Fashion in the 80s

In the 70s the bulk of the fashion statement comprised of characteristic tight fitting clothes for the upper body and loose fitting and wider clothes for the lower portion. This trend of fashion was wholly reversed in the 80s. Both men and women wore loose shirts or tops and tight and body hugging pants. There was also a notion that people should display their wealth through their attire, so men began wearing power suits. There was also an emergent popularity of brand names like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein etc. Within the decade, these names had become household lingo.

Madonna was entitled the "material girl" in the 'like a virgin' era. Millions of girls worshipped her like a goddess and looked to her for inspiration and her fashion statements. The general public was introduced to the concept of ripped Sweatshirts by the popular '83 movie 'Flashdance'. The popularity of overtly sized shoulder pads owed its fame to television shows like 'Dallas' and 'Dynasty' which produced an overwhelming impact on popular fashion.

In the European countries and the United Kingdom a new fashion movement shook the very foundations of the clothing industry changing the way men and women dressed in that decade. Aerobics shows and dance themed movies were so popular on both television and the silver screen that they created their own line of dancewear, leg warmers, leggings and other dancewear which wear wore on the streets with flaunt. The movie 'Flashdance' made ripped sweatshirts popular for women as they exposed one shoulder and women found it to be quite a sexy look. Jane Fonda and Olivia Newton John's line of physical and aerobic videos also popularized tight dance and exercise apparel. The decade saw explosively colorful fashion.

There was also the 'thriller look' which was inspired by Michael Jackson's album "Thriller". Jackson was a craze with teenagers. Every teen and tween alike tried to copy his rock star look and attempt the famous 'moonwalk'. Jackson popularized the leather pants and jackets. The jackets would be left unbuttoned by some teens to give the impression of a messier look. Handsker, which were generally fingerless, accompanied the attire. The white gloves of Jackson were both a coveted item and famous amongst the then young generation. With world war II there was a comeback of the aviator jackets. The pilots wore these jackets and became very popular with young boys and men as they made them desirous to the ladies.

Heighten Yourself

Few people exist who undermine the value of Platform Boots (also famous as disco boots). They are Sko or sandals with thick soles of cork, rubber, plastic, foam or even wood (called clogs). The soles can be as thick as 4inches. They have been known to exist since ancient times, worn by people of all cultures as something fashionable or just a measure to add a few inches to one's height.

Platform boots were popular in Greece and in Venice. The Greeks used it for raising one's height to give prominence to characters of the Greek theatre. High class prostitutes/courtesans of 16th century Venice also used them. People have also been known to have used these shoes in 18th century Europe to avoid the dirt and mud of the streets. Resemblance has also been found to the Roman 'buskin', the Japanese 'geta' and also Støvler from China having the same thick soles. The purpose of all these variants was to give added stature to the wearer. The Chinese still wear it as part of their costume for the Peking Opera.

Platform soles gained much popularity in the 1930s in Europe, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The popularity continued into the 1940s and 1950s, but heightened (no pun intended!) in the 1970s and 1980s in the U.S. when they started appearing in advertisements in magazines. The shoes were a rage with young girls and boys, teens, tweens and even older women. The name 'disco boots' owes itself to this era. The shoes went well with the disco era of that decade merging seamlessly with the then apparel fashion. Although, for females, it did increase height without the discomfort of pencil heels, it also gave the impression that they have been worn only to attract attention. Men have primarily worn them to get over their complex of being short, however, a wee bit taller is also considered fun by many. Many rock musicians have also worn these shoes giving them added exposure and enigma. Platform heels have seen a very high rate of rise and fall in terms of fashion popularity but they still remain a must addition to any shoe cupboard. Many variations of the heel have been manufactured to suit almost all needs-- there are designer platforms for girls and rugged soles for serious trekkers (the soles almost look like tires of an off-road vehicle!).

GARMENTS FOR ALL SEASONS – SWEATSHIRTS, JAKKER

High up in the popularity chart of the most popular stitched garments for either men or women is the Sweatshirts, that quintessential item of comfort, style and functionality. Its parallel in the formal/semi-formal segment would be the jacket that has the distinction of supreme adaptability to both formal and casual wear.

