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Striking a pose in the decade of decadence

Macy' s Glamorama 2008
Chicago Theatre
Chicago, IL
Aug. 22, 2008

Cyndi Lauper

Story and photos by Andy Argyrakis

The calendar may read 2008, but it was the 1980s all over again at Macy's annual Glamorama gala, aptly dubbed "Pop Candy Arcade" to highlight the fashion and musical styles of evening. After a red carpet entrance that included actor Steve Guttenburg ("Cocoon," "Police Academy," "Three Men and a Baby") and actress Sanaa Lathan ("Love and Basketball," the upcoming "Wonderful World" with Matthew Broderick), it was time to tip off the half fashion show and part pop concert. From start to finish of the brisk but tight 70-minute celebration, it was a non-stop spectacle that started with models marching to the party-infused beats of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy." The store's upcoming lines continued to be unveiled throughout a sassy club remix of Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science," backed by gargantuan production of an LCD screen shifting in color scheme with the striking of every perfect pose. Other notable fashion segments included several ladies strutting to the chilled out grooves of George Michael's jazzy rendition of The Police's "Roxanne," plus a group of guys decked out in the sheik sights of next season dancing to the beat of Fall Out Boy's take on Michael Jackson's "Beat It."

Outside of the decked out models in the front half, the hip-hop side of the decade was showcased with a short performance from MC Hammer, who'll never go down in the genre's history books for having street cred, but continues to be a fairly entertaining novelty even after a highly publicized fall from grace. And he earned some points of legitimacy for giving a shout out to the Godfather of Soul James Brown, while also mimicking those impressive dance moves during the staple sing-a-long "U Can't Touch This."

Cyndi Lauper may have best been associated with the pop portion of the same time period, but she kept the tone in present tense thanks to the club cut "Into the Nightlife" off her brand new CD Brink Ya To the Brink (Epic). Though a fireball of energy racing around the stage and even running into the audience for a few seconds, the percolating cut lacked the live band she brought to the very same venue just a few months ago on the True Colors Tour. That same problem plagued a techno remix of "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," but it was hard for the audience not to jump for joy with the cavalcade of colors, blast of a confetti cannons and some impromptu background vocals from all of the evening's models.

But as the final curtain came down and the glow of flashbulbs dimmed, attention was still centered in the evening's beneficiary the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). Not only did Macy's shine the spotlight on the area's most prestigious creative institution this particular night, but it just so happened to be the tenth anniversary for the partnership. And after wrapping up at the gloriously decorated Chicago Theatre, the all encompassing artistic merriment continued well into the AM at Macy's on State Street with DJ Berrie holding it down and keeping the 80s alive in all its fashion-infused excess.