When I was 13 years old, I knew I wanted to be a Fashion Designer and my biggest influence at the time was Prince and the Revolution in the Purple Rain era. In one outfit there would be lace, brocade, suede, marabou feathers and fishnet. All that, combined with the Victorian and Biker elements, had me in awe. When I was preparing a portfolio to submit to Fashion Industries High School all my figures had a Prince-like mane of curls and I created a collection that urbanized that look as daywear. My (extremely) fledgling collection was a success and I got in. I humbly thank Prince for that spark.
Whacha lookin’ at, punk?
Look out all you hippies, you ain’t as sharp as me…
~ Prince and the Revolution, All the Critics Love you in New York
As a fan girl, his inspiration went waaaayyyy beyond fashion. I was a die hard. My farther would take me on weekly trips to the bookstore and the fist thing I did was make a b-line for the music and magazines sections to see what was new with Prince in his realm. I knew all his b-sides, spin-off projects and covers. Prince was my first man crush. Prince was my first live concert. He was also the first androgynous person that I made the connection with. His gender nonconforming image made sense to me.
Prince helped trigger my own personal revolution. He kept me company as an awkward and shy teen. He was a flawless musical genius, a crafty lyricist and storyteller, an exceptional entertainer and a sexy motherfucker. The fact that I must now use the past tense in relation to him saddens me greatly.
It was a wonderfully, surreal pleasure to bask in his creativity. Farewell Prince.
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish life was never ending,
And all good things, they say, never last…
~ Prince and the Revolution, “Sometimes it Snows in April”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=NFXZNt4oLkE%3Frel%3D0
https://youtu.be/U86gQ_9lvO8?list=FLa0X-dqSEAjHwUN0F5orq-Q