26 Totally Tubular Gen X Nostalgia Memes That Only True 80s Girls Will Understand (February 20, 2025)

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Feb 20, 2025 7:00 PM EST

Welcome, Latchkey Generation ladies. What do you miss the most about growing up in the 80s and 90s? You could say that contemporary fashion is basically just a rehashing of your childhood trends. Mom jeans are in, every cool Gen Z has a pair of dirty, white Reeboks or Adidas Superstars, and scrunchies are having another major moment. Personally, I'm still waiting for leotards and legwarmers to come back as acceptable gymwear before I commit to working out.

80s music never really got old, but even if you exclusively listen to modern radio, plenty of musicians that are in the limelight right now are giving 80s vibes with synthy music. See Harry Styles's "As It Was," for example. 

In a way, the 80s never truly went away. However, there are some details that you just had to have been there to really "get it." No matter how many times I watch Back to the Future, I will never know the taste of Mr. T cereal, the feeling of making a call from a phone booth, or the smell of Aqua Net hairspray the way my mother did. Scroll down for memes to unlock more memories. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    "Whoa, they must be RICH"! -GREY-> POUPON DIJON MUN ARD Intercom Systems in Larger Homes C Intercom LISTEN made with mematic VILLIME TALK @eightiesgirls VIENNETTA
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 02
    childhood Gym/P.E. memories: @eightiesgirls F1
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 03
    If You're Over 40 You Should Remember This! COLECO QUIZ WIZ™ THE COMPUTER QUESTION & ANSWER GAME 80s Then8osNow 1001 D 5 Questions CARTRIDGE/QUIZ BOOK# 2 1980 COLECO INDUSTRIES, INC. 3 A YES NO 8 9 ANSWER QUIZ WIZ™ THE COMPUTER QUESTION & ANSWER GAME CLEAR OFF ON COLECO
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 04
    the way we lost all impulse control around these machines SWEET EP DI SAVE A COUPON INSTORE COUPON 30c EXPRESS/31/91 SAVE 30C ON ONE 20-OUNCE 8-PACK OF DIET PEPSI OR CAFFEINE FREE DIET PEPSI! SAVE 30% STORE COUPON REDEEMABLE AT FACE VALUE ONLY HH INSTANT COUPON MACHINE" PON 91 ONE 8-PACK EPSI OR FREE PEPSI! SAVE 30% ABLE AT FACE VALUE ONLY- @eightiesgirls SmartSource Zipto SAVE 40¢
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 05
    Admit it, you probably had a crush on at least one of these guys back in the day: @eightiesgirls B.UJ.M. ATHLETIC DEPT. STAL EQUIPMENT MARK-PAU SERA STAR KIDS Challenge WENT
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 06
    Who else learned how to tell time on these clocks? @eightiesgirls 12 1 Judy 7 6 NI-CLOCK 9 10 8 11 12 1 1 10 Judy 6 3 9 4 5 8 10 1 11 121 9 JudyⓇ 8 6 5 1121 Judy 6 2 4. 5 3 23 A 10 -CLOCK 209041
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 07
    My pred Who Remembers When Libraries and DMVS Sold Pens In Vending Machines? retractable POIST PEDS 25 retractable BALL POINT PENS 25 fally grated
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 08
    society won't heal until we bring back colorful transparent technology BATTERY CONAIRPHONE DOT MATEX WITH STEREO SOUND Nintendo GAME ROY made with mematic @eightiesgirls ･･･ NR YES NOO NORMAL BAS 120 60 MEMOREX' dBSI
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 09
    555-2265 Ocrimine 2 3 ABC DEE 456 GHI JKL MNO @eightiesgirls 7 8 9 PRS TUV WXY 0 OPER ## I just need people to understand that before cell phones we had to call landlines and your friend's parents would answer and YOU HAD TO TALK TO THEIR PARENTS until your friend came to the phone
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 10
    made with mematie The crushing disappointment you felt as a child when you opened grandma's cookie tin just to find sewing supplies inside es 135 OYAL DANSK 1966 Danish Butter Cookies No preservatives or coloring added NET WT 12 @eightiesgirls сл
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 11
    The Jetsons predicting our future: ZOOM MEETINGS ROBOT VACUUMS @eightiesgirls C TELEHEALTH SMART WATC.
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 12
    IN THE 80'S, THIS WAS YOUR SATURDAY MORNING: @eightiesgirls
    via @eightiesgirls

  • Nowadays, kids can just watch whatever show they want on-demand. They can even pick what episode they desire. Kids back in the day were happy with whatever was on the screen – even The Golden Girls!

  • 13
    PASSING NOTES IN THE 80'S & 90'S DRE ANDREA PULL It Jus 402 de our py week. Many my cale A. Youre Andrea is andrea going ? (up to go therey See you Sand Andrea TRULY A LOST ART FORM! Andrea- 3/m DREA
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 14
    Who Remembers When Cereal Gave Out Cool Stuff? Dinersaurs brand Dinersaurs 1. What table tes legs? PULL JOKE MACHINE Garfield 01978 United Feature Syndicate, Inc. 80s Then80sNow 1000 w WIL W? TONYO 1967 K
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 15
    80s Then80sNow Long Before Spotify And ITunes แจ้
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 16
    Kids Today Would Flip If They Had To Wait a Week For Their Selfies to Develop Estomat FOYCMAT DEVELOPING 99 FILM 80s Then80sNow
    via @80sthen80snow

  • As someone under 30 that does take film pictures, I admit that I do flip out a bit waiting for my pictures to get developed. It's also so expensive!

  • 17
    Who Remembers Holly Hobbie? 80s Then80sNow HOLY POBRE
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 18
    If You Remember This Commercial I'm Sorry For the Confusion Nestle SWEET DREAMS YOU CAN'T RESIST. 80s Then80sNow Alpine While Almon Milk Chocola Nestle Nestle Milk Chocolate estl
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 19
    The Current Reality Of 80s Kids, Teens and Adults I USED TO BE WITH IT. BUT THEN THEY CHANGED WHAT IT WAS. NOW WHAT I'M WITH ISN'T IT AND WHAT'S IT SEEMS WEIRD AND SCARY TO ME.... IT'LL HAPPEN TO YOU
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 20
    Your McDonald Childhood ZO 80s Then80sNow W
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 21
    According to Legend, All Drinks Tasted Better In These 80s Then80sNow
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 22
    Teens in 1985 Teens in 2025 80s Then80sNow
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 23
    80s Parents: Don't Play With Your Food! 80s Kids: 80sThen80sNow
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 24
    If You Watched This Cartoon After School, Your Childhood Was Awesome! 80s Then80sNow
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 25
    Remember Me? SEDCBA WIDTH RIGHT FOOT 8 9 10 10 11 4 12 12 13 13 RIGHT TOE LENGTH LOCK STRAIGHT DOWN OVER END OF TOES TO READ TOE LENGTH AND
    via @80sthen80snow
  • 26
    Who Remembers The Smell Of This? ELMER'S SNO-DR PAST -STAYS MOIST IN JAR STAYS FLEXIBLE UNBREAKABLE PACK SAFETY CAP E NON-TOXIC NET WT 5 OZ. (141 74 GRAMS) 1286 K 80sThen80sNow BORDEN
    via @80sthen80snow

Tags

80s 1980s womanhood throwback elder millennial married with children childhood nostalgia 80s music relationships gen x 90s kids 90s memory lane girlhood gen x memes
Scroll Down For The Next Article