90's Style Reflections

Yesterday I indulged on 80’s fashion styles. The 80’s will always have a very special place in my heart…I smile just thinking about it. I sure do miss those MTV and VH1 video days…it’s just not the same with their ah-hem — modern day replacements like ‘MTV Cribs’ and reality shows like ‘Run’s House’ or ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ (I don’t even know what channel that’s on?  I should start my own show …’Keeping up with Brandy’…LOL). But it’s true, as an adult isn’t it hard sometimes to keep up with your own life???… so why for sane’s sake do I wanna get sucked into their Hollywood melodramedy? I know…I’m just bein’ sarcastic…I know it’s funny and it makes you appreciate your own life…yeah, in a sick twisted sorta way . But really, whenever I turn the tube on, it seems there’s yelling and it’s the KKK clan… Kim, Khloe and the other sister… is it Kooky? I mean they’re always whining and cat fighting about something …dialogue like, ‘why can’t you buy another car instead???!!!!…I wanted the Bentley!!!! I-III just want to cry (but then I’d mess up my mascara)!!! I’m NE-VVER gonna forgive you…E-VVVER!!!!’ He-LLLllo…well why can’t you all just get a clue??? 3 words — Poor Bruce Jenner.

That’s funny stuff but let’s get back to the real world…ha ha. Today it’s ALL about the 90’s styles. Let’s see, since it wasn’t thaaat long ago it should be easy to recall, right?

…okay, there was Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place that came on TV in the early 90s when Fox TV came around (Pre-Party of Five…remember that one?) I remember taping shows on VHS videos when I was attending college classes or related events . 90210 was like a post-Saved by the Bell soap opera. That’s probably why they hired Tiffani Amber Thiessien to be on both shows (remember her from Tiger Beat or was it Teen magazine or both?)….

Anyway! For some reason, I remember the vest look that came back in. I remember Brenda Walsh (Shannon Doherty’s character) wearing that hobo look with the baggy pants in the beginning when they first moved from the farm or wherever mid-America they came from. Oh, and all those funky hats and plaids and overalls. It was so grungy! Did I get the right show? …Then she got glamified (is that a word?) and lost in the chic Beverly Hills lifestyle. Oh….and the sideburns! Remember Brandon and Dylan who showed theirs off? Steve (played by Ian Ziering) tried to grow some but you couldn’t see it against his blond Albino self. By the way, I’m not trying to impress you but I did recall these character and actual actor’s names without Googling them. Told you it wasn’t that long ago.

I remember actually shopping in the early 90’s on Melrose Ave in L.A. The styles were so hip. I bought my first Betsy Johnson light blue butterfly print dress there that I wore to several weddings including a California one in Northridge (a ‘burb of L.A.). That’s where I got culture shocked that people actually work Black to weddings…oh, and Black Doc Martens! That’ll never be chic in my mind. Hey, but whatever flips your boat… what???

Oh, and then came HBO’s “Sex in the City”. I was well into my adulthood by then. I was probably around 25 when that hit series aired. That took fashion to a whole ‘nother level but it took a few episodes. We weren’t looking at mall shopping like with Beverly Hills 90210. We were looking at designer clothes shopping. And Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags. And a lot of shoe shopping!

Okay here’s where I gotta make note to self. I don’t get the whole Manolo Blahnik’s and Jimmy Choo’s. I mean they’re beautiful shoes. And yes, it’s a fashion statement and ‘Sex in the City’s’ Vogue writer, Carrie Bradshaw bragged about them and made them famous…but really how many times can you wear a $400 pair of shoe and have it looking new or the way you’d want it to if you were showing off a $400 pair of shoe? So if you wear the shoe 4x then that’s $100 per wear. What if you only wear it once or twice…well, uh, you do the math! Plus what if they get stolen when you go to a Bridal Shower at a home where you have to take your shoes off, and one of the other guests take the wrong shoes (e.g. your Manolo’s) by accident…I didn’t make this up…I mean afterall it DID happen to Carrie in an episode!

Btw here’s a photo of me below (and a VERY pregnant friend!) in front of Carrie’s brownstone apartment building… 

Carrie Bradshaw's NYC Apartment (from HBO's 'Sex in the City' show)

Okay let’s put this in perspective for us Raleigh-ans. There’s no outdoor walking in Raleigh you can really show off your shoes without putting a hurtin’ on your feet. I mean most of us aren’t carried around in rickshaws all day! And Glenwood South is not exactly buzzin’ New York City.

They should have stylin’ shoes for the big cities where everyone walks around and chic shoes for the ‘burbs where everyone drives around. What I could see walkin’ around in, in Raleigh is a high fashion great wedge shoe for the summer and a long leather boot for the winter. I think you can wear those two styles, very practically. I like the metallic ballet flat with jeans but I wonder how long that style will last?

Alright movin’ on about clooothes in general…

I went through my Ann Taylor phase just after college. You know when you kinda wanna look the part of a professional out in the ‘real world’. You can’t really go wrong with their styles as they’re very mainstream. Almost too mainstream. Lacking in style expression as you’ll look like everyone else in the Corporate world. But, that’ll make your boss happy that there’s another ‘matchy matchy’ clone in the office with whatever the in style season color or print top is and a neutral slack or skirt.  Been there done that and still do once in a blue moon when I’m tryin’ to look a ‘lil professional.

But what about the hip online companies like Amazon.com and Zappos.com?…they’re the opposite of corporate America Ann Taylor. They embrace free expression. If you wonder what I mean, take a visit to Seattle and you’ll think you’ve stepped on soil in another country (or planet). Alrighty…I think that’s enough for today. …gee, I wonder what free expression I’ll have tomorrow.

Category: Brandy's Special "Dish"