| The knock at the dressing room door couldn’t | | | | wrap-around belts, emphasizing the hips and lower |
| have come at a better time. I was standing with my | | | | waist. |
| back to the mirror, my head impossibly twisted so I | | | | And if that didn’t make our torso grand enough, |
| could see how the shirt fit from the back. | | | | we were also shoulder-pad happy. Almost all 80s |
| It definitely was not covering my derriere. Not good. | | | | clothing had shoulder pads sewn in, and if you were |
| “Can I get you anything in a different size, | | | | unlucky enough to fall in love with a top that was |
| Miss?” the salesperson asked. | | | | missing this essential 80s fashion staple, you could |
| “Yes, I’ll take the red blouse in size large, | | | | always buy a pair and sew them in yourself. Those |
| and the gold in extra-large. Thanks.” The woman | | | | shoulder pads made your upper half even heftier. |
| paused, and I could almost hear her wondering what | | | | For emphasis, you wore the tightest pants you could |
| a petite girl like me wanted with such big sizes. She | | | | find, making your bottom half appear skinny while |
| probably opened her mouth to protest, but realizing | | | | your top half was enormous, swimming in yards of |
| that she wouldn’t win over a stubborn, | | | | fabric. Oh, and it all had to be layered. |
| fashion-sensitive teen, she hurried off to get me the | | | | 80s Clothing Supersized |
| sizes I had requested. | | | | It’s amazing that years later, we were buying |
| Moments later, I pulled on the gold blouse, buttoning | | | | the tiniest shirts we could find and doing everything |
| it up halfway. Over that, I put on the red blouse, | | | | under the sun to make sure our midriffs were on |
| making sure that plenty of the gold blouse was | | | | display. Throughout most of the 80s, you really |
| peeking out from underneath. With my black ribbed | | | | covered up as much as possible. |
| tank showing at the neckline, the outfit had pizazz. I | | | | Once Madonna made a splash in 80s fashion, the |
| dug through my own discarded pile of 80s clothing | | | | hemlines on our tops started moving up, drastically |
| and popped my black felt fedora onto my head and | | | | altering the trendiest styles in 80s clothing. But that |
| then wrapped my three-inch belt around my waist, | | | | didn’t mean the shirts had to be tight-fitting. We |
| fastening it just at my hipline. | | | | still wore them loose. Oh yes, you could still by an |
| Finally, I turned again to check my rear end. The | | | | extra-large tee and simply hack off the bottom half |
| bottom hem of the gold blouse came to the bottom | | | | with a pair of scissors. |
| of my bottom. Perfect. I was an 80s fashion icon. | | | | T-shirts had to cover your buns, blouses grazed your |
| 80s Fashion was Top-Heavy | | | | thighs, and sweatshirts draped around your knees. |
| The 80s fashion silhouette was top-heavy. T-shirts, | | | | Oversized shirts were an 80s fashion staple, essential |
| blouses, sweaters, and sweatshirts had to be three | | | | pieces for a worthwhile, stylish wardrobe packed |
| sizes too big so they would hang loose and low. | | | | with big and bold 80s clothing. |
| They were often cinched with fat belts or doubled | | | | |