An 80s fasion flashback

I am a child of the 80s.

I grew up watching MTV, with all the hair bands, skinny jeans, and wild accessories. Van Halen, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper.

When people say that "history repeats itself," it's true.

Walking through some department stores the other day, I saw skinny jeans, patterned vests, and wild accessories. I saw a girl who looked like a carbon copy of Cyndi Lauper.

Pity MTV doesn't play music anymore.

~*~

Heather S. Ingemar has loved to play with words since she was little, and it wasn’t long until she started writing her own stories. Termed “a little odd” by her peers, she took great delight in exploring tales with a gothic flair, and to this day, Edgar Allan Poe continues to be her literary hero. To learn more, please visit: http://ingemarwrites.wordpress.com/ or follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/heatheringemar

Buy a story (or two or three): Heather Ingemar on Echelon Direct

Maybe I Should Get a Dog Named Snoopy

I love hats and admire anyone who can wear one with panache. This is because hats do not love me. I don't have an especially round face, but once I put on a hat, I look like Charlie Brown. Style does not matter. I can try anything from a cowboy hat to a Fedora, a stylish beret to the All-American baseball cap, and the result is the same. All I need is the yellow shirt with the zig-zag stripe along the bottom.

Hats seem to come in and out of fashion, and after looking at this year's threads-to-be-seen-in, especially at the junior high and high school level (because isn't that what everyone emulates in the end, anyhow?) I'm not sure hats are in this year. Nevertheless, I know that right now, except while in the classroom where I have a feeling all headwear is banned, someone out there has something for his or her head to be clapped on when the dismissal bell rings. And it will make him or her look positively dashing. I would have been green with envy in high school and still am now.

Come winter, because my ears freeze and my head hurts if I don't, I will be wearing something on my head when the temperatures drop below freezing and the wind-driven snow takes my breath away. A few years ago, my nephew (the one who does works in the video gaming industry) was sporting a knit cap with a bill on it and I fell in love with it. His mother (my sister) gave me an identical cap for my birthday. My nephew promptly stopped wearing his. I guess skater caps aren't as cool when your aunt puts one on to shovel snow.

At any event, I haven't given up on hats. I just ordered one from my wonderful Avon lady (no kidding) and a picture of it is at the top. It looks comfortable, it looks fairly warm at least for autumn, and it matches nothing I own. Although I suppose it would go just great with a yellow shirt that has a zig-zag stripe on the bottom.

Fashion For the Ages!

Converse shoes. Nearly every teenager nowadays has a pair... or two... or three (like me!).

The great thing about these shoes is that they change with the ages. The original canvas models were made for basketball players to support their ankles on the court. Now, they come in all sorts of colors, styles, and materials: leather, canvas, suede, high-tops, low-tops, ultra high-tops, and everything in-between.

I have the misfortune of being cursed with loose joints, which has led to weak ankles. Converse high-tops have been the most stylish support solution (as compared to dull black braces in normal gym shoes). They're great for kicking back and hanging out. Another great thing: they're machine washable! Except for the leather ones...

The best part is that they have a shoe for every person, style, and outfit imaginable. Some of my friends have walked the school hallway in denim shoes, marked-up leather, purple bedazzled kicks, and even microchip/cyborg style sneakers. (I must admit to possession of black-and-red plaid textile, flower watercolor canvas, and basic black leather high-tops. I love them all!)

Not only are these shoes manufactured to be varied- but they are customizable to! Most of the shoes have a white (or other pale color) rubber toe. A creative application of ink pens and Sharpies in the back of a boring class can lead to instant artwork! Some of my friends have even used their shoes to collect phone numbers from new buds at summer camps or to write down their BFF's birthday. If you want a completely custom shoe, go to the Converse website where you can design and order your own pair. You can even get your name stitched onto the heel!

Sam, the main character in my upcoming short story, JUST ONE OF THE GUYS, loves her pink high-tops, as shown on the cover (left). They go with absolutely everything!

So what are your favorite shoes? Do you have Converse or do you prefer another brand/style? I want to know how you like to dress your feet!

Top photo courtesy of myshoeblog.com

Iris Black

enter Sam's Space now!
JUST ONE OF THE GUYS coming soon from Quake Publishing!

Searching For A Starry Night Fashion?

"Sam, here. The author of Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery, wanted me and my bff Lita, sorry, I mean my bff Lita and I, to talk about clothes and stuff.

"Gee, I don't know much about fashion. Lita's the one who knows what looks good. I think that's because she likes to look nice for our friend JJ. (He likes her!)"

"He does not," Lita insisted. "I just like to look nice."

Sam shrugged and continued. "I don't have time for dressing up. Most of our time's been taken up trying to find that miniature Starry Night painting, (the one the book's named for), before my Mom really flips out.

"I'm not into that fashion stuff. Jeans, shorts, that's 'fashiony' enough for going fishing. Not that we had the chance to do much of that! Not with Lita being so chicken and all. She's still spooked after touching that creepy old folder that Petey dug up. (It's all in the book.) She sure won't touch some slimy old worm!

