In the 80s everyone wanted to look older

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Hey,

Well. Here's a cool story for you bros.
Last night I watched Risky Business, which I haven't seen since about 20 years ago.
Also, I've been checking out some classic music videos from back in the day.

Here is an interesting observation for you all. Hold onto your skulls in case this blows your brains too much.

Back in the 80s it seems that all the young 'uns purposely dressed and made up to be older. Its like they couldn't wait to be in their 30s.
But nowadays it seems that everyone's aim is to look younger.

Possible theories:
Everyone was much more naive in the 80s and wanted to look like they were more mature that their years?

Everyone is much too educated in the ways of life by a very young age nowadays and wants to pretend they are still in their youth?

It was still possible to get into bars and nightclubs without ID in the 80s if you had a bit of lippo or stubble going on?

What do you think?
 
Mind not blown. Older people tend to want to look younger, but it's completely the opposite with younger people these days, especially children. You get 14 year olds dressing as if they're 20!
 
Its no different now than it was in the 80's. Its probably not a great example of kids wanting to look older as most of the people acting in these films were older anyway, Cruise is supposed to be 16 in the film, he was 20/21 when he made it, his schoolmate that played booger in Revenge of the Nerds was 29/30.
 
I was watching some old video tapes of my own family last week and during the 80s everybody looked older because of the style of clothes and haircuts.
Even my daughters remarked that their Mother back around 1985 looked way older than she does now because of the haircut and clothes.
 
My "theory" on your observation.The 80's were known for yuppies, typically rich business people in the late 20s early 30s. Young, single, free and with plenty of dosh, on the edge of "cool" and "hip". Everyone wanted to be them. As such everyone emulated them. The older dressed younger and the younger dressed older.
The 80s where known to be the break through years of pop, Stock Aitken Waterman; sell loads of records move onto the the next person, the beginning of processed music. These stars were dressed in the current fashion as part of the factory sell out process, young to look older. Same could be said with the movie's, plenty young stars being utilised.
As these music videos or films where popular in the 80s they've remained popular, or iconic, today as such it's these fashion choices of young dressing as old your seeing today.

And don't get me started on today's age looking issues.
 
I'm not sure I agree with the OP. They might look old for their age because of the way they dressed, but I don't think it was the intention. I was in my 20's in the 1980's and I just dressed according to the fashion of the time for my age group. Hairstyles, like the mullet I used to have, and for some people moustaches, were what was cool back then. I guess for today's youth, 80's fashion might make people back then look older, but people will be saying that of today's fashion in years to come. I look back at young people in their 20's in the 1950's and they look older than their years to me, particularly with heavily brylcreemed wavy hair. But that was the fashion.
 
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