Tuesday, June 2, 2009

80s fashion comeback

Times are tough. The economy sucks, people are being laid off and money is tighter than Joan Rivers face.

But lately, I've noticed the economy has been extra cruel to the women of Chicago. Why? Because many of them can't afford a properly fitting shirt. Oh the humanity!

Women like you (minus the guys) and me are forced to buy shirts that casually fall of our shoulder, exposing skin and a delicate cami or bra strap, the other side of the shirt's neck coming dangerously close to to cutting their throat all in the name of fashion. I've seen this look multiple times downtown and it just confuses me.

For $1 a day, you can help a woman in Chicago to have a properly-fitting shirt, and keep her from dancing around a classroom to that Flashdance song.

I mean, that one-shoulder look was popular in the 80s FOR A REASON.

I'm all for exposing a little skin, an ankle or elbow here and there, but that shirt falling open when you lean forward...that's just putting out the wrong message. Cow + milk should NOT be free.

But that is just me. I love the 80s, especially the music, and not all 80s fashion is bad (minus the shoulder pads, what's up with that look coming back?)

So if you had to pick one 80s trend to bring back, what would it be? I'm torn between Jelly shoes and Hypercolor shirts. Loved those.

Note: Thanks everyone for the pants caption contest. I'll review the entries and let you know who is the winner.

I also forgot to mention something in yesterday's post. I got to meet up with Pam from Relish and enjoy my first Bobtail ice cream of the season. It's always nice to meet more great Chicago bloggers in person!

34 comments:

Wheels said...

I completely agree with you! Just because they sell it at Forever 21, it doesn't mean it's fashionable! I used to love scrunchies with the best of them, but no more!

Although, some of my favorite childhood outfits most definitely involved day-glo colors, bike shorts, long shirts with the plastic buckle thing you could use to secure the shirt on the side.

Mandy said...

Ohhh I completely rocked both Jellies and hypercolor shirts. and anything neon and slap bracelets. Don't forget the slap bracelets.

Rachel said...

I would bring back slap bracelets in a second.

80's fashion that should die die die;
*anything acid washed. I'm looking at you Adam Lambert.
*crimped hair. Seriously Tyra?
*all other things that looked horrible on me when I was growing up.

Erin said...

Hmmm, I haven't seen those being worn around downtown. Maybe I'm too far south? I'm right at the edge of being in the South Loop. Although it's funny to think that fashion trends could change on a block by block basis.

Is there anything from the 80s I would bring back? Hmm. I kind of agree with A Oh Dub about the plastic shirt buckle. And what about shorts over leggings? I used to rock that look almost every day.

Lis said...

I'd vote for Jellies but the hypercolor and the things that you put on the side of your shirt to pull them tight are a close second!! :)

Heidi Renée said...

Ditto on shoulder pads--WTF! I can't support a jellies comeback, though. They hurt too damn much and they always made my feet smell super-disgusting.

Maki said...

One of the thing that I want to see coming back from 80's would be music... Wait, you're talking about fashion..... Hair? Nope. Fashion? Not so much... Also, I've seen in some magazines recently that Stonewash Denims are back - I'm totally screaming "NOOOOO" for that! LOL

Maxie said...

Just not the scrunchie. WHY is the scrunchie coming back?

~M~ said...

Well put!!

Pretty Unfamous said...

PLEASE don't tell me that shoulder pads are coming back!!

Unknown said...

LOL! ...I've learned not to make fun of any fashion trend because really, sooner or later, I'll be wearing some version of it ...lol.

itil consultant said...

i also agree with this actually mostly fashion look are coming from the old ones and that,s comes with new touch with new look lets see how it comes with new touch.

Ninja Gear said...

actually every good fashion repeat itself with some changes and as shoulder pad coming back it depend the people how they accept it.

federal credit union PA said...

yes you are right old 80,s come back but i like decent deign and shoulder pad look over but might be new touch make it attractive.

Lauren said...

Hahaha -yes! 80's style should never come back. Stop with the neon, clothing industry!!

Confession: I have a pair of jelly shoes! I found them in the $1 section of Target. They're pink. I wear them to the beach and love them. Upon investigation (i.e. going to the mall) I noticed that BIG NAME DESIGNERS are launching their own jelly shoes. Weird? Definitely. Awesome? YES.

Kyla said...

The way these shirts flop around is seriously frustrating, I bought an A&F one for working out 100 years ago and you know what? Not a good scene!! It ended up as a thrift shop donation. Sad story. I would gladly donate $1 a day to save the Tweens of today from being led astray by Forever 21.

Kyla said...

Oh, and I wear high wasted skinny jeans all the time, so I have no comment about what trend I would like to bring back from the 80s lol I'm already actively pursuing this one.

Ronnica said...

Yeah, not a fan of those shirts. Jellies, though? I'd love 'em!

Anonymous said...

These shirts do little more than make a large-chested lady look like she's possibly pregnant, too. Not fun! I do NOT want to be confused with a soon-to-be mama whatsoever!!

Jaime said...

THESE!!!!!!

http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/b/0/0/45/c/AAAAC1l1n8oAAAAAAEXI-A.jpg

Andhari said...

Don't get me wrong, I love one shouldered dress. But this isn;t even a one shoulder shirt, it's more like. Something not properly fitted. Oh the 80's. I sure was pretty glad I was born in the end of the era.

Anonymous said...

i can't wear t-shirts with the regular circle neck. it needs to be v-cut or just non-existant, like in tank-top mode. i don't know how well i could pull off the one-shoulder thing, either, because i have, how you say, big boobs.

Hal said...

Scrunchies! haha, they are hideously ugly but I did really love how they never caused knots in your hair or anything like that.

shirts and leggings were my standard outfit as well, comfy!

Vanessa said...

Oh, there's so many 80's trends that should NEVER come back. The one I will allow as an exception is the shorter tights/capri length pants with the longer flowy dress on top with ballerina flats. Do you even know what I'm talking about? Maybe that wasn't even from the 80's after all.

Kate said...

Legwarmers! Because I only wore them when I was about 6 -- I need to be able to more fully enjoy them without publicly humiliating myself.

As for the ill-fitting shirts, this girl I met at a party about a month ago had the same problem. She was totally exposing a shoulder and a massive bra strap and didn't seem to care. But the best is when someone is wearing a T-shirt and both bra straps fall off the shoulders so you can see the straps below the sleeves of the T. Awesomeness.

Katelin said...

i totally bring back the shirt holder things. i freaking loved those!

Jenny Grace said...

Jellies. For certain.

Living Dees Life said...

80s fashion is awesome! just not thier business wear.. too stuffed up. not relaxed enough

Cheryl said...

Mulitples! And anything neon.

Angela Noelle said...

Jellies!!!!!!

Pam said...

Yikes, sorry! I'm just catching up with posts from this week. Thanks for the shout out—it was so great to meet you! We'll definitely have to do it again soon.

I'm all for bringing back Hypercolor. I had a purple t-shirt that turned pink. It was pretty much the greatest shirt ever. Too bad they lost their hyperness pretty quickly...

Anonymous said...

The 80's are really coming big, i don't think they ever left L.A..
it is all over , i love it .
Check this HOT neon collection from L.A based ETTIKA @ www.ettika.com

Buy cialis said...

Indeed the shirt holder things are just awesome, I sometimes wear them, they are comfortable, fresh and nice.

Kristinalhmk said...

Jellies!!!!!!