Friends, '80s Style

Hi, I'm Heather and I'm considering committing a heinous act.

I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I think I want to introduce my 8-year-old daughter to the concept of friendship pins. Of course a comeback of friendship pins warrants a comeback of painted white canvas shoes like Keds, but my parents never bought Keds for me to deface. Wise, wise parents. The canvas shoes need to be the lace-up style, but you can't wear the laces, just in case you forgot the "rules."

When I think of the friendship pins my friends and I traded, I feel all warm and fuzzy. It was a sort of craft project that took seconds to make and could make someone happy just as quickly.

How could I not want to share the love with my daughter's generation? All you need are a few tiny beads and a few small safety pins. Fun and cost effective!

[image]

Hot Rubber Bracelet Action: Silly Bandz

Since I'm clearly out of touch with the youth of America, and I'm one of the Culture Brats without a kid, I'm just now learning about the latest in rubbery accessories - Silly Bandz!

I was out shopping and did a double-take because a little kid was wearing something that looked a lot like the jelly bracelets of yore. But it was oddly shaped. I did some digging: Silly Bandz come in shapes like animals, cowboy boots, whatever. So when you wear them, they're funky shaped bracelets. Here's the summer beach collection:

By the way, that particular set changes color in the light. Wicked.

And when you wear 'em, they look like this:


I guess you collect 'em and trade 'em and stuff. They're cheap - $5 for a 24 pack. And now I might have a new stupid obsession. And there's a JUSTIN BIEBER PACK COMING!!!!!!


Any Silly Bandz collectors out there? I'm seriously tempted to order some. Some that color change and/or glow in the dark are obviously the best, am I right? Though, ones based on Marvel characters don't need cheap gimmicks. Iron Man rules all on his own. FROM YOUR WRIST.

I wonder if slap bracelets will come back next? I loved those because I could slap the ever loving daylights out of my brother with 'em. Those were good ideas.

[image 1|image 2|image 3]

The Swatch Watch

It's 1988.

Him: Heeeeeyyyyy *cocky grin*

Me: Hiiiiii *bats lashes*

Him: You wanna go around? *cracks neck*

Me: Like, OK. *tosses spiral permed locks* Where's your Swatch?

This may be a regional thing. But where I grew up… when a guy and girl started "going around" the guy would wear the girls' ring on his pinky finger and the girl would wear his Swatch watch.

This was Jason's:

And yes, I still have it, but have since thrown away the dried roses. At least something good came out of that "going-around-tionship".

Oh, Swatch.

We just couldn't get enough of the Swatch. Clearly. And to be clear: the arm with a "stack" of swatches had nothing to do with how many people one was going around with... nor was it a sign of a very punctual person. It was fashion.

Like, totally.

It's Time To Buy A New Watch

Lame title, I know. But you know what's not lame? This watch.

This watch features a anodized black stainless steel case with "EOS NEW YORK" laser etched onto the base. On the sides of the case laser etched also is a robot and "60 MIN." On the dial is two movable discs which look like the movement of a real cassette tape. On the right dial is where the hands are for the time. There are also orange markers present to indicate time.

The EOS Mixtape Watch comes in three colors, retails for $135, and starts shipping in July.

I wonder if anyone younger than 12 will know what that thing is?

[source]

'80s Eyewear

A few months ago I took my husband birthday shopping as he needed some new sunglasses. I was amused and appalled to see that the Sunglass Hut had a display of Limited Edition Oakleys - that were retro '80s Wayfarers. Remember these?

Back in the day I had some knockoffs in hot pink (cuz I wear prescription glasses). I thought they were so hot! They totally went with my pink Converse high tops.

Well today I was out shopping at an electronics store and saw a dude in a polo shirt, with his collar popped, wearing the Wayfarers in black and neon orange. I'm pretty sure his lady friend noticed that I stopped to stare a little.

I was at the eye doctor this afternoon and while I was trying on new frames I mentioned it to the lovely man who was helping me pick out frames and he said that Ray-Ban and Oakley styles from the '80s are making a comeback. He agreed with me that '80s fashion, while fun at the time, really shouldn't be making a comeback.

I can handle the classic Top Gun style Ray-Bans. Tom Cruise made them look good.



The neon plastic? No thanks.

Fess up, who had the eyewear? Will you run out to pick up some new Wayfarers?

[Image 1|Image 2]

Jelly Bracelets: A Timeless Classic

Yes. They were big in the Eighties. BECAUSE THEY WERE AWESOME.

And they still ARE Awesome. You can find them in any retail accessory section, if the store is a cool store.

I believe the jelly bracelet is the under-appreciated accessory of modern time. I am thirty-noneofyourbusiness years old and I wear my jelly bracelets almost everyday. BUT. Only the black ones. I'm classy about my jelly bracelets like that. I mean, I'm not 12 anymore.

I wear them to the preschool, to the elementary school, to the gym, to the grocery store, to the martini bar, to the dance club, to the Costco, to the coffee shop, and even the Dairy Queen…

I love me my black jelly bracelets. Occasionally I throw in a red one. I'm uncontainable.

That is how I have taken one of the foundational '80s fashion accessories and have made them fit into the fashion scene 25 years later. No need to stack colors. Twist two together and slip them on.

And unless everyone is lying to me, everyone thinks my jelly bracelets are very cool. EVERYONE.

"Are you wearing jelly bracelets?! Did you twist them together?! Oh my gosh, you are so cool!"

I know.

That is the point of living, right?

To be cool. Be it 1985, be it 2010. Cool is always cool.

But please don't confuse jelly bracelets with jelly shoes. Just say "NO" to jelly shoes. Please. Especially if you've been playing on a dusty playground in 90 degree weather. Sweat & dirt turned mud in a pair of clear shoes never looks cool. Just sayin'.

[photo]