Recently – my Aunt Jan and I had a conversation about style and how we don’t actually see it changing. Or maybe people like Tim Gunn and Nina Garcia see it changing – but people like me don’t notice that we’ve fallen behind until we look in the mirror and see styles made popular by the original cast of Beverly Hills 90210. Hey – at least those girls were wearing mom jeans and comfortable shoes. There’s no way I could keep up with this new emaciated generation of fictional Beverly Hills high school students.
Seriously though – I’m NOT still wearing baby doll dresses with t-shirts (and never did since I thought this made my hips look big) or roomy overalls (didn’t buy into that one either – just made me look like a giant toddler). My current style is fairly up to date…in a conservative, make-it-last investment suit plus cheaper trendy accessories sort of way. But I do think that you can often lose track of how styles are changing for periods of time, and find yourself stuck in a rut with one that got just a little too comfortable.
This is easy to do since each style era spends a significant amount of time being the basis for a progression of more specific trends. When you are in the middle of one of these eras, the styles you see around you become the standard for “normal.” I was in high school in the late 80s, and if I ever saw ANYONE in bellbottom pants, I would probably have raced right over to peg the legs for them. But then when I entered college in 1990, I discovered boot cut jeans. Within just a couple of years, my standard for normal looking jeans had completely changed. And of course, several years later, those jeans were looking decidedly flared. Did I notice this progression while it was happening? Of course not. But I was young and automatically kept up with the changes.
Aunt Jan remembers being right smack in the middle the polyester and afro haired glory of 1972, and thinking that there wasn’t really a “feel” for the 70s. Not like there was for the 60s and 50s. No – with the emerging 70’s styles, “everyone just looked normal.” A thought that probably flew into her head at the sight of a white man using a pick to fluff up his globe of tight curly hair. Right…no feel…
But I remember having the same thought in the mid 80s. I was probably reading a Seventeen Magazine article on how neon is the new black and listening to the Footloose soundtrack when I came to the realization that after several colorful decades marked by distinctive styles (the poodle skirts of the 50s, the miniskirts of the 60s, the bellbottoms of the 70s…), my skin tight Guess jeans with the zippers at the bottom were so plain (hmmm…and my hair was feeling a little flat…time to poof up those bangs with some more gel).
Now I’m smarter – I KNOW that in about ten years were going to look at old pictures and see a bunch of…well….I don’t know because of course it all looks so normal right now. But I’m guessing that my Lucky Brand jeans with heeled boots will not be au courant.
Here is my fear (and the point of all of this): As a generally overworked, underpaid suburban mom of three, I don’t have a lot of time or money to invest in fashion. What if I get lazy? What if I get stuck in a rut? What if everyone around me is wearing micro minis with moon boots and I’m still wearing boyfriend jeans with flats? Of course I don’t think that particular scenario is likely as I’m not loving Katie Holmes’ look of pegged boyfriend jeans (famous last words…) – I’m just illustrating my point.
Interestingly enough, I can pinpoint the exact moment that this idea of style stagnancy took root. I was just a couple of years out of college and sitting with friends as we watched women ten years older than us file in to the room looking like a throwback to our older sisters’ high school graduation pictures.
I’ll have to stop now and get back to that tomorrow, as this post already quite long. Come visit me tomorrow to hear the rest.
By the way: If you are enjoying these little blasts from the past – I suggest visiting my friend Connie over at The Young and The Relentless. She started a new feature called The Connie Diaries. At the end of every month she posts excerpts and pictures from her old diaries. Here is a quote from last month: “August 1, 1985 – Only 2 more days until my party! I am mega excited. I am decorating with steamers in blue, red, yellow, green, pink and white!! It will look awesome!!” And how about this one from Monday: “September 20, 1985 – Lola and Shirley asked Sean’s friend Keith if he would ask Sean if I could wear his football jersey on Friday. I told them not to but did they listen to me? NO! I am so embarrassed!” Can’t wait to see what Connie is up to in October 1985. Sounds like the details of her first kiss will be exposed…
i think you will be ok. why you ask? because you can at the very least identify the changes and have proven change documentation since high school. the people that fascinate me are those who are still getting perms and boofing their bangs and wearing banana clips. i’m torn between admiration of all of the money they have saved over the past two decades, curiosity that they somehow are unaffected by the evolution of their environment and horror from the flashbacks i experience everytime i see a big satin bow clip with netting on the bottom for the bun (yes a girl here at work really does sport that).
NEVER did I do the overalls- I’m 5 feet tall-
they would make me look like a box :)
Good post- I’ve just this year realized that I was in a sweatpants and ponytail kinda fashion rut and am now dressing better from day to day…and I feel better!
I’ve been picking up just an item here and there during sales and it seems to be working.
Which is why, in my humble opinion, one can never go wrong with a pair of comfy sweats. A stylish pair, of course! ;-)
…removing my baby doll dress and t-shirt now!
I’m happy to see that slightly wider heels are coming back in style – I can break them out of the back of my closet again! (And I must admit – I did the baby doll dresses with tee shirts, and thought I looked fantastic…only when I look back at pictures do I think “what was I thinking!”)
Aaah, the memories. I was big into my ripped “boyfriend” jeans, plus snap-crotch body suits. Not loving the look on Katie Holmes right now. As for afros– we had a pretty strange dinner at our house the night in the ’70’s when my blonde mom came home w/ a fro! Dad laughed, she cried, we kept our mouths shut.
Am sure YOU will not get stuck in a clothes rut, Kate! You are self aware.
ps. Thanks for the kind words on my post today.
good memories- I was in a funk today- thanks for the flashback! Yr so funny! xo
Furniture is the same way. When I was a kid, my mother bought a new livingroom furniture. It was very modern – black, with neon splashes of paint. It was the coolest furniture I had ever seen. And now I cringe just thinking about it.
Thanks for the plug! Have I told you lately how much I love you?
I am always striving to update my look and failing miserably. I think I have decided that I want to dress like Bree Vandecamp. She always looks great!
I worry about this too! I’m much more likely to fall into the trap than you though – you are so observant. Expecting you to look fabulous up to date on Friday night ;-)
Ahhh, neon. I remember it well.
I was sitting here procrastinating putting some sorely needed fresh content on my blog and thought, “hey, Big Piece of Cake hasn’t posted in a while.” Then I come here and realize you have been posting away unbeknownst to me!!! You somehow disappeared from my reader!!! Darn Google reader!!
Well at least I’m all caught up now.
You are right about being stuck in a rut and your standard of “normal”. That’s why I like having teen-agers. They’re my resident Tim Gunns. When they say, “You are not wearing that out, are you?” That’s my cue to update :-)
At least you have style. I have none. I just buy what fits and is on sale
I remember rolling and tucking the bottom of my jeans and then layering 2 or 3 pairs of socks over them!
P.S. Pay attention to any parts of Connie’s blog where she mentions being mad at Roberta… that’s me.
I’m kinda surprised I’m not in there more, I know I did A LOT of stuff to piss her off.(like all good little sisters do!)
Seriously, Kate. Get out of my head. I’m turning 39 this year, and I like to think I’m still fairly stylish when I’m not pregnant. (All bets are off right now — this is the last kid, and I’m not spending more money on maternity clothes.) But I fear I will someday succumb to the equivalent of capris and suffer the fashion equivalent of Alzheimers and just not notice. You’ll put me out of my misery if that happens, right? You’ll take me by the hand, burn my wardrobe and go shopping with me, right?