Remember When Looney Tunes Were Cool!

Do you all remember when looney tunes t-shirts were cool. I went to a Catholic elementary school so we couldn't wear the shirts to school. But on the last day of school we had a field day and were allowed to wear our "street clothes" to school. I am pretty sure that on field day everyone was wearing a looney tunes shirt. Now remember this was over a decade ago. Well my husband's Aunt apparently still thinks that its cool to wear Looney Tunes. Last Christmas she bought my husband a Tazmanian devil t-shirt. The t-shirt was brown and TAZ was three dimensional and furry. Yah I know sounds like a joke gift but she was serious. I don't know where she found it but I have a couple of good guesses (eh ehm..can you say flea market).

by Sara

Neon is ok, but scrunchies are not!

You’ve all seen that many style elements of the 80’s have returned - acid wash denim, neon colors (love it!), high top sneakers... and i’m just waiting to see who’s the first designer to take extreme tribute inspiration from michael jackson’s 80’s style.

one trend i haven’t seen yet, is hypercolor - fabrics that change color depending on temperature. they were fun, yet sometimes annoying shirts that made everyone leave their handprints on your back! i don’t know what they could do to it for it’s 2009 update, but i think it would be great, in a funny way.

A couple of trends that i haven’t seen yet, and sort of hoping i never do:

* oversized t-shirts with t-shirt clips on the side

* big over-teased-hairsprayed bangs

i'm sure there are more - what am i forgetting?

by shirley

Michael Jackson: Style Icon

I think it's safe to say Michael Jackson was an icon of style who reinvented his look every few years. What was your favorite style era of the King of Pop? Let us know in the comments. (My personal favorite is MJs look in the early 90s for the release of 'Black or White': a flowing white dress shirt over a simple white T contrasted by jet-black slacks, his signature loafers and catcher's shin guards to boot).






By Jon

Out at sea with NKOTB!

Well, it's already here and gone. I can't believe it! I'm still glowing from the trip and thrilled with the experience. It was TOTALLY worth it. I was never one of those girls who knew every detail about the New Kids on the Block. As a matter of fact I recall my friend laughing hysterically at me for saying Joey's last name wrong in HS. It's sheer blasphemy, I know, for any hardcore NKOTB fan.

We boarded the ship on Friday 5/15 and the guys came out for a big sail away party. They sang and greeted fans and were just cool guys! There were games, Q&A sessions, concerts and plenty of opportunities to meet the guys, including a photo session that I'll never forget! We were photographed in somewhat random groups of 10. I walked right up to Jonathan, we very politely shook hands and I said "if it's not too forward, may I sit on your lap?" Remember that line from Dirty Dancing "I carried a watermelon!" yeah, that's me! Can't wait to get the picture though!!

The previous day we had a near collision with Donnie and Danny and their security guards in the hallway as they judged the door decorating contest. Danny turned to my friends and I and said "Do any of you have a Sharpie?" We very quietly shook our heads and replied "noooooo." haha Then we all but ran away. I've never thought of myself as being the kind of girl who gets star struck, but it was just so cool to be on this huge ship and randomly run into these guys!

So, I had an amazing time and would do it again in a heartbeat. It was a great kickoff to the summer. The metrostyle clothes I bought were perfect for the hot Bahamas weather. There is one important lesson to be learned though. When you have a specific dress you're planning on wearing to an event, make sure you have similar straps on your bathing suit! (photo is NOT me)

Have a super-fantastic summer everyone!

-Kyndall

Toys of Yesterday...Fashion Plates!

Since I have been on a kick of reminiscing about the 80's lately... I have to mention Fashion Plates. They had to be one of my favorite toys in the 1980's. I played with them all through elementary school. My older sister had the original set and then later my grandmother bought me the Barbie set since we were always arguing over who would get to play with them first.

I think fashion plates were a great toy. They inspired creativity and made us feel like great designers and artists. Each set (as there were a variety) could be used interchangeably since the necks and waists from each tile lined up. Then there were textures you could apply to the clothing designs as well.

Both my sister and I loved playing with them and hanging our designs up in our room.  I remember I always used one particular head the most often because I thought she looked like me... or at least we had the same hairstyle!  For awhile I thought I would become a great fashion designer!  

Here at metrostyle, the art directors use what we call "renderings" on the catalog layouts. These sketches are placed on the catalog layouts before a book is photographed so the creative team can refer to them  during a photo shoot to recall how to shoot a product and position the models.   When I first began working here-- I immediately thought these renderings looked like my childhood Fashion Plates drawings.

I would love to get my hands on another set of  Fashion Plates...just for nostalgia--really!  But until then,  I am fortunate to have a job where while doing my everyday work I am reminded of being a kid again!

by Gabby

What was I thinking!?! Trends of the past

I always find it interesting what new trends pop up each year. Some are flashbacks from earlier eras and a few are new ideas... but no matter how ridiculous or expensive a trend is there are just some things we have to have. When I sit back and reminisce, I remember all the trends I became a fashion victim to in the past. I find myself saying to myself "What was I thinking!"

Trends of the 1980's had to be the most original. Instead of rekindling trends of the past, whatever was the most original and extreme came into favor. The influence of the media really came into play in the 1980's. Between MTV, music, television and the movies...the influence of the media on fashion was huge in the 1980's. Madonna, Dynasty, Michael Jackson, Dallas, Princess Diana, Flashdance and Miami Vice all influenced fashions during this time. No wonder the mix of trends in the 1980's was so varied.

Remember acid wash jeans, jelly shoes, shoulder pads, big punk hair, fluorescent clothing, leg warmers (multiple pairs), skids, parachute pants, lace gloves, jelly bracelets, plastic bangles, banana clips, pin/cuffing jeans. Remember the brands Ocean Pacific, Jordache, LA Gear, Izod, Vans, Members Only and Esprit?

What was the most outrageous trend you wore in the 1980's?

by Gabby

The Secret Life of Spandex

Let’s face it…when someone says “spandex” you can’t help but have horrible flashbacks of neon-colored, 1980s style bike shorts. Ugh!

But the truth of the matter is that spandex has been secretly working its way into lots of our favorite fabrics (even the high-end ones), making even the trendiest styles down right…comfortable. Check it out:

knit dresses – the fast favorites of designers and everyday women alike, knit dresses are so darn comfortable, it’s not even funny.

charmeuse – once a forbidden fabric, silky charmeuse used to show every body flaw. Now with a hint of spandex, this shimmery sensation is a whole lot more forgiving.

denim – a touch of stretch has given denim a new life…it hugs curves, flattens tummies and just feels good.

In a world of real women, with real curves and a real need to look AND feel good…something’s gotta give. And that, my friends, is why spandex is my favorite fabric for 2009!



By Bren B