Upping the fashion quotient for any informal , relaxing activity sweatshirts can be bought in a variety of hard-wearing fabrics. Acrylic outers with a soft cotton inner lining , combed cotton with a polyester combine or a regular sweatshirt with spandex components are much in demand. People today are much more conscious of their appearance than they were earlier and finding a piece of apparel that gives a flattering silhouette and is accessorized according to occasion becomes of paramount importance. Sweatshirts give an air of freedom and nonchalance and are therefore extremely desired by the younger generation. Many famous sports clubs have their uniquely designed sportswear which are actually sweatshirts with the identifying logos. Such items become a craze in the markets and fill up the shelves of stores selling the same, at the same time generating a lot of revenue. There is innumerable choice as far as designs go. Online catalogues give a lot of information on innovations and variations of pattern , fabric and special add-ons that emerge everyday. Symmetrical necklines along with the off-shoulder versions are available in the slouchy or distressed varieties. It is true that the current market allows the customer sufficient alternatives to cater to every kind of demand.

In contrast to the sweatshirt that is a fairly recent phenomenon, Jakker came into circulation much earlier, as long ago as the mid-nineteenth century. A jacket is a sleeved upper-body garment that is usually of waist length but might be extended up to the hip level. It is often confused with the ‘coat’ but is actually made of much lighter material. The jacket is a perfect addition to any wardrobe as it can be worn in any season. Style combined with comfort and practicality this piece of apparel is stitched in a mind-boggling array of fabrics starting from the humble cotton to fancy leather, wool, expensive silk or exclusive brocade or even water-resistant material. This chic garment can be worn in a smart short-cropped, quarter-sleeved version or a longer one with a flowing cut. Most jackets are designed keeping in focus the specific occasion for its use. It can make a statement both haute couture or simply functional.

Keeping pace with the ever-changing demands of the discerning public, both sweatshirts and jackets combine wearability with functionality and style and are abundantly available in exclusive as well as cheap markets all over the world.

Covering for hands and feet stylized

Come winter and people take out their woolies and warm clothes. Along with gorging on various types of sinfully rich food they also take shelter of heavy clothes for protecting themselves from freezing. Not all the countries across world face similar kind of cold. It differs from one country to another. Even within a country, many regions may face different types of cold. Some may face severe cold whereas some may face it in moderation. People residing in regions which has moderate climatic conditions; do not require special type of clothing for protection against cold. Garments made from blended textile can work well for them. But it becomes highly important to have woolen or warm clothes in region which faces severe cold, like northern region. People wear clothes suitable for protecting them against cold. The winter clothing includes sweaters, jackets, caps, scarves etc. All these garments are preferred in woolen form. Hands and feet are the body parts which are supposed to be the farthest from body. So they require more protection.

It is not only for protection against the winter, but there is constant requirement for protecting the hands and feet. Take an example of fire- fighters. They extinguish fires and may get burns on hands and feet in carrying out their duties. In these cases, there is a requirement to protect them against fire. People who work in hotels also need to protect their hands against fire. While serving the waiters in fine dining hotels use special types of Handsker, to avoid leaving any finger marks. The doctors and nurses have their special type of covering for their hands. There are especially designed hand gears worn by the boxers in the fighting rings. The very basic function of these covering is to protect the hands from any extreme conditions. So is the case of feet. Sko have only one basic function and that is to protect the feet from getting hurt or injured. There are various leading brands in market. Every garment or clothing is carefully designed and styled to offer maximum functionality.

It is not just for the functionality that these garments are used, but in higher class wearing stylized accessories is a must. People go deep pockets while buying rear pieces of clothes from the designers. Considering the functionality and durability is the secondary criterion for such buyers.

Winter clothes in fashion for the handsome sex.

Come winters and there comes out sweaters and Jakker from your cupboards to keep you warm. Chilled and freeze atmosphere is fun. Running out in the snow with hand full of snow balls, throwing them at your mates are pleasures avoidable. Protecting your body and keeping it warm in this dry season is a priority. The woolen clothes help in keeping our body insulated and hence maintaining the temperature within. The winter clothing should be selected choicely. It must be properly ventilated. It must not be too tight and stick to your body as it restricts the warm air in the cloths from coming out. Depending on the chillness of the atmosphere outside, cull your dresses. If too much cold prevail heavier material of Sweatshirts and sweaters are opted and for milder cold, a soft material like single layered woolens are fancied. Hands are also kept temperate by hand gloves and mittens. Feet and hands are easily accessible to cold than other parts and they cause the chilling in the whole body. Socks are worn for happy feet and gloves are a must whenever you travel in cold.

