If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?
Steven Wright
Tube Top
When Elie Tahari (founder of Tahari clothing brand), stumbled upon tubes of unsalable fabric, the result of a manufacturing error, he saw an opportunity. With no straps, buttons or zippers, the top was inexpensive to make and was perfect for the free-wheeling lifestyle of the 1970’s. All a woman needed was a healthy dose of optimism that the elasticized tube wouldn’t “let her down!” It paired perfectly with the era’s bell-bottom pants, platform shoes and disco dancing, which, admittedly, sometimes created gravity related challenges for “keeping up appearances.” Nevertheless, it became a wardrobe sensation that survived the disco decade and repeatedly makes fashion comebacks, proving that creative thinking, good styling—and good elastic— will always rise to the top!
Tank Top
The tank top owes its name to the “tank suits” worn by swimmers in the early 1900’s, when swimming pools were called tanks. During the 1912 Olympics (held in Stockholm), female swim competitors shocked polite society by wearing sleeveless tank suits, proving that bare shoulders could quite possibly end civilization as it was known. Luckily, the world did not end and the tank top continued to be worn at the beach and by body builders until the 1970’s, when there was an explosion in a fitness and health craze. Suddenly, everyone seemed to be jogging, doing step aerobics or, at least, pretended to be doing so, by wearing headbands with tank tops. Even rock bands and suburban gardeners donned the sleeveless, scoop necked tops. More than a century after its scandalous debut, the tank top is an across the board staple for men and women.
Platform Shoes
Platform shoes were as much a part of the 1960’s and 1970’s as tank tops and tube tops (see above) and, like tube tops, they were expected to keep up their end of the bargain. They were worn by both men and women and popularized by rock bands. The group Kiss especially rose above it all by stomping across the stage in their glittering platforms. Platforms became a symbol of flamboyant self-expression and could be found in every imaginable color and fabric from satin and snakeskin to clear plastic and glitter or sequins. Their sole purpose was to elevate the wearer above the crowd and as a consequence rose to ridiculous heights, making strutting across a disco dance floor or descending a staircase a hazardous activity. For all the status achieved by dizzying heights, less glamorous results were twisted or broken ankles. Critics were (again) shocked by the excess and protective parents voiced concerns, but the groovy crowd simply looked down on them—literally. As the disco era faded and platform footwear stepped out of the limelight, it bequeathed its lofty heights to stiletto heels—proof that keeping up appearances is worth the risk of a pratfall.
T-Shirt
The “T” in T-shirt is not an abbreviation for the word “tea” and the shirt has never had anything to do with Earl Grey, Darjeeling or any other type of tea—with or without biscuits. The moniker is simply due to the fact that when laid flat it has the shape of the letter T.
It began as an undergarment worn by sailors and soldiers in the early 20th century. It was never intended to be seen but by the 1950’s, society was shocked (society seems to get shocked a lot) when movie stars like Marlon Brando and James Dean wore their “underwear” on the outside! The lowly T-shirt became the ultimate symbol of rebellion and cool so it was naturally adopted by teens everywhere. The original t-shirt was a plain, basic white in cotton, as underwear tended to be back then. Today, though, t-shirts are made in every type of fabric, every imaginable color and are used as mobile and personal billboards to advertise products, events, state political affiliations, tell corny jokes and bad puns, reproduce art images and whatever else can dreamed up. Even the most sophisticated fashionista or Royal personage probably owns some version of the t-shirt, though perhaps not worn for taking tea and biscuits.
