I didn’t live in my favorite fashion
era, post-World War I to 1925, and I’m very thankful for so many reasons,
including penicillin and swimwear. So, my second favorite style period is
whatever moment I’m in currently. Yes, the 70’s was my favorite fashion time
during that decade, and I was definitely a victim of it. With great joy I rode
the wave of mini’s, midi’s, and maxi’s, Granny dresses, plaid pantsuits, suede
lace-up boots, platforms, and my “unfortunate disco period.”
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| Charlie's Angels |
To revisit all those evolving
trends that I apparently enjoyed, I made a list of my “looks” through the 80’s,
90’s, and into the new century.
The She-Man 80’s
With a bit more maturity and
self-confidence, I created my own version of the decade of the Iron Woman.
Although I avoided the claw-nails, over-done make-up, and giant hair, I admit
my mid-decade short bob was permed. Padded shoulders were de rigueur, but my
power suit was pin-striped, narrow, and worn with an oxford shirt and man-knotted
tie.
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Melanie Griffith in Working Girl
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Leaving the corporate world
for art school and with my overt involvement in the women’s movement now
history, I knew my power was on the inside. So I could wear clingy shapes that
emphasized my aerobic-tight body, and still feel Helen Reddy’s anthem, “I am
woman, hear me roar.”
The All-Over-The-Place
‘90’s
Like every decade, there’s no
defining line for fashion change, and my own decade began with some softer,
left-over shoulder pads from the 80’s, very short, straight hair, and leggings.
That evolved into an odd combination of earthy/preppy, involving Birkenstocks,
a Tag watch, and polo shirts.
This gave way to, as my
assistant called it, my “Ojai” period. Oversized jumpers, soft tunics, large
ethnic jewelry, and wide pants that a friend described as, “Why didn’t you just
come to work in your pajamas?”
The end of the decade brought
the beginning of my very short Jackie O era. Since, as a museum employee, I had so many luncheons to attend with designer-clad women, my wardrobe seemed to
fill with short suit-skirts paired with interesting jackets I found at the old
Loehman’s “Back Room”, actual pantyhose, and “woman politician” necklaces.
The Anything Goes New
Century
Several years into the new
century, I left the art world job market and segued into animal rescue. When my
shelter volunteer’s t-shirt, hiking pants and boots weren’t in use, I now had
the time to express my wardrobe even more artistically. Although
Jackie O could still be found in some great fitted dresses in my closet, I had
the leisure to hand-paint, stencil, or block print fabrics into my own
beautiful creations. Downton Abby took
me back to my favorite fashion period, and even a Liberty print or two shows up
in a few hand-sewn pieces.
The fashion world announced
that styles and trends can go anywhere today. Millenials are revisiting the
‘70’s and everything that was old is new again. The 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s
are reincarnated by designers everywhere, and women have the freedom to make
their own looks without fashion magazines’ dictation.
So, although I really resent
that my aging body can’t wear everything anymore and I no longer have Michelle
Obama arms to show, this is my new favorite fashion period. I have more
restrictions on what I can wear, but, as a textile designer, I always knew that
the more restrictions I was given, the more my creativity was challenged. If I
was told I could only use three colors in a design, I would mix half and
quarter tones of those three colors, and create some of my most inspired
patterns. So, today, within the physical restrictions that I impose upon
myself, I’m finding much more creative ways to dress that don’t rely on my
beautiful young body. The silhouette has taken a back seat to beautiful
fabrics, used alone or paired with a luscious contrast, and accessories are
even more fun.
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| Japanese Ikat 100% Cotton |
This time in my life has
given my creativity a whole new way to express itself, keeping me youthful, but
still a bit of an age-appropriate rebel. This is definitely my new favorite
fashion era.
