Friday, 24 April 2015

80's Fashion Making a Comeback...

This little pair of shorts could have come straight from the 80s - the bright print, the geometric shapes and the neon pink.

80s fashion is making a comeback... bright colours, geometric shapes and neon colours ~ Threading My Way

Matter of fact, they did come from the 80s, but back then, they were a pair of pants, belonging to the son of a good friend. It was very easy to turn them into a pair of shorts using the Mud Puddle Splashers pattern - my go to shorts pattern when I want a quick and easy sew.

The long pants were a size 10, so after deconstructing them, there was plenty of fabric for a size 2 pair of shorts. The little recipient is now wearing his uncle's old pants as his new pair of shorts. I think that's kind of cool and so does his mum.


The thing is, the new shorts don't look at all out of place in 2015. Geometric shapes, bright colours and pink for boys are back in style. I don't get the whole pink is a girl's colour thing, but I'll leave that for another post.


At the time, my kids loved the clothes they wore in the 80s, but looking back at photos, they wonder how I could possibly have let them dress that way. They asked for a particular style, and where possible, I obliged.

The outfits above would both stand out today. When fashion comes around a 2nd or even 3rd time, elements of the original are noticeable, but it doesn't come back in it's entirety. I don't think the mix of bright triangles superimposed on the animal print would be found in today's fabric shops, but a pattern for the outfit could be. Wish I still had the pattern. Animal prints per se are quite the thing in some circles, now, though.


The photo above shows my eldest son wearing one of Mr TMW's old tracksuits, for a back to the 80's party. Notice how I matched the bands of colour on the arms and legs!!! I can't believe I let Mr TMW talk me into sewing the track pants. The sweater, yes - that didn't stand out too much at the time. But the pants as well. YIKES!!! It WAS noticeable. Fond memories.

While fluoro was very popular in the 80s, thankfully it's more subtle now-a-days. 


One could argue that my sweater with the bold geometric shapes is almost as bad as Mr TMW's fluoro one. No matching geometric track pants for me, though!!! And I can't see this ever coming back into fashion in any form. If it does, I won't be wearing it. 

Thinking back to the 80s, I've come up with a list of a few 80's fashions and fads that I've recently seen out and about in various forms...

Skinny jeans - In the 80s jeans weren't stretch, so they weren't as tight as they are now. Black stonewash hasn't reappeared yet, or not that I've seen.

Leggings - Wish I had some photos of the leggings I used to wear; not quite as tight as today's leggings and usually with a stirrup around the ankle to prevent them from riding up. I can clearly remember one outfit I loved - bright yellow top, black leggings with stirrups, bright yellow socks and black shoes. What a scream!!!

Floral pants - re-emerging as harem pants.

Denim jackets - Oh, I loved denim jackets and will be joining in with this trend 2nd time around. I only wish I hadn't given away all my old denim jackets.

Slap bands - Not long ago, I ventured into Smiggle and lo and behold, amongst the myriad of plastic items - slap bands. In my defence, I didn't initiate the visit to this new marketing success.

Gym boots - only now they're Converse and yes, I own a pair. Loved them in the 70s, 80s and now!!!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - what is it with those green turtles? I still have an old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle doona cover. Ha, ha... not on the bed. Now it's a protective sheet for the boot of my car.


Although I haven't seen any Cabbage Patch Dolls in the shops recently, there are still three in our house. And I'm sure if I dig through my wardrobe, I'd find a few scrunchies.

I wonder if hyper colour t-shirts, mullet hair styles and puff paint will make an entrance any time soon?

What do you think - should 80's fashions stay in the past? Which parts are you happy to be seen wearing again?

... Pam

5 comments:

  1. Thank you for the wonderful trip down memory lane :) I hope the mullet NEVER returns but I cannot wait for puff paint and neon print or solids knits and wovens to come back! Your husband's bright track suit would be a big hit in my household...for my daughters, they loved all the neon I made them!
    My girls (in their 30"s) still have their "cabbages" and I still have a stack of clothing patterns for them, they were so cute!
    I would love to see the return of the stirrup pant and 50/50 poly cotton knit fabrics, I cannot wait for this affair with Spandex to be over!
    Great post, thank you!!

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    1. Oh, Sheila, I agree totally about the mullet not coming back... LOL!!! Puff paint - yes. That was fun. Cabbage Patch dolls really were a phenomenon weren't they. Ours are still getting plenty of use, too.

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  2. HAHA when I think of the stuff I wore to the discos in the early '80s, I can say with no hesitation - keep that stuff in the past - YIKES, lol! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh the memories, though ;)

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  3. Animal prints and geometrics, what deranged mind came up with that combination Pam??

    Glad to see that shoulder pads are still a thing of the past, like Sandra I think that most 80's fashions are better left as a dim and distant memory :)

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  4. LOL, we just had 80's day at school yesterday and I posted my pictures on my blog. I do have scrunchies, leggings, neon socks and the neon shirt is actually a shirt the school sold last year! LOL I had to cut up an old shirt though.

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