Graceful went on a mega shopping trip with her aunts a couple of weeks ago and came home with bags full of new clothes and shoes. Ah yes, the shoes. One surprise purchase was these:
People, those are SLOUCH BOOTS. Raise your hands — how many of you had something like this in your wardrobe in the 1980s? Yeah, I thought so. I had some that were nearly identical to the ones Graceful got. Hell, Pete still has a pair in his closet. I am not kidding you.
So with the 80s making a fashion comeback, I think that today we’re going to talk about someone wore slouch boots for years. Someone who also wore tight leggings (also in stores now!) and flouncy shirts and lip gloss. Someone who, in my opinion, epitomizes the 80s in all its glory:
I’ve been informally surveying people I know to see what Adam Ant song they immediately think of and this was the univseral choice:
The thing that struck me when watching this video for the first time in over 25 years was how much like this guy Adam Ant was:
And look — slouch boots. Again.
Of course, Adam Ant came first and Jack Sparrow came second, but did you not totally get an effete vibe from him in that video a la Johnny Depp? My word, I had forgotten what a libertine Adam Ant was. I felt like I needed a shower — and possibly also a de-lousing — just watching him lip-synch (badly) his way through the video. The thing is, all of his videos are like that. Think I’m kidding? Watch “Strip” and “Goody Two Shoes” and “Puss ‘n Boots.”
But, the song is still a lot of fun to listen to — it’s been on my iPod for a couple of years now — and I am guessing that quite a few of you will have an earworm today just from watching this video today.
So tell me: What’s your favorite Adam Ant song?
I’m going to say Goody Two Shoes was my favorite AA song but I was like 3 so I have no idea what he was singing about – it was an excuse to run around.
I do like your assessment on Capt. Jack versus Adam Ant but for some reason I could stomach Capt. Jack more. Adam Ant would just get me arrested for pushing a man with too much makeup away from me.
As for the slouchy boots – I don’t think I owned a pair, my mom did – like 5 pairs of leather slouchys that she still wears with pride. I just got my first pair of faux suede Black slouchys from Macy’s last winter. So comfy and very Capt Jack.
Jen, are you sure you have this song on your iPod? The only Adam Ant song that I have on iTunes is Goody Two Shoes, and we’re working from the same collection.
Pete, I’m sure I do. I was bopping along to it during my walk this morning — right around Evergreen and Park.
This is going to sound so weird. I never listened to Adam Ant except…I won an 8 track at the county fair one year. And we actually owned a car (Ford LTD) that still had an 8 Track player. How bizarre is that?
But I do love me some Johnny early in the morning…
Haha, crazy how the fashion trends reappear. I think my favorite fashion related incident was driving through the Target parking lot senior year with my roomie and her parents. There was some girl walking into Target with these ridiculous 80′s-esque pants on. My roomie’s dad, true to his hilarious self, says, “the 80′s called, they want their leggings back”. Lol. That was also the same night that he said “so that’s what happens when hall monitors grow up” rather loudly in response to the “elite security” guard (hired help) barking at people to get off the sidewalk and stay between the painted lines.
Good call: Adam Ant=Jack Sparrow, although I think he’s got a dash of Helena Bonham-Carter as well.
Goody Two Shoes for me.
And Miss Graceful is going to look awesome in her new school boots.
My 1980′s were a fashion nightmare. With 2 toddlers, I wore whatever didn’t show food or spit.
I worked in a medical lab, so I had to wear dorky medical uniforms with a giant lab coat, acrylic goggles and rubber gloves.
I’ve thought about the Adam Ant / Johnny Depp as a Pirate connection since day 1.
Of course, I crushed Adam Ant, big time.
Be still my heart! Guyliner. *swoon*
(Typed with one hand because the other is raised in answer to the slouch boot question.)
Wonderful. Absolutely.the. best.
Goody Two Shoes is #2
I love Adam Ant. And I immediatley thought of him the first time i saw Capn. Jack.
Goody Two Shoes is probably the catchiest and I remember it having the most radio play but I gotta say I love Strip. Favorite video too. Yummy!!!!
I wonder what he looks like now. But I don’t want to know. I want him to stay young and eyeliner-ed in my dirty little mind.
I will say I do like those boots that Graceful got! As far as Adam Ant, I don’t think I really cared too much for his songs.
LOVED Adam Ant. Had a definite crush on him, and loved Goody Two Shoes the best! But how in the heck did I not notice in my teens how effeminate he is was, and that he would make a beautiful woman?!
And, yes CoftheU, you are right to not Google him. He has aged like the rest of us, and from the bandana he’s wearing at the book signing, I’m going to guess that he’s trying to hide a balding head as well.
And I wish I still had my slouch boots! I did a quick post on my blog today saying, “Raise your hands if you’ve ever had to lay down and use a pair of pliers to zip up your jeans! How in the heck did I ever sit at a little desk in class?”
*sigh*
I loved Adam Ant. And slouch boots. What a flashback!
I had not one but two pairs of slouch boots. And no, I am not ashamed…
Goody Two Shoes was my fav Adam Ant song… which is now stuck in my brain. Gah! Must listen to Duran Duran to get it out…
Ant Music. No contest. “Don’t tread on an ant, he’s done nothin’ to you, there might come a day, when he’s treadin’ on YOU!”
First of all, you let me wear your slouch boots often and I LOVED them and wore the HECK out of those things whenever I could. LOVED.
Second, I had a serious crush on Adam Ant. I dressed as him for Halloween when I was WAY too old for Halloween just so I could smear stripes of makeup across my face. Mom was quite annoyed. Oh, and I got to wear your boots again. With denim knickers. Let’s not talk about knickers.