'80S ICONS Fashionable once again
By BECKY SHER and DEBRA LEITHAUSER
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Remember Strawberry Shortcake and all her pals? Of course you do -- how many other toys smell like fruit?
Well, the whole gang from Strawberryland is back, with a new look for the new century. Your favorite lady in pink has given up her bloomers and striped stockings and now sports a pair of jeans and a very off-the-moment striped top.
She's quite fashionable -- and you can be, too, sporting '80s kitsch on your favorite tee, watch or cell-phone face plate.
But if you long for the look of the Original Shortcake, don't worry: Classic Strawberry Shortcake products are also available at trendy stores like Hot Topic and Gadzooks, and the new stuff will hit mass retailers at the end of December. And then she makes her berry-berry-big-time debut (or re-debut?) at the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day.
But the doll-faced darling isn't the only one staging a comeback. Lovable icons like Care Bears and Snoopy are coming back in a big way as well.
Good Luck Bear, Love-A-Lot Bear and all the other cuddly cubs are getting an updated look and coming back in classic form, too, showing up on apparel and accessories for teens and 'tweens. Believe it or not, the bears even have their very own fragrance line, so you can spritz on some Funshine Bear perfume when you need a lift.
It's safe to say that Snoopy and his band of "Peanuts" pals have never gone out of style, but suddenly they're trendy. Tiny tees that feature Woodstock, Peppermint Patty and the gang are showing up at stores like Delia's and Urban Outfitters. Forget the nostalgic holiday specials and black-and-white comic strips -- Snoopy is now cutting-edge cool.
Where to look
Can't wait to get your hands on some Care Bears perfume or some Snoopy PJs? Here's everything you need to know to head back in time.
UCheck out www.snoopybydoe.com to order all kinds of uber-trendy clothes featuring the whole "Peanuts" gang. If you're a fan of Linus or Pigpen, who often don't get their due, you'll find some cute tees featuring them. (We love the Pigpen hoodie.) You'll find some of the same stuff at Urban Outfitters, Delia's stores and www.delias.com.
UHead to Strawberry Shortcake's official Web site at www.strawberry-shortcake.com to see what's new in Strawberryland. The site is launching in late December.
UAnd for classic Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears gear, check out www.hottopic.com or Hot Topic stores.
UWant to introduce your little sis to these childhood faves? Look for the updated versions of Strawberry Shortcake's gang and the Care Bears at mega-stores like Target, toy stores or www.amazon.com. The new stuff is rolling out over the next several months.
And if you're looking to make money off this new wave of nostalgia, don't overlook eBay -- so-called "nostalgia toys" are huge on the auction site. No joke, we saw some Care Bears stuff going for 100 bucks! So start cleaning out your family's closets -- you might discover the next big thing.