These are scans from my father's passport photos.
The first photo was taken in 1982:
http://s2.postimg.org/5hdwslzk9/dadpix9.jpg

The second was taken in May 1989
http://s2.postimg.org/vqyzbelhl/dadpix10.jpg

My father was age 28 in the first, and 35 in the second. While it doesn't show full boy shots/clothes all that much, I thought the change in hairstyles, and facial hair as well as the subtle changes in clothes show how the early '80s differed from the late '80s. Note that in the 1982 picture, my father still had long sideburns and a Hippie-esque center part, along with a thicker mustache. This, to me, is evidence that '70s styles were still mainstream as of 1982 . By contrast, the 1989 photo shows him with a highly styled mullet, a more 'professional' mustache, and some of the pastels which dominated the post Miami Vice late '80s; the cut and colors of the sweater, as well, go with the times.

Just thought I'd give you a little time capsule over the course of two photos.

Got any mid 80's photos, too? It'd be cool to see how all three eras differ.

A interesting comparisons indeed. I may get around to comparing some of my old family pictures from the '80s and spot the differences.  ;D

Got any mid 80's photos, too? It'd be cool to see how all three eras differ.


1980
http://s11.postimg.org/8bd4r0fz7/19802photobucket_2.jpg

1983/1984
http://s13.postimg.org/dkj3gnvyv/ryanspics178_3.jpg

1984
http://s9.postimg.org/8wkyxeotb/img218.jpg

1985
http://s11.postimg.org/l418qxrkz/ryanspics198_2.jpg

1986
http://s9.postimg.org/wkvvexvz3/1986.jpg
http://s9.postimg.org/vk083k4db/ryanspics97ab_2.jpg

1988
http://s9.postimg.org/u2a6e9a8v/ryanspics175.jpg

May 1989
http://s13.postimg.org/fb24i5dhz/ryanspics181_2.jpg

Christmas 1989
http://s23.postimg.org/7htmw1v6z/mom_and_dad_14.jpg

Winter 1989/1990
http://s11.postimg.org/y9gqx1lgj/mom_and_dad_29.jpg

1980
http://s11.postimg.org/8bd4r0fz7/19802photobucket_2.jpg

1983/1984
http://s13.postimg.org/dkj3gnvyv/ryanspics178_3.jpg

1984
http://s9.postimg.org/8wkyxeotb/img218.jpg

1985
http://s11.postimg.org/l418qxrkz/ryanspics198_2.jpg

1986
http://s9.postimg.org/wkvvexvz3/1986.jpg
http://s9.postimg.org/vk083k4db/ryanspics97ab_2.jpg

1988
http://s9.postimg.org/u2a6e9a8v/ryanspics175.jpg

May 1989
http://s13.postimg.org/fb24i5dhz/ryanspics181_2.jpg

Christmas 1989
http://s23.postimg.org/7htmw1v6z/mom_and_dad_14.jpg

Winter 1989/1990
http://s11.postimg.org/y9gqx1lgj/mom_and_dad_29.jpg


Your Father really liked the mullet style.

1980
http://s11.postimg.org/8bd4r0fz7/19802photobucket_2.jpg

1983/1984
http://s13.postimg.org/dkj3gnvyv/ryanspics178_3.jpg

1984
http://s9.postimg.org/8wkyxeotb/img218.jpg

1985
http://s11.postimg.org/l418qxrkz/ryanspics198_2.jpg

1986
http://s9.postimg.org/wkvvexvz3/1986.jpg
http://s9.postimg.org/vk083k4db/ryanspics97ab_2.jpg

1988
http://s9.postimg.org/u2a6e9a8v/ryanspics175.jpg

May 1989
http://s13.postimg.org/fb24i5dhz/ryanspics181_2.jpg

Christmas 1989
http://s23.postimg.org/7htmw1v6z/mom_and_dad_14.jpg

Winter 1989/1990
http://s11.postimg.org/y9gqx1lgj/mom_and_dad_29.jpg


How come he shaved off his mustache?

How come he shaved off his mustache?


My mother didn't like it. They began dating around Thanksgiving 1989.

My mother didn't like it. They began dating around Thanksgiving 1989.


Oh.  :(

My mother didn't like it. They began dating around Thanksgiving 1989.

Dang, I wonder how he felt about that? :o ;D

Dang, I wonder how he felt about that? :o ;D


He didn't care. It was just facial hair to him lol. He liked my mother more than his mustache.

My mother didn't like it. They began dating around Thanksgiving 1989.


He looks better clean shaven.

January 1986
http://s11.postimg.org/b7ddgqgv7/img209.jpg

1987
http://s11.postimg.org/cjv2imear/ryanspics176_2.jpg

It seems 70's styles went out in maybe 1983 or 1984.

It seems 70's styles went out in maybe 1983 or 1984.


Watch this documentary. If you look at the clothes/hairstyles etc, you could easily think it was filmed in 1978 or 1979 - but it was filmed in 1983 NYC. It shows people of all age groups and backgrounds - older folks, teens, White, Hispanic, Black - you can see some 80s styles but nothing that would be really remembered as "80s" by mainstream pop memory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EW22LzSaJA

There was a huge muscle shirt (cut off sleeves) fad that was big around '83, '84. Look at the first Terminator film (shot in 1983) in the bar scene - you can see some 80s styles, but mostly a late 70s punk influence and the muscle shirts I speak of.
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/terminator/images/8/81/Punk(reardon).jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081223141037
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/nickdaring1/t1-promo-michael-005.jpg

1981 fashion via HS photos and catalogs:
http://mclane1981.classquest.com/cqrfiles/sites/13000/13155/PageImages/634354467183716250_9901.jpg
http://blogs.plos.org/takeasdirected/files/2010/09/1981-grad-day-party-515px.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uVpj_n3ZxT8/maxresdefault.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uD9Q5epNDDs/maxresdefault.jpg
http://www.hemingfordschools.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/463787bcaecef/1_1305231763969.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1331/5126109887_2d9633a400_o.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/10410007163_cb64124c46_c.jpg

1982-1983 fashions, from HS pictures and catalogs:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6140/5982071915_2e1d996765_z.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2e/5d/b6/2e5db64cbb6586c7f31b9f7d504cfc9d.jpg
https://2warpstoneptune.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/1982-3.png
http://cdn.retrowaste.com/wp-content/gallery/1980s-fashion-women-girls/1982-womens-blouses-01.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ov1KUmUBvoE/TBAFNTtm-MI/AAAAAAAAAOM/8uRJbPWcTLs/s1600/sc000056fb02.jpg
https://2warpstoneptune.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/1982-5.jpg
http://www.doverohclassof1984.org/docs/extracurriculars/Spirit/Cheerleaders/Varsity%20CLs%201981-1982.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KD8Kw9bT3r8/Ujs2Lz3vg3I/AAAAAAAAKVU/6vYgl3qsfBA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-09-19+at+10.21.57+AM.png
http://www.nannygoatsinpanties.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Senior-Ball-1982-pin.jpg
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/25/52/30/5678620/3/920x920.jpg

1984
https://2warpstoneptune.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/high-school-19841.jpg
http://www.westchesterwildcats.com/000/1/7/8/5871/userfiles/Image/Sr_1984_MDA_Drive.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0NzpFhhPvQs/hqdefault.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/66/2d/6d/662d6d3905fc01462a08ece2c6133765.jpg
http://www.samhoustontigers.net/000/4/5/0/3054/userfiles/Image/Kevin_Josey_Shannon_Norred_Kellie_Deiss_Virgil_BudFritz_Sam_Houston_High_School_Homecoming_1984.jpg
http://backto1984.weebly.com/uploads/9/7/9/5/9795185/7384563_orig.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/41/8c/39/418c39945c94d5ed4b6f68ab3354aba9.jpg
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/f84/1984harristweedsportcoat.jpg

I dunno about what regular people wore but the muscle shirt thing was pretty big all throughout the 80's among punks and skaters.

Thanks for showing me those pictures. Even in 1984, you spot a lot more 80's styles but you still had some 70's styles lingering around. Tons of flannel and backward caps, too! People think of these styles as 90's but they're really just 80's Punk and Metal styles that Grungers wore since the original dudes were all Punk and Metal kids.

Always found this photo of my father a tad amusing. November 1989, he and my mother were first dating. Cleanshaven yet his calendar and ID still show him mustachioed. Somehow funny to me.
http://s11.postimg.org/qyca34grn/ryanspics75_3.jpg

It seems 70's styles went out in maybe 1983 or 1984.


I see that in most of the photos.

Watch this documentary. If you look at the clothes/hairstyles etc, you could easily think it was filmed in 1978 or 1979 - but it was filmed in 1983 NYC. It shows people of all age groups and backgrounds - older folks, teens, White, Hispanic, Black - you can see some 80s styles but nothing that would be really remembered as "80s" by mainstream pop memory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EW22LzSaJA

There was a huge muscle shirt (cut off sleeves) fad that was big around '83, '84. Look at the first Terminator film (shot in 1983) in the bar scene - you can see some 80s styles, but mostly a late 70s punk influence and the muscle shirts I speak of.
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/terminator/images/8/81/Punk(reardon).jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081223141037
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/nickdaring1/t1-promo-michael-005.jpg

1981 fashion via HS photos and catalogs:
http://mclane1981.classquest.com/cqrfiles/sites/13000/13155/PageImages/634354467183716250_9901.jpg
http://blogs.plos.org/takeasdirected/files/2010/09/1981-grad-day-party-515px.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uVpj_n3ZxT8/maxresdefault.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uD9Q5epNDDs/maxresdefault.jpg
http://www.hemingfordschools.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/463787bcaecef/1_1305231763969.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1331/5126109887_2d9633a400_o.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/10410007163_cb64124c46_c.jpg

1982-1983 fashions, from HS pictures and catalogs:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6140/5982071915_2e1d996765_z.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2e/5d/b6/2e5db64cbb6586c7f31b9f7d504cfc9d.jpg
https://2warpstoneptune.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/1982-3.png
http://cdn.retrowaste.com/wp-content/gallery/1980s-fashion-women-girls/1982-womens-blouses-01.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ov1KUmUBvoE/TBAFNTtm-MI/AAAAAAAAAOM/8uRJbPWcTLs/s1600/sc000056fb02.jpg
https://2warpstoneptune.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/1982-5.jpg
http://www.doverohclassof1984.org/docs/extracurriculars/Spirit/Cheerleaders/Varsity%20CLs%201981-1982.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KD8Kw9bT3r8/Ujs2Lz3vg3I/AAAAAAAAKVU/6vYgl3qsfBA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-09-19+at+10.21.57+AM.png
http://www.nannygoatsinpanties.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Senior-Ball-1982-pin.jpg
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/25/52/30/5678620/3/920x920.jpg

1984
https://2warpstoneptune.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/high-school-19841.jpg
http://www.westchesterwildcats.com/000/1/7/8/5871/userfiles/Image/Sr_1984_MDA_Drive.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0NzpFhhPvQs/hqdefault.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/66/2d/6d/662d6d3905fc01462a08ece2c6133765.jpg
http://www.samhoustontigers.net/000/4/5/0/3054/userfiles/Image/Kevin_Josey_Shannon_Norred_Kellie_Deiss_Virgil_BudFritz_Sam_Houston_High_School_Homecoming_1984.jpg
http://backto1984.weebly.com/uploads/9/7/9/5/9795185/7384563_orig.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/41/8c/39/418c39945c94d5ed4b6f68ab3354aba9.jpg
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/f84/1984harristweedsportcoat.jpg


most of the photos the guys and girls still had the bowl cut hairdo.

