I tried to alive similar I was in the '80s for a 24-hour interval. Here'south what happened.

i tried to live like 80s

The pilus was a little besides big for my liking, just I would wear the blazer again.
Darcy Schild/Business Insider
  • Growing upwardly, I ever wanted to alive similar the teenagers in a John Hughes moving-picture show.
  • However, piddling did I know that trying to alive like information technology's the 1980s in 2019 would exist harder than I thought.
  • With no cell phone, texting, or email immune, I set out on my journeying to embody the '80s — and eat a hot dog while I was at it.
  • Here's what happened when I tried to live like information technology was the 1980s.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

The '80s were an exhilarating fourth dimension for music, fashion, and civilisation. Young people were moving to large cities in droves and embodying the catchphrase "clothes for success."

By 24-hour interval, many people were driven, successful, and put-together. Past nighttime, girls just wanted to accept fun.

Equally an avid fan of movies similar "Pretty in Pink" and "The Breakfast Club," I found the idea of trying to live like it was the 1980s exciting, if not a niggling chip intimidating.

Read more: 20 style trends from the '80s that should never come back

Withal, I didn't truly sympathize the gravity of what I had signed up for until I put on a blazer with shoulder pads and renounced my cell phone.

Here's what happened when I tried to alive like it was the 1980s for an entire day.

For makeup, I did some research and found that while many '80s makeup looks were over-the-top, colorful, and straight out of a Madonna music video, others focused on a natural appearance with a dark brownish-red lip.

My CoverGirl lipstick in the color "Sultry Sienna."
Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Not being a fan of wearing neon-green eyeshadow, I decided to sift through my makeup bag and go with more natural, autumn-inspired makeup. I chose this CoverGirl lipstick in the colour "Sultry Sienna." CoverGirl was huge in the '80s, as was Teen Spirit deodorant and Difficult Candy nail smooth.

Between my blazer and the lip colour, I felt similar I was truly channeling Sarah Jessica Parker circa 1987.

Sarah Jessica Parker in 1987.
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Drove/Getty Images

Though my hair wasn't quite every bit large and curly equally SJP'southward, I couldn't assistance but feel similar I would fit in correct alongside her. Fashion in the '80s had stark contrasts between the different trends. From my research, it seems that women during this time menses loved embracing ultra-feminine details like lace, buttons, and bows, punk rock styles inspired by famous music artists of the moment, and androgynous, menswear-inspired outfits.

The hair was the most dramatic part of my transformation. I felt like it took upwardly half my body from all the hairspray, crimper, and teasing.

A total view of my '80s-inspired outfit and hair.
Darcy Schild/Concern Insider

I'g used to pretty apartment hair, so this was something to go used to. As for the blazer, I really began to really enjoy it. If I could practise anything different, I'd maybe get more over-the-top — this was definitely on the "square" side of '80s fashion.

I made my way to the subway. Let's just say, the New York Metropolis subway system today is very dissimilar than information technology was in the '80s.

My MetroCard.
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Whereas now yous can make full up your MetroCard, the NYC subway organization used to run on a token system. In the 1980s, a subway token good for 1 fare only cost 1 dollar. The subway token was officially retired in 2003 after the MetroCard was introduced in 1994.

In the next three to iv years, the MetroCard volition besides become the way of the dinosaur and exist phased out by options to pay by tapping your credit card, debit carte du jour or MTA carte du jour linked to a bank account at the turnstile.

No one would say that the New York Urban center subway trains of today are spotless, but the trains of the 1980s brand the ones today look positively sterile.

Graffiti on the within of a subway train in New York Urban center, U.s.a., circa 1980.
Barbara Alpers/Getty Images

The subways were besides a dangerous identify to be in the 1980s, and people avoided traveling in them at all costs. Whereas now many people don't think twice near riding the train, those doing information technology in the '80s had to exist very aware and cautious. In December of 1981, author Paul Theroux spent a week riding around the NYC subway arrangement and recording what he saw.

He wrote, "The subway is frightful looking. It has paint and signatures all over its anile face up. It has been vandalized from cease to finish. Information technology smells so hideous you want to put a clothespin on your nose, and information technology is and then noisy the sound actually hurts."

As for the danger people encountered every day on the subway, these words were the most jarring to me: "Is it dangerous? Ask anyone, and, without thinking, he will tell you there must be about two murders a day on the subway."

I've never encountered annihilation frightening or dangerous on the subway, besides the rats scurrying effectually on the tracks. I was shocked to hear that it used to exist such a crime-ridden place.

The subway platform in 2019.
Erin McDowell/Business concern Insider

It was strange not listening to music on the platform, or once I got on the subway, as I usually practise. I judge I should have brought my Walkman. Then once again, if it really was the '80s, I would definitely want to keep my wits most me while riding in the New York City subway system.

