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What did university aged people wear in the 80s?
- Thread starter waloshin
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A few things depending on the type of music you listened to or clique you were in, or your gender, or the part of the country you were in (rural vs. urban, New York vs. California). Remember: MTV was *just* starting, so what was popular on one coast was weird looking on the other.
Preppies: Izod Lacoste pastel polos, Benneton clothes, Vuarnet type sunglasses, Ray Ban Wayfarers, skinny ties with blazers, shoulder padded stuff, Bugle Boy pants (east coast), fluorescent colors, black rubber jelly bracelets (a'la Madonna). Oh, and Flash Dance "off the shoulder" type sweaters and sweatshirts for girls.
Rebels: 501 Levi blue jeans, black leather motorcycle jackets, army boots, black and white Chuck Taylor Converse hi-top shoes
Sports: Letterman jackets (felt with leather sleeves), BK or K-Swiss white tennis shoes, blue jeans, air jordan Nike tennis shoes
West Coast: Fluorescent long board swim shorts, "Jams" shorts, Vans tennis shoes
Just some thoughts.
Preppies: Izod Lacoste pastel polos, Benneton clothes, Vuarnet type sunglasses, Ray Ban Wayfarers, skinny ties with blazers, shoulder padded stuff, Bugle Boy pants (east coast), fluorescent colors, black rubber jelly bracelets (a'la Madonna). Oh, and Flash Dance "off the shoulder" type sweaters and sweatshirts for girls.
Rebels: 501 Levi blue jeans, black leather motorcycle jackets, army boots, black and white Chuck Taylor Converse hi-top shoes
Sports: Letterman jackets (felt with leather sleeves), BK or K-Swiss white tennis shoes, blue jeans, air jordan Nike tennis shoes
West Coast: Fluorescent long board swim shorts, "Jams" shorts, Vans tennis shoes
Just some thoughts.
Which half of the 80s? Before 1985 I remember Jordache Jeans, feathered hair and over sizes sunglasses on the girls. After 85 its was like Debbie Gibson, coca-cola shirts, and acid wash pegged pants.
Since you have narrowed it down to Alabama in the first half of the '80's I would go with mud covered 501 or Lee jeans, black "Alabama- Rolling Through Tour" or "AC/DC" or "Def Leopard" T-shirts, brown shi*t-covered boots and denim Levi jackets with white fleece lining. 
Oh- and driving a Ford 150 raised truck or a Chevy Camaro. lol!
Oh- and driving a Ford 150 raised truck or a Chevy Camaro. lol!
Brands weren't quite as obvious or ubiquitous in the early 80s as they later became, and what brand names existed were worn more subtly then than they are now. Besides, college students tended not to view themselves as marketing props, and so were less inclined - even when they could afford them - to wear clothing that screamed of branding.
Jeans, yes, leather jackets, pullovers (when required), denim shirts and T-shirts tended to be worn quite a lot. And - depending on climate - in countries where it rained a lot, Doc Martens were worn more often than runners.
Jeans, yes, leather jackets, pullovers (when required), denim shirts and T-shirts tended to be worn quite a lot. And - depending on climate - in countries where it rained a lot, Doc Martens were worn more often than runners.
Jeans and sneakers. Dr. Scholls were popular as were moccasins. (look up Minnetonka if you are curious. I actually still have my high school pair and started wearing them again). Jeans seemed to be more straight-legged back then. Not sure when tapered became the in thing, late-80's, early-90's? Big sunglasses. I remember a lot of things with horizontal stripes too.
I don't know what Doc Marten is!
I rarely wore branded clothing except for Levi's. And you're right, the branding was very subtle compared to today. It wasn't until about 2004 or so, when I started to work in a bike shop that I started to wear more branded clothing and it was because I got great deals on it and some of it is really really nice and function. The downside is I feel pretty weird going out with a Mountain Hardware jacket, Cloudveil sweater and Pearl Izumi shoes some days. I remember getting reprimanded for mixing brands in a display window ("you can't do that!") and thinking "you sure can if you're broke and can't afford the matching outfit for each day!"
