I have a deep affection for the ‘80s. Yes, I’m admitting it—my love for that decade is one only those who actually lived through it can truly understand. Honestly, it gives me a bit of satisfaction when those plaid-wearing ‘90s kids brag about their grunge playlists, or when a Millennial raves about how amazing auto-tune is.
The ‘80s were a unique era, resembling a John Hughes film where awkwardness was the norm. Life was vibrant, and so were my shoulder pads. It felt like one grand party filled with synthesizer beats.
But my fondness for the ‘80s runs deeper than just that. I adored it because I was a teenager back then, and let’s face it: teens can be pretty clueless. We wore ridiculous outfits and communicated in monosyllables, convinced that we were the epitome of cool.
Little did we know, two decades later, we’d look back at our fashion choices and cringe. Thankfully, we ‘80s teens didn’t have the burden of social media. We could make fools of ourselves without the risk of a Facebook photo resurfacing to haunt us. Thank goodness for that, or I might still be cringing over my most embarrassing moments.
For starters, I repeatedly practiced writing “Mrs. Liam Carter” on my binder. After my early crush on the dreamy Andy Gibb, I was smitten with the fictional heartthrob from Sixteen Candles, Liam Carter. I was convinced we were destined to be married one day, so my binder became a canvas for my future signature. At least I spared my towels from being monogrammed.
And let’s not forget step aerobics! Until my knees began to sound like a rusty hinge, I was all in. Step aerobics was a blast, even if it did involve wearing neon Lycra. It’s right up there with the ThighMaster in terms of workout embarrassment. Yup, I tried that too.
Then there were the photos. I made my walls a tribute to the George Michael video supermodels—Cindy, Christy, Naomi, and Linda—covering every square inch. When no one was watching, I’d practice my supermodel strut, which usually ended in a tumble down the “catwalk” of my childhood bedroom’s shag carpet.
Ah, the infamous double polo shirts! I was one of those who wore two polos with the collars flipped up, earning the nickname “Double Polo” in high school. Who needed so many shirts? But I was determined to make it work.
Everything in my closet was pink and gray during my preppy phase. It was cute for a hot minute, but I’m sure my mom grew tired of helping me dye pennies gray to match my pink penny loafers.
My wardrobe looked like a walking advertisement for Esprit. I owned so much of their clothing that I could’ve moonlighted as a company spokesperson. My mom probably would have loved the discount on all those sweatshirts emblazoned with “ESPRIT.”
Leg warmers and moon boots were the rage, but growing up in California, I had no business wearing them. I was on trend, yet always a bit sweaty. But hey, at least I thought I looked adorable.
Permed hair was a rite of passage. Mine could only be described as “Shirley Temple on a sugar rush.” The smell alone was enough to raise eyebrows, and the results? Well, let’s just say they should have been outlawed.
I fantasized about being one of Sting’s backup singers. Every true ‘80s kid went to concerts, and I was no exception. When Sting performed solo in my town, I was starry-eyed—not for him, but for those synchronized backup singers. I’d practice my moves in the mirror, dreaming of a college major in backup singing, if only I could carry a tune!
Shoulder pads, sweater dresses, and plastic jewelry defined ‘80s fashion. Our clothes, while fabulous, often came with hazards like loose shoulder pads—nothing worse than a wardrobe malfunction right in the middle of class.
So while ‘90s kids can belt out every Nirvana lyric and Millennials praise Taylor Swift as a genius, we ‘80s kids know we had it all. We could be foolish without anyone really remembering how ridiculous we looked in our moon boots and shoulder pads. Respect.
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Summary
This lighthearted reflection on the ‘80s captures the quirks and fashion faux pas of that unforgettable decade, blending nostalgia with humor. From practicing future names on binders to the joys of step aerobics and perm disasters, it celebrates the carefree spirit of youth, while also acknowledging the contrasting nature of today’s social media landscape.