| By MJ Fredrick | January 21, 2010 |
I’ve been invited to an 80s themed birthday party at the end of the month and for weeks I’ve been trying to decide what to wear.
Now to me, the 80s was a wonderful time. I was in high school, I had MTV, I had a car that seated about 20, I had fun friends, one of whom just found me on Facebook.
And I had a closet full of clothes. (okay, I do now, too, but they’re larger sized and not nearly as fun)
I spent my weekends at the mall and my evenings at the sewing machine. I had mini skirts and leopard print and the Flashdance sweatshirt and the Madonna gloves. I had long sweaters and leggings and denim mini skirts. I had the Frankie Says Relax T-shirt and the Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go T-shirt.
I listened from everything from Journey to The Ramones, though I loved New Wave best.
So I’m trying to decide what to wear to this party, what I can adapt from what I have to wear, what I can whip up really quickly. The Guess jeans I spent my income tax return on one year no longer fit, but I do still have some earrings and I think gloves. What would you wear if you were going?
January 21st, 2010 at 6:05 am
My cousin did this to me—and I had three childen under the age of five by ‘81! I dug through the closet and found my slouch boots (stiletto heels, of course) and a calf length dress with shoulder pads and a wide belt. So that did it for me. I guess the 80s were more about the BIG hair, Salvation Army chic, and heavy make-up, so if you have a pair of high tops and some leg warmers . . . Just kidding! Rip the collar off a sweatshirt and go have fun!
January 21st, 2010 at 6:42 am
Big hair! I still miss my big eighties hair.
Anything with shoulder pads and tights and you’re ready to go!
Have a great time!
January 21st, 2010 at 6:44 am
Why oh why did I give away my crimper??? I found lace gloves in one of my drawers. Oh! You know, I should look in my cedar chest.
I’m thinking of a denim skirt, maybe, and tights. And I used to have what we called elf boots. Wore them out, dang it.
January 21st, 2010 at 7:28 am
I would wear the Olivia Newton John exercise get up.
Jazz shoes and all.
January 21st, 2010 at 8:09 am
LOL !!! I had the biggest shoulder pads in the world, and the gigantic hair to match. I was married in the 80’s with two little guys, but still had fun.
I don’t know what to suggest except maybe a t-shirt laden with big, colorful rhinestones and a pair of skinny jeans (wait, were they flared then? ) My feeble brain can’t remember…. whatever you wear, MJ, I’m sure you’ll have a SUPER time.
~Caroline
January 21st, 2010 at 10:52 am
I loved the “Winter” 80s look — calf-length plaid wool skirt, acrylic sweater, skinny scarf knotted at the ends, fitted jacket with elbow patches, boots. Ooooo…and remember those little koalas with the pincher arms we attached to the scarves and jackets? Have fun, MJ!
January 21st, 2010 at 4:11 pm
I think you should definitely go as Boy George.
January 21st, 2010 at 4:54 pm
There is a chain store called Justice that caters to 10-15 years olds. Looking through their catalog, I was shocked to see my high school 80’s fashion in vogue again. Skinny jeans, scarves, belts, high tops.
A little bit of history repeating!
January 21st, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Oh, MJ, this sounds fun! Maybe a tank top underneath a baggy sweater, with the sweater sliding off one shoulder? And a thick headband with a bow (a la Madonna in her “Holiday” video). And lace gloves!! Hey, can I come to this party with you?
January 21st, 2010 at 5:13 pm
How about the denim skirt, an untucked white shirt with collar, a man’s jacket with the sleeves rolled up, and a skinny tie — preferably with some shine to it — worn loose. Don’t forget the buttons — Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Police, early U2. Maybe splatter-paint some old tennis shoes?
January 21st, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Or you could do the power suit working girl/Wall Street yuppy type thing….or Dynasty/Dallas trashy glamor : )
There’s definitely 80’s esque fashion around at the moment, much to my horror.
The party sounds fun!
January 21st, 2010 at 8:30 pm
NOT Boy George! I did think about one of those honking huge headbands from Olivia Newton John’s days. Caroline, I do still have a lot of 1980s sparklies. Stacy, I had a TON of buttons back in the day. A TON. I don’t think I have any other than the Ramones anymore.
Shelley, I loved the winter look, too. I had a bunch of those wool skirts! And I was thinking about the koalas yesterday. One of my students has one that’s a moose!
Alix, I loved 80s style when I was in the 80s. The buffalo plaid is back in style, and tunics, too.
Marilyn, I was definitely thinking of the headband. The sweater and tank might be a good idea if it gets cold again!
Melanie, my mom is doing the Dynasty thing. I just now remembered trying to dress like Eden on Santa Barbara, with the sparkly broach at the throat. Remember that?
January 21st, 2010 at 10:29 pm
OMGosh! Thanks for the blast from the past.
How did I ever give up big hair, giant shoulder pads and leg warmers? LOL!
Have fun whatever you decide to wear!
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:39 am
One of my friends, a year or two older than me, went shopping with her young niece a while back. When my friend commented about so many of the current fashions having been done before, her niece said with great earnestness, ‘It’s okay, Deb. If you wore them the first time around, you don’t have to do it the second time around.”
I’m sure with the 70s fashions that were all the rage here last summer, they picked some of the worst colour schemes and styles to bring back, so I’m glad I didn’t have to wear them again! The long floaty dresses around at the moment, though, could tempt me – if I wore anything other than the jeans and t-shirts I live in while I’m writing at home!
January 23rd, 2010 at 4:12 am
Oh my gosh, I think I skipped the eighties, because I spent a lot of it in maternity clothes and then leotards and exercise tights, trying to recover from the maternity clothes. But I do remember Melanie Griffith’s big hair in Working Girl and how much better she looked when she cut it, that headband that went with my exercise tights and bangles…. Have fun at your party, MJ!
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:46 am
Gail, my favorite from the 80s was leggings. Of course, I was thin, then!
Bronwyn, LOL! Too funny about your friend’s niece!
Donnell, bangles! I think I still have some of those, too….