Repost - Tazi Recommends: Kickin' It Old School

Dear Readers:

Are you a child of the '80's? Do you love the '80's? Are you so stuck in the 80's that you named your child Prince? Than you will want to visit the blog I will be reviewing today,

Kickin' It Old School
80's and More

I have no idea who write this blog - his profile tells me he is some married dude from Wisconsin, so as far as I am concerned this is the 5th best thing ever to come out of that state - right after the Green Bay Packers, beer, cheese, and That '70's Show. Kickin' It Old School offers some pretty amazing stuff that you won't find anywhere else - like actual interviews with real '80's celebrities; memory lane stuff like the Geraldo Rivera career killer that was Al Capone's empty vault; and those great, horribly awful, '80's commercials! (How many bikers do you know that dress like the Capitol One viking warriors?)

Whether your thing is a tribute to Freddy Krueger or a Top Ten List of Sidekick Characters from 80s Movies (be sure to check out Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli!), Kickin' It Old School has what you love about '80's pop culture. Here is where I stress pop culture; the closest thing to rap you will find on this blog is Will "The Fresh Prince" Smith's A Nightmare on My Street.

My one complaint about this site is the way it is organized: it needs work. Each blog is listed by the month and year in which it was written; meaning there are no title links to click on, so if you are looking for something specific you may have to do a little searching, but that's also a part of what makes this site so fun - searching through all the cheese that made the '80's so great. If you stop by Kickin' It Old School be sure you have a few hours to kill because the archives are extensive, dating back to January 2008. As a bonus, if Kickin' It Old School doesn't offer you enough '80's stuff, there is also a long list of blogs that are referenced throughout the site, so you can go directly to the source material. I'm telling you, this blog is stuffed fatter than a Thanksgiving turkey and it's full of all things '80's. So what are you waiting for? Don't make me go Rambo on you! Put that Sunday paper down and get on over to Kickin' It Old School! In the meantime, I'll be taking a nap on your stonewashed jeans (I mean your Sunday paper!).

Snuggles,
Tazi

P.S. Here is something you will not see on Kickin' It Old School but should! Enjoy!



Ask Tazi! is ghostwritten by a human with a Bachelors of Arts in Communications. Tazi-Kat is not really a talking feline.

"Stuck In The '80's" Wonders If It Is Time To Update Her Look

Dear Tazi:

I was a teenager in the 1980's, and I loved the look so much I never left it behind. I still have really big (teased) hair, a love of stretch leggings, heavy black eyeliner, and don't even get me started on how long my acrylic nails are.

My 25th high school reunion is coming up, and I am wondering if maybe I should update my look. Although I would love to return to my roots and have people tell me that I haven't changed a bit, I want them to mean it in a good way, not a bad one. It is not that I am uncomfortable with the way I look, it's just that I have never found a reason to change to it. My husband tells me he loves me just the way I am and not to change a thing unless I really want to; my sister tells me its time to leave the Aqua Net back in the '80's and go for a more mature hairstyle if not a full makeover. I am not certain what I want; I guess I just want to fit into the world like I did back in high school, when life was so simple.

Tazi, do you think my look is out of place with current trends? Or am I just fine the way I am?

Signed,
Stuck In The '80's

Dear Stuck In The '80's:

My friend Nemo Cat's Mommy would love to be in your place! She came of age in the '90's and is always saying that she was born a decade too late! While the '80's have always been a fashionable decade - to imitate or rag on - styles do change with the times. Before I continue, I suggest you take a walk down memory lane with this video.

Video/song credit: Barry Russo

While it is more than okay to "want your MTV the way it used to be", rocking a mullet while wearing legwarmers with your jellybean shoes is overkill.  If you are concerned about being seen as an anachronism then I suggest you pick and choose a few highlights from your glory days to keep and update the remainder of your look. Let's face it: acid wash jeans were always a bad idea, as was fluorescent clothing and lacy ankle socks with high heels.

Unless, of course, you actually want to look like a hooker!

Leggings are always in style, so long as you remember that they are not pants and should always be worn with a tunic length top (because visible panty lines are never in style!). Current makeup styles range from barely there to bright and bold, so choose a look that works well for you and don't fret it. I suggest you check out professional makeup artist James Vincent's portfolio for some examples of what's hot right now. That man can work wonders with a makeup brush!

Nail polish is always a good way to make a fashion statement. Current trends emphasize bright colors, glitter, and nail art (just not all three on the same manicure). As for length, for reasons related to health and sanitation a quarter inch past the fingertip is the ideal length; any longer and bacteria can get trapped on the underside of the nail and cause illness or infection. As for your hair, current trends emphasize straight. It can be long, short, or even a pixie cut but straight, not teased, is what is featured on the runways right now (at least, it is according to Vogue Magazine, and who am I to argue with Anna Wintour?).

In the end, you are the one who has to create and maintain a look that you feel comfortable presenting. If you are happy with your current appearance, don't let anyone - even me - convince you to change it.

Snuggles,
Tazi

Ask Tazi! is ghostwritten by a human with a Bachelors of Arts in Communications. Tazi-Kat is not really a talking feline.