What was best about the 1980s?

[Anonymous]

I lost my virginity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lack of social media and mobile phones. I miss those days.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Picture it:

White Flint, 1986.

You are in middle school.

You just started the new school year and you and your best friends spent the afternoon on your kitchen telephones calling each other trying to figure out whose parents would be willing to pick up a half dozen girls and drop them off at the mall—and which parents would agree to pick up and drive everyone home afterwards.

You got all dolled up to essentially walk around the mall all night…hoping to run into “boys.”

You grabbed a quick dinner at The Eatery. This was the old one—before the renovation. Everything was brown and the lighting was pretty dim.

If a cool movie was playing, you might buy tickets and then shop before it started.

You went directly to The Limited to see what new Forenza items were in. Sweater weather is coming. You need the cool new sweater in multiple colors…and matching socks…and a tube skirt or leggings.

You popped into Laura Ashley because you loved the smell of the store and dresses even though your friends preferred the Liz Claiborne perfume in the cool triangle bottle.

You wandered across the hall to Belle France and I Magnin to drool over the fancy dresses with balloon skirts and ruffles. You grabbed a bunch of dresses to try on as you crammed into dressing rooms giggling until the staff shoved you out the door.

You popped into that cool store on Via Rialto on the first floor that was the epitome of the 80s. They sold stationery and jelly bracelets and stickers and those plastic necklaces with charms.

Your friend who was a bit more mature and worldly dragged the group into the store that sold silver jewelry and wood boxes and scarves from India, China, wherever…and it reeked of patchouli.

You shopped in the poster store and music store. The boys were usually in the music store.

Then it was time to take the cool glass elevator up to the movie theater…with the boys. They bought the popcorn and drinks while you and your pals saved seats. If you were lucky, you sat next to a boy and held hands.

When the movie ended, everyone waited outside on the covered walkway to the parking lot on the 3rd floor where the parents pulled up to pick up the carpool. You didn’t realize it then, but your parents loved listening to you and the girls gleefully recount your night as they dropped each girl off at her house one by one and the station wagon (or minivan if you were rich) got quieter.

When you got home, you immediately called your best friend if you were lucky enough to have a phone in your bedroom. Or if you were really lucky, a boy called YOU.

The 80s were magical. If you weren’t there, I don’t think you can imagine it. It truly was a shared experience for your age group. Sigh.

Wow - this is GOOD! I graduated high school in 1986, but this pretty much nails my entire teenage life - everything revolved around the mall.

[Anonymous]

PP here - meant to say my mall was Tysons, but sounds like we had all the same stores. Did White Flint have Georgetown Cotton? I LOVED that place, and also CedarPost. Such cool, trendy clothes.

My friends and I would go into the People's drug store and take polaroids of ourselves in the booth. I think I still have those somewhere! Those were the best teenage memories and I wish my own kids had something similar instead of just connecting over social media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes, letter writing.

we used to do this letter folding (pull here) that was made with special folds and messages. I really miss notes from my friends and letters from admirer(s) to check yes or no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here - meant to say my mall was Tysons, but sounds like we had all the same stores. Did White Flint have Georgetown Cotton? I LOVED that place, and also CedarPost. Such cool, trendy clothes.

My friends and I would go into the People's drug store and take polaroids of ourselves in the booth. I think I still have those somewhere! Those were the best teenage memories and I wish my own kids had something similar instead of just connecting over social media.

Was Georgetown cotton the store that smelled like patchouli and had hippie clothes and jewelry?

[Anonymous]

Random wailing guitars in the middle of songs
and Yanni

[Anonymous]

I was hot stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Picture it:

White Flint, 1986.

You are in middle school.

You just started the new school year and you and your best friends spent the afternoon on your kitchen telephones calling each other trying to figure out whose parents would be willing to pick up a half dozen girls and drop them off at the mall—and which parents would agree to pick up and drive everyone home afterwards.

You got all dolled up to essentially walk around the mall all night…hoping to run into “boys.”

