A Very '80s Christmas

An '80s Christmas brooch

So what could an ’80s brooch have to do with the spirit of Christmas? Plenty! In grade school I looked forward to the Book Fair each year. One year we got to attend with our “8th Grade Buddies.” My buddy and I were browsing the display table when we both reached for this brooch. “It’s yours,” she said without flinching. And my job at Mirror80 is to make sure her sacrifice was not in vain! (And yes, I’m still trying to figure out why they were selling women’s jewelry at a grade school book fair, but that’s beside the point)…

So to my 8th Grade Buddy–thank you for adding a little ’80s glam to my life. Clearly it left an impression!

And since we’re glamming it up, I thought you’d enjoy this Estee Lauder commercial from the 1986 Christmas season…

An ’80s Estee Lauder Christmas Commercial

Be on the lookout for some lacquered hair, flashy gold jewelry, ’80s eye makeup in shades of purple–all in all not bad, a ribbon-covered Christmas tree that would give the Carringtons of Dynasty a run for their money, and enough emerald green sequins to blind the cameraman. I must admit I’m impressed.

The Christmas Junk Sweater

Finally, we can’t have a dose of ’80s Christmas nostalgia of the decadent variety without a nod to the Christmas sweater. Yes, I’m talking about the “junk” sweater that has taken the nation by storm, from the TODAY show to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (Have you caught his “12 Days of Christmas Sweaters” segment?).

We couldn’t run fast enough from these ’80s and ’90s items that were the clothing embodiment of someone emptying an entire gift wrap drawer onto a garment. But thanks to some lighthearted hindsight and “ugly sweater” theme parties, they’re back!

Enjoy your view of this gem from the Marisa Christina Collection: