Is the 80's craze coming to an end? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Is the 80's craze coming to an end?

Maya

Veteran

I'm just wondering about this, since we're starting to see hints of the 90's coming back. I'm not a huge 90's fan, although if the looks are reworked into something more flattering, it will be a lot of fun and very nostalgic for me. So far I'm unimpressed though. The flannel shirts posted a few days ago did not look too evolved from their predecessors.

But I'm really wondering if it is worth it to continue buying 80's-inspired styles. I have a wishlist that FAR outdoes my budget, and many of those things are 80's pieces: slouchy oversized tshirt, more leggings, slouchy boots for tucking, boyfriend blazer (yes I am busty and short but I think I can make it work)...and...I really want a Katharine Hamnett tshirt...

I'll be a little devastated if tucking jeans into boots disappears. Besides being extremely chic and easy, it's also very practical. But I do not recall it being worn at all in the 90's. In fact I hated the look when it first appeared in the early 00's because it was so new to me and my eye had not yet adjusted.

The 80's still appear to be going strong now, but I'm skeptical of the longevity of many of these styles. Is it worth it to continue indulging if you're on a budget, or should just concentrate on "classics" for now until I have a better idea of what's in store?

Ha, I write this as if I am actually going to be buying anything...

General

20 replies

Latest reply was from Chris

marianne

No idea, but I hope it's not the end! I am with you on the skinnies + boots, and I also really like tunic tops. I am kind of curious about the 90s - I can't even think of any specific styles that could be revived, even though I lived through it

Oh, I would also be curious to see how Angie dressed in the 90s.

Maya

Veteran

When I think of 90's, I think of:

-Babydoll dresses
-Platform sandals (where the heel and platform are almost the same height)
-Slap bracelets (OMG, I hope these come back, I will happily wear them as an adult :p)
-Shirt clips
-Goth
-Punk revival
-Lots of 70's-inspired looks (trends come in 20 year cycles so I guess it makes sense)
-Piercings: eyebrow and belly button mostly
-Tacky Hawaiian shirts
-Scrunchies
-Keds sneakers

Maya

Veteran

Oh and how could I forget one of my favorite trends as a child: The Blossom hat.

http://www.verbosecoma.com/24muqt0.jpg

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Many of the 80's looks are early 90's looks too. I’ll eat my hat, but leggings and slouchy boots are no problem.

marianna

Veteran

Maya, the actress who played Blossom was on What Not To Wear recently!

Maya

Veteran

Angie, if leggings aren't a problem, does that also imply tunics aren't either?

Marianna, I saw that episode! She is so cute.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Maya, tunics have been around for years and years. They are as basic as bootcuts.

marianne

Yes, I remember the sandals and scrunchies, but I always thought of punk and goth as niche. And I've never seen anyone wear a hawaiian shirt until I came to US in mid-90s. The only mainstream things I can think of are pleated pants and roomy jackets - shoulders weren't as in the 80s, but the overall silhouette still oversized. That's still what I notice first when I catch any movies or shows. Oh, and minis, too. Hmm I guess it makes sense that is was a continuation of 80s

shiny

Veteran

-Babydoll dresses

Haven't these been in and out, with different reincarnations? I don't consider this a 90s look. Or maybe I need a picture.

-Platform sandals (where the heel and platform are almost the same height)

Again I guess I need a picture! Platforms come in and out, just re-styled. When I think platforms, my first thought is 70s - not 90s! When I think of shoes in the 90s, I think of square-toed booties with chunkie heels. And sandals with chunky, heavy heels. Really ugly shoes, actually. But I bet I could buy something sort of similar today....

-Slap bracelets (OMG, I hope these come back, I will happily wear them as an adult :p)

What the heck are these? Not the Live strong bracelets?

-Shirt clips

Huh?

-Goth

Yeah, that is a 90s thing in my mind too. Dark lipstick = 90s. Or maybe once again it's a restyled thing? Vampires have always been in fashion, in some sort of way. In the 80s we had those "simply irresistable" girls with pale faces and dark lipstick...

-Punk revival

Glad you said revival.

Every time I see a punk in mohawk and studs etc., I tell my girls "oh, that's how we dressed in the 80s... sooo old hat."

-Lots of 70's-inspired looks (trends come in 20 year cycles so I guess it makes sense)

I see that now, I don't remember it at all in the 90s. Then again, I was in a mom-of-young-kids coma.

-Piercings: eyebrow and belly button mostly

Yeah, that is very 90s.

