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…

A Dreamy ’80s Deco Still Life Shoot

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Today I’m sharing a few snapshots from my latest photo shoot. The subjects of these still life pics are ’80s Deco ceramics! If you caught Mirror80’s latest post on the set design of the 1982 film Tootsie, you saw plenty of sleek ceramics in shades of lavender and pink. The movie inspired me to line up my ’80s vases and swans and photograph them. The flowers you see above are peonies, and once the petals started falling, the shoot took on kind of a dreamy quality, so I went with it. Here are a few more images…enjoy!

The ’80s Connection: Heather Hermann

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This spring I began a correspondence with the talented Heather Hermann, also known as The Duchess of Deco. We immediately bonded over our love of 1980s design, thrifting, all things Deco, mineral samples, and quirky decor such as terrariums with neon accents. Yet the more I got to know Heather, aka Calliope, the more fascinated I became with her repertoire, from her days as a Vegas showgirl to her experience in the realm of Hollywood costume design. She’s a fearless performer, a visual artist with a truly unique aesthetic, a walking encyclopedia on Deco design through the ages, and an art dealer specializing in the works of Erte. And that’s just the beginning… Intrigued? Read on:

How to Shop Retro in a Vintage-Loving World

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Yesterday I enjoyed a trip to Warrenton, TX, where I shopped for retro finds at a mega-big festival known as Texas Antique Week. It takes place in multiple small towns that are roughly an hour and a half east of Austin. Dealers from all over the country flock to the area each October and April, and the event draws thousands of shoppers, who browse row after row of tents. My mission: to come home with a bag full of retro finds. Read on for more about my adventures…

Shopping for Vintage ’80s Deco Finds…

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Happy Monday, Everyone! Lately I’ve been in a thrifting kind of mood…and there’s nothing I’d rather shop for than ’80s Deco finds. If you read Friday’s post, you know that I’m on the lookout for some ’80s Deco decor for my powder room. This weekend I found another amazing vase (stay tuned for a future post sharing all my finds for that space). But I’ve also been on the hunt for some ’80s fashion finds! It all started when I found the gorgeous blouse above from Etsy shop Tigerlily Vintage. It has a tropical vibe that mixes well with exotic ’80s Deco pieces, and a rich color palette makes it perfect for transitioning into fall. Here are some other fabulous items currently available on Etsy…

The Art of Georgiana Paraschiv

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I’ve fallen head over heels in love with the artwork of Georgiana Paraschiv!!! Today we feature her amazing prints, available for purchase through her Society6 shop. From abstract lines and grids to marbleized color scapes, the hues and forms of her work are the perfect counterpart to 1980s decor.

An Iris and Lily Mood Board

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Today we’re immersing ourselves in the ’80s iris and lily phenomenon! Ceramics, flowers, clothing and jewelry–this floral Deco look put its stamp on many a product in the decade of decadence. And the look is inspiring our latest Retro Foodie event, which is shaping up to be a glamorous take on 1980s floral style. I’ve put together a mood board to cement the theme, and I can’t help but start with the Mikasa plate at the top left of the montage, which is a gift from my friend Kat. Thanks to Kat for getting the ball rolling! Enjoy today’s montage, and stay tuned for our next Retro Foodie post in June, complete with recipes and decor…

Chic 1980s Furniture Finds

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This weekend while I was having fun with the Mirror80 Pinterest boards, I couldn’t help but notice one important fact: 1stdibs is an amazing treasure trove for high-end ’80s furniture! If you’re a serious collector, you’re in luck. And if you’re not, you can still probably find some good deals (or at least a splurge or two). Hey, at any rate, you can plan your dream home by making collages out of the amazing images…like we did today! Enjoy! We call it “Golden Girls meets ’80s Modern”…

’80s-Style Sconce Lighting

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Fifteen years ago, I came across a book about lighting. It had been published in the ’80s, and it spoke extensively about how 1980s lighting (especially sconces) were largely influenced by Art Deco designs. If the book hadn’t been in a library, I would have bought it! I was still a student, but even then, I was obsessed with the ’80s, and this was the first time I’d consciously linked that decade with Art Deco. My mind was blown! Today we feature sconces that can’t help but look ’80s (and ’20s). Some are old and some are new. All are awesome…

’80s Graphic Design Finds from Il Giardino Luxor

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Hey all you dreamers out there… Today we spotlight three ’80s postcards from Etsy shop Il Giardino Luxor. These collectibles feature artwork from Italian postcard company Arti Grafiche Ricordi. Since we couldn’t stop with just one, we decided to highlight three 1980s-fabulous selections featuring beautiful, wistful young ladies in various states of daydreaming. Since most of us will never indulge in a bittersweet moment while seagulls fly overhead, a swan uses our scalp as a launchpad or two birds becomes friends in the windowsill below, we can at least live vicariously through these lovely heroines…

Goodwill Find: An ’80s Deco Vase

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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!