Although I believe we experienced similar cultural trajectories, contemporaneous timelines, and the movements and trends that coloured them, I am always struck to find in your writing on fashion that our basic approach to trend was very different. For you, clothes appear to serve as first principle; for me the clothes were always a consequence of the music and art in which I immersed myself at any given time.
I enjoyed musing on this: "being and doing replaced by having, only to be further replaced by appearing." Whether trendy Gramicci-festooned rock climber (mock climber?) or a "weekend rockstar in the toilets practicing their lines" in skinny jeans and biker jacket, the simulacrum has always been more fun and more immediately gratifying than schlepping up a massive boulder or living out of a transit van with 3 other foul-smelling idiots. And I have done both.
I have always unapologetically embraced the pose, and while there are a few subs I've avoided (metal, skate, skin etc.) I have successfully managed a 5-decade cultural career, prompted primarily by music, that has gone from pretending to be Bay City Rollers and Showaddywaddy, to Bowie and Roxy Music, to all subsequent things punk, post-punk, goth, indie, and beyond.
At 61, I'm still feeling the need to morph and style up myself. Plenty of pose left in my posturing.
Yep, clothes always first principle. Most of my memories from gigs are of scrutinising people through perpetual glances, meticulously logging observations, etc.
Yes, and I think it's now discounted if you shop around. It's shows a slightly different perspective on i-D and you realise that quite a few of the supposed raw street shots are constructed in advance
Great stuff, Ian.
Although I believe we experienced similar cultural trajectories, contemporaneous timelines, and the movements and trends that coloured them, I am always struck to find in your writing on fashion that our basic approach to trend was very different. For you, clothes appear to serve as first principle; for me the clothes were always a consequence of the music and art in which I immersed myself at any given time.
I enjoyed musing on this: "being and doing replaced by having, only to be further replaced by appearing." Whether trendy Gramicci-festooned rock climber (mock climber?) or a "weekend rockstar in the toilets practicing their lines" in skinny jeans and biker jacket, the simulacrum has always been more fun and more immediately gratifying than schlepping up a massive boulder or living out of a transit van with 3 other foul-smelling idiots. And I have done both.
I have always unapologetically embraced the pose, and while there are a few subs I've avoided (metal, skate, skin etc.) I have successfully managed a 5-decade cultural career, prompted primarily by music, that has gone from pretending to be Bay City Rollers and Showaddywaddy, to Bowie and Roxy Music, to all subsequent things punk, post-punk, goth, indie, and beyond.
At 61, I'm still feeling the need to morph and style up myself. Plenty of pose left in my posturing.
Yep, clothes always first principle. Most of my memories from gigs are of scrutinising people through perpetual glances, meticulously logging observations, etc.
Another wonderful read - exploding myths and adding clarity.
Very kind of you. I've been staring at the essay for 3 weeks thinking it didn't make sense! I'm hoping it heads somewhere in the next part
I like the look of the rebel stylist book. Is it good?
Yes, and I think it's now discounted if you shop around. It's shows a slightly different perspective on i-D and you realise that quite a few of the supposed raw street shots are constructed in advance
Thanks Ian