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Issue Date: September 4, 2005
FASHION FLASHBACK
How much do you remember about how we looked, what we were wearing and who was fashionable in 1985? Take our quiz and find out!
by Michele Meyer
Shoulder pads. Hair. Stilettos. They were never bigger than in 1985 -- not only the birth year of USA WEEKEND Magazine, but also of many memorable fashion trends.
"It was a very exciting time for the country," recalls New York jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris. "The stock market was starting to explode, and people had a lot of money. There was a buoyant feeling. Fashion was fun, glamorous and oversized."
Let's test your knowledge ...
1. Which designer was inspired by bodysuits when she launched a career with "Seven Easy Pieces"?
A. Norma Kamali
B. Donna Karan
C. Anna Sui
D. Gloria Vanderbilt
2. Which "reality" star was one of the top models of 1985?
A. "Kept"'s Jerry Hall
B. "Dancing With the Stars'" Rachel Hunter
C. "America's Next Top Model"'s Janice Dickinson
D. "I Want to Be a Hilton"'s Kathy Hilton
3. In 1985, which colors were we wearing?
A. Fuchsia, jade, sapphire blue, ruby red and ebony
B. Hunter green and yacht navy
C. Pretty in pink
D. Country-and-western-inspired turquoise and chocolate
4. How did Jean Paul Gaultier shake up the runways of Paris?
A. He showed women with tops that covered only one breast.
B. He highlighted a skirt for men.
C. He discovered Cindy Crawford.
D. He showcased sheer Indian-inspired T-shirts.
5. What garnered the most attention on the Joe Boxer runway?
A. The first bikini brief for men
B. A pair of boxers with a raccoon-tail dangling from the rear
C. Underwear worn over jeans
D. Model Brad Pitt
6. Which best-selling fragrance transformed the industry in 1985 with sexy photos by Bruce Weber?
A. Calvin Klein's Obsession
B. Calvin Klein's Eternity
C. Elizabeth Taylor's Passion
D. Revlon's Charlie
7. What did Revlon launch that year?
A. Instant streak-on color wands
B. The first men-only hair color
C. "The Rich and Famous" lipstick and nail enamel
D. Sequin-flecked shampoo
8. Which hair trend was not popular that year?
A. Messy, teased "bedroom" hair
B. "Freeze-hold" hairsprays
C. One-color hair
D. Stick-straight hair with bangs à la Naomi Campbell
9. Which makeup artist could've been inspired by Boy George while piling black eyeliner on Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks and members of Kiss and the Bangles?
A. Paula Dorf
B. Laura Mercier
C. Vincent Longo
D. François Nars
Go to top
ANSWERS: 1) B. Karan, who worked previously for Anne Klein, designed her sleek-and-chic collection as a grouping to be mixed and matched.
2) A. Jerry Hall, who not only glided the runways but published a tell-all, "Jerry Hall's Tall Tales."
3) A. Gem tones were the order of the day.
4) B. Gaultier remains one of Paris' most creative designers, even if his man-skirts made more news than sales.
5) B. Surprisingly, the undies with a tail never caught on.
6) A. Obsession captured the era's reckless abandon. Weber's seductive photos continued to be a hallmark of the designer, and the scent remains one of the nation's top-10 fragrances.
7) C. Revlon paid homage to the era of conspicuous consumption with makeup that allowed anyone to bring out her inner Alexis or Krystle.
8) D. Straight hair. In 1985, the bigger the better. Tresses were true messes.
9) A. Although Dorf now is known for her subtle shades and clever lip liners, back then she used art-supply paintbrushes so makeup wouldn't run under intense lights.
SCORE YOURSELF.
0 to 2 correct: OK, it wasn't your era. Now you know better.
3 to 5 correct: You just didn't want to go back there. We understand.
6 to 8 correct: Clearly you're a veteran of the times. You found yourself missing 1985, didn't you?
All 9 correct: You're a rad fashion scholar of the mid-'80s! Get yourself to a vintage store to celebrate!
Michele Meyer is a fashion writer and recovering '80s fashion victim.
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