Contempo Round-Up

Ah, the best of Contempo, from ebay!

This skirt is available here. Love the super high waist and tons of ruffles. Not my size :(

You know you want this amazing early 90's crop top with a sequined bra built right in!!!!

Sorry dudes, I already purchased this for like $4.99! Whoa 90's does 60's connection! Jealous?

Late 80's/ Early 90's Contempo Sweater

80's/90's Red Snakeskin Oxfords

I have these shoes, but mine are all black, and these were unfortunately not my size.

Early 90's Contempo Casuals Pants

Contempo was like the Forevs of it's day. (Speaking of Forevs, the one in the Bay Area at this time was a tiny little hole with dirty carpeting in Serramonte Mall, not the glamourously gleaming bohemoth it is today.) I have always kind of liked cheap and trendy stores, and I used to go in there and buy total trash, and in high school we called it Contrampo even though by then they had been re-branded into the super 90's version, Wet Seal, who featured labels like "Blue Asphalt" (hahaha) and 'Evolution: Not Revolution!" Even though it is morally wrong to shop at chain stores like this technically, I still go to Wet Seal and make purchases occasionally. But it's the name "Contempo Casuals" that truly holds a place in my heart, and their blocky black and white label. Through my fashion research, I have also spotted earlier Contempo labels, which have a more palm-tree-ish, late 70's/early 80's Carly Simon vibe.

Here are some Contempo inspiration photos:

90's Does 60's/70's, Sort Of

I put these Zodiac shoes up because I remember them all too well from the 90's. They are listed under 70's on eBay, but these came from the popular 90's retread of 70's style, which included many a daisy/"groovy" print, polyester or space-dyed garment, John Lennon glasses, crushed velvet and more. Some of the copies are quite good, and you can't tell from when they are from without a closer inspection. These foam platforms are simply made for bopping around in a vinyl dress with braids in your hair and body glitter a-plenty.*

*90's nostalgia makes me feel sooo old, though I guess we better cling to it, because the 2000's blew so hard that any nostalgia mustered up for them will probably be pretty weak.

Late 80's/Early 90's Bandage Dress

I hate the fashion of the mid 90's, but lately I have realized I love some of the early 90's fashion- the tight, stretchy fits and bondage-y details of these trashy bandage dresses truly are the best. I like the boldness, the obsession with bright colors and the huge gold jewelery. Check out Rhythm Nation-era Janet Jackson- so bold, so militant, so butch! Really the last gasp of 80's excess before everyone embraced saggy oatmeal sweaters, clunky loafers, and faded floral prints.

PS: Ohmygod, look at this thugged out photo of Janet here! This very 90's look deserves a post of its own. It reminds me of the coordinated photos girls would take at Sears in the 90's with tons of lipliner on. Anyway, I'll do some research on this 4 sure. If anyone has any photos like that, I want copies.