I will see if I have any old photos that could possibly compete with this.

Here I am, wearing a button down shirt, red and white striped socks and a gun (my mother is in the car and I’m guarding my two sisters). I could sense the need for tightened homeland security even back in the early 60’s, when this photo was taken.

This is my senior photo from Mercy High School, Class of 1974 (St. Louis, Missouri). I was then known as “Rich” (I legally changed my name to “Erich” a few years later).

Here’s another photo from Mercy High School. I made the honor society in 1974. To mark the occasion, I proudly displayed a shirt full of amoebas (??).

Here’s yet another photo from 1974. Two pals (Mike Lopiccolo and Richard Schindler) and I dressed up as Hostess Twinkies for a Halloween dance. None of us had dates for that dance. Could it have been the outfits?

For two years Charlie Glenn and I ran a jazz rock band we called “Ego.” Charlie, who actually became a highly accomplished singer and percussionist, was playing the drums in the back and can’t been seen in this photo. At the time this photo was taken (in 1974) 5 of us were still in high school and 4 of us were college freshmen. It seems so long ago. The band members included (from left front) Mike Harty, Tom Atkinson, Ron Weaver, (not visible) Dan Jackson, Sharon Schutte and me. In the back, on keyboards, you can see Mike L’Ecuyer. I think I choose the shirts bearing the name of our band. I still have mine (one of my daughters now wears it as a nightgown).

In 1975, I dropped out of college and joined a band called Cocoanuts. Check out the flying collars. Joyce Williams (vocalist and drummer) formed the band. Top row: Erich Vieth (still known as Rich Vieth), Kelly Durbin and Charlie Glenn (The same Charlie from Ego). Bottom Row included Joyce and Rick (??). Gad . . . you’d swear you’d never forget anyone you’d ever played music with, even the bass player.

I’m throwing this photo in just to show you that I was still on the cutting edge of fashion, even in 1995. This was my wedding Day and I’m posing with my brand new bride, Anne Jay.

There you have it. My fashion history. Thanks for bearing with me while I reminisced.

C’mon Erich you must have some photos of your rock star days to share!

I try to imagine what today’s “fashions” will look like to an impartial eye, but I just can’t take away that normative lens that tells me leggings and ugg boots and popped collars are normal. The only way to win the game is not to play. Which oddly enough, is also the least expensive option.

Fortunately for me all the photos of me in my checked shirts and red, white and blue bell bottoms with my hair in a ponytail down to the middle of my back have been destroyed!

I knew Erich back then when he was the lead guitarist for the St. Louis rock band “Ego.” If the fashion police had caught us, we’d have deserved life without parole! Fight the Power!