The Village Folks is an American disco group based in 1977 by Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo and Victor Willis. The group’s title is a reference to Greenwich Village, a neighborhood in New York Metropolis the place many outstanding figures and individuals who recognized with the LGBTQIA+ group lived.
The musical troupe is usually comprised of six members, every carrying a distinct costume evocative of a sure macho male persona and suggestive fantasy archetype.
Village Folks’s first album debuted in 1977 and featured the hit music “San Francisco (You’ve Obtained Me).” The group is finest identified, nevertheless, for such hits as “Y.M.C.A.” (from the 1978 album “Cruisin’”) and “Macho Man,” (from the 1978 album of the identical title). The Village Folks was typically described over the course of greater than 30 years performing as partly camp whereas additionally toying with hyper-masculine cultural archetypes. Â
The costumes, nevertheless, stay an everlasting a part of the Village Folks’s legacy and place as a part of the popular culture lexicon. The staple costumes and figures within the troupe embody a cowboy, police officer, biker, G.I., building employee and a stereotype of an Indigenous man.
The troupe is ready to carry out at two occasions from the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance.
Right here, WWD seems again on the males who popularized the archetypes and the costumes that made the Village Folks.
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Victor Willis, Police Officer or Admiral
Picture Credit score: Michael Putland/Getty Pictures Victor Willis is a founding membe of the Village Folks and contributed to the musical group’s songwriting. Willis typically dressed as one of many numerous characters who had been integrated into the musical troupe, together with a police officer, admiral and athlete.
For his numerous seems, Willis typically styled items like a police officer’s uniform in shades of navy blue or black. His admiral’s uniform typically featured a crisp white shade. Each costumes had been typically accompanied by a hat.
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Felipe Rose, Indigenous Stereotype
Picture Credit score: Chris Walter/WireImage Felipe Rose was additionally an authentic member of the Village Folks. Rose claimed Native American descent and wearing stereotypical Indigenous apparel, together with a big feathered head gown, beaded necklaces and arm bands, amongst different components.
The costume has been criticized for its stereotypical nature and appropriation; components just like the headdress have sure cultural significance for the indigenous group.
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Alex Briley, G.I.
Picture Credit score: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Assortment by way of Getty Pictures Alex Briley initially joined the Village Folks and wore nondescript garments however then settled on the G.I. uniform. The uniform and character represents a soldier in the US’s armed forces, specifically the military.
The uniform typically options the military inexperienced shade or camouflage. The design encompasses a utilitarian lower, with quick or lengthy sleeves, pockets or a jumpsuit fashion with a belted on the waist.
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Glenn Hughes, Biker
Picture Credit score: Archive Photographs/Getty Pictures Glenn Hughes took on the Biker character for the Village Folks. Harkening again to the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Fifties and popularization of the macho biker determine, Hughes wore leather-clad attire from his fitted trousers to the jacket with chainlink detailing, boots and even a hat.
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David Hodo, Building Employee
Picture Credit score: Michael Putland/Getty Pictures David Hodo typically wore the Building Employee costume. The costume consisted of a tough hat, plaid shirt, blue denims and gear belt. Sun shades had been generally added and the plaid shirt might be buttoned or unbuttoned.
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Randy Jones, Cowboy
Picture Credit score: ABC Picture Archives/Disney Common Leisure Content material by way of Getty Pictures Randy Jones opted to painting the stereotypical American Cowboy within the Village Folks line-up. The garb for the character typically included blue denims, a button-down shirt with rolled sleeves to the elbow, a vest, cowboy boots and a coordinated hat. Different iterations on the costume additionally featured embellished button-down shirt, however the cowboy hat and boots had been mainstays for the costume.