I don't know what Doc Marten is!
I rarely wore branded clothing except for Levi's. And you're right, the branding was very subtle compared to today. It wasn't until about 2004 or so, when I started to work in a bike shop that I started to wear more branded clothing and it was because I got great deals on it and some of it is really really nice and function. The downside is I feel pretty weird going out with a Mountain Hardware jacket, Cloudveil sweater and Pearl Izumi shoes some days. I remember getting reprimanded for mixing brands in a display window ("you can't do that!") and thinking "you sure can if you're broke and can't afford the matching outfit for each day!
"
You live in Alabama?
No, he's not allowed to cross the Canadian border. Something about too many pointless threads or maybe it's because of his Al Qaeda roots.
I tried to wear as little clothes as possible in the 80's....at least the early 80's.
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I must applaud you for the effort put into this reply.
I'd rather you just didn't send me to the gallows all the WW time, lol!No, he's not allowed to cross the Canadian border. Something about too many pointless threads or maybe it's because of his Al Qaeda roots.
I tried to wear as little clothes as possible in the 80's....at least the early 80's.
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I must applaud you for the effort put into this reply.
Oh dear... one of those questions that is really in my wheelhouse.
Early 1980s: Acid-washed jeans. Argyle sweaters. Lacoste and/or Polo shirts with the collar flipped up. Vuarnet sunglasses with little cords that hung around your neck. Crewneck sweatshirts worn inside out. "Hoodies" were still the exclusive province of the lunks on the wrestling team.
Shorts were somewhat shorter than they are today. Not 1970s European soccer-player short. But not the semi-kilts dudes wear today. Maybe an inch or two above the knee.
Fashion-forward types tried (if they were ill-advised) to bring off the "Miami Vice" look - unconstructed linen jackets with pastel colored t-shirts. Loafers without socks. New Wave guys (Adam Ant, etc.) went for very skinny ties and dark shirts with very narrow collars.
The "ironic" t-shirt hadn't been invented yet. If you wore a t-shirt with Che Guevara on it - it meant you were (at least intellectually) a Marxist. Wearing a bowling shirt or wife-beater (singlet style undershirt) put you in the same social class as Lenny & Squiggy.
Tattoos were all but unknown. A few guys experimented with pierced ears.
Early 1980s: Acid-washed jeans. Argyle sweaters. Lacoste and/or Polo shirts with the collar flipped up. Vuarnet sunglasses with little cords that hung around your neck. Crewneck sweatshirts worn inside out. "Hoodies" were still the exclusive province of the lunks on the wrestling team.
Shorts were somewhat shorter than they are today. Not 1970s European soccer-player short. But not the semi-kilts dudes wear today. Maybe an inch or two above the knee.
Fashion-forward types tried (if they were ill-advised) to bring off the "Miami Vice" look - unconstructed linen jackets with pastel colored t-shirts. Loafers without socks. New Wave guys (Adam Ant, etc.) went for very skinny ties and dark shirts with very narrow collars.
The "ironic" t-shirt hadn't been invented yet. If you wore a t-shirt with Che Guevara on it - it meant you were (at least intellectually) a Marxist. Wearing a bowling shirt or wife-beater (singlet style undershirt) put you in the same social class as Lenny & Squiggy.
Tattoos were all but unknown. A few guys experimented with pierced ears.
I'm not sure. When I think 80s, I imagine "Magnum, P.I.". Now multiply that by several thousand.
http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/magnum-pi-selleck-17.jpg
http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/magnum-pi-selleck-17.jpg
Great reply - you are someone who has clearly paid attention to the shifting sands of fashion and the changes in cultural history. Lovely detailed post...
I don't know what Doc Marten is!
