30 Things Only People Who Grew Up In The 1980s Will Recognize (Gen Z Will Never Understand These Trends)
It's crazy to think that the 1980s were over 30 years ago. So much has changed in the world since then. Even though we have access to technology that we never thought would be possible back then, we do sometimes still miss the toys, clothes, tech, and food from the '80s that brought us so much joy when we were younger.
Keep reading to be reminded of stuff from the '80s that you probably haven't thought about in decades.
Ben Cooper Halloween Costumes
Remember when everyone wanted a Ben Cooper Halloween costume, and then you got one and regretted it when you could barely see or breathe through the mask? They did look cool, though.
Hair Bobbles
Even though these hair bobbles were kind of painful, we still wore them to school every day. They did everything a normal hair elastic did, only they were way more stylish.
Little People
If you didn't have these Little People figurines, did you even grow up in the '80s? These were a childhood staple back in the day. This family even had a little dog.
Don't Forget The Fisher-Price Playhouse
What would the Little People family be without their iconic Playhouse? This thing had a working doorbell and a garage that you could really open. There is still no better playhouse on the market.
The Fisher-Price Airport
Those little people didn't just have a house, they also had a whole airport, a multi-level car garage, and other fun playsets. They really don't make toys like they used to.
Sparkle Crest For Kids
Sparkle Crest for Kids toothpaste was simultaneously the best-tasting and the best-looking toothpaste you could buy. If you were very tempted to eat it straight out of the tube, you are definitely not alone.
Swatch Watches
Swatch watches were the height of fashion back in the '80s. If you had one of these things on your wrist, people knew you were cool. There were so many different colorful designs to choose from.
Ruffled Socks
These ruffled socks were a staple for little girls in the 1980s. If you didn't have socks like this, you probably didn't have socks at all. These are actually still very cute. I kind of want some to wear now.
Special Occasion Socks
Remember wearing socks with extra lacy frills on special occasions? Those little frills from the previous photo weren't fancy enough if you had a wedding or a party to go to.
Paper Dolls
Remember playing with these paper dolls and then getting bored of them after five minutes? They were cool, but they didn't last long. They almost looked cooler in the book than they did after you popped them out.
That First Pair Of Roller Skates
We all felt so grown-up the day we got our first pair of lace-up roller skates. Roller skating isn't as big of a thing now as it was in the '80s, but I guess it's like a '90s kid getting their first Tamagotchi, or a Gen-Z kid getting their first avocado fidget spinner.
Queen She-Ra
We all wanted to be as beautiful and as powerful as She-Ra when we were younger. This woman had it all, including a flying unicorn. What's not to like? She was amazing.
Fashion Plates
Remember thinking that you were a fashion designer because you traced over the stencils in your Fashion Plates set? Why did we think this technology was so cool back in the day?
Girl Talk Books
Girl Talk books were reserved for older, wiser kids. You only read these books if you were a mature teenager who could handle teenage issues (or if you were an 8-year-old who really wanted to be a teenager).
This Ballerina Jewelry Box
It seemed like everyone had this ballerina jewelry box back in the '80s. There were a lot of boxes like it on the market, but for some reason, everyone had to have the one with the blue interior and triangular mirror.
Peak Dessert
These ice cream Viennettas were peak dessert back in the '80s. You knew you were at a fancy event when someone broke out the Viennettta. Regular ice cream tubs just don't cut it at fancy events.
PVC Smurfs
Everyone had way too many of these PVC Smurf figurines, but nobody knew where they came from. They just seemed to always be in your house and all of your friends' houses.
Jem And The Holograms
Admit it, you secretly liked The Misfits more than Jem and the Holograms. They were actual rockstars, and their songs were way better. There was never any competition. That hair, though...
Chuck E. Cheese Currency
Remember the feeling of carrying all your Chuck E. Cheese tokens in their waxy soda cups? There's no other sensation in the world quite like it. You never felt so rich in your life.
Pen Bracelets
These pen bracelets were peak fashion in the '80s. They were fashionable and functional. You could wear them around your wrist and then turn them into a pen whenever you needed to write something down.
Care Bears Books
Remember owning a whole bunch of these Care Bears books? They were always a little preachy, but the pictures were cute, so we liked them. We kind of miss the Care Bears.
Put The Popper Back
Remember the struggle of getting your Popper back into its ball shape? Once these things were popped out, it was so hard to get them popped back in. They were cute, though.
Grey Poupon
Back in the '80s, Grey Poupon was something that only rich people ate. Now you can get it at pretty much any grocery store. It's still more expensive than regular mustard.
Cool Off With A Delicious Icee
No modern-day Slushee will ever be as good as those blue and red Icees. The texture of these things is unparalleled. You can still get Icees today, and they still taste like sweet nostalgia.
Baby Magic Lotion
All parents bought Baby Magic baby lotion for their kids back in the '80s. If you think really hard, you can probably still smell the stuff in your memory. Crazy how that works.
Pictionary Junior
Remember getting Pictionary Junior for your birthday and then never really playing it like you were supposed to and basically just doodling on the pads? Yeah, those were the days.
Sea Wees
Sea Wees were the best bath toys ever. They actually kind of made bathtime fun. You got to play with these little mermaid dolls while your mom poured water over your head.
Sticker Fun Coloring Books
Was anybody else grossed out by the taste of the stickers in the Sticker Fun coloring books? Even so, we still kept on licking them. It was the only way to get them to stick.
These Jewelry Boxes
In the '80s, everyone had these jewelry boxes that stood upright and had adorable little hangers for your necklaces. Do you still have one of these lying around your house?
This Exact Cassette Player
There is no more aesthetically pleasing piece of technology than this salmon pink boom box from Sharp. Where can we get one of these nowadays? I kind of really want one.
