PARIS, Oct 8, 2004/ FW/ --- Blaak has tried to resurrect the 1980s.

Although the show was scheduled for 12:30, it wasn’t until 13:00 that the agitated members of the fashion journalism corps were allowed to even begin thinking of entering the Scala discotheque where the Blaak collection took place. With a late start like that; the duo designers behind the label had every interest in giving the audience something that would make the wait worth it.

Unfortunately, the bewildered looks on the faces of the journalists, which were consistent, throughout the presentation of the collection suggested that no such thing ever took place.

The Blaak collection was heavily embedded in the pop rock culture of the 1980s with baggy pants dominating all. An above the waist jacket and baggy pants ensemble brought forth memories of music videos - which are best forgotten - by the likes of Samantha Fox, Duran Duran and Toni Basil.

It’s so strange that the pants, either full-length or at the knees, seemed very familiar. I shamefully admit that they reminded me of the tacky clothes that my parents would order for my sister from the Sears & Roebucks catalogue. Others looked as though they had come directly from an M.C. Hammer video.

The tops in the collection were something else too. Many had the backs removed in the form of a triangle. Although they have a new feel to them, they are not truly uninspiring. Of them, the most standout one is a tank blouse in horizontal black and white stripes.

The only thing from the collection that is in tune with the mood coming out of Paris for Spring/Summer 2005 is the jackets cut above the waistline. Other than that, it’s all eighties with a slight exception.

A couple of blouses, particularly a sleeveless number, had ridiculously large shoulder pads. The irony in that is they were not those of the 1980s but more so those created by the late Adrian for the Hollywood screen legend and siren, Joan Crawford.

To the duo’s favour, they did have nice fabrics. However, it is a great pity that they were used in a collection that lacked so much in terms of imagination, creativity and innovation.

However, the design duo did do two really nice little black dresses that could make the most unfortunate of wretches look desirable, appealing and attractive!

The greatest irony in this collection is that I predict that it should do well among young people from ages 17 to 25. They seemed to be more and more in tune with what we of the thirty and over crowd have tried so desperately to forget about the 1980s.

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