subject: Twilight T-Shirts Meet up with the 80's [print this page] When you think if the 1980s what comes to mind? A nostalgic look back reminds me of the Thatcher-Reagan tag team, the dying big hair of the '70s, and stadium rock bands like Foreigner, Styx, and Queen. But what I remember most was the clothes. The pastel pinks and blues, the rolled up jacket sleeves, and sweaters draped over the shoulders like a thin yarn backpack.
One of the best mediums to witness the resurgence in is fashion, most notably in the realm of t-shirts. The three staples of t-shirts in the '80s were bright colours, clever slogans, and caricatures. The colours began to quiet down with the turn into the '90s, but retailers are once again beginning to showcase neon green and pink, bright safety orange, stunning turquoise-blue, and fire-hot red. The colours that require sunglasses to look at.
Remember Run DMC? How about the Transformers? Does "choose life" take you back down memory lane? These are all things making their way to today's t-shirts. But it doesn't stop there, my friends; oh no. Even modern pop culture phenomena like the Twilight Saga seem to be getting in on the '80s retro game.
It's almost disturbing to walk down the street and see Run DMC on the back of some kid's shirt or be confronted with a "choose life" handbag. Even the transformers have found their way onto the clothing of the day, spreading their message of toys that save the planet. If all of this weren't bad, or good enough, depending on your perspective, even modern pop culture has embraced the return of '80s. As an example, I give you the Twilight saga.
Ever since the 2005 release of the original novel, Twilight has been a runaway hit with pre-teens, teens, and young adults. For some reason we can't resist the vampire love story of Edward and Bella. Marketers have caught on and are making Twilight gear among the most sought after in clothing shops. Store owners are keeping the shelves full to satisfy the appetite.
What would a Twilight and '80s love fest be without licensed mechanise? Not good, but also not to worry. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Cam Gigandet, the three main actors from the film, have their images all over a wide section of tees, hoodies, bags, and yes, even aprons. Wouldn't it be awesome to see your father standing over the barbecue pit with James' face dangerously close to the flame?
For the younger set the t-shirt and hoodie selection is quite modest. All the bright colours are available but thankfully, manufacturers are trying to leave off the more graphic messages and images, preferring instead the seemingly innocuous phrases like "Do I dazzle you?" No need to make the young ones grow up too quickly, eh?
With the announcement of the Twilight sequel in 2008, and the promise of more to come, the marketing engine behind the story is sure to keep it at the forefront of their fan's attention. We might even see Twilight gear still in stores years from now as the '80s die a second death fashion death in favour of something new. Or perhaps, just maybe, the '80s will get bitten by a tracker and they'll emerge to live forever! Oh, let's hope not!
