Mirror80

Reflecting on recent retro style

Love My Way

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A post on learning to run the race, even if you’re still figuring it all out…

Archives for November 2011

Mid-Week Match-Up: An ’80s Modern Living Room at Christmas

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Today we recreate the look of Andrew McCarthy’s family living room from the 1987 film Less Than Zero. In this movie loosely based on the novel by Brett Easton Ellis (written when Ellis was only 21!), McCarthy plays Clay, a college student who returns home for Christmas break to discover that his close friends have been deeply affected by drug abuse and despair. OK, so you’re not going to see this one on the Hallmark Channel this season, but the decor is out of this world. Today we focus on the ’80s interior that served as the centerpiece of the film’s Christmas scenes. Here is the result….

A Lisa Frank-Inspired ’80s Christmas Tree!

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Yesterday we focused on the sleek white and metallic Christmas decorations of the modern homeowner in the 1980s. Keeping the palette monochromatic provided a stark yet sparkly take on Holiday decor that was perfect for clean-lined dwelling spaces. Today we throw subtlety out the window with a child-friendly Christmas tree inspired by designer Lisa Frank, whose creations decorated many a school supply and sticker in the 1980s.

Pic Fix: An ’80s Modern Christmas

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This week at Mirror80 we get into the Holiday spirit by revisiting ’80s seasonal style. Today’s images are brought to you by the 1987 film Less Than Zero, a haunting story of drug abuse and loss based on the book by Brett Easton Ellis. While the movie is far from the beacon of warm fuzzy Holiday fun, its breathtaking interiors provide us with a glimpse of posh ’80s winter decor. If you lived in a California mansion decorated by a cutting edge interior designer in the mid-late ’80s, perhaps your Christmas tree and centerpieces would look like this…

Friday Video Picks: ’80s Teen Commercials

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We conclude our week-long focus on products and advertisements targeting ’80s teens with two commercials that celebrate all things bright and distracting! Let’s start with the following clip, an ad for Magic Girl perfume. In a fruity whirlwind of confusion, this piece puts the competition to shame with images of spellbound, obsessed teens. And some pretty wicked ’80s fashion!

Mirror80 Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving from Mirror80! Today’s visuals are courtesy of Etsy shop VintageStickerLove. The perfect ’80s Thanksgiving statement (a bit of Autumn plus a bit of glitter), these vintage leaf stickers from Stickopotamus showcase a variety of Fall hues. I’m also a fan of the shop’s profile, which recalls the memory of a lost sticker collection and the joys of rebuilding it piece by piece today. Because it’s never too late to revel in the simple pleasures of youth…

Mid-Week Match-Up: ’80s Teen Products Then and Now

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This week Mirror80 has spotlighted teen grooming products from the 1980s in all of their shiny glory. But we’ve often wondered what happened to these multi-hued treasures. Are they still out there, or did their remains end up on the shelf of a TJ Maxx in the early-mid ’90s? You may be surprised by our findings…

Crazy for Caboodles!

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Ladies of the ’80s yearned for oodles of Caboodles. Or maybe just one good one to stylishly carry their grooming products. These beauty organizers by Caboodles of California were packed with storage options, including pull-out trays in a variety of configurations. And of course, each case had a built-in mirror, the ultimate primping essential.

Pic Fix: 1980s Teen Product Ads

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This week Mirror80 pays homage to the wonderful world of teen-targeted media. If you think ’80s graphic and product design had eye-catching appeal, you can bet design efforts were cranked up a few notches to grab the attention of teenagers. Imagine the set of Saved by the Bell, then imagine if it were edible. That’s right–teen products looked good enough to eat (which is a bit scary since many of them were drugstore items). Graphic designers packed advertisements with candy forms and colors. Here are a few of our favorites, taken from the November 1990 issue of Teen Magazine, starting with the ad for Malibu Musk, shown above.

Friday Video Pick: “Bulletproof” by La Roux

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In the spirit of ’80s graphic design, we set out to select a mind-blowingly stylish video for today’s Friday Video Pick. A video that could be a Trapper Keeper if it materialized into a school supply. There was only one choice for us: “Bulletproof” by La Roux! It may not be from the ’80s or even an ’80s copycat, but moments of ’80s influence can’t be denied. From the black and white grids to the floating geometric shapes, it’s hard to keep up with the visual changes packed into this 3 1/2 minute work of art! The beginning even features a backdrop that evokes the color and pattern combinations present in the design of ’80s powerhouse collective The Memphis Group.

A 1980s Graphic Design Revival

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While an ’80s revival hit the fashion realm years ago, it’s the world of graphic design where a 1980s design revival is currently exploding, particularly on screen. Let’s start with the screen of your favorite mobile device. This year Glow Play released Radballs, a unique, ’80s-inspired puzzler for the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Set against the background of a heavy synth soundtrack, Radballs comes to life with ’80s-fabulous colors like hot pink, aqua and yellow, and with motifs including diagonal lines and dotted backgrounds.