1963 – 2023 The fashion
Poem: 1963 – 2023 The fashion
I took a stroll down a long corridor of cliches…
Some call it fashion as in ‘the’ or ‘I can’t be bothered to think of anything new,
so I’ll go back thirty years
and guess what?
Thirty years ago, there was a ‘thirty years before that’ revival too
It has aged me
Review: 1963 – 2023 The fashion
2023, we’ve arrived. We are here and…?
Exactly that, and?
It’s a pick and mix ‘style’ of reused and rehashed looks.
Eye sores a plenty, yes.
The reflection of the era, this era, is one of confusion. It’s seeking. It’s lost. It’s muddled.
What a long corridor of continuous intermittent disruption!
A sixty year very long corridor
The poet doesn’t seem overly enamoured, if at all, with retro fashions. I roll my eyes to the heavens when I hear the words, “retro fashions” or “retro trends”
Who in their right mind wants to be forcibly taken to somewhere that’s been and gone and not even an era that the individual can connect to and reminisce over with sincerity?
1963 – A time where folk were beginning to become accustomed with peace and freedom. There was confidence and that reflected in the quality of the garments worn and the style.
World War Two was firmly in the past. Happy times, eh? and ‘The fashion’ was reflecting and celebrating that – I get it. The 1960’s were stylish!
Today, when it comes to fashion, think of something new for goodness sake and something that actually suits you, your shape and size. You’ll look and feel good and that is what will show. Not a blatant, overt ‘so called style’ piggy backing on a ‘past’ that’s not even yours and not even drawing a scintilla of inspiration from it! or worse, wearing a label for labels sake. An advertisement of a brand to all and sundry and you’re not even getting paid! Why be a sheep or an eye sore to those who live in the ‘here and now’ and are getting on with it! Life that is!
The poet sounds very disappointed that there doesn’t appear to be anything new on offer and I’m inclined to agree. Same old, same old, same old. I yawn.
Flowing dresses, hideous wide collars – the 70’s era
Huge shoulder pads and stiff hair sprayed to death creating a helmet-like look. – the 80’s era (thankfully that has been and gone!) as that too was hideous! With all that spraying going on, no wonder the ozone layer acquired an aperture!
During the 90’s things loosened up a bit. Relaxed looking and less structured fashions, lots of pinstripes, doc martin boots, push up bras, Air max trainers, snakeskin prints, waistcoats, lumberjack shirts and more… -The 90’s
Like with all ‘fashions’ from all era’s, it reflected what was going on culturally and at the time.
I’m having to pause at the 90’s as it sounds quite overcrowded and desperate to be freed from the shackles of the previous stiff looking decade. I can fully understand that.
Reaching 2023 as we all have, will it ever be revived in thirty years time as being trendy? I DOUBT THAT! excuse me while I’m actually laughing out loud.
I’m not witnessing any confidence. What is going on globally and locally? How is fashion reflecting this?
When I see people wearing fluffy dressing gowns and slippers during the day and walking their dogs in the street (as I’m writing this) it doesn’t inspire me with much confidence in fashions for the here and now let alone the future. ‘Post Pandemic Confusion and Delusion’ is what I’m witnessing with crisis after crisis taking place. Like with current global and local news, fashion is troubled and it shows. There is no unifying trend, just distracted silo after silo. Looks like we may all be continuing along this disturbing corridor of ghastly intermittent and visually disruptive ‘forced fashion’ I hope I am wrong.