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LouieFashion in Film: Fame
August 9th 2007 02:31
I'm gonna live forever! FAME! The Movie- pic from visiontv.ca
Hitting our screens in 1980 was the Alan Parker directed film Fame. Originally titled Hot Lunch after one of the main songs in the film, the new name came about as a result of a porn film being released around the same time that already had that title. Good choice.
With an awesome soundtrack including the classic theme song by Irene Cara, a cast of thousands of amazing dancers, singers, actors and musicians, we were all motivated to get out and strut our stuff. For those of you who haven't seen it, or are too young to remember (yikes!), here's a link to part of the film which includes the theme song to give you an idea. Nothing had been seen like it before, so you may need to put yourself in our shoes and use your imagination for a second.
While we followed the students through the arts high school based on LaGuardia in New York, their dreams, struggles, thoughts and fears, a new 80's phenomenon was born. Our obsession with dancing, and dancewear as street chic. Aspiring jazz ballerinas and young girls everywhere had leotards and wrap tops on the street, and let's not forget the tights and leg warmers mode that swept the globe.
I wanna learn how to fly - pic from Energetiks Dancewear
These days dancewear is making a comeback, with leg warmers making a showing in winter fashion. With Pilates and Yoga being the new jazz ballet, the modern woman is finding the same stretchy fabrics appropriate for comfort and style. There are many places you can find the gear to achieve the look.
You need to have a good leotard as your basis, preferably in a solid colour. This is early 80's remember, before we went all crazy with shiny Lycra and aerobics, this style had a classier ballet sensibility.
I can catch the moon in my hands - Cleopatra Camisole Corset Leotard - pic from blochworld.com
For the ballerina, you would wear tights with the floaty mini skirt, and a wrap top over to keep you warm while you flexed your strong and sinewy muscles around the rehearsal room.
Baby look at me - Adeline Ladies Cascading Skirt - pic from blochworld.com
And tell me what you see! - Fallon Long Sleeve Loop Top - pic from blochworld.com
By the time the spin-off TV series had started in 1982, the dancewear fashion had grown substantially. Before Flashdance and Footloose had even hit our screens, we had all determined from that point, that leg warmers were way cool. This trend was then seen in suburban shopping centres across the western world....and spawned a new generation of knitters.
People will see me and cry - Donna Stirrup Ankle Leg Warmer - pic from blochworld.com
With tights and grey marle trackies underneath, the short shorts were worn over the top for both men and women to give you maximum flexibility on your high kicks. Leroy (Gene Anthony Ray) was the one who started this for the boys. Kind of .....New York Ghetto meets Nureyev.
Light up the sky like a flame - Mens Adidas Split Shorts - pic from shopadidas.com
Jazz Ballet necessitated a solid shoe to support you on those heavy landings after you leapt in the air, usually a high top sneaker or a gym boot. That tradition has carried through to today, and thankfully technology now gives you a split sole to allow Pointe to the extreme.
I feel it coming together - Leather High Top Split Sole Dance Boot - pic from blochworld.com
The popularity of dancing and dancewear has only showed slight signs of waning, and has had regular resurgence over the last 20 plus years since this rage swept the world. As seen throughout this post, the leader in local dancewear has always been, and remains Bloch. With outlets throughout Australia, their more recent range of fashion clothing has only increased awareness and given more street cred.
Other places to grab your stretchy comfort wear include Abi and Joseph who have a great line designed more specifically for Yoga and Pilates, which you can purchase online. For the dance enthusiasts out there is Energetiks, and Dance and Design and of course Rebel Sports which stocks apparel for any kind of movement.
Here's another link to a part of the film to give you an idea of the dancewear, this is the aforementioned Hot Lunch sequence.
Start in first position and jump, turn, drag and kick your way into the next dance class with 80's style, and you'll truly look like you know what you're doing.
Don't you know who I am?
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Comment by Aimzster
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Comment by DuskDevi
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I love that cascading skirt but somehow, I don't think I'll be wearing that to boxing class...then again, why not??
At least ballet flats are 'in'...and I'm seeing legwarmers everywhere!
Excellent post Chic...very nostalgic and funny!
Comment by DuskDevi
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Comment by Chic Critique
Thanks for your lovely comments as always!
KylieW - Legwarmers were the shizzle back then weren't they?!
Aimzster - there is something about dressing like a dancer isn't there - I completely agree.
Now JR - that is a very good question. I was highly addicted to the TV show when it was around, and wasn't as taken with the film myself. Why? Can't tell you - maybe it was about following the artists journey or something equally poetic and corny?
Thanks to all of you for stopping by, voting and leaving comments - means a great deal to me!
Comment by katyzzz
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All of my children learned ballet (very expensive with three), boy included, and I just love all dance, dance, dance, and music, music, music, and these ballet clothes just knocked me out, so I'm all yours on this one.
That first 'ensemble' was just so lovely and ballet girls always look so beautiful, they are so well groomed.
I guess I can just lie down and die now, you've made my day. All this and Heaven too.
katyzzz
Comment by Chic Critique
I know what you mean about the grooming too, the hair in facelift buns and the pretty faces.
Thanks for your incredibly kind words. But don't die on us yet!
Cheers!