Being Good Friday, I suspect that there will be a lot of serious topics discussed in blog land today. So, I interrupt regularly scheduled programming to bring you a completely ridiculous topic for the letter S: SHAG.
If you were alive in the 1960s and 70s (or ever saw an Austin Powers movie) then you know there are two meanings of shag. 1) a style of carpet; and 2) S-E-X. Let’s see, which shall we discuss today….
That non-manscaped body is frightening, so carpet, you win.
While furniture shopping last week, I noticed that shag carpeting is making a come back. Although the 70s did have an influence on my personality, the decade did not inspire me to decorate my house like Elvis’ jungle room. If you’ve been to Graceland, then you know what I’m talking about. The floor, and ceiling, are covered with green shag.
In the 70s, shag was out of sight, man. My own bedroom was oh so shag-o-licious (still referring to the carpet here). Pink shag, to be exact.
Unfortunately, the shag stayed in place when my brother took over the room in the early 80s. I think he was about 15 when he begged to be moved out of that pink room. He said it was him or the shag…and my parents picked the shag. If you’re doing the math, that carpet graced my childhood home for about 25 years.
Who knew that it would be back in style come 2011?!
What trends are making a comeback that you swore would never again see the light of day? Is there anything that you WISH would come back in style?
The Chameleon's Backbone 
Posted by Hilary on April 22, 2011 at 2:16 am
Hi Tracy … Shagpile was the thing wasn’t it .. and that pink – certainly cheered the room up .. perhaps not after 25 years .. still fun to see the pics .. cheers and Happy Easter weekend .. Hilary
Posted by Tracy on April 22, 2011 at 1:39 pm
It was indeed the thing, but after 25 years, it had to go! Dare I say we had another room in the house with lime green shag? Oops, cats out of the bag now.
Posted by carldagostino on April 22, 2011 at 4:19 am
I scour thrift shops for shirts like Kramer wore on Seinfeld
Posted by Tracy on April 22, 2011 at 1:40 pm
…and when you find one, then what happens?
Posted by carldagostino on April 22, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Wear it with impudent glee to goof on the world as they, in their cultural ignorance, laugh at me.
Posted by Liane on April 22, 2011 at 9:54 am
I don’t think I’d let Elvis anywhere near my house either, thank you very much 🙂 If I HAD to choose between the green and the pink, I’d go with the pink… but it is restrictive and I get bored pretty quickly. Being so practical my first thought about shag would probably be: how do you keep it clean..? haha
Posted by Tracy on April 22, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Evis IS in my house,,,a cardboard version. Thank you for stopping by Laine, thankyouverymuch. 🙂
Posted by Liane on April 22, 2011 at 2:39 pm
He died in Aug ’77 (I think) and I was born in Sep. He just missed my decorating genius haha 😉 Just dawned on me now: he must have chosen green to create a look of grass… jungle?… Did you buy it as a souvenir at Graceland – life size? My step dad LOVED his music.
Posted by suzicate on April 22, 2011 at 10:43 am
Wow, shag is really coming back? I remember those days well…they say if you live long enough every trend eventually comes back! Does that mean we are old?!
Posted by Tracy on April 22, 2011 at 1:44 pm
It sure is coming back, but not in wall-to-wall. Old is a state of mind – we’re NOT old!
Posted by Ron on April 22, 2011 at 11:04 am
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I LOVE this post, Tracy!
“That non-manscaped body is frightening, so carpet, you win.”
Bwhahahahhahaahhahaha!
Hey, I too had shag carpet in my bedroom when I was a teen. It was a mixture of blue/green. I even had a rake that I used to fluff it up the shag after I vacuumed. I also had PANELING on my walls.
I felt like I was living in the Brady Bunch family!
Have a SUPER SHAG weekend, my friend!
X
Posted by Tracy on April 22, 2011 at 1:48 pm
A rake?!?!?! You were really Feelin Tha Funk in that room, Ron.
Posted by Kalli on April 22, 2011 at 11:28 am
leg warmers are back! i work at a high school and the girls are rockin them! so funny about the shag carpet!
Posted by Tracy on April 22, 2011 at 1:50 pm
I remember those, fo soo. I know the jumpsuit tried to make a comeback but failed here. What’s that staus of the jumpsuit in CA?
Posted by Laura Best on April 22, 2011 at 3:56 pm
I don’t think I’ll ever go back to carpet again shag or otherwise. Too many nasty things underneath when we took them up.
Posted by Tracy on April 22, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Eew! I had to take my fireplace insert apart this morning and it was also eeeeew inside. 😦
Posted by Misha on April 22, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Jump suits! *sobs*
Posted by Tracy on April 22, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Okay, but only if it has a big silver zipper down the front and bell bottom legs.
Posted by midcentury madam on April 22, 2011 at 8:47 pm
I would love a long shag area rug. I agree with Laura though that too much carpet carries too many nasty things.
I would love to see the hand stamped leather purses come back. I loved Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley, Ca. in the 60’s. I bought my leather shoulder bag from a street vendor there. It was covered with colorful flowers. Fun.
Posted by Tim on April 23, 2011 at 5:16 am
Shag-o-licious! Brilliant. I reckon big plastic glasses will make a come back at some stage like what people wore in the 80’s on Dallas etc