OVERSEAS BRIEFING

Author: ARIELLE WEISMAN

MADRID, Spain - Still preoccupied with 1985? Two-toned mullets, fuzzy woolen legwarmers, low-cut shirts that show off the shoulders and bra straps. What do all of these things have in common? Well I'll tell you. They are essentials of every Spaniard's wardrobe. In fact, some will go to great pains to ensure that they are all 80s from head to toe. Just recently my good friend Steph's Spanish roommate decided he couldn't wait for his mullet to grow naturally so he went out and bought himself one, in the form of hair extensions! They're not even the same color as his hair!

No, it's not 1985. It's 2006, but one could swear that here on the Iberian Peninsula, 80s style is modern, not retro. It is impossible to spend the night out clubbing and not hear -- though I try hard - the countless punk rock bands from 20 years ago, nevermind Madonna's "Like a Prayer." Perhaps the Spaniards have somehow heard about the Middlebury tradition of taking off your (scoop-necked) shirt when this song comes on?

As much as I have always despised 80s dressing and have tried my best to resist it, after eight months here in Madrid I have somehow learned to embrace it: big hoop earrings, tiny shrugs, velour sneakers, large flashy belts. I have it all. Except for the legwarmers. I refuse to go that far. You won't catch me dead in those.

Since my arrival in September, I have been struggling to understand the 80s obsession. Although I myself am a child of the 80s, I think it's best we try to forget that decade ever happened. (Sorry, Orange Crush!) But here in Spain, I recently discovered that the 80s fixation is not arbitrary and in fact makes perfect sense given the political history of the country.

For 40 years, Spain was subjected to the strict dictatorship of Francisco Franco, which regulated everything from religious practices and conjugal relationships to the national language. The three regional languages - Catalan, Basque and Gallego - were suppressed. Franco even regulated the clothes that people were allowed to wear - skirts only, girls!

Franco's death in 1975 facilitated a much needed and long awaited cultural explosion of music, art, literature and yes, even fashion. Suddenly, Spaniards could do what they wanted, say what they wanted, and most importantly of all, wear what they wanted. Hello grunge! They consider the 80s a sort of glory decade and have since then worshipped it in every possible way.

Part of integrating oneself into a new culture involves absorbing the fashion trends, however ridiculous they may seem at first. Though I must admit that I am still terrified of getting a haircut in a Spanish salon, no matter how nice the place looks, I've really gotten into dressing Spanish. I know that when I come home in August, I will surely bring some Iberian style along with me, though for the most part fashion here is aesthetic over functional, and sadly, I am fairly certain those stiletto heels won't survive a Middlebury winter. Bye-bye polar fleece!