I am not feeling very inspired yet, so I will favor you with a random observation I made while walking to the office this morning. Large patterned tight pants on a woman who may be carrying a few pounds extra may not be the most flattering choice she could make for herself. It also got me thinking, what are some of the fashion mistakes of yore which have happily died out, to be missed by no one but nostalgia fans? I will give you a couple and be curious to see what you add.
*leg warmers
*stretch pants
*lycra everywhere (as a young gay man once said to me as he passed me just after passing a very large woman in lycra shorts, "lycra is a privilege, not a right)
*head bands (picture O. Newton-John in the "Let's get physical" video)
*vests everywhere
What else?
Posted by Random Penseur at July 23, 2004 09:45 AMJunior high, 1969. Two fashion disasters:
1. Nehru shirt. Res ipse loquitur.
2. A yellow gauze shirt with ribbed elastic short sleeves and waistband, and matching poly pants. Not a mild yellow, either.
It's amazing I ever dated before 30.
Posted by: kb at July 23, 2004 11:12 AMExcellent additions! Thanks, King!
Posted by: RP at July 23, 2004 11:15 AM1980s: sweatshirts worn either a) torn, b) off the shoulder, or c) both
Padded shoulders and Big Hair in the 80's. I still crack up when I see the women in those HUGE padded shoulder "power suits" with the wild, puffed up hair in movies from that era.
Posted by: Amber at July 23, 2004 01:04 PMAgreed and agreed. How about big floppy collars?
Posted by: RP at July 23, 2004 01:46 PMOkay, I'm a little younger than you guys (26), but can I interest you in "tight-rolled" jeans, or the jeans jacket covered in pins?
Posted by: David at July 23, 2004 02:06 PMAhem. I confess to the jean jacket with pins. I was in high school and it was covered with pins from all of my many European and Far East travels. I wonder what ever happened to it? The pins were great.
Posted by: RP at July 23, 2004 02:17 PMDamn! I wore all those things -- except the yellow outfit.
I must admit, however, that the 80's were pretty much a blur. Heh.
How about bandanas? I believe there exists a picture somewhere of my "Flock of Seagulls" hair and about 70 bandanas tied up my leg.
::: shudder :::
Beware, however, because those faux pas will be back. Last time I tripped through the mall, I saw 70's garb -- everywhere.
VELOUR TRACK SUITS?!?!?! I thought those were outlawed.
Aheh.
Posted by: Emma at July 23, 2004 05:00 PMNot to be too much of a snob, but, I believe velour track suits are permissible, if not encouraged, in some of the finer areas of New Jersey.
I should add to my list: Polo shirts with turned up collars. I was guilty.
Posted by: Random Penseur at July 23, 2004 05:52 PMA friend from Ukraine visited us once. He wore suits until he was done going out for the evening and then changed into a rust-colored velour track suit. He looked like the couch your friend's mom hid in the basement with the tile floor and the canister light tree.
I could see my wife's shoulders shaking as she hurried to put out the trash. I poured vodka to blur my vision.
Posted by: kb at July 23, 2004 06:39 PMOh, my.
Posted by: RP at July 26, 2004 10:34 AMI must confess to liking the upturned-collar look... I secretly wish for it to come back...
Posted by: GrammarQueen at July 27, 2004 11:28 AMSweaters draped on the back with the arms tied loosely around the neck.
White jackets with one button and half length sleeves.
Boat shoes without socks.
Thin leather ties.
Those square ended fabric ties.
Parachute pants.
Velcro closing sneakers.
I've still got my jean jacket hanging in the closet. Lots of memories there so I keep it around to remind me of the things to tell my kids not to do.
Posted by: Jim at July 28, 2004 08:24 AMFor GrammarQueen - the upturned collar look is back and looks fantastic on women imo!!
Posted by: Mark at October 28, 2004 07:25 PMI surely hope I find someone that remembers the "accordian" style of jeans. They were ribbed from top to bottom - teeny tiny when not on. Fit like a layer of glue... lol. AND.. what about stir-up pants... LOL!!! UGH! Now there is a style that just can NOT come back!!
Posted by: Karyn at October 2, 2005 10:17 AM