The '80s doesn't seem to really start looking like 'the 80s' until '85 or '86.

The '80s doesn't seem to really start looking like 'the 80s' until '85 or '86.


Actually, I think the 80s started to look like it around '83.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9jjEs9wvubA/UV2TsK8S3LI/AAAAAAAAEOU/Dq2V92ti60A/s1600/subway1.jpg
early 80's (graffiti on the trains)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9jjEs9wvubA/UV2TsK8S3LI/AAAAAAAAEOU/Dq2V92ti60A/s1600/subway1.jpg
early 80's (graffiti on the trains)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oG7ovpuqT4c/TKQFQqFk8vI/AAAAAAAAA5M/FX4Zz2Dt4LU/s1600/madmen+subway.jpeg
late 80's


Funny, I don't think anybody back in the late 80s would recall seeing a bunch of Mad Men advertisements in the Subway. Didn't the show premiere back in 2007?

Funny, I don't think anybody back in the late 80s would recall seeing a bunch of Mad Men advertisements in the Subway. Didn't the show premiere back in 2007?


Yeah, that photo looks way too new for the late 80's.

Funny, I don't think anybody back in the late 80s would recall seeing a bunch of Mad Men advertisements in the Subway. Didn't the show premiere back in 2007?


Sorry, I chose the wrong picture.

The '80s doesn't seem to really start looking like 'the 80s' until '85 or '86.

I'd say 84. Come on ::) , Who's The Boss, Miami Vice, and The Cosby Show's first seasons looked 80s to me.

The '80s doesn't seem to really start looking like 'the 80s' until '85 or '86.


I would say 1983 at the latest, but quite a few '80s aesthetics are evident even in 1981 and 1982. 1980 is probably the only year of the decade that feels really out of place fashion and culture-wise.

I'd say 84. Come on ::) , Who's The Boss, Miami Vice, and The Cosby Show's first seasons looked 80s to me.


and I would say after the late 80's the styles took a different path on family sitcoms as everyone grew older.

and I would say after the late 80's the styles took a different path on family sitcoms as everyone grew older.


Howard, would you say the 80's ended in 1993?

https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-06/12/14/enhanced/webdr06/enhanced-2873-1402597070-9.jpg
early 80's hairstyle for women

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/bc/38/4d/bc384d898db569d95e6ba6fd96e6441a.jpg
late 80's hairstyle for black women

Howard, would you say the 80's ended in 1993?


maybe 1991.

maybe 1991.


Yeah, that's fair. For me, I'd say 1990-1992 was still a part of the 80's and 1993 is a transition from the 80's to the real 90's.


https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-06/12/14/enhanced/webdr06/enhanced-2873-1402597070-9.jpg
early 80's hairstyle for women

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/bc/38/4d/bc384d898db569d95e6ba6fd96e6441a.jpg
late 80's hairstyle for black women


Wasn't big hair still in in the late 80's too?

Yeah, that's fair. For me, I'd say 1990-1992 was still a part of the 80's and 1993 is a transition from the 80's to the real 90's.

Wasn't big hair still in in the late 80's too?


Weren't fades in too?

https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-06/12/14/enhanced/webdr06/enhanced-2873-1402597070-9.jpg
early 80's hairstyle for women

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/bc/38/4d/bc384d898db569d95e6ba6fd96e6441a.jpg
late 80's hairstyle for black women


The early 80s hairstyles were more definitive than the late 80s ones.

Weren't fades in too?


Yeah, I think so!

1988 High School photoss
http://www.lakeworthalumni.com/Images/88lakeworth001.jpg
http://www.oakparkhistory.com/1987-88/1987-1988-EcologyClub-02.jpg
http://www.johnpbarton.com/images/wsph/97underground-crew-1988.jpg
http://www.wvonline.com/ehs/alumni/athletics/88-89cheer.jpg
http://www.kewpie.net/Cresset02/1988page004.jpg
http://www.jupiteralumni.com/Images/88jupiter15.jpg
http://www.marshfield.coos-bay.k12.or.us/alumni/3s8s/1988/1988Kirk.jpg
http://www.huntingtonparkalumni.com/Images/87huntingtonpark21.jpg
http://cdsybk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-1988-89_005.jpg
http://www.gar-fieldhs.com/Images/89garfield3F.jpg

1989
http://www.marshfield.coos-bay.k12.or.us/alumni/4s9s/1989/images/1989Abel450.jpg
http://www.lawrencecountymemoirs.com/images/5941.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/egdHql8jtr8/hqdefault.jpg
http://jeremyfreese.blogspot.com/classof1989.jpg
http://bullseye-prod.aggrego.org/wp-ag/wp-content/mercury/uploads/sites/68/2014/10/Stagg-CC-1989.jpg?o=eyJ3aWR0aCI6MCwiaGVpZ2h0IjowLCJ4IjowLjUsInkiOjAuNX0%3D&s=Jw%2BMHmKltUNNS4ac7sfyvQvOvGI%3D
http://www.winstonk12.org/meekhigh/mhsalumni/seniorphoto2/Class-of-1989L.jpg
http://spearfishhighschool.com/1989/images/mall.jpg
http://www.marshfield.coos-bay.k12.or.us/alumni/4s9s/1989/images/1989BarnhartBingham450.jpg
http://www.marshfield.coos-bay.k12.or.us/alumni/4s9s/1989/images/Prather450.jpg
http://yb.cmcdn.com/yearbooks/1/a/5/b/1a5be0bcfab617a0344ab561af3bf69e/440/0007.jpg?h=dd26a316308e67b3827055a223b31fd2

Haha, that's 100% 80's for sure!

1990
https://thms90.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/page-193-ths90.jpg
http://www.franklinhs.com/Images/96franklin197F.jpg
http://www.jamesmonroealumni.com/Images/90jamesmonroe22.jpg
https://thms90.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/page-194-ths90.jpg
http://www.laplataalumni.com/Images/90laplata44f.jpg
http://www.laplataalumni.com/Images/89laplata39f.jpg
http://www.burroughsalumni.com/Images/89burroughs194f.jpg
http://www.jeffpearlman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/IMG_8394.jpg
http://www.franklinhs.com/Images/93franklin139F.jpg
http://cdsybk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-1990-91_011.jpg

1990!? The 80's were just a long transition period to get from 1978 to 1990. I'm glad you put 1990 photos for everyone to see. Some people mistake things from the 80's as "80's culture"

;D ;D ;D

All kidding aside, 1990 looks super 80's, too!

1991
https://goldinauctions.com/ItemImages/000005/5353c_lg.jpeg
http://www.yearbook-usa.com/images/1991/ahs1991-6.jpg
http://www.riverdalehighalumni.com/Images/89riverdale027.jpg
http://www.coconinoalumni.com/Images/92coconino61.jpg
http://www.yearbook-usa.com/images/1991/ahs1991-11.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oK35D_Nklsg/maxresdefault.jpg
http://www.kenwoodalumni.com/Images/90kenwood83F.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/78Jzj14.jpg
http://www.baxterboo.com/global/images/article/Mary_Senior_photo.jpg
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/viewfinder/files/2013/07/ssjm19910911Cliques01-900x908.jpg
http://www.extraordinarymommy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/scan0005.jpg
http://165.139.144.4/Assets/Archives/Cheerleaders/Varsity/images/1991-1992.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_2fmvF5c5y0/maxresdefault.jpg
http://www.extraordinarymommy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/scan0005.jpg

1992
http://www.burroughsalumni.com/Images/92burroughs174f.jpg
http://cdsybk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-1992-93_007.jpg
http://yearbook-usa.com/images/1992/a2hs1992-6.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GyFyju3D9uk/maxresdefault.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fBSnIdMszBs/maxresdefault.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KDqgQs-Aeus/maxresdefault.jpg
http://phsclassof92.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/7/9/11798282/7682434_orig.jpg
http://www.coconinoalumni.com/Images/92coconino59.jpg
http://www.fallschurchalumni.com/Images/92fallschurch68F.jpg
http://www.burroughsalumni.com/Images/92burroughs176f.jpg
http://yearbook-usa.com/images/1992/a2hs1992-6.jpg
http://www.paragonauctionsite.com/ItemImages/000001/1742b_lg.jpeg

1991 and 1992 still look pretty 80's! When I started high school in 1996, definitely nobody looked like this at all!

1993
http://www.godbyalumni.com/Images/93godby39f.jpg
http://www.oldmillalumni.com/Images/93oldmill86F.jpg
http://www.franklinhs.com/Images/93franklin139F.jpg
http://waltwhitmanhighschool.com/wwhs/classpics/1993_high.jpg
http://www.tostepharmd.net/kermanphoto/schools/kuhs1993-class.jpg
http://secross.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/8/8/25883526/skm_c654e15020916440_0001.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4ThaJziN55E/maxresdefault.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wehGDP1h09w/maxresdefault.jpg
https://dvanonline.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/1993-vu-ju-friends-junior-year-in-hs.jpg
http://www.manchestertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2-Team-photo-web.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DZNYpH5q98g/maxresdefault.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rxud8iisDxY/UZgV0CUdodI/AAAAAAAAIBM/hEMQrKqO3-Q/s1600/class+picture+1993+_2.jpg

1993 is also looking pretty 80's! Just a bit more flannel in that last photo.