You grabbed a quick dinner at The Eatery. This was the old one—before the renovation. Everything was brown and the lighting was pretty dim.

If a cool movie was playing, you might buy tickets and then shop before it started.

You went directly to The Limited to see what new Forenza items were in. Sweater weather is coming. You need the cool new sweater in multiple colors…and matching socks…and a tube skirt or leggings.

You popped into Laura Ashley because you loved the smell of the store and dresses even though your friends preferred the Liz Claiborne perfume in the cool triangle bottle.

You wandered across the hall to Belle France and I Magnin to drool over the fancy dresses with balloon skirts and ruffles. You grabbed a bunch of dresses to try on as you crammed into dressing rooms giggling until the staff shoved you out the door.

You popped into that cool store on Via Rialto on the first floor that was the epitome of the 80s. They sold stationery and jelly bracelets and stickers and those plastic necklaces with charms.

Your friend who was a bit more mature and worldly dragged the group into the store that sold silver jewelry and wood boxes and scarves from India, China, wherever…and it reeked of patchouli.

You shopped in the poster store and music store. The boys were usually in the music store.

Then it was time to take the cool glass elevator up to the movie theater…with the boys. They bought the popcorn and drinks while you and your pals saved seats. If you were lucky, you sat next to a boy and held hands.

When the movie ended, everyone waited outside on the covered walkway to the parking lot on the 3rd floor where the parents pulled up to pick up the carpool. You didn’t realize it then, but your parents loved listening to you and the girls gleefully recount your night as they dropped each girl off at her house one by one and the station wagon (or minivan if you were rich) got quieter.

When you got home, you immediately called your best friend if you were lucky enough to have a phone in your bedroom. Or if you were really lucky, a boy called YOU.

The 80s were magical. If you weren’t there, I don’t think you can imagine it. It truly was a shared experience for your age group. Sigh.

Don’t forget hanging out at the Hallmark store, Expressions!

[Anonymous]

Oh gosh - how much time do you have??!
Lol.

As a fifty-six yr. old, my entire adolescence was stemmed during the ‘80’s - - which were the best times. Ever.

Everything then was so big. And bright.
And most definitely LOUD.

From the hair to the fashion, to the jewelry to the colors…. and of course to the music.

I still remember when a young Madonna hit the pop culture scene, every girl emulated her unique style.
From her teased hair to her stacked bracelets, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes, letter writing.

we used to do this letter folding (pull here) that was made with special folds and messages. I really miss notes from my friends and letters from admirer(s) to check yes or no

I so LOVED passing notes in school…..as well as the unique way we folded them and created that little tab in the front to pull them open!

I also loved waterbeds, having my own TV set and telephone line in my bedroom and off-campus hour lunches at high school.
Of course it was great fun making textbook book covers out of paper grocery bags and I loved getting a new Trapper Keeper each September too!

I remember summers lounging at the beach or around the pool, baking in Crisco oil while comparing tans w/all my friends.
I did the same with Sun-in too and the Summer of ‘84 I actually went all blond from the sun (but had to use a hairdryer once Fall began….Lol!)

I remember using a can of Aqua Net a wk, wearing leg warmers over my jeans as well as off-the-shoulder “Flashdance” sweatshirts along w/plastic “jelly” sandals w/matching handbags.

Ahh those were the best of times.
Never to be duplicated…. 🫶🏽

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP shorts

+1

Oh yes, I remember these.
And Dove shorts too.

And Baja jackets.
And boat shoes “top siders.”
Bermuda shirts.
Alligator shirts.

Rainbow 🌈 shirts.
Double belts.
Printed shoelaces.

Baggy pants = called “baggies.”

Preppy styles.
Punker sunglasses. 😎

Sweatpants worn as regular pants.
Black Reebok shoes.

And of course fluorescent colors on clothes mid-85.

[Anonymous]

That I was a kid so life seemed better. I’m sure it wasn’t.

[Anonymous]

The stock market started rising. There have been bumps, but basically it's kept going ever since.

[Anonymous]

Ferris Bueller