-Tacky Hawaiian shirts

Ha! I think this has always been around. It's like preppy always has a niche.

-Scrunchies

Yeah, sadly, this is 90s. Yech.

-Keds sneakers

I wore them in grade school in the 70s.

Maya

Veteran

Shiny, platform shoes and Keds are part of the overall 70's vibe. It was definitely very strong in the 90's. Tie dye, long skirts, platforms (wood platforms from Candies, and other chunkier platforms), and hippie-chic were all very prominent.

The babydoll dress thing was big because of Courtney Love and Hole. Maybe she isn't the greatest style role model, but it definitely caught on. I remember a lot of music-inspired style because I was a HUGE music nut as a young teen.

Oh, and when No Doubt exploded onto the scene, those little cropped tanks Gwen Stefani wore became pretty popular (great for showing off those belly button piercings).

Lots of "trends" we see today have already been done, but that doesn't mean they don't count...know what I mean? 10 years later we'll probably be saying leggings were very 00's, even though they were originally very 80's. Does that makes sense? There are lots of trends that were popular in the 90's, but that may have been borrowed or re-appropriated from other time periods. In that sense they might not be UNIQUE to the 90's, but they were still big trends.

There are also trends that might always be around, but increase in popularity during certain times. Boho is always around, but gains a larger following at 20 year intervals (70's, 90's, and now). I don't think those Hawaiian shirts EVER had a bigger following than they did in the 90's. Every male I knew owned one and they made about 90% of my brother's wardrobe. I haven't existed for long but I have never seen them gain that kind of popularity. I don't see them at all now and I don't think I ever saw them before then.

Also understand that I was young at that time. The trends I lived through were seen on teenagers.

Slap bracelets:

http://www.bridalbuds.com/wp-c.....celets.jpg

Shirt clips:

http://www.funwirks.com/TSHIRT%20SLIDE.jpg (I actually had that exact one in lime green...I think I still have it somewhere...)

Forgot to add skin tight lycra bandage dresses to the list. I hope those don't make an appearance again. Blech.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Too late--Herve Leger has already done bandage dresses the past couple of years:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com.....a222_o.jpg

http://img295.imageshack.us/im.....er1zk7.png

http://www.zimbio.com/Herve+Le.....dage+dress

cciele

Veteran

I don't think the 80s thing is coming to an end. A lot of "new" styles I'm seeing (ripped leggings, bleached denim, studs) remind me of 80s glam rock. I'm also seeing some western-flavored clothing (fringes, peasanty blouses, plaid, prairie dresses).

Ele

(website)

AHHHH, slap bracelets! Yes, yes yes! Oh, I hope they come back- so much fun to play with in class!

Ok, serious now. This is what I think: The 80's trend has been around for a LONG time. I would say at least 6-7 years? I'm saying that because I remember it was huge when I started uni, and hasn't really stopped since then. So yes, obviously it's time for another decade to shine (and I, for one, can't wait to see what happens if the 90's trend materializes).

One of the things that happens with a long, drawn-out trend is that certain elements become adopted by the current time, and become "contemporary basics". Skinny jeans, tuckage, longer-length tops, even leggings- I don't really associate these things with the 80's anymore. They've become so mainstream and widely adopted that they're now noughties fashions, and I don't think we have to worry about them disappearing. Sure, we might not be wearing these styles in another decade (that's just the way fashion goes), but I don't think they'll be immediately pushed aside by new trends.

What might disappear more quickly are the 80's-inspired "details", like super-bright colours (thank God), wide belts, and (though Angie disagrees with me!), very slouchy boots. With a lot of trends, things change at different rates. Colours, accessories and smaller details change quickly and don't really "take hold" as much, but silhouette (and I think most of the things we all like about the 80's trend have to do with silhouette!), takes much longer, and changes more gradually.

I'm afraid this has been a bit of a confusing ramble on my part. Basically, just keep buying the stuff you like! I really don't think your intuition will steer you wrong here (Oh- and I agree with Angie that a lot of the stuff on your wish list is also 90's in style, anyway.)

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Slap bracelets! Hilarious. My kids have brought those home in birthday party goodie bags. They love them.

