Tommy The Clown
This cafe I slave at does not embolden me. There is this group of women older than 40 but younger than 70 that come here everyday. Three of the five of the members of this clique are sitting in front of me now as I type.
They blather so loudly it splits my heavily pierced ears. The usual matters in hand they discuss are meeting so and so at Legacy Village, fancy purses, diets and what colleges their children are attending (from the limited observation, two of the women have a son(s) in college and one has a daughter studying law at Yale).
The woman with the law-studying daughter always flips her hair, almost as though she was trying to impersonate Jackie Kennedy (but failing miserably). Her mouth moves oddly whenever she opens it (which occurs quite often) and she mixes gold and silver together in the worst possible fashion. She opts to sporting heavy, black eyeliner which allows her crows feet to pop out from a mile away.
The blond one is about five foot four and an even 200 pounds. I have no woe with bigger women (I have had the biggest crush on Queen Latifah since I could last remember), but when bigger women wear clothing that does not compliment their curves, it becomes one of my biggest pet peeves. The blond is harnessing these laugh-worthy flood pants and this appalling, tight, pale blue blouse. The fit enlarges her wide waist and the color washes out her pasty skin (and all of her other plain features).
The third one present today could have been pleasing to the eye at one time, but than thought bland, argyle sweaters would put her up there with Ingrid Bergman and Katharine Hepburn. She was tragically wrong. Her plain, brown locks (cheap hair conditioner obviously used) and eye-blood inducing black shoes show she has given up on inventing a new and creative appearance and has fallen into line with these other old hens.
Something has opened my mind though which I would love to share. I recently have met a krump dancer, and while I can't hold a beat (beyond tap dancing) to save my life, this unusual street dance sparked curiosity.
Clowning was founded in 1992 by a man who people will simply refer to as Tommy The Clown (also known as Thomas Johnson) after his prison sentance was up. This grand event in dance hsitory took place in Compton, California. They used this jacose dancing to entertain children at parties. Krump was spawned off of clowning. The emotions in clowning are supposed to be more relaxed and fun. Krump is angrier and involves more drastic jerking movements. One of the biggest names in this field is Lil' C, the founder and leader of the Krump Kings flock, Ceasare. This krump dancer explained the different groups of krump dancers you could be apart of (of course, your only inducted into such an organization if you can dance as well as them or even beat them in a dance battle).
The bright and diverting colored clothing catches my attention. Wigs, make-up, shoes, huge dresses (but still easy to move in), mammoth sized pants, hats, insane weaves, suits, boots, knee length socks all torn, ripped, painted, frayed, etc.
It's like the city of Cleveland. Just the movement inspires a new idea.
Instead of hearing my usual babble about pin up, Suicide Girls and red lipstick, I will list certain decades, scenes, etc. that inspire my styling:
8.) Rosie the Riveter. This famous cartoon is based during the World War 2 era, when women began working outside of the home (this was an extremely new concept at the time). I spy the overalls, denims and bandana patterns (I love bandana, flower patterns, etc.).
A real-life Rosie The Riveter. I <3 the saddle shoes.
7.) The Pillbox Hat. The history of this petite, little lady accessory runs deep. It used to be apart of some military attire. Later, you would see this versitile hat worn by members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Later, style icons such as Jackie Kennedy began this trend. Although dying now, I plan on bringing it back.
6.) Hippies. 60's and 70's hipsters from Woodstock to Haight Ashbury. The tye dye, sing along festivals, drastic sunglasses and patterns get my fashion bug drooling everytime.
A duet at a parade on stilts.
5.) The Zoot Suit. Once described by Malcolm X as, "a killer-diller coat with a drape shape, reet pleats and shoulders padded like a lunatic's cell". The zoot suit came to life in the 1930's and originally prominentally worn by the young, Mexican population. The suits are baggy, bright and it's common to find a long (and when I say long, I mean very long) chain hanging down the pants. It's the only time when a man wearing pink can intimidate you.
Zoot Suits were designed for taller people so I would have to make my own.
4.) Steam Punk. This updated but Victorian-inspired style is based off science fiction and fantasy novels. Just check out the hats, goggles and dresses for a taste of this bizarre subculture.
3.) The 80's. Big hair. Leg Warmers. No further explanation required.
Olivia Newton John was an 80's icon. "Let's get Physical" is still sung to this day.
2.) Early 90's Hip Hop. Although hip hop the music was founded in the 70's in Bronx, New York, this unusual clothing populated in the 90's. High-waisted pants, animated attire, plether, layered denim, cheesy jewlery (I am a sucker for those huge, tacky chains), etc. were apart of this blown up scene (google image group, Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five for a fullfilling picture of this era).
Musical legends, Run DMC. They ran the hip hop scene throughout the 80's, 90's until 2002. They have been ranked by "Rolling Stone" magazine as the 48th greatest musical group of all time and they were the second group in the rap/hip hop genre to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame (Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five were first). They put out seven albums, which three went platinum and 1986's, "Raising Hell" went triple platinum (you know, "It's Tricky"....). I still love the tacky chains and the Billie Holiday glasses.
1.) The Flapper Girls. These ladies were the ultimate rebels. This was during the 20's, when women were demanded to wear heavy, lengthy gowns, long hair and possess barely-there personalities. Flapper girls chopped their hair, wore heavy make-up, listened to jazz and expirimental music, smoked, drank, had casual sex, wore short skirts, drove automobiles alone, etc.
Observe the heavy, make-up and skimpy slip dress. She would have been considered a "hussy", "strumpet" and "gangsters wife" by many (and even to this day).
"If it wasn't for 2 Live Crew videos wouldn't look like they do and rappers wouldn't sound like they do"- Luther Campbell
-M.Junk
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