1994
http://www.tostepharmd.net/kermanphoto/schools/kuhs1994-class.jpg
http://p1cdn4static.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_759983/Image/93-94FINAL.jpg
http://waltwhitmanhighschool.com/wwhs/classpics/1994_high.jpg
http://www.thelightstillshines.org/_uploaded/gizmo_images/6FriendsPyramid1994.jpg
https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/483325048.jpg?mw=1920&mh=1080&q=70
http://s2.dmcdn.net/GLVe7/1280x720-vgx.jpg
http://www.laplataalumni.com/Images/94laplata54F.jpg
http://www.oxonhillalumni.com/Images/94oxonhill56F.jpg
http://www.fallschurchalumni.com/Images/94fallschurch72f.jpg
http://www.sprayberryhighalumni.com/Images/94sprayberry34.jpg
http://www.sprayberryhighalumni.com/Images/94sprayberry35.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4-mlvql7jrU/maxresdefault.jpg
http://madeiraschoolsfoundation.org/home/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/class-of-94-MHS.jpg
http://www.pcschools535.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/4f7b3d55d400f/gilbert-07-08.jpg
http://princessmonie.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/1994.jpg
http://www.stonybrook.edu/metcalf/Images/groupphotos/1994.jpg
http://kingsley.stanford.edu/lab_photos_through_time/1994.JPG
http://www.crownhills.com/images/old/1994.jpg

1995
http://waltwhitmanhighschool.com/wwhs/classpics/1995_high.jpg
https://nhsclass1995.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/class1995.jpg
http://www.franklinhs.com/Images/95franklin181F.jpg
https://sites.google.com/site/buttebulldogs1995/_/rsrc/1428264366925/home/20150331_212856.jpg http://www.fallschurchalumni.com/Images/95fallschurch77f.jpg
http://www.calaveras.k12.ca.us/07%20schools/chs/chs_sports/softball/links/scan0007.jpg
http://cdsybk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-1995-96_004.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4BQIxm6dt_A/maxresdefault.jpg
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54e688aee4b07c01c5b259ea/t/54fb4b66e4b0c724169c4061/1425754984335/IMG_0716.jpg?format=1500w
http://www.oldmillalumni.com/Images/95oldmill88.jpg
http://www.oldmillalumni.com/Images/95oldmill75.jpg
http://www.laplataalumni.com/Images/95laplata53F.jpg

1996
http://www.franklinhs.com/Images/96franklin197F.jpg
http://www.gwynnparkalumni.com/Images/96gwynnpark33F.jpg
http://www.venturaalumni.com/Images/96ventura195f.jpg
http://www.venturaalumni.com/Images/96ventura202f.jpg
http://www.midlandleealumni.com/Images/96midlandlee168f.jpg
http://cdsybk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-1996-97_046.jpg
http://cdsybk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-1996-97_021.jpg
http://cdsybk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-1996-97_016.jpg
http://cdsybk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-1996-97_047.jpg
http://yb.cmcdn.com/yearbooks/2/b/b/6/2bb6058e15578a7bb18ba17490697299/440/0007.jpg?h=c91a4f238152a97ed8ace530dfd8b0e4
http://cdsybk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-Corona-del-Sol-High-School-Yearbook-Archive-1996-97_068.jpg
http://yb.cmcdn.com/yearbooks/d/5/3/8/d5385c0d759193c8bd538682751dec74/440/0006.jpg?h=e754e3c4cbbadedeed3f4714bd0f2e57
http://yb.cmcdn.com/yearbooks/1/5/f/e/15fe0e4e5ca065aa3af123516df7f5f5/440/0009.jpg?h=4a675f66c45c3d679fd34382e756fcc7
http://www.pcschools535.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/4f79bf1d9ab6e/boudreau-09-10.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3739/1982/1600/Photo0003.1.jpg
http://ashlandohiogenealogy.org/ashlandcountyschools/mapleton1996/IMG-p7.jpg
http://www.franklinhs.com/Images/96franklin205F.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1179/5136869945_b93eb28abe_b.jpg
http://www.carrieandjonathan.com/wp-content/gallery/grandpa-gordon/1996%20Family%20Reunion-sm.jpg
https://johnhartnettdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/our-family-1996.jpg
http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vianneytoo/family96.jpg
http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/argentina-rosario-mission-rural-ward-jimmy-smith-25.jpg

Oh yeah! That's 90's alright! Just as I remember it.

The early 80s hairstyles were more definitive than the late 80s ones.



I can imagine what women used for all that hair.  :o

http://hornellhome.com/1983%20Yearbook%20-%20Page%2011.jpg
1983 Yearbook Photo

http://www.tygertrap.com/resource/images/1988/pg_64-65.jpg
5 years later

Lots of Farrah Fawcett hair in 1983. And bowl cuts.

If you look at 1985, midway between 1983 and 1988, you see the subtle transformation. There's still teased hair, but now it's begun to take on more of the '80s tease (which you would see variants of up until around 1992 or so). There's still bowl cuts in 1985, but they're more stylized and mullety.
http://hornellhome.com/1985%20Yearbook%20-%20Page%2018.jpg

http://hornellhome.com/1985%20Yearbook%20-%20Page%201.jpg

You jump forward in time to 1992, and there's still the teased hair but it's becoming slightly straighter, there's still mullets but now there's not so many bowl cuts - more parted hair. You can see in 1992 the seeds for what would become the mid 1990s "corporate" cuts and the Rachel.
http://www.wellington.cc/whs/ALUMNI/Club%20605/1992F/images/tty-1992classpg5_jpg.jpg
http://www.coconinoalumni.com/Images/92coconino61.jpg

I'm starting to feel like some point around 1982-1983 (you even see the signs as early as '81) is where the 80's truly took off fashion wise. You notice the hair getting both bigger or shorter (depending on your style. A lot of shorter hair, especially on men, started to become popular in the 80's and the shaggy looks of the 70's were leaving quick!), clothing fits (especially t-shirts) got looser and colors got a lot wackier. By 1983, the creativity and wackiness was full force. Plus, chicks were a lot hotter in both the 80's and 90's! What a time to grow up! 8)

Also, culturally, 1982/1983 is when the 80's began.

Also, culturally, 1982/1983 is when the 80's began.


Yeah, I agree!

Yeah, I agree!


Though you could make a point for 1981 with video games finally becoming popular, the launch of MTV, events like the discovery of AIDS and the start of the Reagan Revolution, the beginnings of the fitness craze, and early new wave bands. Generally speaking, most of the late 1980s tends to be more pastel compared to the more natural earlier part of the decade, and of course factoring in the cars, while boxiness prevails, the early '80s still has some muscle-era cars from the late '60s/early '70s commonly found.

Though you could make a point for 1981 with video games finally becoming popular, the launch of MTV, events like the discovery of AIDS and the start of the Reagan Revolution, the beginnings of the fitness craze, and early new wave bands. Generally speaking, most of the late 1980s tends to be more pastel compared to the more natural earlier part of the decade, and of course factoring in the cars, while boxiness prevails, the early '80s still has some muscle-era cars from the late '60s/early '70s commonly found.


I feel like the late 80s/early 90s was like its own era though.

Though you could make a point for 1981 with video games finally becoming popular, the launch of MTV, events like the discovery of AIDS and the start of the Reagan Revolution, the beginnings of the fitness craze, and early new wave bands. Generally speaking, most of the late 1980s tends to be more pastel compared to the more natural earlier part of the decade, and of course factoring in the cars, while boxiness prevails, the early '80s still has some muscle-era cars from the late '60s/early '70s commonly found.


I think you can make an argument as early as mid-late 1979 or as late as the beginning of 1983 for the true start of the 1980s. Like I mentioned before, 1979-1982 was a coherent era of its own and has elements that can be easily associated with either the 70s or 80s. Early 1982 is really hardly any different from the end of 1979, especially since Reagan wasn't really successful until the following election season. While fashion and television were definitely still closer to the 70s at the time, the massive popularity of new wave, synthpop, and Atari games, not to mention the death of disco, drums starting to become a little more gated in music, the start of the neoliberal revolution with the ascent of Thatcher and Reagan, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan are all good cases to claim that the 80s actually started a bit early. If you lived in the United Kingdom, I'd say late 1979 was easily the start of the cultural 80s because that country got Thatcher sooner than America got Reagan and 80s genres like synthpop and new wave were much more popular there sooner than in the United States.

1983 is really the first year that was completely and utterly 80s. Music was overwhelmingly MTV-tailored by then, TV was now dominated by 80s programs, cassettes became more popular than vinyl, and the economy was finally improving. he fashion of that year was similar to the Great Recession era in that it was a predominantly neutral period in between two different decades. You still had big hair, but a lot more men had regular short hair without mullets, while women often just had straightened hair; the clothing was also quite casually understated for the time. This, of course, is only relative to the time - there were still some lingering 70s styles and incoming 80s one - but of all years that are retro, 1983 is probably the one with the least apparent identity, as nothing was really solidly established during that year.

Though you could make a point for 1981 with video games finally becoming popular, the launch of MTV, events like the discovery of AIDS and the start of the Reagan Revolution, the beginnings of the fitness craze, and early new wave bands. Generally speaking, most of the late 1980s tends to be more pastel compared to the more natural earlier part of the decade, and of course factoring in the cars, while boxiness prevails, the early '80s still has some muscle-era cars from the late '60s/early '70s commonly found.




I agree with you about New Wave, the fitness craze and video games as those things did take off around 1981 but AIDS wasn't a big thing until 1982 when it was officially named and the first AIDS clinics were opened up in San Francisco. Once all that happened, the sexual revolution was way past over. MTV I don't believe reached its iconic status until sometime around mid 1982.

Another thing that strikes me about '82 is how important it is to the decade in terms of movies. '80 and '81 may have had some good stuff but really not much to offer since the 70's formula was dying out and I think this transitional period caused movies to go into a little slump. Then comes in 1982 with so many great, revolutionary films that totally established both the hot actors and style of film that would define the 80's like Tron, E.T., Conan, Blade Runner, Fast Times, The Thing, 48 Hrs. and First Blood.

Yeah, I agree!


1982/1983 is also when the economy started picking up.  :D

I agree with you about New Wave, the fitness craze and video games as those things did take off around 1981 but AIDS wasn't a big thing until 1982 when it was officially named and the first AIDS clinics were opened up in San Francisco. Once all that happened, the sexual revolution was way past over. MTV I don't believe reached its iconic status until sometime around mid 1982.

New wave really took off more in 1979, not 1981. Some of the biggest hits of 1979 were "Let's Go," "Heart of Glass," "My Sharona," and "The Logical Song," though there were even more of these types of songs in the UK that year.

I also think more people were aware of the AIDS epidemic in 1983, and that MTV's true takeoff was roughly the start of 1983, as that's when "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Billie Jean" came out during that time, not to mention it was also about when lingering Gen-Jones bands and artists got almost fully taken over by Gen-X ones.

