The 80s are Back

Channeling their inner Kelly Kapowski, designers are paying tribute to the legendary time when hair was big and shoulders were, well, squared; you guessed it: welcome to the eighties.

At Paris Fashion Week this past September, Stella Mccartney’s show featured bright flouncy dresses and vibrant pinks; models strutted bedecked in vintagey billowing pants and oversized, washed-out jumpsuits. A wave of nostalgia swept over the audience as many onlookers wondered in amazement: Stella, what have you done? Yet Mccartney isn’t alone with this sudden flashback to the eighties— numerous designers have joined Mccartney in turning back the clock to chunky jewelry and the off-the-shoulder craze. The runways of designers like Balenciaga, Isabel Marant, and Marc Jacobs were dominated with eighties throwbacks that truly sent one “Into the Groove” and out into the world of the past.

So what’s with this eighties comeback? The eighties is perpetually the butt of jokes and a less-than-ideal reminder of Brad Pitt’s cringe-worthy mullet. No one can forget the enduring smell of hairspray in the bathroom or the bright- and tight- workout garb mocked annually on Halloween. The darker, edgier modern trends intentionally conflict with the luminous, childlike eighties patterns to reflect a more sophisticated, composed global fashion community. Today’s fashion promotes simplicity, and while thirty years ago “Girls Just Want[ed] to Have Fun,” today all adolescents are suited up with their resumes at hand, and infiltrate adulthood before they’ve even finished childhood. This reality is precisely why the fashion industry has brightened up its image this season with the glitz and glam of yesteryear. Fashion has reinforced the stiff, hyper-serious culture of today’s youth; color is but an afterthought and individuality is lacking on blogs, magazines, and day-to-day fashion. A seasonal pit stop in the past could truly cure the fashion blues.

In the 1980s, Northwestern truly encompassed the livelihood of the decade. Whether arriving to Dillo Day dressed neon chic or cheering on the ‘cats pimped out in baggy Northwestern sweaters, our alums knew how to “eighties.”  While it may be uncommon to walk down Sheridan and pass groups of students with perms, why not bring back some eighties trends to illuminate campus this upcoming winter? Do not be afraid to splash some color into your winter drag or invest in a bulky pair of sunglasses. Wear your hair big and voluptuous, and dress out of your comfort zone. Knee-deep in Northwestern’s academic year, we all need some fun energy to spice up our college experience.