Damsel In Overdress : Revolting Against The Dress Code

When I take a moment to consider what it means to overdress, I'm confronted with flashes of times when I myself, may have
risen to occasions, and quite possibly, toppled and frothed right over the top of them.

From the time when I was first injected into the world of styling, being privvy to trends many months before the masses could buy them from Forever New, I contemplated my own image, and just who I wanted to be, strutting on the streets of Melbourne town.. Exactly who that is, I may never know. But, who ever does?

LEOPARDSKIN AT THE OFFICE

I remember wrestling with my wardrobe on the eve of a special lunch at Becco, with the editor of a national fashion magazine, and, forty-seven costume changes later, I decided that the only outfit worn would be Grandma's leopardskin cullotte jumpsuit (nylon hell on a hot day), cinched in at the waist with a wide woven belt in chocolate, and wooden beads to boot.

Tres fabulous in my mind, however, riding in the lift up to work the next day was interesting. I remember looking straight ahead at the doors, and noticing customers looking away and laughing with their friends. I remember having that last minute panic, and then, in my mind, deciding that they were not my target audience - it was too late, and all I could do was walk tall, like I meant it. And I do mean it, every single day.

THE ART OF SUBTLETY

A few years ago, one of my work colleagues had been out all night, and came to work soon after.

Because of her quiet and lovely demeanor, no-one would have noticed, had it not been for her white tank and silver sequinned puffball skirt. As she sobered through the morning, we marvelled at her choice of dress for the day's work ahead. It was a long day - we had several coffees, and fifteen winding sessions.

THE WARDROBE BRIEF

In other recent times, a friend and I would get so excited about "casual dress Fridays" that we would set wardrobe briefs for eachother by sms, the night before - these curtain calls/dares were at times outrageous, and as time went on, they became more ridiculous, my favourites being "Walk This Way by Run DMC Vs Aerosmith", and "Hugo Boss circa '97 - grey hues teamed with lime green".

On the Friday that we did Hugo Boss '97, my man friend, who was in a management position at the time, got wrapped over the knuckles for looking too much like he'd come straight out of the disco. With his skinny Ksubis in seal and lime tee with rhinestones, he sashayed to my desk to inform me. Needless to say that the next week's wardrobe brief was black, with a little bit of "Dolly Parton's 9 to 5" thrown in.

DRESS IN THEMES

To really entertain yourself, and others, why not decide on a colour du jour, or base your style entirely on an outrageous celebrity, just for a day. Wear neon tights, round sunglasses - really have fun at the photocopier.

There are no rules. There shall be no rules imposed upon us.

Embrace individuality - even if you love rock n roll, why not give black & white stripes and wayfarers a rest (especially when in Fitzroy) - change the way you look - pop on a hot frock and sweep that blunt fringe to the side - it'll leave them breathless.

The only thing worse than being arrested by the Fashion
Police, is being warmly welcomed by the Beige Brigade, who have far less
power and no badge or sirens to speak of.