DEDICATED FOLLOWER OF FASHION
A pair of Oxford bags being worn by the man on the left in the 1930s:
Dedicated Follower of Fashion was a 1966 hit song by the British band the Kinks, a much under-rated band in my opinion.
Like most people, I don't regard myself as susceptible to fashion. But I suspect I am whether consciously or unconsciously.
Recently I made a list of all things fashionable in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s - clearly I have too much time on my hands! The 1970s, 1980s and 1990s were the decades when I was in my teens, twenties and thirties and perhaps most likely to be a fashion victim.
What I listed down as fashionable were things that can be perhaps regarded as fads, fashion that didn't endure. I excluded jeans, t-shirts, trainers/sneakers and branded clothing as these fashions still very much endure to this day. I also excluded musical fashions. I then put a tick to those fads that I succumbed to and a cross to those I didn't.
On my tick list are platform shoes, Oxford bags (see photo above), flared jeans, tank tops, kipper (wide) ties, segs (shoe protectors), flick knives, parka coats, narrow ties, drainpipe/straight jeans, safety pins, punk badges, dog collars, trench coats, combat wear, bangles, tagine cooking pot, mineral/bottled water, filter coffee machine, mullet haircuts, boxer shorts, Levi's 501 jeans, potpourri, lip balm, cafetiere, double-breasted suits, Adidas go-fast three-stripe tops, thongs, poppers and Alice bands.
And on my cross list are skinhead haircuts, brothel creepers, Dr. Martens boots, brogue shoes, hula hoop, pogo stick, Smash (instant mashed potato), dreadlocks, skateboards, shoulder pads, makeup, leg warmers, ear rings/studs, Filofax (see photo below), bomber jackets, Rubik's cube, shell suits, ripped jeans, incense sticks and Ugg boots.
Filofax, the 1980s pre-digital ultimate diary/notebook:
How much were and are you a dedicated follower of fashion?
With the benefit of hindsight, what's the most ridiculous fashion that you followed?
Looking back and on balance with the benefit of hindsight, though not a fashion victim, I was clearly a more of a dedicated follower of fashion than I cared to admit at the time. My only defence is that we all like to think we are free and independent agents, but in reality we are all influenced by what was and is around us.
I think my biggest fashion faux pas was regularly wearing boxer shorts. In yesterday's court case, Stormy Daniels viscerally recalled seeing Donald Trump, at the time they met in a hotel when it was alleged they had sex, after coming out of the bathroom seeing Donald Trump lying on the bed with only a t-shirt and boxer shorts on. It couldn't have been a pretty sight, and it's certainly not a pretty thought. Boxer shorts aren't flattering or even comfortable to wear! Just as women wore thongs, men wore boxers; it doesn't quite add up!
My biggest defence of not being a fashion victim, is that I'm a proud owner and wearer of Crocs. Those shoes are so useful when going on holiday. You can go to the beach with them on, you can swim in the sea with them on, and you can go to a bar or a restaurant with them on. They're brilliant!
Jeff Danziger's Scenes from the Life of Stormy Daniels:
We are of the same era as a rule. Teen in the mid-late 70's when the fashions and music were cool, 20's during the 80's and 30's in the 90's. I adored the Kinks by the way and remember that song. In the late 70's, early 80 here in Canada, the fashion was Levi's Pantomime jeans that fit snug and flared out. Lumberjack plaid, flannel shirts and jean jackets. On our feet were "Cougar Boots" which looked like work boots. This was mostly the fashion for both girls and guys back then..lol. Leather jackets were also the rage and I own 3 of them which I wear now. I still have my jean jacket from the late 70's. As for the 80's, my hair was short and still is, so no Glam poofed out hairdo for me, nor Mullet. Shoulder pads were in fashion and had two dresses I used to wear back then with them. Once I had my first child in 1990, caring about fashion went to the wayside and it became more about comfort.. When "That 70's Show" came out on t.v. I used to love watching it due to the fashion as it brought back so many memories of what I used to wear as it all came back in style..
ReplyDeleteThe 1970s were a great decade for fashion, music, television and many other things.
DeleteMy favourite era and decade still is the mid-late 70's for both music and fashion and always will be.. Classic everything.
DeleteIt's the mid-to-late 1970s for me as well. There was punk and disco music!
DeleteI usually try to hold off on buying trendy clothing and then by the time I finally succumb it's on the way out. : )
ReplyDeleteI did like the "big flannel shirt" trend of the 90's. Let's bring that one back.
DeleteThings often come back in fashion after a few years.
DeleteBack in high school, I wore jeans and flannel shirts. I still wear jeans and flannel shirts (sadly, at a bigger size, tho). I never followed fashion trends. The traditional Crocs clogs gives me blisters, but I do like the more fashionable sandals.
ReplyDeleteOh I wear Crocs, so perhaps that's the most egregious trend I follow. I love these fuckers.
DeleteIn school I had to wear a boring uniform!
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a fashionista because I don't follow trends...anymore. When I was a teenager in the eighties, uhhhh...yeah. Perhaps the most egregious trend I followed was dressing like Madonna with the fingerless gloves and lingerie as clothing. Lort did I look dumb.
ReplyDeleteI loved that Madonna look.
DeleteOf course you did
Delete