1980s-inspired panel art and a vintage metal plant sculpture
Welcome to Mirror 80, a design blog with a focus on 1980s fashion and interiors! This first post is part reflection, part looking ahead…
My earliest notions of music, fashion and design were formed during the flagship days of MTV. Like many ’80s fanatics, I didn’t transition well into the ’90s and strangely managed to ignore many of the significant musical and stylistic developments of that decade, probably because I was watching Flashback Video on MTV instead of getting into grunge.
And while I’ve since pledged never to dismiss the present in order to live in the past, I always knew that when ’80s influences began showing up in music, fashion and interior design, I would be planning the welcome back party.
An '80s Deco poster from 1983
What truly surprised me as time passed was the nature of the 1980s tidbits that began to reemerge. Sure there were the Flashdance sweaters and the jelly bracelets—and they were fabulous—but these were merely the tip of an iceberg that was much deeper than many of us ever imagined.
When I became an antique dealer, I was fascinated by the Art Deco revival prints I would find with 1980s dates on them. As a kid I’d missed the Deco influences that had crept into graphic and interior design at that time. No wonder eighties modern ceramics could be displayed side by side with Art Deco vases! Not to mention the ’80s tribal motifs that seem to be reappearing in one form or another through the wardrobes of performers like MIA.
Were the 1980s merely years in a decade of tacky excess? Sure, there were some fashion trends that were unflattering, to say the least. Sure, the materials used in the manufacturing of home décor items could’ve been a bit higher quality…
But I’m convinced there’s more to this decade than meets the eye, and that the ’80s revival is continuing to unfold in surprisingly interesting ways. Mirror 80 will showcase this 1980s redux in all of its bold glory!
Until next time…
Thanks for reading,
Kate
Welcome to Mirror 80, a design blog with a focus on 1980s fashion and interiors! This first post is part reflection, part looking ahead…
My earliest notions of music, fashion and design were formed during the flagship days of MTV. Like many 80s fanatics, I didn’t transition well into the 90s and strangely managed to ignore many of the significant musical and stylistic developments of that decade, probably because I was watching Flashback Video on MTV instead of getting into grunge.
And while I’ve since pledged never to dismiss the present in order to live in the past, I always knew that when 80s influences began showing up in music, fashion and interior design, I would be planning the welcome back party.
What truly surprised me as time passed was the nature of the 1980s tidbits that began to reemerge. Sure there were the Flashdance sweaters andthe jelly bracelets—and they were fabulous—but these were merely the tip of an iceberg that was much deeper than many of us ever imagined.
When I became an antique dealer, I was fascinated by the Art Deco revival prints I would find with 1980s dates on them. As a kid I’d missed the Deco influences that had crept into graphic and interior design at that time. No wonder eighties modern ceramics could be displayed side by side with Art Deco vases! Not to mention the 80s tribal motifs that seem to be reappearing in one form or another through the wardrobes of performers like MIA.
Were the 1980s merely years in a decade of tacky excess? Sure, there were some fashion trends that were unflattering, to say the least. Sure, the materials used in the manufacturing of home décor items could’ve been a bit higher quality…
But I’m convinced there’s more to this decade that meets the eye, and that the 80s revival is continuing to unfold in surprisingly interesting ways. Mirror 80 will showcase this 1980s redux in all of its bold glory!
Until next time…
Thanks for reading,
Kate
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