Current fashion

[Matt Deckard]

And I just missed that freak Rin's show!

 

[Dr Doran]

Looks looks looks and creations that people do or don't like.

Have we forgotten that we ourselves are oddballs?

When I came on board the vintage scene, it was a scene founded by freaks.

Tattooed freaks with stomper boots and spiked hair that came from that extreme and landed on this one.

Many of my dancer friends and my Deco friends have Facebook and Myspace pages chalk full of miscreant looks, and what it tells me is that we are not really above or below any of these people who break tradition by hitting a supermarket at midnight wearing a bathrobe and Doc Martins and plate earrings that create a massive hole in the lobes... instead of a 50s dress.

The idea of someone having a fashion extreme that they follow which sets them apart is a flag for that persons will. And luckily for those people who like to decorate their body to extremes, everyone judges others, so those looks aren't lost, they are studied and remarked upon.

I've been rushed out of a rockabilly concert in Hollywood once for being a known jitterbug. Pompadours and high cuffed jeans telling me I didn't belong at a club because I wore a 3 piece suit. Bias and judgement are part of why we wear what we wear. If you aren't looking to make some kind of statement you'd be wearing Target bought jeans and a black tee with a logo, the uniform of the land.

When it comes to new looks or ideas. Tattoos or funky jewelry, that in the end will maim the face or body in some respect... well too each adult their own. Young minds, fresh ideas... be tolerant. But know that they are extremes and will be seen as such, and that sometimes they are definitely reasons to garner ridicule. The world doesn't revolve around an idea of total acceptance for all which is a burden to those wanting to be accepted regardless of how they look. The world does have a set of social norms that have been created and entrenched. When those norms are broken, you can't claim that you are not being an oddball, because being an oddball is the reason for going after an extreme look. Like a flower print summer dress at a Damned concert (I wish it still fit).

Alexander made a world in his designs and in doing so made a lot of women feel and look beautiful. He had his view of style and fashion, and it will be missed. Bending style is what those that stand out in this world do.

Sticking with vintage wears like we often do in my mind is kind of being a stick in the mud when it comes to style.

Sticking in the mud,

Well-said.

And well do I remember the early 1990s at Club Deluxe on Haight Street when one would see a guy at the bar in a perfect 1950s sharkskin suit, pompadour, gorgeous skinny tie ... and an old blue tattoo across all ten knuckles reading "SKIN HEAD."

 

[get_atomized]

Looks looks looks and creations that people do or don't like.

Have we forgotten that we ourselves are oddballs?

When I came on board the vintage scene, it was a scene founded by freaks.

Tattooed freaks with stomper boots and spiked hair that came from that extreme and landed on this one.

Many of my dancer friends and my Deco friends have Facebook and Myspace pages chalk full of miscreant looks, and what it tells me is that we are not really above or below any of these people who break tradition by hitting a supermarket at midnight wearing a bathrobe and Doc Martins and plate earrings that create a massive hole in the lobes... instead of a 50s dress.

The idea of someone having a fashion extreme that they follow which sets them apart is a flag for that persons will. And luckily for those people who like to decorate their body to extremes, everyone judges others, so those looks aren't lost, they are studied and remarked upon.

I've been rushed out of a rockabilly concert in Hollywood once for being a known jitterbug. Pompadours and high cuffed jeans telling me I didn't belong at a club because I wore a 3 piece suit. Bias and judgement are part of why we wear what we wear. If you aren't looking to make some kind of statement you'd be wearing Target bought jeans and a black tee with a logo, the uniform of the land.

When it comes to new looks or ideas. Tattoos or funky jewelry, that in the end will maim the face or body in some respect... well too each adult their own. Young minds, fresh ideas... be tolerant. But know that they are extremes and will be seen as such, and that sometimes they are definitely reasons to garner ridicule. The world doesn't revolve around an idea of total acceptance for all which is a burden to those wanting to be accepted regardless of how they look. The world does have a set of social norms that have been created and entrenched. When those norms are broken, you can't claim that you are not being an oddball, because being an oddball is the reason for going after an extreme look. Like a flower print summer dress at a Damned concert (I wish it still fit).

