Today Mirror80 features one of my favorite all-time songs: “Touch and Go” by The Cars. I grew up listening to the cars but was a bit young when this little ditty came out. By the close of the ’80s I was much more familiar with The Cars’ uptempo hits, so you can imagine how delighted I was to come across this edgier track off their more experimental album Panorama from 1980. This video, a performance that aired on the ABC show Fridays, does not disappoint. Neither does the black and white wardrobe of the band members!
KINZO’s Microchip Light Installation
When you think of 1980s interior design, images of cylinder coffee tables and black lacquer headboards may come to mind. And while we hesitate to interrupt that wonderfully glossy vision, we love how today’s light installation created by Berlin-based design trio KINZO mixes modern decor with ’80s inspiration.
A Very ’80s Summer!
Summer is finally here, and to heat things up with sizzling ’80s style, today we present our favorite seasonal images! Check out our top ’80s summer pics, from pop culture classics to tropical designer fabric from the decade of decadence. If a photo catches your eye, check out the link to the blog post where it originally appeared for more ’80s-fabulous details. Oh, and have a rad summer!
Friday Video Pick: “Midas Touch” by Midnight Star
There’s no denying that Mirror80 has been a wee bit obsessed with R&B videos these last couple of weeks. Especially the ones that involve large ensembles of fashionable musicians with a penchant for shoulder pads. And we’re just talking about the men… This week we are delighted to showcase Midnight Star, a group whose electro-funk rhythms brightened many a dance floor in the ’80s. If you’re familiar with “Freak-A-Zoid” and “No Parking (On the Dance floor),” you’re no stranger to Midnight Star. Today we discover why they have the “Midas Touch!”
The Apartment of Interior Designer Rafael de Cárdenas
A month ago we featured the work of interior designer Rafael de Cárdenas of Architecture at Large. Not only does de Cárdenas delight in ’80s geometric motifs, he is an ardent proponent of color! You can imagine how delighted we were to stumble upon Sight Unseen and their in-depth tour of de Cárdenas’ New York apartment! Perhaps what we love most is the way the designer integrates the ’80s into his spaces while maintaining his own sense of style. Above we see a 1980s sculpture that de Cárdenas found at his grandmother’s house.
Goodwill Find: An ’80s Deco Vase
Those who know me well are aware of my addiction to ’80s Deco vases. It’s an obsession that started a few years ago when I saw a red plastic floral vase at an antique mall, and it reminded me of the plethora of curvy ’80s ceramics that graced many a table and shelf top during my favorite decade. When I couldn’t find the vases at any thrift shops in the area, I headed to Goodwill, also known as the mother ship. At any given point in time, there will be at least one ’80s Deco vase and several ’80s Deco lamps on the shelves of the local Goodwill, often in shades of peach, blue, mauve and white. My latest purchase–a blue glass piece–can be seen above!
“Meeting in the Ladies Room” by Klymaxx
Asymmetrical hair–check. Angular metal and glass furniture–check. Neon lighting–check. Breakdancer chained to an electric chair–check? Why worry about the details…. When it comes to music video posses, Klymaxx may very well have set some kind of record. And even though the title of the piece is “Meeting in the Ladies Room,” there sure are a lot of men dressed in ’80s-tastic club wear. One more important factoid: the video was directed by Devo’s Gerald Casale! Don’t miss today’s Friday Video Pick!
’80s Redux: Globe Lighting
So right about now you may be wondering what makes globe lighting so ’80s. After all, globe lamps and sconces were a mod staple of the ’60s and ’70s. Guess what? They stuck around for the ’80s and added just the right amount of other-worldly glow to many a living room during our favorite decade. Today we explore the globe lighting phenomenon and show you how to bring the look home for a reasonable price.
’80s Redux: Black Marble
Today we spotlight an ’80s trend that has found its way back into our design vocabulary: black marble. After the 1980s, many black marble finds were dismissed as the stuff of bachelor pads or Vegas bathrooms. Think again, folks. Today we’ve gathered a range of black marble furnishings to fit a variety of price points. We start high with the 1970s black marble coffee table above, available for $2900 through Metro Retro Furniture. The cylindrical base and marble top give the piece its modern form. She’s a beauty!
Friday Video Pick: “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads
When I began watching MTV at my neighbor’s house at the young age of five, I must admit that I had little patience for this video. OK, so I shouldn’t be too hard on myself–I was a couple of years out of preschool. It was 1981, the debut year of the famous music television network, and videos were a brand spanking new medium. And as time went on and this Talking Heads video continued to be featured, I likely changed the channel in hopes that when I switched back, something like “Mickey” by Toni Basil would be playing. Little did I know that Toni Basil was the choreographer of “Once in a Lifetime,” today’s Friday Video Pick.
