Original Jams
Those mid-length surfer shorts in outrageously bright colors and patterns are actually a brand, the way Band-Aid is used to refer to all wound-covers (probably because the alternative is “wound-cover”). Anyway, Jams is whole line of surfer-styled clothing, but it’s the shorts that really captured our fashion imagination in the mid-80s (their zenith was the summer of 1986). Their popularity in the 80s was a resurgence of their...
80s Fashions Return With 21st Century Corrections
By Nicki Elson, author of 1980s novel, “Three Daves” As I sit here in my newly-purchased bright pink Tee, plaid walking shorts, and giant hoop earrings, I find myself wondering—what ever happened to 80s fashion? It was so vibrant, so fun, almost as if every day was a costume party. Then I think back to that blog I recently typed up about this year’s spring and summer fashions, and I flip through a few articles here on Like Totally...
Baja Hoodies
Baja hoodies have an image problem. For those who have forgotten, or for those Midwesterners like me who called them “mop tops,” Bajas are roomy pullovers, slit on each side, with a hood, a huge front center pocket, and 2 thick ropes at the neck that were of no real practical use. Still can’t remember the Baja? Here you go: Jeff Spicoli, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Now you got it, right? And therein lies the problem. These shirts...
Jumpsuits – In the 80s and Today
Jumpsuits in the 80s Talk of jumpsuits makes me go “oh yeah,” slowly and with eyes squinted, like I can’t quite remember them. It’s a lie. I totally remember them. I just don’t want to. My own 80s jumpsuit was white, zipped up the back, and had super-tapered ankles and batwing sleeves that started at the waist. When I spread my arms I looked like a human triangle. It was undeniably cringe-worthy; I see that now. But I loved that white...
80s Hip Hop Fashion Memories
By Rawle Harris I remember the hip hop fashion I was wearing back in the mid-80s. Whatever the rappers during that time were wearing, we would wear. Most of the rappers were wearing shelltoe adidas sneakers with the jump suit to match. My mother bought me my first multi-colored suit from Spiegel, and I was sure as hell glad for it. My aunt got me my blue on white Adidas to match earlier, and I thought I was the man. Every Labor Day my...
Granny Boots
It’s the dance scene in The Breakfast Club that cements these lace-up boots as always and forever cool. Watch it again on YouTube and tell me Molly Ringwald’s Claire isn’t still the ultimate Popular Girl. The popping dance moves, the too-cool-for-(Saturday)-school hair flip, the layered tops and below-the-knee skirt and yes, the granny boots. Smooth brown leather, upper-calf height, just-so laces: perfect. Perfect in 1985, perfect...
Stirrup Pants
By Alli Denning As with many other 80s fashion trends, stirrup pants seem to be making a reappearance. Now, we at Like Totally 80s think the 80s were fabulous in all their bodacious outrageousness. So, it is with a heavy heart that we have to give a thumbs down to this particular 80s fashion comeback. Stirrup Pants in the Mid-80s Let’s step back and do a brief historical recap of the stirrup pant and its place in the timeline of 80s...
Paint Splatter Fashion
Along with many other 80s fashion trends that are making a big comeback, paint splatter prints have re-entered the world of fashion. We remember the mid-80s Esprit jeans that featured paint splatter patterns. What could have been cooler? Now, the look goes slightly more upmarket with dresses by Yves Saint Laurent, DVF and Dolce & Gabbana. See the ought’s interpretation of this very 80s fashion trend below. Check out some new...
They’re Baaaaack – 80s Fashions are Alive & Kickin’
Just when you thought the 80s were gone and safely encased away in your dusty high school annuals, along came an 80s resurgence in both fashion and culture. The 80s fashion comeback started in 2006 with the re-introduction of skinny jeans and leggings. Three years later, we are still in the midst of an all-out 80s love-fest, and it feels, well, like totally awesome. So many subtle (and not so subtle) 80s references are creeping into...
1980s Yearbook Pictures
Nothing is as authentic as an high school annual. And, it is with that in mind that we put together our new feature showing pages from 80s yearbooks from across the country. Please take a few minutes and scan a few pages in and send them our way!! We will add to this section as often as we receive new submissions so send them in and help us build an archive of totally 80s yearbook samples. To start we have a page selection from a...
Roll It – Roll it Good: T-shirts, Jean Jackets and Pegged Jeans
I started to write an article about the very 80s tendency to roll up t-shirt sleeves (yes, t-shirts) when I realized that it wasn’t just t-shirts that received this 1980s fashion treatment. No article of clothing was seemingly out of reach of a good roll. Jean jackets looked much better with a roll or two on the sleeves. And, pegged jeans (defined below) were a must. So, instead of limiting this analysis to t-shirts as originally...
Chuck Taylors by Converse
If you were alive in the 80s, your shoe wardrobe wasn’t complete without a pair (or five) of Chucks (otherwise known as Converse All Star high tops). It didn’t matter if you were a guy or a gal – this particular 80s fashion trend crossed the gender barrier (and the age barrier too). History of the Converse All Star The 80s can’t claim the Chucks fashion trend as its own. The Converse All Star High Tops have been around for...
80s Dresses Show the 80s at Their Most . . . Well, 80s
It is easy to see in the shape, cut and style of these examples of 80s dresses just what makes 80s fashion unique. The draping, the shoulder pads, the extra layer of ruffles, the bright patterns (polka dots and loud florals) all typify the look that is so uniquely associated with the 1980s. The extravagance that marks the decade of greed is well interpreted in its dresses. From power dressing and casual wear for day to cocktail and...
Princess Di Fashions
80s Fashion Benchmark Oh the fashion statements of Princess Di. A fashion trendsetter, to say the least. In the 90s “the people’s princess” was taken away from us, but in the 80s she was very much alive and well and charming the masses. The funny thing is, however, that although Princess Di became an 80s fashion icon, the princess’s wardrobe didn’t start out as amazing or impressive! In the beginning,...
Reebok Hightops – So High, So Cool
Like Thiller, the Reebok High Top (aka Freestyle) is celebrating its 25th anniversary (in 2007). Wow – that is a really long time with a single style of shoe, especially one created in the 80s. More for Fashion, Less for Sports Most high-tops are basketball shoes, but not in the 80s! In the 80s, they became a fashion statement – so ubiquitous were the Reebok Hightop Aerobic shoes that they became a fashion staple – a must-have! This...
