The Power of Paisley [1985]

Text by Nancy Foster / FFanzeen, 1985 / 2021
Images from the Internet

The Power of Paisley

This article was originally published in FFanzeen, issue #13, dated 1985. It was written by ultracool Nancy Foster.

When one thinks of 1980s underground garage revival music, the tendency is to lean towards hardcore punk or either springy or dirge-like synthesizers. For me, that period was alive with the garage revival, with bands like the Chesterfield Kings, the Tryfles, the Vipers, the Mosquitoes, the Brood, the Cheepskates, and of course, The Mystic Eyes. This also revived a clearly defined retro-look that was a post-Hippie/post-punk style. Nancy took a look a what makes a cool, neo-garage fashion statement. – RBF, 2021  

 

To quote The Catalog of Cool! [by Gene Sculatti], “Cool is not a fad or a fashion. Therefore, cool’s enemies are not ‘preppy’ or ‘punk’ or last month’s unearthed or invented sensibilities. Cool’s beef is with misapplied style, false expression-attitudes and tastes that have nothing to do with the person who adopts them. Thousand-bucks cowboy ensembles, idle jet-setters who send nanny out of find them New Wave togs for the cocktail party, ‘Fatigue chic’ (you want khaki parachute pants? Enlist).”

If you want to think you are hip and that you are a trendsetter instead of a lemming, since all fashion is cyclical, take some hints from the swinging ‘sixties. As the mini-skirt is the only logical garment for a modern girl to wear, with parental supervision grab the scissors and start cutting six to eight inches pre-knee for minis, and if you’re really daring, seven inches pre-knee for micro-minis.

A cool place to find clothes is the closet, attic, or basement of mom, an aunt, or an older sister, especially if one of the aforementioned relatives was a teenager in the ‘sixties. Black jeans are also a must! White is great if you’re into beachcombing. They deflect the sun’s deadly rays. Try Trash and Vaudeville on St. Mark’s Place. Yet, to get that painted-on look, expect to do some altering.

Paisley shirts can also be found at Trash at reasonable prices.  They also have a lot of nice, well-tailored, sharp looking shirts for the discerning mod-strips, dots, paisley, etc. These shirts are gorgeous. So, if you’re into Paul Weller, the Mod Revival or Wall Street, these are for you.

 

Shoes and Boots

The Chesterfield Kings have their “Puerto Rican fence climbers” made for them. You can get Beatle Boots at Trash.  Girls, pumps are a classic, but flats and go-go boots are better if you want to go-go all night. Go-go boots are got-got gotten at Manic Panic and Trash. For ‘sixties style flats, check out Capezio or Bandolino. They haven’t lost their touch. Danskin makes a great folk-dance shoe so you will be ready for the hootenanny!

Legs Galore

Da foot bone connected to da leg bone, and you have to decorate that, too. You can pull an Edie Sedgewick and wear black tights exclusively. They are great for hiding any imperfections and they don’t run. Fishnets, windowpanes, any texture – lacey, dots, etc. – are all groovy. Shazam. Manic Panic and Trash have a wide array of colors and styles.

Accessories

Chain belts are great, especially with a short, A-line mini of body-hugging, clingy fabric. For pocketbooks, try the little girl’s department of the 5 and 10 stores. I found some great chain, shoulder bags and groovy green and yeah-yeah yellow plastic.

 

Make-up

Maybe suntans figure into the Paisley Underground in L.A., but I’m not into that. Being cool means being extreme; contrasts. Dye your brown hair black. Dye your auburn hair flaming red. Dye your blonde hair platinum. Lancome made a perfect shade of foundation called Ivory Mist, but they discontinued it. A good substitute is Ivory, by Stagelight. Black eyeliner is a must – draw out to there! Cleopatra style!

Pale lipsticks – whites, silvers, golds, sometimes with a hint of pink – are great! Barone has a fab shade called  Strawberry Ice Cream, but don’t eat it! Chorus Line has a great mother of pearl shade called (get this British Invasion fans) Moody Blue. Revlon remembers the ‘sixties with white lipstick and nail polish – White On White.

Someone, please import some Yardley. Twiggy used to wear their triple layer false eyelashes. Cake on the mascara and make it waterproof because Fuzztones’ Rudi Prodrudi is sure to make the little girls cry!

 

Street Chic

For the urban and suburban guerilla, black jeans, black t-shirt, black boots, black leather jacket, and Wayfarer shades are the best gear! Though if you can’t use camouflage to protect yourself, blind the muggers with neon color a la  Stephen Sprouse.