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The Red-Legged Musical Men of My Youth

April 4, 2011 by WendyB

I’ve been writing about bloggers wearing red tights and red pants since February:

  • What Wendy Wore: New York Fashion Week
  • Fashion Bloggers Caught Red-Legged, Part I
  • Fashion Bloggers Caught Red-Legged, Part II
  • Fashion Bloggers Caught Red-Legged, Vintage Edition
  • Fashion Bloggers Caught Red-Legged, Part III
  • This Red-Hot Spring Trend Has Legs (Huffington Post)

The photo that started it all. Click for original post.

The trend has become so noticeable that the New York Times wrote about it last week.

But this whole time, I’ve had a vague feeling that I was missing some important red-pants history. While scrolling through my iPod this weekend, it finally hit me. How could I have forgotten Loverboy‘s 1981 Get Lucky album cover?

Loverboy’s Working for the Weekend video was on all the time in the early days of MTV. In the video, lead singer Mike Reno wore the tight red pants he wore on the album cover plus a matching jacket.

Loverboy – Music – More Music Videos

In 1979, Rod Stewart wore skin-tight red Lycra pants to perform Da Ya Think I’m Sexy (yes! we did!) at a Unicef benefit concert. That must have been why I incorrectly remembered Rod as wearing those pants in the official Da Ya Think I’m Sexy video, but it turns out he wore skin-tight black pants while a band member wore red. I’m consoled by the fact that Rod wore a leopard-print … blouse? Leopard is my favorite color after red.

Rod's sex-ay ass in Da Ya Think I'm Sexy. Click for video.

My close personal friend David Lee Roth and the rest of Van Halen were very into red clothes.

Van Halen’s video for Hot for Teacher was a huge scandal. Everyone was worried it was going to corrupt the children. I still love the song and the video. Sing along with me: “I don’t feel tardy!” And check out the red suits.

Here’s a contest: I’ll do an interview for this blog with the first red-legged lady (or gentleman) who perfectly recreates the Loverboy Get Lucky album-cover pose. Get your cameras out!

UPDATED TO ADD: Not a Loverboy pose, but I had to share this red-legged photo of gorgeous blogger Stef of Diversions. I like that she wore red shoes with the tights.

Click for her original post.

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Filed Under: fashion trends, music

Previous Post: « Fashion Bloggers Caught Red-Legged Are Famous
Next Post: Jewel of the Month: Heather’s Engagement Ring »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ann Tindall says

    April 4, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    I’d have to get lucky to fit into leather pants, but I’ll try! I sing “workin for the weekend” or “look out weekend” every Friday at work so it’s about time I paid my respects via outfit post!!

  2. Eli says

    April 4, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    Gosh if I didnt have to go to work in an hour I’d be finding my red pants right now!

  3. Audi says

    April 4, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    Wow, that Loverboy video is quite a time capsule — the headband, the bandanna, the red leather pants, and that classic 80’s white guy dance. Priceless! If I had some red leather pants I would definitely try to recreate that cover.

  4. Lara says

    April 4, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    that is one intense challenge!
    Ohhhh David Lee Roth.

  5. The Style Crone says

    April 4, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    You’re making me think I need to find some red legs!

  6. Susan Tiner says

    April 4, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    Wendy, you don’t need volunteers. You can do this one yourself!

  7. stacy says

    April 4, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    It takes a strong man to pull off (or ON) red pants!

    Love your jewel of the month, by the way 🙂

  8. Madeleine Gallay says

    April 4, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    Umm, my leopard London Soles have a red bow?

    Great challenge.

  9. Collette Osuna says

    April 4, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    Holy crap….I loved Loverboy, hehehe:) Now we are all about as famous as they were thanks to you dollie!

  10. Sheila says

    April 4, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    Ha! Email is on the way!

    I loved Loverboy.

  11. miss cavendish says

    April 4, 2011 at 11:33 pm

    Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend” is so 1982 at boarding school. Thanks for the memory!

  12. Mary Panjari says

    April 5, 2011 at 12:15 am

    Van Halen! That is all.

  13. liz says

    April 5, 2011 at 6:36 am

    WOW! Gorgeous jewels and Rod Stewart’s scrumptious tuckus before I’ve finished my first cup of coffee! It’s going to be a great day. Thank you thank you thank you! Off to sing, “Do ya think I’m sexy,” loudly with a raspy voice and annoy my coworkers.

  14. Emma at Daily Clothes Fix says

    April 5, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    Brilliant. The 80s were amazing and this is a wonderful reminder. And I love Stef’s look.

  15. Stef says

    April 5, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Thanks for including my photo 🙂 I’ll have to grow some long arm hairs to faithfully recreate that one 😉

  16. Elizabeth says

    April 5, 2011 at 9:37 pm

    So did the Romantics:

    FULL red suits!

    http://bit.ly/grwrEM

    • WendyB says

      April 5, 2011 at 11:15 pm

      Ooh, good one!

  17. dresssofresh says

    July 25, 2011 at 10:49 am

    I do hate red pants (or as we call them in the UK trousers). I’m not entirely sure why.
    My mate has a good excuse – all the girls that said no to him in high school wore red pants lol – strange but true.

    …I may be contradicting myself here but I did love Eddy Murphy’s red suit in Delirious.

    – Dress So Fresh

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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