A return to styles of the 80s & 90s

4/15/2013

In past years, we've seen a return to the 70s (bell bottoms and boho--right on!), a return to the 20s (a toast to Gatsby!), and a return to the 60s (hello Madmen). Now, for better or worse, we're seeing a return to the 80s & 90s.
What 80s or 90s fashion do you welcome back and which ones should we banish forever?

Sweaters with bobbles...

Then

Etsy.com 90s Purple Bobble Cable Knit Cropped Sweater (XS/S), $36

Now

Wrap London Skye Sweater, $134

Garnet Hill Hand-Knit Sweater, $68

Big shirts...

Then

Asos 90s Blue Faux Suede Collar Tip Shirt (L), £22

Now

J.Jill Linen Big Shirt, $69

H&M shirt, $24.95

High-waisted jeans...

Then

Cast of 90s tv show Friends, all in their high-waisted jeans

Now

Victoria's Secret High Rise Legging Jean, $59.50

dELiA's Color High Waist Skinny Jean $29.50

Off the shoulder...

Then

The 80s movie Flashdance

Now

Victoria's Secret Fleece Off-the-Shoulder Tunic, $48

Overalls...

Then

Celebrities from the 90s

Now

Urban Outfitters BDG Denim Overall, $69

Flirty, high-waisted skirts...

Then

Sweet Madonna in the 90s

Now

Victoria's Secret Cotton Voile Miniskirt, $69.50

Boston Proper Summer boho skirt, $98. That cropped faded denim jacket's pretty 80s/90s too--$98

Topsiders and Docs...

Then & Now
Perhaps they never went out of style?

Bloomgingdale's Sperry Top-Sider A/O 2-Eye Classic Boat Shoe, $85

Fashion Systems Dr Martens AirWair Classic 1461z 3 eye Non Safety Shoes Black Smooth Leather with Yellow Line, £42.70

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29 Comments

Rob link

4/15/2013 10:13:45 pm

Nice analogies..

Josie link

4/16/2013 12:32:53 am

Thank you, Rob! I enjoyed finding them :-)

Christian link

4/15/2013 10:26:19 pm

It always amazes me how things come back around in style. Both my wife and I notice style trends today that mirror the trends back when we were in high school and college... albeit updated.

Although I think I'd banish fluorescent clothing forever!

Josie link

4/16/2013 12:34:42 am

Yeah, I was thinking about how these 80s/90s fashions are the same, but the jeans are skinny, not baggy (at the moment :-). Some of the styles are just barely updated. You may want to pull out your old bomber jacket b/c those are back in style. Anyway, YES, let's banish florescent clothing!--great example! Thanks so much for visiting my site and commenting!

Christy Garrett link

4/15/2013 10:43:13 pm

It is amazing how styles come and go out of style quite frequently. :)

Josie link

4/16/2013 12:35:40 am

I'm secretly hoping the 80s/90s trend might pass right back out as fast as it came round :-) Thanks so much for visiting my site and commenting, Christy!

Heather Petersen

4/16/2013 12:11:14 am

So fun! I love all of the comparisons.

Josie link

4/16/2013 12:37:09 am

Thanks so much, Heather! I've been watching the examples pile up over the past few months--took me a little while to place what was familiar about some of them at first (like the bobbled sweaters). Thank you so much for visiting my site and commenting!

Maria Fontaine link

4/16/2013 12:24:11 am

I love the sweaters, will have to break out the oldies!! and high waisted jeans have always be a great way to hid my mid section!! LoL!!

Josie link

4/16/2013 12:38:55 am

I agree with you, Maria. I think the sweaters are the prettiest things in the post. I'm not so sure whether high-waisted jeans will hide or promote my mid-section, though? Had just gotten used to low rise :-). Thanks so much for visiting and commenting!

posemanikin link

4/16/2013 01:37:35 am

off the shoulder shirts/sweaters rock as do leggings with oversized shirts. :) ...denim is definitely coming back in style; however i would have to say i'm not a fan of high waisted jeans or skirts or overalls. there might be a place for high waisted stuff, but i think it has to be done just right. :)

Josie link

4/16/2013 04:16:12 am

Off-the-shoulder is pretty, huh? I haven't tried it in so long, but I like cut-out shoulders and slits down the sleeves so much... Also love leggings, but with big shirts...? I used to wear flannel shirts like the one above from H&M and leggings--great cozy weekend style. I don't think I can take the high-waist, but I haven't tried. Funny how I have to turn my mind around to take this stuff in. Anyway, thank you so much for commenting, Posemanikin! :-)

Loretta

4/16/2013 01:45:01 am

so fun seeing the "then" and "now"! Personally the over sized look isn't very appealing to me, so I hope we don't go back to it :)

Josie link

4/16/2013 04:18:37 am

Thanks so much for visiting my site and commenting, Loretta! I agree--I'm not much into oversized--I think it's too masculine.

Growin' N Luvin' the BIZ! w.Norma Doiron link

4/16/2013 02:43:39 am

Yeah.... it all comes full circle once in awhile. We should keep the old clothes! :) Great pics, ride down memory lane.

Josie link

4/16/2013 04:27:54 am

Nice to see you here, Twitter friend Norma :-) Thank you so much for your nice comment. My husband said I shouldn't caption Will Smith, TLC, and those twins Ashley and Mary Kate since people would enjoy figuring it out. The 90s were a good decade for me. You too?

Charlotte link

4/16/2013 03:19:28 am

Docs never go out of style. I love some of this stuff. Finding reasonable fashions these days can be a real challenge.

Betsy Charlesworth link

4/16/2013 03:21:43 am

Love going back in time and I think I wore almost all of those 80's outfits. Thanks for the laughs

Veronica

4/16/2013 03:37:22 am

It's great to watch my 15 year old daughter and her friends scoop up the 80's and 90's inspired outfits not realizing that we've been there done that :-)

Josie link

4/16/2013 04:30:25 am

Hi Veronica, Thanks so much for visiting my site and for commenting. I was watching Good Luck, Charlie on Disney last night and noticed they were all wearing 80s/90s-inspired clothing. Looked pretty good on them like I'm sure it does on your daughter and her friends. Not sure I'm ready to go back to it, though :-)

Tiffany Hampton

4/16/2013 03:43:14 am

I love how fashion disappears and then is reinvented in new fun ways...I LOVE FASHION!

Josie link

4/16/2013 04:36:42 am

I love a person who loves fashion--it's just so fun to talk about--thank you so much for visiting my site and commenting, Tiffany! Do you have a blog I can visit and comment on your posts?

Jen @ Existential Evolution link

4/16/2013 06:02:51 am

I just can't get over high waisted jeans ~ not going back there! Love the off the shoulder tunics though. Great flashbacks!!

Meli link

4/16/2013 06:32:07 am

Thanks for updating me on the latest fashion. I have a tendency to wear what I find comfortable and not necessarily what's the latest in fashion. I do like many of the updates!

Josie link

4/16/2013 08:53:08 am

Meli, thank you for visiting my site and commenting. I think your point of view applies to most people, and I'll be thinking about it.

Laurie Hagedorn link

4/16/2013 08:10:18 am

So cute! I love these styles - they are right from where I came from!

Josie link

4/16/2013 08:54:41 am

I have old photos of me in almost every one of these styles too. It's fun to look back. Thank you for visiting my site and commenting, Laurie :-)

Yvonne Brown link

4/16/2013 12:36:03 pm

The Purple hair ROCKS!

Yvonne Brown

Josie link

4/16/2013 11:35:17 pm

Love your comment, Yvonne! What color is your hair?