What is New, is, Perhaps, Old.

[Gige]

First - has anyone seemed to notice that the pop-up adds, as well as those coming up from the bottom of the screen, have increased and make writing more difficult and annoying? Anyways...

Recently, I have been battling a slight cold that, at the end of the work day, has left me feeling drained of energy and wanting to do no more than spend the evening sitting in front of the television (nothing serious - I'm fine). So, I have (including New Year's Eve) been binge watching my favorite childhood television show, Emergency!  For UK/EU members, this was (most likely) the first American drama series that revolved around a medical/fire-rescue environment and aired from 1972 to 1977. While watching the old episodes, I made some observations about the state of fashion and how certain items worn then are still being worn today, even if slightly different.

First, with respect to the men's fashion du jour, all I can say is YIKES! It was bad and there is little redemption to it. With respect to the women's fashion, however, one can clearly see how certain trends worn during the time period of the show can be and are actually still worn today. In one episode, a woman was wearing an outfit that consisted of a maroon top, khaki colored wide-leg pants/trousers, and a brownish colored jacket (I do not recall the footwear beyond them being a pair of matching pumps). It was an outfit that if worn today, it would have no obvious signs that it was actually worn in the mid-70's. A later episode featured the beautiful Mariette Hartley wearing a brown striped, matching top/cardigan sweater combo, with black, wide-leg (non bell-bottom) pants/trousers and simple black flats (or low heeled pumps). Again, an outfit that could not be easily dated if viewed without any reference to the time period in which it was actually worn. The most recent episode I watched featured a young woman wearing a pair of double strapped, black patient Mary Janes, with a blue, just above the knee, slightly pleated skirt. What was most interesting about her shoes was that I have a contemporary pair that is very similar to that episode which first aired in 1975. The photo I have attached is of my pair of double strapped Mary Janes and if the heel on those were about 1/2 the height they are, one would essentially have the same shoe as seen on the TV show. Not to get off topic, but I recently wore my Mary Janes to the office with a pair of black, subtle patterned tights and a just above the knee black skirt. One of my female colleagues commented about the cuteness of the shoes and I replied that they, as well as the outfit, definitely had a 1960s mod flavor to it. Turns out, my description was rather accurate. 

So, I guess the two points I am trying to make here is that, first, timeless will always be timeless; certain styles will always outlive trends and fads. Second, what may separate time periods (in a fashion sense) from one another may be no more than putting a new twist on an old idea/item. Sure, the show features are many examples of mostly individual late teens/early 20s) dressing as if they were living in Haight-Ashbury and older people dressing is styles that made the 70's an awful time for fashion (just a note - wearing non-matching stripes and patterns as part of the same outfit is often a fashion disaster).  There are examples, however, of the fact that, as just noted, simple pieces can be timeless. It is very much this approach has governed and influence my approach to my clothing choices. I say this with a serious degree of cynicism but I rather see clothing styles focus more on timeless pieces rather than new styles being introduced with every season. I guess if such were the case, then there is little money to be made in the fashion industry.   

 

[CrushedVamp]

I am sorry to hear you have had a cold. I know I am quite the canoe paddle away from you westerly, but colds and flues have been going around here a lot. My wife was terribly sick with the flu just before Christmas and I have been threatening to get it. Others in the area have not been so lucky and knocked out by this year’s strain. Hopefully you will get over it quickly.

I judge no one in terms of fashion from the 1970’s because my take has always been, that was an era of rebellion. Not in a bad way, just that it came on the heels of a generation that were quite strict, at least here in the United States. The 1950’s certainly seemed to be an era where conformity was expected. I say that with everyone having the same kind of haircuts to shoes. In the 1960’s, yeah, they loosened up a little bit with the miniskirt and bikini, but I think it was more out of guilt for being so uptight in the 1950’s. They had aged a bit by then and might have realized the error of their ways. But the 1970’s… that fashion era belonged to the next generation and they were not having the mandatory flattop haircuts for men, and the tea length dresses, beige pantyhose and 8 cm heels for the ladies.

My take on 1970’s fashion? They were just rebelling on everything. Pants that tapered consistently? Nope: not having it! Vertical stripes top and bottom? Why not throw in horizontal stripes topside, or plaid… in a contrasting color, bottom side, or with vertical stripes? To me it seemed, my parents just did not care what was worn as long as it roasted what my grandparents had worn. My case in point? Flattop haircuts were out but bowl haircuts came in like a rogue wave! Talk about opposites!

But Mary Jane style shoes? My wife has hundreds of high heels, and of Mary Jane’s, she only has one pair, which is pathetic I know, but she has them for some of the vintage photoshoots she does. I think hers are in the 9 cm range and has not complained while wearing them. I do not wear high heels myself, but if I did, I MIGHT find the strap across the metatarsal area of my foot to be annoying, but only because I got some safety shoes that hurts in that particular spot. But I still see Mary Janes occasionally in public and know a member on this forum is infatuated with them, so they certainly have endured the test of time.

But the ads you speak of? I am not sure. I do not get those on this site on my computer. I am not even sure what you are referring too?

Edited 15 hours ago by CrushedVamp