The return of the '80s and '90s

Acid wash jeans: a trend that needs to stay in the
'80s.

In an age when fashion is all over the map, I have come to the conclusion that the 21st century (particularly the most recent years) will be known as a time when style regurgitated old trends from past decades to make them look fresh, new and hip.

I look at this as a form of nostalgia as I see kids wearing fluorescent hues from the ‘80s, Venetian blind sunglasses (thank you Kanye West for bringing those back), Crayola colored skinny jeans, checkered Vans slip-ons a la Jeff Spicoli, chunky plastic jewelry and other trends that make many of us recall those Punky Brewster and Valley Girl.

I accepted these trends, but I wasn’t going to go out and drench myself in this flair. Sure, I purchased a skinny tie and I am still waiting for Marc Jacobs

to come out with a new special collection of Vans, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the trends should come back.

The other evening while I was walking out of the Daly City BART station, a bunch of teens were gallivanting in their garb. The boys, true to Bay Area charm, were donned in video game printed hoodies and baggy jeans, while the girls looked like they just ransacked the urban hipster racks of H&M.

I smiled with silent appreciation at these kids as they unknowingly nodded to the days of careless fashion freedom until I saw one of the girls wearing a pair of black acid wash jeans.

My smile came to a screeching halt and I wanted to arrest her right there for too many style violation codes.

As said, I can accept these revamps of ‘80s style, but acid wash? This is a trend that belongs in the fashion cemetery along with wildly printed rayon shirts and uber pleated Z. Cavaricci jeans endorsed by AC Slater.

Is this a road the fashion world is following? Has it come to the point where fashion has run out of ideas that we have to go and pick up the really bad trends?

Before we know it, kids will be donning Hypercolor shirts and stirrup pants with broad shouldered art deco blazers cinched with a belt as wide as the Grand Canyon. Wait – was that the ‘90s?

I wouldn’t be surprised if the ‘90s came back full force. Cross Colors will be the new Galliano and camel toe-inducing jeans cinched with a silver tipped belt will be all the rage. Bolo ties will grace the necks of Brad Pitt and modernized grunge will make us miss Kurt Cobain all over again.

Wait a second – I believe some of those trends are already in effect (minus the bolo ties and silver tipped belts).

In any matter, the 21st century has become a potpourri of style from the decades past and I believe it’s time for a designer to step up and give this era a fresh new take on style. Yes Phillip Lim, I’m looking at you.