Birthdays are often a time of reflection and recently Madonna (no last name needed) turned 50. Fifty. FIFTY. The big 5-oh. The half a century mark. I have no gift for her. I mean what do you give a woman who defies gravity and has more money than Oprah? So I have nothing to give her- but lets look at all she has given US.
There was of course the freedom to wear underwear as actual clothing. I remember fondly the look on my father’s face when I came down the stairs at 16 wearing a black lace bustier as a top, with my tu-tu lime green skirt. All set off nicely by my lace up ‘Granny’ boots and fingerless gloves. I also remember his face when I was sent back up stairs to ‘put something decent on’.
And we can not forget Madonna’s contribution to accessorizing in layers upon layers. I still think Mr. T was inspired by Madonna’s early layering of religious crosses, chains and rosaries.
And let us not leave out the black rubber bracelet. To wear just one was silly- but to wear like 30 on your wrist somehow seemed okay. Suddenly it was also okay to have a gap in your front teeth, show your black roots and to wear make-up befitting a roadside floozie. That’s not to mention the freedom to let our bra straps (eww) show.
And all that was just her influence from the 1980’s! Of course there was the cone bra and ponytail look- that was a bit harder for the average girl to pull off. She tamed a bit after that-so for her, tame was also shocking. Pant suits and 1940’s glamour hair-dos were her favorites in the 90’s.
I also blame her for the darn cowboy hat phase that too many women have yet to let go. If you don’t own a horse, you don’t need the hat ladies. I am just sayin.
And what else has Madge given us?
Well, the hope that at fifty you can quite possibly look better than you did in your thirties. Well that and the idea that if you get rich enough you will acquire a British accent. Its true. It happened to Tina Turner as well.
Madonna has also managed to make adoption fashionable.
Happy Birthday Madonna- I can hardly wait for your influence in the coming years. Something tells me the next fifty years will be just as fun to watch.
Oh and that giant, fabulous gift with no card? Yeah- that was from me. You're welcome.
(Photos all courtesy of Google Images)
Would you like to read more by me? Really? Oh I am flattered. Stop by anytime. I will make coffee and we can chat. Where? Here! The Glamorous Life Association. See you soon!
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Well, Madonna gave a lot more than fashion statements, but my mama taught me that if you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all.
I've never really been a big fan of her. Even when I was a teenager she was not high on my list.
I totally did the cowboy hat thing!!!
{{{hangs head}}}
I still have some of those rubber bracelets – I'm such a pack rat. Even scarier is that they have come back in style along with the jelly shoes so I'm slowly doling them out to my little cousins. They love me!
Thanks for this humorous birthday tribute to Madonna! LOL
Amazing first post Marcy! I'm so glad Alli convinced
you to join us!
Very funny!
{…giggling at the idea of Mrs. Fussypants in a cowboy hat… I guess now would be a good time to admit I did it too…}
xo~K
oh I loved her when I was about 13 or 14 – must've been the "desperately seeking susan" movie I went to complete with the bow in my hair and the laced gloves on my hands LOL
Oh so funny! I so tried to look like her in the 80's though I didn't do the lace gloves. Amazing how much influence she has had and isn't really a very good singer! (Though I could sing and lip sync all her songs in the 80's!!)
The reference to the British accent is right on!
Well hello Ms. Marcy! Phab Phirst post, girl. Just 'splain this to me, please.
I've got a real rant about "raw roots" being exposed! I get my hair professionally colored every four weeks, been doing it for almost twenty years. People that don't know that I get my sixty percent gray head colored are very surpised because yes it is that tasteful and expensive to maintain it.
Why do celebs and non-celebs think these one inch "raw roots" look great? You see it on the red carpet, professional photo shots used in magazine spreads … why why why is this "alright" because it bugs the heck out of me.
What if the purpose of not touching up the roots is to get a compliment when you do get the roots touched up? Like as in, "oh, you got your hair colored, I like it that way"
Let me tell you this, Ms. Marcy. I have been on this planet for about one week longer than Louise Madonna. And watch out because when she gets to be my age in about six more days from now, she'll realize how silly those raw roots look and they will be gone.
a 5th-Grade-Helper gal at my son's elementary was wearing lace gloves just like these as she held the door open for all of us on the first day of school! Crazy! I think I was in 5th grade the last time I saw that! Yikes! Does this mean my son will want to wear parachute pants soon? (please no!)
(what a fun wsite! my gf karise gililland sent me here – i'm so glad i came!)