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Monday, February 26, 2018

Monday Morning Inspiration/Power Dressing

Good Morning, and Surprise!!! I'm back :)

For those of us who lived through the 1980's, we well remember the humongous shoulder pads, and extremely oversized jackets, coats, pants... just about everything we wore. I can remember thinking that I would never, ever wear a garment without shoulder pads. And then the day came that the shoulder pads were suddenly all gone, except for the tailored coat, or jacket that needs a bit of structure in the shoulders. I don't even remember the day that the shoulder pads actually went away. It's like one day I bought shoulder pads, and the next day, they were no longer on my shopping list.

I love garments from the 1940's. When I do my next Sewbussted's Closet Tour, I 'll share a few of my vintage pieces as they are really quite pretty. If we think back to that era and what was happening, it makes a lot of since that women would want the look of a power shoulder. Husbands went to war, and for the first time, women went to work in droves, and because of the type of work that so many did, they began to wear pants. When the war was over, and the men came home, it was expected that women would return to the home, and once again embrace their dresses. Think about the "New Look" that Christian Dior made so very popular, extremely cinched waists, and big flowing skirts. While women of that period did embrace the look, they never totally gave up their pants, or their jobs. 

In light of the #MeToo movement, women are once again taking a stand. There is more equality in the workplace, and no one is saying that women must wear a dress, unless it's our choice. But, what is still so very prevalent are men who feel that they can manipulate women and abuse their positions. And sadly, it happens everywhere, from the boardroom to the church. I am extremely happy that women are saying, "enough!"

I recently came across an article about the new 2018 Fall Collection from Marc Jacobs. Shockingly, the coats are extremely oversized, and incorporate those huge shoulder pads. As I looked at the collection, I wondered, is this a reflection on women of this time, or just one person's thoughts on what we should be wearing, or how fashion should be evolving? Keep in mind that collections are decided 2 years in advance. I've attached the video below. The music is beautiful, although somewhat sad, which I find interesting. For those of us who have seen fashions come and go, you'll see very strong influences of Yves St. Laurence, Ungaro, Montana, and Mugler. It's just a little over 13 minutes long, and in my opinion, well worth watching. The clothes are much more interesting as they move rather than just still pictures.  



I pulled out a few of the pieces that I especially liked. Take note that the knit and draped pieces have a Donna Karan feel to them, feminine, and beautifully draped. Power dressing that Donna Karan embraced.  




So, I wonder, how you feel? Are you ready to embrace oversized garments and huge shoulder pads? Do you feel that in order for women to appear powerful that we need to drape our bodies in an overabundance of fabrics? Can we embrace our femininity and still be taken seriously? 

What a topic to choose as I make my way back :)
Have a fabulous day!!!
Rhonda



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16 comments:

  1. I remember the eighties and even then I didn't embrace shoulder pads. As a 5' 1" person, it was not a good look. I connected more with the punk look, 1940's vintage dresses and skirt styles and the comfort of doc martens. Oh when I scored a pair of vintage 1940s shoes, those were sweet. And even if exaggerated shoulders are coming back in style, the look won't go with my love for comfortable footwear, birkenstocks now a days. Unless I could find a pair of Mary Jane Docs. No, wait, not even then. Glad to see you back writing, I missed reading your posts.

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  2. Welcome back, I missed your inspiration.

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  3. I have several Diane Freis dresses complete with shoulder pads. I keep threatening to alter them so I can wear them. Maybe I won't need to do that. So women "on the march," so to speak, need some guy telling them what to wear in order to look the part? Whatever!

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  4. Watching the above with the sound off during the second half gave me a different feel than the first half. The music seems militant to me. Anyway while watching I got thinking of burkhas (the coats) & then bustles and Victorian clothing. Interesting for sure.

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  5. So glad you are making your way back - missed you. Not too sure how I would feel with all that fabric wrapped around me, however, I never say never. Thanks for sharing and glad you are back.

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  6. Wow. I've never watched a fashion video before. This is like a mini movie. Makes you wonder where they are off to all dressed up! I remember shoulder pads. I think I still have a short cream color cloth coat with a tie belt with shoulder pads. Either that or the exaggerated gathers for the look of shoulder pads. Can't remember which. But I loved it enough to keep it although I'm sure it no longer fits.

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  7. Oh please not again. Why can we only be powerful wearing what someone else dictates? Men won't suddenly become different beings because of what we wear.

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  8. Omigosh. And I thought my 1" shoulder pads were enormous. Some of those looked like they had to have actual football pads on to support the height and width of those shoulders. To be honest, there were a couple of those outfits that I found truly ugly...or comical. The Buster Brown dresses with the monstrous scrunchy neck ruffs...um...no words.

    Still, there are elements here and there...The third picture you posted ...the crossover...was far and away my favorite, the iridescent red (or it might have been a deep hot pink) trench was next. And I will gleefully pull out my batwing sweaters and my vintage late 80's boxy jackets if I can get away with them again...lol...

    Thanks for the link! Very interesting!

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  9. It is nice to see you are back. I hope you are making peace with your situation and moving forward, both easy to say and difficult to do. I would prefer to be who I am and hope that I would be accepted. Thank you for your inspiration.

    Marie

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  10. Nice to see you. Missed your posts. I am not a fan of big shoulder pads. I haven’t jumped on the fashion wagon the past few seasons so I’ll skip this one too.

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  11. I looked at the video. Gee it creeped me out. the last - like a spanish army. Or a super hero movie. Marching to war- maybe it was the music. The shoulders are TOO big, and there is little to no body consciousness. But the worst is there is no FACE! it's covered up! mostly yuck. And I remember having a few that look like that.

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  12. Happy to see your post! Shoulder pads.....hmm...mixed thoughts...one thing they did....make me look like I had a smaller waist (which was not a bad thing!). I'll take on the wait and see attitude for now..........

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  13. Oh yes, I wore those first time around and still have the patterns to prove it! I still like the silhouette but really appreciate the modern twist using knits, asymmetry and colour blocking - thanks for the trip down memory lane and nice to see you back in the fold.

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  14. Oh, my! I kept expecting for one of them to pull out a sword and make the sign of Zoro! LOL. All way over the top in my book. Why do models have to look so stiff and sad? The huge mounds of fabric "roses" covered up so much. I did like the same ones you did, however. Especially the one that tied at the waist over black and had buttons down the skirt front. Loved the bright red and other colors.

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  15. Love you blog I am attending a fashion design courses and these are some of the best inspiration,i was born in the 50,but love the clothing from back then. Please keep bring them back. I will post one when I finish also how do I oder any of your vintages patterns

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