Another thing that strikes me about '82 is how important it is to the decade in terms of movies. '80 and '81 may have had some good stuff but really not much to offer since the 70's formula was dying out and I think this transitional period caused movies to go into a little slump. Then comes in 1982 with so many great, revolutionary films that totally established both the hot actors and style of film that would define the 80's like Tron, E.T., Conan, Blade Runner, Fast Times, The Thing, 48 Hrs. and First Blood.


Yeah, 1982 was an incredible year for movies, especially if you were a science fiction fan. Though most of the non-revolutionary films still had the 70s style, the big hits of 1982 definitely impacted future films to come in the 80s.

I still think 1983 can't be ignored, however, as that was when Flashdance, Valley Girl, and Risky Business were released, truly popularizing the teen craze of the 80s (Fast Times was technically a high school movie, but it starred a full-grown adult and is really not that different from something like Animal House). Additionally, 1983 was when Hollywood started to feel a lot more "commercial," with a lot of cheap or light-hearted sequels coming out that year, plus a lot of other films that really seemed to capture the 80s spirit.

I swear there was a 1981 Time magazine cover on AIDS. I might have remembered wrong, or they deleted the magazine cover online. Or it may have been a false memory about the time magazine cover.

But I'm sure it took people a few years, like until 1983/1984 for most people to have heard about it.

http://www.rowdytalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=643
early 1980's

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/87/51/1e/87511ecaaa2590269a5afcdb02d5c72a.jpg
Late 1980's

New wave really took off more in 1979, not 1981. Some of the biggest hits of 1979 were "Let's Go," "Heart of Glass," "My Sharona," and "The Logical Song," though there were even more of these types of songs in the UK that year.


True. I forgot about stuff like that and other hits like Are Friends Electric (one song I remember growing up with), etc. Definitely did peak in the 80's, though, but there's no denying it was big in 1979.


I also think more people were aware of the AIDS epidemic in 1983, and that MTV's true takeoff was roughly the start of 1983, as that's when "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Billie Jean" came out during that time, not to mention it was also about when lingering Gen-Jones bands and artists got almost fully taken over by Gen-X ones.


I think late 1982 is a big starting point for the AIDS epidemic as that's when virus was named, the first clinics opened up (however, this might be a bit location dependent. My parents were aware of AIDS in 1982 because of SFAF being a big deal in the news) and the first cases were discovered in places such as Canada, Brazil and Australia (so it quickly became a worldwide thing) but 1983 was when the first case was discovered in a female sex worker and opened up that it wasn't only a "gay disease". I dunno about MTV's take off because I've always heard it was around mid-1982 but I agree about Gen-Jones bands being wiped away around 1983.


Yeah, 1982 was an incredible year for movies, especially if you were a science fiction fan. Though most of the non-revolutionary films still had the 70s style, the big hits of 1982 definitely impacted future films to come in the 80s.

I still think 1983 can't be ignored, however, as that was when Flashdance, Valley Girl, and Risky Business were released, truly popularizing the teen craze of the 80s (Fast Times was technically a high school movie, but it starred a full-grown adult and is really not that different from something like Animal House). Additionally, 1983 was when Hollywood started to feel a lot more "commercial," with a lot of cheap or light-hearted sequels coming out that year, plus a lot of other films that really seemed to capture the 80s spirit.


I agree. 1982 was a big transitional period for films where we hadn't totally escaped the 70's formulas but the 80's were coming in quick.

1983 definitely continued the greatness of 80's movies (the whole time period from '82-'89 has so many good movies it's not even funny!) with (aside from the great movies you mentioned) Scarface, Trading Places (best Christmas film ever. I'll even watch it in the middle of July), Vacation (started John Hughes 80's reign and introduced us to Michael Anthony Hall), Strange Brew, etc. It'll always be my favorite decade for movies.


I swear there was a 1981 Time magazine cover on AIDS. I might have remembered wrong, or they deleted the magazine cover online. Or it may have been a false memory about the time magazine cover.

But I'm sure it took people a few years, like until 1983/1984 for most people to have heard about it.


You sure it wasn't later than that? I believe the first time they started calling it AIDS was July 1982.

True. I forgot about stuff like that and other hits like Are Friends Electric (one song I remember growing up with), etc. Definitely did peak in the 80's, though, but there's no denying it was big in 1979.

I think late 1982 is a big starting point for the AIDS epidemic as that's when virus was named, the first clinics opened up (however, this might be a bit location dependent. My parents were aware of AIDS in 1982 because of SFAF being a big deal in the news) and the first cases were discovered in places such as Canada, Brazil and Australia (so it quickly became a worldwide thing) but 1983 was when the first case was discovered in a female sex worker and opened up that it wasn't only a "gay disease". I dunno about MTV's take off because I've always heard it was around mid-1982 but I agree about Gen-Jones bands being wiped away around 1983.

I agree. 1982 was a big transitional period for films where we hadn't totally escaped the 70's formulas but the 80's were coming in quick.

1983 definitely continued the greatness of 80's movies (the whole time period from '82-'89 has so many good movies it's not even funny!) with (aside from the great movies you mentioned) Scarface, Trading Places (best Christmas film ever. I'll even watch it in the middle of July), Vacation (started John Hughes 80's reign and introduced us to Michael Anthony Hall), Strange Brew, etc. It'll always be my favorite decade for movies.

You sure it wasn't later than that? I believe the first time they started calling it AIDS was July 1982.


I'm sure I remembered wrong, probably a false memory. But here's a 1983 Time magazine cover on AIDS.

http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/1983/1101830704_400.jpg

True. I forgot about stuff like that and other hits like Are Friends Electric (one song I remember growing up with), etc. Definitely did peak in the 80's, though, but there's no denying it was big in 1979.

Yeah, new wave's commercial peak was probably more late 1982 to 1986, but it surprisingly didn't, in fact, need MTV in order to reach the masses, even though the channel sure helped it.

I think late 1982 is a big starting point for the AIDS epidemic as that's when virus was named, the first clinics opened up (however, this might be a bit location dependent. My parents were aware of AIDS in 1982 because of SFAF being a big deal in the news) and the first cases were discovered in places such as Canada, Brazil and Australia (so it quickly became a worldwide thing) but 1983 was when the first case was discovered in a female sex worker and opened up that it wasn't only a "gay disease". I dunno about MTV's take off because I've always heard it was around mid-1982 but I agree about Gen-Jones bands being wiped away around 1983.

Another significant thing about late 1982 is that it was when 80s television first really took off. In addition to a lot of 70s or 1979-1982-era shows concluding earlier that year, you had the debuts of three gigantic hits: Knight Rider, Cheers, and Family Ties. There was also Newhart, Silver Spoons, and Cagney & Lacey, but it was really the former three that first really established an identity for 80s television. Later in the school year, you had the series finale of M*A*S*H, arguably the epic conclusion of the Boomer generation's dominance of popular culture since the 60s.

1983 definitely continued the greatness of 80's movies (the whole time period from '82-'89 has so many good movies it's not even funny!) with (aside from the great movies you mentioned) Scarface, Trading Places (best Christmas film ever. I'll even watch it in the middle of July), Vacation (started John Hughes 80's reign and introduced us to Michael Anthony Hall), Strange Brew, etc. It'll always be my favorite decade for movies.

1983 was truly an awesome and seriously underrated year for popular culture in general! In addition to being great for film and frankly not as bad for gaming as the crash would lead you to believe (1984 and most years this decade are better candidates; 1983 was still strong for arcades and computers), it's also possibly my favorite year ever in music. I own more albums from 1983 than any other year, which should speak for itself.

Hi,
If I may ask, I like how you analyse the difference between early 80's and late 80's in this thread which I enjoyed reading through your comments. And this may be a hard work, but I will to hear your take on the difference of early 2010's (2010-2013) and mid 2010's  (2014-2016) if it's okay with you?

Hi,
If I may ask, I like how you analyse the difference between early 80's and late 80's in this thread which I enjoyed reading through your comments. And this may be a hard work, but I will to hear your take on the difference of early 2010's (2010-2013) and mid 2010's  (2014-2016) if it's okay with you?


I think we already discussed that a lot on this board. Check out the 2010s forum, where we usually compare the early 2010s to the mid 2010s.

True. I forgot about stuff like that and other hits like Are Friends Electric (one song I remember growing up with), etc. Definitely did peak in the 80's, though, but there's no denying it was big in 1979.

I think late 1982 is a big starting point for the AIDS epidemic as that's when virus was named, the first clinics opened up (however, this might be a bit location dependent. My parents were aware of AIDS in 1982 because of SFAF being a big deal in the news) and the first cases were discovered in places such as Canada, Brazil and Australia (so it quickly became a worldwide thing) but 1983 was when the first case was discovered in a female sex worker and opened up that it wasn't only a "gay disease". I dunno about MTV's take off because I've always heard it was around mid-1982 but I agree about Gen-Jones bands being wiped away around 1983.

I agree. 1982 was a big transitional period for films where we hadn't totally escaped the 70's formulas but the 80's were coming in quick.

1983 definitely continued the greatness of 80's movies (the whole time period from '82-'89 has so many good movies it's not even funny!) with (aside from the great movies you mentioned) Scarface, Trading Places (best Christmas film ever. I'll even watch it in the middle of July), Vacation (started John Hughes 80's reign and introduced us to Michael Anthony Hall), Strange Brew, etc. It'll always be my favorite decade for movies.

You sure it wasn't later than that? I believe the first time they started calling it AIDS was July 1982.


Was Rock Hudson the first to get it? ???

Was Rock Hudson the first to get it? ???


I think he was just one of the first really famous celebrities to contract and die from the disease. The first "official" case was some French-Canadian guy named Gaetan Dugas, or patient zero. He passed away in 1984.

If you watch the Friday the 13th films, you can see a difference in the fashion between 1979 and 1989.

If you watch the Friday the 13th films, you can see a difference in the fashion between 1979 and 1989.


Well, it was mostly the same during the fourth to eighth movies.

Well, it was mostly the same during the fourth to eighth movies.


But there was still a difference from Friday the 13th (1980) to Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan. There definitely was some 70's influence in the first film.

But there was still a difference from Friday the 13th (1980) to Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan. There definitely was some 70's influence in the first film.


Well yeah, which is why the first three movies were a bit 70s.

Yeah, new wave's commercial peak was probably more late 1982 to 1986, but it surprisingly didn't, in fact, need MTV in order to reach the masses, even though the channel sure helped it.


Yeah, that's a good point. New Wave was at the right place at the right time.


