Although I've only been around since the 90's, I can still see massive changes in society, politics, technology, mannerisms, laws and especially fashion...
My Grandma is a gorgeously glamorous woman who takes great pride in her appearance and her belief of her looking good on the outside making her feel good on the inside. As we were sat in her living room last night, she dug out a box of photographs from her archives - that kind of box that feels like holding a time machine, full of answers and flashbacks to decades before when life seemed much sweeter than today. As I rummaged through Black&White and Sepia photographs this leggy blonde kept staring back from every photograph. Even from her early teens she looked graceful and beautiful, doll eyed, natural and the perfect description of feminism. As I flicked through her years; late 1950's she was in her early teenage years, blossoming in full skirts and small waists with carefully coiffed hair; 1960's in her 20's beaming back at the camera with my Grandad next to her, looking in love, her hair styled into a sky high beehive with a sweeping fringe across her forehead and a swinging 60's shift dress; 1970's in her 30's, settled into married life and with the pitter patter of 3 sets of small feet (my mum, my uncle and my aunty), her hair was long down to her waist, silky and blonde with a straight full fringe, she wore flared high waist jeans with a billowing blouse tucked in; 1980's her hair has transformed into a gravity-defying ultra perm with ringlets to rival Richie, she wore a structured skirt and jacket suit with humongous shoulder pads, Pat Butcher earrings and pointy court shoes.My point being that even through the years as the fashion changed and she chameleoned across trends - some good, some bad; she still managed to pull them off, and that is something I envy. Fashion had so much more balls back then - people were not quick to judge you on what you were wearing, they would salute your courage and backbone for having your own style identity. I just hope we can ignore the stereotypes today and wear what we like, what makes us feel good! I am no fashion junkie, I don't know my Prada's from my Burberry's, but I know what I like and will stick with what I like, as it makes me feel good.