Daily affirmations of a word mercenary
Last night I rallied to go to a Decibel Festival show, and totally regretted the rally. The first band was awesome, and the between-set music was awesome (soul in seattle?! MIRACLE), but then the headliner came on and embodied everything I can’t stand about techno: fancy technique, but totally undanceable for me.
And worse? THE CLOTHES. Since I couldn’t dance, all I could do was stand back and people-watch, and people, watch my lips: I was mortified.
This ’80s fashion thing has got to stop. Am I the only person who likes fashion to be something I haven’t seen before? My brain was aboggle at Shambhala because people had invented these crazy outfits out of articles of clothing I could barely identify. Is that shrug or just dismembered sleeves or a hat with gloves attached? I’m not really sure, but I appreciate the creativity even if the particulars don’t always work. (Which, with fashion, they simply don’t.) But the ’80s retro trend combines the WORST fashion from the era with a total lack of creativity. It’s so painfully boring and ugly! I’m sorry darlings, but last night’s monstrosities included:
1. Cowl-necked sweater-dress with skinny belt
2. Many pairs of skinny jeans tucked into scrunchy short boots
3. Side ponytails
4. Bedazzled/sequined off-the-shoulder sweater
5. More inch-wide stripes on tube tops than I cared to count
6. Crushed black velvet shorts over black tights with white sandals
At least the last person was just totally wacky — but it smacked of “Look at how ugly I can dress and still carry it off!” Except for that I don’t think anyone can carry-off white sandals over black tights. Dude. Seriously. I had a moment of being totally embarrassed for Seattle’s hipsters. You guys, really. You’re making us all look bad.
And worst? These are beautiful people! Young hot hipsters wearing the most AWFUL clothing. Gorgeous women wearing side ponytails and skinny jeans. It kills me. I wonder if this is how 31-year-olds felt when I was running around in JNCOs and oversized hoodies ten years ago. All that youth, hidden in voluminous acres of phat pant denim! But at least phat pants and raver e-tarded fashion was something new. It was ugly, but a fresh kind of ugly.
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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amy.leblanc
September 17th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
i have been equally as mortified as of late when wandering in the mission in SF. sometimes i feel like it must be a joke. i mean, i LOVE cyndi lauper, but notice that even she moved on to more flattering styles. i am staunchly against unflattering trends. i don’t care how trendy; if it’s not flattering, don’t wear it. you have to be INCREDIBLY HOT naturally to look good in leggings, ballerina flats/ankle boots and a flashdance-style t-shirt cinched with a belt. few and far between - most people just look like serious Fashion Victims.
Serene
September 17th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
If the crime of wearing a bedazzled off-the-shoulder sweater you are referring to was commited by the middle vocalist for 1Luv, I wholeheartedly agree. I liked her singing but all those awful and beads had me transfixed. In a bad way.
Sara
September 17th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
I am in 100% complete agreement that the ’80s fashions have go to go! The ’80s are over for many reasons….I think the clothes were one of them!
lily
September 17th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
UGH. the 80’s. now THERE’S a fashion ERROR that never needs repeating.
michelle
September 17th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
can i just say that i went to high school and college in the 80s and i look god-awful in all my photos from that era precisely BECAUSE i was sporting all the aforementioned fashions. why on earth anyone would willingly embrace them now is beyond me. but i guess there will always be fashion sheep.
-michelle
Britt Stromberg
September 18th, 2006 at 8:45 am
Recently overheard conversation in a movie theater bathroom:
“I can’t wait until it’s cold again so I can wear my legwarmers.”
laura
September 18th, 2006 at 11:10 am
I guess that the best we can hope for is in six months we move to the 90’s. . . Double Yuck!
tlc
September 18th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
I *kind of* like the leggings look. Don’t kill me.
Leah
September 18th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
What about the belts?! The five-inch wide metallic belts?! AAAAAHHHHH! We spent ten minutes trying on belts and laughing our asses off at Target yesterday. BELTS. SO. BIG. MUST. BE. STOPPED.
p.s. I saw some hoopers in a parade yesterday and thought of you. xo
Heather
September 18th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
If one wore a trend the first time, one shouldn’t wear it again. But we musn’t deny the Youth of Today the chance to look really, REALLY ugly in pictures, right? The thing I keep seeing around is the Axl Rose bandana thing- so hideous.
Ok, I have a pair of legwarmers (neon pink). I bought them in London! They are neat!
alona
September 18th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
I would like skinny jeans if they actually made me look skinny.
Laurel Fan
September 18th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Maybe it’s kind of like peacocks or moose. “I have such great genes that nobody has eaten me yet even though I have this totally ridiculous thing on my butt/head”. Except it’s “I’m so hot I still look ok with this puff painted kitty sweatshirt”.
catina jane
September 19th, 2006 at 11:46 pm
i think just about every style these days is played out .. so i just where whatever the hell i feel like and outside opinions be damned..
i hear ya ..