Unlock Hidden Nostalgic Memories with These Gen X Snapshots That Capture Girlhood in the 1980s

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Jan 13, 2025 4:00 PM EST

Welcome, latchkey ladies. Ah, the 80s. What a time to be alive! My mom was a child at the time, and so I was nothing more than a vague idea she had while caring for a Cabbage Patch doll. My impression of the 80s was originally formed by the movies that she showed me growing up. I had a pretty fantastical view of the time period because her favorite movies were Labyrinth and The Neverending Story. Through old pictures, I got a sense of the fashions and hairstyles of the era. Netflix's Stranger Things got me even more well-acquainted. Through the on-screen adventures of Eleven and co, I realized that the 80s were browner and less neon than I imagined, and that kids had so much more freedom. No piece of media or family photo album, however, could truly endow me with the real experience of living through the best decade; I simply had to be there. If you're a Gen X lady looking for some nostalgia fuel, look no further, and check out these snapshots that will take you right down memory lane. 

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    Who Remembers "The Puffalumps?" 80sThen8OsNow
    via u/80sthen80snow
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    80s Then80sNow Who Remembers "The Pillow People?" (1985) PILLOW FIGHTER
    via u/80sthen80snow

  • I admit I am no 80s child, but I do recall the window pillow person that my grandmother decorated my bed with when I went to visit her. I believe that particular plushie even made it's way to an episode of Full House.

  • 03
    Who Remembers LOTS-A-LOTS-A-LEGGGGGGS? 80sThen8OSNOW
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    Who Remembers When Car Interiors Looked Like This? 15 25 35 45 56 656 75
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  • 05
    Who Remembers Sweet Secrets? 80s Then80sNow
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  • 06
    Boos Who Remembers Nights at the Roller Rink?
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  • 07
    May You Never Forget Your 1st Phone FISHER PRICE
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  • 08
    You Know You're Old If Your Family Had these in the Kitchen D Osterizer 80sThen8OsNow Oster Distorizer
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  • 09
    Who Remembers Walking Around The House In These Slippers? 80sThen80sNow C B
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  • 10
    Carfield Back in the 1980s, The Only Way to Look Cool While Sleeping, Was to Itch Like Crazy! B 80s Then8osNow
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  • 11
    Who Remembers When McDonald's Looked Like This? THANK YOU
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  • 12
    Who Remembers Their 1st Time Seeing A Car Drive Up the Wall? E TYCO 80s Then80SNOW IM
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  • 13
    There Are 2 Types Of 80s Kids Those That LOVED This Show And Those That HATED It 80sThen80sNow
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  • 14
    Who Remembers When Parents Bronzed Their Kid's Shoes?
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  • 15
    60230 Who Remembers The Original Care Bears? Come along to the Land of the Care Bears Bears 80s Then80sNow Bedtime Bear: ❤ Machine Washable For Infants and Up Kenner:
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    Who Remembers When McDonald's Gave Out Plastic Baby Bibs? 12 87654 A B McDonald 80sThen80sNow PHINTED IN USA
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    Who Remembers EGGE MCMUFFIN BOUND When McDonald's Sold its Sandwiches in Styrofoam?c www.80sThen 80 o G SFFIN EGG MCMUFFIN EGG MUFFIN EGG MCMUFFIN ARTER LINDER AA QUARTER OUNDER WITH CHEESE QUARTER POUNDER AA GUARTER POUNDER, A QUARTER POUNDER QUARTER POUNDER WITH CHEESE QUARTER POUNDER CHEESE MAC QUA BIG MAC AA PA QUAR POD BIG MAC BIG AGE CIFFIN AA SAL MCM SAUSAGE MMCMUFFIN SAUSAGE MCMUFFIN AA SAUSAGE MURRIN
    via u/80sthen80snow
  • 18
    Here's to When A Roll of Quarters Meant a Great Day RS DERS 247 SPA SPACE PANIC HULLER Hustler
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  • 19
    Who Remembers Having Birthday Parties At School? 80s Then 80sNow
    via u/80sthen80snow

  • My mother was a teacher for a long time. She saw the progression of kid's school birthday party trends — from ice cream cake to cookie cake to the cupcake craze of the 2010s.

  • 20
    This is What Fitness in the 1980s Looked Like www.80sThen80sNow.com
    via u/80sthen80snow
  • 21
    AGE TEST Who Remembers These Lamps? 80s Then80sNow
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  • 22
    Remember Me? * gracy goue by Winds. Dit MEGAN 80sThen80sNow MEGAN
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  • 23
    Every 80s Child Has Attended This Wedding 80sThen80sNow
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  • 24
    Remember Me? 80sThen80sNow 00
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  • 25
    Who Remembers This Candyland Version? CANDY LAND MOLASSES SWAMP 4 MILES MAILE CROOKED OLD PEANUT BRITTLE HOUSE 76 MILES START RAINBOW TRAIL GINGERBREAD PLUM TREE GUMDROP MOUNTAINS A child's first game ICE CREAM FLOATS LOLLIPOP WOODS EMILES MOUNTAIN PASS 80sThen80sNow
    via u/80sthen80snow

Tags

1990s elder millennial retro married with children childhood adulting nostalgia photoshop nostalgic 80s gen x 90s kids 90s memory lane girlhood gen x memes 1980s
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