An Inspired Knock Off

Perry Ellis 1985

My orange high school locker was my inspiration board. It was 1985, and the orange background only enhanced the already kaleidoscopic menagerie of 80s fashion, Calvin Klein underwear ads and my bobbed hair crush, Marcus Abel. 

Fast forward twenty years to a Black Crowes after-party, and I'm debating the difference between knocking off and inspiration with one of the designers whose sexy ass black and white ads I'd always had hanging in my locker (no, not Calvin Klein).

Three months earlier, the designer's assistant purchased my entire collection of vintage leather jackets at the Manhattan Vintage Clothing show. I wouldn't have known otherwise, but being a nosy Canadian, I asked her if she would wear all those jackets. She replied that they weren't for her but for Designer X, who'd be knocking them off. Trust me, I know what you're thinking.

I do not regularly attend parties to accuse designers of knocking off vintage clothing. 

But here we go.

As a result of early 90s industrial dance sessions at Luv Affair (now a Shoppers Drug Mart), I have a terrible case of tinnitus. Therefore, when the designer introduced himself at the noisy party, I thought he said he worked for Designer X. But alas, he was, in fact, Designer X. 

Here I thought I was having a pleasant conversation with one of Designer X's assistants about the New York vintage show and how designers knock off vintage clothing. After all, he asked, "Where do I know you from? You look familiar." Seeing as I had a terrible time with face recognition, I thought I'd met him in New York at the show and was just going to ride that train.

I didn't know I was talking with the real Designer X until a groupie approached him. 

Damnit.

To backtrack on my words and apologize for accusing/debating with him would've been super uncomfortable. The conversation had already evolved past that. He didn't seem to care anyway and had enough integrity to admit he buys vintage clothing to get 'inspiration'. Needless to say, I continued chatting along my merry way, pretending I knew who he was from the start of our conversation. Of course I couldn't hear what either of us was saying because my focus was on how friggin' embarrassed I was.

In 1985, I won the Langley School District fashion design competition. 

I don't remember how I actually got into the competition. I remember being instructed to design something for Home Economics Sewing class, and my creation - a skirt - won. The venue, Langley Senior Secondary. The designers had to walk the internationally famous and notoriously challenging catwalk in their creation. I remember doing that. I also remember not paying attention when the winners were announced and having someone come and find me to let me know I was being summoned. 

I won a Mary Kay makeover!

Last night, I pulled out the January 1985 edition of Vogue, looking for some blog inspiration. The first page I opened slapped me with a fistful of memories. It was a Perry Ellis ad - an ad containing the winning skirt. I took the ad to a local sewing shop, searched out a pattern for a similar skirt and altered it a bit.

I didn't knock it off, I was inspired by it.

The striped skirt and winning ensemble. Note the nautical theme topped off by the hat.

PS Kids - if you're going to dance beside the speakers, take this old hipster's advice and be the geek who wears earplugs. Your parents were somewhat right, you will go deaf, but first you will be plagued by a torturing, constant ringing in your ears - even when you have earplugs in.