Another significant thing about late 1982 is that it was when 80s television first really took off. In addition to a lot of 70s or 1979-1982-era shows concluding earlier that year, you had the debuts of three gigantic hits: Knight Rider, Cheers, and Family Ties. There was also Newhart, Silver Spoons, and Cagney & Lacey, but it was really the former three that first really established an identity for 80s television. Later in the school year, you had the series finale of M*A*S*H, arguably the epic conclusion of the Boomer generation's dominance of popular culture since the 60s.


You also have Michael Jackson's Thriller, Sony's CDP-101 (the very first CD player) released in Japan (early '83 in NA) and the PC being the first non-human Man of the Year in Time magazine in early '83. Late '82-early '83 was a huge, huge time for the 80's!


1983 was truly an awesome and seriously underrated year for popular culture in general! In addition to being great for film and frankly not as bad for gaming as the crash would lead you to believe (1984 and most years this decade are better candidates; 1983 was still strong for arcades and computers), it's also possibly my favorite year ever in music. I own more albums from 1983 than any other year, which should speak for itself.


I agree! The only real problem is that it's sandwiched in between 1982 and 1984 which are often seen as more iconic years. 1983 is just as good as either of them! You can't lose with albums like Rebel Yell, Touch, Madonna, Murmur, Synchronicity, Subterranean Jungle, Out of Step and Good For Your Soul! 1982 to 1989, the 80's couldn't have gotten any better. Such strong music and movie releases throughout that entire time span.


Well yeah, which is why the first three movies were a bit 70s.


I agree. Part 3 felt a bit like the 70's and 80's clashing but parts 4 through 8 are pure 80's.

http://www.rowdytalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=643
early 1980's

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/87/51/1e/87511ecaaa2590269a5afcdb02d5c72a.jpg
Late 1980's


Dude, the second photo is a poor representation of the late eighties, let alone not even a vintage photo. The first is indeed genuine that could have been anywhere from 1982-85 or so, with the hair in transition from the Farrah style to the more familiar crimped style and before the jeans became ripped and acid washed. The second is more "midcentury retro", with the ponytails, peace signs, poodles on the second girl, not to mention pastels were first popular in the 1950s.

Dude, the second photo is a poor representation of the late eighties, let alone not even a vintage photo. The first is indeed genuine that could have been anywhere from 1982-85 or so, with the hair in transition from the Farrah style to the more familiar crimped style and before the jeans became ripped and acid washed. The second is more "midcentury retro", with the ponytails, peace signs, poodles on the second girl, not to mention pastels were first popular in the 1950s.


I can't see people wearing the styles shown in the first photo after maybe 1982 or 1983 (as a dying trend, of course. That look was way past out by 1983/1984). And even though professional acid wash wasn't really a thing until 1986, stonewash jeans (basically, a less-extreme acid wash) had already become a huge trend after Guess introduced them in 1982. 

I can't see people wearing the styles shown in the first photo after maybe 1982 or 1983 (as a dying trend, of course. That look was way past out by 1983/1984). And even though professional acid wash wasn't really a thing until 1986, stonewash jeans (basically, a less-extreme acid wash) had already become a huge trend after Guess introduced them in 1982.


Hey, I got the photos off the internet, What's the problem? ???

Hello to the forum members. This is a cool thread. It shows that clothes and hair change through the years and that they aren't always defined by decades. Generations play a role. Older people and younger people aren't identical in their fashion choices. Regions play a role too. Fads reach the coastal cities before they reach the central places. My hometown often is late to the party.

I went to my nephew's graduation dinner. I looked at his friends and yearbook. There were a lot of similarities to the past. The kids wore many clothes that kids wore in the '80s. I attended a midwestern suburban high school. Many students wore clothes that my nephew's peers wore. There was a brief time, in the middle '80s, that students wore threads that were sold at stores like Chess King and Merry-Go-Round. That period was the exception to the rule.

Most kids, in my hometown, wore ordinary clothes. They could have been found in a '70s film. They could have been found in a 2016 TV show. Jeans and t-shirts have been around since the '50s or before. I was somewhat afraid to break the mold before I graduated. I added accessories, like Ray Bans and skinny ties, after I graduated. I dressed much different in 1985 than I did in 1982. My "dating clothes" were somewhat new wave, but some of my wardrobe was very ordinary.

Hello to the forum members. This is a cool thread. It shows that clothes and hair change through the years and that they aren't always defined by decades. Generations play a role. Older people and younger people aren't identical in their fashion choices. Regions play a role too. Fads reach the coastal cities before they reach the central places. My hometown often is late to the party.

I went to my nephew's graduation dinner. I looked at his friends and yearbook. There were a lot of similarities to the past. The kids wore many clothes that kids wore in the '80s. I attended a midwestern suburban high school. Many students wore clothes that my nephew's peers wore. There was a brief time, in the middle '80s, that students wore threads that were sold at stores like Chess King and Merry-Go-Round. That period was the exception to the rule.

Most kids, in my hometown, wore ordinary clothes. They could have been found in a '70s film. They could have been found in a 2016 TV show. Jeans and t-shirts have been around since the '50s or before. I was somewhat afraid to break the mold before I graduated. I added accessories, like Ray Bans and skinny ties, after I graduated. I dressed much different in 1985 than I did in 1982. My "dating clothes" were somewhat new wave, but some of my wardrobe was very ordinary.


Welcome, New Wave!  :)

Hello to the forum members. This is a cool thread. It shows that clothes and hair change through the years and that they aren't always defined by decades. Generations play a role. Older people and younger people aren't identical in their fashion choices. Regions play a role too. Fads reach the coastal cities before they reach the central places. My hometown often is late to the party.

I went to my nephew's graduation dinner. I looked at his friends and yearbook. There were a lot of similarities to the past. The kids wore many clothes that kids wore in the '80s. I attended a midwestern suburban high school. Many students wore clothes that my nephew's peers wore. There was a brief time, in the middle '80s, that students wore threads that were sold at stores like Chess King and Merry-Go-Round. That period was the exception to the rule.

Most kids, in my hometown, wore ordinary clothes. They could have been found in a '70s film. They could have been found in a 2016 TV show. Jeans and t-shirts have been around since the '50s or before. I was somewhat afraid to break the mold before I graduated. I added accessories, like Ray Bans and skinny ties, after I graduated. I dressed much different in 1985 than I did in 1982. My "dating clothes" were somewhat new wave, but some of my wardrobe was very ordinary.


Welcome Knew Wave. :)

Welcome, New Wave!  :)


Thank you. It's "Knew Wave" because I'm old enough to recall new wave.  8)

Thank you. It's "Knew Wave" because I'm old enough to recall new wave.  8)


That's cool!  :o

Hello to the forum members. This is a cool thread. It shows that clothes and hair change through the years and that they aren't always defined by decades. Generations play a role. Older people and younger people aren't identical in their fashion choices. Regions play a role too. Fads reach the coastal cities before they reach the central places. My hometown often is late to the party.

I went to my nephew's graduation dinner. I looked at his friends and yearbook. There were a lot of similarities to the past. The kids wore many clothes that kids wore in the '80s. I attended a midwestern suburban high school. Many students wore clothes that my nephew's peers wore. There was a brief time, in the middle '80s, that students wore threads that were sold at stores like Chess King and Merry-Go-Round. That period was the exception to the rule.

Most kids, in my hometown, wore ordinary clothes. They could have been found in a '70s film. They could have been found in a 2016 TV show. Jeans and t-shirts have been around since the '50s or before. I was somewhat afraid to break the mold before I graduated. I added accessories, like Ray Bans and skinny ties, after I graduated. I dressed much different in 1985 than I did in 1982. My "dating clothes" were somewhat new wave, but some of my wardrobe was very ordinary.


Welcome to the forums!

I agree about how clothes back then in general weren't as bad as people say. Sure, the 80's did have a lot of crazy, wacky styles but some people treat the time period like it's an alien planet and even go as far as saying that people didn't start to dress normal until the 90's or whatever (which makes me really scratch my head... funny enough, I've been dressing the same way since 1995 but I am sure, with only a few slight modifications, I could fit in fairly well with a group of skate rats in 1985 no problem).

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/1d/a3/e0/1da3e0e56c822cfcbe88be5b65a889df.jpg
brick phones (early 80's)

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/59/0a/c5/590ac5f8dc6f265cb295d86d7148fbe8.jpg
flip phones (late 80's)

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/1d/a3/e0/1da3e0e56c822cfcbe88be5b65a889df.jpg
brick phones (early 80's)

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/59/0a/c5/590ac5f8dc6f265cb295d86d7148fbe8.jpg
flip phones (late 80's)


The early 80s picture looks more clear, while the late 80s looks a little too bright.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/1d/a3/e0/1da3e0e56c822cfcbe88be5b65a889df.jpg
brick phones (early 80's)

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/59/0a/c5/590ac5f8dc6f265cb295d86d7148fbe8.jpg
flip phones (late 80's)


I love that blocky early 1980's phone!  :)

I love these picture threads. They bring back all the memories. :)

Anthony Michael Hall in 1982:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/11/07/277389D000000578-0-image-m-141_1428733453040.jpg

1983:

http://davelandweb.com/celebs/images/sixteencandles/SixteenCandles2.jpg

1988:

http://www.movpins.com/big/MV5BMTY2MjExMTYxMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzAyODg0NA/uma-thurman-and-anthony-michael-hall-in-johnny-be-good-(1988).jpg

John Cusack 1982:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/e9/33/f0/e933f0797366d0473df2e96a138fe77f.jpg

1983 (movie was shot in '83):

http://cineplex.media.baselineresearch.com/images/280308/280308_full.jpg

1989:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n35PfUpWyak/TDEp5kB82YI/AAAAAAAAWgc/d0-09GSVuIE/s1600/John+Cusack+2.JPG

From about mid 1982 to 1983 shorter, neater hair (or spiky Billy Idol-type hair. In general: hair that wasn't in your face) started to take off and the shaggy messy cuts of the 70's had definitely become uncool. Around this time is not only when New Wave was at it's peak but when high schoolers and college kids started to imitate the new wave looks at home and fashion became a lot more varied and exciting.

