Some may have been alive when it aired and others may have caught the 2018 reboot, but there is no escaping Dynasty and its love affair with eighties glamour.
Big hair, big shoulders, big designer labels. It's a fashion trend as old as time. It was seen in the 19th century when housewives wore layered outfits that were a canvas of their husband's and family's wealth. It could be seen in 18th century France where aristocrats opted for skyscraper wigs while the poor pondered crumbs of cake. It could be seen in royal families on our continent who ruled with iron fists with bold silhouettes made of lion manes and tusks.
Power dressing and the drama of the red carpet can be telling of the sociopolitical maladies in society. It's something we see at events as ostentatious as the Durban July or the state of the nation address.
Our MPs and dignitaries have in the past donned outlandish gowns and regalia with 80s style shoulders, large French court-style wigs, vibrant colours and accessories that would make Cleopatra feel she lived a life of squalor. However, over the past couple of years this has dramatically shifted, with guests opting for more demure choices.
At the inauguration, where we have grown accustomed to layers, frills and tulle, many opted for understated glamour instead.
Fashion critics worldwide have noted how fashion takes to daring heights as elite classes display their wealth. Like many trends, it trickles down to the have-nots, who want to participate in those trends to keep up with a preferred lifestyle or niche group.
Elizabeth Semmelhack, author of Heights of Fashion: A History of the Elevated Shoe, said “we have entered a moment of heightened impracticality in footwear” when she noticed heel lengths towering during the late 2000s recession. Semmelhack believes this was caused by a need for escapism. And with many African dignitaries coming from a life of strife, what better way to embrace financial upgrades than with layered fascinators and large designer handbags?
At the inauguration, Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso and Nomvula Mokonyane kept it sleek and chic, ensuring they would not be seen as a kind of Marie Antoinette copy.
With some South Africans expressing dismay about what political dignitaries wear at ceremonies, it should not come as a surprise that they have finally started to follow a code of dress that does not appear crass. However, much like the old money luxury trend, this could be a performative style choice that aims to make them aspirational rather than apathetic.
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