The 80's revisited?

Over the years people have asked me how I got my start in retail fashion. I can safely say it began in the mid 80's when I was living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, going to college and then working in what was one of the first hip fashion stores in Albuquerque called Wear it! At that time I was hanging out with a creative culture (garage bands and poets) that was heavily influenced by music (think REM, The Cure, Talking Heads and even The Go Go's), performance art, poetry slams and being in my 20's. I wore acid wash jeans, oversized t-shirts and padded shoulder jackets, leggings and/or stirrup pants with leg warmers, Doc Marten creepers and a Swatch watch. I cut my hair short and spikey and went dancing at clubs that played Billy Idol and The Stray Cats (before that I looked like a hippie until about 1984 and mostly listened to the Dead and Neil Young).

It facinates me that the styles from the 80's are back, although parachute pants and shoulder pads have not been well received, the basic influences are there. I have to admit that I am not so fond of the 80's look, especially when I look back at photos from that time and wonder, "What was I thinking", but even less fond of the full head-to-toe reinvention I see walking around today. Let's face it...Madonna looks a whole lot better these days than she did back then.

One of the best things that came out of the 80's for me was an appreciation for trends and fashion. I learned a lot working at Wear it! and it launched me down the fashion highway toward a stint in Chicago working at Sugar Magnolia and then at Lori's Shoes. In 1991 I came to Portland where there wasn't quite the fashion choices that there are today and I saw an opportunity to start my own thing!

So maybe in hindsight the 80's were really a great and influential time.....we just dressed kind of funny!

Welcome to the First Imeldas and Louies Blog Post

Welcome to Imelda's Shoes and Louie's Shoes for Men's first blog. I know your asking "What took you so long?" but never fear, here we are joining the ranks of all you Internet savvy and stylish people making a connection and hoping you'll respond!

Let me begin by introducing our contributors:

Pam Coven: The owner/operator (since 1994), buyer, shoe aficionado, occasional sales person, Olivia and Eleanor's Mom, and Mike's wife.

Liz McCausland: 10 year member of the team, part owner, buyer, accounts payable, merchandiser, "Jill of all trades", AJ's wife, dog lover, and fashionista extraordinaire.

Amos Hunter: 2 years on staff, systems operator, computer geek, 70's music fan, Raina's husband, bicycle aficionado, and the only dude on our team.

Stefanie Fox Currey: 2 years on staff, assistant accessory buyer, sales person extraordinaire, super stylish gal, Tyler's wife, and always smiling.

In our weekly blogs we will try to identify trends we see emerging, not just in fashion, footwear and accessories , but in lifestyles. We hope to draw upon our experiences from buying trips to New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas and yes, even Tualitin Oregon.

We also see this as an opportunity to hear from you! So jump in, the water is fine.

Thanks!

Pam