Anthony Michael Hall in 1982:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/11/07/277389D000000578-0-image-m-141_1428733453040.jpg

1983:

http://davelandweb.com/celebs/images/sixteencandles/SixteenCandles2.jpg

1988:

http://www.movpins.com/big/MV5BMTY2MjExMTYxMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzAyODg0NA/uma-thurman-and-anthony-michael-hall-in-johnny-be-good-(1988).jpg

John Cusack 1982:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/e9/33/f0/e933f0797366d0473df2e96a138fe77f.jpg

1983 (movie was shot in '83):

http://cineplex.media.baselineresearch.com/images/280308/280308_full.jpg

1989:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n35PfUpWyak/TDEp5kB82YI/AAAAAAAAWgc/d0-09GSVuIE/s1600/John+Cusack+2.JPG

From about mid 1982 to 1983 shorter, neater hair (or spiky Billy Idol-type hair. In general: hair that wasn't in your face) started to take off and the shaggy messy cuts of the 70's had definitely become uncool. Around this time is not only when New Wave was at it's peak but when high schoolers and college kids started to imitate the new wave looks at home and fashion became a lot more varied and exciting.


Yeah, people tend to think everyone's hair was as big as a Christmas tree back in the 1980's, or something like that.

Welcome Knew Wave. :)


Thanks, Howard. What kinds of clothes did you wear back in the day?

Welcome to the forums!

I agree about how clothes back then in general weren't as bad as people say. Sure, the 80's did have a lot of crazy, wacky styles but some people treat the time period like it's an alien planet and even go as far as saying that people didn't start to dress normal until the 90's or whatever (which makes me really scratch my head... funny enough, I've been dressing the same way since 1995 but I am sure, with only a few slight modifications, I could fit in fairly well with a group of skate rats in 1985 no problem).


Thanks, Jordan. You raise a good point. Clothes and hair aren't uniform. Different groups wear different threads. You dress like a skater. You would fit in with skaters of most eras. Get in a time machine. You would fit in with some '80s kids, who wouldn't look like goths or preps. It's still like that. It's like how greasers and hippies shared spaces with cowboys and rednecks. It's like how new wave kids shared spaces with "nerds". There wasn't just one look.

Thanks, Howard. What kinds of clothes did you wear back in the day?


I don't think I worn 80's clothes.

I don't think I worn 80's clothes.


You were naked in the '80s? That must have been awkward!

I don't think I worn 80's clothes.
  :o

You were naked in the '80s? That must have been awkward!


I was a kid in the 80's but I never worn 80's fashion clothes.

I was a kid in the 80's but I never worn 80's fashion clothes.


Got it. What kinds of clothes did you wear in the '90s?

Thanks, Jordan. You raise a good point. Clothes and hair aren't uniform. Different groups wear different threads. You dress like a skater. You would fit in with skaters of most eras. Get in a time machine. You would fit in with some '80s kids, who wouldn't look like goths or preps. It's still like that. It's like how greasers and hippies shared spaces with cowboys and rednecks. It's like how new wave kids shared spaces with "nerds". There wasn't just one look.


Definitely. There was a lot of variety back then. Maybe some kids wanted to look like Motley Crue but others preferred the Slayer/Megadeth look. You had the Punks and then you had the New Waver. Preppies, goths, nerds, skaters, neo-hippies etc. Youth culture exploded during that era! What a great time! 

 

Some photos that show similarities between the later-early 80's and the mid to late 80's.

Tim Robbins in 1982:

http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm943euqYV1qkb36oo1_500.png

1984:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/3f/ed/d5/3fedd53565aebda489e087dd20e489e8.jpg

1988:

http://meetinthelobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Tim-Robbins-John-Cusack-Tapeheads.jpg

Linda Blair in 1982:

http://67.media.tumblr.com/c962a923a83f586177c90ad35c421240/tumblr_no0pnxo3z61rldhmro3_500.jpg

1983:

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/linda-blair-during-linda-blair-sighting-at-spago-restaurant-in-west-picture-id109635187

1989/1990:

http://static.flickr.com/2181/2528686739_42711cacc5.jpg

Depeche Mode in 1982:

http://www.tiptopwebsite.com/photos3/depechemodefile/framepic.jpg

1985:

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/depeche-mode-group-shot-at-photo-studio-in-tokyo-april-1985-picture-id593316365

1989:

http://www.angelfire.com/my/Depeche/images/DM1989.jpg

Got it. What kinds of clothes did you wear in the '90s?


the basic jeans, t-shirts and sneakers.

the basic jeans, t-shirts and sneakers.
To school?

Definitely. There was a lot of variety back then. Maybe some kids wanted to look like Motley Crue but others preferred the Slayer/Megadeth look. You had the Punks and then you had the New Waver. Preppies, goths, nerds, skaters, neo-hippies etc. Youth culture exploded during that era! What a great time! 


Individuals changed their clothes and hair too. They looked like a member of the Sex Pistols in 1980. They looked like a member of Duran Duran in 1987. Their younger brother looked like a member of Pearl Jam in 1997.

the basic jeans, t-shirts and sneakers.


Men, in their seventies, could say that too. Some things never change.

Tim Robbins in 1982:

http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm943euqYV1qkb36oo1_500.png

Linda Blair in 1982:

http://67.media.tumblr.com/c962a923a83f586177c90ad35c421240/tumblr_no0pnxo3z61rldhmro3_500.jpg

Depeche Mode in 1982:

http://www.tiptopwebsite.com/photos3/depechemodefile/framepic.jpg


My mind is blown! They look like junior high school kids in those photos.

Since you guys are focusing on all the subtle differences in fashion from year to year, I thought I should refer you all to this page. It's a collection of senior yearbook portraits for a high school in a small town in Kern County, California. The collections span all the way from the 1910s to the early-mid-90s. It makes it a lot easier to trace some of the evolution of fashion throughout the 20th century.


My mind is blown! They look like junior high school kids in those photos.


I totally thought the same thing! I would have beaten you to that point, but I had to get back from my work break. I guess Depeche Mode in the "Just Can't Get Enough" era was like Silverchair during the Frogstomp age:

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/mag/img/blogs/silverchai_m2011785.jpg

To school?


Yes, each and every day.

Yes, each and every day.
Sunday school?

Sunday school?


I never went to Sunday School.

Individuals changed their clothes and hair too. They looked like a member of the Sex Pistols in 1980. They looked like a member of Duran Duran in 1987. Their younger brother looked like a member of Pearl Jam in 1997.


One could be a punk rocker in 1982 and then jump into thrash metal in 1984 or maybe even go Hip Hop after picking up King of Rock and Licensed to Ill in 1986. I know a bit of guys who are a bit older than me and have told me about how they were surfer kids in the 70's and when the 80's came around they cut their hair and became punk rock street skaters. Some haven't changed their style at all. I was surprised when I found photos of Tony Hawk in the 70's; he's looked roughly the same throughout his whole life clothing-wise.


My mind is blown! They look like junior high school kids in those photos.


I was thinking the same thing! I'm not used to seeing a happy, smiling Depeche Mode, either...


I totally thought the same thing! I would have beaten you to that point, but I had to get back from my work break. I guess Depeche Mode in the "Just Can't Get Enough" era was like Silverchair during the Frogstomp age:

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/mag/img/blogs/silverchai_m2011785.jpg


Still hard to believe that the guys in Silverchair are only 3 years older than me. I could of sworn they were a lot older.


I was a kid in the 80's but I never worn 80's fashion clothes.


Didn't you say you had a rat-tail in the 80's? :P

One could be a punk rocker in 1982 and then jump into thrash metal in 1984 or maybe even go Hip Hop after picking up King of Rock and Licensed to Ill in 1986. I know a bit of guys who are a bit older than me and have told me about how they were surfer kids in the 70's and when the 80's came around they cut their hair and became punk rock street skaters. Some haven't changed their style at all. I was surprised when I found photos of Tony Hawk in the 70's; he's looked roughly the same throughout his whole life clothing-wise.

I was thinking the same thing! I'm not used to seeing a happy, smiling Depeche Mode, either...

Still hard to believe that the guys in Silverchair are only 3 years older than me. I could of sworn they were a lot older.

Didn't you say you had a rat-tail in the 80's? :P


Yes I did and I tried it when I had more of my hair, this was back in The Summer Of 1988.

Since you guys are focusing on all the subtle differences in fashion from year to year, I thought I should refer you all to this page. It's a collection of senior yearbook portraits for a high school in a small town in Kern County, California. The collections span all the way from the 1910s to the early-mid-90s. It makes it a lot easier to trace some of the evolution of fashion throughout the 20th century.

I totally thought the same thing! I would have beaten you to that point, but I had to get back from my work break. I guess Depeche Mode in the "Just Can't Get Enough" era was like Silverchair during the Frogstomp age:

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/mag/img/blogs/silverchai_m2011785.jpg


There's a second phenomenon. I looked at my mom's yearbook and my nephew's yearbook. My graduating class looked younger than my mom's. They looked older than my nephew's.

I just bought some clothes from the 80s (and 60s) for the first time, and I gotta say it's quite a joyous experience to finally suit myself in the past and not just listening to the music or watching the movies and television of these bygone eras.

I just bought some clothes from the 80s (and 60s) for the first time, and I gotta say it's quite a joyous experience to finally suit myself in the past and not just listening to the music or watching the movies and television of these bygone eras.


I wish I've done the same thing to myself. Except that I'll have shirts that have 2000s bands in them. They're really better than the crap we have nowadays.

I just bought some clothes from the 80s (and 60s) for the first time, and I gotta say it's quite a joyous experience to finally suit myself in the past and not just listening to the music or watching the movies and television of these bygone eras.


I always wanted a zoot suit to wear to swing dances. The big band '40s make the new wave '80s look like the grunge rock '90s.

Just from my personal observation, the early 80s were still a lot like the 70s, with the Fawcett doo still being the most popular hair choice and men still having strong moustaches. Then the late 80s is what the decade infamous for, with the big spray can hair and neon make up and shoulder pads for the women and the mullets on the guys etc.

I just bought some clothes from the 80s (and 60s) for the first time, and I gotta say it's quite a joyous experience to finally suit myself in the past and not just listening to the music or watching the movies and television of these bygone eras.


Sounds cool! What stuff did you pick up? The only 80's clothes I've ever had would be way too small for me now. :-\\


Just from my personal observation, the early 80s were still a lot like the 70s, with the Fawcett doo still being the most popular hair choice and men still having strong moustaches. Then the late 80s is what the decade infamous for, with the big spray can hair and neon make up and shoulder pads for the women and the mullets on the guys etc.


The very early 80's are kinda funny. They had this vague 70's look but without the distinctive features like bell-bottoms and earth tones while not being really all that 80's either. People began to look 80's in 1983 (maybe in some cases 1982 from what I've seen. Think shorter hair for men, looser clothing fits, bigger curly hair for women) but I would say the cheesiness (neon colors, mullets, crazy patterns) were full force by 1984 and would continue until the early 90's.

