A few weeks ago I had the fortunate experience to don & model 45 year old clothing at the SF Museum of Performance & Design. As it turns out my good friend and aromatherapy teacher Jeanne Rose was in fact at one time known as Jean the Tailor to those in league with the Jefferson Airplane, Janice & Joan Baez.
The clothing has stood the test of time, a LOT of wears and still not worse for it. I got to wear two fabulous outfits - one was a blue velvet pant suit - which Jeanne once wore out in Japantown only to be told that they don't serve women in pants so she removed the bottoms and walked into the restaurant ( 60s hemlines allowed this!) - and the other an incredible piece of handwork - two piece hand crochet pant - bikini top outfit, thrown together with a purple suede fringe vest and matching purse. Monica got to wear the infamous Jeanne Rose boots - made especially for her at a cobblers in North Beach (and designed by her at-the-time husband Michael Moore) along with an incredible DMT-inspired dress (which looked spectacular when you wore the 3d glasses at the show!).
The panel included a mix of rockers (wow those guys have some cool energy) and a popular 60/70s Sausalito store owner along with fantastic moderators and Jeanne Rose.
The experience brought that time period back to life, the smell of the clothing, the videos, the stories. Living on Haight Ashbury for years I feel I finally have a better understanding of the energy and of that infamous time period. There was a great surge in searching for spiritual connectivity. I was surprised by how much native american influence had over the designs of the time. And it seems natural that we as North American humans would initially reach to what was closest geographically in looking for more spiritual answers to life.
What also struck me, in listening to these fashionistas from back in the day, was how much energy and thought went into each outfit, each pair of jeans, each article they wore. Having the time & resources obviously made this easier for this specific lot but man did it make me feel like a schlep today!
I hear the museum will be having other panels soon. The exhibit is free darlings so go check it out!~
Something's Happening Here
SF Bay Area Rock Fashion of the 1960s. (Jeanne Colon center)
Models Katherine Smith & Monica Fine in vintage clothing designed by Jeanne Colon The Tailor
Another remarkable piece by Jeanne Colon the tailor
A great write up of the event: Worn Through
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