Elle Attempts Rockabilly... Suceeds in Ignorance
I should have known it was trouble when I read the Intro... "This season's Rockabilly Style is for a crowd that dresses up to get down in full skirts, snap-front shirts, cropped jackets, and big belts more outrageous than the music" (p158). The February issue of Elle steps in retro fashion, with a featured spread entitled "Rockabilly Baby". First off, I was intrigued but simultaneously put-off by the Intro. What makes "This season's" rockabilly style different than last years? How can 50-year-old fashions really change from year to year? Next, I cringed at the phrase "dresses up to get down". Yes, I guess if you look at our clothes from the viewpoint that many outsiders have, that we are wearing costumes, I guess we do "dress up". But, get down? Isn't that a 70's disco reference? Finally, what do they know about Rockabilly music... obviously nothing, considering the only commentary we are given is that it is "outrageous".
Anyway, moving on...The feature was brought to my attention by Mrs. Mary Mottet who tried to warn me and I must say now: DO NOT WASTE the $3.50 to buy a copy. The magazine does little more than lampoon the fashion and the music that we love and make it seem cartoonish. They once again have confused the 80s craze over the Stray Cats with true, classic and authentic rockabilly fashion from the 50s.
The spread is 12 ridiculous and agonizing pages long. I'll describe the most strikingly awful items. A certain bicycle chain and padlock necklace for $900 which they show in EVERY photo (NO JOKE) seems more like Marilyn Manson than Marilyn Monroe. The big belts they show are little more than knock-offs of license plates and personally, I know how practical and comfortable it would be to go to a show and have a piece of metal license plate buckled onto me. Finally, another favorite of mine was a full cotton skirt, with three tiers (similar in design to Mexican skirts), which was listed at $6,000. Stylish and expensive. Anyone that has that kind of money to blow, I'm starting a "Give money to Holler fund" and you can feel free to contribute.
Honestly, like 99% of Rockabilly girls have that kind of dough to spend on bad designer attempts at repops. I guess one of the points I am trying to make here, is that fashion designers often tend to look back and steal from the past. The combine the old with the new. Nothing is ever truly original or authentic about modern fashion. However, I just wish they had kept their paws off Rockabilly style. Is there really a market for it among fashion gurus and trend setters? Who knows. Essentially, all of this will probably amount to nothing... the fashion industry will keep on designing retro fashions in ignorance and we'll all keep on thrifting and shopping in vintage clothing stores. Occasionally finding a single "new" piece that the designer got right that stays true to the vintage look that we are going for. All in all, it just goes to show that retro is still considered hot. Keep an eye out for the good repops, avoid the bad and to each his or her own.
Note: Actually, there were a couple things later in the magazine's back pages that were decent knock-offs of vintage looks. Notably, a red gingham halter top by Tommy Hilfiger (a measly $49) and several "Marilyn Monroe-style" bathing suits hopelessly out of any normal person's price range, between $250 and $600.
Susan Funk
elleinteractive@elle.com to write to Elle Magazine