The Fantabulous World of Jessika Madison and Dada Die Brucke Clothing - Interview Part 2

Here's part two of my interview with Jessika "Dada Die Brucke" Madison. How does a mod survive extremes of temperature? How can a girl get a good bouffant? What's a girl to do about make-up? Gosh, life is hard! Read on...

The Dada Die Brüke catalogue has a fantastic range of designs cpvering early, mid and late 60’s styling. Jessika has a soft spot for all of them, but is most enamored with “the period in-between the early demure 60's and the 'swinging' styles of the later 60's, when a dress is classy and smart, but is starting to use color-blocking and op-art patterns. i.e. Post-dowdy original-early-mod-girl style, pre-over-the-top media-exaggerated cartoony Carnaby Street!” Out of all the styles, the mid-60’s style seems to be most popular with Dada Die Brüke’s customers – “It's the eye-catching racing striped and color-blocked styles that sell the best. These styles stand out, and sort of have a broad appeal which makes them almost impossible to find vintage.”

Having the right dress is a start, but your hair and make-up, in an ideal world should ‘go’ as well. Jessika’s hair is so perfect, it verges on wig-like, so she suggests that, “To get a nice backcomb, I clip all of my hair up into sort of an 'updo' and starting at the nape, backcomb in fine layers with a fine toothed comb, and spray each layer with just a little hairspray. When finished the whole thing is huge, so I pat it down into a nice 'not too big, but decidedly 60's shape'. And I leave the top layer smooth (no backcombing) so it doesn't look messy. I have thick hair, which naturally accommodates a 60's look.” Some people are born to be mod. When it comes to make-up, Jessika warns that foundation with dark eyes can look “cakey and clownish.” As far as Jessika is concerned, “Just a bit of powder is enough really if the focus is on the eyes.” So now you know.

Mod is such a worldwide phenomenon nowadays. Mods can be found all over Europe, in Russia, Argentina, Japan – probably some of the parka-wearing Eskimos in the Arctic have got button-down shirts on, and have traded in their huskies for Lambrettas. So it’s always interesting to hear just what these scenes are like. Jessika lives in Minneapolis / St Paul, Minnesota, USA, a place where “mod is particularly unknown by the general public, so it’s something that has to be sought out and I think this makes for a quite genuine group of people, but doesn’t make for a lot of us! We tend to all be friends or friendly acquaintances.” Jessika has said before that the girls on this scene often take the lead in arranging the events, although “We don’t always make the guys ride on the back seat – well, I do! Ha-ha! – but we do have a handful of girls who tend to arrange things. Nearly every club event or do I can think of has been set up and djed by the women in the scene. The general attitude is definitely very open to anyone who shows an interest in mod, because we don’t really have trendy sorts dabbling in it here.”

Weather is an issue when it comes to choosing what clothes to wear. Those Arctic mods might be wearing parkas and button downs, but desert boots are not the order of the day amongst wastes of ice and snow. Where Jessika lives gets “very drastic weather. In the winter everything is buried in snow and the temperature can drop to as low as –30 C. It’s also very dry – perfect for turtlenecks, and wool coats with enormous fur, vintage or faux – naturally!, collars and cuffs. Then in the summer it’s known to get as high as 35 C – little light-weight shift dresses. It’s actually harder to have nice hair in the summer because it gets very humid and everyone’s hair goes all frizzy! But since we go to one extreme to another, one can wear just about any type of clothing at one time or another.” Unlike here in Britain, where it does nothing but rain….

But before we let Jessika wave goodbye and go riding off on her scooter into the sunset, with a suitcase of clothes to sell at a rally and Mr Jessika riding pillion, here’s some quick brain teasers. Heh-heh! While reading Jessika’s answers, think about what you would chose. Not that this is a personality test – I’m just intrigued! (and nosey…)

What outfits would you wear on the following occasions:

A job interview: “Something tailored and wool. Maybe a nice dogstooth or herringbone dress with a straight shape, just above the knee, with a smart scarf knotted at the neck.”

A scooter rally evening event: “A shorter a-line sleeveless color-blocked or op-art print dress. Evening events tend to get warm, hence the sleeveless and shorter style. Also in a dark club atmosphere, color blocking and patterns can get appreciated, whereas in such dim lighting, a subtle wool dress with nice seaming details could not be appreciated!”

A scooter rally day-time event: “A stripy-knit sweater, with a just-above-the-knee skirt. Something that is comfortable and easy to ride in. Or my favorite pink hipsters with a black turtleneck!”

A trip to the supermarket: “Something unassuming and plain, as being overdressed can look as wrong as being underdressed. Maybe a solid, nicely cut wool dress.”

A shopping trip: “Naturally a dress that is easy to get on and off with as little bother as possible and that won’t mess up my hair – all those things to try on! Something paired up with black mary janes, as they’re likely to go with anything I may try on.”

If you were in a 60's girl group: “A smart double-breasted jacket in a red, plum or maybe bright blue corduroy paired with a matching cord hipster skirt, white belt, and white shoes or boots. Sort of swinging and stage-worthy, yet sophisticated, smart and stylish!”

If you were an extra in Austin Powers: “A large-graphic designed or color-blocked dress in black and white with yellow patent vinyl hipster belt, boots. That would be suitably eye-catching for film and since it’s a parody piece, the belt would have to be extra wide and maybe I’d add oversized large yellow plastic hoop earrings just to exaggerate the ‘swinging London’ caricature.”

So, if you’re looking for a newly-made piece of 60’s-style clothing from someone who knows what they’re talking about, check out Dada Die Brüke!

About the author

Based in Birmingham, Helen edited Dansette fanzine for 4 years and wrote articles for other publications and websites. She is an avid collector of shoes and 50's and 60's cocktail curiosities. She attempts to mention Audrey Hepburn in every article she writes and bases her image on Anna Karina. She also has very big feet.

Helen wishes she could be a properly published novelist, having written her mod-spy novella 'Lament for a Trapped Spy' at 19. She's now working on a novel about a jazz singer, called 'The Mad Tin Rats', influenced by the art of Josh 'Shag' Agle.

More info and other articles by this author

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[Fashion:Female]

The Fantabulous World of Jessika Madison and Dada Die Brucke Clothing - Interview Part 1

An interview with Jessika Madison of Dada Die Brucke, makers of fab fashions for groovy mod girls. By Helen Barrell.

Comments:
Claudio (Italy)	nov 19 2002 10:18AM
http://www.dnagroove.it
Excellent idea Helen, very fun and interesting! Dig your style Jessika! Good work ladies, keep it up!
Pete Bailey	mar 13 2002 7:40PM
Keep up the good work girls, I will buy that shirt one day honest, Pete (Scarbourgh 99)
Jess	mar 11 2002 2:19PM
Helen- great questions. Jessika- great answers. Helping me get one step further from the "Girl at Sue Ryder" look!
David Steel	mar 10 2002 9:14PM
Hey, another great job Helen! And some good practical advice too - can't wait to get to my next job interview wearing a "herringbone dress with a straight shape, just above the knee" - how could I possibly fail? Dadadie Brucke Rocks, David.
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