Feather Roach Clips
Back in the early 80s, feathered roach clips were all the rage in my elementary school. They were coveted prizes at the county and state fairs. Between rides on the Himalayan and the Swinger, you and your girlfriends might have won them by, say, tossing a ping-pong ball into an aluminum milk jug or playing Whack-a-Mole. (Meanwhile, the dudes were angling for framed mirrors sporting images of a Trans Am or Def Leppard.) These feathered...
Elastic Belts
By Julie Anderson An 80s girl’s silhouette was one of extremes: wide shoulders and full sleeves, baggy or skin-tight pants, and, often, a sharply defined, high waist. Elastic belts were an awesome accessory because they always fit snugly, while letting us breathe. What better way is there to rein in a blousy big shirt or slouchy shaker sweater over leggings? And when we wanted to tuck our shirts in, we needed belts that would sit up...
80s Party Costume Ideas: Ralphie from A Christmas Story
A Christmas Story was released in 1983 and became an instant holiday classic. Watching the sentimental family comedy about Ralphie, who oh-so-desperately wanted a Red Ryder BB gun from Santa, is still an important part of many of our holiday traditions. We love Flick, who froze his tongue to a pole, and Randy, in his ridiculously puffy snowsuit, but Ralphie is totally the coolest. http://youtu.be/uvMLfSQrHKE Because Ralphie had...
Mr. T Costume Idea: B. A. Baracas of the A Team
Dress like the baddest member of that crack commando unit, the A Team, played by the way-tough Mr. T. The television show The A Team ran from 1983 to 1986. That theme song still gets me pumped: http://youtu.be/_MVonyVSQoM Back in the day, Mom assured me that B.A. stood for Bad Attitude, but I’m pretty sure it stood (and stands) for Bad Ass. B.A. could punch through walls and make the bad guys back off with a sneer, just don’t try to...
80s Party Costume Ideas: Milli Vanilli
Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan were a couple of hot models from Munich. They weren’t singers. But who ever said you need more than good looks to succeed in the music biz? Milli Vanilli hurtled on to the music scene in the late 80s with their album Girl You Know It’s True, and we all fell in love with the handsome duo. Blame It on the Rain, Baby Don’t Forget My Number, and Girl I’m Gonna Miss You were #1 hits. Their meteoric rise...