Read more than: The Walkman just turned 40 — here'south how listening to music has inverse over the years

I finally got to the office. On my way in, I grabbed a coffee with skim milk. It's shocking to recall of a time when almond milk didn't exist.

The view of One Liberty Plaza.
Erin McDowell/Concern Insider

One Liberty Plaza officially opened in 1973, and elevators were added in 1989. Thank goodness for that — otherwise, I may have had to have the stairs upwardly to the eighth floor. Once up to the office, I had to deal with my first dilemma. I had to use the cyberspace to write my manufactures for the day.

At that place were technically word processing programs in the '80s — does anyone remember WordStar? — and although there was no Google back then, I still had to do my job. It'south what the young urban professionals of yesteryear would want me to do, I reasoned with myself.

Afterwards working for a while, I decided to step out and grab some luncheon, and I had a plan.

Food vendors lined up on Broadway in the Fiscal District.
Erin McDowell/Business organisation Insider

For my '80s-inspired tiffin, I decided to use the cash I had leftover in my purse to get a New York Urban center staple — a hot dog. While I decided to use cash to buy my dejeuner today, credit cards were too extremely popular every bit they burst onto the scene in the 1980s. By the middle of the decade, the average credit card holder carried seven cards and more than than 125 1000000 Americans owned Principal Card or Visa charge cards.

Regardless, near street nutrient vendors still don't accept credit or debit cards today, let alone in the 1980s.

If I'm being honest, I was partially inspired past this photo of a New York City hot canis familiaris cart from 1980.

A man selling hot dogs and pretzels from a cart, New York Metropolis, U.s., April 1980.
Barbara Alper/Getty Images

I did find a departure in the carts' appearances, however. Nearly hot domestic dog and other food vendors have photos of the food they sell now — this cart from 1980 had cartoonish illustrations.

Though the toll of a hot dog may have gone up slightly now that NYC is a tourist hub, I was nevertheless excited to effort ane for the commencement time. Yeah, I've never had a New York Metropolis hot canis familiaris, despite living here for three months and visiting throughout my childhood.

Strolling up to the cart in my outfit, I'm not going to lie — I felt a piddling out of identify among the "I Center NY" T-shirt-clad tourists and casually-dressed visitors in the Financial District.

My hot canis familiaris with chili and mustard was surprisingly delicious.
Erin McDowell/Business concern Insider

How ofttimes does someone in a blazer and a clothes order a hot canis familiaris with chili and mustard? Well, 1 was about to.

Yuppie (young urban professional person) feelings aside, I was very pleased with the hot canis familiaris. I also got a Diet Coke, mainly because I remember Whitney Houston's ad for information technology from 1988.

I as well got a Diet Coke with my hot dog. Nutrition Coke was voted the Brand of the '80s.
Erin McDowell/Business concern Insider

Nutrition anything was all the rage in the '80s as people embraced a fitter, healthier lifestyle. Diet Coke hit the market in 1982, and by the end of 1983, Diet Coke was the No. 1 diet soft beverage in the U.S. It also held the top spot for a soda brand amidst female consumers. The Coca Cola Company besides reports that Diet Coke was named the Brand of the Decade by Advertising Age.

I'thou definitely not a pro at solving 1 yet — in fact, I don't think I've ever played with a Rubik'due south Cube before.

Playing with the Rubik'southward Cube.
Darcy Schild/Business organisation Insider

It was nice to be unplugged for a while and away from my desk. In fact, it was quite peaceful just to sit and try and solve the colored puzzle.

And voilá, my healthy '80s dinner was washed. It was delicious and so piece of cake to brand. After making it, I wanted to recollect my mother and thank her for the recommendation. Unfortunately, my apartment doesn't have a landline.

The finished stir-fry with chicken and rice.
Erin McDowell/Business concern Insider

After eating my dinner, I reflected on all of the things that make today's world so different from that of the 1980s. When on the subway, rather than beingness on guard or even aware of their surroundings, anybody is completely glued to their phones. I struggled to connect with anyone that mean solar day, unless I saw them in person — there was no emailing, no texting, and no cell phones. Most people don't fifty-fifty ain a landline phone anymore!

All in all, I enjoyed trying — keyword, trying — to step back in time to the '80s. The hair was bigger, the shoulders were higher, and the music was full of synths. Even though I felt similar a yuppie nigh of the day — or like a character out of a John Hughes film — I didn't actually mind.

The 80s were an exciting time, mixed with economical success, an incredibly vibrant nightlife and music scene, and a teenage generation that dominated malls across the country, ownership upwards records and starting their ain style trends.

Afterward a long solar day living like I was in the 1980s, it was finally time to take a chill pill — AKA, go to slumber.

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