Battle of Fashion Fads: 80s vs 90s

El’s recent comment about fingerless gloves makes we wonder: if 80s fashion fads and 90s fashion fads were to battle each other, who would win? [queue the sound of masses shouting at a boxing ring] Ladies and gentlemen. *ding, ding, ding* In the right corner, we have the representative of the 80s Fashion Fads: George Michael. He’s sporting a neon glow-in-the-dark Choose Life t-shirt, acid-washed jeans, and sexy girlie plastic jellies sandals. Doesn’t he look great?!?! In the left corner, we have the representative of the (pre-grunge) 90s Fashion Fads: MC Hammer. Señor Hammer is wearing oh-so-stylish parachute pants and a blazer with massive shoulder pads.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. What do I see? Oh! Could that be? Yes! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE FORGOT TWO DETAILS! Please note the following … George Michael has his frosted blonde hair pulled back into a hot pink banana clip & MC Hammer’s ensemble includes a hypercolor t-shirt. Woot! Woot! *ding, ding, ding* Time to vote! In the battle of the Fashion Fads, who would win? Tell me, who had the better fashions — the 80s or the 90s?


{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }

El November 21, 2006 at 9:06 am

Well my personal memories for the 80′s are made up of Catholic school uniforms, rolled socks, sparkly purple leg warmers, and what my parents dressed me in. The early 90′s fashion is much of the same for me, but with the bonuses of my older sister’s kickass leather jacket and Sinead O’Conner hairdo.

By the time I was of fashion statement age myself it was the grunge period, followed by my high school years of wearing an orange jumpsuit (I found it at the thrift store, and I thought it rocked and made a statement).

That said: For colors, sass, and sparkle I pick the 80′s. For comfort and desire to at least look like I can kick your ass, the 90′s.

Unless you want to look at that tiny backpack trend of the 90′s… and then the 80′s win handsdown.

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AmyD November 21, 2006 at 10:31 am

Seeing as 80′s fashion is totally here again (for the meantime), I’m going for that. The 90′s was TACKY with a capital T, anyway.

But if one of these days someone tries to tell me it’s cool to peg my pants, I’m fucking decking them. ;)

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History Chic November 21, 2006 at 11:25 am

Ok “better” is subjective LOL.

However being a child of the 80′s with the big hair, puff skirts, leg warmers, and crazy colors. I am glad to see that NO ONE learned from our fashion faux paux’s. I think 80′s would take 90′s anyday.

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erikwithak November 21, 2006 at 6:15 pm

what’s a guy gotta do to get you to respond to his email?

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Mags November 21, 2006 at 9:15 pm

Being a proud child of the ’80s and former wearer of hyper color shirts, stirrup pants and scrunchies, I gotta go with the 80s. Plus they are back in now.

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Pegs November 22, 2006 at 6:57 am

80s. No contest, especially when you add in the short athletic shorts, turned up polo colors, Members Only windbreakers and sunglasses at night. Wait, sunglasses at night never really went out. See, 80s win.

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FUNKYBROWNCHICK November 22, 2006 at 7:37 am

El: Heeeey, I loved those little backpacks! And the Spice Girls. 90s all the way!!!! :)

AmyD: The 80s *ARE* back aren’t they? I have two theories about fashion ( … I’m sure I’m not the only one to think of this … ). #1. Every severe trend is following by a super laid back trend. Long, bone straight, parted-in-the-middle hair of the 70s was replaced by bleached, teased, and mile-high hair of the 80s. #2. The fashion lifespan is only 20 years. So, the fashions that are in style “today” will always be the ones that were in style exactly 20 years ago. The 00s are like the 80s. The laid back styles of the 70s are a lot like the grunge style of the 90s. And, now that we’re heading into the 10s, the 90s are gonna come back. Trust me on this one folks. Fashion is life.

History Chic: I’m a child of the 80s, too. But, I really kind of liked the 90s.

erikwithak: Um, okay, apparently a guy’s gotta leave a comment on my blog to remind me that I should check my email. ;) I’m on my blog Monday – Friday. Email? Not so often. Thanks for the heads up … I’m heading there now.

Mags: Noooooo. What is wrong with you people? How could you not love the *90s*??? I’m gonna go on a one-woman mission to bring the 90s back. Okay, now, where are my orange jeans? :)

Pegs: How did I *not* blog about this … your comment reminds me: I saw a guy with a MEMBERS ONLY jacket on the train the other day!!!! It had been a long time since I’d seen one of those. By the way, your comment also reminds me that I wanted to call or email you about your comment on Sid’s blog the other day. Okay, email note to self: read erikwithak’s email and email Pegs.

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Cindy November 27, 2006 at 6:53 pm

The eighties were way cooler than the nineties. Nineties fashion was just bad. I am not even sure you can call it fashion.

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FUNKYBROWNCHICK November 27, 2006 at 10:08 pm

Maaaan, the 90s are next, they’re coming back!!! Trust me on this one. :D

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80's survivor March 21, 2009 at 5:30 pm

The 1990's was better in every way. The music, movies, fashion. The huge, bright colors from the 80's were annoying, the music and movies tied into each other making them awful. The grunge fashion statements of the 90's alone could wipe out the 80's without thinking about it. The best thing about the 80's was that it ended. Thank the maker.

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flaboy909 September 20, 2010 at 3:54 pm

If i could vote you up, I’d do it in a heartbeat, 90′s FTW!

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Oakley Goggles March 22, 2009 at 7:51 am

I like 90's fashion the most, those back comb hairs , glittery makeup and all.

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Edsel Takahashi January 8, 2010 at 12:26 am

The ’90s totally sucked.

The ’80s, on the other hand, were totally awesome.

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Sabrina March 7, 2010 at 10:35 pm

i was born in 1996 and i will tell ANYONE that the 90′s fashion sense kinda sucked, on the other hand though the 80′s style was AWESOME!!! and i know that even though i wasnt even there!!!

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flaboy909 September 20, 2010 at 4:03 pm

WTF these 80s dudes talking about, I’m 1991 and the 90s is where its at. Man, y’all just hating on us cuz we didn’t want to be fruity, come on; a cool Michael Jordan fit with the newly invented fitted cap over 14 colors any day, Tommy Hilfiger and Nike over ocean pacific and Adidas.

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