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Fashion
Liberation
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Being the musically-inspired person that I am, I automatically thought back to what bands I liked in the "awful ‘80s" as I began to think of them. Well, I loved … hmm…no that was the ‘60s … hmm no that was the ‘70s … It began to get really hard for me. Bryan Ferry, Midge Ure (Ultravox), David Sylvian (Japan), fine if I was a guy – I could go all stylish in a tux or something, get some dramatic curved sideburns happening down those cheeks. But no, being of the more curvaceous sex I was left with the role models Cyndi and Madonna. A scary thought for me! I had never been into that music or fashion – all the bright fluoro and fishnets, boots, lace, mini skirts, bubble skirts … no not me – I was obviously quite ‘out of fashion’ in the ‘80s. What did I wear? Well, while at boarding school, surprise surprise, I wore a school uniform. Occasionally I got out of it and into sports gear, or jeans, windcheaters and ug boots. What a fashion statement! Then at university and art school I wore whatever I could scrape together, and what didn’t matter if it got covered in oil paint or clay – jeans and baggy shirts. Sometimes under those huge jumpers (sweaters) I even wore my old winter school uniform tartan kilt (and NO not because I was a Bay City Rollers Fan when I was little!). Lots of nothing much was all I could remember. Then I started to think back to the ‘70s and even further back to the ‘60s. Now that was easy to remember! Tie-Dye! Yay! Indian batik dresses flowing with bells and tassels (ah now this sounds more comfortable!). Then the ever so stylish crocheted tank tops, boob tubes, embroidered cheesecloth and ponchos. Velour windcheaters, flared jeans, hot pants, Indian toe thongs. Whoa! Was that style or what? Well, don’t know about ‘style’ but at least it was memorable! And now we are almost at the end of the ‘90s. What can I think of for this decade of "Fine Form"? Well, in its favour it has been more tolerant than the "awful ‘80s". We females finally got rid of the big shoulder pads – the masculine power dressing corporate thing – and could enjoy being feminine again. We could indulge in dresses with luxurious flowing fabrics and regain our dignity. But was there a defining style for me? I did my stint in the corporate world (the pants and tailored designer jacket thing), then my maternity wear phase (where surprisingly I found myself wearing all those designer labels I wouldn’t normally indulge in), and then arrived at my "self-realisation" phase. I entered the "I don’t give a shit about formality anymore – I’m gonna wear what I wanna wear". And it seemed to work for me! I found my own style – some days corporate (when meeting with clients), some days hippie, some days even a bit goth. A real mish mash. But I felt comfortable! The ‘90s have comfortably and stylishly accommodated, even encouraged, the fashion alternatives like me – I happily returned to Tie Dye heaven! This time a little more sophisticated – crushed velvet tie-dye – what a delight! And forget about T-shirts and windcheaters – now it was luxurious stretch tie-dyed fabrics and laces in full length dresses (reminiscent of Stevie Nicks), fitted tops, whatever I wanted! And Indian dresses galore (now hellishingly more expensive, sans the tassels and bells, and no batik in sight). Fashion Liberation! I guess the reality is, I have regressed back to my teens! But at least I feel comfortable. And I do get frequent compliments, so I assume it suits! I wouldn’t dare to predict what the next decade has in store for us, lets just hope it gives us fond memories in the future. What did I end up wearing to the ‘80s party? Nothing memorable – jeans with ripped knees, a chambray shirt and black belt with big buckle, high black sandals and a stack of makeup – all a bit nothing and uncomfortable I thought. Robyn
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