Not Made For Wallflowers

Birdie is 19 here in 1980, nonchalantly holding up a brick wall in her shiny stretch lycra leggings. This is how leggings were worn the first time around! None of these demure hotpants or miniskirts on top like girls wear today; they were for fearless fashionistas. Not for wallflowers.

A long shirt or sweater was permissible though. Birdie tells me this purple and black, striped see-through shirt was from Blonde Venus (still open for business today on Crossley St, down the lane from Melbourne’s iconic Pellegrini’s).

Ankle boots were huge in the Eighties. I particularly remember white leather ones with little cutouts; and short suede pixie boots with the tops folded down. They came in bright jewel colours and I had a pair in jade green. These metallic gold winklepickers were Birdie’s favourite. She says everyone stared at those – as well they might!