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.

:::What Was the Question?::: Desire to Attire!:::

The question I am going to pose may seem trite but it is actually very telling and can be surprisingly revealing.

A not often asked question provides a plethora of open information and most people have the answer at the ready despite being pretty unaware of the potent answer.

I have tried asking people I have known for a long time and thought I knew well and am often bewildered by their response.

I am a trained Fashion Designer with over 20 years experience in the business and have made many a bespoke item for clients.

So now I ask - if what would be your dream outfit? 'Dream' being the operative word - anything!

I have been knocked over by answers provided with much enthusiasm and detail and the answers were rarely standard. One short stout aging woman resembling a barrel wanted a tight red mini with a plunging neckline. One man wanted to be a knight, another young guy wanted to sport a top hat and tails and yet another guy to be sprayed silver and wear evening gloves and a sequin tube dress and yes he is straight.

Usually designer names never ever enter into it. The feel of the fabric the colour and shoes might.

So what might you wear to your own delight?

I have been lucky enough to be able to design and make myself pretty much anything I have wanted over the years which included some retrospectively 'daring' looks...ahem can we move on and never mentions the quasi Jeanie outfit I wore in 1987 to the Fashion Design Council event at the Palais Theater...yeah I rocked the full pony tail hair piece to the waist and all - oh well I was creative and it was the 80's so its all very much ok. Although I am kind of relieved I don't have photos.

Some people dig uniforms! I would be happy to rock this look any day of the week I mean these are power trippin' foxy ladies.

Now we all like uniforms... these are super supremo!

As a little girl this film and to some point now this film titillated and inspired me no end as did anything about trapese . I mean come on who doesn't want to be in on this action? Sequined corset sailing bravely through the air - God Yeah! Tony Curtis, Gina Lollobrigida and Burt Lancaster I mean look at these people - wow!
So go ahead ask your friends, ask some men, ask your Mum -  I assure you you will be surprised!

It all links to different things its not just about the Attire.  What do you desire as your definitive attire?