Groovers

Groovers with Amy Lamé What did gays used to wear? Away from the catwalk, the fash-mags and the rarefied world of the Blitz kids, how did ordinary south London gay men and lesbians werk a lewk in the 1970’s, ‘80s and ‘90s? For the boys, it was the closet before the clone and the skinhead before the bear. Hyper-vigilant on the streets, gay men reached for the uniformity of masculinity. Marlon Brando in the streets, Zså Zså Gåbor in the sheets. And the lesbians? Whether you ‘Showed your Face at the Ace’ in your double demin with the KENRIC gay ladies, doned your rebel dykes leathers for Chain Reaction, or just got back from Greenham in your boiler suit, late 20th century lesbians crafted a sartorial language for protection, agitation and gritted teeth celebration. A vintage fashion parade is staged, as Amy Lamé compares notes with Style Spotter James Gardiner, Ellie Medhurst, author of Unsuitable, a History of Lesbian Fashion and scene legend Yvonne Taylor Free tea, coffee and biscuits