Nylon Jackets

Know to me as 'Windbreakers' (what we call them here in Canada but does sound rather like someone who passes too much gas)  and  also known as 'Windcheaters' in the UK.

They are not something I think about, go shopping for or have even owned in the last 19 years.

My last windbreaker was fluorescent, yellow. It was so bright that your eyes couldn't believe that it was true. It was at least three sizes to big for me and even though fluorescent clothes were uber-cool in 1991 I hated it. One good explanation for this was that it's brighter than life shade helped bullies to spot me from wherever I was hiding in the playground.

So I truly had not considered windbreakers/windcheaters until yesterday afternoon.

A store that looked like it might still sell gem sweaters in a tiny, empty (even on Saturday mall) carried a brand called Spanner that  appear to be the king of fashionable windbreakers/windcheaters:


Resort 2010

This little nu-rave number was my first choice but they only had a small left in stock that wouldn't have fit if you'd greased me into it. The pictures really don't do the colours justice. Also you can't see the distressed stud details (the snap closures are decorated with white pyramid studs).

 

It was at the last minute that I saw this fluorescent coral 3/4 length one on the mannequin in the shop window. I tried it on, it fit! And now at the age of 25 I once again have a fluorescent windbreaker/windcheater.

 

Spring 2010

I really like the silver foil one (also available in bronze) but I'm not sure how many windbreakers/windcheaters one can reasonably own.


My thanks go to the lovely staff at Peggy's in Hopedale Mall, Oakville, Ontario.

What a Drag...

I remember the first time I saw this music video I was totally gob smacked by Freddy Mercury's sexy mustachioed housewife.

The song and the video have a special place in my heart and never fail to cheer me.

I love drag queens because they can dress  like women but without all of the pressure to look pretty or be sexy. I know there are plenty of women who dress like drag queens  but they are few and far between and they tend to be Pop stars.

In the fashion world anyway, I would say Lynn Yeager, Anna Piaggi, Betsey Johnson, Zandra Rhodes and Vivienne Westwood have the Drag aesthetic and attitude totally nailed.

To me anyway, Drag culture is as much about attitude as it is about aesthetic. It seems to exude a sort of 'Don't give a fuck' attitude which I think everyone could benefit from. Ultimately there is a humour born from sadness underlying the aesthetic.The theatricality used as a kind of armour against a world that is so un accepting of others.

If  I could be a part of either world I just feel that I would be freer some how. I find myself, inpsite of a vast collection of clothes and accessories, dressing drably from day to day. I guess I fear judegement by small minded people and on a deeper level just want to dissapear sometimes (hard to do with electric coloured clothes, spiked accesories and gigantic hats).

An excellent film to see is Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Prior to watching it I knew very little about the film and had no expectations so I was very pleasantly surprised indeed. I would say that it is now one of my favourite  films of all time. It is all at once, beautiful, sad, humorous and ultimately full of hope and strength. And it was filmed in Toronto!