Junior Fashion : Farewell the Tweenager

There once was a time in fashion where the Tweenager existed.

This followed the time of the 1950's and early 60's when babies were dressed in pretty much unisex infantile attire till age four - they were still babes.

During the late 50's the term Teenager was created, by now I am sure we know what a teenager from the 50's and early 60's looked like. Ah but what has become of the elusive Tweenager - or Junior Fashion as it was often called.

 This pattern is marked Junior yet clearly shows the 'tween' stage 13 - 17 years

 There were great roles for young 'tween' agers. The talented and exceptional Haley Mills

My all time favourite idol Angela Cartwright

Not a woman not a child a tweenager.

Mad Men's Sally Draper personifies the look here

It is now skipped over - that phase when perhaps one might have read a lot, considered taking on the world, competing and going toe to toe with your peers before the full onslaught of sexual pressure and maturity emerged a time of freedom and of simply being. A time when the world could truly be your oyster…a character defining pause between all expectation, a time to consider and think. Emerging from childhood and growing into a young woman we once allowed that time. These days it happens in the bat of an eye - sadly it has gone.

Why I am Deciding to be THE NEW NIGELLA

Nigella might be feeling sheepish for a while and yes she is incredible, but after reading about her recent events and with all due respects I think I should step in for her while she recuperates.

Why? I am a a whizz in the kitchen, love body conscious clothing,we are both brunette, neither of us are beanstalk thin nor shy. I can waffle on endlessly about flavours and use double entredre like toppings and sprinkles too. I can marvel at the texture of Mango or an Avocado endlessy.

My love of food and colour is quite perfect, but it does have to compete with my love of fashion - often vintage and my on going affair with gaudy jewellery, I only wear real plastic - I like it big and obvious!

Her affectation might be refined and British while mine is a more little textured, omnivore and somewhat eclectic. The new digs will look like this...I can just imagine the kitchen, the aromas, carpets, there has to be mauve faux fur somewhere and some kinky tap/faucet fittings - I can wear flimsy fabrics and drip everything on my chest, drink and play my sterio, dance and if I am having a really great time I might forget and burn the food - it will be great!

Life in Lemon Yellow” | Artist: Jen Zahigian | Palm Springs, CA

I sure hope it has a pool - Bon appetite!

Why bad food is so interesting

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.

::: 1960's Mens Dandy Fashion :::

DANDYISM

dan·dy/ˈdandē/

Noun:	A man unduly devoted to style, neatness, and fashion in dress and appearance.
Adjective:	Excellent: "upgrading seemed a dandy idea".
Synonyms:	noun.  dude - fop - beau - jack-a-dandy - coxcomb adjective.  swell - fine - dapper - foppish

Back in the early 1960's a new men's fashion emerged 'The Dandy' harking from the true dandy phase in period costume the dandy look took its cues from the early 1800's English notable  Beau Brummel

Tailored and refined in cut the new men's silhouette in its truest form sports the defining two key elements: pants floating high on the ankle 4 - 6 cm above the shoe, the shoe neat and square toed or a wider round point, later 60's saw fabulous men's ankle boots of a similar vain and the Pea Coat Jacket with the exaggerated broad revers (lower part of the collar).

The Pea Coat was a cross over from the Marine style jacket - think a sailors captain and the vintage costume double breasted jacket.

The trend followed on from the extreme and lean sharp tailoring of the 1950's think Mad Men. God help you if you were not trim back then. Men's sizes were sold in ranges of Tall, Regular and Stout...ahem...

I would marry this guy today based on the outfit alone!

The look was one of the first waves of youth fashion and fashion has never looked back since then. Bands loved the look it was reactionary and seen as a radical direction to take along with long hair and wild colours, cravats and lace shirts were sported by the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Who and Herman's Hermits, their later years yields testimony to the lairy fact. The trend then sees Mick Jagger Below morphing into a 1970's Ghetto Pimp - the latter Dandy.

The Rolling Stones

The Who

Now I love a man who has his eye on fashions changeable horizons, a man with some flair. The new take on this look I adore, but be warned it suits a select few.

 And that's Fridays Fashion for you...dandy to you!