The Power of Inspiration - part 2

The 80's...Oh, 80's, 80's, 80's,  I miss the 80's. I started my career in fashion in the mid-80's. I landed a job as in-house designer for a garment factory that supplies Ready to Wear clothes for Rustan's ( a high end Department Store in Manila ). I got the job just a month after I finished my course in Fashion Design. I was terrified to learn from a friend who recommended me for the job that I have to go for a job interview. It was my very first and have no idea what i'm gonna say wth my interviewer. The minute I sat at the chair inside the office of the owner, who eventually became my boss, there were a lots of thought running in my mind. "What if I'll just go and not accept the job or stay and give it a try " and so on.

On one table near me I noticed there were fashion magazines, mostly the thick ones ( Collezioni, Moda, Sketchbook and more). I decided to browse to entertain myself while waiting, then, voila! A fabulous photos of fashion shows from several designers collections appeared in front my very eye. It was, again, my first time to see a magazine like that with complete coverage of fashion shows. I checked each page, from one image to another. All designers offered different distinct look but following the same trend ( most of them ). The look was so tailored and yet feminine; wide shoulders, tight waist, wide legged trousers and super high spike heels. Very sharp, it has power!...it's "Power Dressing."

the 80's Power Dressing

The most popular designers looks at that time as far as I remember were from Thierry Mugler, Norma Kamali & Claude Montana. The big shoulders looked sooo amazing, very vogue! Almost every woman on planet earth wore shoulder pads that time. You're not "in" if you're not. Several sizes of  waist cincher made from leather, faux leather and fabrics, as well as bold prints in geometrics were so relevant and a must have. Since these trend was more on tailoring details it became very appealing to me. Because the YSL and the Chanel signature looks were somehow already embeded on my mind and has become my basis on every design I make and looks I prefer. I'm also bias with "clean" silhouettes and yet edgy, not so much on fussy embelishings and unwanted accessories that makes the whole design "very busy."

                                               Claude Montana

                                    Norma Kamali

                                                        Thierry Mugler

I know that the 80's was the era of "Excess" not only in fashion but in lifestyle perse. But I'm so thankful that there's these designers who opted to create a collection that were very chic and elegant but not boring! There were theatrical collections like the ones from Thierry Mugler and Jean Paul Gaultier but theirs were exceptional, you'll get inspired and ask for more of their work.


That moment what happened to me was, I got energized, like a car refilled by gasoline. My interview went well, whew! I was able to say what I have to say. Thank God for all the images I saw on the magazines it helped me a lot to boost my confidence.

                                             

                                                                 Jean Paul Gaultier

( Part 3 in progress )