#Throwback Thursday: 1970s, 1980s and 1990s fashion and trends

Looking back at old images has given us all a few “What was I thinking?” moments throughout the years, and that’s part of the enjoyment. Some fashions from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s were so daring, innovative, and embarrassing that they deserve a special spot in the retro cringe hall of fame.

These trousers were the definitive icon of 1970s fashion. The pants were known as bell bottoms because of the flared, bell-like shape of the trousers, which became wider from the knees down. These were widely popularised by the counterculture movement and adopted by everyone from rock stars to ordinary people.

Bell-bottoms faded out of mainstream fashion for a good reason but they’ve lately made a brief reappearance, proving that no trend is completely dead—just temporarily forgotten.

Channelling your inner Farrah Fawcett was considered a rite of passage in the ’70s and ’80s, especially for those with enough time and hairspray to achieve those beautiful feathered layers. Everyone seemed to have a version of the look; thick hair that spread outward like a bird’s wings.

In the 1980s, it was nearly impossible to hurl a stone without hitting someone wearing parachute trousers. These trousers were constructed of shimmering nylon material that generated a characteristic swishing sound with every movement. The pants were designed to resemble the sleek, aerodynamic look of a parachute when inflated. Think MC Hammer!Popularised by breakdancers, their baggy, oversized form was designed to facilitate maximum movement

The business in the front, party in the back haircut. If you didn’t have a mullet in the ’80s or early ’90s, were you even really living? This hairstyle combined short, neatly styled hair in the front with long, flowing locks in the back.

Once reserved for tourists and grandpas, the fanny pack had a surprisingly huge moment in the ’90s. Initially designed for practicality (to hold your wallet, keys, and small items), it soon became a staple of cool, casual fashion around the waist!

Overalls were once the height of ’90s fashion, particularly among children and teenagers. Denim dungarees were made fashionable with baggy fits, and they were frequently worn with crop tops, bandanas or a white T-shirt for maximum street cred.Overalls have subsequently been classified as a fashion faux pas for adults – despite a recent return.