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So…shoulder pads are making a comeback

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[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like going down! ) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

The fashion industry loves to bring back old fashion trends. Sometimes that’s a good thing (hello, waist-cinching belts!); other times, not so good (‘80s linebacker shoulder pads, really?). And then there are those times when I’m just not quite sure what to think. Enter tie dye. Yep, this flower child trend is back on the runways and it’s got me scratching my head. Help me out here ladies, “tie do” or “tie don’t”?

I can sort of see the appeal of tie dye; it tends to be bright, which is always great, particularly in the warm months. It also has a cool abstract thing working and since abstract patterns have been very in for a while now, this look makes perfect sense. On top of that, tie dye has that easy “I totally didn’t spend an hour and a half staring at my closet to pick out this outfit” vibe. Basically, it’s got everything you’d want from your fav beach dress, but now you can wear it around town without having to claim it’s laundry day. Bonus points for the potential DIY factor.

Actually if I hadn’t spent my youth going to ‘70s themed parties and learned that tie dye was a bad cliché, I would probably like it – unfortunately I did go to all of those parties (seriously, why did everyone I knew have a hippie party?) and I just can’t get that out of my head! To me they always look a little messy, and a little cheap – like that fav beach dress – and if I’m going to go that far out on a limb for fashion, I expect to look five star. Also, I haven’t really seen anyone other than celebs rocking this look, so I have to wonder if maybe I’m not the only one having second thoughts about it.

So am I letting costume memories get the best of me? Or is this really not as hot as the mags would have us believe? Will you be working it out in tie dye this summer? Or is this trend best left to the professionals?

Duke it out!

It’s a little circle of love up in here.

Fashion, at it’s core, is all about constant recreation and re-invention. It’s a continuously evolving way to recreate wearable arts & crafts. Yes, many trends are timeless and never go out of style (I see you, Little Black Dress), but most trends are just re-thought styles of the past.

And right now everyone is re-thinking and re-styling 80s trends and glam rock. Neon is everywhere; you can’t go anywhere without seeing leather leggings; embellished boots have made a kick-ass comeback; and my ultimate favorite, embellished Michael Jackson inspired t-shirts, can make any girl feel like a smooth criminal (OK, so not actually a criminal, but they will make you feel pretty bad ass).

And you can make those bad ass shirts all by yourself! Here’s an easy and money-savvy way to rock the MJ inspired look without breaking the bank!

What You’ll Need:

Old plain t-shirt: You probably have an extra shirt lying around. If not, pick up a pack of plain undershirts at Target or any craft store for just a few bucks!
Tip: Use any color and style shirt you want, but white and black are the most MJ-esque and look the best with added embellishments.

Fabric glue: Find this at any craft store. For best results use fabric glue designed especially for gluing gemstones and other embellishments to fabric.
FYI: If you’re a natural born sewer, this project can be also be done by sewing, eliminating the need for fabric glue. But if you’re like me and end up pricking yourself with needles and therefore stay as far away from them as possible, fabric glue will work just fine.

Silver, Black, and Gold Embellishments: These will be for the shoulder area of your t-shirt. Packs of medium/and large rhinestones, chain, beads, sequin appliques, and other silver embellishments will make your shirt rockglamchic.

2 Fabric patches: Pick up 2 small pieces of fabric (in the same color as the shirt color you’ve chosen) from the same craft store you’re already at for everything else. These will be placed on the shoulders, so you’ll want to grab sizes (or cut your fabric to size) according to how big you want you want your embellished piece to be. You will glue (or sew) your embellishments to these pieces of fabric, which will later be sewn onto the shirt.

Shoulder pads: If you dare….

Needle and Thread: Same thread color as your shirt choice.

What You’ll Do:

1. Wash your shirt first. Nobody likes crafting with dirty clothes!

2. Cut your fabric piece to the right size and shape (I recommend having a friend help trace the size of your shoulder), then glue (or sew) your embellishments onto your two fabric patches in any design or pattern that you want, using your fashion glue. Let dry!

3. Sew (or glue if sewing really isn’t your thang) on your now-embellished fabric pieces onto the shoulders of your t-shirt. If you’re daring and want a true 80s silhouette, this is where you also sew those shoulder pads into the inside of the t-shirt.

4. That was easy as 1-2-3… literally. You’re done! Work it, baby! You can dress up your shirt by tucking it into a skirt or pairing it with leggings and heels, or go casual and wear it with jeans.