Farrah hair never dies, though. :-\\ All throughout my life I've seen it evolve to fit into whatever time period is present. 

I agree, from past pictures 1980 and 1981 definitely had 70's qualities to them. You could see a very subtle 1980's look in 1982. And by 1983, the 80's were here for good.

I agree, from past pictures 1980 and 1981 definitely had 70's qualities to them. You could see a very subtle 1980's look in 1982. And by 1983, the 80's were here for good.


Yep. 1980 and 1981 were a washed-out 70's period/not really 80's period and 1982 in it was becoming less and less uncommon to see people with some crazier/new romantic styles and bigger or shorter hair but it's not quite full-on 80's yet. 1983 is no doubt totally 80's. No 70's left by that point aside from some nearly-dead fashions.

Yep. 1980 and 1981 were a washed-out 70's period/not really 80's period and 1982 in it was becoming less and less uncommon to see people with some crazier/new romantic styles and bigger or shorter hair but it's not quite full-on 80's yet. 1983 is no doubt totally 80's. No 70's left by that point aside from some nearly-dead fashions.


Yeah, you're basically describing the 1979-1982 era, as I see it, to a tee. That period, in general frankly, was a period squarely without a decade-specific identity. I already mentioned how new wave, synth pop, and post-disco were already huge during the second half of 1979 and that even in the 1981-1982 school year, the music industry was still overwhelmingly fueled by Gen-Jones. Additionally, the second generation of gaming absolutely defined the period, being a groundbreaking craze at the time before dying a painful death as soon as the classic 80s started to take off. Television was pretty much caught in its own era as well, essentially the age of shows like Mork & Mindy, Taxi, The Dukes of Hazzard, and WKRP in Cincinnati, but while most 70s shows were either over or past their primes (M*A*S*H being the biggest exception), there really wasn't a lucid 80s atmosphere to public broadcast until autumn 1982, when several iconic shows premiered and MTV became more mainstream, although I would argue that 80s television had already established itself in Britain in 1981, long after the end of Fawlty Towers but also when the Fifth Doctor made his debut, and both Yes Minister and Only Fools and Horses were on the air.

I just bought some clothes from the 80s (and 60s) for the first time, and I gotta say it's quite a joyous experience to finally suit myself in the past and not just listening to the music or watching the movies and television of these bygone eras.


What kind of clothes were they?

It depends on the country or the region. Fashion trends often start in European cities, as well as in the American coastal cities, before they appear in the heartland. New wave was big in the UK before most American midwesterners even knew what it was. There also is some peer pressure to NOT wear the latest fashions.

It depends on the country or the region. Fashion trends often start in European cities, as well as in the American coastal cities, before they appear in the heartland. New wave was big in the UK before most American midwesterners even knew what it was. There also is some peer pressure to NOT wear the latest fashions.


Europe has always stuck me as being ahead of the time. I was looking at the link Infinity sent from Kern County in socal and it looked fairly different from places in norcal like Albany, Morgan Hill and Berkley. I also saw some footage of Texas and Tennessee schools and while Texas was way behind the times, Tennessee was pretty up to date. Looking at the norcal 80's school videos was cool. I've actually visited a lot of those high schools in the 90's as I had friends who went there. It's cool to see how they looked 10 years earlier. I even saw a HS video from 1984 and to my surprise Lint of Operation Ivy made an appearance. Pretty cool to see him in High School. I think I even saw their bassist Matt Freeman for a second.

Europe has always stuck me as being ahead of the time. I was looking at the link Infinity sent from Kern County in socal and it looked fairly different from places in norcal like Albany, Morgan Hill and Berkley. I also saw some footage of Texas and Tennessee schools and while Texas was way behind the times, Tennessee was pretty up to date. Looking at the norcal 80's school videos was cool. I've actually visited a lot of those high schools in the 90's as I had friends who went there. It's cool to see how they looked 10 years earlier. I even saw a HS video from 1984 and to my surprise Lint of Operation Ivy made an appearance. Pretty cool to see him in High School. I think I even saw their bassist Matt Freeman for a second.


You bring up a cool subject for a new thread. It's about the generations of the celebrities of our generations. Their generation seldom matches our generation. Look at the '80s and the '90s. Most of the '80s celebrities, that are a part of '80s youth culture, belong to the Disco Generation or the Woodstock Generation. Many of the '90s celebrities belong to the New Wave Generation. It's wild that many grunge rock bands came of age during the era of synth pop! It's also wild that some of the Boomer's idols aren't Boomers.

You bring up a cool subject for a new thread. It's about the generations of the celebrities of our generations. Their generation seldom matches our generation. Look at the '80s and the '90s. Most of the '80s celebrities, that are a part of '80s youth culture, belong to the Disco Generation or the Woodstock Generation. Many of the '90s celebrities belong to the New Wave Generation. It's wild that many grunge rock bands came of age during the era of synth pop! It's also wild that some of the Boomer's idols aren't Boomers.


That's too true. I was thinking a while back about how all people see the 90's as the "definitive" Generation X era yet all the definitive gen x members grew up in the 80's. Even Kurt Cobain himself said in an interview that he was into New Wave and was proud to be into it in the 80's. Funny enough is that he "looked Grunge" (photo is 1984-ish) back then, too. While people around my brother's age (who was born in 1977) were all about the 80's backlash, I'm willing to bet the guys who made the movies and played in the bands were probably still very fond of the crazy fashions and New Wave/Synth-pop music. Hell, 80's alternative was also incredible as well. If you're into stuff like Nirvana, why wouldn't you love bands like REM, Husker Du, and Dinosaur Jr.?

That's too true. I was thinking a while back about how all people see the 90's as the "definitive" Generation X era yet all the definitive gen x members grew up in the 80's. Even Kurt Cobain himself said in an interview that he was into New Wave and was proud to be into it in the 80's. Funny enough is that he "looked Grunge" (photo is 1984-ish) back then, too. While people around my brother's age (who was born in 1977) were all about the 80's backlash, I'm willing to bet the guys who made the movies and played in the bands were probably still very fond of the crazy fashions and New Wave/Synth-pop music. Hell, 80's alternative was also incredible as well. If you're into stuff like Nirvana, why wouldn't you love bands like REM, Husker Du, and Dinosaur Jr.?


I'm pretty sure Cobain also stated that he was so obsessed with the Pixies that he felt Nirvana was a total clone of them.


Sounds cool! What stuff did you pick up? The only 80's clothes I've ever had would be way too small for me now. :-\\


What kind of clothes were they?


I got two 60s dresses, one a light blue and the other a pinkish multicolor pattern scheme; for the 80s, I got a buttoned collar shirt with floral patterns, a soft blue/white-striped sweater, and a black skirt. I was gonna get back sooner, but I'm wanting to post photos of myself in my new outfits in the Show Us What You Look Like! thread. I'll present them once I get the chance.

I'm pretty sure Cobain also stated that he was so obsessed with the Pixies that he felt Nirvana was a total clone of them.

I got two 60s dresses, one a light blue and the other a pinkish multicolor pattern scheme; for the 80s, I got a buttoned collar shirt with floral patterns, a soft blue/white-striped sweater, and a black skirt. I was gonna get back sooner, but I'm wanting to post photos of myself in my new outfits in the Show Us What You Look Like! thread. I'll present them once I get the chance.


He sure did! The dude had great taste!

Can't wait to see 'em! Hey, you ever check out the site etsy? I've been checking it out recently and they've got so many great retro items spanning as far back as the 50's. Anything you can think of. Clothing, old VHS tapes, posters, etc. Pretty cool stuff.

That's too true. I was thinking a while back about how all people see the 90's as the "definitive" Generation X era yet all the definitive gen x members grew up in the 80's. Even Kurt Cobain himself said in an interview that he was into New Wave and was proud to be into it in the 80's. Funny enough is that he "looked Grunge" (photo is 1984-ish) back then, too. While people around my brother's age (who was born in 1977) were all about the 80's backlash, I'm willing to bet the guys who made the movies and played in the bands were probably still very fond of the crazy fashions and New Wave/Synth-pop music. Hell, 80's alternative was also incredible as well. If you're into stuff like Nirvana, why wouldn't you love bands like REM, Husker Du, and Dinosaur Jr.?


That's right! Alternative rock, sometimes called college rock, really took off in the '80s. There were so many genres during that decade, and new wave and synth pop were big at the same time that college rock and hard core were big. It seemed like college rock was somewhat responsible for grunge rock. For those who were confused by the term, college rock was alternative rock that was featured on college stations because they received little airplay on other outlets, especially album rock stations. REM was one of the top acts, and some of their first songs reminded me of Nirvana in some ways. Their seminal songs did not sound much like the stuff on MTV at the time, and MTV was wont to play videos by acts like the Replacements and the Sugarcubes. The evolution of genres during the '80s was remarkable.

Can't wait to see 'em! Hey, you ever check out the site etsy? I've been checking it out recently and they've got so many great retro items spanning as far back as the 50's. Anything you can think of. Clothing, old VHS tapes, posters, etc. Pretty cool stuff.


I just posted a few photos in the thread, so go ahead and check them out if you'd like!

Not sure if I've ever really heard of Etsy before (I might've stumbled upon it randomly in the past but not remembered it), but it does seem like a pretty legit site! The items there are often sort of costly, but there's quite a variety to choose from, so it's definitely a great place for me to be a Material Girl. Thanks for referring me!

That's right! Alternative rock, sometimes called college rock, really took off in the '80s. There were so many genres during that decade, and new wave and synth pop were big at the same time that college rock and hard core were big. It seemed like college rock was somewhat responsible for grunge rock. For those who were confused by the term, college rock was alternative rock that was featured on college stations because they received little airplay on other outlets, especially album rock stations. REM was one of the top acts, and some of their first songs reminded me of Nirvana in some ways. Their seminal songs did not sound much like the stuff on MTV at the time, and MTV was wont to play videos by acts like the Replacements and the Sugarcubes. The evolution of genres during the '80s was remarkable.


There was so much variety to choose from. You could have New Wave or Hardcore Punk. Glam Metal or Thrash Metal. Alternative Rock seemed to be fairly popular too with bands like R.E.M., The Cure, Smiths and Husker Du bringing the genre to new heights. It's funny how some people think of the genre as exclusively 90's, yet it existed and was fairly noticeable from R.E.M.'s Murmur (one of my favorite albums of all time) onward. One thing about the 80's was the decade was very consistent in terms of quality. A punk rock record from 1981 like Dead Kennedy's In God We Trust, Inc. or Agent Orange's Living in Darkness is just as entertainingly good thrash that's just fun to listen to as a record from 1989 like Operation Ivy's Energy or Life Sentence's No Experience Necessary. My favorite 80's music would have to be either alternative rock or the late 80's Lookout records releases (e.g. Crimpshrine, Op Ivy, Isocracy, early Green Day, Screeching Weasel). I'm never bored looking through 80's records.


