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20 Minute Work-Out: Big Hair, Leg Warmers & Leotards – The 80s Re-Visited


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Adventures in Living a Healthy, Juicy Life

Guest Post by Jacey Reynolds

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Ah, looking back with nostalgia on those charming days of yesteryear…the 80’s.  Jacey Reynolds is guest posting on ThatGirlisFunny today.  She’s noticed a trend on the college campus where she works – 80’s fashion flashbacks.  She doesn’t sound too happy about it.  Her opinion follows.  But first, I’d like to say something in defense of the decade.

aerobicise 300x233 20 Minute Work Out: Big Hair, Leg Warmers & Leotards   The 80s Re Visited

This is my favorite instructor - the one with the sing-songy voice...four more, three more...

This conversation has me thinking about one of my “51 Must-Know Habits for Staying Young – from the Inside Out”

Stay Young Habit #5:

Watch movies and television programs that warm your heart, enlighten your mind and make you laugh.

I remember when MTV first started.  I was fascinated by it – would watch it for hours. There was this other show that completely delighted me too.

The 20 Minute Workout!

What’s funny is that it was soft porn, but no one seemed too upset about it. Back then, the whole family would watch it! It came on regular TV.  We’d watch it like any other TV show, sitting on the couch, rocking to the beat,  saying, “lemme try that move…hey, that’s not easy to do…those girls are working hard.”

squat 300x216 20 Minute Work Out: Big Hair, Leg Warmers & Leotards   The 80s Re Visited Of course, my workout outfit looked EXACTLY like theirs. If I couldn’t find my little white belt to go around my waist, I’d miss my aerobics class. Had to have matching legwarmers with color-coordinated leotard and tights, plus big hair with a sweatband.  Love that look! Bring that back soon!

My favorite instructor had that sing-songy “four more, three more”. LOL!

Funny how we all have different points of view about things – Cheryl Ragsdale

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How I saw it…

from a girl's point of view

from a girl's point of view

How men saw it…

boxer by michaelkutsche 20 Minute Work Out: Big Hair, Leg Warmers & Leotards   The 80s Re Visited

from a man's point of view

from a man's point of view


Here’s Jacey’s take on the situation…

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Gag Me with a Jelly Shoe

The 80’s are calling…and for reasons beyond my understanding, people are answering the phone.

jellyshoes 150x150 20 Minute Work Out: Big Hair, Leg Warmers & Leotards   The 80s Re Visited I work on the campus of a major university. Day after day, more and more, I’m seeing things that I thought…or hoped…I’d never see again. I can live with the way-too-big earrings. I can even live with the way-too-small jeans (on other people, that is). The wide, studded belts secured loosely around the outside of the oversized blouses are, well, nearly tolerable.

But I saw something the other day that made my blood run chill. It’s almost too painful for me to type out loud.

That’s right, I saw a female student donning a pair of stirrup pants. Oh, the horror!

hammer2 231x300 20 Minute Work Out: Big Hair, Leg Warmers & Leotards   The 80s Re Visited

MC Hammer

It’s been coming, slowly but surely. I honestly kept hoping, though, that maybe it wouldn’t really catch on. Perhaps someone would get hold of one of my high school yearbooks and see how dreadfully hideous we all were. Word would spread and this trend would be stopped cold, before anyone had a chance to even purchase a single pair of stirrup pants or jelly shoes, MC Hammer pants or checkered Vans®.

Fashion Through the Decades

Each of the decades has left its own fashion smudge on society. The 70’s brought us bell bottoms and platform shoes. I was a mere child in the 70’s, but I’m a big fan of any ensemble that creates the illusion of a smaller butt and longer legs.

The 90’s were all about the grunge. Oddly enough, lots of girls wanted to dress like Kurt Cobain. The baggier your big, ripped flannel shirt, the better. This certainly wasn’t my favorite look, but you can’t dispute the value of such a low-maintenance style regimen. It was wash ‘n go, only better, because the “washing” step was completely eliminated. Just go. Many of us saved a lot of money on toothbrushes and shampoo in the 90’s.

madonna2 225x300 20 Minute Work Out: Big Hair, Leg Warmers & Leotards   The 80s Re Visited

Madonna sporting the Desperately Seeking Susan look

But the 80’s. Oh, the 80’s. What was pretty about that decade? Nothing, I say. The bangs were big and sticky. The shirts were oversized. The pants were undersized.

What’s most amusing and puzzling to me is that we spent a lot of time, energy and money just to achieve ugly.

I primped and primped and primped some more with all the gel and the hairspray and the bright blue eye shadow. While that layer of lacquer was hardening, I’d spend several minutes working up a sweat trying to safety pin the sides of my pants to make them as tapered and unflattering as possible. After that, it was time for another lacquer application. All that work just to look like a “Thriller” extra.

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What I’m really mad about…

Oh really, who am I kidding here? It comes down to this: My feelings about 80’s apparel are likely rooted somewhere in deep bitterness over the fact that there’s nothing in my size that can legally be called a “skinny jean.”

Jacey Reynolds and family

Jacey Reynolds and family

In other words, if this throwback trend continues and my beloved bootcut pant becomes obsolete, I’ll be in a world of hurt. It’s muu-muus and denim jumpers from here on out.

I’m not happy about that prospect, not one bit.

Don't-Worry-Be-Happy-by-The-Hit-Co-_BgJQzgl3AlYx_full

What do you love – or love to hate – about the 80s?

Share your thoughts in the comments section. We love to hear from you!

Jacey Reynolds – “Trying to write her way off the cliffs of insanity…one nonsensical blog post at a time.”   You can find more from Jacey here http://shewriteslikeagirl.com

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photo credits:  Jacey Reynolds, 20 Minute Workout, Mr. Pigface, Be Happy, Jelly Shoes, Madonna, MC Hammer, google images

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12 Comments Add Yours ↓

  1. 1

    The jokes on me. I used to DO the 20 minute workout daily and never thought of it as funny or weird at all :0) I just took it for granted that the guys were oinkers :0)

    I did Jane Fonda too and had the leg warmers and the cute workout suits of the day as well. They were fun – besides – I thought I really looked cool!

    Bess (I think that was her name) saying ‘you do not need to stop’ still comes to mind when I’m doing something and I want to stop!

    I think that the 80’s had character. Definitely high maintenance – I also used to spend 40 minutes on my hair and make up before I ever went out the door.

    Those were the days…
    Jan – queenofkaos´s Last Fabulous Post blog ..I AM My ComLuv Profile

  2. Laura Pasik #
    2

    Remember the linebacker shoulderpads that were in everything? If those make a comeback I will die!

    Oh, and if you need legwarmers, Cheryl, you can get them at http://www.discountdance.com I don’t actually have any, but I probably should. You never know when your ankles are going to develop gooseflesh.

  3. 4

    Yeah, I think the 80’s was when guys caught on to those 20 minute work-out shows. I don’t think getting in shape was on their minds! And skinny jeans were made to remind us we can never look as good as the women in those videos unless we get liposuction. I am divorcing my treadmill….
    askcherlock´s Last Fabulous Post blog ..A Step Towards Armageddon My ComLuv Profile


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