As 2009 quickly comes to an end (can you freakin’ believe it’s almost 2010?!), we are all looking forward to a new year in some way or another. Maybe you’ve set some super ambitious resolutions you can’t wait to start on (I will be living 2010 on a treadmill), or maybe you’re excited to ring in the New Year in a fabulous dress and even more fabulous friends.

What I’m looking forward to is a new year of jewelry, shoes, and clothing.

What could be more exciting then a whole new round of trends and styles to rock around campus?

But perhaps part of this excitement comes from the fact that in order to bring in a slew of new trends, some of the old ones are going to have to go. And this year I’m not going to be shedding any tears to kick 2009 fashion trends to the curb.

Don’t get me wrong – there is definitely some to-die-for stuff out there that is coming with me into the new year. My leather bomber jacket, knee high boots, and embellished tees being three of them. But along with all the good came a whole lot of ugly this year and here are five trends that will have me screaming “Out with the ugly! And in with the new!” when the ball drops this New Year’s Eve.

Open Toed Booties
Am I the only one who thinks these things make absolutely no sense? You wear boots in the colder months, because they allow you to look stylish while staying warm. Except in 2009, apparently, when women everywhere are warding off frostbite as they click around town with two toes peeping out the front of their boots. Suddenly we’re turning to the homeless man for fashion inspiration?

Jumpsuits
We aren’t in the air force or going to the moon, so why are stepping into full body-length pantsuits? Are people nervous that they will lose their top or bottom if they are not connected? If you want a streamlined look,the traditional pantsuit will work just fine. And honestly, this trend is presenting a condition way too conducive to a camel toe for my comfort.

Sky High Heels
In magazines they are amazing, on the red carpet they look hot…on me they look like wobbly stilts that inevitably lead to twisted ankles and sore arches. I’m all for a sexy high heel, but this season the heels are just too damn high. How can I look sexy standing at the bar when I’m teetering from side to side, my drink spilling all over the place? Let’s stick to the 4 inchers next year and leave this 6-inch nonsense in 2009.

Jeggings
Leggings are great, and the fact that they are trendy this season is something I hope will continue into the New Year. They look cute with heels or boots, a dressy blazer or a chunky knit sweater. But making them in jean material is going one step too far. Skinny jeans are made just for this purpose; they are figure flattering if you find the right cut and fit perfectly into you winter boots. Jeggings, on the other hand, hug in all the wrong places unless you’re a size 0, and leave us all requiring a “wide load” sign across our butts to safely walk in public.

Shoulder Pads
Why are they haunting us? Everyone I see in this trend reminds me of pictures of my mom from the early 80s. Some things just need to be left in the past and these two of those somethings. Huge, pointy shoulders aren’t cute. And unless you have a really rough walk to class where you must body check people to get a seat, a normal blazer will do.

What other fashion trends are you looking forward to dumping in 2010?

High-end fashion brands like Brian Reyes and Louis Vuitton showcased several looks featuring big shoulders on the spring 2009 runways. While I’m not advocating stealing some eighties-style shoulder pads from (hopefully deep inside) your mom’s closet, you can still rock the big shoulder trend.

And why would you want to? Well, for one, it’s everywhere. And it’s chic, unlike the shoulder pads of the 80s. Still not convinced? How about the fact that wearing a top or dress with ruffled or puffed up shoulders can balance out wide hips and make arms appear slimmer? Yeah, I thought so.

Here are some of my favorite picks at every price point:

Charlotte Russe.
I found three cute tops that feature puffed out shoulders in every college girl’s price range. The two on the left are the perfect mix of style and professionalism to wear to your summer internship, while the one on the far right would be cute with jeans, metallic heels and some jewelry for a night out.

Victoria’s Secret.
There are some great tops with big shoulders at VS. I especially love the colors of these three, because they are perfect for spring and summer. These tops are also versatile in that you could wear them to work, but they would also be appropriate to wear while you’re out to lunch or shopping with friends.

These three items are available at Bloomingdale’s. A little more expensive, these looks would be perfect for those events where you need to appear older or incredibly chic.

If you are in love with this trend (like me) and want to invest in something of very high quality, check out ShopBop for these picks. I love the colors of the See by Chloe top and Sari Gueron dress. Also, white dresses, like this one from Brian Reyes, have been a recurring trend for several seasons now.

[Post courtesy of out friends at StyleBakery.com. For more awesome fashion, style and beauty news, check them out!]

