Vintage 80's: What trends have you noticed?

Mary-Jane, I fear it's too expensive to resell. The people at Caritas know mostly what they're selling, and while it's not expensive if you want to have a Mugler to wear yourself, I don't think I could sell it at a good profit - at least not from where I stand with my Etsy shop. Besides, my room for stock is very limited - I'm already sitting on a box full of clothing that's waiting to be sold. Our crazy Swiss Post shipping rates don't help this either, which is why I try to sell more small things. Vintage findings and sewing patterns do well for me.

Karin
 
I'm pretty young...I'm 22 and was born in 1990. I worked at Urban Outfitters and American Apparel and in high school, I got hooked on 80s because it was so crazy and out there (which is what I adore 70s, which a lot of people here don't seem to excited about). Fashion is more and more about standing out with crazy patterns and such which is why it is popular. I prefer the 'silky' style polyester dresses over the poly stuff they sell today which is even more cheaply made. As somebody who cannot afford vintage older than 70s typically, it's very affordable for people like me with an extremely limited income. It's mostly a generational thing, I suppose. I'm not one to care much about labels, simply because of the cost, not the construction. I also don't feel bad hacking up my 70s/80s stuff since it's so cheap. Hell, when I was homeless, I was walking around with an 80s dress that I didn't feel bad about OWS screen printing on. So yeah, in a nutshell, it has to do with us youngins liking wacky 80s/90s stuff. Some companies like AA also are into a more preppy asthetic which also reflects in what's becoming popular.

(dress I modified) https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/45239_10151341192700753_1047886395_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/576106_10151329847088590_358971034_n.jpg
https://img2.etsystatic.com/014/1/5815251/il_570xN.447434090_9bs8.jpg
https://img0.etsystatic.com/000/1/5815251/il_570xN.208583976.jpg (lillie rubin 80s)
 
Thanks for your input Shiloh - I used to do the same when I was younger, but back in the '80s you could pick up '50s dresses from the charity shops for not much money. It's odd to think that in the '80s, the '50s was only thirty years before but it seemed like a very long time ago - another world, where they wore hats and gloves and were much better behaved. Maybe that's how the '80s feels for you, whilst for those of us who remember it it doesn't seem like long ago at all!

I'm all about the authenticity and design integrity, I suspect in my city I'm famous for it because people often lower their eyes when they tell me what they do to their vintage but I reassure them that I used to hack hems and cut down bigger sized fashions to fit, without caring about the legacy I was creating for future generations. Used to: when I was young and just a collector, not a professional.

When it's your dress, you can do as you wish. It's a delicate topic around here at times, but I'm not precious about the '70s and '80s unless they're important designers or interesting styles - most of them were cheap and cheerful and mass produced so be creative!
 
lindapoirier said:
I wanted to let you see what I did with the lime green spiral 80s earrings. I knew there was a reason why I had been drawn to them. I had made a simple necklace using a vintage cicada pin from france. No worries the pin is completely intact. The lime green spring was a found object. I call this necklace: Spring on the Blue Ridge. The blue wire was a $1 store purchase.

I bent the earring backing and I pulled out the spiral!
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Love the necklace you made! I've been having computer problems so haven't been able to participate in this 80's conversation much. I'm feeling differently about what is definately NOT a boring decade! Kind of whacky, but a lot of good design mixed in.
 
Midge said:
I'm not that old but I admit, I'm still trying to get my head around to considering 80s as vintage... same goes for my Barbie doll collection. Collectors used to consider only things pre-1977 (start of the smiley-face, all is blonde and pink "Superstar-Era") vintage. Maybe it's also to do with things that one still remembers from their own experience. I got my first Barbie only in '85, after all... then, when I got into collecting big time, I wasn't much interested in the 80s and 90s things from my childhood at all, but things have changed - I do love the totally whacky 80s Barbie outfits now, and have started my own little "reference library" of outfits etc, as the post-1977 era is also very badly documented in terms of collector's books (dolls are stil faring better than the separate fashions though).
I am starting to see the appeal of "real" 80s fashions too. Not everything, but I'm getting there, and all those Ungaro dresses I tried on last December were gorgeous, no question. But I definitely can't wear those big 80s shoulder pads, that just doesn't suit me!
As for the 90s... I'm seeing too much stuff now at H&M etc. - and on teenagers in the street - that remind me of the early 90s and things that I definitely never want to wear again! :wacko:
BTW, my Caritas shop has a gorgeous Thierry Mugler coat... since several weeks already. I'm guessing 90s. Gorgeous, extravagant, beautiful shape, beautifully made, but about 2 sizes too big for me, or it would long ago have become mine :cool:! That would be the 90s piece I would buy for myself! Other than that, I can't think of anything right now.

Karin
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Midge, I'm a vintage Barbie collector as well. I was drawn to collecting the dolls due to, you guessed it, the fashions! Have you ever read "A Doll Fashion Anthology" by Glenn A. Mandeville. It's a really intersting read.
 
lindapoirier said:
Thank you. My best friend and love light found that green spring and gave it to me. It inspired the whole necklace. Did you know that the 17-year cicadas are scheduled to emerge this spring? They are also considered good luck in France!

"A large brood of 17-year periodical cicadas (genus Magicicada) is expected to emerge this spring across portions of eastern North America. These insects spend up to 13 or 17 years of their life cycle living underground. Then, they emerge in large numbers to breed. While things may get noisy in 2013—their mating songs are among the loudest of all sounds produced by insects—don’t worry, they won’t bite or sting. The emergence of periodical cicadas is actually a fascinating natural phenomenon to observe." (earthsky.org)

Yes, there was so much whacky stuff in the 80s and so much GREAT design. I have to photograph my Versace jacket from the 80s for you. You will love it.
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Oh, please do photograph the Versace jacket when you get a chance. I would love to see it.

I did not know about the cicadas, Linda. I'm so glad you told me. When I was little, we called them "heat bugs". I was wondering why I hadn't heard them much in many years. I guess I will certainly hear them this summer! Right now our spring peeper frogs are out in the evening. It's my favorite nature sound.
 
I love your Egypt earrings Linda! surely they touch your face when worn though? they look really wide! so fun though.
 
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