https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:13:31 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends/page/2#post-1581756 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 16:01:00 +0000 Ginger 1581756@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm feeling really... young right now! This is weird. I remember a lot of these things, but mostly from the early 90s; I was pretty small during most of the 80s proper. I know I had pom-pom socks when I was 4 or 5. They were actually nice for keeping the sock from sliding down my heel into the shoe.</p> <p>I remember my dance teachers wearing leg warmers; it was the first time I'd seen them. I did wear scrunchies when I got enough hair, but that was in the 90s. I tend to be behind the times about 5 years. I think I ended up with a t-shirt clip about that time, too.</p> <p>I *may* have had jellies briefly (before I outgrew them), but mostly I remember the white leather sandals from Payless. I still miss them and got myself some white Saltwater sandals this spring. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends/page/2#post-1581393 Sun, 08 Nov 2015 07:25:57 +0000 Adelfa 1581393@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I never felt at home in the 80s! Really glad we've moved on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends/page/2#post-1581385 Sun, 08 Nov 2015 05:56:50 +0000 K.M. 1581385@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was a kid in the 80s and wore many of these. Shoulder pads, legwarmers, Swatches, Reebok, scrunchies. Also:</p> <p>- Bubble skirts<br />- Oversized loose sweaters over leggings<br />- High-waisted jeans with baggy legs that tapered to an extremely narrow ankle opening<br />- Tight, ballet-style tops<br />- Every top was tucked inside pants and skirts<br />- Neon colors, plaid, plastic accessories everywhere</p> <p>I wonder if this list purposefully excludes some 80s styles that are now back in fashion (leggings, high-waists, oversize tops), but which maybe ten years ago would have also made a list of "hideous trends." </p> <p>I still like the aesthetic of Swatches and I like legwarmers, just not worn in the 80s manner. I won't go out in public in a scrunchie but they are so great for holding your hair up gently without tangles or dents. </p> <p>Thanks for posting this, nice nostalgia session! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends/page/2#post-1580988 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 22:06:29 +0000 kerlyn 1580988@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fun! &nbsp;I did quite of few of these myself! &nbsp;In fact, my daughter had throwback day at school and chose the 80s. &nbsp;I had a ball helping her get ready! &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends/page/2#post-1580955 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 20:58:16 +0000 E 1580955@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was too young to wear 80s trends (unless my mom dressed me in the babywear versions!), but as a knitter I'm all about fingerless mitts and socks scrunched over my shoes and am planning to knit some legwarmers this winter. I didn't realise those were all 80s things! My shoulders would be perfect for the 80s, but my hair would need some turbo perming. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends/page/2#post-1580938 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 20:12:09 +0000 MsMary 1580938@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My faves were leg warmers with Reeboks and scrunchy socks! Also I have natural linebacker shoulders and giant hair so I loved those looks. And big earrings for the win!</p> <p>And I still remember on the first day of law school, the professor called on " the gentleman in the Members Only jacket!"</p> <p>Good times... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends/page/2#post-1580931 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 19:39:08 +0000 Aziraphale 1580931@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh gosh, where do I start. I had the piles of rubber bracelets, jelly shoes, voluminous crimped hair, scrunchies, fanny pack (although we called it a "bum bag"), slouchy socks and pom pom socks. I knew even back then to steer clear of shoulder pads, though -- they look ridiculous on me! And I wanted a Swatch, although I never got one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends/page/2#post-1580900 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 16:43:48 +0000 Anonymous 1580900@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I didn't have any of those things, except the shoulder pads, and only small ones in my suit jackets. My shoulders really don't need any padding to speak of, and if I wore those big ones, I'd look like a linebacker! I remember having to remove shoulder pads from sweaters and blouses. What a pain that was. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580897 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 16:36:17 +0000 texstyle 1580897@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Funny!&nbsp; I definitely remember those trends - I didn't see the big over sized jacket though, and I thought that was a really popular thing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580894 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 15:57:05 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 1580894@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No regrets!&nbsp; I loved it all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580879 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 15:10:41 +0000 Jenn 1580879@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wore a lot of these, too! <ul> <li>rubber bracelets</li> <li>banana clips</li> <li>scrunchies</li> <li>leg warmers</li> <li>shoulder pads</li> <li>Reeboks</li> <li>oversized bows</li> <li>scrunch socks</li> <li>Swatch watches (I only had one. The <i>really</i> cool kids wore several at a time!)</li> </ul> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580869 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 15:01:37 +0000 Angie 1580869@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>HAH! I <b>loved</b> the '80s and wore lots of these looks: </p> <ul> <li>legwarmers</li> <li>scrunchies</li> <li>shoulder pads</li> <li>Reebok-esque sneakers (mine were white)</li> <li>Fingerless gloves&nbsp;</li> <li>fanny pack</li> <li>scrunch socks</li> <li>oversized earrings</li> <li>members only jacket</li> <li>cyclops glasses</li> </ul> <p>I gad SOOOO much fun with fashion back them and wouldn't have changed a thing. Thanks for posting the trip down memory lane, Una. High five!&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580867 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 14:57:06 +0000 citygirldc 1580867@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I guess I always had short hair so never had the scrunchy but I did have the following:swatch watches, leg warmers, keds white tennies with the tube socks, black rubber bracelets, and possibly jellies. I think I wore shoulder pads later in the 80s when I borrowed my moms jackets for a retail job. </p> <p>Other 80s items that I remember are denim mini skirts, also the gold add-a-bead necklaces, and friendship bracelets. Gosh I was so square. LOL!!!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580848 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 13:47:25 +0000 Mander 1580848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I had every single one of these with the exception of the Swatch (too expensive; I had a knock-off version) and the cyclops glasses (I had regular, hideously huge glasses. With glitter. *Shudder*). Oh, and the Reeboks, too -- I had Spuds McKenzie high tops (he was the cartoon dog from the Budweiser commercials).