#teese

Dita Von Teese (4 avatars)  ► By Abaddon

From the beginning of time up until I realized that clothing is necessary for our daily lives, I am sure I was dressed normal, there after, not so much. I always wanted to stand out be seen and sing in the park. I loved fairies, dragons, cakes and big ball gowns and thank you to my mothers (yes two mothers, my father re-married) for their amazing crafting abilities and exceptional sense style, I got to look good from a very young age. (Dankie Mamma en Moedertjie, you guys are amazing.)

I started my life of self expression through clothing as soon as I could pick a colour, my mom would let me pick a shade and then make an outfit of my choosing with or without a pattern.  As soon as I realized I had the power to change my look and outfits... I went completely mental. Quite literally, I would find myself spending hours just touching fabric and looking at colours and beads and stones. I would walk through every shop looking at what they had on display and what looks different. Upon visits to my mother in CPT she would take me to shopping centres and we could quite easily spend a day there just looking and talking and shopping. Mother would advice me on clothing that fits well on me and colours that actually work. To this day my mom makes some of my clothing items and is always up for whatever madness it is I am into and my Mother in CPT still styles and cloaks me for work as her taste is so devine. I love my moms!!!

I remember my mom having a linen cist that use to be my grandfather’s during the war times. In it was glued two stunning woman that has very clearly been ripped out of a magazine and trimmed. The one was classy looking had winged make up on whilst the other stood wide legged with her goddess long legs, hanging up washing in her bloomers; with the most beautiful hair I have ever seen. These images might have been in black and white and faded to close to nothing but it was enough to spark my interest.

As time went forth I developed a style of my own odd to the modern eye. I was proud of my style and happy that it expressed how I felt on the inside in a safe way. I went through gothic, punk, Victorian, classic 50′s, body paint, hippie, modern, fairy, etc. I started following news regarding stars that has similar classic looks like: Betty Page, Dita von Teese, Lana Turner, Lucille Ball, Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day, Mrs Hepburn, Kat von D, Betty Brosmer, I am sure there were more but can not for the life of me recall them all. The one kind of style that kind of stuck the longest was the darker more formal look but that was only because of work and my fascination with black.

I went on to visit my granny where a red white polka-dot dress was handed down to me that once belonged to my great grandmother. My mother sent me a dress all the way from CPT and it made me completely fall in-love with the whole look pin ups had, red lips and winged eyeliner! My friend bought me a red rose and black skirt full flair with a wide belt that makes me feel like the prettiest woman alive. let me not cary on about it to much it honestly it just escalated from granny’s dress.

The past 3 years I have been channelling that inner cist picture that made me first fall in love with the 40s, 50s and even 60s style. I would buy fabrics that match the era or style modern fabric into older style clothing items. Surprisingly you can pass of many mainstream modern styles as older if worn in a certain way. 

This leads to loads of judgement from my co-workers bosses and family. 

All stating the kind of obvious. ‘This does not make you look skinny...’ well to hell with all of you I say! I feel like an amazingly classy woman in my sort of vintage attire.

‘Your hips look enormous in that skirt you should un-tuck your top’ - No I can not untuck my top to make you feel better, if you don't want to see me like this don't look.

‘the make up shouts weirdness’ - I feel amazing each morning putting on my winged eyeliner and red lips I see it as my war paint. 

‘red lipstick is for whores’ - then I am a total slut for red lipstick.

‘You are like an old lady’ - why thank you for that yes I am.

‘You must be mental unstable to dress in such a way daily’ - Actually you must be unstable to think such a thing.

‘tone it down’ - lady, I am wearing only a skirt, leggings and a top.

‘Fuller figured woman, should not wear this’ - All woman and men can wear this because style does not come in a size.

More often than not you will be happy with something until someone ruins it for you. Moral of the story is... don't listen to other people when it comes to dressing the way you would like. You are here to learn, express, evolve, teach, understand and love. The world is filled with many other beings that dress alike that move alike that is captured like all of us in a system we think we cant control. One thing I am damn sure I have power over is my mental state and what I wear.

With all that put aside, I wish you the best on your path to discovery of style and this regardless of your gender, age, size and colour hope you do not listen to the critics, I have for way to long in my life about a number of things and I regret it. Don't regret your closet. Love yourself and be free.