Reflecting on recent retro style
Well, it’s been a minute!
This year we’re keeping our “Thanksgiving table” simple with a fall picnic and fresh food.
A post on learning to run the race, even if you’re still figuring it all out…
Today’s post is about pasta. And unpredictability.
When I first launched Mirror80, I would tell people I was covering 1980s design, and there would inevitably be a joke about teal and mauve color schemes. Of course, that didn’t stop me from using both colors in my logo! But over time, these notorious shades are starting to lose their stigma. Especially teal. Today we show you how this color is making a powerful comeback. For real!
Today’s video comes from Polish director Zbigniew Rybczyński, whose work includes two previously-mentioned music videos on Mirror80: “All the Things She Said” by Simple Minds and “Candy” by Cameo. Known for his innovative visuals, often involving overlapping multiples of the musicians featured in each piece, Rybczyński is the perfect man to take Takeshi Itoh’s “Cowbell” into the realm of music video.
If you’ve read my post on acrylic furniture, you know I’ve been enjoying my new writing gig at Decoist, an online magazine specializing in interior design and architecture. From time to time, I’ll be pointing Mirror80 readers to my posts that highlight items with ’80s flair. If you’re into lacquer, this is your lucky day!
If you’re ever tempted to ditch your collection of ’80s stickers, do yourself a favor hang onto these adhesive treasures! Not only are they works of art in themselves, they point to larger art and design trends from the 1980s. In fact, many people have chosen to revive their sticker collections, thanks to vendors like Etsy shop Vintage Sticker Love, which offers an amazing array of ’80s sticker selections.
Now that Season 5 of the hit series Mad Men has officially premiered, Mirror80 asks a burning question: “What if Mad Men were set in the 1980s?” Welcome to glamorous world of Wall Street yuppies and the complicated lives they lead. Amidst the leather, suede, mini-blinds and limitless cash flow are a group of stockbrokers so powerful, they are known as Rad Men to all they meet. They live a life of excess and follow a questionable moral code. Yet amidst the smoke and mirrors is a story—their story. Because these men just want to have fun. Let’s meet the players…
While we at Mirror80 love to speculate on the return of ’80s design, some would say it’s already back! From museum retrospectives featuring Memphis-Milano furniture to a growing number of collectors hunting for original 1980s fine art, the interest in a full-blown revival is there. But it’s also fun to note the number of mainstream pieces that have an ’80s look or mix well with decor from our favorite decade. Today we scan the offerings of popular retailer CB2 to find eye-catching items with the power to bring a hint of the 1980s home to roost.
I recently started a new gig writing for the online design magazine Decoist. The site features interesting architecture and interior design finds, how-to advice for maintaining a stylish home, exciting new products, and collections of design strategies and ideas. I wanted to share one of my recent Decoist articles with Mirror80 readers–a piece on the wonders of acrylic furniture. Many acrylic finds have an ’80s Modern look, and the beauty of these clear furnishings is their versatility.
Here at Mirror80 we’ve featured an array of floral arrangements in 1980s hues. From a heart-shaped vase filled with stargazer lilies to a blue ’80s Deco container holding purple iris, these creations have often screamed ’80s! Today’s selection is simple and modern, yet it combines two of our favorite ’80s trademarks: calla lillies and metallic vases.
Another South by Southwest Festival has come and gone, and as I reflect on the past week, one of my favorite moments was discovering the poster art of Jason Munn. Each year a poster show called Flatstock features outstanding work from artists around the world. Concert posters are the genre of choice, and given that the event is held during the music portion of South by Southwest, the artwork couldn’t be more appropriate! This year I purchased an amazing selection from Jason Munn…
Today’s Friday Video Pick comes from Peter Gabriel, who is known for his artistic, visually stunning music videos. “Big Time” was a hit from his 1986 album So. Wayne White served as the video’s art director, and he won a Billboard award for his work. We’ve featured White this week at Mirror80, noting his many amazing talents. Watch this video and you’ll see it in action…
