Archive for the ‘The Eighties’ Category

Highway to the Danger-Zone

May 16, 2010

I have been so lazy this week. It’s partly the cold, but mainly it’s because I broke my headphones, so I have nothing to listen to when I go running.

My favourite song to hit the pavement to is Danger Zone:

Listening to this song makes even the most everyday activity feel exciting. The bus ride to work is so much more thrilling! You yield so much energy when washing the dishes! Picking out your outfit in the morning turns into an 80s fashion montage! And so on and so forth…

What I think will inspire me to get back into my exercise routine (besides buying a new pair of headphones) is to dress a little bit more athletic this week. I’m thinking Hervé Léger by Max Azria. The type of stuff you simply cannot wear unless you’re a person who works out.

The rules:

  1. Tight & stretchy
  2. Texture: perforated, stitching, lacing (like shoe laces), leather, jersey, netting, elastic, zippers
  3. Light & bright

Clockwise from left: Hervé Léger dress, MMM top, Audio Technica headphones, Casio Baby G digital watch, American Apparel high waisted stretch denim skirt

Now setting my alarm as Danger Zone… Hopefully it’ll inspire a morning jog…

What’s your favourite jogging song?

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Posted in Athletic, Soundtrack to my Life, The Eighties | Leave a Comment »

Can you dig it?

May 11, 2010

My desk buddy, Catie May, asked me to put together a Winter look for her. She gave me a very concise brief: “texture”. With that, I considered a couple of things -

  1. She tends to channel a bit of a late seventies/early eighties vibe
  2. She spent the last few years living in NYC

Then it hit me. This look is so The Warriors.

Can. You. Dig. It?

The Warriors (Source: filmofilia.com)

The Warriors is a film about a New York gang (the The Warriors) who are framed for killing the leader of all the gangs, Cyrus. All the other NY gangs are after them, so they have to try to make it back to their home turf, Coney Island, alive!

But that’s beside the point. The coolest part of the movie is that every gang has a unique aesthetic, as per this wicked opening sequence:

But we’re going to focus on The Warriors’ style, which is really all about that magic word, texture. They kind of have this Apache tribal thing going on. Leather, fur, feathers, denim, beads, stitching – perfect for winter (except that The Warriors don’t actually wear shirts – which is fine with me)!

Clockwise from top left: Rachel Gilbert rabbit vest, Rabbit on the Run dress, Noir triple beaded collar, Mimco bag, Mimco boots, Seneca Rising fringed tunic, Stolen Girlfriends Club biker vest

The full list of gangs from The Warriors can be found here. Which gang would you be in?

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Posted in Around the World, Cinematic Influence, The Eighties, The Seventies | 2 Comments »

People are afraid to merge on the freeways…

April 23, 2010

I’m convinced I’m living in the wrong decade. I should’ve been living out my twenties during the 80s. I feel like I really got a raw deal. There are a few reasons:

  1. I have 80s curves (none of this stick-thin business)
  2. I have that frizzy/curly 80s hair (like Jami Gertz in Lost Boys)
  3. My favourite music artists include Phil Collins, Billy Ocean, Hall & Oates & Icehouse
  4. My favourite literature is from the 80s (Bret Easton Ellis, Jay McInerney)
  5. I think guys were way hotter in the 80s (James Spader, Andrew McCarthy, RDJ)

Clockwise from left: 80s curves, RDJ *sigh*, Jami Gertz's hair, Hall & Oates, J.Spade *swoon*

So here’s my super minimalistic style guide for 80s in the office (which might not actually be very appropriate for the office at all, but happens to be similar to what I’m wearing today):

  1. Primary colours + Black & white – I love this simple formula… It always works!
  2. Tight minidresses – American Apparel has everything you could possibly need
  3. Wayfarers – if you’ve ever read Less Than Zero, you’ll know you’re nothing without your Wayfarers
  4. Low heels with a rounded point – super comfy, try & get them in snakeskin
  5. Matte red lippy – I love MAC in Lady Danger

Clockwise from top left: American Apparel Stretch Velvet Dress, Custom Shoes from Shoes of Prey, MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger, Two-Tone Wayfarers

So tease your hair out, slap on your Casio digital watch & rock out to Electric Blue on your way into work (preferably on your walkman).

Which decade do you wish you were living in now?

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Posted in Literary Influence, Nostalgia, Soundtrack to my Life, The Eighties | 1 Comment »

Hello, you have reached the office of E. Edward Grey.

March 31, 2010

Remember pre-Boston Legal James Spader? He was hot. Like 80s hot. He would play the mean rich kid in school & then he evolved to more of a sexual predator type role via Sex, Lies & Videotape.

Let’s take a moment to reflect, shall we?

Source: Photobucket

Mmm… Gotta love the J. Spade.

The last movie he was really hot in was Secretary.

Source: Celebritywonder.com

Your favourite sadomasochistic love story!

On that note, I figured we could all take a few tips for the office from the eager secretary herself, Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

Source: Rottentomatoes.com

And of course by that  I mean her wardrobe and not her inappropriate (yet strangely heartwarming) relationship with her boss.

Firstly – tights with a seam are fun. They’re kind of 50s pin-up girl. Very sexy, but still ok for the office. You can get these from Leona Edminston or American Apparel.

American Apparel Sheer Luxe Back Seam Pantyhose

Next, the high collared, silk shirt:

Source: Allmoviephoto.com

Look for vintage. You can check out Shag on Oxford St, Paddo. My favourite place for vintage shopping is Glebe markets where I’ve found shirts like this in the past. I’m not a huge fan of vintage stuff, but the whole film has a very retro aesthetic, from the clothes to the office decor – so authentic is best.

Whack on a high waisted tailored skirt (be creative with the colour, black is not the be all & end all… cream or a deep purple could be fun) & you’re done! I would probably opt for a cut at or above the knee, just because the demure top allows it – plus you can show off your tights!

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Posted in Cinematic Influence, The Eighties | 1 Comment »

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