If you lived through the 1980s, you’ll recall the outlandish decade with fond, and sometimes cringe-worthy memories. Music played a large part of our lives, and the ever-changing genres meant the clothing and hairstyles changed every bit as rapidly to keep folks looking “cool” (a.k.a. “ridiculous” by today’s standards). Here are some highlights:
- Disco was big at the start of 1980 but lame by year-end.
Flickr/Gary Ullah The Disco Era, which had reigned supreme since 1977 with the hit movie Saturday Night Fever, disappeared almost overnight with the summer 1980 blockbuster Urban Cowboy. Interestingly enough, both movies starred actor John Travolta.
- The trendy country & western music scene brought a new popularity to “line dancing.”
Gallery Hip
- Bars were also quick to set up mechanical bull rides for entertainment.
Wikimedia Commons Guys wanted to hold on past the “8 second” rule, while girls wanted to ride the bull in the same seductive way as actress Debra Winger. Typically, neither goal was accomplished.
- The Texas World Music Festival (known as The Texxas Jam) played at the Cotton Bowl for 10 years, from 1978-1988.
Van Halen News Desk Crowds of over 80,000 people crammed into the outdoor festival to hear some great music. Tickets for the first year sold for $12.50 each, with headliners like Van Halen and Aerosmith.
Rice Digital Scholarship Archive The oppressive heat was often so bad that water hoses were sprayed on crowds to keep fans cool.
- All the while, folk music retained its audience though the early 1980s.
Texas.713/Flickr
- Formal wear meant ruffled tuxedo shirts for guys and the Gunne Sax brand dresses for gals.
Dalena Vintage
- Cowboy clothes were all the rage at the beginning of the decade.
Flickr/c-lemon
- Which soon were placed into the back of the closet as pop and punk hit the scene.
Flickr/Kris Kesiak Girls wore neon nail polish colors, often choosing 10 different colors for a rainbow effect. Other fashion styles included fishnet fashions, leather, extreme hairdos, and eyeliner for both men and women.
- Puffy dresses and big permed hair was THE look in the early 1980s.
Dallas Vintage Shop
- Grunge fashions also hit big.
Laurie-Beth Little/Bananarama Punk hairdos and extreme styles, usually in black, began to appear.
- One-piece Spandex catsuits reigned supreme.
Importance of Being Vintage Yes, we really did go out wearing only a skin tight jumpsuit like this one modeled by Pat Benatar.
- In the 1980s, sunbathing was a requirement.
Cushing Memorial Library/Flickr Guys and girls alike baked in the sun, even slathering themselves with baby oil and putting lemon or “Sun In” product to lighten hair. Sadly, orange-red hair along with skin cancer were unintended results.
- Video games ruled supreme.
Cushing Memorial Library/Flickr Clubs featured rows of video games along with 3-for-1 drinks during the excesses of the 1980s.
- The television show “Dallas,” filmed at the local Southfork Ranch was a hit. Everyone was asking “Who shot J.R.?” in 1980.
The Red List
- Skittles weddings were popular in the 1980s.
Jazz Guy/Flickr All the colors of the rainbow combined with A&M Corps finery were worn for this wedding.
- People still talk about the Texas Heat Wave of 1980.
Etsy This summer saw a whopping 42 days of triple-digit heat.
Dallas - Fort Worth International Airport’s hub system was all in the news.
We just thought the DFW area was crowded in 1980. Look at it now!
UNT Center for Economic Development and Research
- Commuter traffic into Dallas was already starting to pile up.
Texas Freeway Yeah, we complained about the traffic even back then!
Did you live through the 1980s? Any special memories, or even a photo, you’d like to share?
Flickr/Gary Ullah
The Disco Era, which had reigned supreme since 1977 with the hit movie Saturday Night Fever, disappeared almost overnight with the summer 1980 blockbuster Urban Cowboy. Interestingly enough, both movies starred actor John Travolta.
Gallery Hip
Wikimedia Commons
Guys wanted to hold on past the “8 second” rule, while girls wanted to ride the bull in the same seductive way as actress Debra Winger. Typically, neither goal was accomplished.
Van Halen News Desk
Crowds of over 80,000 people crammed into the outdoor festival to hear some great music. Tickets for the first year sold for $12.50 each, with headliners like Van Halen and Aerosmith.
Rice Digital Scholarship Archive
The oppressive heat was often so bad that water hoses were sprayed on crowds to keep fans cool.
Texas.713/Flickr
Dalena Vintage
Flickr/c-lemon
Flickr/Kris Kesiak
Girls wore neon nail polish colors, often choosing 10 different colors for a rainbow effect. Other fashion styles included fishnet fashions, leather, extreme hairdos, and eyeliner for both men and women.
Dallas Vintage Shop
Laurie-Beth Little/Bananarama
Punk hairdos and extreme styles, usually in black, began to appear.
Importance of Being Vintage
Yes, we really did go out wearing only a skin tight jumpsuit like this one modeled by Pat Benatar.
Cushing Memorial Library/Flickr
Guys and girls alike baked in the sun, even slathering themselves with baby oil and putting lemon or “Sun In” product to lighten hair. Sadly, orange-red hair along with skin cancer were unintended results.
Clubs featured rows of video games along with 3-for-1 drinks during the excesses of the 1980s.
The Red List
Jazz Guy/Flickr
All the colors of the rainbow combined with A&M Corps finery were worn for this wedding.
Etsy
This summer saw a whopping 42 days of triple-digit heat.
UNT Center for Economic Development and Research
Texas Freeway
Yeah, we complained about the traffic even back then!
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