Today I’m welcoming Katie Rispoli Keaotamai to the blog! Katie is an architectural and cultural history professional who runs We Are the Next, a nonprofit organization that carries out construction projects in abandoned or neglected buildings. She then uses them to empower youth by raising awareness about the ways city buildings reflect our shared cultural identities and patterns in pop culture.
Color Palette Possibilities
Today we’re celebrating ’80s color palettes…using ’80s visuals! In fact, the images featured in this post come from retro design books. From graphic design flourishes to ’80s ads, these photos and illustrations showcase a range of color palette possibilities. If you’re working on a design project, this just might be your lucky day!
A Music Video Playlist: City Nights
Today we’re taking it to the streets! The ’80s city streets at night, that is. I’ve put together a music video playlist featuring after-dark city settings, so get ready to roam with Pat Benatar, hop on a motorcycle with INXS, and decorate a mannequin-filled store window with Quarterflash.
’80s Movie Style: Big
Today we delve into the whimsical world of the 1988 film Big, which tells the story of barely-teen Josh Baskin as he makes a wish to be “big”… Enter 30-year-old Tom Hanks as the grown-up Josh. This piece of cinematic magic is without a doubt a “big movie”, from Hanks’ stellar performance to the ’80s-fabulous interiors.
The Look: Clean, Geo and Modern
Happy New Year! For this first post of 2017, I wanted to focus on the idea of a fresh start. And there’s nothing like a clean, modern look to symbolize a new beginning…
Artistic ’80s Interiors
What are we looking at here?! Is it the set of a Thompson Twins video?… Actually, it’s 1980s product photography featuring a geometric design by Brooke Rugs. In fact, all of the ’80s interiors featured in today’s post blur the line between art and design.
Enjoy the Holidays!
Happy Holidays, Everyone! I’ll be taking a break from blogging for a week or so, then picking back up just before the new year. Before I wind down for the break, I want to wish all of you a restful holiday season, filled with festivity and (hopefully) some down time. And I also hope that somewhere in the midst of the busy-ness, you can spend time with the people you care about the most.
My Favorite Posts of 2016
Can you believe we’re in the last two weeks of 2016?! Before everyone winds down for the holidays, I wanted to share my favorite Mirror80 posts from the past year. I have some exciting projects in the works, and I can’t wait to see how Mirror80 grows in the next 12 months. Until then, here are some highlights from 2016…
A Sparkling New Year’s Eve
Ready for some sparkle?! I’m really looking forward to 2017, so I couldn’t wait another day to share the photos from Mirror80’s New Year’s Eve shoot. I’ll also be sharing a few easy ways to throw a party together at the last minute. The answer: tinsel. Lots of tinsel! Keep reading for pics, tips, and a LOT of shimmer…
A Sophisti-pop Playlist
Get ready for some smooth tunes! Today I’m sharing an ’80s/’90s Sophisti-pop playlist. The genre originated in the UK in the mid-1980s, combining elements of jazz, pop and soul. Yet some use the term “Sophisti-pop” to encompass a range of musical selections with a sleek, polished feel…
