Paris lux design: The Fabulous 80s Fashions, Catfights, Caviar & Dynasty Bitches

The 80s, an era of excesses, over the top fashions we would love to hate but just can't look away. And there are some memorable TV shows that are known for their fashion and little else, and then there are those excruciating programmes where the fashion becomes the focal point, whether it intends to or not.

You might wonder what's the hot new looks for fall 2009 fashion? Padded shoulders straight out of "Dynasty," sequined tops fit for "Golden Girls" and the kind of pleated pants last seen on "The Facts of Life."

(Dynasty - The excesses of the '80s meant big everything, from hair to shoulder pads. All that glitters: The nighttime soap "Dynasty" celebrated an era of excess, complete with shimmering fashions worn by leads including Evans and Joan Collins.)

Though designers have been flirting with the decade for several seasons, a clutch of marquee names delved into the era's flashiest, most bombastic side for fall. The homage to the color-drenched era was, in some cases, so unapologetic you almost expected Joan Collins to stroll out in a Swarovski-encrusted Bob Mackie gown boasting shoulder pads meatier than twin rib eyes LOL!

(Golden Girls Fashion then and now)

Well, over the years as the fashion trends have progressed, so has the fashion on our favourite TV shows, and for the most part it has got a hell of a lot better. You can't help but laugh at some of the campy looks sported 20 years ago on some of our fave programmes though, but hopefully through their style mistakes and triumphs, we have learnt a few of our own fashion lessons.

(Miami Vice - Don Johnson's pastel color push-up sports jacket look was a big hit)

We've chose couple of the best fashion savvy programmes to hit our screens over the years that influenced us and many people around the world how to dress in the golden eras of 80s, and for people my age, save by the bell was one of the show I look for fashion ideas when I was in high school, yes laugh all you want! admit it, you want to be as cool as Zac & Slater don't you?!

(Saved by the bell - all the neon color printed shirts & bleach jeans.... it was every high school kid's must have items! yes I confess, I have couple of the polka dots big shirts & my rainbow color vans shoes LOL)

So, in the fall winter 2009 fashion shows, it was full of pleated, tapered pants and boatloads of neon, Marc Jacobs' über-'80s show looked like a casting call for "Square Pegs." Meanwhile, designer Christophe Decarnin of Balmain - the house that nudged fashion into the decade's decadent side last season with pieces such as Michael Jackson-style jackets - harnessed the hard-edged party girl of the era with skin-tight minidresses and pointy, winged, padded shoulders.

(Pretty In Pink - How would the movie's warring richie preps and New Wave outsiders fare in today's fashion world? The big jackets and high-waisted chinos on pretty-boy Blane (Andrew McCarthy) might need an update -- or can just be recycied as women's wear -- but Duckie's (Jon Cryer) skinny jeans and Andie's (Molly Ringwald) leggings and layers have been a part of street fashion for years. See, geeks win in the end.)

Considering the worldwide recession, it seems a curious time to be making such showy, fashion-forward clothes. Wasn't it just a few months ago that most of fashion magazines were preaching the virtues of "investment dressing"? What is it about the current climate that's delivered us back to the '80s? could it be people are tired of being worried about money and being sensible? Even though it wasn't the carefree time everyone remembers it to be, the '80s looks like the party we've not been allowing ourselves to have lately. It's a denial of the recession.?

Come think of it, when we are in bad economies, clothes tend toward the staid, and in boom times the fantasy is to look downbeat and poor like the purposely stained, torned jeans, jackets, I even seen some handmade "couture tees" that makes you look like a homeless man! of course with a $250 price tag to achieve that look! haha!

And now that a tough economy is the reality, we want to look "Rich, over the top & fun!" Suddenly, we're living the old adage of hemlines rising and lipstick colors getting brighter when the economy tanks "We're in a tough economic time, and a lot of these '80s-inspired looks give off the image of a strong woman," said Gregg Andrews, fashion director for Nordstrom, which is betting on '80s-style boyfriend blazers from Stella McCartney and shoulder-centric pieces from Donna Karan this fall. "It's about a woman still being feminine, but not fragile or frail. The strong shoulder, the hardware on things -- I look at it as being modern urban armor.

It's true that there are few decades that have offered such a treasure trove of memorable (and cringe-inducing) looks. And in this era of anxiety, maybe the season's key trend is to dress optimistic and adding a pop of bright neopn color into your daily wardrobe! don't let the recession to drag you down!

Now grab a glass of Champagne, sit back and let's time travel to the fabulous 80s with this Dynasty Reunion Special

(Opening)