LUCY IN THE SKY WITH 80s DENIM

       Travelling back to like, totally, the gnarly and tubular 80s, here's what Sheikh
       Hot Kotture is casting her psychedelic fashionista's eye on this week...

       Acid washed denim is making a comeback.If you've started to sprout unwanted white hairs within the last few years then you may know that bleached garments were an iconic trend of the 1980s.They symbolised the experimental youth of that decade, as they wavered between hope and pessimism, and ideas of right and wrong.Err, or maybe they just liked playing with bleach (and other substances).
       80s fashion has been endlessly mocked - think scrunchies, big hair, neon legwarmers - so of course the first question is why do we keep teasing ourselves with that era? It's like continuously eating green prik khee noo even though it burns like syphilis every time.
       Perhaps our fascination with the 80s is that it beats out every previous and subsequent generation in the battle of the decades.Oh wow, what a bold statement Sheikh Hot Kotture , you may be thinking.Well, excuse moi , but you can suck it!Sorry, that reply wouldn't pass in a court of law, so allow me to rephrase: While the 80s did give us questionable fashion and music, the world also changed at this time.
       As the globe witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, the first woman in space, the identification of AIDS, and the death of John Lennon among other events, Bangkok experienced a massive economic boom.
       So obviously, that outdoes any other human achievement ever! And although it's not scientifically proven, methinks money makes people frisky, since Bangkok also saw its population increase in the 1980s from a few million to like, loads of millions more!
       Yes, sorry to break it to you, dear readers,for many of us (myself included) we are merely a birth statistic on the face of the 1980s.
       Wearing acid washed denim proudly is one small way to keep the spirit of that generation alive. Or you can just wear a t-shirt that says,"In the 2000s, China Rules the World; In the 1980s Duran Duran,Culture Club and People With Chairs Up Their Noses Rule the World - Where Do You Want To Be?"
       If you didn't have a chair up your nose throughout the 80s (yes, besides being the name of an 80s band, I'm using it as a euphemism here - use your imagination), you may remember that the acid wash technique was first commercialised in 1986 by an Italian company (Rifle Jeans), but another Italian company (Candida Laundry)patented the process in the same year. No word if the competing companies threw a bucket of acid on each other in anger.
       The acid wash process is unique as chemicals are used to strip colour off the top layer of denim. Denim in itself is a durable cotton twill fabric,which is traditionally dyed indigo.Thus, the result of the acid wash is exposed white fabric, which can be seen all over a garment or on parts of it. The wash can be applied to anything from denim jeans to jackets,dresses, shorts, shirts, or skirts. On top of that, you can fray the apparel and make holes in strategically placed parts to give it that tattered, yet funky and individual look.
       Acid washed denim doesn't have to be reminiscent of its big-haired 80s counterpart, as the modern wash isn't as splotchy as before, focusing on lighter denim, such as baby blue and grey.
       The trippy look can be completely updated by pairing the denim with neutral colours, such as black, white, and brown,or a crisp button-down Oxford shirt, and staying away from bright hues.
       Wait, on second thought, if Sheikh Hot
       Kotture really has to explain how to wear denim, perhaps you need to go back to Prathom 1 and decline taking your after-lunch nap so you have more time to learn that jeans go with everything.
       What Sheikh Hot Kotture will tell you is that, these days, the continuation of a trend can be measured by one very simple test:"Can I wear this with glad-ator shoes?"
       If the answer is a resounding yes, then by golly, we've got a style revolution on our hands!(Hint: Acid washed jeans look friggin' awesome with gladiator heels.).
       However, one viewpoint that should be taken into consideration is that by clinging to fashion of the past, designers and trendsetters give off the appearance that they lack any semblance of original thought.
       Oh, sorry, was that a bit too harsh? What I meant to say was that today's fashion is unoriginal and takes on a copycat nature. By Jove, I did it again!
       Granted, it's the nature of fashion trends to resurge every couple of seasons, so perhaps by turning to yesteryear, people are clinging to a more revolutionary past. Fashion can be powerful, you know.
       If the Bangkokian mentality is anything to go by, we're not thinking about how simple denim apparel speaks volumes about a decade. We're just clinging to our obsessive need to have an external "it" item to look to. And that's what defines our generation-for better or worse.G

       DIY ACID DENIM
       Say "yes" to acid washed denim with these DIY tips. Remember to wear gloves and a mask, and do this in a well-ventilated area - like outside, duh!
       1. Play Murray Head's 1984 hit "One Night in Bangkok" to get you in the mood.
       2. Soak denim garment in lukewarm water; wring out excess water.
       3. Mix bleach and water in a spray bottle (or soak pumice stone in bleach).
       4. Spray (or rub) mixture on front and back of denim. Do this in less than 10 minutes, because the clothing can disintegrate or turn completely white.
       5. Rinse garment thoroughly then machine wash.