Tag: The 1980s

Saturday ’80s Photo: Snow Wear, February 1989

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The UK winter preferring to save most of its snow for February and March when people are already sick of winter is not a new phenomenon, judging by our family photo archives. My February 1989 wardrobe heavily featured this, um, dashing snow suit, something I have most definitely not seen on any of the small children dragging sledges around the snow-laden streets of Newcastle this winter. ’80s fashion: nothing if not careful.

Snow suit, February 1989
At least the boots looked vaguely cool?

I am a lot more cavalier about snow in 2021 and have been going out in Doc Martens, leggings and a light trenchcoat this week. I love a bit of ’80s retro, but I’m not quite ready to do one-piece snow wear again.

Saturday ’80s Photo: The Patiently Waiting Wardrobe

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Like most people, I’ve had no reason to get dressed up for anything over the course of the last year. I’ve been living in a uniform of leggings and jumpers for months and months now.

While this means my ’80s vintage jumper collection is seeing a lot of wear – and that I’ve recently amassed a fairly considerable quantity of brightly coloured modern-day leggings – there are other parts of my wardrobe that must be feeling a bit neglected at the moment. I put all of my jeans in a storage box the other day because I’ve simply not worn them since last March. As for my ’80s vintage dresses… well…

Vintage '80s dresses
They’re nothing if not patient!

I love these dresses but I’ve probably not worn them since summer 2019. They belong to a world where summer events regularly take place, and at the moment that world might as well be a fantasy.

It’ll come true again some day, though, and the nice thing about wearing vintage is that it doesn’t go out of style (because technically it already has been out of style for decades), so I know that when those summer barbecues and weddings and the like return, this part of my wardrobe will see the light of day again.

Saturday ’80s Photo: One Car Among Many #1

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There are, I find, two types of ’80s cars in my world. One is the type you see in American cop shows of the era and now beloved by synthwave fans: big, ostentatious sports cars made by Lamborghini and the like (the Countach is still my dream ‘silly 1980s car’, though I know if I actually had one I would never be able to park it anywhere). The other is the kind of car that actually existed on the streets of ’80s Britain – the type that litters the photos of our family archive. These cars often look a bit tired and rubbish, but they’re what most people drove.

What’s more, I find them a bit more interesting than the cars they drove in Miami Vice!

Here’s Mum in 1984, pregnant with me, taking a photo and standing next to a Morris Ital.

My mum and a Morris Ital, 1984
You don’t see that ‘greige’ colour for cars any more!

The Morris Ital is now one of the rarest cars on UK roads; according to the Telegraph there were only 11 left in 2018 (warning: paywall).

Possibly another ’80s car photo next week! Unless I get around to photographing more artefacts around my house again.

Saturday ’80s Photo: January Snow

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I was born in a snow-laden January, so I should be used to putting up with winter weather at this time of year. Mind you, as a newborn I wasn’t worrying about trying to run in it!

January 1985
Snowy paths, January 1985.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Duran Duran – ‘Five Years’
Thought Beings – ‘Shakedown’
5 Seconds Of Summer – ‘Youngblood’
John Taylor – ‘I Do What I Do’
Cee Lo Green – ‘Forget You’
Ariana Grande – ‘Thank U Next’
Ollie Wride – ‘Back To Life’

Carousel, 1989

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There’s a Christmas cake on the table too, but the wee bro and I were more interested in the carousel. It plays music if you pull the tab.

Christmas carousel

Today’s earworm playlist:

Andy Williams – ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year’
Robert Allen – ‘Holidaius’
Mike Hewer – ‘Snowman Party’