We had the skirts with the slits up the side, sort of tough, sort of Spanish Harlem cool, but sweet too.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I had seen the photographs of Harlem in its glory days, stylish men in bespoke suits, women so well dressed that they'd put the models in 'Vogue' to shame. I knew that Harlemites loved to dance, to pray, and to eat.
As a little girl in the '50s, I couldn't wear a purple-and-white flowered skirt with a red blouse - those colors were too loud. My parents were not into that 'We are Negros that wear all beige,' but there was a line you could walk over that could signal vulgar, crass, rather than clever use of color. And that outfit crossed over the line.
Growing up in the Bay Area, I played early on with these quartet groups who set guidelines for me. I remember the guys would all have the same clothes and shoes, like these uniforms. I was in awe.
I like bootcut jeans in a plain style with a nice line.
My favourite outfit was this black lace dress that I found in a vintage shop in Williamsburg, New York.
My worst fashion faux pas: probably orange shoes with white pants. I thought I looked spectacular.
The Jam went through a phase of wearing satin jackets. But that was pre-getting signed and making it, when we were still playing the pubs and clubs - around '75. Shocking, really - what would you call them apart from 'horrible?' We'd wear these white zip-up bomber jackets with black kind of loon pants and black and white shoes.
When I first started Lion Babe, I wore a lot of denim to perform in because I had a limited closet. A lot of the time, I was in cutoff shorts - either dark or light denim - and then I would pair them with whatever top I had.
Long chiffon pleated skirts look great with sandals or sneakers and a tank top or denim top.
I love deep cleavage on the foot. It reminds me of Berlin in 1930s, 'Cabaret.'