80's Fashion Flashback

With the fall season in full swing, many students at Virginia Wesleyan are updating their wardrobes with this year’s hottest fashions. The inspiration this year for runways and fashion lines is the 1980’s. The most unfashionable decade in history has reemerged once again, bringing forth bright colors, ripped jeans, and crimped hair.

In Pat Benatar’s video “Love is a Battlefield,” she wore the infamous shredded sweatshirt, leg warmers and pumps, making her an inspiration for young girls nation wide. Now 20 years later, the clothing she once wore is making a comeback.

Around campus, students have embraced this style, adding leg warmers and fluorescent colored pumps to their accessories. Crimped hair and blue eye shadow has also been seen on many students.

Many fashion magazines are advertising models with huge crimped hair. Conair, a company famous in selling beauty products, is offering a whole line of crimpers for its customers this season.

According to Conair, it is the “’Be yourself’ era in fashion. Anything goes! A crimped strand here, a spiral strand there or straight all over.”

Many department stores in the area are carrying leg warmers dyed in the most extreme colors. The big chunky sweaters have also hit the racks and are so bright, one could be seen miles away.

“I am glad that they are bringing color back, especially upbeat color,” said junior Danielle Poland.

This fashion girl sports some of the latest clothing, while still following her own sense of style.

“I wear what I want to wear,” she added.

Designers such as Dolce and Gabbana reintroduced acid-washed jeans, a style that was merely thought to be extinct. Gadzooks is provided its customers with different choices of ripped jeans, including their “Taunt Bleach Ripped and Torn” pair.

“I don’t find that very attractive,” said Poland as she crinkled her face at the thought of acid-washed jeans.

Girls are not the only ones around campus who are wearing these particular items of clothing. Guys have also gotten in on the latest trends. The ever-popular IZOD shirt with its alligator logo has been spotted. Not only that, but collars have been flipped up and pink is the new color for men, a 1980’s trend.

Along with the clothes,making a comeback are the toys and music industries. On television, commercials for Cabbage Patch Dolls have been on the rise. Care Bears and My Little Pony have also hit the market with stores like Target and JCPenney carrying anything from stuffed animals to pillows of these loveable characters. Strawberry Shortcake has even become popular with younger children, as it is seen on clothing and in toy stores as well.

Famous 80’s musicians have also made their reemergence. Richard Marx, who made the charts with his hits “Hold on to the Nights” (1987) and “Right Here Waiting” (1989), has released a new album. The Cure and the lead singer from Wham!, George Michael, have also released new albums.

With all of these things being brought back from two decades ago, what else could comeback?

For now, designers and stylists have not gone to the extreme with the 80’s style, but only time will tell where fashion will head.