I can’t completely figure American Apparel out. I seriously like the eighties vibe I get when I walk in the store. I’m immediately taken back to the 7th grade. I used to dance around my room in a leotard pretending I was one of the dancers in Staying Alive with John Travolta. I loved leg warmers, body suits, tights, all of it!. I’m just wondering who is wearing the thigh-high striped gym socks? Are they flattering? I think they could actually be emphasizing the wrong part of the leg. I much prefer the knee high gym socks in a fun color. I’m obviously not wearing them, but they would look really cute on a high-school girl. I have to admit, I still love the leg-warmers - cause I’m ” a maniac, maniac, out on the floor. And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before…”. Ok, no more Flashdance flashbacks! Let me know what you think. Would you wear them? If so, what would you wear them with?

Items in this observation:

Yes, it’s true… 80’s fashions are making a comeback. When I first heard this insane rumor, I was transported to my bathroom in the house where I grew up. The visual goes something like this: Wham! blasting “Wake me up before you go go, don’t leave me hanging on like a yoyo…” trying desperately to maximize my hair’s height and volume, over a hundred rubber bracelets on my wrist, wearing a florescent pink off the shoulder sweatshirt, and a pair of tight Fiorucci jeans. Ahhh… the memories. The 80’s were all about being big and bold. Big shoulder pads, big hair, bright florescent colors, lots of jewelry, and of course… Madonna. It’s one thing to look back, and remember the time fondly. Quite another to want to revisit it. I’ve been there done that, and probably won’t go back. However, if this is a style you haven’t tried then give it a go. It’s perfectly suited for the younger crowd, my nieces and nephews are on the verge of a huge transformation, currently wearing brightly colored Ray-Bans, for example. I’m not entirely sure I can see the over 25 crowd wearing these fashions. Having said that, there is a way to do it tastefully. Don’t go all the way, pick one or two things to incorporate into your existing style. Like with any fashion flashback, modernize it. Good luck girls, and don’t overdo it!

modern 80’s items in this observation:

Kork-Ease Bette @ Zappos

Kork-Ease Original @ Nordstrom

KORS by Michael Kors Kasbah @ Shoes.com

Ash platinum high-heel slide @ shopbop

Kork-Ease sandals have literally been pulled from the past, and are current once again. It’s nostalgia that is hard at work here. A brand that had been around since the fifties and became a part of fashion history in the 1970’s. Women who remember the “buffalo sandal” remember them fondly. It triggers good memories from the past, memories we would love to get a taste for once again. It’s a piece of the past we want to share with our daughters, and even granddaughters. I desperately wanted a pair of these sandals, mostly because my three older sisters wore them. That, of course, made them the coolest shoe to have. Even now, I find myself contemplating the purchase, hoping that I could recreate some of the looks they rocked so brilliantly. Well, timing certainly is everything in fashion, and Kork-Ease re-enters the scene at the perfect time. Fashion this spring supports the resurgence of this shoe. High-waisted jeans, belted blousy tops, flared leg pants, and short shorts all lend themselves beautifully to the ‘blast from the past’ buffalo sandal. If you can’t bring yourself to buy the 70’s version, there are a lot of modern versions on the market. Let’s all channel our inner Farrah, and have fun with our travel back in time.