The dream of the 80s is alive in Oregon, at least according to the “new research” forwarded to me by multiple coworkers.
“Oregon’s favorite fashion decade is the 1980s,” proclaimed the press release from what appears to be a fast fashion website called Boohoo.
This “research” basically consisted of analyzing search terms, and sure, let’s go with it. Let’s say Oregonians really do identify most closely with a 1980s aesthetic.
I would happily, easily, find myself in a crop top and a pair of brightly patterned Hammer pants if they were available to me (and looking through my closet, they basically are).
What’s not to love about the 1980s, fashion-wise (and only fashion-wise)? The shorts were short, and the colors were not subtle. The hair was poufed and the bangs were backcombed. The shoulders were padded and the collars were high. The scrunchies were huge and so were the socks and so were the glasses. The exercise gear was layered.
According to Boohoo, “1980s fashion is a distinctive style filled with exaggerated silhouettes and bright colors.”
That sounds like fun, right? Unlike some other decades, namely the sort of Y2K fashion that is coming back into style signified by tight low-rise jeans that look good on exactly no one. Boohoo, by the way, says that the Oughts are our third most searched-for fashion decade, coming in behind the 1990s.
And, it turns out, we aren’t alone in our love of the 80s (search terms). The Boohoo research found that 36 out of the 50 available states searched most for 1980s fashion terms. That includes Oregon, of course, but also a diversity of states like California, Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida.
What does this all mean, in an existential sense? Probably nothing. But was it an excuse for me to go looking through the photo archives for great looks from 40 years ago? Yes, yes it was.
Now, time to spend the rest of the day searching online for the perfect pair of bike shorts to compliment my favorite high-top sneakers.
— Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker
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