It amazes me how objects have the power to transport us back in time. During the summer of 1984, we ostenisbly studied art and drama in London, but primarily spent our time hanging out, absorbing the streets, and experimenting with the exhileration of feeling free from our parents. As nascent shopaholics, we natually prioritzed that activity above all others, spending each post-class afternoon familiarizing ourselves with Camden market, the shops along Kings Road and Portobello Road and High Street Kensington. The exchange rate was absurdly favorable that Reagan/Thatcher summer, a dollar to the pound, and we enjoyed our exaggerated spending power tremendously .
The decade was defining itself culturally. In fashion, the traditional Ivy League style of the late 1970s, embodied by Ralph Lauren and the “preppy” fad, gave way to the bright colors and over-the-top theatricality of ”New Wave”, reflected by designers like Stephen Sprouse and Vivienne Westwood and musical style icons like Cyndi Lauper, Annie Lennox, Culture Club, and Duran Duran. In Pop music, the ”Second British Invasion” was well underway and while Frankie Goes To Hollywood reminded us to “Relax!”, in bold, flourescent block letters on seemingly every t-shirt in London , Elisa and I knew that we were at the nexus of a big cultural moment and a big step toward adulthood.
We were also in Paris that summer, where we fell in love with these dolls at the flea market. Even today, their pale faces and badass attitudes still mirror that summer’s excitement and the promise of who Elisa and I were becoming. – DAVID
What were wearing today: ELISA is wearing Genetic denim, an Alexander McQueen scarf, a 1960s embroidered gabardine coat, 1970s and 1920s sterling and agate rings, and two pieces we got in the summer of ’84, the belt and boots. The t-shirt was hand stamped by ELISA during a burst of creativity that year. DAVID is wearing a 1980s studded motorcycle jacket, an ’80s shirt, glasses from SEE and his favorite Vans.