I rarely wore branded clothing except for Levi's. And you're right, the branding was very subtle compared to today. It wasn't until about 2004 or so, when I started to work in a bike shop that I started to wear more branded clothing and it was because I got great deals on it and some of it is really really nice and function. The downside is I feel pretty weird going out with a Mountain Hardware jacket, Cloudveil sweater and Pearl Izumi shoes some days. I remember getting reprimanded for mixing brands in a display window ("you can't do that!") and thinking "you sure can if you're broke and can't afford the matching outfit for each day!
Ah, Doc Marten's - they were an extremely sturdy black shoe - almost a boot - virtually indestructible, lasted forever - and were very, very hard to break in. Males of my acquaintance used to hobble, with gritted teeth, during the breaking-in period, and tell me how much they loved their Docs. They were extremely durable and a sensible shoe for a foul and wet climate.
Ah, yes. I well remember attempts to replicate the cool unstructured 'Miami Vice' look - difficult in a country where it rained a lot.
Maybe. I don't see any lights on the shoe though. You know, those light up shoes that would light up when you walk.
I went to a UK art college in the mid eighties - everyone prided themselves on being different from the common herd but I never seen such uniformity!
Generally - Levi 501 jeans with rips. Doc Marten shoes / boots. Soft shoes -Converse all stars and espidriles (sp?). T shirts - white with logos* / the Lynx logos (anti fur group I think) were very popular. Often black more formal jackets over the top. Leather jackets were also very popular along with denim ones with painted stuff on the back.
Going out - Boys would wear collared shirts (along with their ties) and bright silk ties were in. (Paisley type patterns. Our dad's all wore polyester ones!) Girls often wore big puffy skirts with huge polka dots. Also quite short skirts with very tight leggings that came just above the knee - it just exposed the thigh which actually looked really good!
Sunglasses - raybans with heavy frames. Clutching a filofaxs was all the rage (all sorts of different types called things like Winchester).
Some people actually wore glasses with no prescription frames for a yuppie type preppie look.
Really I guess looking back it was often a cross between a short of soft punk and skinheads with a dash of office yuppie thrown in. I could go on - but you get the idea!
Also - one of the funniest things were lots of teenage boys / young men constantly fiddling with their nether regions as they were all getting used to boxer shorts after a lifetime of being in Y fronts!
* As others have said the logo's / slogans were always relevant to what you thought
Generally - Levi 501 jeans with rips. Doc Marten shoes / boots. Soft shoes -Converse all stars and espidriles (sp?). T shirts - white with logos* / the Lynx logos (anti fur group I think) were very popular. Often black more formal jackets over the top. Leather jackets were also very popular along with denim ones with painted stuff on the back.
Going out - Boys would wear collared shirts (along with their ties) and bright silk ties were in. (Paisley type patterns. Our dad's all wore polyester ones!) Girls often wore big puffy skirts with huge polka dots. Also quite short skirts with very tight leggings that came just above the knee - it just exposed the thigh which actually looked really good!
Sunglasses - raybans with heavy frames. Clutching a filofaxs was all the rage (all sorts of different types called things like Winchester).
Some people actually wore glasses with no prescription frames for a yuppie type preppie look.
Really I guess looking back it was often a cross between a short of soft punk and skinheads with a dash of office yuppie thrown in. I could go on - but you get the idea!
Also - one of the funniest things were lots of teenage boys / young men constantly fiddling with their nether regions as they were all getting used to boxer shorts after a lifetime of being in Y fronts!
* As others have said the logo's / slogans were always relevant to what you thought
Amen to that. Yes, indeed.
I was in university as an undergrad in the early to mid 80s and I laughed aloud at your excellent descriptions.....bravo, you got it in one.
That was pretty much what I wore - except everyone I knew with a leather jacket (a la "My Perfect Cousin" by the Undertones) was a tosser so I wore denim jackets. Yes lots of denim, stone washed early on, dark blue denim later. Mostly generic, no brands except for the Doc Martens, shoes not boots. When I started earning some money assisting in labs as a post grad, I occasionally wore 501s.
I still have a pair of DMs in the house, I wonder if they're still wearable.
...
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Yes, a bit dusty but still perfectly serviceable.