Back in September, this happened.
Because this thing is happening.
Organized and curated by Clara Berg of MOHAI (this photo from her lecture Sept 2016)
A image from Ms Berg's lecture, regarding Seattle clothing considerations.
The exhibit already had the gratuitous fashion spread in a local mag
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| Seattle Magazine April 2019 photo by Hayley Young |
But let's talk about my shoes....
The request went out last summer for this exhibit for locally acquired clothing from the 'grunge' era.
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https://nyti.ms/2tGFMDz
This article is one of the great pranks of Seattle history:
As it turned out, the grunge era clothing donated was all men's. Nothing from the women.
In 1990, I was 31, about ten years older than the people I worked with, the kids who saw the bands, were in the videos, went to the parties. From my ancient vantage, I had a good second hand working knowledge of the players, and made a lot of friends who still kick my ass today.
Always make younger friends.
Always make younger friends.
Most importantly, I could afford to buy these shoes then.
What is interesting to me about the concept of the 'classic grunge' clothing model is the attention to what the guys wore. Everyone was thrift shopping. some were dumpster diving. I can only speak for the ladies: the older and fancier the stuff, the better. For example, I worked in a craft workshop in Ballard, using power tools and chemicals and spray paints, wearing goggles and lab coats over crinolines or silk shantung 50’s suits (and these shoes) every day. You’d drop the lab coat and goggles, get on the bus to Capitol Hill or Belltown and do the bar/show circuit in the same clothes. I shudder to think of the beer that was spilled on those clothes (or the cigarettes smoked in them). The Goodwill Games (1990) had brought a lot of new playmates to town and put a lot of people into paying jobs those people would never have gotten any other time. That money probably financed even more bands. Thinking about it now, this series of events just proved that the boys would never have to grow up to get a job, and the girls had to be the grownups in the room.
What is interesting to me about the concept of the 'classic grunge' clothing model is the attention to what the guys wore. Everyone was thrift shopping. some were dumpster diving. I can only speak for the ladies: the older and fancier the stuff, the better. For example, I worked in a craft workshop in Ballard, using power tools and chemicals and spray paints, wearing goggles and lab coats over crinolines or silk shantung 50’s suits (and these shoes) every day. You’d drop the lab coat and goggles, get on the bus to Capitol Hill or Belltown and do the bar/show circuit in the same clothes. I shudder to think of the beer that was spilled on those clothes (or the cigarettes smoked in them). The Goodwill Games (1990) had brought a lot of new playmates to town and put a lot of people into paying jobs those people would never have gotten any other time. That money probably financed even more bands. Thinking about it now, this series of events just proved that the boys would never have to grow up to get a job, and the girls had to be the grownups in the room.
It could be argued that this Peter Pan attitude has continued with the tech boom. "See, I don't have to return phone calls or pay attention to bills or be a responsible member of my community. I can make a living in my pajamas."
These shoes were the envy of my friends. They were not
cheap, but they lasted. Which I cannot say for the thrift store silk suits. If you
do not clean the beer out promptly...
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| If you look very closely, you'll note the toes have been redyed with Magic Marker. |
And to be honest, I wore them to work with my 50's rayon shirt dress
https://erniekdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/09/old-friend-comes-to-table-of-remodeling.html
The show opened this weekend, May 4th. I will report on it the week after.
See ya later, Doc.
The show opened this weekend, May 4th. I will report on it the week after.
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| waiting to finish the paperwork, hanging out on the conference table, MOHAI offices |
Wow, how cool is that?! You're in a museum. ahem, your shoes are, I mean.
ReplyDeleteWell, I've spent enough time there this week, I might as well. Lots of events. Lots and lots.
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