After seeing Neil Young perform at Carnegie Hall on Monday, I felt like I vaguely remembered Neil having a quarrel with MTV in the ’80s. I was right! It was in 1988, when Neil released a video for the anti-commercialism song, “This Note’s for You,” which made fun of major advertisers both lyrically and visually. …
80s style
The Vinyl Ghost of Christmas Past
I’m Jewish but I have a few Christmas-related odds-and-ends. I rediscovered some of these while going through old stuff at my childhood home this year. If any of y’all still have an old-timey record player, we can celebrate Hall & Oates’ stunning induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by playing this seasonal…
“We Gonna Party Like It’s Your Birthday”
I’m going to be drowning my sorrows in Champagne tonight because it is, indeed, my birthday. As I’ve previously noted, I don’t think birthdays are that much fun anymore, even though they’re better than the alternative. I was much more thrilled by them when this photo was taken … on Dec. 23, 1984, when I…
Throwback Thursday: My Parachute Vest From 1986
With ’80s designer clothing on my mind after yesterday’s post, I figured this was a good day to share a photo from the July 4th holiday in 1986, during which the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty was celebrated. As I recall, my family’s initial reaction to the plans for the huge celebration was…
Throwback Thursday: 1980s Denim Jacket
Even though I have fond memories of the 1980s fad for painted denim jackets, I never owned one myself, to the best of my recollection. I don’t know why. Maybe I couldn’t decide which band I wanted painted on the back? I was equally devoted to the Beatles and Duran Duran. I did have a…
Colorful Biker Jackets and ’80s Hair
In the early ’80s, when I was growing up in Mahwah, N.J., my younger sister, Terri Berry, had a weekly dance class in New York City. My mother and I would spend the time at Bloomingdale’s. Week after week, I gazed longingly at a pale pink and gray leather motorcycle-style jacket. I don’t think I…
Rihanna Brings Back More ’80s Memories
I haven’t been able to forget an outfit that Rihanna wore at the beginning of the month. That color combination reminds me of a matchy-matchy Esprit outfit I had in the ’80s when Esprit was hot-hot-hot. As I recall, I wore cropped purple pants with a boxy, striped purple and orange-yellow top. It seems everything…
Oh, Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Plaid Roams
I still love some of the fashions I wore in the early ’80s: Day-Glo Stephen Sprouse Clogs Skinny jeans Pistol belts Gladiator sandals Anything from Trash & Vaudeville or Fiorucci Lace-up boots Motorcycle jackets But I have no desire for jazz shoes. I’m also over buffalo-plaid shirts, despite my 1983-1984 enthusiasm for one blue and…
Jackets, Now and Then
Earlier this week, I wore the Ossie Clark shirt/jacket I got in London last year. Back in 1983 or 1984, I wore a kickass ski jacket. Thanks for dredging this up, high-school classmate Mel. Oh, the wonders of Facebook. UPDATED TO ADD: In the first photo, I’m wearing the gold version of my Nuit Ring….