Ian Parker

Fair point Macca. Thankyou Jim for your kind comment too. NOW LETS GET BACK TO THE DANCE LESSONS

I dont want to look exactly like someone else...........but yes that is a great look, the film Roman Holiday is my fav, have a look at the full skirt, a full skirt always gives you a tiny waist........it's stunning! Im also inspired by Betty Page & a Burlesque look, a bit of Biba & my fav Victorian Book, Alice In Wonderland, so i just like to add bit's of what i like, not a complete image, if you see what i mean? Debbie x

The answer is yes................i did go to work, go to tesco's etc etc............through the 80's & 90's, But my dress is not really a typical, so called Northern Soul style & i dont think i look anything like, what they used to look like in the 70's, the only thing that is the same, is that im wearing a full skirt..............I was really inspired by Audrey Hepburn & i started wearing the late 1940's New Look Circle Skirts.........i do wear some 70's one's, & i have some brand new one's, but i would wear a full skirt even if i was not into Northern Soul, just because i like this design. I can't speak for the other ladies & gents who wear the old styles, you would have to ask them But the music i listen to, has nothing to do with my clothing................so i dont understand why alot of the men on here seem to have a bit of a problem with what i wear or you just can't get your head around it???.................It's a big old world out there & not all of us are the same (Sorry again Paul S) Debbie x

It's 'Dance wear' , nothing more , nothing less. as for Debbie wearing it in Tesco's..... that's been known too please people, enough of the slagging off of the folk who wear what they feel comfortable in. personally i can wear bags at a good oldies event, i can also wear vintage 20" bottom Spencers. but when it comes to tops, I wear MODERN ones. Ben Sherman's latest designs or anything else that looks good will do me. no bowling shirts or the like. Shoes ? I love my Icon shoes, they look fantastic regardless of what is with them. so its not all 'wigan casino' styles or era. I will also add that EVERY single event we go to, Debbie gets polite, positive and nice comments about her appearence. she looks good, she makes an affort (more than can be said for a lot of you) and she enjoys to dance. end of. can we get back to the original thread regarding the dance classes? ta, Ian

No, i think this sums it up! Debbie x

The coloured sock's look really nice on you Susan Debbie x

Hi Rugbysoulgirl, Thank you for looking at the photo's & for your kind words, Im afraid my job was as a Fashion Historian, but i used to sell vintage clothing & textiles to Donna Karen & John Galiano, they used to take the old designs apart & remake them with a modern look...........i do make some of my own clothes, the most bizzare dress i made was about 25 years ago, it looked reptilian, as i used to keep Snakes..........i named it "The Dragon Dress, it had a long croc like train, bit like a tail.............i dont think i could dance at a Soul night in it I can't speak for other folk that where the vintage clothing...........but for myself, if this so called scene did not excist, i would still be dressing exactly the same as i do now, so my dress has nothing to do with Northern Soul & the music that i listen to........it's just the way i am Debbie x (p.s Sorry Paul S for going off the track a bit on your thread)

Thank you Matt I do understand what you are saying I do wear circle skirts, but my influence was not from the 1970s Northern Scene, it was from a 1950s Audrey Hepburn film & my fav Victorian book Alice In Wonderland I have only been into Northern Soul for 20 odd years, but i have been wearing vintage clothing from all era's for about 30 odd years, it was apart of my job as well as an interest, im only being honest with everyone The funny thing is, that i have only been into a modern clothing store within the past couple of years, dont really like modern clothing, & the shops are so noisy i do prefer to wear vintage, might buy something new, if it looks vintage in design. I dont think people understand me on here But i cant help the way i am...........i would feel strange in modern dress, im very comfy as i am, even if everyone else was dressed modern I lived 5 years of my life as if i were in the 20's with no modern appliance, i found it a really interesting experience & i really enjoyed it & i would do it again So i do dress vintage all the time, not just at a Soul night, but i dont want folk to judge me on the way i dress, i would prefer people to get to know me as a person :thumbup I might look & seem a bit strange to some of you, but i dont bite! Debbie x

No im not a sad mimic, i wear my own style..........the only sad people are the one's that insult other people, which is you! This maybe too hard for you to get your head around, because your just not getting it yet! but i have worn Victorian clothing, 1920s Egyptian revial clothing, 1930s Bias cut, 1940s Box suits, 1950s Burlesque, 1960s Bibba, Bus Stop & Granny Takes A Trip clothing, I do have a 1970s Spencers circle skirt, but that is part of my vintage clothing collection, as my profession is a vintage clothing & textile specialist from the 1600's to the 1970's,..........i have been into Northern Soul for over 20 year's, i like rare & underplayed, some oldies & i like early R n B & if people dont except me as me then its just tuff. The bottom line is.........I DONT WANT TO WEAR MODERN CLOTHES, BECAUSE I DONT LIKE THE STYLES OF TODAY, I AM NOT A SOULIE, IM JUST DEBBIE. Im not afraid to show my picture on here, how about you??? Debbie x