It's interesting that your perception of trends of a decade also have to do with where you were in life at that time. My perception of the 90s is similar to Shiny's because of our age, I guess. I was working in Manhattan (in my 20s), and it was all about sleek, black, minimalist clothing. On the weekends I might have gotten a little more into grunge, but just barely. We were more into everything Euro and minimalist and Prada-esque.

anne

Veteran

I was first a student and then working in the 90's and remember also don't remember much clothing grunge influence. I did wear a black bodysuit under a floral sleeveless top.
Other memories
- leggings and a very long jumper (sweater) as a student look
-long dresses, sometimes worn over t-shirts
- bodysuits
- waistcoats, including much longer ones than worn now
- babydoll dresses
-fitted suits with longer jackets and shorter skirts than in the 00's.
-pinstripes
-twinsets

I liked the latter half of the 90's and still wear some clothes from them including these 2 which I have shown a few times before on YLF
1) bought this as a dress in 1994 to wear with opaque tights but now wear with skinnies and clams
http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....oz/085.jpg

2)Dress bought in 1999 and still going strong (shown here with a black top underneath)
http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....sd3017.jpg

shiny

Veteran

Anne, I never saw your plaid dress before - pretty!

I didn't really answer this before. I think we still have more mileage to go with the 80s trends. My thinking is that it seems this fall that gold hardware is coming back strong. At NAS, all I saw was gold, gold, gold. Gold is VERY 80s. Nearly all the gold in my jewelry box, was purchased in the 80s. Then there was a backlash and in the 90s it was nothing but silver.

Also, the shoulders are a good indication of the trend. The last few seasons, particularly last season, we've seen shoulders go puffier and puffier. Now i'm even starting to see shoulder pads here and there. That is VERY 80s. The 90s were a backlash, reverting to minimalist shoulders. I think we're about half and half right now, so to me that means more and more puffy shoulders before we all get sick of them.

So I'd say we're at peak for 80s - but still have a long way to go.

The 90s were the first time I discovered Banana Republic, and to me, that brand signifies the styles you saw in the work place and on adult (not teen) women: sleek. Khakis. Neutrals. Simple tops with minimal detailing. Not a lot of bling. Lots and lots of black. I think back then I got away with owning only 4 pairs of shoes, black and brown, flat and heeled. You rarely saw much color, except maybe cranberry red as an occasional accent. This of course may simply reflect the state of my own closet at the time.

Dawn

(website)

Maya & Ana, bandage dresses are also all over the high street in the UK and Ireland... they are very disturbing items of clothing, to say the least! Possibly one of the most unflattering thing a person can wear!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have *never* heard of, or seen a slap bracelet. Hah!

Ele and Shiny, you could have written my comment. Thank you. You've spared my wrists.

I will add that in the mid to late 90’s things stated getting very modern: softer shoulders, tailored waistlines, lower rises, stretch fabrics, boot cuts, and monochromic tones. That was the prelude to 00's fashion and it stuck because it’s universally flattering.

Remember that at the end of the day, the retail industry is about making money. Fashion buyers will NOT stop lines, trends and looks that make money for retailers. The AWFUL examples that were showcased on the leg shortening capris thread were continually stocked in retail stores because people kept on buying them! Sadly, Retailers won’t turn away money in their tills when an item is unflattering.

Maya

Veteran

I think so much depends on age now that I have read everyone's comments. I don't remember the 90's as being minimalistic and soft, and those of you who are older than me don't remember the wonder that was slap bracelets (but Ele, who I think is a similar age, does). I bet you didn't even own any Pogs :p

What I remember from the 90's is what I saw on TV on shows like Full House, Fresh Prince, Blossom, etc, and what I saw on kids in my school.

When I was 13 I remember lots of trends because that was around the time I became interested in clothes. I wore sneakers with big platforms, super wide jeans (Jnco types), t-shirts and babydoll dresses layered over long sleeve shirts, and these little metal ball necklaces that I think every girl (and a few boys) in my school had. Airwalk shoes were also HUGE when I was around 11-12. The girls all wore cherry red patent ones. The skater look was really big towards the late 90's. Layering choker necklaces was also popular, but I don't know if that was at my school or if that was universal. Hemp was a popular material too. I had tons of hemp necklaces, which kind of went with the boho thing. I have LOTS of 90's memories, as you can see

But...all of the above probably wasn't so hot with those of you who were in your 20's and 30's...

Chris

Pogs?? Is that those circle things that you played a game with? Vague memory...must be showing my age

Maya, you are right about the various generations remembering different things from each decade. I do remember the Madonna "like a virgin" tulle skirt and layers of necklaces look from the 80's but was too old to sport it.
I remember gold for sure (gold buttons on power suits with big shoulder pads - that look hung in for a few years).

I think we should take the inspiration from all corners and make it work for our individual style.