Jackets used have trendy patterns according to a customer’s demands. They may be zipped ones called the zip front jacket or the simple capped ones called the hooded jacket. They are also available in furry patterns. Moreover other types are like crew jacket or a tracks jacket. These winter wears should also be taken care of perfectly. They all have there own style statements to offer. Costumed printed sweatshirts are cool. They are used by sportspersons. Your favorite celebrity wears it and obviously you would also love to own it. They are all available online in the sites of respective companies that propose an array of costumes for winter wears. You can pay and buy them online. There are assorted and well maintained collections of attires of your wish available here.

Rock On!

There evolved, in the mid 1980s in England, a particular type or form of music. It was influenced by, had mostly a fusion of, Hardcore Punk, Extreme Metal and Anarcho Punk. This style was called “Crust” or ‘crust punk’. The crust punk songs had dark, pessimistic and gothic lyrics criticizing the political and social ‘diseases’ plaguing the society.

Most critics define this type of punk as being both dirty and having too much of bass. They are regarded as, just simply, ‘noise’ by many. The instruments are often too loud and the vocals have to be guttural to keep up. The vocalists generally growl and scream, so there is no actual musical singing involved and more than often the lyrics are hard to decipher amidst the chaos. Crust punk bands as Doom, Antisect, Nausea, Amebix, Hellbastard etc were influenced by anarcho punk bands as Discharge, Crass andVEnom.

Crust is basically a derivative type of a fusion of hardcore, metal riffs and anarcho punk. The songs are played at a fast tempo. The pace, however, comes short of thrashcore or grindcore. However, even with the fast tempos most songs have small and slow sections. The drummer and the guitarists literally are pushed to their limits in terms of play speed. Even so, crust has remained an underground form of music.

The lyrics of the song are shouted and shrieked by two or more vocals. If you want to go to a crust punk concert to listen to some musical singing then I would advise you to stay home and watch “Exorcist” as it would be far less torturing and horrifying! But for the adrenaline junkie these concerts are heaven. The lyrics of the songs revolve around fascism, nuclear war, military, government, love, oppression and so on. Mysticism has also been a subject, though used rarely.

The fashion of Crust Punk is Do-It-Yourself type of punk fashion. Most of the clothing is black in color, including the makeup. Dreadlocks are a distinguishable feature of this fashion. Hooded sweatshirts and denim sweatshirts have sewn on band patches on them. Vests are often covered with studs and spikes.

Crust punk in recent days has fused with other musical forms to evolve and give birth to new forms. The types include- Industrial, Grind core, Power Violence, and Black Metal. However, it continues to maintain its originality.

Men’s Wear: Russian Style

The Russian military has a saying, “We may be few in number, but we wear telnyashkas!” Worn by sailors of the Russian navy, the Russian Airborne and the Russian Marines, the telnyashka is a dark undershirt with white horizontal stripes, with or without sleeves. It is said to symbolize pride and manliness for its wearers. The telnyashka was popularized by Vassili Zaitsev. Vassili was an officer in the Soviet Pacific Fleet who was later commissioned as a sniper. He played an important part in the battle of Stalingrad. All along his duty he refused to give up his telnyashka because he felt proud wearing it. The telnyashkas were later also incorporated into the airborne forces after modernization by General Margelov. The telnyashka still emanates an elite status for the wearer in Russia.

In Russia, official military uniforms of the navy, marines and the airborne have no shirts. The upper half of the body can only be attired with specially made jackets, the telnyashkas remain visible. So it is not considered a part of the Undertøj but something to be worn with pride.

Telnyashkas are also available commercially for the civilian customers of the country. They however, wear it as underwear. There are few who would like to flaunt it, like teenagers, and feel like a real man! The military variant of this shirt comes with a single thread knitting, but, double and quadruple knittings have also been experimented with for increasing warmth and/or comfort. Interestingly, quadruple telnyashkas, even without Jakker or any other forms of attire on top of them, can keep a person comfortably warm even at temperatures of 4-6°C. Divers sometimes wear it under their suits to keep warm in the frigid waters.

The telnyashka has evolved with time. Not only has the knit patterns been altered but variations in the use of material and color has also been noticed. The stripes on these shirts can be altered to mark separate groups or parts of the army. For example, ‘blue’ signify paratroopers and the Spetnaz, ‘light green’ signify the border guards, ‘red’ signify the OMON and MVD and the common ‘black’ signifies the naval infantry or the marines.

Whatever be the case, few countries have military attire which has been so passionately worn by its soldiers. The Russian sailors and others who wear telnyashkas consider wearing one to be of a great honor, comparable to only the honor begotten from serving the motherland.