Alexander made a world in his designs and in doing so made a lot of women feel and look beautiful. He had his view of style and fashion, and it will be missed. Bending style is what those that stand out in this world do.

Sticking with vintage wears like we often do in my mind is kind of being a stick in the mud when it comes to style.

Sticking in the mud,

This post gave me a sense of feeling "at home" at the Fedora Lounge for the first time!
thank you!

 

[Tomasso]

He was an amazing designer and someone I really looked up to.

And naughty too. Remember that little note he left for Prince Charles in the lining of his coat when he was at Anderson & Sheppard.

 

[Matt Deckard]

And naughty too. Remember that little note he left for Prince Charles in the lining of his coat when he was at Anderson & Sheppard.

Well we all saw how badly his career suffered after that didn't we?

 

[lolly_loisides]

And naughty too. Remember that little note he left for Prince Charles in the lining of his coat when he was at Anderson & Sheppard.

I really hope that story is true.

 

[Matt Deckard]

I do love the boldness of Lady Gaga and her ability to let go of modern mores for retouch of the glam look that fell away.

http://www.ladygaga.com/telephone/

 

[WideBrimm]

Fashion has to start somewhere before it eventually arrives in our local stores. As someone once said: "It takes all kinds." As someone also said: "Variety is the spice of life." Finally, another someone said: "Judge not lest ye be judged."

 

[Son_of_Atropos]

I do love the boldness of Lady Gaga and her ability to let go of modern morays for retouch of the glam look that fell away.

http://www.ladygaga.com/telephone/

I think it is marketing and brand recognition rather than boldness. If your plumber dressed similarly then that would be boldness.

 

[Edward]

And naughty too. Remember that little note he left for Prince Charles in the lining of his coat when he was at Anderson & Sheppard.

lol I hadn't heard that before.... puts him up in my estimation, anyhow. lol

I'm no fan of contemporary fashion, or (much) of haute couture and catwalk either, but I can certainly appreciate the creativity. Shows like the ones Gok Wan does here in the UK I find interesting as I can identify with folks with poor body image, how he puts together a look to make them look and feel better, builds their confidence, the importance of the role of clothes in self image.... all stuff with which I can connect. Actually, much as the clothes might be very different, my efforts with vintage looks (unsuccessful and successful both!) have been influenced by some things I've learned from that sort of show with respect to what works for different body types.

I also find it interesting to see people experiment with different looks. What they wear might not be to my taste, but I'd much rather see folks making a real effort to create a certain look (hip hop, or whatever) than wearing whatever default loungwear comes to hand, no thought given to it. Of course, in my experience, the kids who today wear whatever crazy nonsense they throw together in their own creative way are the kids who will later embrace vintage, rockabilly, etc.

The fashion industry is full of bitchery and backstabbing, yes..... but so are many others, too, I don't think it fair to single it out. Frankly, I've seen as much and more viciousness within academia (fortunately never directly affectig myself). Less cocaine, though.

 

[vitanola]

" to let go of modern morays..."

Like these?

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...a=N&rls=en&tbs=isch:1&ei=l3yeS5fYFqWKNYf9kIkF




When an eel bites your heel and makes you loudly squeal
THAT'S A MORAY!


Sorry, Mr. Deckard understood what you were getting at, but could not restrain myself.


No offense intended.

 

[Matt Deckard]

I'll use words as I please...

 

[Matt Deckard]

I think it is marketing and brand recognition rather than boldness. If your plumber dressed similarly then that would be boldness.

The point is... my plumber doesn't. Yet if she did I'm sure she'd get more work!