Most of us who lived through the ’80s would rather forget the decade of big hair, big shoulder pads and all-around bad style. Well, don’t look now, many of those fashion don’ts are making a comeback – whether you like it or not. Here’s a rundown of some trends on the horizon that should come with a warning label: Wear At Your Own Risk:

Acid-Wash

Whether it’s called Ice Wash, Mineral Wash or Acid Wash, this embarrassing ’80s denim trend is back on fashion’s radar. Wear if you dare, or wait until this trend fades into oblivion, hopefully never to return again. Cheap Monday Tight Ice Wash Jeans, $63 at ssense.com

Ripped Jeans

Celebrities like Katie Holmes and Jessica Alba have been seen recently sporting expertly ripped boyfriend jeans. Denim designers like Current/Elliott and 7 For All Mankind have ripped styles for $200 and up. Our advice? Find an old pair of jeans in your closet and add a few strategic holes yourself – this way, you won’t be upset when the trend disappears by next season. Current/Elliott The Boyfriend jeans, $245 at net-a-porter.com

Harem Pants

Comfy, yes. Flattering, no. Bordering on ridiculous, possibly. The style that MC Hammer made popular is making a comeback for spring. Unless you want to add inches to your thighs, leave this trend on the rack. Pocket Harem Pant, $98 at freepeople.com

Jumpsuits

No doubt intended to simplify dressing by combining your top and bottom, the one-piece jumpsuit is far from a get-dressed no-brainer. Unless you’re a model or a risk-taking fashionista, it’s hard to look good in a jumpsuit. Skip this one-piece revival and opt for the ease of a dress instead. Ipanema, Satin Jumpsuit, $139 at ninewest.com

Boyfriend Jacket

Finally, an ’80s trend we can embrace! Long boxy jackets (thankfully, without the big shoulder pads) are this season’s newest silhouette. Whether you dig up an old jacket from your closet or invest in a new one, push up your sleeves and wear yours with skinny pants until the trend is passé once again.  Topstitched Wool Boyfriend Jacket, $229 at bebe.com

• Roddick fans are none to happy about Andy’s new gal pal.

• Dane Cook was NOT funny for 7 hours straight.

• Shoulder pads are back with a vengeance. Say it ain’t so.

• Liposuction is no longer dumb.

• Britney Spears is a good mother.

• 2 Girls 1 Cup, 1 Wikipedia Entry.

I know, it’s funny to be campy and over the top. But didn’t we all make fun of the eighties the first time around? Now it seems the spandex are unstoppable, patent leather is everywhere, and even the fanny pack has re-invented itself as a bit of “so old it’s new.”

I will say that the leggings, short dress, and boot combo is functional and sort of sexy. I’ll admit it I’ve rocked it.

But every time I walk into a shoe store and see the patent leather shoe, I think to myself, really? I think that was over circa 1990. If I see shoulder pads I might slap somebody. I know that Europeans have been heading towards the eighties trend for some time now.

The last time I was in France (about a year ago) I would see the skinny jeans, with heels and be brought back to the iconic image of Brooke Shields in her Calvins.

As a not-so-skinny girl, (size 12 perfectly normal) the flared jean has done wonders for me. Then suddenly out of nowhere it seemed the skinny jean and/or the spandex was everywhere. Me and my above average ass were not ok with this.

Check out the awesomely bad 80′s fashion gallery after the jump!

So, perhaps my desire to stop the eighties comeback is simply just a selfish desire to not feel completely ridiculous in clothes that just don’t work on me. But I do want us all to take a moment and reflect on those photos from the eighties, and note how ridiculous everyone looks.

Then look down at what you might be wearing at the moment and note that you might look ridiculous as well.

[album=36]

Alright, so…..first was the return of the fanny pack. So unfortunate.But now, it’s SHOULDER PADS???

I thought these pointed, puffy creatures were dead for good. Guess not, cause runways everywhere are showing them, i.e. Style.com’s slide show revealing Shoulder Pad Fashion from top designers such as Dior and Gucci. Come on guys, really?

Ugh. My mom used to make me wear blazers with shoulder pads sewn into them when I was, like, eight, and I’d rip those suckers out ASAP.

Don’t they eerily resemble silicone boob implants?

To reiterate, according to the Seattle Times, one blogger points out the trends we can look forward to this fall:

* Polished, ’80s-inspired suits; strong shoulders and nipped waists.

* Controlled volume: Rounded and oval shapes; plenty of pleating.

Hmmm, would you like some pleats to go with your pads? Um, yes please! I guess what it all comes down to is that trends really do come back in cycles. We will never escape the fanny pack OR shoulder pads OR pleated pants, and this we will just have to accept, look forward to them going out of style again, and then expect their eventual, inevitable and evil return.

Which makes me wonder…..now that they’ve finally faded into “so last summer,” will our children be subjected to these?

Noooooo!!!!!