What it Looked Like to Be Alive Back in 1985
Many modern movies and TV shows like to portray the eighties colorfully, full of neon signs, flashy clothes, huge malls, and a lot of fitness. And while there was a lot of that going on, not everything looked like that. The seventies had a very distinct aesthetic, and moving on from that wasn't a quick process done overnight.
Fashion was changing with more comfortable clothes to wear on different occasions, music was changing with new formats that could reach a lot more people, and malls were evolving to include everything you could need once you got out of the house. But kids were still kids, and adults were still figuring out how to be adults with a little help from cigarettes and fitness VHS. Technology wasn't evolving as quickly as it is today, so people could enjoy the little things.
So, here's what it really looked like to be alive back in 1985.
Your Typical McDonald's Experience
Already lovin' it back then.
Neighborhood
Cars with different colors and safe streets for everyone.
The Mall
The '80s brought us the peak mall experience in the US.
Gas Station
Just don't look at the prices.
Party Couple
Style was everywhere.
Cool Teenager
It didn't get any better than this. Yes, even with the Garfield poster.
High School Boys
Tube socks and cut-off shirts, that was it.
1985 in Sweden
A bit colder, but fun anyway.
MovieQuik
A short-lived video rental venture of 7-Eleven.
Shopping Experience
1985 was full of color and cigarettes.
San Francisco in 1985
Busy streets full of cars since forever.
New York City
Looks like a painting or a frame from a musical, and sometimes, that's what 1985 felt like.
Liquor Store
Drinks and cigarettes kept the 1985 parents sane.
Moving Out
Hello, college campus!
Beer Shopper
Ready for the weekend.
Photo Day
Fashion mattered.
Record Shop
The CDs were taking over slowly.
Casio Watch
You either had one or wanted to have one.
1985 House
You probably inherited furniture like that.
1985 Halloween
Innocent and fun, as it should be.
