Retro Obsession

Video courtesy of a cool chick I once met during a photo shoot.

Personally I would want my money back if this is where my low rent Craigslist purchased time machine landed me. Of all the strange upstate dance clubs why did you have to choose this one. It’s hard to believe that 1991 was twenty years ago, and this was actually what some people were wearing. Although there have been some very suspect “advances” in style and clothing over the years, I am glad that women’s cosmetics and hairstyling has at least on the surface made vast improvements. Back then it seemed like girls were washing with Crisco and fed a steady diet of funnel cakes. If you take notice this is from a club in Vestal New York, which if my memory serves right is near some serious Lax Country.


And our host -The Storm. Holy shit. I hope that guy is somehow still alive. Kids, drugs and or mixing drugs are never a good idea, especially if you bought them in the bowling alley or a Dairy Queen bathroom. All I am saying is learn from your parents mistakes whenever possible. But the grease-ball mustache, black sweater, skinny mullet, are OK I guess if you are trying to look hilarious. OK I will stop cracking on these folks for a bit, and let you do the rest. However it’s funny to notice the little things that have revolved back into some of today’s style but also the things that haven’t (the Guido in the hammer pants). So now I would like to point out some pivotal moments in style that made my early 90’s shine.

Although grunge age was and still is culturally important in the contemporary fashion landscape I would like to make note of some unsung heroes of a forgone time that collectively helped to form the nineties identity.

Fab Five, Starters, “White hats”, Zubaz and Combat Boots

Recently ESPN has been on a hot streak producing their 30 for 30 series of documentaries that are a dream come true for nostalgic sports fanatics. Ice Cube made an interesting documentary that touched on LA hip hop’s and gang cultures relationship with sports memorabilia. Recently the documentary about the University of Michigan’s notorious Fab Five, the highly touted and talented freshman recruiting class of 1991 proved to be another great one. The Fab Five were pretty significant in terms of sporting wear fashion developments. This group of talented bballers paved the way for baggy shorts and black socks and had some of the tightest uniforms in the history of sports.

During this same time period the starter jacket became associated as a symbol which either had the effect of people getting beat up for wearing it or inversely people beating up other people while wearing them. Pretty neat Vintage sports revivalists still love them as well as their hats.


Another type of hat that rolled off the popularity of Starter was from the company Game Hats which specialized in simply designed college merchandise using team nicknames and university logos for hats and sweatshirts. I know sort of no shit Sherlock if you grew up as a teen in the 90’s but for the younger set it’s worth noting since it still is a somewhat popular style for sports retrophiles. Unfortunately another early 90’s gem by the name of Zubaz, basically tiger striped weightlifting pants with sports team colors hasn’t exactly been re-popularized. But there is some hope that companies that may have done some subtle hinting to it as inspiration.


Some other big hits of the 90’s were military gear, construction clothes, prison inmate shirts and pants, popularized by rap groups like Onyx and work brands like Carhart and Dickies.

 

Danny McCormick is a featured blogger for Lacrosse Playground covering style and fashion. Born in Maryland and raised in Virginia, Danny lived an East Coast laxer lifestyle while attending the Landon School, and the University of Maryland before eventually heading out to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams in entertainment and fashion. While working his way up the LA food chain he has served as an assistant to some top stylists, decorated sets for commercials, films, and photo shoots, and works as Adrenaline Apparels Art Director and Eco consultant. After injuring his knee on Halloween doing a complex yet unrehearsed dance sequence, he has ruled out the chance of a lacrosse come back. But if asked if he would do it again the answer is hell yes.

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In 2009, Adam O’Neill, Harry Alford and Thomas Alford launched Lacrosse Playground as the preeminent site for lacrosse gearheads. For years Lacrosse Playground provided lacrosse fans with tutorials and tips on how to string a lacrosse head, up-close looks at the gear the top players used and sneak peeks at equipment and uniforms before they were released. More than 10 years and millions of visits later, Lacrosse Playground has relaunched with a focus on storytelling. Our mission is to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest lacrosse news, share insights into the sports betting and fantasy lacrosse world and showcase the lifestyles and personalities of the sport of lacrosse through articles, videos and podcasts.

2 Comments

  1. Dragonhockey7 on April 14, 2011 at 2:20 am

    Is the guy in the zubas Mike Muir from Suicidal Tendencies?

  2. greazy on April 13, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    EPIC

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