In the 1970s Sarah Jane Smith enjoyed an eclectic wardrobe, with input not just from BBC designers but also from regular trips to a Kensington boutique owned by Lee Bender.

Interview by ALISTAIR McGOWN

Sarah Jane Smith was created in 1973, partly as Doctor Who’s response to the burgeoning ‘Women’s Lib’ movement. James Acheson was the costume designer assigned to the character’s debut story, The Time Warrior (1973-74).

“Jim had found me a smart brown trouser suit, large-collared shirt and jumper,” recalled actress Elisabeth Sladen in her autobiography, adding that “it reflected the character – the strong feminist journalist. No dolly-bird outfits for Sarah Jane. Not yet, anyway.”

Designer Barbara Kidd reinforced Acheson’s tomboyish unisex look, choosing trousers, knee boots, a Fair Isle patterned jumper and black PVC bomber jacket for The Monster of Peladon (1974). It was then up to Leslie Rowland-Warne to bring a hint of glamour to Sarah Jane (1974) courtesy of a briefly glimpsed turquoise-patterned swimming costume – prior to defaulting to a no-nonsense brown two-piece suit.

“IT WAS A VERY BOLD, BRIGHT SEASON OR TWO FOR CLOTHES THEN. GLAMOUR WAS IN.”

For Jon Pertwee’s swansong, Planet of the Spiders (1974), Rowland-Warne provided Sarah Jane with no fewer than three notably more feminine ensembles. Two of them came from the trendy Kensington boutique Bus Stop – a red ‘pirate’ striped dagger-collar jacket with matching t-shirt, and a grey two-piece suit.

Bus Stop was run by designer Lee Bender and her husband Cecil, who together had been managing Lee Cecil manufacturers since the 1960s. “I married the boss actually!” says Lee, laughing. “I worked as a designer for him. We started going out and later I decided I wanted to do Bus Stop, so we stopped doing the other business. We just couldn’t do both.”

Bus Stop’s founding boutique opened in 1969 at 3 Kensington Church Street, London, with offices and a design workshop above. It offered easily affordable, highly fashionable styles to shop girls and superstars alike, the latter including Lauren Bacall, Brigitte Bardot, Joan Collins, Marianne Faithfull, Debbie Harry and Charlotte Rampling.