Offensive Image Warning ::: The Furries and the Fury

Hmmm...while I did not have a sheltered childhood by any measure I did find somethings shocking and deeply disturbing. I just could not fathom one reason in my tender head why any other child aged 7 of so like myself would like these characters...TV assulted me with a bombardment of hideous disfigured creatures with bad faces, equally poor humor, innane chatter from bad voice actors or mute panotomime! This was the stuff of nightmares to me.

Marty Monster and Co.

I felt isolated and alone as my friends would laughingly recount Marty Monsters antics - a sadness of a world gone wrong would resonate through me like a gong. I still have a thing about bad teeth to this day - you can blame Martyfor that.

Fat Cat
This still scares me - what was fat cat trying to say?

Would we call him Metabloically Challenged Feline today instead of just Fat Cat?

Agro had a bad attitude but had an acid humor that sometimes shone through his Brillo/Jex like face. 

BARRGHHHH!

I don't think I need to elaborate anymore on that.

Sigmund the Seamonster

I am no furry but I did one love Sigmund. 

He was small had one prominant tooth and was picked on by his family - so I could relate. 

Before braces you could have mistaken me for this little guy, although I did not answer the phone by saying 'Shello' - it was a shell phone that was the gag.

True hidiousness.

Which with so much mixed emotion and trauma attached to the phantasmagorical creatures splashed across my vision most of my childhood might explain why I go weak at the knees for this guy.

Wilfred.

If you haven't seen it and have an acerbic bent when it comes to humor give this little dog a try. Adorable, rude and crude.

And just in case you're wondering what ever happened to Marty it was this.

Clearly animal cruelty this would not be permitted these days. Perhaps Marty got his just desserts.

Maria Callas - O Mio Babbino Caro - Giacomo Puccini

Arresting and almost too beautiful - achingly disarming. True divinity.

Sultry Sexy Sex Kittens of the 1960's ::: The Ladies

NOTE: They were referred to as 'kittens' implying an innocence, a naivety, a softness a harmlessness.
Behold the 1960's Sex Kitten and her beguiling, charming, enticing allure. Don't fret I am already considering Sirens for another blog post, for now its the nymphets. These felines smell of powder and hairspray, use bobby pins and fold fresh linen.

The incredible Brigitte Bardot - who later became a siren. Squeaky clean and very preened a model of good manners and coquettish temptation. 

 

Jean Shrimpton is said to be the worlds first super model. Too thin for my liking but a perfect example of the Sex Kitten. Perfect touchable hair, smouldering lips and dramatic made up eyes. Pure yet arresting images.

This is my favorite 

BAM! Supreme elegance and pared down sexy style.

  Natalie Wood

Ahh these women had something that cannot be replicated today.

Clean cut and enticing, her lawns would be perfectly manicured no doubt. She would would invite you in for a glass of milk or something more. The scent of her powder puff would be left in her wake.

These women offer sweeping fantasy's of opulent puritanical yet decadent lifestyles, of swimming pools and perfect twinsets, of cocktails and finery, of smouldering kisses and highly defined eyes.

 These females were represented as ladies...

A lady?

Feminine, refined, strong, self assured, pretty, elegant, intelligent and mighty sexy.

They might have been more covert but they sure look switched on and alert, why they might even coo and pur, swish their tail encircle your legs while giving you sweet come hither stares. Ahh the sweet fond softness of the Sex Kitten.

SHES A MOD ::: 1960's FASHION

Note the dancing,

note the high high guitars,

note the high 'tight' rever collars on the suit jackets that mirror a little boys school shirt.

MOD - From the word Modern.

The Mod fashion movement was a Modern response to previous and current fashion of the time, it was fashion forward, had a new fit a graphic trend. The 'neat' suit fit, stand away A-line dresses, helmets, mod boots - swoon!, Vespa scooters, Mary Quant, Pucci, Biba and Pierre Cardin define the Mod fashion look.

Eking out its own style post beatnik, Mod style was considered very radical for its time and achieved  its peak during the 1960's. It wasn't for everyone and in a time when fashion was strictly segmented by age - at 30 you were well and truly over the hill and clad accordingly. This was youth fashion at its finest.

If you were a Mod you were current, bold, fashion forward before the term had evolved. Being a mod was a radical statement to society. Mods lived the life. Haircuts are truly definitive in particular this was heightened bob, asymmetrical, short - the the 1950's beehive deflated and redesigned.

For the first time in the 20th century androgyny creeps in, men and women can cut the same silhouette in a jacket or pant.

Black, white, navy and cream, teamed with red. Very British by nature translated beautifully by the Italian designers, the mod movement embraced 'the dance', mods can be very hard core and usually the look was paired with an attitude to match, it was not for the faint hearted. Becoming a mod took commitment...head to toe, Mods were rebels.

If I was committing to the look authentically today this is what I might attire ones self in.

The cardigan clad dressed down mod - still teetering on the soft 60's trend and bordering on beatnik. I love this image could be Portobello Rd mid 60's.

Or strictly mod - high fashion style

 and this might be my work wear.

Go Mod!

Memphis Design 1980's Style ::: National Gallery Of Victoria

Recently I went to the NGV and laughed at myself when I came across these perfect examples of Memphis Design. The movement was at its height during the 1980's it was seen everywhere and I loved it. I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven if owned this chair and book shelf. To me they epitomise the look. Colourful, restrained yet gaudy, childish yet intelligent, functional art.

'First Chair' by Michele De Lucchi 1983. Bookshelf 'The King' by Ettore Sottsass 1981.

Memphis design exploded onto and into every facet of design - it was like a showbag 

vomited on everything; fashion, restaurants, nightclubs, music clips and every available 

page and design element imaginable. I still have some very lurid giant earrings that I
covet that are true to the design aesthetic.

As I continued through the gallery musing on the direct evidence and influence of
Bauhaus and Mid century design that led to Memphis I came across the following
pieces that are way off the mark in the timeline and were clearly anomalies at their
time - that scream 80's Memphis Design to me. I found it quite interesting and thought
I would share. 

                        

The details of this mirror simply read : England manufacturer 1810

                                                               

This mirror looks every bit an 1980's spectacular.

Christopher DRESSER designer Tea service 1879

Christoper DRESSER designer Letter rack 1881

The ball elements and sense of scale on the silverware above are 100% Memphis

to me.

Joseph CSAKY Abstract sculpture 1919 cast 1960 3/6

Although this sculpture does have some deco feel it could just have easily sat in an

80's Memphis theme.

Barbara HEPWORTH Eidos 1947

This gorgeous piece almost crosses over to pop art and sits on the fence, mid century/Memphis?

Jacob EPSTEIN Sunflower 1912-13

Classic sunburst element here. 

I also came across this stunning portrait simply entitled Girl in Black I found her image 

completely compelling and very intriguing, interestingly I thought she would be 

amazing during any decade. Her hair and clothing could be reflective of so many eras.

Gerald leslie BROCKHURST Girl in Black 1930's

Style and design can definitely transcend time and peal throughout the global consciousness in a seemingly erratic way filtering through again and again during different times and trends, like a beautiful key aesthetic that wont go away.