Alright, so the other day I was looking through some old photo albums, you know, the ones with the sticky pages? And bam! There was my aunt, rocking this absolutely wild outfit from what must have been 1986. It got me thinking, I should try and recreate some of those iconic 80’s looks. Just for kicks, see how it feels.
My Treasure Hunt Begins
First things first, I needed the goods. I figured my own closet wouldn’t have much, modern stuff is just… different. So, I started by asking my mom if she had any old clothes packed away. And guess what? Jackpot! She had this box in the attic, and oh man, it was like a time capsule. Shoulder pads everywhere!
Next, I hit up a couple of local thrift stores. You really have to dig, but it’s part of the fun. I was on the lookout for specific things:
- Oversized blazers (with more shoulder pads, obviously)
- Acid wash jeans (the higher the waist, the better)
- Anything neon
- Maybe some chunky plastic jewelry
- Leg warmers, if I got really lucky
It took a couple of trips, but I slowly gathered a decent pile of potential candidates. Some stuff was a bit questionable, I won’t lie, but I was committed to the experiment.
The Dressing Up Part – Oh, The Humanity!
So, back home, I spread everything out on my bed. It looked like a rainbow exploded. I decided to start with what I thought was a classic: the power blazer and some high-waisted jeans.
Putting on a blazer with those massive shoulder pads felt… powerful, I guess? But also a bit like I was about to play American football. I paired it with some stonewashed jeans I found. They were surprisingly comfortable, not gonna lie, but the silhouette was intense. I added a bright pink, slightly-too-large t-shirt underneath, tucked in, of course.
Then came the accessories. I found these huge, bright yellow geometric plastic earrings. My ears felt them, let me tell you. I even tried a side ponytail for a bit, held up with a scrunchie I unearthed. I looked in the mirror and just burst out laughing. It was so much, but also kind of awesome in a ridiculous way.
Trying a Few Combos
I spent a good hour or so mixing and matching. Here are some of the… highlights:
- A neon green oversized sweater with black leggings. I actually found some leg warmers, guys! Slid those on over the leggings. Felt very Flashdance for a minute.
- An acid-wash denim jacket (yes, more denim!) over a band t-shirt with some very tight, slightly shiny black pants. This one felt a bit more rock ‘n’ roll.
- I even attempted a sort of “preppy” 80s look with a pastel polo shirt (collar popped, naturally) and some khaki pants that were way baggier than anything I’d wear today.
Some outfits were surprisingly wearable, in a costume party kind of way. Others? Well, let’s just say they’re staying firmly in the 80s. The sheer volume of fabric in some of those tops and jackets was something else. And the colors! So bright, so unapologetic.
My Final Thoughts on the Experiment
Honestly, it was a really fun afternoon. It’s one thing to see these styles in old movies or pictures, but actually putting the clothes on, feeling the fabrics, seeing how they move (or don’t move, in the case of some stiff denim) – that gives you a whole new appreciation. It’s like stepping into a character.
While I don’t think I’ll be incorporating massive shoulder pads into my daily wear anytime soon, it was a cool way to connect with a past era. Plus, I got some great photos and a good laugh. If you’ve got some old 80s stuff lying around, or you’re feeling adventurous at the thrift store, I say go for it. It’s a trip!
