I'm not quite sure how I feel about this, but the eighties was my era.
I started high school at the beginning of the eighties and I started my first full-time job in the last year of the eighties. Arguably one of the most defining periods of my life...in shoulderpads. Aaaargh.
So when the theme of our school's end of year function this year was "Rewind to the 80s" I just HAD to go. Dress up was optional. I took the no dress-up option because while I have an 'archive wardrobe' of taffeta froth and bubble I also weighed about 50kg back then so the chances of those outfits getting any further than my knees was a little doubtful.
This was one of the best school functions I've been to - we had 80s trivia, dress up comps and two dads dressed as Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons EmCeeing for the evening. What's not fun about that?
One thing about the evening was clear: we all experienced a different 1980s. There were those who dressed up as Madonna, the acid-wash jeans brigade, the corporate shoulder pad group, the glam rock (think Poison/Bon Jovi) brigade, the Don Johnson lookalikes and one mum who could still fit into an amazing Year 10 formal dress!
This was one of the best school functions I've been to - we had 80s trivia, dress up comps and two dads dressed as Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons EmCeeing for the evening. What's not fun about that?
One thing about the evening was clear: we all experienced a different 1980s. There were those who dressed up as Madonna, the acid-wash jeans brigade, the corporate shoulder pad group, the glam rock (think Poison/Bon Jovi) brigade, the Don Johnson lookalikes and one mum who could still fit into an amazing Year 10 formal dress!
My 1980s was the early years. As an impressionable first year high school student I befriended a girl from Manchester, UK whose much older brothers were in the British army (and, yes, went to the Falklands). I was fascinated by New Mod - the Jam, OMD, Joy Division. I listened to the university radio station. I was unimpressed by anyone who wore Stuart Membrey, Jag or Country Road. All way too mainstream. I was forbidden by the housemistresses from going shopping in my tartan mini, fishnet stockings with socks rolled down over the top, army jacket and stilettos (why?).
Then, when I got over myself, I thought The Police were fab, that U2 were the HOTTEST, and that David Bowie was the best live performer in the world. Madonna was not my thing. My opinions hold.
By the mid 1980s I succumbed to every bad fashion notion of the decade. Baggy jeans that finished at the ankle, white Reeboks, permed big hair (with or without hair combs).
At uni I supported Australian bands, because that was cool -and cheaper than going to international acts.
My dorm room was a testament to 80s glam. Isabella Rosellini was the Queen, David Bowie (early years only) was still my thing, quoting from Le Petit Prince was cool (typical Arts student) and my sound system played cassette tapes.
After uni I got a job working at the ultimate late 80s icon in Perth - Bond Corporation. I had shoulder pads as large as anyone elses and front row seats to the collapse of the 80s lifestyle and all it entailed.
What was your 1980s?
20 comments:
Mine was much like yours I suspect - I think I have a photo looking very similar indeed to you!
And of course your dorm room takes me right back!
I saw David Bowie in 1983 at the Perth Entertainment Centre.
I queued up with a group of friends on a roster for two weeks and we were in row 4. The girl standing next to me got half of the sweaty towel he threw into the audience.
:)
I was at Bowie in '83. I just couldn't believe I was there. Being at boarding school I couldn't queue for tix so I took what I could.
Oh goodness. We had some similarities (music) but many differences.
I finished school in 1983, but was modelling from about 1980. Which meant that I NEVER wore jeans and ALWAYS wore Stuart Membrey and Country Road. My hair was BIG and my shoulders were even BIGGER, but my style was designer all the way.
One of my most cringe-worthy memories was going to a huge party at Jamison St Nightclub (anyone else remember that place?) dressed as Olivia Newton John in "Physical". Yep, leotard with thin belt... terry towelling head and wrist bands.... leg warmers.
Ugggh.
I went to Uni and studied business but was something of an outcast because of my modelling career. Boo hoo :-(.
I did have the ultimate '80's car though. A red convertable VW. God I loved that car. Kept it until 1996. I have memories of driving it fast with my girlfriends on board and WHAM blaring from the stereo!!
So funny, I started kindergarten in 1980 so wore plenty of fluoro sock combos (always 2 pairs of socks at once) and scrunchies, Early high school (1987) was characterised by fuzzy hair, elastic waisted jeans, sloppy joes and volleys. Comfy but not very cool! I longed for, and eventually got, a t-shirt with Sportsgirl written across the front. I watched ABC kids with James Valentine who I now listen to on 702 radio. Sounds like a fun night!
My 80's was mix tapes, tartan minis (with a massive gold pin), big plastic sunglasses in bold colors, bigger hair and tight-rolled jeans. The hair bands were hot (Poison, Bon Jovi, Guns N'Roses, U-2) and high tops were all the rage.
