Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Vintage Value Venture - A Return To Eighties Excess

With all the reporting on rising gas prices, looming inflation, government spending, high unemployment and rioting in the streets of Iran it's been like the 1970's all over again
and I've been feeling the creeping malaise.

But then I just read that
Goldman Sachs is to make record bonus payouts
and
Oprah has chartered an ocean liner to take her staff on a Mediterranean cruise
and
Fashion is trending towards big shouldered looks
it's as though the 1980's are back in a big way and with all of the associated excess.

When I think about the 1980's I can't help but to remember the ultimate fashion icons of that decade...the Dynasty Women, Linda Evans and Joan Collins.
I never really related to Dynasty because I was only a bohemian bookish student not a high maintenance glam girl who lived in an Oil Barron's mansion in Colorado.
Nor did I relate to the Dynasty babes, in spite of the fact that at that time my tall, thin, Teutonic blonde mother looked enough like Linda Evans to be her twin sister...her prettier twin sister.

Thinking about the return of 1980s fashion, if I had to choose a Dynasty style icon to emulate I would definitely go for the Joan Collins look....and not just because I'm not a tall, thin, Teutonic blonde.
The fabrics, the furs, the jewels, the voice, the stare and the scheming
what's not to love?
Joan Collins on Dynasty was the whole package...and more!

So, this is how I would roll....Joan Collins Style

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6 comments:

Imogen Lamport, AICI CIP said...

Shoulder pads are definitely coming back in style. It reminds me of my misspent youth!

Jill said...

Great post...I totally channeled Joan's character for my wedding to my husband back in 2000. I wore a red suit with a fur collar and had an outrageous 80's updo. I loved it! She was my favorite. Remember the catfight? Recently there were pics of her in Hello...heavily airbrushed but she still looks divine.

Love the fur coat!

Couture Carrie said...

Loving:
(a) your description of your mom;
(b) the return of the 80s; and
(c) all these vintage pieces, especially the dress and clutch!

Fabulous post, darling!

xoxox,
CC

Jill said...

I'm gonna link to this post sometime soon. I'm going out of town soon, so I'm scheduling a lot of posts.

Belle de Ville said...

Thanks everyone. The only thing missing from this post is a mink hat a la Joan Collins!

Unknown said...

I'm laughing :D I have a furry hat similar to Joan's (but fake fur) Maybe with the 80s comeback, I might be able to pull it off come winter :D

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