People, lately I’ve had the urge to revisit the ’80s. Not totally — heaven knows that I don’t miss the makeup — but there are a few things that I’m happy to see come back.
For starters, Tretorns.
Did you wear these? I did. Pair after pair for about eight years. I was a white-on-white fan, but I have to confess a hankering now for something fun, like these:
Those are all Tretorns. Wow.
Back in the day, Tretorns were like $22 each or something like that. Definitely less than $30.
Well, hold onto your Duran Duran inspired hat, because those canvas puppies are now selling in the $55-65 range and up.
Highway robbery, I tell you.
I still want some though.
Oh, and remember Swatch watches?
I can’t remember how many of those I had, but that jelly watch in the middle was one of them.
I kind of want one again, but you know the rule: If you wore it the first time around, you’re excluded the second time.
And I’m just going to confess that there’s a tiny part of me that wants New Wave hair on occasion.
Maybe not quite this:
… but definitely some of this:
Seventeen. That’s how many photos I took.
I could have tried to go bigger, but even with all sorts of products in my hair, the most I could have managed is a temporary foray into 2″ heights. Without a perm or a teasing comb and a can of Final Net, there’s just no chance that I’m going to manage big hair.
So you all can breath a sigh of relief now.
Just to set you all at ease, here’s a list of things I promise not to revisit from the 80s:
- shoulder pads
- ruffles
- pastels
- magenta and turquoise (I can’t tell you how much I hate those colors now)
- purple eye shadow, colored mascara, and heavy liquid base
- Gucci (not that I had it back then, but I’m definitely not going there now)
- Giorgio perfume (makes me want to dry heave just remembering the smell)
I’m not making any promises about Izod polo shirts.
So here’s what I want to know: What is something from the 80s that you could see yourself wearing again? Alternately, what 80s trend do you wish would disappear forever?
Jen,
You’ve forgotten a few things:
liz claiborne- perfume & purses
tight rolling your jeans
K Swiss canvas tennis shoes (yeah before they were gangster!)
Esprit tote bags
Benetton anything
I’m sure theres more that I’m forgetting but the brain is fried right now!
Ooh I had several swatches too! I even had a swatch guard, a weird figure of eight that stopped the face getting scratched but also stopped you telling the time.
Also: luminous socks, white sandals, jewel tone shirts with white skirts, batwing sweaters, blue eye liner, grolsch bottle tops through the holes of your doc martens, legwarmers.
Also walkmans, and jelly bags.
I’m so glad I read this before I went to work…totally is going to make my day
I had two Swatch watches. In fact I think I still have them somewhere.
We used to wear leg warmers, long shirts that we cinched together with some type of plastic contraption and our K-Swiss (as mentioned above). Those were the days.
In 88 I had a newborn baby and when we finally found a sitter, she was a 16 year old who was great. But we called her The Westfield Special because she had poofy 80′s hair and the shoulder padded look with all the ruffles and makeup. Obviously we were too immature to be trusted with a baby…
I never had Tretorns, but would wear some now!
I had a pair of madras plaid shorts that I loved with my double polo shirts with the collars popped up. And my hair looked remarkably like yours!
Are you referring to the pair of Chuck Taylor All-Stars that currently adorn my feet? The pair I bought myself two weeks ago, but that look just like the pair I salivated over from 1985-1989?
Or maybe you’re referring to the purple mascara that is still one of my all-time faves? (Only this go-round it’s really dark plum and I wasn’t allowed to wear mascara in the 80s anyway).
Possibly you’re talking about the pair of kids shoes from which I had to be forcibly removed. The ones that look EXACTLY like the Punky Brewster hi-tops I wore until my toes poked out when I was a kid? The ones I was forbidden from buying for my daughter because the smallest size in stock was 4 sizes too big for her?
Nah, I’m kinda over the 80s.
I I *love* your Flock of Seagulls hair!!!!
I never had a Swatch watch. I think I might like one.
Things I’ll be happy if they Never Come Back? Shoulder pads, and especially shoulder-pad buildup, when you wore a blouse with shoulder pads underneath a jacket with shoulder pads and then looked as if you had no neck?
Oh and curly perms. I had one in the 80′s. It was bad. Seriously bad. If you can bear the horror, I blogged it with pictures: http://itsjustapie.blogspot.com/2007/11/bad-hair-decade_13.html
I hope to never tight roll my jeans. But I might…MIGHT do ruffles again.
What’s this about *had* a swatch watch? I still have mine – all 10 of them. (My aunt worked for Marshall Fields. She could get them for me at a steep discount. Yes, I went a little crazy.) Does that mean I can still wear them? Because a number of times I’ve been tempted to replace the batteries and break ‘em out.
Peg rolling (or tight rolling) – I hope that style stays dead forever.
Love the hair! And you’re lookin’ pretty skinny there missy!
acid wash jeans must be banned with cross colors and those obnoxious single pony tail in the middle of your head or worse yet – off to the side. What was momma thinking?
I could handle those tees that changed colors as you sweat that would be fun while working out. Just saying. Shoulder pads have another purpose – bra padding.
I hereby swear that I will never, EVER get a perm again. I think I have hair similar to yours, Jen – very straight, fine but thick. Perms looked FABulous for about 18 hours, then they looked…well, like a perm.
I can’t think of anything in particular I’d love to go back to…although a friend had a long, tiered denim skirt that I loved. Come to think of it, I love long, flow-y skirts – wish they would come back in style because they are much more flattering (on me) and comfy than short, straight skirts.
No perms, please. I suffered through enough of that.
What was the name of the sunglasses that has the yellowish/brownish lenses?
Shoulder pads and leg warmers, no. I confess with my straight hair to missing the ease of a perm and the volume and curl it gave me…completely ignoring the steel wool frizz, the broken ends, the ugly look of a half-grown out perm~
I ♥ perms. Perms in 2010 are NOT the same as perms in 1982.
What I wish would go away is the overly bleached blonde hair with dark roots. Pigment is your FRIEND blonde people, YOUR FRIEND!
First let me say, Jen, that you look totally cool and really beautiful in the photo you took!!!! Great picture!
I’d have to say that neon and biker shorts have to go away forever. Without a doubt.
I actually like the look of cropped leggings and ballet flats, although, I don’t wear the leggings. Maybe I’ll try them this spring with a denim A-line skirt if I’m feeling bold.
I had a white Swatch watch and I wore it all. the. time!
Giant hoop earings, Aqua Net, powder blue eye liner…sigh, I miss it all.
Also back – bubble skirts and “summer” boots.
Can I just say that you are darling? We really need more Jen pics and less (although AWZUM) furniture.
Peplum dresses: never, ever, EVER gonna do it again. But some weird part of me still misses the navy mascara. And Keds – I loved those.
Very cute picture of you!
Look at you in all your complete cuteness! You should let us see your pretty face more often!
Just shoot me, but I used to wear sweatshirts with the sleeves cut out a la “Flash Dance.” So humiliating!
I don’t remember Tretorns (we wore Reebok high tops them), but they are cute! I might need to find some!
I agree with everyone – NO on shoulder pads and tight-rolled jeans! And I’m seeing the neon paint-plattered look in the stores right now. I have to say NO to that coming back as well.
You look adorable in that picture! You look SO MUCH like Elegant!