80's Relapse? For Sure

by Dana Schuster

Spring, 2001 -- Your usual pretty-in-pink mantra will be overshadowed next year by teased hair, spray painted eyes in whimsical patterns, and good-girl-gone-bad clothes. An uptown punk rock look is sure to turn a few heads this spring as fashion experiences an 80's retro relapse.

Teen Magazine was setting the stage for the upcoming season's new, bold look at its Spring 2001 Girls Rule! fashion show, now in its 13th season at 7th on Sixth. An air of excitement could be felt backstage at the only teen inspired show during Fashion Week. Hairstylists, clad in Gucci-logoed aprons hurried about to apply the finishing touches to all of the models. Cell phones rang almost as continuously as the hairspray was applied to 5 inch mohawks that were beginning to form atop the models' heads. "I haven't seen this much hairspray since the 80's," exclaimed Lauren McCann, Beauty Editor for Teen Magazine, "And I love it!"

Racks of clothes, compliments of 6 featured designers: Planet Yumthing, Hybrid, Rocket Girl, Gasoline, Coolwear, and Gia Vertula were beginning to get divvied up to the models, who, with their hair and makeup ready for the runway, became the focus of the news cameras, photographers' and media representatives (like myself).

Teen actress, Elisabeth Moss was doing a surreal job of staying cool under all the stress, not to mention all of the innumerable blow dryers. At the young age of 18, Elisabeth is already an accomplished actress as well as a credited dancer, currently appearing as Zoey, the president's daughter, on NBC-TV's Emmy Award winning "The West Wing". Her resume includes the likes of "Girl Interrupted" and a Disney comedy called "Mumford". With so much experience behind her, it's not hard to imagine why Elisabeth was chosen to be the spokeswoman for the Girls Rule! fashion show.

Gracing the catwalk for the first time, Elisabeth added runway model to her ever growing list of accomplishments. With so much experience behind her, it would be hard to expect Elisabeth Moss to be a "normal" teen. Yet, she is down to earth. One of her mentors is Winona Ryder, whom Moss says, "Is the sweetest person I've ever met. She took care of me when I was the youngest on the set without making me feel bad about it."

TV star Elisabeth Moss