Figure 1.--Here is a block party in San Bernardino, California during 1983. I am guessing it is the 4th of July. By the 1980s, most American boys wore short pants during the hot summer months. There were several popular styles. Also note the tube socks.

We notice a wide range of popular fashions during the 1980s. Boys no longer dressed up lke they once did, except for very special occassions. We note a range of casual dresy styles, but casua; clothinghad become standard for most boys. And there were a wide range of casual styles. Denim was the most fashionable fabrc. And you could find just anout anything made in demim. Some of the most popular items were acid washed jeans and jean jackets. we also see parachute pants and high top shoes. T-shirts became highly fshionable. Wealso see preppie styles making a comeback. Popular preppie items included Izod shirts (possibly worn with the collar up), dress slaacks, and penny loafers. Fashionable teenagers might wear a baggy blazer with the sleeves rolled up. The idea was to dress up a bit, but in a way that looked casual. One fashion experts claims thst there was an idea to show individuality. The decade began with loud, big, gaudy and bright clothes,but this had declined by the ed of the decade.

Garments

We notice a wide range of popular fashions during the 1980s. Boys no longer dressed up lke they once did, except for very special occassions. We note a range of casual dresy styles, but casual clothing had become standard for most boys, especially during the summer. And there were a wide range of casual styles. The big fashion in caps was of course baseball caps. The baseball cap became the headwear of choice for most boys. Sports logos (it no longer had to be just baseball teams) were the most popular, but just about any company or granizational logo began appearing on baseball caps. Suits especially standard suits were no longer commonly by boys except for very special occassions. And we see vested suits for these occassions. Lapels were smaller than in the 70s.M any boys, however, did not even have suits. Casual styles became very popular with boys. A populsr alternstive were vest sets. Eton suit were no longer commonly worn by boys except for the very youngest. We notices beiung offered in sailor order catalofs and the major department stores. Sets meant collared shirts, including knit shirts, and belted coordinating pants. Boys wore all kinds of shirts during the 1980, both collared and collarless shirts. Novelty t-shirts had become populsar. At the beginning of the decade we see Western style shirts with fashionable yokes, often done in contrasting colors. Younger boys might wear Eton blouses with suits. There were even sailor suits for pre-school boys. Some boys liked Preppy styles. Button down preppy shirts were popular. Some boys wore color-coordinated polo shirts. Some boys liked to wear their collars up. There was a velour fad in the early 1980's. Some boys wore velour shirts. (Young British boys wore velour shorts, but this fashion never appeared in America.) Panama Jack clothes (especially the shirts and straw hats) were popular with older boys. We note Knit pullover shirts with zip detaling and turned up collars at mid-decade. We also see velour and terry shirts. We also see colorful rib knit shirts and turtlenecks. Boys wore all kins of collarless shits. T-shirts were a major item and we note all kinds of novelty T-shirts. Colorful style were vet opulr. They often were coordinared with the pnts, especill hort panys. We see cartoon characters and sports teams. We also see video game characters. Baseall teams seem at first the most popular. Denim was the most fashionable fabrc, butwe also see corduroy. And you could find just anout anything made in demim. Some of the most popular items were acid washed jeans and jean jackets. we also see parachute pants and high top shoes. T-shirts became highly fshionable. Wealso see preppie styles making a comeback. Popular preppie items included Izod shirts (possibly worn with the collar up), dress slaacks, and penny loafers.

Looks

The preppy look was popular and affected many different garments. Izod and Polo shirts were widely worn. Shoes included Sebago Docksides and penny loafers.

Brands

Bugle Boy clorges were very popular. Ocean Pacific was another popular style.

Fads

Some fad styles included pac-mania (shirts, knit hats, buttons, etc.). Peace symbols were popular logos. Bracelets were popular in the 1980s, even with boys. There were different kinds. Ccharm bracelets were mostly worn by girls, but boys wore friendship bracelets (woven, colorful things). There were also white, braided sailor bracelets. The fad of boys getting one earing appeared in the 1980s. It was mostly older teenagers in the late 1980s, but younger boys wanted then by the 1990s.

Hair Styles

Many imaginative new hair styles appeared in the 1980s. Spiked hair appeared for the first time in the mid-1980s. Another style was crimped hair. Some boys liked rat tails (long strip of hair in back of neck), high hair, mall chick hair, parallel or horizontal lines (usually three) shaved into hair on the side of the head.

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Created: November 22, 1998
Last updated: 2:39 AM 7/3/2014