Plucky Duckie

"This is a really volcanic ensemble you're wearing, it's really marvelous!"

Duckie, Pretty in Pink (1986)

While most girls may remember John Hughes' Pretty in Pink for leading lady Andie's eighties ensembles, its Duckie that does it for me. His loud combo of plaids, paisleys and stripes, together with his love of sunglasses indoors, slouch socks, natty shoes and Western neck ties really were the most volcanic of ensembles.

Sunset Boulevard

That most exciting of nights, The Academy Awards, is just around the corner and Hollywood’s elite are getting in some practice and cutting their Jimmy Choos on Oscar’s competitors: The Golden Globe and SAG Awards.

Last night’s attendees of the Screen Actors Guild Awards Ceremony appeared to take a step back in time to 1980s Miami Beach, as the red carpet was awash with the colours of a South Beach sunset. A huge trend for SS09, it looks like the 1980s are back with a vengeance.

Holly Hunter led the pack in her Reem Acra hot pink strapless gown. In danger of looking like the biggest throwback of the ball, HH kept things modern by ditching big hair and bigger jewels for low-key locks and minimal accessories.

Laura Linney beat Eva Longoria in the best coral frock category - this Miami Vice hue is set to be the colour for Spring and LL’s asymmetric Michael Kors was an 80s dream.

In a sculptural red Nina Ricci number, Claire Danes managed to look 80s retro and extremely modern all at the same time. Plus red on red is, in my book, always a good thing.

Mickey Rourke IS the 80s. And he knows it.

Bring Back: Legwarmers

As winter sets in and the cold encourages us out of our ballet pumps and into our knee boots, I reluctantly wonder: whatever happened to legwarmers? In my case, they remain alive and well, lurking at the back of my drawers.

You may remember (if you have not already chosen to forget) the resurgence of legwarmers a mere 4 years ago. Worn by many with tights and short hemlines, they covered the curve of your foot exposed by a ballet shoe (or stiletto, if Jordan was your fashion icon).

As a student, they made me feel at once comforted, ridiculous, rebellious and cool. That's a tall order of emotions for two tubes of fabric. Sometimes that fabric was plain and black, in luxurious wool. Other times it appeared on my legs sparkly and pale pink; the FAME extras had nothing on me. They were my shelter in a city of wind and rain and if I'm entirely honest, I miss them a lot around this time of year.

The truth is, they retired about the same time as my flares, Laura Ashley print shirts and 80s batwing jumper dresses disappeared. However, unlike my motley crew collection of 70s and 80s second-hand finds, the legwarmers never did make it back to the charity shop. They remained with me, keeping my feet cosy in bed and occasionally making an outing on a winter run (the run itself happens maybe twice, possibly only once a year, hence the occasional).

Recently, I have seen my faithful furry friend (the legwarmer, not a dog) making the odd appearance on a commuter's leg on the tube, and constantly at my place of work where I often find myself sharing a lift with a legwarmer-clad ballerina.

So why the stigma? What, really, was so bad about 80s fashion? Yes, it was the era responsible for the shoulder pad and blue mascara but it also bore Herve Leger bandage dresses, championed the riding boot, and re-introduced the world to colour. See where I'm going with this? Legwarmers are not just for Flashdance fans, they are practical and flattering, if worn correctly. If worn with a short skirt (I wouldn't recommend shorts, unless Katie Price, as she is now known, is still your fashion icon) and rolled up to just below the knee, they can give the same advantages as your trusty knee boot whilst offering extra warmth! So why not join me people, as I take it upon my own shoulders (or should that be legs?) to single-handedly bring back legwarmers! Rejoice.