The wheels of fashion spin back to the roller disco days

By Samantha Critchell

Published:  June 19, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) - Dust off that satin bomber jacket and pull on those tube socks - right to the knee, please - then go up to the attic to find your roller skates: “Xanadu” is opening on Broadway this month.  Could this be the start of a roller disco redux?  Before you shake your head in disbelief, consider that Macy's giant Herald Square store plans a “Roller Boogie”- themed in-store boutique, leggings already have become ubiquitous, and gold lame had a presence on the red carpet at the Oscars this year (a Carolina Herrera gown worn by Jada Pinkett Smith).

Sure, the 1980s might very well be the most maligned fashion decade, but many of its key looks are being worn today - maybe those wearing sorbet-coloured tube tops and whitetrimmed jogging shorts simply don't know that those pieces had their first outing as accessories to old-school, four-wheel skates.  At a recent preview of “Xanadu,” a musical based on the 1980 movie starring Olivia Newton-John about a muse who encourages a starving artist to pursue his dreams of building a roller rink, the cast wore the metallic leggings, graphic T-shirts and barrettes made of woven satin ribbon. That was all to be expected. But what was particularly noticeable was the mint green dance dress, yellow track jacket and hot pink metallic shoes on a woman in the audience - she could've jumped onstage and blended in seamlessly.

“We're definitely seeing '80s as the latest retro influence, from high-waisted jeans to super bright neon colours to big hair and the return of perms - spotted on both males and females,” says Carla Avruch, director of consumer insights and trends at market research firm The Zandl Group.

She points to bands with an '80s throwback sound, such as I Love You but I've Chosen Darkness, '80s-themed nights at clubs and the success of American Apparel, a company that's made tiny, shiny workout shorts cool to people who were probably in diapers when the trend was worn the first time.

The entire skating industry is in the midst of a generational shift, reports Nick Skally, marketing manager for Rollerblade USA, which introduced its first inline boot skate 27 years ago. “The first skaters now have families and are skating with their kids, so there is this weird retro thing going on. It's retro in a cool way, feeling nostalgic for the bold colour patterns that remind them of past days.”

Andy Young, a 30-year-old actress, puts on her shortest shorts and miniskirts a few times a week to skate at Central Park in Manhattan. She says as one of seven children, she grew up watching her older brothers and sisters roller skate and she was eager to join in.  “It's like a mini little show. There are always people watching us and we're creative people - I'm an actor, there are a lot artists. We like pizzazz and razzle and dazzle. The more fun we're having, the more other people want to join us - and it's reflected in the clothes,” she says.

The look hasn't really changed much over time, Young observes. “Maybe it's a little funkier, but it's still about showing your body. Being skaters, most of us have really great legs.”