Dispelling some show biz fashion myths. Working the biz in various arts a couple of decades, a few awkward fashion situations have popped up. Situations especially backstage networking and in meetings with decision makers. Sometimes also on stage. Think business fashion women.

Good presentation at any age is a practicality to get connections, sponsorships and funding. So your business can pay wages. Good presentation is better chances of opportunities to grow. Not flashy designer labels nor fashionably thin. Well tailored, tasteful and tailored to your body shape, young but suited to your age.

For a concert gig I was sitting in a meeting with some big shirts and my boss who dressed like a new age hippie. I was in black jeans and black 3/4 sleeve silk with boat neck. The meet was downtown San Francisco, California. The San Francisco that put New Age and Hippie on the modern world map. The big shirts all but ignored my boss and only talked to me. Awkward on so many levels. 

I've seen hippie women chased out of cafes, stopped by security at building doors and blocked by office receptionists. In San Francisco, USA and Melbourne, Australia. They are not being assholes. Billionaire's staff have high standards, because it’s their job. As well as serve coffee, good receptionists and airline hosts are greenroom bouncers and fashion curators by other names.

There is another reason why Hippie in the boardroom dims your chances. The 1967 Summer of Love in Haight Ashbury was only 3 months and mostly 12 and 13 year old runaways. Really and truly. San Francisco was never a Hippie town; it has been a bohemian town since La Belle Epoque. So when big shirts see Hippie, they subconsciously think 12 year old about to over-dose. Or Janis Joplin about to drink herself to death. 

I met Chet Helms on the backstairs of a warehouse party in San Francisco, and we shared a couple of joints. Manager of Janis Joplin and producer of the 1967 Human Bein. He became a dear friend, and I became an alumni of Family Dog. Chet wasn’t a hippie. He was a beatnik. He supported his disabled brother and wife and kid with an antique shop and art gallery. He was also a proper Texas gentleman and mostly wore a suit and tie off camera. 

How the name "Hippie" evolved was from 1960s hipster beatniks. The beatniks who couldn’t afford rent in hip North Beach lived in low rent Haight Ashbury. ‘Hippie’ was the nickname the beatniks gave the 12 and 13 year old runaways. It is short for ‘Baby Hipster.’ 

A huge NO NO for big girls and older women on stage and camera or off stage and camera is short shorts. You know the thigh rubbing snatch grabbing spandex or satin too tight underwear short shorts? Men only look at your fanny to see if there is a wet patch and women don’t know where to look. They will remember very little about you or what you do. They will try not to remember your short shorts.

By now some of you are thinking about the pile of tie dye, spandex and old lace you will have to take to the thrift store. But before you start decimating your wardrobe, you might be able to upcycle some of it. Upcycling is making something old into something new and saving a lot of money.

Chet and I had old-fashioned upbringings. Women and girls always dress nicely and well mannered. And they make their own clothes, sometimes from handed down clothes. My grandmother and both mums style themselves from head to toe to go grocery shopping. It may sound complicated and straight, but it does open more doors than tie die or spandex.

Men and women decisions makers are often shoe freaks. Not crazy shoes with 8inch heals that make you look like a stilt walker with a back problem. Sexy designer looking quality shoes, especially if you can’t see the logo. Except in Hip Hop, where the bigger the logo the better, even if it is fake. No offense, I see it as a form of modern art.

It is a balance of being a high-end hooker and strategic mercenary under the cover of a progressive royal princess. For want of better words to describe it. And don’t play dumb, but don’t show off unless you are a performer on a stage. Learning good styling helps you not get ripped off by retail..

What you wear on stage is one thing. What you wear doing business or representing a business is another. Including show business. And it makes a huge difference when traveling. I've had seat upgrades a few times without asking. Airline hosts like stylish attractive women to keep their wealthy travelers company.

It doesn’t have to be a big name designer. Simple, well cut and tailored to compliment your body shape. And you are not spilling or bulging out of it. Nice, neat and non-threatening. Simpler is better and always great shoes. Great shoes maketh the man and maketh the woman. Weird, but true. I love shoes.

If your job requires a costume on stage: for rock and roll, simply make it stylish tasteful and black to get started. For film, nice jeans and perfectly tailored suit-like jacket. For country great jeans, fabulous belt buckle and a body tailored button up shirt. EDM spandex and sparkle. Grateful Dead tie dye or steampunk. Hip Hop white and gold. On stage and camera should all be custom body enhancing couture and original. Take sewing lessons. It is how my grandma and two mums always look great.

My neighbor in Haight Ashbury was stylist fashion and hair and makeup for the Rolling Stones and New York Dolls. She is getting frail and can't get up and down stairs now. She still looks rock and roll chic. In a long black cashmere coat, long straight cut blonde hair with bangs/fringe. Dark glasses and fashionably thin. We share a love of fashion and sewing. 

Alternative/hippie big girls and older women can look cool and tasteful. Then other women share your pics and vids to social media. It's part of the Bible for social media pros. For performers to have great costumes, even more so. 

The photos are clothes I designed and handmade in Haight Ashbury, San Francisco. The fashion catwalk shows were invitationals. Costumes are part time occasional 3D art thing of mine. All one of a kind from upcycled materials. They get shared a bit by fans of all colors and shapes. 

Show some of these to your questionably dressed girlfriends. Maybe they will get inspired to take up sewing or work with a local designer:) Fashion is wonderful cross promo.