Anyone want to come and mourn the reality vs expectation of new purchases with me?

[Swimminguphill]

I bought this beautiful jacket online. In my mind I'd look like Blondie in the 80s, very rock and roll and all round awesome. In reality I look like a giant angry teddy bear/yeti. I have broad shoulders and a bust although slim in general, and it doesn't do me any favours. I wanted it for ages and it's now sold out, and so the joy of getting it in my size just in time is sadly wasted. It is a beautiful jacket - just not on me! Anybody else want to come and mourn reality vs fantasy with me?

ProjectGainsbourg we bought dd1 a red snowsuit with a pointy hood when she was little, every time she wore it dp kept saying "Don't Look Now" accompanied by Psycho music.

Mine too, quirky! Those filmmakers really ruined red for people under 4 foot.

ProjectGainsborough

I agree with the poster who is thanking god for the absence of social media and cameraphones in the 70s and 80s.
It limits the evidence for...
Perm = Noddy Holder
Grown out perm with blow dry = Princess Diana at her flickiest
Dressed as Madonna from Desperately Seeking Susan = Baglady

I tried toning down the Madonna DSS look with just the jaunty headscarf knotted over my hair = Hilda Ogden

Haha, that was me Breakfast. But maybe if we'd seen what we looked like, we wouldn't have worn some of the 80s "fashion".

Glad this made it to classics! Truly deserved! Hilarious thread (and SO relatable!!)

Crying at loads of these.

I bought a black long-sleeved top with slashes in the upper arms. Thought it would be a bit Lou Dillon, but the look is more Historical Play for Today circa 1978.

Shirt dresses.

Mini dress in black and white stripes, yellow tights and suede ankle pixie boots.

I looked like Busby with his legs sticking out the bottom of a giant Everton mint.

Metallic pleated midi skirt with black cashmere jumper. Thought I'd look relatively sophisticated at work xmas party.

In reality I looked like a member of glam band Wizzard who'd lost their stage costumes and had run up a skirt with foil and borrowed their mum's jumper. Fucking skirt went on ebay when I saw the photos.

Anything velvet - Expectation- glamourous, eveningy and a bit mysterious

Reality- one of those overstuffed sofas with lumps and bumps in wierd places!

Maxi skirts - expectation- swishy, summerry and willowy

Reality- queen victoria

Haha! I’ve done the metallic pleated midi too. Teamed it with a sequinned top. Thought I looked the dog’s bollocks but really looked more like one of those fat, shuffly black goldfish. Still wore it anyway to the works Christmas do

For me it was the layered hippy chic look I was aiming for.

Reality was an overstuffed scarecrow.

Been already mentioned but was so disappointed with boyfriend jeans - I should've realised any jeans on sale are on sale for a reason- wore them for a total of twenty minutes after realising I looked like I had arrived in a time machine from late 80s 'Madchester' ...considered buying a mustard hoody and wallabies to complete the look then stuffed the jeans straight in the charity bag

Ooh, classics.

I must agree with shirt dresses, I keep ordering them thinking they'll be stylish, understated day wear.
I always look like I've put on my Dad's old shirt to do the decorating.

I'm really after some leather jeans/trousers, but knowing me I'll get it all wrong and resemble a bad 80's Jon Bon Jovi/weird woman who has wrapped her legs in bin bags.

I've just bought a velvet jumpsuit.

I'm too scared to try it on

I am crying at crested guinea pig and grain silo

Ha! I bought a tutu for this theatrical wedding I'm going to on NYE. Looked amazing and I've wanted one forever. I'm 5'8, I can get away with it can't I?

I look like a burst sofa cushion in it and because we had to put so much booze in the car yesterday for our trip up to see relatives for Xmas, there wasn’t even any room for it in the car.
What am I going to do with a bean bag sized grey tulle skirt?

Make a bean bag?

I love that, I'd wear it, but I'm 5 foot so might look really stupid!

Leopard print shoes- quirky and fun for work.

Reality- look cheap

Completely agree re Breton tops!

@IHaveBrilloHair

Pm me your address, you can chop the bottom three rows off and then also experience the joy of swishing about in it.

Just don't go near any reflective surfaces.

My teenage 80s self had a white full skirt with a high buttoned waist and thick white shoulder straps like braces attached. Some product of the 80s obsession with the 50s I expect.

Expectation was some kind of cross between a 50s Grease girl and a funky Edwardian girl.

Reality on 5’1 me was more like a Sylvanian Familes rabbit baby.

I’ll never forget the barely disguised looks of horror from the family I was staying with for the French Exchange.

steaksauce I had my bedroom walls plastered with Adam Rickitt pics.

When can we meet?

Thank you! This thread has had me cackling like a mad woman! Cheered me up no end.

My DMs arrived.

I actually love them