Answer this, and you too can dress like Steff
A member of the '80s Nation needs your help. I received this e-mail over the weekend, and as someone who knows NOTHING about fashion (just ask any female within a 10-mile radius of me), I'm reprinting it here in hopes someone can help. Here it 'tis:
Hi Steve. Just wanted to say I'm a devoted follower of your 1980s blog. I especially loved your post on the top movie songs of the 1980s. I was happy to see you had OMD's classic "If You Leave" from Pretty in Pink. I was hoping you could answer a few questions for me in relation to that movie.
I am trying to adopt Steff's look (James Spader) and have been looking for some penny loafers. Do you know what the best brand to get is to best emulate his look from the movie? And also if they are the beef rolled or not? You are the go to guy when it comes to anything 1980s. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Your devoted follower, Kolby Houghton.
Anyone have a guess? I can't seem to find a photo of his shoes. And to be honest, beef-rolling? Never heard of it. Someone please clue me in.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Another great source for espadrilles is a store called espadrille in the UK. They ship worldwide at very reasonable rates. http:// www.espadrille.co.uk
Posted by: evieg | July 27, 2009 at 02:15 PM
Hi, Great post! I felt great reading your blog post. I’m working with my friend in a small internet marketing business as a web developer. When I’m free I go around for some IT info.
Posted by: Penny Stocks | May 07, 2009 at 01:38 AM
lmao
Posted by: Kolby | January 13, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Kolby, you are certainly determined. I watched the clip. The shoe looks soft like a slipper. Supple, like Corinthian leather. ha.
Posted by: Marissa | January 13, 2009 at 07:54 AM
I wore lots of vans and had every color of chuck Taylor's made. I am also guilty of wearing a jacket with the sleeves pushed up and had five of those skinny leather ties. In addition to camouflage pants. Yikes I was scary.
Posted by: Jay | January 13, 2009 at 07:27 AM
Thank you Jeff in Cuba for posting that link....I think I might have found very similar shoes to what Stef had...http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/product.aspx?c=641&pid=49697
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYS3hqhWn80
at 7:30-7:40 you can get a good look at his shoes...I am pretty sure he's wearing penny loafers.
Posted by: Kolby | January 13, 2009 at 01:25 AM
Oy, all I know is few guys wore socks regardless of the shoe ... and P to the U.
Posted by: Marissa | January 12, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Glad you like the websites!
MinA
Posted by: Mike in Austin | January 12, 2009 at 08:16 PM
Mike in Austin - love the websites. I loved the many pairs of Espradrilles that I had but I had a darker side that loved the creepers look but I went with Doc Martens.
Posted by: SpecialK | January 12, 2009 at 07:24 PM
never had and never will wear loafers. can't stand them. one question, is beef rolling anything like rick rolling?
Posted by: don in tulsa | January 12, 2009 at 07:03 PM
Preppy Girl,
I think you are absolutely correct, Stef didn't wear penny loafers. At the time, the west coast had a few trends going on that didn't catch on anywhere. Such as what Stef is wearing, a sort of Espadrilles. Another shoe that never took off anywhere else but the west coast is the creeper. Duckie wears an early version of the creeper but the true creepers had at a minimum a half inch sole.
Though I made several trips back to Cali in the 80's and never (but should of) bought my creepers, I eventually found them in Phoenix.
http://www.ropeysoles.com/mens.php
http://www.rivithead.com/
All the love,
MinA
Posted by: Mike in Austin | January 12, 2009 at 04:55 PM
A faithful prepster of the 80s, I sported Bass Weejuns with kneesocks. Bass loafers weren't beef-rolled--those were the Sebago and Dexter ones. Beef rolls refer to the "bunched" strips of leather on either side of the "penny holder." I think sartorial Steff actually wore a softer soled moc, rather than a real penny loafer.
Posted by: Preppy Girl | January 12, 2009 at 04:05 PM
I have seen a few references to the brand Bass penny loafers, but I cannot find a picture of Steff with the shoes showing either.
And I think "Beef-Rolling" is the same as "Tight-Rolling" the legs on pants...
Posted by: Dbuggd | January 12, 2009 at 03:44 PM
Dang Jeff! That last comment made me laugh so hard, I almost shot my lunch all over the monitor screen.
Posted by: Bassnote | January 12, 2009 at 01:49 PM
I sported penny loafers back in the 80's, and the shoe I always wanted, but could never afford (and which I assume "Steff" wouldn't have any trouble owning) was the Johnston & Murphy Ski-Moc: http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/product.aspx?c=648&pid=50886
As for "beef-rolling", all I know is that in most bars in the Phillipines, beef-rolling costs extra.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | January 12, 2009 at 10:48 AM