"Okay, I admit Lita scared me. She's so dramatic... I felt terrible about her being so upset. We've been friends since we were little and we both hoped we'd always be bff's, you know?"

"Maybe," Lita said. "But I keep tellin' you to ditch the T-shirts."

"Why? They're comfortable. I like this shirt. The dog's cute, don't you think?"

"Yeah, looks like Petey. But you said my new shirt was cute. I told you to try it on in blue. It'd look good with your red hair."

"Auburn," Sam said and smirked, "not red, never red. I said I'd think about it but... it's too girly for me. That kind of stuff looks good on you. Not me."

"You too scared to try it on?" Lita asked. "Admit it."

"Scared? Look who's talking. She-who-won't-go-fishing."

"Aww, c'mon, Sam. I told ya, I didn't want to ruin my new shirt. My mom would kill me."

"See? Who needs fashion?" Sam said. "You won't do anything cuz you're afraid of messing up your clothes!"

Lita sighed. "Okay, you win. Now, can we go get some ice cream?"

Sam smiled. "You bet. Hey, you sure you want to? Last time you dripped ice cream all over the front of your shirt!"

"You ever goin' to let me forget that?"

Sam smiled. "Never. Isn't that what friends are for?"

** Read more about Sam and Lita (and Petey, too!) in Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery from QUAKE. Get it on Kindle, too.

Fashion On The Go

What does one wear for a secret garden excursion? Is it casual or formal? How do you even know where the portals will take you...to your first kiss, or away from a sneaky set-up?

The Pixie Chicks can fill you in. After a night of performing and supporting the football team while buttoned into the slightly itchy wool uniforms, these girlfriends and their marching band pals get comfy in jeans and warm sweaters and head to Hobbitville, secret garden extraordinaire, for some much needed downtime in the moonlight.

Lana, the pixie who never sleeps, provided the following tips for always looking your best:

First, be bold or stay home. I love bright colors and patterns, but in tops, not bottoms. You can dress jeans up or down, from tailored to peasant looks, but patterned bottoms can really limit your options. Like that pic I found of my mom with lime green and navy plaid pants - ACK!

Second, know yourself and your faves. When you wear your favorite colors and styles you'll be more relaxed and at ease in any situation. So if your friends tell you they're planning to pop over to Paris, you'll be ready to tag along. Or if they give you some runaround, you'll look confident while you outline the reasons why you won't be left behind.

Third, it's the shoes, or even better - boots. But puh-lease not those white patent go-go things from the lime-plaid era, or the wannabees that are trying to make a comeback. I'm always the first one out of the ridiculous spat-covered shoes we march in, but the first of us pixies into the shoe department of any store. There's no such thing as too many shoes...Flip-flops or pumps, or those strappy sandals that are so IT this spring...

What? Time's up? As if I don't have lots more to share...maybe I'll sneak into a post or two on Regan's Realm when she's busy with her other stuff. She's working on this whole reading adventure thing...

ttyl, my Fashionistas!
Lana, the sleepless pixie

Discover Lana and the rest of the Pixie Chicks at Quake!

Fashion is Passion

Hey everyone! It’s Melanie Ryder from Alyssa Montgomery’s story, Where Are You?, and I decided to drop by today to talk about …

Fashion!

I think that fashion can be a tricky subject to talk about since everybody has their own fashion. And I think that’s great! Your own fashion can define who you are!

But before I continue, I wanted to make a quick announcement. I was so excited this weekend when…

Cal asked me to prom!

Isn’t that awesome?? I was so excited! And now I can’t wait for the dance to start! But I still need to buy my dress, so on to talking about fashion!

I remember when my cousin went to prom a couple years ago, and she showed me pictures of all her friends dressed up in dresses that looked absolutely beautiful! But the great thing about these dresses was that they were all different! There was not one similar dress in the group, and I think that it proves my point that each person can have their own fashion. These girls chose their dresses based on what they wanted to wear and what they thought was beautiful. And I think that is what fashion is all about – wearing what you want to wear. Each person creates their own style. And when there’s a fashion trend? That’s just when a bunch of people have the same taste in what they like to wear.

So that’s it for me! I’m off to shop for a dress! I’ll see everyone in two weeks for another blog!

The character of Melanie Ryder can be found in Alyssa’s Montgomery’s short story, Where Are You?, as well as in the Heat of the Moment Anthology in the story 9:53 PM.

Gotta get Goth

I know you're out there...lurking, maybe even spying on us. Well, I need you to come out of the woodwork and answer some questions for me. I am in the beginning phases of a new series called "Nemesis Force."

I am doing some research and I need some good solid information on the teen Goth scene. Forgive me, but I'm old--42 this year.

I need to find out about the music, the clothes, and what really makes a girl Goth and not just a crappy dresser. I am especially interested if you are anywhere near Baltimore.

Please help me

Karen