It is hard to believe that its 22 years since Patrick Swayze took us on a journey to the Catskills in Dirty Dancing, a film that I watched, enjoyed, sang and danced my way through over a hundred times. It is with sadness that I write this today and no doubt there will be newfound sadness when I come to watch it again in the future.
The Time Of My Life
It was 1987 and we were teenagers revelling in the glossy fashions of 80′s shoulder pad chic mixed with DM boots and puffball skirts (oh yes, hideous); and then Patrick Swayze bounded into our lives as Johnny Castle in his very tight tees, leather jacket and too cool for school high waisted jeans. To me, he was a god. I was 15 and very appreciative of the way he and Jennifer Grey as Frances “Baby” Houseman transported us back to the fashion and culture of the late 50’s to a place where style and creativity was pure, vibrant and natural.
To be Iconic is to have Timeless Style
1987 was, without a doubt, the Time of My Life. What guy didn’t want to look like Swayze, and what girl didn’t want to be Baby dancing through life in her full circle skirts, and carrying watermelons! And Oh… the dancing!!! They made it look so easy, and soon enough their fashion and dancing style was being emulated by teens everywhere.
For this film Swayze became a culture icon, which is ironic considering Dirty Dancing was a low-budget creation that was almost canned but instead became a cult favourite, not only for us 30-somethings but also for generations to come.
Style is timeless, and Swayze had it. Always. Jennifer Grey today described her co-star as “a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace”.
We’ll miss him, but his legend lives on.
Tags: 80's fashion, dirty dancing, patrick swayze, style icon
He was so cool! The 80′s fashion was amazing and I can’t wait for it to come back. Just take a look at Grazia’s report this week and Marc Jacobs collection for Summer 2010.