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Original poster

70s or 80s? which decade committed the biggest crimes against fashion?

100 replies

butterfly2015 · 02/04/2015 00:41

I was a teenager in the 80s. I have photos of me wearing pedal pushers, puffball skirts and wearing far to many ribbons in my very perked hair.

Having just watched some show on the 70s and witnessed men wearing pink (dp says it's salmon not pink) flares and spangly shirts I actually think the 70s was far worse and I had a lucky escape (as anything pre 1980 I can blame on my mother buying for me)

'Fess up. What's your worst fashion disaster and am I right? Are the 70s the worst decade in terms of "style"?

OP posts:
Original poster
butterfly2015 · 02/04/2015 00:42

Perked? It's permed! I have no idea what perked hair is.

OP posts:
TendonQueen · 02/04/2015 00:43

I actually think both are better than now! I had some amazing white stiletto moments in the 80s but it all made sense then Smile

Latara · 02/04/2015 00:45

I think the 70s were the worst because they invented Flared Jeans which have just come back into fashion! Again!

I hate flares!

They'd better still sell skinny / straight leg jeans or else!

(Btw I was born in '76 so I only wore cute 70s toddler clothes, no flares).

Latara · 02/04/2015 00:50

I liked the 80s as a child, I wore ra-ra skirts which actually look quite pretty in old photos, batwing jumpers (knitted by my nan), tight jeans with bows on the ankles, little pink moccasin shoes etc etc.

Lots of the fashions from the 80s have been reworked for the present day & I still like wearing them.

But the 70s fashions that are back in now are horrendous - too much suede, flares, platform sandals & mules, yuck.

emotionsecho · 02/04/2015 00:51

That's a tough one, OP, there were some serious crimes against fashion in both decades - 80's shoulder pads (the American Footballer look), 70's double denim with badges.

Hairstyles - both decades had some real shockers!

honeyroar · 02/04/2015 00:57

I am an eighties chic, I loved them, but as for the fashion battle, it really is six of one and half a dozen of the other.

It's when you look back at who you used to fancy you get a shock. Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran, what did he look like! But I loved him.

honeyroar · 02/04/2015 00:58

Eighties chick not chic (definitely couldn't call me chic in the 80s!)

textfan · 02/04/2015 01:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CookPassBabtrigde · 02/04/2015 01:13

70s is back in now apparently! I'm an 80s kid, and I reckon the 80s (bad hair), but you forgot to mention the 90s when things went from bad to worse Grin
Had some horrendous outfits from both.

abigamarone · 02/04/2015 01:26

I keep reading that the 70s is supposed to be coming back, but until I see someone walking down the street in orange checked cheesecloth shirt and 2-colour loon pants I'm not convinced.

That's mainly what I remember about the 70s. Orange. Clothes, lipstick, curtains, walls, furniture, carpet. All orange.

Original poster
butterfly2015 · 02/04/2015 02:04

We had orange and brown swirly wallpaper in the living room when I was a child. I shall put it down to there being little choice in wallpaper rather than thinking "oooh! Orange and brown circles! How tasteful"

White stilettos, used tippex to cover the scraped marks on the heels. Shoulder pads were hideous but I loved them at the time.

But I watched Marc bolan earlier and he was wearing shiny lilac high waist trousers and a sparkly pink shirt. I doubt many men could pull that look off.

OP posts:
Original poster
butterfly2015 · 02/04/2015 02:06

I had a lot of leg warmers. I blame Fame.

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textfan · 02/04/2015 02:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KingJoffreyFanciesDarylDixon · 02/04/2015 02:22

In the very late 80s/early 90s we had an awful lot of neon leggings and cycling shorts knocking about.

Day-Go Camel Toe. Lovely!

Easter Hmm

Neon slouchy socks and white stilletos also appeared to be a thing.

Original poster
butterfly2015 · 02/04/2015 02:23

I have no idea how I will embarrass my kids when they've got their own kids. My parents delight in pulling out photos and saying "look at your mum when she was 12!"

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textfan · 02/04/2015 02:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

emotionsecho · 02/04/2015 02:31

Oh yes the leg warmers!

I love going back and watching programmes of those times and looking at the fashions.

Original poster
butterfly2015 · 02/04/2015 02:41

It's a shame as most of the old totp presenters have been arrested so there's probably not many they can show now. Dp and I were laughing at the stage sets and how utterly naff they were.

Dire straits were on too, Elton John, David bowie (looking about 12 and a bit awkward) bay city rollers ...was good and I do like the music from the 70s.

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emotionsecho · 02/04/2015 03:00

The 70s had a real mix of music, rock, glam rock, punk rock, disco, northern soul, soul, reggae, easy listening stuff, it's odd to think that David Bowie and Telly Savallas both had hits in the 70s.

The old TV shows like The Good Life, The Likely Lads and The Sweeney all display the wonderful fashions of the time, and of course the ubiquitous brown and orange decor.

SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires · 02/04/2015 12:53

80s fashion was worse. /gavel

derailleurdePan · 02/04/2015 13:08

The 70s had a real mix of music, rock, glam rock, punk rock, disco, northern soul, soul, reggae, easy listening stuff, it's odd to think that David Bowie and Telly Savallas both had hits in the 70s.

Prog rock, Queen and Roxy, fair amount of C&W, British funk - you just couldn't move for every type of pop music. Fantastic time to be a music-head.

FreudiansSlipper · 02/04/2015 13:12

80's by far

fashion was so cheap looking and the shoulder pads were a danger to the public many serious injuries were caused by them but never reported

Original poster
butterfly2015 · 02/04/2015 13:14

Hair was so big in both decades. So big.

OP posts:
chrome100 · 02/04/2015 13:18

I was a 90s teen. Most of the stuff I wore seems to be back in. God knows why!

cosytoaster · 02/04/2015 13:20

I'm going to say 80's - I was a teen then and a lot of the fashion was v middle aged - perms and shoulder pads. However, I'm glad I was young in that era as I don't think I could ever manage to be as groomed and glossy as today's teens