I just posted a few photos in the thread, so go ahead and check them out if you'd like!

Not sure if I've ever really heard of Etsy before (I might've stumbled upon it randomly in the past but not remembered it), but it does seem like a pretty legit site! The items there are often sort of costly, but there's quite a variety to choose from, so it's definitely a great place for me to be a Material Girl. Thanks for referring me!


Those photos look great! You've got a nice sense of style! ;) And no problem! Have fun shopping.

There was so much variety to choose from. You could have New Wave or Hardcore Punk. Glam Metal or Thrash Metal. Alternative Rock seemed to be fairly popular too with bands like R.E.M., The Cure, Smiths and Husker Du bringing the genre to new heights. It's funny how some people think of the genre as exclusively 90's, yet it existed and was fairly noticeable from R.E.M.'s Murmur (one of my favorite albums of all time) onward. One thing about the 80's was the decade was very consistent in terms of quality. A punk rock record from 1981 like Dead Kennedy's In God We Trust, Inc. or Agent Orange's Living in Darkness is just as entertainingly good thrash that's just fun to listen to as a record from 1989 like Operation Ivy's Energy or Life Sentence's No Experience Necessary. My favorite 80's music would have to be either alternative rock or the late 80's Lookout records releases (e.g. Crimpshrine, Op Ivy, Isocracy, early Green Day, Screeching Weasel). I'm never bored looking through 80's records.


There were revivals too. The Blasters and the Stray Cats brought back rockabilly. Madness brought back ska. The Jam brought back the mod scene. It was like the '80s were part '50s and part '60s. Many acts featured Motown styles too. The nostalgia then was not quite the same as the nostalgia now, though. The current longing for retro culture seems to be linked to loss. That likely sounds too deep or too heavy, but there's something to it. It might come from the realization of our country's situation after 9/11. It's like that was the event that ended the good times for good in many people's minds. It cast a continuous pall on the culture, turning bright colors into shades of gray. Older people recall a more carefree and more laid back time when life was more enjoyable. Younger people wish that they lived during a more optimistic time with more freedom. The past wasn't perfect, and people forgot that there were many problems back then when they used rose prisms as they celebrated the Reagan to Clinton era(s). Still, there really seemed to be more hope back then. 

There were revivals too. The Blasters and the Stray Cats brought back rockabilly. Madness brought back ska. The Jam brought back the mod scene. It was like the '80s were part '50s and part '60s. Many acts featured Motown styles too. The nostalgia then was not quite the same as the nostalgia now, though. The current longing for retro culture seems to be linked to loss. That likely sounds too deep or too heavy, but there's something to it. It might come from the realization of our country's situation after 9/11. It's like that was the event that ended the good times for good in many people's minds. It cast a continuous pall on the culture, turning bright colors into shades of gray. Older people recall a more carefree and more laid back time when life was more enjoyable. Younger people wish that they lived during a more optimistic time with more freedom. The past wasn't perfect, and people forgot that there were many problems back then when they used rose prisms as they celebrated the Reagan to Clinton era(s). Still, there really seemed to be more hope back then.


Oh, for sure! Speaking of Madness, them and The Specials have gotta be two of my favorite ska bands. What was cool about the 80's revivals is that the 80's revamps of the style actually sounds really good (as opposed to feeling like cheap rehashes). At the same time, if you didn't want the 50's or 60's then that was fine because you still had so many incredible new genres of the 80's to choose from. When I hear of music from when I was a teenager (like mid 90's emo and Pop Punk) being revamped today, I've gotta shake my head. It just doesn't sound good. I think it extended past music, too. A lot of cult films like Top Secret, Tapeheads, Toxic Avenger and Repo Man brought back, made tributes and parodied goofy b-movie styles of the 50's and 60's while still having that distinct 80's touch. I think a lot of the nostalgia has to do with people being sick and tired of the shallow climate today. You've got the wacky crap on the news and social media dominating every aspect of society causing a huge sensory overload and creating a mass of zombies attached to their cell phones. Just speaking from my point of view, I miss the simpler times where I wasn't expected to be online 24/7. I value my time alone and my privacy. Last thing I want is to have it taken away. The most mind-boggling thing to me is this decade's focus on childhood. It's kinda weird.

Believe it or not from what I've read, "oldies" stations were actually more prominent in the later part of the '80s than in the earlier part, in which the classic music was generally relegated to "Adult Standards/Beautiful Music" that played a mix of instrumentals, pre-rock pop, and soft rock-era music) along with gold-based Adult Contemporary that played a mix of classic and current AM classics (with many stations billing themselves as the "Greatest hits of the '60s, '70s, and '80s) before the real '50s/'60s oldies stations caught on around 1986 or so, after an experiment in the early/mid '70s of the pre-Beatles era oldies. IMO the late '80s/early '90s "oldies" stations were just that, pretty much exclusively music from the first 15 years of the Rock 'n Roll era, and their popularity and boom was likely a result of the nostalgia that was prevalent by the groups above. The only reason why these stations (now billed as "classic hits") only play Stand By Me, Twist and Shout, and Do You Love Me? were due to becoming hits a second time around thanks to their prominent use in certain movies. Then from the mid-90s onward, nostalgia became a moving target forward to the point now that the '80s are now in the middle of the range of most classic hits stations, and speaking of which, you're more likely to hear the '80s versions of '60s classics nowadays (I Think We're Alone Now, Mony Mony, Groovy Kind of Love, You Keep Me Hanging On, You Can't Hurry Love).

Still, when I look at the chart on Musicmap, it seems like the genre creation/evolution peaked in the 1980s overall, with most of the '90s caused by electronic & dance genres. There will almost certainly never be as exciting and enriching of a decade like the '80s in our lifetimes.

Oh, for sure! Speaking of Madness, them and The Specials have gotta be two of my favorite ska bands. What was cool about the 80's revivals is that the 80's revamps of the style actually sounds really good (as opposed to feeling like cheap rehashes). At the same time, if you didn't want the 50's or 60's then that was fine because you still had so many incredible new genres of the 80's to choose from. When I hear of music from when I was a teenager (like mid 90's emo and Pop Punk) being revamped today, I've gotta shake my head. It just doesn't sound good. I think it extended past music, too. A lot of cult films like Top Secret, Tapeheads, Toxic Avenger and Repo Man brought back, made tributes and parodied goofy b-movie styles of the 50's and 60's while still having that distinct 80's touch. I think a lot of the nostalgia has to do with people being sick and tired of the shallow climate today. You've got the wacky crap on the news and social media dominating every aspect of society causing a huge sensory overload and creating a mass of zombies attached to their cell phones. Just speaking from my point of view, I miss the simpler times where I wasn't expected to be online 24/7. I value my time alone and my privacy. Last thing I want is to have it taken away. The most mind-boggling thing to me is this decade's focus on childhood. It's kinda weird.


I know what you mean! I miss real communication too. You can't replace home visits and phone conversations with shallow texts. They're not in the same zip code. I went to my nephew's graduation party. The boys and girls sat at the same table. They talked for a bit. They then texted other people. Not a glance or a word was exchanged. They were there, but they weren't there. Each kid was alone in a room full of people. The intentional isolation seemed bizarre. Many of us miss the good old days. We miss the time when people weren't glued to their gadgets and gizmos. The contemporary lack of authentic connection can't be a good thing. We're wired for human contact.

I know what you mean! I miss real communication too. You can't replace home visits and phone conversations with shallow texts. They're not in the same zip code. I went to my nephew's graduation party. The boys and girls sat at the same table. They talked for a bit. They then texted other people. Not a glance or a word was exchanged. They were there, but they weren't there. Each kid was alone in a room full of people. The intentional isolation seemed bizarre. Many of us miss the good old days. We miss the time when people weren't glued to their gadgets and gizmos. The contemporary lack of authentic connection can't be a good thing. We're wired for human contact.


I've been there way too many times, weirdly enough with people my own age (early-mid 30's. I don't get why). It's irritating how people can't seem to go 10 minutes at minimum without checking their phones every time it beeps during a conversation. Growing up, I always valued human communication. Making good friends and having a connection with people was something I looked forward, too. I don't know what's happened. I guess the convenience of all this tech has become so commonplace that people these days have forgotten how and are afraid to make conversation and eye contact with one another. The easy computerized way may seem good at first but when it comes to befriending people who you can trust and can call a true friend, no computer will replace the bonding that happens between human beings. Unfortunately, many people might not experience that kind of thing.

Believe it or not from what I've read, "oldies" stations were actually more prominent in the later part of the '80s than in the earlier part, in which the classic music was generally relegated to "Adult Standards/Beautiful Music" that played a mix of instrumentals, pre-rock pop, and soft rock-era music) along with gold-based Adult Contemporary that played a mix of classic and current AM classics (with many stations billing themselves as the "Greatest hits of the '60s, '70s, and '80s) before the real '50s/'60s oldies stations caught on around 1986 or so, after an experiment in the early/mid '70s of the pre-Beatles era oldies. IMO the late '80s/early '90s "oldies" stations were just that, pretty much exclusively music from the first 15 years of the Rock 'n Roll era, and their popularity and boom was likely a result of the nostalgia that was prevalent by the groups above. The only reason why these stations (now billed as "classic hits") only play Stand By Me, Twist and Shout, and Do You Love Me? were due to becoming hits a second time around thanks to their prominent use in certain movies. Then from the mid-90s onward, nostalgia became a moving target forward to the point now that the '80s are now in the middle of the range of most classic hits stations, and speaking of which, you're more likely to hear the '80s versions of '60s classics nowadays (I Think We're Alone Now, Mony Mony, Groovy Kind of Love, You Keep Me Hanging On, You Can't Hurry Love).

Still, when I look at the chart on Musicmap, it seems like the genre creation/evolution peaked in the 1980s overall, with most of the '90s caused by electronic & dance genres. There will almost certainly never be as exciting and enriching of a decade like the '80s in our lifetimes.


Phil Collins sang two of the mentioned songs. He was one of the artists and bands who brought back Motown in the '80s. Even Naked Eyes did a Dionne Warwick cover, which did pretty well back then. It was "There's Always Something There To Remind Me". The Stranglers remade "Walk On By". The relatively recent new soul movement, led by singers such as Duffy and Amy Winehouse, was right up my alley. It sounded current too. Even the '90s revisited the swing era.