Bermuda Bags
By Julie Anderson Q: What’s reversible, preppy, utilitarian, and totally 1980s cute? A: Bermuda bags! They were totally perfect for girls and young ladies in the 80s. Not exactly go-to-work “professional” in style, but very nicely tailored. Each came with a fabric cover that buttoned on to wooden handles. You could reverse that canvas or corduroy cover easily, and also switch it up with entirely different covers. Navy, pink, green,...
Puffed Sleeves
By Julie Anderson QUESTION: What do Sugar Smacks, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Jiffy Pop, and the sleeves of 1980s ladies’ garments all have in common? They were all really, REALLY, puffed. I actually remember feeling dismay when sleeves stopped being puffed. They felt uncomfortably restrictive, weirdly fitted. Just WRONG. But styles change, sure enough, and once we were in the 90s, puffed sleeves (along with their soul sister, big...
Interview with original MTV VJ, Alan Hunter
June 28, 2011 Alan Hunter, one of the original five VJs on MTV, talks with Like Totally 80s about his time on MTV, favorite interviews, weighs in on the state of today’s MTV and shares what he’s up to now. Sharp-witted with a slightly off-kilter sense of humor, Alan would call it like it saw it, and we love that about him. Thanks so much to Alan Hunter for agreeing to talk with us! You can connect with Alan on Facebook at...
Fruit Stripe Gum
So, so good, and gone so, so fast. Isn’t that just the way of things? But, despite its lightening fast flavor expiration, Fruit Stripe gum is worth every precious chew. Like no other, the 5 juicy flavors (the originals) are so much more than their names would indicate (cherry, lemon, orange, mixed fruit, and lime). Maybe it’s the painted-on stripes that add the extra fabulousness. Whatever the source of all that flavor, the result is...
80s Rebellion Songs
We’re Not Gonna Take It: When Authority Gives You a Bad Reputation, You Have Fight for Your Right to Smoke in the Boys Room June 13, 2011 Nothing feels quite like the exhilaration of letting your rebel flag fly. The thrill of doing the thing that you know you’re not supposed to do is timeless and not at all unique to one generation or another. I am sure there is some philosophical or more likely psychological theory that explains our...
