FashBlog.com

By Brandi M. Seals

Ever feel like the 80s are trying desperately to suck us back in? I do and it seems the 80s have a strong hold on some celebrities and the fashion industry. I was doing okay, even with Lindsey Lohan wearing cut off gloves reminiscent of Madonna's slutty days. I was still okay that people started embracing the thought of high heels with jeans again. But now things have gone a step further.

Skinny jeans are making their way back into the fashion industry. Hopefully they will die out before everyone gets a pair because lets face it, many of us do not look good in a skinny jean. There's just no reason for everyone to have jeans that look like they are molded to the legs.

Cropped tops are getting another go in fashion. No, not like the baby tees of the 90s, these crop tops are reminiscent of anything worn by Lisa Bonet or other Cosby kids during the early years of the show; picture wispy thin shirts that stop a couple of inches below the chest. Right now they are currently being paired with dresses as a handy way to reinvent the look of the dress or to add subtle warmer layers. However, I can already see it coming. If these short shirts stay they can only be followed by pants that come up way over the belly button. Remember those? The pants that stopped at the breasts that one of your aunts probably still wears to this day?

We most stop the 80s hold over us. What is next, jelly shoes? Scrunch socks? Maybe giant coats? Oh wait that is right, my copy of Lucky just told me that volume is in. According to the magazine extra roomy coats and dresses are the hot items. To me it just looks like maternity wear. We were finally getting people to get clothes in the right size and now this comes along? Great now we will get to see shapeless blobs everywhere if this actually takes hold.

Let me take a moment and readdress clothes that look like maternity wear. It seems that empire-waist dresses and shirts have made a big come back. They are everywhere I look and while they can accentuate a nice chest they almost always make the wearer look at least six months along. I was watching "The World Series of Pop Culture" on VH1 a couple of weeks ago and during the first round I could have sworn the female host responsible for interviewing the contestants was pregnant - actually pretty far along, but the next week she changed from her empire-waist dress to another dress and suddenly the baby belly was gone. This woman was not fat, not even plump. It just goes to show you that empire-waist wear is probably a mistake unless of course you are trying to play down a baby bump.

Anyway, back to 80s wear. I seem to remember from my youth people wearing extremely long shirts as dresses, pairing them with some tights underneath. Guess what boys and girls - the look is back. That is right, the girl over their looking like she cannot find where to go for her baptism or who appears to have had her pants stolen is really sporting an oversized shirtdress. Billed as being fall-friendly wear, this style better hit the road fast.

I also have to note that I have seen celebrities pictured in tight stretchy leggings again. You know, the ones made of spandex and sticking to every curve, dimple or blemish one might have on their legs. Of course to cover your less then perfect looking tush squeezed into these tight restrictive leggings, you will need to pair it with an oversized shirt that comes down around the knees. Does the mental image alone make you want to gag?

On a side note, I must mention that while shopping for my niece in the children’s department I came across those cotton leggings that were shorter than and not as tight as the spandex ones that were also popular in the 80s. Remember them? They went under skirts and skorts and almost always ended with a lace detail on the bottom. If you don't know what I'm talking about, catch an old episode of "Full House." If Stephanie still has the puffy curly hair look at her outfit, odds are she is sporting a pair of these things.

So I say to all fashion designers and clothing manufacturers, stop seeking inspiration in the 80s. It was a bad time for clothing. But if you must go there, please, please, please, do not bring back the hyper-colored shirts which turn colors based on body temperature.