Big Hair, Smoking, and Record Stores: A Photo Journey of Malls in the ’80s

[Billy Jingo]

Big Hair, Smoking, and Record Stores: A Photo Journey of Malls in the ’80s


I think that's Philly there on the right.







Tape World. For all your tape needs.

[phillygirl]

Big Hair, Smoking, and Record Stores: A Photo Journey of Malls in the ’80s


I think that's Philly there on the right.







Tape World. For all your tape needs.

Oh, please. I rocked the 80's big hair and that is not big hair!

[Billy Jingo]

Oh, please. I rocked the 80's big hair and that is not big hair!

I like the painted on pants.

Or were you nude and just had a weird skin disease?

[Gingersnap]

Interesting! There's no question that people dressed better then. Whether you love it or loath it, the 80s were apparently the last fashion era in America. Everything since then has been just been a recycling of fringe fashion and fetish or the ultra boring minimalism: neutral and blacks, no details, androgynous without being interesting - sort of like how the good guys dressed in 'The Matrix'.

I don't spend a lot of time in malls but what strikes me as very different is the lack of diversity in stores today compared to the types of stores in malls in the 80s. Today you've got a million shoe stores, clothing stores all selling the same looks, and home decor places offering upscale goods. In between are some lotion stores, a lot of nail places, and a few candle stores.

Back then the boutique clothing stores each catered to a different look, most malls had several book and music stores, home furnishing places had very different ranges and prices, there were more independent restaurants and niche food stores, and just a lot more local shops selling specialized goods. Even the anchor stores are less diverse. The department store where we shopped sold everything from tack and patio furniture to sewing machines and bridal gowns along with an in-store restaurant and hair place. You could get a winter coat, a living room rug, and a pair of skis at one shot. Now department stores seem to just have 3 departments: clothes, linens, and jewelry.

[Gingersnap]

I like the painted on pants.

Or were you nude and just had a weird skin disease?

I guessed you missed the current skinny jeans and leggings thingy where you live. At least in the 80s they didn't even sell tight jeans to people over a size 12 (unlike today). I mean this literally. Trendy clothing was simply unavailable to big girls which simplified the visual field quite a bit.

[Billy Jingo]

I guessed you missed the current skinny jeans and leggings thingy where you live. At least in the 80s they didn't even sell tight jeans to people over a size 12 (unlike today). I mean this literally. Trendy clothing was simply unavailable to big girls which simplified the visual field quite a bit.

I try to make a point of not staring at girls under 20.

[scott]

I try to make a point of not staring at girls under 20.

You don't see women in their 40s and closer to your age in the 50s wearing skinny jeans?

[phillygirl]

I guessed you missed the current skinny jeans and leggings thingy where you live. At least in the 80s they didn't even sell tight jeans to people over a size 12 (unlike today). I mean this literally. Trendy clothing was simply unavailable to big girls which simplified the visual field quite a bit.

The "stirrup pants" and parachute pants were awesome. I had the greatest pair of parachute pants in college. They got passed around from girl to girl in the dorm (we were "collectivists" when it came to clothing). Generally, I didn't have the latest and greatest (their girls from Long Island did!), but I did have the coolest pair of parachute pants!

[Gingersnap]

You don't see women in their 40s and closer to your age in the 50s wearing skinny jeans?

You know how we say he's from another planet? This nails it.

[phillygirl]

You don't see women in their 40s and closer to your age in the 50s wearing skinny jeans?

Those are just fat girls that refuse to buy a size up!

[Gingersnap]

The "stirrup pants" and parachute pants were awesome. I had the greatest pair of parachute pants in college. They got passed around from girl to girl in the dorm (we were "collectivists" when it came to clothing). Generally, I didn't have the latest and greatest (their girls from Long Island did!), but I did have the coolest pair of parachute pants!

Most comfortable pants in the universe although my own taste tended toward the neon. I still like neon and I'm glad to see it return (even in boring format). Now I wear a neon tank over pastel capri pants but I tone it down with a loopy white Mañanita and white canvas shoes. And lots of funky bangles.

I was born with the big hair.

[phillygirl]

Most comfortable pants in the universe although my own taste tended toward the neon. I still like neon and I'm glad to see it return (even in boring format). Now I wear a neon tank over pastel capri pants but I tone it down with a loopy white Mañanita and white canvas shoes. And lots of funky bangles.

I was born with the big hair.

Yeah, I was born with the big hair too. End of every hair cut is the "thinning out" ritual. This week I chopped about 5 inches off. Another ritual of mine...grow it long only to chop it, and then regret the chop after 2 days.

[Novaheart]

You don't see women in their 40s and closer to your age in the 50s wearing skinny jeans?

Yeah, the women who buy skinny jeans one size too big so they can take them to the cleaners and get them starched within an inch of their lives and a front seam perma-ironed such that the jeans can stand in a corner by themselves.

[Novaheart]

I was a Castro clone for much of the 1980's. Then Gypsy-boy. Then back to clone. Then I became a realtor.

[Gingersnap]

Yeah, I was born with the big hair too. End of every hair cut is the "thinning out" ritual. This week I chopped about 5 inches off. Another ritual of mine...grow it long only to chop it, and then regret the chop after 2 days.

I gave up and just grew it out. I bend over and loop it all up with combs and clips. I can totally rock that Boho look hair-wise. When it gets past my waist, I have them cut four inches off. I do have them layer the top more often but frankly, it looks pretty much the same regardless.