Hey McFly!: Time-travelling 80s Fashion

Ok, a serious question: How rad is Back to the Future? Personally, my opinion is that it is extremely rad.  It is certainly one of the best trilogies to come out of the eighties and one of my childhood favourites.  I happened to catch the first of the series on the old squawk box the other day and I was pleasantly surprised by something I had previously over-looked - Back to the Future has some seriously sweet fashion.

Lea Thompson is wearing a sweet
peter pan collared dress and sporting
classic 50s curls

Last week I talked about the magic that is 50s fashion.  It was still on my mind when, bam, here comes BTTF with all its "simpler time" cinematic style. Not only that, but this movie is an amazing melange of both 50s and 80s style.  Oh, the peter pan collars and circle skirts! Oh, the denim on denim and feathered hair!

As I reveled in this classic and all its cheesy glory, it dawned on me that although the 1950s era of Back to the Future is represented as a "very different time" than the "modern day" 1980s, they do have quite a few fashion overlaps.  

Amazing 80s: denim jacket with the cuffs turned up
Amazing 50s: suspenders and plaid!
Plus, notice the 50's -esque hairdo on Claudia Wells

As a crazed vintage clotheshorse, I sometimes find that the 50s styles I adore are hard to find from their original decade of invention, but can often find styles from the 1980s that are a little more than reminiscent of those 50s designs.

Look at those jackets!
Doing double duty in two eras
for certain!

Afterall, the 80s was a sort of time travelling adventure back to the 50s in a lot of ways. Socially, economically and fashionably these two eras shared some historical DNA.  As the 50s were a time of economic growth with bustling new industry, so too were the 80s a decade of gregarious greed.  If the 50s were the start of keeping up with the Jones', the 80s saw the Jones' being blown out of the water by a guy in a fluorescent speedo and a speed boat.  Fashion-wise, whereas the 60s and 70s were a time of mini skirts and skin-tight disco duds, the 80s began to revisit and re-imagine the more conservative looks of the 50s - long skirts, tailored jackets, sweater vests and plaid.

A time machine? That red vest?
Marty Mcfly was so bad ass.

So, whether you like Back to the Future as much as I do, or you just think it's a lame 80s cheese-fest, if you are interested in vintage fashion, I recommend you give it another watch. If Marty McFly were around today, I'd bet all the girls would wanting to get into his  DeLorean and his Calvin Kleins.

Here are some of my favourite Back to the Future inspired looks:

Vintage Plaid Shirt by Grannys Threads

A great plaid shirt looks fabulous on men or women. It's not surprising this style has stood the test of time.

Rockin' Cat Rockabilly Shirt by Fabgabs

It seems I just keep coming back to Fabgabs. I can't help it! They have such great stuff! This shirt is very similar to many of the ones worn by Marty in "the 50s", but would totally fly as an 80s style.

Puff Plaid Western Vest by Nest Egg Vintage

I love this variation on Marty's red vest. This one has much more character and it's even lined with plaid! What more could you ask for in a puffy vest?

Teal Blazer by Violet Forest Vintage

At first glance, this jacket screams 80s, but the two-toned colours are totally a 50s throw back. Remember the band's jackets from the movie? Amazing.

Sweet Cream Cardigan by Retro Regalia

I just love this creamy cardigan with the adorable peter pan collar. 

An essential 50s style updated for vintage bliss.