Unlikely Vintage Inspirations that are Completely Queer

I love a bit of vulgar culture. Fashion offers up a plethora of fodder especially during those most perplexing of decades of the 60's and 70's. Recently I was discussing the true hideousness of some of the television at that time. The recollections of truly questionable character portrayals and fabrics that were as confronting as the sideburns presented.

The worst offenders were the British - UK TV. 

Are You Being Served?

Now I do not mean to be unkind but what was the casting brief here?

Ever questionable physical comedy. 

Resulting in cringe worthy intimacy leaving you reeling and queasy not unlike car sickness. 

The Stoic and the Flamboyant counterbalance apparently resulting in hilarity.

Now I don't know what happened in my head as a small child taking this all in but somewhere amongst the mix of abrasive voices and the bad comedic premise I fell in love. I turned...

To this day I love this look above.

Something about her powdered look, his true degree of maturity and dapper refinement and most of all the fabrics and the past its use by date of early 1960's fashion being worn on and on. Perhaps that is the reason I collect nasty nylon night wear that I am sure that Mrs S could have swanned about in. Oh the harsh nylon goodness, the smell and look of the old 'Taft' hairspray, talcum powder and face compact heavily layered, lavender eyeshadow and pastel pink lips. 

Or as I like to call it...

Old lady Grunt.

This image is such a great exponent of what I am on about. Besides the almost Groucho like face on the dark haired man these folks are totally and completely rocking it. 

With an attitude adjustment these people could be positively sexy. 

The foxy redhead wins hands down to me...Go Mrs Slocombe!

Wikipedia...

During its run, the series attracted some mild criticism for its reliance on sexual stereotypes and double entendres, including jokes about Mrs. Slocombe's "pussy" (cat) e.g., Mrs Slocombe, "Animals are very psychic; the least sign of danger and my pussy's hair stands on end".

Come to think of it you could spell her name in an all together different way...upon reflection perhaps they weren't so clueless.

The Undesended Testicle and I

Most people would assume that I am a very feminine 'type'. Yes I can see how they might arrive at that conclusion my interests and career have been based around the pursuit of beauty; fashion art and design, I sew, I enjoy dressing in a feminine manner and do wear make up most days. I need it or I look exhumed and get tired of responding to the 'Oh Lisa are you okay?' questions. Their horror is never quite feigned.
I am not heavy or masculine but do have a predisposition for trying to prove my physical strength, sometimes this leaves me in the hands of chiropractor or barely able to walk, not very bright I know, its something I am learning to overcome these days.

                                                                                

So I think in reality I resemble either of these ladies images on any given day. Some days I try harder than others - obviously.

But just give me a chance to be a bloke and I will be it!

A wise woman once said to me, 'let men help you when they offer don't leave them standing while you exhaust yourself or it will be like that for life'. 


Smart woman.

 Men are stronger - their muscle mass has proven to be much stronger than a females, so I could never truly compete with their god given brawn. For some reason I want to look like a movie star but lift like Hulk Hogan. There have been times when I did wish I could lift someone over my head and send them soaring into the atmosphere. I like to think the Hulk lives within me, despite my gangly thin white arms and fine wrists.

The disparity is clear.
I love cooking, sewing, being attentive and nurturing - kind of feminine attributes. I look female - but don't goad me or I will attempt to wrestle you to the ground, get you in a headlock or show you I can lift your body weight and perhaps even try and spin you around and around while your legs leave the floor. Its a bit wrong and kinda blokey. Hopefully I am a recovering from this ailment. Sure I then see the confusion on everybody's face when once having done this I expect people to treat me like a lady. I like chivalry and love it when a door is opened for me, my jacket taken or the seat is offered elegantly to me - to be honest I wish it was the constant. But then I start talking about roof racks as my latest fascination or brag about my manly attributes that kind of liberty usually fades.

Which brings me to my hidden ball.

Perhaps I have an undescended testicle? Perhaps it formed within me while I was inutero and I grew around it, I am sure its hidden in there up behind my left lung or something? Inside me there is this super strong heaving masculine man - perhaps I should rephrase that...

somewhere in my psyche there is an envy.  I envy male strength. I dont want to be like a man I just wish I was as strong or better still physically a lot stronger than a man. Sure this might be theoretically possible and god knows I can manage a severe leg lock, but to just go wham and do it...ahhh. Then I could pick someone annoying or rude up over my head grunt while I throw them three postcodes or zip codes away, straighten  my skirt, pick up my purse and be on my way.

Meanwhile I just think 'HULK SMASH!' and walk away.

THE BEST DISCO

Ok I had the perm but it was a cool one! I have photos to support this claim...for now however the link will have to do all the talking!

Falsetto Kinky Heaven

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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My love of .........Whats Not Fashionable at the Time

Now this may be one of the most risque 'shares' of my entire lifetime. I do like to think of myself of a modernist to some degree with traditional values but I have never been afraid to challenge convention either.

As most of you now know I am a clothing designer, stylist and an artist. My love of beauty and detail goes into the appreciation and creation of my work and the things I have collected over many years.

So with my heart on my sleeve I must confess...amongst my collection of mid century ceramics, vintage sewing accessories, jewelery and clothing including cravats and tie pins and the best cuff links you could ever imagine...tucked in a drawer here and there and yes snuck subtly onto display in my home- lets call it subversively (makes me feel cool and edgy) are my .........pause for effect...........doilies and hand embroidered table cloths and linen.

I LOVE THEM!

There I have said it...they are small intimate treasures hand stitched desires, hearts poured into small neat threads of carefully selected color, hand made lace, starching and ideas of permanence. Small details to cover protect and covet the furniture purchased once to last a lifetime, in a time when in that patient diligence of heartfelt creation pride and dignity was poured.

Young girls were taught by their mothers, aunts, sisters and grandmothers how to sew, how to sit and master the fine grade weaves and knots, how to tat, embroider and sew, these divine little creations were passed on, carefully placed into glory boxes and hope chests...it seems that hiding behind my perm in the mid 80's my mind had notions like that. So there in my best gloried funk traipsing around Melbourne's not so cool streets then Johnston,Greville and Smith Streets, Plenty Road and High Street I gathered and collected all manner of what people perceived to be rubbish...as listed above. You must remember folks this is in a time of Salmon and Grey decor...and while I am at it I do own a hand full of smashing Nanna hats too...they were just to well made to ignore.

Back to the doilies...perhaps I should just let the pictures do the talking - these are taken in my home and perhaps reflect my mish mash approach to the era's I love.

Do you think Janice loved her David? On the other corners of this small square linen table cloth is what I suspect to be the children's initials - one is shown here...

Are you expecting?
I think the babies pillow slip is machine embroidered but is still exquisite to me.

Ok another fetish I have is for donkeys they have the kindest eyes, lovely lashes and work so hard...this is probably my most favorite piece! This is one corner of a square table cloth - so 50's!

Ok so this ones a multiple brag - I threw together the art works and the phone is possibly one of the best things I have ever been given its been embellished to be known as the Glamor Phone and the jewelery box is something else I love given to me by my big sister - the flowers were a gift from the Mothers Day stall from my sons and it all sits upon an embroidered place-mat that's far to delicate to ever be used for those purposes.

Close up.