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As with many other 80s fashion
trends, stirrup pants seem to be making a reappearance. Now, we
at Like Totally 80s think the 80s were fabulous in all their
bodacious outrageousness. So, it is with a heavy heart that we
have to give a thumbs down to this particular 80s fashion
comeback.
Let’s step back and do a brief
historical recap of the stirrup pant and its place in the
timeline of 80s fashion. Stirrup pants hit their fashion zenith
in the mid-80s, in 1985-1986 to be precise. They consist of a
knit fabric pant that tapers gradually in towards the ankle,
where they have a stirrup. The stirrup is an elastic strap that
fits under your heel. I am sure that if you are an equestrian of
some kind such a pant would have some obvious appeal and
usefulness, but if, on the other hand, you are just getting
dressed to go to school or the grocery store, there really is no
excuse. Even on the best of figures, stirrup pants had a
tendency to make the tops of your legs look big. They create a
triangle-leg effect that is not flattering or desirable.
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In
the 80s, stirrup pants were worn with belted shirts (belted low on the
hips) and
oversized sweaters and
sweatshirts. On the shoe front, there were several ways to go.
Perhaps most often done was a pair of ankles boots with scrunchie
socks, where the sock color coordinated with the color scheme of the
outfit overall. Stirrup pants were also frequently worn with flats (as
is shown in this vintage picture featuring both 80s love and 80s
fashion) or with Converse
Chuck Taylor’s.
For a few years in the mid-80s, these
pants were ubiquitous. I remember in particular a girl at my junior high
(we’ll call her Amy) that sported stirrup pants 5 days a week. She had
lots of colors and lots of ways to mix it up, but it was all stirrup
pants all the time. Surely, that is too much of a not-so-good thing.
So, it was a little disconcerting (ok, a
lot) to see the fresh, new stirrup pants hanging innocently on the racks
at Old Navy this last weekend. But, it isn’t just the mass, discount
retailers that are getting in on the ride. Check out this pair of Jean
Paul Gauthier stirrup pants that sell for a whopping $895.00. Do. Not.
Want.
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