Everything Old is "New"…Again?

Bostonist truly loves to observe the consumer cycle in America that allows bad fashion trends to resurface every 10 years. Women generally get taken advantage of often in the case of the trends that should never rise again; refer to the metallic and neon colors of 2004, and the hippie-influenced "boho" craze of 2005. But in the case of one particular phase that Bostonist remembers from early high school, grunge, both sexes were serious style offenders. The flannel, the ripped jeans, the thermal undershirts, the Chuck Taylors – we just want to sit down, watch "Love Bites," and have a good cry. After all, no one knew the actual shape of our bodies for the entire first half of the 1990s.

But if there's anything Bostonist loves to note more than the resurgence of fashion trends, it's the hybrid of old trends and new trends conceived by marketers to sell warehouse stock.

We didn't know that any mainstream source sold "original" Doc Martens anymore, but apparently the timeless classics with indestructible soles are still in production, and Macy's thinks they are poised for a comeback. Just to entice buyers, though, they are adding a little '05 twist by offering to customize each pair bought today from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. at the Downtown Crossing store. Choose from one of five unique airbrushed designs, or pretend you're at a mall booth in 1992 and settle for an airbrushed hat or t-shirt instead. If ringtones, computer operating sytems, and car exteriors can be personalized, then why not nostalgic throwback kicks?

For Beantown's later fashion adopters, not to worry…if Doc Martens do truly make a comeback, it should be easy to buy a pair and then pay someone lots of money to make them yours.

Actual photo from 1995 courtesy of flickr.com / user: zenia