Can’t Buy Me Love. Maid to Order. Mannequin. Long before imported glossies, jet-set artists and French actresses started shaping my definition of style, these films informed my first impression of what was cool. Blame it on the steady stream of fashion flashbacks that brightened up the spring runway shows, but lately my closet and I have been regressing to the ‘80s—specifically to the era’s jock looks.

Now, with summer upon us, I’ve been trying to track down the perfect swimsuit to complete my Heathers-worthy wardrobe, as few things scream old-school-sexy-rich-bitch like a rainbow-bright bikini. (Just ask Phoebe Cates who was immortalized in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, thanks in part to a memorable cherry-colored swimsuit.) With the hopes of channeling these Brat Pack sex symbols, I’ve outlined my top picks for this summer’s pool-side attire:

All suits from Net-A-Porter, Intermix, and Bluefly

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Good-bye neo-Goth, hello old-school graphics. For our second installment of Casual Observations, I’d like to turn your attention to the recent resurgence of TV test patterns and Trapper Keeper-style graphics. Both feature bold colors, distinctive patterns, and conjure up bygone eras which many of us associate with a sense of joyous naïveté. (Remember when you actually wrote on paper and had to turn the non-cable TV on by manually turning a dial?) And as a quick glance at a few of today’s pop-culture artifacts and sartorial backdrops will demonstrate, these iconic graphics are current favorites of today’s taste-makers:

First, take a look at Apple’s latest Ipod commercial:

Then compare it with the intro credits to everyone’s favorite ’80s guilty-pleasure, Saved by the Bell:

Both recall your ’80s school supplies, no? Surely you remember Trapper Keepers and their distinctive geo-patterns…

Meanwhile, back in Manhattan, savvy window-dressers are zooming in on the same ’80s graphics as well as TV test graphics, as they make a perfect back-drop for the season’s vivid, New Wave-inspired pieces…

Bergdorf Goodman, Fifth Avenue:

Diesel, 14th Street @ Union Square:

Note the color palette and gradient pattern in the backdrop of the store’s “Diesel TV” window, and how similar it is to the Ipod commercial. Nice how it all comes full-circle isn’t it? (That’s what the fashion demi-monde likes to call A Moment.) Considering the ’80s TV inspiration behind this nascent trend, it seems fitting to now say, “Stay tuned for more…”

Snaps= TV Test pattern, iStock; Folders, Flickr; store photos Kate Terranova and Erin Dustin

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Today, on Vogue.co.uk there was a quote from Cindy Crawford about how she wished she had lived it up more in her early modeling days. This struck me as a bit odd, as I find it hard to believe that the bombshell was, as she says “sitting in the corner with a book,” during all of the ’80s and ’90s. Regardless, her hotness resurfacing in today’s fashion news prompted me to take a glance back at her modeling highlights. Here, a sampling of Crawford’s finest covershots–photographed in between chapters of Atlas Shrugged no doubt:

Snaps from a variety of sources including one particularly genius site that I can’t reveal just yet. More on that later…

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Rolling Stone, 1997

Sigh. Remember when you could slap a pair of khakis, a black tank and some sauna sandals on some cute young covergirl(s) and call it a day? Yes, ok so I’m feeling nostalgic today. Can you blame me? In retrospect, those days seemed so simple–in the sartorial arena at least. But then again, perhaps little has changed after all? It seems our main style icons have remained on their pedestal for nearly two decades now:

New York Magazine covers, 1999-2000 

Of course the same can’t be said of all of our favorite taste-makers. Here’s a little peek in the pop culture time capsule to brighten your day:

Rolling Stone, circa 1997-99 

Snaps: New York Magazine and Rolling Stone 

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Since that short stroll through memory lane was so pleasant yesterday, let’s indulge in another fashion flashback, shall we? Behold Oscar de la Renta’s Fall 1989 show:

Note, if you will, the photographers clamoring at the stage like teenagers at a New Kids on the Block concert, and try to keep count—if you can—of the number of twirls each heavily-cloaked model does on the runway. (This show apparently took place before the art of “layering” was mastered by the style elite. When did that happen? Post-minimalism? A debate for another post perhaps.) Think Gemma could handle those turns?

