Upon opening the first ever Randall High yearbook from the 1988-1989 school year, one might expect to find the clothing so often associated with the ‘80s–Technicolor, Converse shoes, teased hair–the whole stereotypical ensemble. However, the reality is quite to the contrary.
The ‘80s era that is portrayed by society today is in reality very different from the 1980s that actually took place.
The music we know was there…the clothing? Not so much. The 1989 issue of the Treasure Chest reveals that Randall students were more inclined to wear horizontal stripes with high-waist jeans and, with careful scrutiny, there’s not a Converse shoe in sight.
Yet, on designated spirit days on which we all get a chance to revive eras, the 1980s are by far the most overdone and inaccurate. “Blast to the Past” day has come to mean “Rainbows Throw Up on Randall” day. The whole decade is being completely misinterpreted.
This misconception stems from the blend of the old with the new. The 1980s clothing did indeed include vibrant colors. However, no one showed up to school looking like they were ready for daycare. Anyone who lived through this decade is still trying to live down the days of shoulder pads. But they happened, as did the overalls. By attempting to forget what took place we are in a sense replacing an entire chapter of fashion.
Another issue lies in the exaggeration of trends. For example, Technicolor is a common attribute of these spirit days. However, from reading the yearbook, the staff at the time declared black and white as “in” and Technicolor as “out.” Keeping in mind that this was at the turn of the decade and also that there’s no denying the appearance of fluorescent colors in 1980s fashion; I’d say that an entirely colorful ensemble might be a little over-the-top.
There’s also the forgotten. The presence of muted floral patterns throughout the ‘80s and even surviving in the ‘90s was not subtle. You can thank Molly Ringwald and her roles in various movies throughout this time period (“Pretty in Pink”; “The Breakfast Club”) for being a simple example as to what women most often wore at the time. A rendition of this style has come back today in different patterns and colors. Yet, the prevalence of the pattern in imitation-1980s is practically non-existent. It’s not vintage for nothing.
The purpose of this is not to denounce clothing trends of the ‘80s, nor is it to say that the current interpretations didn’t come from somewhere. Bright colors were worn. Converse most likely had a more modest presence than they do nowadays, but they were around. The ridiculously voluminous teased hair was actually pretty common. However, it is to address the current interpretation of fashion that seems to have taken hold of young people today and caused them to become misinformed.
The key here is authenticity. What’s the point of going all-out 1980s if it’s not really what happened? And what’s the point in looking like everyone else when you could be different AND realistic? Consult your parents, be creative and whatever you do, don’t settle for the overdone.
The next time the opportunity arises to take on a look from another time, try and overlook your brightest clothes and put on something a little more vintage. History will thank you later.
