a couple jiving are dressed to suit.   Quite a few men have moaned to us about a distinct lack of stocking tops as well!

• How long has Marina been going?   Have you supplied outfits for TV or films before?

	Mum's the word: Wendy and Marina

My mum, Marina, started the company eight years ago, which was known to one and all as Marina Fashions.   We recently relaunched as Marina Retro ,  after I joined the company and we went 'worldwide'!   It's a family-run business that's gone from strength to strength.   We haven't supplied outfits to TV before now, although we have put on various 40s and 50s fashion shows in the past.

• What are your best-selling lines?

Our best lines are our shirts.   It's what we're known for.   I really don't think anyone can touch us on those in this country.   It's something that we're very proud of.

• What appeals to you about the 50s look?

It's a fantastic look because the men look so masculine and the women look so feminine.   I was watching Jack Vettriano being interviewed last night and he's the most popular artist in this country at the moment for the same reason.   His men look like men and his women look like women.   That appeals to a whole lot of people - me included!