Climbing into the backseat of my grandmother’s old blue Buick Regal, with its navy vinyl top, was the highlight of my Augusts. The end of summer signaled the joyful ritual of back-to-school shopping, and I could hardly contain my excitement. I anticipated our annual trip to the mall for new clothes, spending hours at stores like K-mart or Walmart, searching for essential school supplies that I would claim as my own. The leisurely drive was filled with my mother and grandmother planning our lunch while checking off items from our school lists. It was an experience I cherished.
Every fall in the ’80s, my sister and I would stand in adjacent dressing rooms while our mother handed us an endless supply of vibrant tops and form-fitting jeans to try on. Our mother was at our service, granting us the rare opportunity to choose our wardrobe. We knew these clothes would be our companions for weeks, so we made every selection count.
It was crucial to get the right shade of green on a Max Headroom Hypercolor T-shirt, and shoulder pads had to fit just right, making us look like we belonged on a soap opera. Jeans had to be the perfect whitewash and rolled just so, while socks had to be thin—thankfully, my mother often skipped that shopping trip. Our biggest wish was to wear Keds without socks, blissfully unaware of what that choice might mean for our hygiene.
While I adored clothing shopping, nothing compared to picking out my school supplies. The thrill of selecting the perfect notebook and the intoxicating scent of a fresh box of crayons was pure joy. If we were fortunate, my mother would let us choose the fancy Crayola box with a built-in sharpener. And during those lucky years when she would say yes to both markers and colored pencils? We were over the moon!
Among all my supplies, one item stood out above the rest: the Trapper Keeper! This quirky yet beloved binder was a must-have. It carried my textbooks and showcased the design I had painstakingly chosen for all to see. The Trapper Keeper was the crown jewel of my school supplies, accompanied by new pencils, the ideal art box (cardboard, not plastic), and a metal lunch box with a Thermos.
As we traveled from store to store, the plush seats of the Buick were filled with shopping bags. My sister and I sorted through our treasures, stashing them in our rooms until the school year began. Our ride was filled with our mother’s commentary on our growth, her hopes that the rolled-up pants would go out of style, and her desire for crop tops to disappear. Meanwhile, my sister and I plotted how to ask for extra goodies like Lisa Frank stickers or a multi-color pen.
Time has taken me far from that backseat. It’s not 1984 anymore, and as a parent, I find my own teenagers have very different tastes. They shun neon for black and prefer plain over colorful. Socks are now patterned and ribbed, and the Converse they choose are adorned with superheroes rather than the classic white. They lack the nostalgic connection I had to fashion, and I’m pretty sure they don’t understand the significance of a good rubber band for cuffing jeans.
Just recently, I experienced a wave of nostalgia when I discovered the Trapper Keeper had made a comeback. I nearly squealed in delight as I stood in front of the stationery aisle, surrounded by ’80s moms with their lists. I wanted to buy one for each of my kids, but when I picked one up and smelled it, I realized the unique laminate scent of the original couldn’t be replicated.
Now, I can’t purchase cool metal lunch boxes featuring characters like the Smurfs or Gremlins. My teens don’t even want bright notebooks, insisting on plain colors without any fun designs. Their binders lack the neon charm that I once adored, and I think I’ve bought my last box of Crayolas with the little sharpener. While my kids may have outgrown the joy of back-to-school shopping, my love for it remains strong.
I miss the ’80s deeply each August. I long for those carefree days in the backseat, sifting through bags of new clothes that still smelled like the store. I yearn for the unmistakable scent of a vintage Trapper Keeper and the satisfying sound of its Velcro opening. I would carry an E.T. lunch box to work if I could (don’t knock it until you try it). I would relive those moments—except for the shoulder pads. Those can stay in the past.
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In summary, my cherished memories of back-to-school shopping in the ’80s evoke a longing for the simplicity and joy of those days. While times have changed, the nostalgic thrill remains.