The
Art Institute of Portland Spring 2000 Student Fashion Show
Proceeds
benefit Cascade AIDS Project.
Mallory Hotel,
729 SW 15th Ave.,
228-6528
6:30 and 8:30 pm Friday, June 9
Students $10, others $15
damali
ayo's Little Black Dress Project
Black dresses are transformed to represent women's stories
and
experiences.
Mark Woolley Gallery, 120 NW 9th Ave., 224-5475
Opening reception 7:30 pm Saturday, June 10. Ends June 12.
Black
Dress Cabaret
Follows the Little Black Dress Project opening
reception. See review in Visual Art listings.
Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630.
10 pm Saturday, June 10
$7
In the spring edition of WW's fashion guide, we
reported on the inevitable (gasp!) return of 1980s style.
But who thought this revival/trend would last a brief second
longer than Jennifer Beals' bra under that infamous sweatshirt?
Most fashions of the era were just so, well....bad.
Even so, many of the fall fashion collections flaunted on
recent runways pay homage to the '80s with everything from
power suits to punk chic.
In search of other style gems more than likely to make
a comeback, I went to where the 1980s live forever: the
video store. But, like many things glanced at from a fresh
perspective, these flicks turned up more out-loud laughs
than hot, right-now looks.
PURPLE RAIN *
A Prince revival is under way: The Purple One has even
gone back to his "real" stage name. But it's doubtful the
artist formerly known as the artist will revert to the trademark
getups from his PR days. The exaggerated, studded
purple jacket, belts with chains a-dangling and ruffled
white shirts tucked into tiny black pants would be hard
to reintroduce to the general public--although his trademark
look is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
His muse-cum-paramour Apollonia's little lace bustier
and all-over-leather look--like her voice--aren't particularly
memorable either, nor are the members of the Revolution
likely to inspire any new fashion revolution. (Likewise
Morris Day's flashy suits.)
But on the bonus side: big, steering-wheel-sized gold hoops,
like the one Prince gives Apollonia, are definitely on the
comeback trail. Better yet, for a truly Purple Rain
moment just turn off the damn movie and dance around the
house to Prince records in your underwear. Let's go crazy.
VALLEY GIRL
There are lots of bitchin' looks in this glorious blast
from the past: snug polo shirts (collars up), horizontal
stripes galore, blue mesh tops, pouffed-up shorts, pink
bandanas, designer jeans, sweater vests. No wonder Hollywood
"hoods" feel out of place walking into the Valley party!
And what if dressing like one of the stylin' kids in this
fresh flick instantly turns you into, like them, a horrible
dancer? Let's hope that most, if not all, of the well-worn
garments displayed in this cinematic gem remain tucked deep
in the celluloid closet. Maybe it's a blessing that the
epitome of the Valley Girl mall, the Sherman Oaks Galleria,
has since shut down. Gag me with a cocaine spoon.
FLASHDANCE
Most of the fashion in this classic is as hard to endure
as the soundtrack--and the movie itself. The flashdancers'
costumes are horrible (remember the inexplicable feather-covered
coat with giant shoulders that Jennifer Beals as Alex wears
during one of her stupid, mock stripper routines?). Other
fashion never-nevers include the high heels 'n' socks combo
and the much-too-short denim skirt showcased by one of Alex's
best friends. If you're going for the whore look, though,
the tux bib and lobster scene might serve as inspiration.
(Her stuffy suit-clad date loved it, but that was clearly
unrelated to his fashion knowhow.) And while not all of
us are likely to snip away at our sweatshirts again, the
rekindled affection for legwarmers is understandable; they're
soft and cozy, and you can pull the bottom part down onto
your feet and slide across the floor in your own version
of a flashdance. The Leotard at Lloyd Center (Northeast
9th Avenue and Multnomah Boulevard, 284-9244) has great
ones--especially the ultra-soft, ribbed Rumba style in black
by Amplitude for $30. Pull on a pair and repeat after me:
You can have it all, you can dance right through your
life.
PRETTY IN PINK
Maybe it's not representative of '80s fashion, but the
romantic, DIY pink vintage look of Molly Ringwald's character,
Andie, was a noteworthy, and widely copied, style statement.
You gotta admire a girl who can put together entire outfits
for 15 bucks (including shoes). She even converted an obnoxious
prom dress into a less-obnoxious prom dress. Jon Cryer's
Ducky somehow pulled off his own quirky style vision: vintage
suits, suspenders, paisley prints and Converse. Of course,
the rich boys in oxford shirts and linen sportswear simply
could not deal. Long live the spirit of thrift-store style
(and the lovable soundtrack). Love (and fashion) is a
bitch.
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Willamette Week | originally
published May 10,
2000
|
