My memory of the 80s was that a lot of the fashion was considered a deliberate joke even then. But my memory may be tainted.

That's because ita and Jilli broke you.

Well, if 80s fashion was an in-joke, I was on the outside.

I took some of that crap seriously (off the shoulder, dropped waists, and perhaps too much neon).

Yuck.

Grunge didn't make a dent where I was, so no biggie to me.

Big flourescent pink sweatshirt with RELAX!! on it, black stirrup pants, black suede ankle boots. Favorite outfit of 5th grade.

Even in the eighties, before I could talk, mind you, I knew what things were ugly. I always picked out my own clothes. Always. My mom said I was very frustrating that way, since one of the best parts of having a little girl is dressing her up, like a doll. And yet, I was more likely to try and pick out her clothes. And I always had good taste, which made it even more frustrating for her. And I would often have talks with her about shoulder pads, and why they were bad. She often agreed, but wore them anyway. She said if she cut them out, the jackets or whatever would fit oddly, and I said that it would probably be better, even if they did.

You know what's embarassing? The fact that my hair looked like this [link] for a lot of the late 70's. I know I spent wayyy too much time getting it to feather just right. And then when it grew out... the sausage curl stage..oy!

See, off the shoulder does not bother me at all. Shoulders are a pretty flattering body part to show off, for most people. Though I'm sure there are exceptions. It was the bagginess outside of that that made me dislike a lot of things.

And man, stirrup pants were horrible. Every now and then I'd be forced to wear them, and it was impossible to focus on anything but the binding sensation around my heel. I hated them, AND thought they looked dumb.

That said, Aimee sounds like a totally adorable fifth grader.

Ah, shoulderpads. Given my distinct lack of shoulders until recently, I can't rag on them. Moderation was key, always.

I think the worst thing I deliberately perpetrated would involve raglan sleeves in addition to the dropped waist, and a 4-colour beret. And ankle boots. Always the ankle boots. Only ever had the one pair of stirrup pants, though.

Just not cool.

Really, it's good that I had school uniforms straight through until age 17.

Pegged and rolled jeans. Layered button up shirts, one worn like a jacket.

When I was in elementary school, pedal pushers, sort of. There was a different name for them. They buttoned at the knee. Often with a high collared ruffly blouse

Ribbed tank tops in primary colors worn with a shortsleeved or sleeveless cotton camp shirts in a different primary color.

Deck shoes in dark mallard green suede with the lace portion dark brown leather. OK, maybe that was just me.

Granny boots with faux socks sticking over the top.

This, from a fashion unconscious one.

I also really disliked the grunge of the nineties. I mean, it was called grunge, for heaven's sake. Eww.

Some of us living in the grunge capital didn't like it, either.

ION, I get to see Plei & Princess TickyBox after work! Yay!

I was apparently a lot meaner as a child, and I liked pointing out what was ugly around me. When I'd be waiting in the car with my mom, I liked to stand on the front seat, and lean back against it, with my elbows on either side of the head rest, and there would still be some room before my head would hit the ceiling, so I must have been pretty young, and I would just critique everybody who walked by. Clothes, hair, makeup, walk. Just very judgmental. My mom said it was hysterical, if a little scary, since I was usually right.

ETA: I usually keep those thoughts to myself, now.

Yay, Jilli! You're so lucky!