While wandering through Nordstrom Rack recently, I stumbled upon a collection of vibrant plastic sunglasses featuring square black lenses and neon-colored arms. I chuckled to myself and said to my friend, “No need to buy these. If I dig deep enough in my parents’ basement, I can definitely find the pair I rocked back in junior high.”
But those sunglasses aren’t the only remnants of ’80s fashion that linger in my memory. I vividly recall saving up my allowance in sixth grade to purchase a round acid-washed denim purse. It was about the size of a dinner plate, complete with pleats, a puffy middle, and long, slender straps perfect for slinging over my shoulder. The wild part? I genuinely believed it would never go out of style.
Fast forward over two decades, and I’ve been amused to see ’80s fashion making a comeback. Retro styles often seem more appealing to those who weren’t around to experience them firsthand. For those of us who wore parachute pants back then, rushing to grab a pair labeled as “harem pants” at American Apparel doesn’t sound too tempting. Yet, the irony is that these trends are resurfacing, and I never thought I’d see acid wash make a return—until it did. This spring, I spotted a young woman confidently wearing acid-washed overalls. Surprisingly, she pulled it off quite well, sporting a well-fitted, dark gray denim version. While I’m not quite ready to jump on that bandwagon, I admired her style.
After skipping the sunglasses section, I found myself drawn to a rack labeled as maxi skirts. To my surprise, I discovered they were actually wide-legged pants adorned with bold Southwestern prints. Instantly, a flashback hit me: I wore pleated pants with a similar pastel Southwestern design back in elementary school. Nowadays, these flowy palazzo pants are all the rage, and while I appreciate their European flair, I can’t see myself ever wearing them.
Of course, I have been known to change my mind. A few years back, I was adamant about never buying skinny jeans, proclaiming, “I can’t wait for them to go out of style!” Fast forward to now—I have four pairs hanging in my closet, and I might have even walked out of the Rack with another pair that day.
Sometimes, I just need a little time to warm up to a trend. As I see women in magazines and on the streets rocking a particular look, I eventually convince myself that it might work for me too. I learned to embrace the skinny-jean-and-tall-boot combo for autumn, realizing that trying to fit wide-leg jeans into boots just doesn’t have the same appeal.
However, the clothes from the ’80s that I wore hold a different sort of nostalgia. Some pieces, like jelly shoes, bring back fond memories—if I had a daughter, I would definitely buy her a pair. Others are so cringe-worthy that I wish I could erase them from my memory. Sorry, sixth-grade self, but it’s time to face the truth: much like the double spaces taught in keyboarding class, some of those outfits really did go out of style.
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Summary
This nostalgic look back at ’80s fashion highlights the quirky trends that once defined a generation. From acid-washed denim to jelly shoes, these styles evoke fond memories and a few cringe-worthy moments. As trends cycle back into popularity, it’s interesting to see how perceptions change over time. Embracing new styles can be a journey, especially when considering the playful, sometimes awkward, fashions of the past.