adminFLIPPING through my mother’s photo albums as a child was a weekend ritual. There were about six of them, from 1978 to around 1983. It was fun to meet all her friends and relatives I never got to meet or see, how those I knew looked like back in the day. I remember sitting on the floor, flipping through the albums one by one — I did it every weekend and never got bored.
She would always complain, I remember, wondering why I never got tired of going through her pictures.
But I thought it was fascinating how she, her friends, my aunts and uncles would dress or how they would pose for pictures.
It was cool posing for a picture while carrying a radio, just for the swag of it.
Squatting or posing for pictures while holding onto tree leaves and branches or perching themselves in the middle of a hedge was also popular.
It was nice to see how hot my mother looked before she brought my brother and I into the world. She was probably a size 4, prim and proper. Now in her 50’s by the way — she still looks like a million dollars.
One particular picture remains vivid in my mind. She wore a long-sleeved silk black dress with a vent on the left paired with a thin black belt on her waist and a pair of black stiletto heels. She kept an afro and wore red lipstick.
This was when rocking a bell bottom was cool and platform shoes were the in thing.
It was when neon colours were the hottest trend and a “perm” was a must have. Wearing a figure belt was fashion savvy and people would paint the town red and blue in viscose.
I got a glimpse of the 80’s through my mother’s albums and as I grew older, started to notice some of the clothes I saw in the albums in her wardrobe.
I’d try them out, especially the shoes — I loved the green and red heels although I’d only wear them in the house.
I still have some of my mother’s classic fashion pieces, believe it or not.
That’s the beauty of fashion. Trends become popular over a certain period of time only to resurface modified years later.
I grew up when hipsters, paddle pushers and the “spice miss” were in every girl’s wardrobe.
The hipster, that some of us still wear today, was a modification of the bell bottom and the “spice miss” is what they called the platform shoes back then.
The afro is probably one hairstyle that has stood the test of time. In the 90’s, people would stick their afro combs in the middle of their neatly combed afro hair but today, people just don’t comb their afro and it looks cool like that. We’re calling it Afrocentric now, being contemporary.
Different fashion epochs borrow from each other, that’s why I can wear the black dress my mother wore in the 80’s today and you’d never notice.
It’s all about how you decide to accessorise these fashion classics.
A black dress will always be a black dress — pair it with colourful heels, a matching clutch bag and some flattering jewellery.
Shoes are the easiest to dust off because designers today simply recreate trends from the 80’s and the 90’s — they call it vintage.
In fact, “vintage” is what’s hot nowadays. Many of us, because we were not around in the 80’s, don’t know it’s what people used to wear and prefer to call it “vintage”.
I especially love the lace trend on blouses and dresses – it’s fresh and absolutely elegant. Jackets and coats are also exciting vintage pieces to play around with.
Try vintage pieces; you’ll be surprised how good you’ll look in them.
Zimbabwe celebrates 35 years of sovereignty today. I wasn’t there when people were fighting to liberate this country but I’m certainly grateful. I wasn’t there when Comrades didn’t care what they were wearing and all they cared about was liberating this country.
I’m told they wore shoes that didn’t match, oversize pants and shirts and didn’t care but I’m certainly grateful they didn’t care because now I can afford to flaunt my pattern and style freely.
Last week’s feedback on “A man with a watch is a man with a plan”
Hi, thanks for the article, it was very enjoyable. I hate to see dudes wearing formal trousers without a belt. What’s that about? Guys please belt up. – Thandi
I have really learnt something from your article. Keep up the good work Yoliswa. Are you online so that I may follow your blog? – 0773 127970
Nice article, you have grown into your column. — Kudzie S.
After reading your article on “a man with a watch” . . . I bought a battery for mine; it had been sitting in my drawer for too long! Thank you. — Sekai
Your article on watches was educative; I’m going to buy one. — 0738 444 202.
You’re very right about the watch; I’m going to buy myself one because kana usina watch unosara. — Wechokwadi
Until next week, flaunt your pattern and style and don’t forget to drop me an SMS or Whatsapp on +263774 492700.
Online Reporter