Spring Break
Still Preoccupied With 1985
A Look Back At The Fashions And Pop-Culture Trends That Have Shaped The Past 22 Years
Sarah Kopman-Fried
Issue date: 5/6/07 Section: Focus
1985 - The year of the video game. Nintendo launches its first gaming system and "Super Mario Brothers" comes out. The VH1 channel also begins broadcasting and is enormously successful. This was also the year that the mullet reached its peak as a popular haircut.
1986 - By far the biggest fad of this year was Koosh balls, those fuzzy rubber balls that were a huge hit with kids and teenagers. The Bangles' song "Walk Like an Egyptian" was a huge hit, as was the FOX television network, which debuted this year. Striped stockings were a favorite, as were teased hair and press-on fingernails.
1987 - This year featured debuts by some very famous men. The "Where's Waldo" series first appeared and Fabio's career really took off. And, of course, let's not forget "Dirty Dancing," the biggest blockbuster of the year featuring Patrick Swayze. Members Only jackets became fashionable, as did tube skirts.
1988 - The biggest trend in music this year was CDs, which were finally becoming more convenient to use. Hypercolor shirts (the shirts changed color depending on the temperature) were also a big hit, along with "Tetris" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Ribbon barettes and mohawks were very trendy.
1989 - The year the Berlin Wall fell featured an influx of toys for all ages. Slap bracelets became ubiquitous. Sega Genesis and the Nintendo Gameboy became must-have items and an animated series known as "The Simpsons" debuted.
1990 - Lisa Frank accessories and Super Soaker water guns were the must-have items this year. Ponytails for men were in style, as were fanny packs.
1991 - With the fall of communism, America turned to a new source of attention: pogs. Starter jackets and Zubaz pants also came into style. Grunge music became extremely popular, especially bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
1992 - "Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen's hit song from the 1970s, surged back into popularity this year from its appearance in the hit movie "Wayne's World." Urban clothing brands like JNCO and FUBU became trendy, as did Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls apparel.
1986 - By far the biggest fad of this year was Koosh balls, those fuzzy rubber balls that were a huge hit with kids and teenagers. The Bangles' song "Walk Like an Egyptian" was a huge hit, as was the FOX television network, which debuted this year. Striped stockings were a favorite, as were teased hair and press-on fingernails.
1987 - This year featured debuts by some very famous men. The "Where's Waldo" series first appeared and Fabio's career really took off. And, of course, let's not forget "Dirty Dancing," the biggest blockbuster of the year featuring Patrick Swayze. Members Only jackets became fashionable, as did tube skirts.
1988 - The biggest trend in music this year was CDs, which were finally becoming more convenient to use. Hypercolor shirts (the shirts changed color depending on the temperature) were also a big hit, along with "Tetris" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Ribbon barettes and mohawks were very trendy.
1989 - The year the Berlin Wall fell featured an influx of toys for all ages. Slap bracelets became ubiquitous. Sega Genesis and the Nintendo Gameboy became must-have items and an animated series known as "The Simpsons" debuted.
1990 - Lisa Frank accessories and Super Soaker water guns were the must-have items this year. Ponytails for men were in style, as were fanny packs.
1991 - With the fall of communism, America turned to a new source of attention: pogs. Starter jackets and Zubaz pants also came into style. Grunge music became extremely popular, especially bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
1992 - "Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen's hit song from the 1970s, surged back into popularity this year from its appearance in the hit movie "Wayne's World." Urban clothing brands like JNCO and FUBU became trendy, as did Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls apparel.
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