Trends from 1980s make a comeback

By Abby Bower
News Editor

The 1980s are known to many as one of the most iconic decades in history. While there are many reasons it’s viewed as such, such as its music or pop culture, one of the most notable is the fashion trends of the time. Today many of those fashion trends are resurfacing with teens. Even though some of the most well-known trends, i.e. leg warmers and shoulder pads, don’t seem to be making a comeback anytime soon, there are many that already have.
It’s practically impossible to walk down the halls of any high school around America without seeing students wearing mom jeans. According to mtv.com, these high-waisted, loose-fitting jeans first became popular in the late 1980s as people were growing tired of bell bottom, or bootcut, jeans that were tight at the top but loose at the bottom. Towards the end of the 1990s and the early 2000s these jeans did a full 180 and were seen as the opposite of trendy because middle-aged women and moms seemingly took them over. But as of late 2017, mom jeans are back.
Another fashion statement that seems to be taking over high schools is scrunchies. As racked.com put it, these accessories can be traced back to 1984, but when they were first invented they were known as the “bunch bangle.” In the 1980s they were practically everywhere, but as the 2000s rolled around they were seen as an embarrassment to the fashion world. Now scrunchies are back where they started, are now on the wrists, or in the hair, of teenagers everywhere.
One of the most undeniably popular style choices today is a legging and sweatshirt combination. It’s perfect for days when a girl wants to be comfortable or has to get ready in a hurry. But, according to whattowear.com leggings were almost as popular back then compared to now. This trend did die down a little in the early 2000s when people were debating about whether leggings should actually be worn as pants. But nowadays, if that debate still exists, teens don’t really seem to care.
One of the most popular styles for men in the 1980s was graphic T-shirts. After thriving for the decade they became seen as cheesy in the early 2000s, but as of a few years ago they’re making a comeback. Graphic T-shirts are now seen as a gender-neutral fashion staple.
There are countless other style trends today that can be traced back to the 1980s. Things like mini skirts, which weren’t introduced in the 1980s but definitely thrived then, or turtlenecks, which have always sat the fence as to whether they’re a fashion do or don’t. In the last year of the 2010s who’s to say what other trends from the 1980s might come back?