As the summer months come to a close, the back-to-school shopping experience emerges as a significant ritual for many families. It evokes memories of excitement and preparation that can be traced back to the vibrant ’80s, when I eagerly anticipated those shopping trips with my family.
Picture this: my sister and I squeezed into the backseat of a classic blue Buick Regal, ready for an afternoon of selecting our essential school supplies. The excitement of picking out clothes and gear for the upcoming school year was unparalleled. Our destination was always the local mall, where we spent countless hours browsing through stores like K-Mart and Walmart. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation as we listened to our mother and grandmother discuss lunch plans while checking off items on our school supply lists.
During these trips, my sister and I would find ourselves in adjacent dressing rooms, each of us anxiously awaiting our mother’s next offering of neon tops and perfectly fitting jeans. This annual event granted us a rare opportunity to exercise our opinions on fashion—the only time of the year we had the power to veto clothing choices. The importance of selecting the right items was not lost on us, as these would be the outfits we wore consistently until we outgrew them.
In the ’80s, fashion choices were dictated by trends, and we aspired to embody them. The right shade of green on a Max Headroom Hypercolor T-shirt was essential, while shoulder pads were non-negotiable for achieving that iconic look. Jeans had to be the perfect whitewash color, and socks—if we had to wear them—absolutely could not be bulky. Thankfully, our mother often skipped the sock shopping altogether, allowing us to sport our Keds sock-free.
However, the joy didn’t end with clothing. The thrill of selecting school supplies was equally captivating. The moment I picked out the perfect notebook or opened a brand-new box of crayons was pure bliss. If we were lucky, our mother would allow us to choose the Crayolas with a built-in sharpener, a luxury that made our hearts race. The pièce de résistance was undoubtedly the Trapper Keeper—a binder that epitomized school supply glory. Its vibrant designs and satisfying Velcro closure were a source of pride as I carried it through the halls, showcasing my carefully selected style.
As we navigated through various stores, the plush seats of the Buick were filled with our shopping bags, and my sister and I sorted through our treasures, eagerly anticipating the first day of school. Our mother would comment on our growth and lament the fashion choices that seemed to shift with each passing year. We made plans for additional items, like Lisa Frank stickers or a multi-colored pen, adding to the excitement of our shopping adventure.
Fast forward to today, and my perspective has shifted dramatically. As a parent, my own teenagers have different tastes, favoring dark, minimalist styles over the neon explosion of my youth. The socks they choose are boldly patterned and knee-high, a far cry from the simpler styles of my past. While I find comfort in the enduring popularity of Converse sneakers, my kids opt for designs featuring superheroes rather than the classic white and red.
Recently, I experienced a wave of nostalgia when I discovered that Trapper Keepers had made a comeback. The urge to purchase one for my children was overwhelming as I recalled the unique smell of the original. Unfortunately, my kids are not interested in the vintage charm of yesteryear—plain folders and basic colors are their only requests, leaving me longing for the vibrant patterns of the past.
In conclusion, the back-to-school shopping experience of the ’80s remains a cherished memory for me. The joy of selecting clothes and supplies, the thrill of the Trapper Keeper, and the shared moments with family are all aspects I deeply miss. Although times have changed and my children have outgrown the excitement of shopping, the nostalgia for those simpler days lingers on.
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