President Barack Obama greets Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before giving his State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Jan. 28, 2014. (AP file photo)
With some trends, you welcome their return with a warm embrace. How have you been? How are the kids? Did that tennis elbow ever clear up?
Others score only a curt nod. I remember you, feathered alligator clip/wedge flip-flop/fringed Old Orchard Beach belly shirt, and no, we won’t be friends again.
Inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsburg — yes, that Ruth Bader Ginsburg — we’ve invited the scrunchie out for chai and catching up.
You know the once-popular hair ties are back when an 85-year-old U.S. Supreme Court associate justice mentions her growing international scrunchie collection in a Wall Street Journal interview and the internet goes wild.
The quote that started it:
“My scrunchie collection is not as large as my collar and glove collections, but scrunchies are catching up … My best scrunchies come from Zurich. Next best, London, and third best, Rome.”
That tidbit made the Hollywood Reporter, Elle, People, CNN, Fox News and loads of other sites, to our utter delight.
You better believe Bag Lady and Shopping Siren rocked some scrunchies in our youth. And now we can again.
The scrunchie’s time has come.
RBG and the internet have deemed it so.
• Red sparkle two-pack, Claire’s, $4.99 (the store is also having a buy-three-get-three-free sale)
These totally brought Bag Lady back. They’re a little flashy and the fabric’s a little scratchy, but they’re perfect for a quick ponytail while running errands. Pop these into an aqua Caboodle and we’re back to 1980-something.
Now’s probably a good time to also note that the Auburn Mall Claire’s won’t be closing — it’s not on the list of 92 shops shuttering as the chain files for bankruptcy. It is, though, getting new neighbors.
According to signs at different spots in the mall, the Candy Corner, which has long been in front of Claire’s, has moved to Family Time Dine and Play, down the hallway.
Collectables Forever, across the hallway, is moving into the former Radio Shack space next to Papa Gino’s with a grand reopening April 7.
The musical mall chairs don’t end there: Photo Finish, Kait Lavin Photography and Via-Vision are moving down near Claire’s, and last, Maurice’s has moved into the spot that Go! Calendars and Games seems to move into each winter.
Phew! And we only came here for scrunchies!
• Colorful three-pack, Claire’s, $5.99
In a variety of colors, including pink, dark pink and light pink. Also blue, dark blue and light blue. You get the idea. The fabric is very sweatband-like, which makes us think these scrunchies would be great to wear while working out. Goat yoga, here we come.
• Minicci scrunchie three-pack, Payless Shoes, $9.99
Choose super-soft faux-rabbit fur or less-showy velvet. So soft, you’ll want to wear one in your hair and two around your wrists. Hey, no one said you can’t start a trend, too.
• Minicci scrunchie five-pack, Payless Shoes, $9.99
Dark and sparkly, a scrunchie perfect for date night. Which is something we never thought we’d say past 1991, but welcome to 2018.
• Black dress scrunchie, Claire’s, $4.50
We could see this single-layered, loosely ruffled mesh scrunchie going perfectly with RBG’s Supreme Court robes. Or that little black dress you’ll be wearing to that thing you’re going to with that person. You know the one.
Best buy: Pom scrunchie, Claire’s, $3
A fuzzy scrunchie adorned by a single pom-pom. Choose between the plain pom or one with ears and eyes that make it look like a little black cat or a friendly bat. Unconventional? Yes. Fun? Also yes. Imported from Zurich? Probably not, no. But we’re sure RBG still would approve.
Think twice: Coiled hair ties four-pack, Claire’s, $5.50
Today’s version of the scrunchie: plastic coiled hair ties. Like those old-style telephone cords that always got tangled. For your hair. We can’t imagine these as being anything other than hair-pullingly painful. Which is why the softer, gentler scrunchie still rules.
Bag Lady and Shopping Siren’s true identities are protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who look pretty with or without bows) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach them at baglady@sunjournal.com and shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.
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