As you may have heard, Olivia Newton John- famous for portraying Sandy in Grease– passed away after a battle with breast cancer. The thing about using our fashion to tell stories? Sometimes we’re telling iconic ones, influenced by stars we love, without even knowing it.
I grew up watching Grease. Not that I’m old enough to have seen it in the theater (and in all honesty, I liked Grease 2 a bit more- I hold out it’s not a bad movie!), but it was on constantly when I was a kid. And I loved it. (The theater geek in me would love to tell you that the stage version is a bit more coherent and changes some of the plot points- but that’s a different post for a different blog). But. When Olivia passed (tragic on many levels), what hit me is that so many of my outfits are inspired by Sandy in Grease.
And that, in fact, Sandy’s journey from “good girl” to “bad girl” in that film is full of so many fashion moments that like it, or not, are part of our fashion lexicon to this day. What reads more “good girl” that a flowy, white, pleated set? What more do you need to be a “bad girl” than an all black spandex look with a leather jacket? Is there a more iconic story that good girl goes bad? And how do we try to recreate this story in our own closets?
(We won’t discuss “Let’s Get Physical” as I think I was 30 before I got what that song was about- I really thought it was about the Jane Fonda Workouts my mom did!)
There’s another discussion to be had about actors and performers who become icons. And a chat to be had about movies- or stories- that become a part of our lives. So, when one of them is gone, what do we do?
Yes, there was more to Olivia than Sandy (I’m sure of it), but when that’s what most of us know about her- and want to be- how do we mourn both the person, the actress, the Icon, and the story?
Most of what I know to do to mourn is to remember and to honor, and often (for me) that involves fashion. So yes, currently I’m tempted to put on both my best “good girl” and “bad girl” looks. From whites and pinks to black leather. Perhaps, some leg warmers for a touch of excitement!
How do you deal with icons- both on a large and small scale that pass on? How do we acknowledge their impact on our fashion stories while letting them go? How do we mourn people we don’t know? I’m so interested in your response!
XO RA
