Article Surfing Archive

You wonder about the physics involved in the fashion world. After all, it almost defies comprehension how very much like clockwork trends appear, disappear, and then reappear months, years, or even decades later. Everyone who's in the know, however, know that what goes around always comes around. The same principe is true of retro items, including retro bar stools.

Old Is the New New

It seems as if retro is the "in thing" now. In recent years, disco music, scooters, and Michael Jordan's first basketball sneakers on the market have made a comeback. The word "retro" comes from the French word "re'tro." This word refers to the styles of the past, particularly the fashions of that time. While "retro" can mean "old-fashioned," it usually takes on the more positive connotations of "classic" or "timeless." For example, one could argue that retro fashion exists because some people think that butterfly collar shirts and bellbottom pants never went out of style! Likewise, the simplistic yet elegant modular designs of retro bar stools remind us that some things can stay cool for a long time, if not forever.

Long-term Memories

What makes things like retro bar stools special? The movie, "Pleasantville," reminds us the "good old days" were not always good. There are even moments that we would rather forget, like that time we stepped onto a knee-deep puddle while walking to school, or when we were almost tempted to ask our Chemistry teacher to the prom dance, for lack of options.

By and large, however, we remember the good times. American author James Fennimore Cooper once wrote that our experiences form the knowledge that we remember the longest. We might forget what the second law of thermodynamics is, but we remember learning to ride a bike, our first kiss, and our child's first step. Retro bar stools act as the same blast from the past. We remember the fresh, piping-hot meals we enjoyed at the local diner, or tipping the cup with our buddies at our favorite bar or pub.

Watercolored Memories

Why are certain experiences so memorable? Child psychologists explain that Barney on the children's TV show is popular with kids for some basic reasons. Barney is big. Barney is purple. Moreover, Barney is a dinosaur. While we eventually grow out of children's shows, we never forget such memorable characters. Likewise, we remember the colors and shapes of certain objects. We remember watching the enormous black-and-white figure of King Kong standing atop the Empire State Building. We remember tie-dyed shirts bursting with a rainbow of colors. And we remember our first car, which looked somewhat like a beetle. Similarly, the look of many retro bar stools stick to our minds like glue. Their styles can range from blocks to cones, and their colors from fire engine red to black and white or baby blue.

Retro things like retro bar stools prove that oldies can be goodies. In fact, retro bar stools function as furniture that seems to never go out-of-style.