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…

My Little Pony Gallops Into ’80s Fashion

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My Little Pony Week continues at Mirror80 as we celebrate these delightfully bright collectible toys manufactured by Hasbro since the 1980s. Originating as larger “My Pretty Ponies” in 1981, the MLPs took on the classic ’80s form and size we know and love beginning in 1983 and had a 10-year run in the US. After an attempt to revive the Ponies’ popularity in 1997, a global relaunch occurred in 2003, when they were reintroduced to kids and have been popular ever since!

Friday Video Pick: Emotion in Motion by Ric Ocasek

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In keeping with this week’s ’80s fairy tale theme, we thought we’d spotlight this Ric Ocasek video, in which the singer portrays a prince who must fight and defeat a powerful beast to obtain the potion that will revive his Beloved.

Rad or Fad: 1980s Ceramic Swans

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In the 1980s, companies like Dynasty and Andre Richard Co. manufactured lines of Deco-style ceramic swan washcloth holders (the rags or hand towels would rest on the swan’s back, at times rolled).

Spotlight: ’80s Fairy Tale Style

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Happy endings. Puffy sleeves, ruffled collars, sparkling detail on costumes… This is the stuff of fairy tales. So how is any of this ’80s-specific? If the fairy tale was made in the ’80s, the sleeves were puffier, the collars frillier and everything was, well–sparklier!

Friday Video Pick: “Dolce Vita” by Ryan Paris

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So you’re looking at this frozen screen, asking, “Why is Mirror80 posting an old travel video?” But we say: Stay with us–this is an amazing video that channels ’80s European style in a subtle yet effective way. And then there’s the song, so awesome that director Whit Stillman chose the track for the climactic scene of his 1998 masterpiece The Last Days of Disco, set in “the very early 1980s.”

Happy Valentine’s Day from Mirror80!

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Before you peruse the rest of this post, do yourself a favor and hit “play” to experience Valentine’s Day by ABC. This ’80s dance track from British pop band ABC has all of the traits of an ABC hit: dramatic instrumentation, dramatic vocals, dramatic lyrics, a dramatic album cover…and an inexplicable “glam and glitz” quality. Plus, this one busts out an intense finale and is an all-around great soundtrack for your Valentine’s mood, whatever it may be…”When the postman don’t call on Valentine’s Day…”

Mirror80 “Guest Blogs” for The 80’s Gallery!

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Shortly before Mirror 80 was born, I began a voracious search for ’80s fashion and interior design resources on the internet. I was soon delighted to find an extensive collection of ’80s art and design items at The 80’s Gallery, Katie Cobler and Ken McGavin’s online gallery featuring jewelry, lighting, original artwork and other amazing collectibles, from sculpture to pottery.

A Very ’80s Valentine’s Day…

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This Valentine’s Season, we spotlight the talented artisans and curators of Etsy! Enjoy perusing these treasures for him, for her and for you! A special thank-you to my Etsy friends for bringing these ’80s vintage and ’80s-inspired handmade items into our realm of gifting possibilities…