Try saying “the 80s tank” 5 times as fast as you can. I’ll wait. Aha, not so easy is it? It’s as tricky as saying, “one smart fellow…he felt smart.” several times quickly.
What would “the 80s stank” be? Rock ballads by hair bands? Waiting in line at the grocery store for someone to pay by check? The mullet? So many horrors from the 80s to choose from.
Why on earth would you keep a tank top like that from the 1980s? A question posed to me numerous times by multiple people, most often by my girlfriend. It’s not like it’s such a great tank, or that it has any kind of sentimental value to me. It really doesn’t. Apparently, it only still exists because I never threw out.
If I had sent it to the great landfill in the sky, along with all my other clothes from the 80s, then I would have denied the world the garish display of my photo series titled, “My 80s Clothes” featuring self-portraits wearing clothes I bought in the 80s that I still have (and fit in).
What I love most about this shirt is – just like the t-shirts that say “College” – the target audience for this garment I suppose were people who like the idea of sports in general, but not enough to pick a favorite team. That wasn’t me, I do have favorite teams yet I still bought this.
Much to the bewilderment of my girlfriend and anyone else with taste, the side-by-side composite photograph, with one shot from 1989 and the other from 2023 has been in a couple art gallery exhibitions, has won several awards and has been in one magazine.
Exhibitions, awards and magazines:
- TPS 33: The International Competition 2025-2026, Texas Photographic Society
- Photografique Magazine, issue #002, 2026
- London Photography Awards 2025, Winner Self-Portrait
- Annual Photography Awards 2025, Portrait Honorable Mention
- Mirror Mirror 2025 exhibition, Shadowbox Gallery
- Passepartout Photo Prize, 9th Edition 2025, Honorable Mention
When I did the “My 80s Clothes” photo series in 2023, I didn’t expect anyone to see the photos other than friends. Maybe I’d post a couple on Facebook and Instagram and that would be about it.
Related: Anything goes… even argyle
I certainly didn’t have any plans to submit it to anything. I just did the series to have fun. Besides, I had to do something with all these hideous clothing items stuffed in the top shelf of my my closet. As an actor in my younger years, I kept them in case I got a role that required authentic 80s clothes so I never threw them out. I just might need a tank top that says “Sports” one day, was the thinking. Who knew it’d be for my own shoot?
And now, the long awaited breakdown of my clothing as seen in the photographs
Shirt: SPORTS tank top by Puma, 65% polyester, 35% cotton I bought in 1988 at Venice Beach. Although it’s a tank, it’s not just for summer. Its thick material dominated by polyester, is a Scottish sweat-hog’s dream (I’m one so I can say that), creating lots of heat beneath its semi-rough fibers making it an acceptably warm garment even in winter months. Please pair with a jacket with warm sleeves.
Shorts: Unknown polyester tri-tone bike shorts in 1989 photo. In the 2023 photo, black and gray bike shorts by Speedo I bought in 1988. Materials consisting of 92% cotton, 8% lycra – a groundbreaking material for the time. Hand wash in cool water, line dry to maintain fiber integrity.
Red, gold, green and black plastic bead reggae necklaces I bought in Venice Beach in 1988.
Bumblebee colored watch by Swatch with striped band, purchased in 1988.
Shoes in 1989 photo: unknown brand of space age low-rise boots bought in 1988. Unfortunately, they are no longer with us.
White slouch socks in 1989 photo: bought at Venice Beach in 1988 in a bundle with 6 pairs of them for $5. Adjusted for inflation that’s $14.41 in today’s dollars. One white pair still resides at the bottom of my sock drawer.
Check out the whole My 80s clothes series.