I almost forgot about WWW. Because I kind of forgot it was Wednesday. Yesterday felt like two days and I just decided it must be Thursday, one day closer to Friday. Please.
It’s Wednesday, though, so let’s play!
I cleaned out closets over the weekend and immediately started shopping for new clothes (on line, of course, because taking small children clothes shopping is low – so low – on my list of fun activities). God forbid I have empty space in that closet of mine.
As I surfed, I noticed the 80’s influence in a lot of clothes right now – ruffles, bright colors, plaids. Frankly, I kind of like it. When I was young and a trend would come back around, my mom would say, “Lord, I lived through that once, I don’t want to wear it again.” I do get that, but for some reason I’m very happy with the 80s resurgence. That was a good decade for me. Over those 10 years I had some fun: Roller skating. Slumber parties. My learner’s permit. My first boyfriend.
I was reminded, though, of my greatest fashion disappointment of the 1980’s. I’ll call it The Great Parachute Pant Disappointment. I wanted them. Mom would not let me have them. She told me that she was pretty sure I would live through the disappointment, but I could feel free to lie on the psychiatrist’s couch in 20 years and point to this incident as the beginning of the end.
I don’t think I’m over it. I was the only kid in the fifth grade who didn’t have a pair. I couldn’t tie a bandanna around my thigh, over my parachute pants, and look insanely hip and cool. I mean, plastic pants! Who wouldn’t want a pair?
My question today: I wonder why my mom felt the need to stifle my style? (Or, since nobody but my mother can answer that question, you could just tell me about a fashion memory from the 80s and why it matters to you.)
Lapsed homemaker. Looking to hire a full-time housekeeper who will work for the sheer joy of a job well done and free coffee. Interested parties, DM please. 
I had one of those moms that liked to shop in the juniors department and SHE came home one day in a pair of parachute pants. We were sooo jealous. And then we just wore hers. I wonder what ever happened to those things.
Stopping by from SITS.
This is the one time you should actually probably thank your mother – they were SO ugly but alas I did succeed in convincing Connie to get me some at Merry-Go-Round (LOL) but took until the trend was about over!
omg. Parachute pants! I could’ve gotten them – but they didn’t fit me! I wasn’t skinny enough, I guess. I also wanted those jazz shoes that were in. But no. I did, however, rock the purple acid-washed tapered-legged Bonjour jeans. OH YES I DID! I was sooo cool. I was a total child of the 80s. I wore legwarmers (they came back), miniskirts (still around), fluorescent sweatshirts that read “O BOY” (they went far away and never returned, thankfully). I had a mullet. I used to carry a huge comb in my back pocket with the words “Rotten Kid” on it. I had awful designer jeans – Jordache didn’t fit me and my mom made me get some weird pair at Marshall’s.
I’ll stop scaring you now..
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I was a spoiled brat and pretty much got almost all the clothes I begged for, never got the pony though…sigh. Oh gosh, the 80s. The ripped jeans with lace under them. The Madonna skirts, the jelly shoes. UGH…the flourescent! You know what I saw the other day??? A new updated version of the banana clip. Which I loved by the way. I love this post!!!!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma, What’s For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
Oh, Alex, I loved that banana clip, too! Just might have to go get a new one. Ha. Jelly shoes! That’s something else I had to beg for. I was finally allowed to have a pair, but could only wear them to the pool. Turns out that they were extremely uncomfortable (hmmm… cheap, plastic shoes – imagine those being uncomfortable!). My feet were bleeding by the time I got to the pool.
Thanks for visiting!!
Ah the 80’s! I remember them fondly myself – although I was more into the hip stylings of Madonna and Cyndi Lauper – Lace, leather, ripped t-shirt, and converse.
Members only jackets “Just like” the Michael Jackson video, silver glove, purple socks… Yeah! The 80’s were the BOMB!
Stopping by from SITS – Happy Friday!
I remember “wings” on the side of my head (hair art) and Swatches!! Lots of them! Yesss. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
http://www.pampersandpinot.com
Okay…I know I’m a little late for WWW, but as I was reading your parachute pants story it brought memories of my 80’s horror story inolving this fashion trend. I too, had to beg for a pair of these stylish pants. My mom finally broke down and bought me a pair of light grey ones, however they were not “true” parachute pants but rather a knock off pair. Anyway, I chose to wear them proudly to school, but it was quickly pointed out to me (by almost all of my classmates) that these were not the “name brand” pants because my printed underwear could clearly be seen through the pants. I had to wear these lovely pants all day with my undies showing thru. I was completely horried! Needless to say, I never wore them again and despise parahute pants to this day. Oh, the joy of an 80’s trend!!!
Kris, that is classic! And it’s never too late for WWW. 😉
I wanted Guess jeans so bad.
We couldn’t afford them, so my mom bought me a knock off pair at the swap meet.
The question mark was upside down.
HU.MIL.I.A.TION.
I loved the 80’s and am so glad that I have kids lucky enought to wear the clothes I loved! Pegged 501s and izod shirts with the collar up, was sooo my style! My mom wouldn’t buy me name brands very often so I saved up all my babysitting money and bought my Guess overalls that I couldn’t live without.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..I Gave Sadie Away =-.