I have a deep affection for the ’80s. There, I said it. My appreciation for this vibrant decade is something only those who grew up during it can truly understand. Honestly, I can’t help but feel a bit of satisfaction when flannel-clad ’90s kids boast about their grunge music or when Millennials rave about the wonders of auto-tune.
The ’80s were a unique era where life felt like a John Hughes film, and awkwardness was the norm. Everything was extreme—especially my shoulder pads. Life was one big synthesizer-music celebration. But what truly endears me to the ’80s is that I was a teenager back then, and let’s face it, teenagers can be a bit ridiculous. We wore ludicrous outfits and communicated in simple phrases. We thought we had it all figured out and that we were the trendsetters of style.
Little did we know that two decades later, we’d cringe at our teenage fashion choices when looking back at old photos. However, unlike today’s teens, we had the luxury of being foolish without the constant reminder of social media. We could be silly in private, which is a blessing—thank goodness no one can pull up evidence of my most embarrassing ’80s moments.
I practiced writing “Mrs. Jake Thompson” on my binder endlessly. After my early crush on a pop star, I quickly transitioned to Jake Thompson, the charming character from a classic film. I was convinced that our destinies were intertwined, so I diligently perfected my signature on my school binder. At least I spared myself from monogrammed towels!
Then there were step aerobics. Yes, I took part in that fitness craze until my knees began to protest like the Tin Man. Prior to that, it was a fun way to stay fit while rocking neon Lycra. However, step aerobics ranks high on the list of the most embarrassing workouts, right alongside the ThighMaster. And yes, I gave that a try too.
I turned my walls into a collage of supermodels from George Michael’s iconic music videos. I was infatuated with the likes of Cindy, Christy, Naomi, and Linda. My bedroom was a shrine to their beauty, and when the coast was clear, I practiced my best supermodel walk. Unfortunately, my “runway” was often the shag carpet of my childhood home, and I frequently ended up tripping.
And let’s not forget the infamous double polo shirts! I was one of those kids who wore two polo shirts with the collars popped. My high school nickname was “Double Polo.” Sure, it was excessive, but I was determined to coordinate those collars!
During my preppy phase, pink and gray were my go-to colors. I insisted on wearing only those shades, from my clothing to my shoes. It was adorable for a moment, but trust me, it became tiresome quite quickly. My poor mom even had to help me dye pennies gray to match my pink penny loafers.
I dressed like a walking Esprit advertisement. I owned so much Esprit gear that it honestly looked like I was affiliated with the brand. My mom would have loved the employee discount on all those matching sweatshirts emblazoned with “ESPRIT.”
Leg warmers, moon boots, and other utterly impractical fashion choices were also part of my wardrobe. I’m not sure who started the leg warmer trend, but I fully embraced it. Living in California meant there was no need for such warmth, yet I was committed to looking stylish—even if it meant being sweaty.
Permed hair was another hallmark of my youth. I went through a phase that could best be described as “Shirley Temple on Red Bull,” courtesy of my first perm. The scent of an ’80s perm is enough to make one question their legality, and the results were often questionable at best.
I dreamed of being a backup singer for Sting. Every true child of the ’80s attended concerts, and I was no exception. When Sting went solo, I was right there, captivated—not by him, but by his incredible backup singers. I would practice my moves in the mirror and dream of majoring in backup singing at college, if only I could carry a tune!
Shoulder pads, sweater dresses, and flashy plastic jewelry defined the fashion of the era. While ’80s attire might have been made from flammable synthetic materials, it was undeniably fabulous and over the top. No other generation can claim clothing with shoulder pads that rival pillows in thickness and long sweater dresses. If you’ve ever had a mishap with a loose shoulder pad, you know it’s an experience to forget.
While kids of the ’90s may sing every Nirvana lyric and Millennials idolize Taylor Swift, we ’80s kids are confident we had the best of all worlds. We could embrace our youthful silliness without the fear of it being immortalized online. We were free to be foolish in our shoulder pads and moon boots, and for that, we deserve a little respect.
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In summary, the ’80s were a unique time filled with fashion faux pas and unforgettable teenage moments. We navigated adolescence with a blend of confidence and cluelessness, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and a few cringeworthy memories.
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