In case you haven’t figured it out already, Vanessa and I are obsessed with neon. I think my infatuation for florescents probably has something to do with the fact that they were all the rage when I started to care about clothing and music circa ‘93. I blossomed into adolescence in the era of Bodyglove bathers, Jem & the Holograms, 90210, fanny packs, Skip-Its and Fresh Prince. It was a golden age; life revolved around sleepovers, Archie comics, the Saturday morning count-down and choregraphed dances to N’ync and the Spice Girls. However, as all good things come to an end, eventually my neon spandex bike shorts were replaced with flared overalls (imagine!), my scrunchies were replaced with hemp bracelets and I gave up Ace of Base for Alanis.

Last summer as Vanessa and I were neonifying bikes all over the city for The Good Bike Project, our suppressed love for neon was reawakened in a serious way. Once we started painting bikes hot pink and phosphorescent orange, we began to picture everything neon; fire hydrants, parking lots, benches and garden gnomes. We decided to channel our bright enthusiasm for the colour palette by curating a neon-themed art show called Electric Circus, which came to fruition this month. The timing couldn’t have been better, since this summer neon is everywhere; rainboots are neon and lipsticks are too. Underwear and outerwear are coming up in hot pinks and florescent corals, oranges, greens and yellows and I’m loving it. Beyonce (who happens to be another obsession of mine) channels 90s neon in her new music video ”Party”. Who ever styled the video is a pure genius (and probably grew up in the 90s as well): jumbo-bobble hairbands, sparkly fanny packs, bubbles, inflatable pools + furniutre, glitter nails, gold sequins, USA shorts, crimped hair, pink flamingos, confetti, streamers & a mini trampoline…HELLO! What’s not to love? Especially since the song itself sounds like a classic 90s R&B jam, but with Kanye.

The thing about neon is it’s just so damn fun. Neon colours are incredibly joyful and have an uncanny ability to transform any ol’ thing into something fresh and playful. A hit of neon is a jolt of energy and good vibes.  I’m not sure I will ever grow tired of this trend. 

** The magical cake above was made by the lovely Corey Moranis for Vanessa on her birthday. If Corey were a colour she’d be lightning yellow for sure. I think Vanessa is a dazzling pink and I, an electric orange.** 

Caroline