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.
New ’80s-Style Tribal Art Finds
Here at Mirror80, we’ve covered the emerging 1980s design revival, noting how the areas of fashion and graphic design have been the first to celebrate ’80s motifs. Yet the world of interior design has been slower to embrace the 1980s. It’s no wonder then that for ’80s tribal style to be welcomed back into our homes, it would first have to appear in the fashion world, as the last few years have shown. We’re thrilled about the ’80s tribal redux, especially since it has now jumped from shirts and dresses to the walls of our interiors thanks to today’s talented Etsy artists.
Pic Fix: ’80s Clouds
It’s official–we’re crazy for clouds! 1980s clouds, that is. Not only have they infiltrated our collection of Pinterest boards, they permeated art and graphic design throughout our favorite decade. In fact, it seemed the skies were always blue in the ’80s, at least when it came to ’80s album covers, stickers and artwork. A renewed interest in surrealist art was evident by a plethora of puffy clouds and checkered floors. Or the clouds simply provided a dreamy background for cover art highlights, as shown above for the Spyro Gyra album “Freetime.”
New Swatch Watches With ’80s Style
It’s no secret that Mirror80 is a wee bit obsessed with Swatch Watches! So you can imagine our surprise when we stumbled across a brand spanking new ’80s tribal Swatch on the pages of a fashion magazine. After further research, it seems other ’80s motifs (such as zebra print) are now gracing the Swatch collection! With ’80s fashion motifs once again in full effect, it’s no surprise that Swatch would catch on and bring back a bit of the decade that made them famous!
When You Get Caught Between the Moon and ’80s Deco: A Scene from “Arthur”
I know it’s crazy, but it’s true! Please excuse my reference to the theme song from the 1981 film Arthur, which features the best 1980s Deco-style bathroom I’ve ever laid eyes on. If you were a millionaire, wouldn’t you want to bathe in that tub? I wonder if Dudley Moore enjoyed being surrounded by pedestals of calla lilies…
Friday Video Pick: “My Ever-Changing Moods” by The Style Council
So it’s a few days past Friday, but a bad case of vertigo prevented me from blogging on the day this post was supposed to go live! And this song is just too good to pass up… Today we spotlight The Style Council, consisting of vocalist and guitarist Paul Weller (formerly of The Jam) and keyboardist Mick Talbot.
Acrylic Dining Sets
One look at the furniture featured in today’s post, and you may assume these pieces are straight out of the ’80s. Strangely, even the pictures have a retro quality. To everyone’s surprise, these acrylic dining sets from Muniz Plastics are brand spanking new…honestly, we’re a bit confused, but it’s a blissful fog! ’80s-style Deco furniture is being manufactured once again?! We should throw a party and bring our crystal swans to decorate the tabletops!
The Work of Architecture at Large
Today we’re thrilled to spotlight the work of Rafael de Cárdenas, founder of Architecture at Large, a resource for design vision and execution focused on residential and commercial interiors, architecture, furniture and integrated objects. Stunning color and bold geometry are key qualities of Architecture at Large pieces and interiors. We can’t help but see undertones of 1980s Memphis-Milano motifs!
Friday Video Pick: A Swatch Watch Commercial From 1988!
Today’s Friday Video Pick comes from the vibrant world of Swatch. This Australian ad features the best of ’80s design…in-your-face colors, quick bursts of flashy geometry, and…a street carnival setting? The commercial is “set” in Vienna, which clearly inspired an Old Word-meets-modern vibe. Attempts to jazz it up with glass block and neon lighting prove quite interesting
The Art of Francesco Mancin
Today we are delighted to spotlight the art of Italian graphic designer and videomaker Francesco Mancin. Art, music, fashion and film inspire his work, as does the style of the renowned 1980s design collective The Memphis Group. A talented artist, Mancin has created numerous posters that celebrate Memphis design while adding a contemporary touch to ’80s motifs. Modern yet retro, Mancin’s work exemplifies the artful blend of past and present.