Also, before you pontificate about all the ‘80s references in the Fall 2008 collections, be thankful that not all of the era’s trends and silhouettes have returned—no one really needs a floor-grazing, high-collar wool trapeze coat now (or ever) do they?

Did that brighten your morning, just a bit? Well stay tuned for more including this gem from the Karl Lagerfeld archives. This show took place in 1987—before Lagerfeld’s legendary slim-down—but while the designer looks different, his clothes look vaguely, and refreshingly the same. Hidden underneath boxy-cut blazers and silk cover-ups, many of his trademark can be found including black tie and white shirt combo, his tailored short skirts, some sleek, pre-Chanel cardigans, and many crisp black-and-white looks. And of course, his models in his show are thinner than those seen on any other runway, then, now, and most likely forever. Enjoy!

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Videos courtesy of VidCat

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In my magazine cover research this morning, I came across this unforgettable number: The Olsens, pre-goth, pre-boho, and  pre-Prada headbands, back in the days when they wore tees and jeans like the rest of us. Even then, they looked better than most. Sigh.

Courtesy Rolling Stone 

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Click to watch

Ok. Maybe it’s because my computer’s streaming video capabilities aren’t quite up to par, or maybe it’s because my comprehensive skills aren’t fully up and running, but I can’t wrap my head around this video clip. A fashion friend raved about it yesterday but I’m not sure exactly what’s going on: Could this really be the legendary long-locked Steven Meisel in his early, pre-genius years? If so, where can one find images from that lost Gem and the Holograms shoot? Or, alternately, did some die-hard sartorialist really wake up one day and say “Hey! I know what I can do with that new eyeliner and my mountains of American Apparel! I’m gonna make a Meisel mockumentary!” Speaking of waking up, be sure to watch the eye-opener yourself and keep me posted on your take.

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The Future of Fashion, as seen from the 1930s

Nostradamus, schmostradamus. While the 16th century philosopher accurately prophesized many of history’s catastrophic events, there’s no way he could have predicted the kind of sartorial inventions we’re seeing these days. (Slankets? Shants? Terry cloth sweatsuits?)

However, Panthetone Weekly, a ‘30s news show, seemed to have had style-focused crystal ball stashed away in the studio. There’s a Depression-era clip floating around on YouTube (thanks loyal reader KS, for pointing it out to me) that features predictions on what the world would be wearing circa 2000. And what do you know? Every other look is 1) unfortunately uncredited 2)wearable 2) très similar to the Fall ’08 YSL show, which many critics deemed as—you guessed it—futuristic. The clip—and it’s similarity to today’s designs—makes the rising and falling hemline theories seem quaint in comparison to this timeless trend: When the times get tough, the fashion crowd looks towards the future for inspiration.

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The New Name to Know

Do you hear that? The keyboard clacking, phone ringing, and the rustle of magazine pages flipping? That’s the sound of editors and buyers trying to figure out who exactly Hannah MacGibbon is and what they can expect from her. Yesterday it was announced that the 38-year old MacGibbon would succeed Paolo Melim Andersson in helming the house of Chloe. Little is known of the designer who has recently been thrust into the style spotlight, save the fact that she assisted Valentino until 2001, when Phoebe Philo plucked her to be part of her Chloe design team. Nary a photo of MacGibbon exists online—nada on Patrick McMullan, zilch on Wireimage, girlfriend isn’t even on Facebook—to try and analyze her personal style.

Or so I thought! Remembering a runway bow that made waves a few seasons back, I scurried over to Style.com early this morning, and voila: a picture, potentially, of Miss MacGibbon. Could an art-school student mix of overly baggy jeans, platform heels, and scruffy socks be back for Chloe’s Spring ’09? Only time will tell, and ‘till then the fashion world will be eager to know more about MacGibbon.

The Chloe team, Fall/Winter 2006

MacGibbon, is that you? 

Snap = Style.com

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