I would have looked up to you in the 80s (in fact I probably did at school?!) - the girls who were into Bowie and wore tartan minis were so cool.
My 80s was a huge Wham fascination (my first live concert - Sydney Entertainment Centre 1984) - of course I was too young to understand the futility of that! Fashion wise it was wide white belts over long t-shirts, bubble and ra-ra skirts, BIG white sunglasses and trying and failing to make my hair big. And the baggy tapered jeans - uggh, I cringe at the thought!
My 80s was a catalogue of hair cuts - Assymetric, punk short with rats' tails dipped in orange, fringe teased until it stood to attention, and mousse, mousse, mousse until it was crunchy.
I saw Bowie, INXS, Hoodoo Gurus, Cockroaches (before they became the wiggles), Kids in the Kitchen, Pseudo Echo, Dragon, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil.
I have been listening to the Buzzcocks all week. It still sounds pretty good!
I made all my own clothes and added velcro strips so that the shoulder pads could go from outfit to outfit. That's classy!
wow that's amazing to see the U2 ticket! I saw them in Sept 84 only it was in Melbourne!!
I had HUGE hair in the 80s I would hate to think what I spent on perms!!!
sorry Megan I deleted my first comment as I published it with quite a few typos ooops!!!!
Great post. I previously published a couple of photos of my '80's spiral perm (you can just google "spiral perm" and you will eventually find me just like the other hundreds of people who seem to google those words each and every day. I swear half the visitors to my blog only arrive after googling it!)
Anyway, you are very good keeping your ticket stubs. I remember the late '80's was a gold mine era for live pub rock. I remember seeing Midnight Oil, INXS (with Jenny Morris as back up singer), Angels, Johnny Diesel and the Injectors.
And a photo of your uni room - I never thought to do that (but I have a picture of me in some other people's rooms). My music was tpes too.
I remember wearing a "Choose Life" t-shirt to a year 10 dance and thinking it was great. Wham Bam I am a Man!
My eighties begun during my last years at boarding school - discovering the local alternative music radio, opshops and then going to university and seeing New Order, the Dead Kennedys and Eurythymics live - also wanted to see Culture Club but couldn't afford it. Going to see lots of great and not so great Melbourne and Australian music too. Discovering I liked indie music and dance music.
Then finishing university and getting a job at a crappy insurance company and being part of the bubble bursting. Happy days.
I was at law school in the early eighties - loads of 21sts and dancing and Midnight Oil and INXS and the Models (also James Valentine) and live music and disco music and then rap and hip hop later on and long lunches and more dancing and then a move to Sydney...
These have been so fun to read! Thanks for sharing. I love how our eighties were different, and yet the same.
better late than never ... I finished high school in 1984 ...
and yes I wore home made tartan drain pipe pants with matching top, too cool for school ..
I saw Mr D Bowie live too and spent many a night with the head phones on listening to c c c c changes, aladin sane, fffffashion turn to the right, etc etc etc
I loved style council to death and simple minds - I'd have been a groupie for jimmy kerr until he married chrissie hindes (?)
I was into changing hair colours - not big hair - short sharp and edgy - black then peroxide white ... wore a lot of mens shirts from op shops I recall. Plus accessorised from army disposal outlets ....
I also did talking heads to death - but my heart is always with the english lads :)
this has been fun - we might do a linked in thing AFTER xmas and have an eighies them so go find some more photos M - le xoxo
You know exactly how my 80s were...
Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Neighbours on TV, stone-washed jeans, permed hair with combs and bows, royal blue mascara, royal blue court shoes, bubble skirts, mesh singlets...
Doesn't paint an overly pretty picture now, does it
Oh yes, I know, and I have photographic evidence.
The 1980s. Now those were the days!
I think I lived Fairlie's 1980s.
Frosted pink lipstick, spiral perm, stretch Faberge jeans, Alpine Lights.
Spandau Ballet in concert was my highlight, I think.
Oh, that and meeting my beloved in the last month of the decade.
OH mine was full of stupid idea like getting my hair permed, the same up-do at the front for years on end, drop waisted outfits and shoulder pads. CRIKEY - horrible stuff.
I do have fond memories of the Dynamic Hypnotics, Mental as Anything, The Hoodoo Gurus, Prince, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna.
The rest was a hideous blur of being one highly stressed out teenager dealing with some highly tuned eating disorders (which still left me fat I might add) and the cold hard reality of life as a teen with glasses, braces, acne and boobs.
Shudder.
My 80's involved moving from victoria to Qld, sarting high school, trying to survive high school, starting to smoke, moving again, stopping smoking, leaving high school early (bad move- I went back later), first job as checkout chick, and riding my horses everywhere.
I still have some of my 80's fashion in the wardrobe.
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