Updated: July 27, 2016
Originally Published: September 3, 2005
The other day, I strolled through Nordstrom Rack and stumbled upon a display of vibrant plastic sunglasses featuring bold black lenses and neon-colored arms. I chuckled to my friend, “No need to buy these! I’m sure if I rummaged through my parents’ basement, I’d find the exact pair I wore back in junior high.”
But those sunglasses aren’t the only relic from the ’80s that linger in my mind. I distinctly recall saving up to buy a round, acid-washed denim purse when I was in sixth grade. It was about the size of a dinner plate, complete with pleats, a puffy middle, and long, skinny straps perfect for slinging over my shoulder. The wildest part? I honestly thought to myself, “This will never go out of style.”
Fast forward over two decades, and I’ve been entertained watching ’80s fashion make a surprising comeback. Retro trends seem much more appealing when you haven’t experienced the original craze. If you rocked Hammer pants in the ’80s, chances are you’re not rushing to American Apparel to grab a pair now. They’re called “harem pants” these days, but we all know they’re just Hammer pants in disguise – still not winning any style points. As I watched trends like leotards and Members Only jackets resurface, I thought there was no way acid wash would ever return. But guess what? It did!
This spring, I spotted a young woman confidently wearing acid-washed overalls. To my surprise, she didn’t look ridiculous at all. They fit her well and were made from a chic dark gray denim. Not that I’m ready to jump on that bandwagon, but she made them work.
After skipping the sunglasses, I wandered over to a rack that appeared to be filled with maxi skirts. Pulling one out, I realized it was actually a pair of flowing, wide-legged pants adorned with a bold Southwestern print. Instantly, I was transported back to elementary school when I sported pleated pants with a pastel Southwestern design. According to the Internet and stylish women I see around town, palazzo pants are all the rage now. They do have a fancy European ring to them, but I’m still not convinced I’ll ever wear a pair.
Of course, I have been known to change my mind. A few years back, I was chatting with friends about skinny jeans and confidently declared, “I can’t wait for those to go out of style. I’ll never own a pair.” Fast forward to today, and I’ve got four pairs hanging in my closet. On that trip to the Rack, I might’ve left with yet another pair.
Sometimes, I just need a moment to warm up to a trend. I’ll see women in magazines and on the street rocking a particular look, and I gradually convince myself that maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t look too terrible on me. I ended up liking the skinny jean and tall boot combo for fall, especially since stuffing wide-leg jeans into boots is a recipe for fashion disaster.
The ’80s styles I wore have a mixed bag of memories attached. Some, like jelly shoes, I’d gladly buy for a daughter if I had one. Others, however, are so cringe-worthy that I try to erase them from my mind as soon as they resurface. Sorry, sixth-grade me, but it’s true: just like those double spaces you’re learning to type after every sentence, some of your fashion choices will indeed fade into oblivion.
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In summary, the quirks of ’80s fashion are a blend of nostalgia and embarrassment, reminding us that trends come and go, but the memories they create can last a lifetime.