LENA QUIST - The Essence of 80s Fashion

When considering cutting edge women's fashion of the 1980's, we often think of the images that were readily adopted by the masses during the time. We think of loose cotton trousers rolled at the cuff, of jelly shoes, of Capezios and parachute pants.

But back in the late 70's and early 80's, there was an underground women's style that was in its infancy - it is one that paid homage to the bad girls of rock, punk and glam. I have always admired women that have had the daring to model themselves after the awesome ladies that represent this look: Dale Bozzio, Nina Hagen, Pat Benatar, Debbie Harry.

Rocker Chic has never disappeared. It has always flown slightly under the radar as a part of American fashion culture, rearing its head from time to time as it is brought to the fore by popular artists with a penchant for this look (for me, Pink always comes to mind).

I recently came across an Etsy seller who's work really pays homage to Rocker style and reinterprets it in modern designs. Lena Quist is a Swedish fashion designer who seems to have her pulse on our favorite decade, and on the bad girl looks that sprung from it. Apparently, she is a costumer for many rock bands, and one look at the clothing she creates will explain why. Lena describes her designs in her own words:

"[Lena Quist's] designs scream out wild n' crazy 80's underground fashion. Spandex, leather and vinyl. Bright colours, checker and animal pattern. This is eye-catching clothes made for those who loves to be the centre of attention.

She gets all her inspiration from the music she's listening to. Which is all from glam metal to punk, to industrial and even some 90's pop and euro-disco. It reflects on the collection and you'll never know what's coming up next season.

But the one thing you can know for sure is that every collection is telling a story. A true story of sex, drugs and rock' n' roll design."

You can learn more Lena Quist's work by visiting www.lenaquist.com.

KRAFTWERK - Tour de France

Just something to listen to from my favorite pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk. This is Tour de France, from 1983. Love this video, love this song.

The Michael Jackson Infrastructure

Over the weekend I had a conversation with a friend about the impact of Michael Jackson on our lives. He is a number of years younger than I, so is right on the periphery of the years that mark the boundary of Generation X. But he felt Michael Jackson as a presence even as a child. He said that he loved him simply because he was a strong feature of the landscape of growing up in the 1980's. Michael seemed to be almost a part of the infrastructure that built our generation, a kind of cultural scaffold that much else was built upon, or built aside.

One has to appreciate the importance of this sentiment, the simple idea that something, or someone, being so familiar and omnipresent can shape our affections so much. One does not have to even enjoy the music of MJ (who this person would be I DON'T KNOW, but let's assume they exist)to feel that he is somehow a 'part' of our consciousness.

For some of us, he is as much a part of our childhood history as is that bit of sidewalk outside the door of our childhood home, the one for which we have memorized every crack, bump or blemish that our bikes and trikes and rollerskates have traversed so many times. That is how Michael may seem to some of us that grew up in the 80's - a fact of nature, a piece of the physical infrastructure of our youth.

The passing of Michael again reminds me of the feeling I had when entering my childhood home after it was basically destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. There is the feeling that the end of an epoch has come, and that something new must come to stand there, to create a new backdrop, a new noise, for a new generation. I wonder: who, or what, will that be?

My First Record Was by Michael Jackson

I purchased my first record in 1980, at ten years of age. The song was 'Rock With You', by Michael Jackson. I listened to that vinyl single over and over on my little portable record player (you know the type, with the lid and a carrying handle). I must have spun that single twenty times a day, every day, for months. It was my only record and was special.

I thought a lot about that record today, and how glad I am that Michael Jackson was the one who ushered me into an appreciation of music. I will not eulogize him with cliches or hackneyed metaphors today, as there will be an onslaught of those soon enough. I will say simply: he was the King of Pop, an icon of the eighties,and will always be special to me.

Split Enz - One Step Ahead

I used to dig this. Looking back at it, Split Enz seems like an 80s version of The Monkees, only cool. And right on the cusp of New Wave, but not quite there yet.

Bonjour Jeans - Action!

What is it about jeans commercials that I love so much? There can never be too many jeans commercials on this blog as far as I am concerned.

The best thing about this ad is that the jeans are for 'Bonjour Action' I wonder how much 'action' actually takes place when one wears jeans that are that tight. I can state definitively that not much action would be taking place if I wore my jeans that tight. The biggest 'Action' of the day would involve trying to force the zipper up over a mighty substantial amount of adipose tissue.

ADAM LAMBERT: Please remake this song!

Dear Adam:

It would make me so damn happy. Do it, right now. Just drop everything. Quit all the extraneous crap you're doing like posing for the cover of Rolling Stone and get into the studio with this now. This song has your spirit in it. I saw Frankie Goes to Hollywood sing this at my first concert in 1984. It would be so great to hear your take. Speed it up. Slow it down. Totally F with it. JUST DO IT. You could make it amazing, as you are the walking embodiment of the 80's aesthetic as far as I am concerned. I know you don't want to be that, but you are.

Thanks so much, and HOP TO IT!

Sincerely,
80's Mom