I understand where you are coming from Steve I have been a member of a few veteran & vintage car clubs & owned vintage cars myself, i used to do the London to Brighton in my 1920s Bullnose Morris & 1920s Flat Nose..............Some of my friends do own Hotrods & wear the clothing, but some dont & like i have said before, i have worn clothes from the 1900's to the 1970's & always will. The scene has changed since i first got into it & that's only 20 odd years ago, i never would of thought there would be dance classes for it, it's not my kind of thing, but some people might want to do it......that's up to them & i should think that people who have been into it longer than me, must see a very big change, but that's just the way it is, but the music will always be a big part of my life Some people who see me out & about would probably say im a bit eccentric in my dress, but i donot want people calling what i wear fancy dress, because it's not, it's just a bloody insult, because it's my everyday clothing..........Infact when i have been out i have had nothing but compliments, which is very nice..............so all i have been saying is, if folk want to wear bags with Northern Soul written all over them, it's up to them & people should not critise...........Talking about music, cars etc is one thing, but i think when you start talking about other folk's apperance...........it's too personal The funny thing is.............the clothes get critisised by the men, but when my friends & myself are spinning in our circle skirts, they dont mind having a good look at our knickers Debbie x

I agree with you I enjoy an oldies night, most of my friends go but i prefer the rare & underplayed music Ian my partner will have a spot on the decks at some of the oldies nights, but he will try & mix in some rare & underplayed & forgotten tracks, & your right some of the oldies folk do dance to it but i think some dj's play it a bit too safe Brooksey at Burscough in Wigan has a cracking rare & underplayed night! Debbie x

I have had some fantatic times at Rob Bailey's Untouchables nights! Debbie x

My friends donot see themselves as being apart of a fancy dress scene , they would take offence to that .......(JUST FOR THE RECORD......FANCY DRESS IS A BATMAN COSTUME, NOT YOUR OWN CLOTHES THAT YOU WEAR EVERY DAY).........they have a real passion for 1940's & 1950's music, & they dont get dressed up like that just for the night, they dress that way all the time & even go to work dressed in that style. But the point im trying to make is .....................It does not matter how many times people critisise the clothing side of our scene, folk will still wear it, you can't change that.............So people have just got to except it! Debbie x

Here are some photo's of some of my friends on the 40's & 50's scene, they have been into it for 30 odd years..........so they are all 50+ & do go dance classes, but i have never seen so much passion & energy on that dance floor The point of this is.............to show that you can be passionate about everything, including the music, the dancing & the clothes These people have a fantastic time, you never hear them moaning (Thank you to Hoc & Mark for letting me use the photo's) Debbie x

But i dont think people are going to change the way they dress just because some folk dont like it. Not everyone is going to like the same style as everyone else And in 1977, those flared trousers were the fashions of the time anyway, my dad even wore them & he was not into Northern Soul! Debbie x

Well said Ken I must agree with you about the white socks im a bit fussy & i find any other colour don't look as clean with my very polished shoes Debbie x

Not all of us are 50+ & i dont think all of the clothes are completely the same as what you wore 30 odd years ago..........you may have bags & circle skirts, but some of us like to use our imagination & put our own touches to the way we dress , my circle skirts were inspired from a 50's Audrey Hepburn film & my vintage Latin American skirt, i like my Gorden's & i wore them in my early mod days & my hairstyle at the moment is more burlesque with ribbons & a Betty Page fringe My partner says i look more like Alice in Wonderland , so i dont think i dress in a so called traditional NS style, with NS logo's on tops etc.....thats not really my kind of thing, i dont like modern clothes for myself ......but if other folk wear logo tops or the latest fahion, it's up to them.......... i would not critise, like many of you do on here i say live & let live! Like i have said many many times before , if folk dont like what i wear........this is what i say to them....... 1. Its nothing to do with them 2. I will wear what i want 3. Just dont look 4. Go & enjoy yourself & stop worrying about what other folk are wearing Debbie x

anyone got either for sale? Grapevine (issue or demo) only please, not the eric or impact message me please . Ian

Im glad, because i dont like to offend anyone I love pink, i wear alot of that myself All the best to you, Debbie x

Yeah thats true Dave, the only time i saw him move was on a dancefloor

Debbie, the coloured guy with specs is mentioned in the comments below the video. the late Pete Ricketts from Dudley.... yes he's a cool mover, very much reminds me of 'Coco' and Pete Brown from Grantham. both moved much the same way as that guy. IAN x

Byrney, we have all been having some fun over the merchandise available, & my comment about the hoodie was a joke, "NOT SERIOUS", if you read it! But im sorry if it offended you, and if you have one of those tops yourself, you wear it, sod what people think! Myself & my friends buy the original records if we can afford them...........if not, we tend to by the later re-issues, some friends are dj's & some are not. But again!, i get a bit fed up with people using every thread as a personal dig about the vintage clothing that is worn on the Soul scene I have friends that wear it & they look very nice dressed in it..........i have been wearing vintage clothing for 30 odd years now, from 1910 to 1970s & i love it..........being a historian for vintage clothing & textiles, its my work as well as my pleasure, that's why i always defend it, i have a passion for it, just like you do for your music Debbie x

Over 20 years for me, only being a youngster The Butlers - She Tried To Kiss Me Bobby Long - Jersey City Soul Bros Inc - Teardrops Plus Betty Brooks - Funky Funky These are all great tunes Debbie x

odd you should mention those two. I played them both at 'follow your heart' Horwich a couple of weeks back. got a great response , especially for lonely man (help me) by the Outsiders I also heard 'first round knockout' Joe Frazier at the Federation club last year.