Back to School, Retro-Style

Have you ever been so busy that finding time to do basic things like return a text or prepare a meal seems next to impossible? Yes, back-to-school season has arrived! Whether you’ve actually headed back to school or you’re entering a new busy season of life, don’t let the weight of your daily schedule get you down. Instead, fill your desk with colorful ’80s school supplies! You’re never too old to collect vibrant folders, interesting pencils, and an eraser…or ten. Keep reading for some amazing retro (and new) supplies, as well as a fun dose of ’80s movie trivia. Don’t forget to click on the photos for larger images. There’s a lot of school supply action to take in!!

We begin with a new clip folder that definitely channels the ’80s. Memphis-style squiggles are alive and well on this item from Cotton On (see above and below). Be sure to check out the pen, and note that the pencil is also a new item, designed by original Memphis Group member Nathalie Du Pasquier for HAY. Bonus points if you can guess the movie quote on the index cards! From which classic ’80s film were these lines uttered? Answers are at the bottom of the post.

Before I go any further, let me mention that now more than ever is a great time to celebrate ’80s school supplies. Not only are there amazing new products being designed as we speak, you can track down original items from the 1980s through a range of sources. Etsy is one of my favorites! Below we see two Liberty pencils from the 1980s, which I purchased from the fabulous Etsy shop Jirji Mirji. There are so many amazing supplies in this shop, you have to see them for yourself.

Ready for another folder? I couldn’t believe my lucky stars when I found a trio of late ’80s folders from the Expression series (Easyfil by Climax Industries). This time the treasures came from Etsy shop Nina Studio and Gallery (all three folders–used by the seller when she was a student–are featured in today’s post). Throw in another pencil by Nathalie Du Pasquier and a handful of Skittles, and it may as well be my birthday. Side note: the erasers and pencil sharpeners are from Dollar Tree.

You can see the inside of the folder below. Here’s another ’80s movie quote to test your knowledge. Remember to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the answers!

Interested in those jumbo paperclips? They’re from the ’80s, of course. Can’t you tell by the “superclip” font below? This time, Etsy shop ForestDaydream had just what I was looking for!

Like a geo sailboat on an ocean of splatter paint, this next late ’80s folder from the Expression series lights up the screen. Which is why I had to throw in some confetti, a grid pen from Cotton On, and another fabulous pencil by Nathalie Du Pasquier:

This next quote is actually a song lyric from the opening credits of what movie?…

Last but not least, we have more Easyfil “Expression” series folder (from Etsy shop Nina Studio and Gallery), as well as a Liberty pencil from Etsy shop Jirji Mirji (also pictured above). Don’t forget the sprinkles, because these school supplies look good enough to eat! But don’t try eat them, because you don’t want to damage their fabulous condition, OK?

This quote is for the bonus round because it’s not super obvious, right? Ready for the answers?…

Here are the movies that featured the quotes in today’s post (in the order the quotes were presented): Sixteen Candles, Back to School, Revenge of the Nerds, Real Genius. Now who wants to watch an ’80s campus movie? Happy Back-to-School Season!