</p> <p>In my defense, I was a pre-teen/teen throughout this period, so I didn't have particularly sophisticated tastes! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580798 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 08:29:04 +0000 rachylou 1580798@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wait a second... I'm just getting into leg warmers!</p> <p>Also: I don't understand about friendship bracelets. We made those at camp in the very early 80s and DMs are so 80s too.</p> <p>But that's definitely true about hair clips...</p> <p>Also, I've been wanting some scrunch socks, have to tell y'all...</p> <p>...oh I read the thing about the 90s too, hehe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580794 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 07:27:27 +0000 Gigi 1580794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember ordering a big box of 200 (?) flexible plastic bangles, thinner versions of the ones Madonna is shown wearing in the link. They had glitter in them, whee! Other than that, I didn't have too many of the items. I didn't enjoy much of eighties fashion...it was too colorful and over-the-top for me. I remember the ubiquitous banana hair clip. It seemed like everyone was wearing them!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580771 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 04:51:31 +0000 catgirl 1580771@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Beth Ann, I saw some website on alternate uses for old scrunchies - will have to look it up! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580755 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 03:51:13 +0000 Beth Ann 1580755@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey, I still have a few scrunchies. &nbsp;Now, they're small, and black. &nbsp;I really liked slouchy socks and keds -- they looked good on my legs and, at 20-24 were a simple way to have fun with fashion.</p> <p>I confess to liking a very modest shoulder pad -- I think it makes a jacket hang better. I also admit that I just might wear stirrup pants again --- if the stirrup is mostly hidden. &nbsp;They were more flattering than leggings are for my legs and, hey, they stay put! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580750 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 03:18:27 +0000 Jaime 1580750@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The thing that fascinates me is that not only did I not wear most of these, I did not even notice they existed!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580743 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 02:26:15 +0000 Diana 1580743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha, I had an alarmingly large number of these.. In my defense I was in elementary school and not old enough to know better? ;). My mom adamantly refused to let me wear jelly shoes since she thought they were horrid. She was also anti-tee shirt clips but I'd put them on once I got to school....</p> <p>Oh, and I had black reeboks and thought I was so cool. Like Janet Jackson....</p> <p>Eta: other than the much coveted jelly shoes, the only ones I didn't have were moon boots (hey it was southern ca), fingerless gloves, and members only jacket (I was too young for those I think). And I think my swatch was fake... Speaking of which, I was just in Athens and there was a huge swatch store there so I guess they're still around?!? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580727 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 00:35:20 +0000 karymk 1580727@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dang, the banana clip!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580721 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 22:53:27 +0000 Anonymous 1580721@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha ha! My mum didn't let me have most of this stuff but my friends all did.<br /> Most of this stuff carried over to the early 90's I think. I love swatches!<br /> I'm surprised skinnies aren't featured, or the MJ Thriller jacket!<br /> The pompom socks I think are just for tennis where I lived.<br /> The most hideous thing are the colours! Ghastly! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580717 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 22:33:39 +0000 Sal 1580717@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haha I have a gym jacket with that shape that I am wearing right now!! &nbsp;Obviously I am either 30 years too late or ahead of the trend. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580705 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 21:10:57 +0000 Eliza 1580705@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here is where never being a cool kid pays off big time. Only guilty of shoulder pads and a Swatch watch for casual wear.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580702 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 21:02:03 +0000 LaPed 1580702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The Members Only jackets were/are those nylon bomber jackets with the tight ribbed hem and cuffs. Members Only was just the first brand and made them popular, but that silhouette was everywhere for quite a long while. I actually don't think they're *that* hideous :)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580694 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 20:06:36 +0000 Sal 1580694@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok, I had some but not as many as I wanted to have.</p> <p>Definitely Swatch watches (I still like these), scrunchies, shoulder pads, leg warmers, big earrings and both scrunch socks and pom pom socks.</p> <p>I tried a banana clip but you needed permed hair (which I wanted but was not allowed). &nbsp;Reeboks - how I wanted them - but hard and expensive here to get.</p> <p>I am not sure what a Members Only Jacket is? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580685 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 19:32:53 +0000 K. Period. 1580685@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah ha ha! But they have leg warmers entirely wrong. Not late '80s. Early '80s. &nbsp;Mid at the latest. &nbsp;I remember desperately wanting a pair to go over my silver glittery tights. &nbsp;Awesomeness. &nbsp; </p> <p>Also, weren't moon boots the late '70s? I'm pretty sure. &nbsp;(She admits, showing she is still carrying the scars of elementary school playground enviousness.)&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580684 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 19:30:34 +0000 LaPed 1580684@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember my mom cutting the shoulder pads out of shirts because her shoulders (which I definitely inherited) are already square and broad. She always said the pads made her look like a football player.</p> <p>I still have a good collection of legwarmers, even some beautiful handknit wool ones--love em!! </p> <p>I recall Swatches having a bit of a renaissance when I was in middle/early high school in the late 90s. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580683 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 19:28:56 +0000 Angela K 1580683@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well--out of 18 I had 15!&nbsp; No moonboots, fingerless gloves or cyclops glasses.&nbsp; But tons of Banana clips, and big earrings--in fact in the 80's I managed a Claire's Boutique so I was in fashion (?) heaven! Ha! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/18-cringeworthy-80s-trends#post-1580679 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 19:11:40 +0000 Susie 1580679@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lara, when my girls were little I was a SAHM but had a part time job in a department store and remember how popular the watches were. And they had those little rubber thingies to put over the face. </p>