This feels like a "less words, more pictures" kind of Friday... Shorts. Lots of them. Like, a long list of short shorts, all available online. God, it was so easy to find all these shorts, why is it that my own closet seems to be filled with boring classics like denim cut-offs, black and navy specimens and boring J. Crew-type things? Need me those leather shorts, those fringed shorts, those... well just give me all of them. I'm greedy.

Above: Leather shorts and tiered shorts from Shop Cuffs.
Below: Yumi Kim floral skort from Gizzy & Nacho; Pret-a-Surf floral bloomers, Alexander Wang apron shorts, Dallin Chase shorts, Blue Life lace bicycle shorts from Shopbop; fringe shorts, butterfly-print shorts, polka dot shorts from ASOS.

I was doing my daily round at the awesome and comprehensive Red Carpet Fashion Awards when this photo of Claudia Schiffer in Alberta Ferretti reminded me of the joy of jewel tones, which don't get nearly enough credit outside of the Christmas season. But if there's a time to invest in an emerald coat or a ruby-red sash, it's now. Screw Christmas! (I'm not the Grinch or anything, I just hate occasion-specific clothing, what a waste of closet space.) And you'll note, these hues are no longer relegated to winter weather only, Zac Posen and Rachel Roy both incorporated shocks of bright jewel tones into their Spring 2010 collections, so you can be sure that anything you pick up now will last you well into next year. Do mama a favour, try not to pair it with basic black.




Images: Red Carpet Fashion Awards and Style.com

If you were born in the '80s like we were, you no doubt grew up with the likes of Thunder Cats, Rainbow Brite, My Little Pony and other such psychedelic, progressive toon friends. The '80s have been experiencing something of a revival lately -- beyond the acid-trip neons and padded shoulders showing up across the runways, Hollywood has embraced the era too with a whole slew of 80s relics getting the remake treatment, from Transformers to G.I. Joe and more.

If blowing your budget on Balmain plus a ticket to the Imax showing of Transformers isn't feasible, show your support for your animated childhood icons with a T-shirt from 80s Tees, a website that has collected a line-up of great tees, many of which come in distressed cotton that adds to the vintage feel of the image. Besides straight-up homages to the characters, there are also more costume-like takes on the genre (save the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle character shirts for Halloween -- gotta love Crang!), as well as a few other nods to '80s phenomena that are still relevant today -- think Top Gun tees, Super Mario Bros designs and even the imprint of Lloyd Dobbler, vainly holding his Peter Framption-blasting stereo up to Diane Court's window in the pouring rain. (PS, LOVE John Cusack.)





A few others:

God, remember Saved by the Bell? The best thing about this T-shirt is the fact that Mario Lopez is still out there trying to ride the SBTB fame train to a comeback career. And people are still hating on him. With good reason.


I had a Rainbow Brite pillow. And the VHS of the movie Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer. Man, I want to re-watch that. Look closely at the image, and the green little fairy is captioned "Got Green?" Heh.


I always thought She-Ra and He-Man would get married. But I suppose onscreen romances never work offscreen. Still, girlfriend was one of the early feminists, huh? Princess Power!


Funnily enough, I recently bought the Gremlins movie from the VCD store down the street from my place. I thought it would be the perfect accompaniment to a Friday night snackfest. And now, once I own this T-shirt, I can wear it while I watch it and be the ultimate coolest person ever.


This image looks exactly like the one on my Strawberry Shortcake duvet and sheet set. Cartoons were so wholesome in the old days. Not to mention tasty. Nobody wants to eat Pokemon or Samurai Jack, but that fluffy hat makes me think of  muffin tops (of the baked variety, not the fat overhang).


Thunder-thunder-thunder-thunder-CATS!


Anyone know where this image is from? Or how it was reclaimed for modern usage? If not, check here. Or ask my friend Chris.

Just when you thought skinny jeans were taking over the world, one incredibly form-fitting leg at a time, opposing counsel fights back with trousers so ridiculously wide that the FUBU designers are claiming copyright infringement. Resort designers all submitted their own interpretations, each leg wider than the next...


For the less adventurous, the cropped version is an easy way into the trend. Louis Vuitton and Sonia Rykiel both offered up khaki versions, and I like how it's been dressed up at Rykiel, with a pop of colour and not too much seriousness, although I like the structure and cuff on the LV ones.


An affordable option can be had at YesStyle for only US$30. There's a scene in Never Been Kissed where Drew Barrymore defends the dorkiness of her gaucho pants during her pre-makeover phase; it's amazing how times (and fashion) have changed. 


These black balloon pants are a different shape, but similar proportion, and me likey much better. Hm.


I don't know if anyone would dare wear the Chado Ralph Rucci trousers-cum-ball skirt on the right, but they're great in an abstract sense. Much more up my alley: the Malandrino pleated ones, styled perfectly with a metallic draped top. Pure class. They remind me of this Mango pair purchased and worn by the most adorable Chictopian ever, pictured below. Sigh. People always find the cutest things at Mango, and when I go look, all I see is weird hippy stuff in weird sizes.




In my opinion, it's even more difficult to find the perfect pair of wide-leg pants than it is to buy the perfect skinny jeans. Thinking about these YesStyle ones, but I fear they may be too casual... and lord, are there some styling woes in the gallery for these pants. But the pleating is quite lovely and subtle. I like wide-leg pants best when they teeter the line between skirt and pant, visually speaking, at least. Maybe I should try working the existing slouchy pants in my closet before investing in new ones.  Or just borrow FashionGeek's black cropped pair...  

For the budget conscious: get the look with Thailand pants, the pajama ones sold at every Thai night market/shopping bazaar for 199 baht that tie in the front and back and make it impossible to pee... If you sense I'm overusing the ellipsis in this post it's because I'm not sure, I'm in a shopping drought and beginning to hallucinate. One month of not shopping has completely changed my values and personal character... okay maybe I exaggerate, maybe not.