The Observer, February 1, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 15
Top 10: New Trends for 2008
2007 was a year chock full of drama. Celebrities were making fools out of themselves, politicians bickered, and students somehow made it out alive after the first semester. 2008 may be just as intense, but the trends that are appearing for the year ahead are upbeat, optimistic, and lighthearted. Here are the top 10 new trends for the upcoming year.
10. Neon 80s colors. As a New Yorker at heart, it's sometimes hard to stray from my security blanket of black, gray, and more black. However, the rainbow-bright shades of the 80s are making a comeback, both on runways, and in the streets. For boys, this means old-school Nike kicks, and for girls, neon rainbow shades of nail polish.
9. Dance music. European teens have ventured into discothèques long before American teens knew about Hollywood nightlife. But instead of the over-the-top, paparazzi-filled nights of Hollywood, the discothèque is all about dressing in glittery, tacky outfits and dancing to techno beats. More and more musical venues, including the local Grog Shop, are veering towards the dance party.
8. Comfy beauty. Long puffer coats, plush boots, dorky sunglasses and even sweatpants on sweatshirts have become fashionable again. The un-tanned, fresh-faced look of winter has emerged amidst the overly-coiffed seasons past.
7. Laugh out loud TV. Not to discourage fans of Grey's Anatomy or Gossip Girl, but comedy seems to have been favored among viewers recently. The Office is a gem, along with the discontinued-yet-genius Arrested Development.
6. Handwritten letters. With the emergence of e-mail, romance died a little. If you are thinking of a childhood friend, the Internet is definitely faster, but sending a handwritten note via snail mail is sure to make their day.
5. Foreign fashion magazines. Yes, Paris Vogue's articulate articles can only be read by French speakers, but the photographs found in foreign fashion magazines are exponentially edgier, more daring, and possibly more beautiful than home-grown publications.
4. Karaoke. I was in the good fortune of getting a karaoke machine for Christmas, and not surprisingly, my friends really enjoy it. If a karaoke machine or bar is not readily on hand, Rock Band is a great substitute as a favorite Saturday night activity.
3. Personal outlook resolutions. Forget going to the gym. The year's new resolutions are all about finding our inner personalities, liberating them, and embracing our quirks.
2. Friends' Night Out. Date night is fine, but who has a date these days anyway? There are fun restaurants to go to on a Friday on Coventry, or even downtown. In anticipation of the Sex and the City movie coming out in May, a girls' night out is fun and memorable.
1. Change. Oh political promises, how you entertain us. But there is definitely something to the idea of something new. I stopped drinking coffee and switched to tea with honey and lemon wedges for example. There is a certain je ne sais quoi surrounding what we all think is needed. For the country, the answer may seem easy, but for ourselves, it is often harder to figure out.
