The 1980s. An era that turned the world sideways. If you were to ask anyone who lived in the ‘80s what stood out from it, they would likely say the clothes, cars, and cameras.

The cameras of the ‘80s were an advancement in the sense that less machinery needed to be understood to use them. The cameras were simplified and made more enjoyable for buyers. In “Most Popular Cameras you had in the 80’s,” Christian Roemer writes that some of the family camera classics were popularized due to their cheap prices and more photo printing availability. Photo developing stations would develop all photos typically through a five stage process. So, all you had to do was click click click and drop off the rolls at your nearest Fotomat. According to “That’s so 80’s: Cameras from the 1980s” by Caela Smith, some of the most used cameras in the ‘80s were the Canon AE-1 program, the Minolta X-700, the Nikon FA, the Olympus OMG, and the Pentax P3. The typical style of cameras from the ‘80s seems to include a black, rectangular shape, great lens(es), triangle hooks for attaching and hanging the camera, and on the top of the camera two dials, a film advance lever, a flash mount, and shutter button exist.

The clothes of the ‘80s are unforgettable. The colors, patterns, styles, fabric, and so much more contributed to that authentic ‘80s outfit. In “The Complete Guide to 80s Fashion” by The Pearls Source Blog, it says important fashion statements of the ‘80s were mom jeans, denim items, spandex, business suits (with shoulder padding, of course), leotards, turtlenecks, and khakis. Some accessory favorites were scrunchies, large and odd earrings, fanny packs, pearl items, etc. What contributed to people walking with confidence in their outfits? Shoes, of course. Some popular brands were Jordans, Adidas, Doc Martens, Vans, and Moccasins. Something to keep in mind is the ‘80s was the least “bland” and neutral-colored era. Outfits were neon, multicolored, full of patterns, and so on. Outfits were popularized by many celebrities including Madonna, Michael Jackson, Princess Diana, Brooke Shields, and Boy George. Though outfits in the ‘80s were diverse in different countries, they were all statement pieces.

The cars of the ‘80s brought speed and style. Two popular car styles were family cars and race cars. Car companies that remained popular since the ‘80s include Chevrolet, Honda, Ford, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Ferrari. Ford was a top seller, selling trucks and cars that had durability but also family-friendly aspects. A great example is the Toyota FJ60, which came out in 1980. It had that Ford sturdy truck look but could also be great for family rides. Not only were cars on the street influential, so were cars in movies! A popular example is the car in “Back to the Future” otherwise known as the DeLorean time machine! Sadly the car wasn’t actually a time machine, but it did change the visual aspect of cars made by automotive designers in the 1980s.

The 1980s was a time of evolution. It was full of fun colors and revolutionary entertainment. It’s definitely an era to remember. What is your favorite thing that appeared or was popularized in the ‘80s?