 

[reetpleat]

I wish these articles would stop crediting the Bumsters as his defining achievement - they were something that he showed in the early nineties that were a bit of a laugh, a bit shocking, and yes probably did help to bring waistlines down to hip level almost a decade later. But they were hardly the pinnacle of his career.

His tailoring was absolutely beautiful and structured in a really interesting way. Whilst yes some of his work was avant-garde a lot of it was just plain beautiful, pieces that yes you would wear. If you look at some of the pieces illustrating this article then you'll see what I mean.

As a designer I'm also kind of offended by people who don't think of fashion as "real art" just because it isn't on a canvas or in a gallery.

In conclusion: bah humbug. He was an amazing designer and someone I really looked up to.

x

Fair enough. Interestingly, you mention something that wasalso part of my thoughts.

My thinking is that while I don't know this guy, the fashion world has become much like the art world. It is more about being outrageous, creating things with little connection to aesthetically pleasing, and creating an image of the artist, designer, not about the product they produce.

it is the reason I am not so into either.

Granted, there are still good artists and designers who do good art, clothing.

And, granted, back in the day, there was cultures of personality around fashion, but at the end of the day, fashion designers were applauded for doing good suits, dresses, etc.

Also, back in the day, musicianbs were lauded for making good music, as in having skill with writing and playing.

Now it is often about personality, about the meaning behind the misic, the emotion, rather than skill and poficiency with an instrument. Buty in music at least, you still have to produce a product people like to listen to.

No so sure that in art or fashion you are creating something people like to look at or people like how they look in the clothes. Youare creating something often that people like to own because it gives them some sense of being connedted to the world of art or fashion.

This is my take, anyway.

as for the designer, if he made good looking stuff, more power to him.

 

[Son_of_Atropos]

The point is... my plumber doesn't. Yet if she did I'm sure she'd get more work!

Sure.

 

[Dr Doran]

I also find it interesting to see people experiment with different looks. What they wear might not be to my taste, but I'd much rather see folks making a real effort to create a certain look (hip hop, or whatever) than wearing whatever default loungwear comes to hand, no thought given to it.

+1. One of my best friends is still very punk and she is so creative I love her looks. I had to explain to her "you know, just because I love the 1930s and 1940s doesn't mean I think everyone else needs to do it."

Frankly, I've seen as much and more viciousness within academia (fortunately never directly affectig myself). Less cocaine, though.

+1 again. There are people (well, only two or three half-people) at U.C. Berkeley to whom I do not even nod when I see them in the halls, so deep and vicious is our feud.

Sir, you and I are thinking exactly alike today.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

+1. One of my best friends is still very punk and she is so creative I love her looks. I had to explain to her "you know, just because I love the 1930s and 1940s doesn't mean I think everyone else needs to do it."

Sir, you and I are thinking exactly alike today.

+1
I still have more subcultural friends than people who change their appearance every season just to look hip. It is maybe farfetched to say that style is always an expression of personality... but often it is.

Though I only know a few "vintage" people and don't get along with all of them. I found the punkrock background of Doran and Edward is refreshing in most of the discussions :eusa_clap

 

[Fletch]

I think it is marketing and brand recognition rather than boldness.

I agree. Anything goes if you can market it, and we're getting to the point where nothing goes if you can't.

 

[GrrlFriday]

I agree. Anything goes if you can market it, and we're getting to the point where nothing goes if you can't.

On this point, I agree and disagree. Lady Gaga is a pretty smart cookie and a talented musician. She writes much of her own music and lyrics and can sing the devil out of it. Check out some her acoustic performances on youtube if you don't believe me. In addition, she went to conservative prep school in NYC where I know for a fact her education included classical music, golden era jazz, and the American musical theatre of the 40s and 50s.

The insane image (which I kind of love) has been crafted as a way to get people to notice all of those wonderful qualities that they wouldn't have otherwise.

 

[Warbaby]

I find it somehow comforting that I know absolutely nothing about current fashion. Just one of those moments when ignorance is bliss.