Saturday, February 5, 2011

1980s Plastic Charms | Necklaces & Bracelets


Image from 80smuseum.com

As a preteen in the mid 1980s I was all about trendy accessories. From Banana Clips, to Mood Rings to Parachute Pants and more, I had to have it. One accessory I couldn't resist, were colorful charms. These cute plastic charms or trinkets included sweet irresistible items such as tennis rackets, hot dogs, cupcakes, rainbows, ice cream cones, lipsticks, toothbrushes, smiley faces and even Care Bears -- you name it!



I collected dozens and dozens of these sweet plastic charms. They were a 1980s fashion must for teen girls! Most charms had small silver bell attached to them so everyone knew you were near by draped in your adorable charms. Typically these charms would dangle from colorful plastic chains which allowed the charms to easily hook on.

We'd get creative and wear the charms on our sneakers, attach them to our spiral notebooks, book bags, bike baskets and more. I still have my charms in a trunk at my mom's. I should really sport those suckers, but I guess as a woman approaching 40, I'd look a bit off, no?

Original, vintage 1980s Charms can be found on eBay and Etsy.


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26 comments:

  1. MaggiFebruary 5, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    I lovedddddddddddddddd these so much! I still have all of mine! lol

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  2. mamahasspokenFebruary 5, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    I don't remember these. Sad I know...

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  3. Lady HillFebruary 5, 2011 at 11:13 AM

    These were my absolute favorite things back in the day. They lasted into the 90's and I grew a fabulous collection of them. I would still rock them now if I could find mine, but I'm a freak like that.

    http://fromlazytolady.blogspot.com

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  4. AprilFebruary 5, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    I LOVED these charms. I wonder what happened to them? And you know what? I bet they were made in China. And contained lead and other recently discovered bad for you stuff. I used to chew on my charms. I turned out okay though, so...

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  5. Riot KittyFebruary 5, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    I *loved* these in fourth grade. I wish I had kept them. I may go on e-bay!

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  6. LoneIslanderFebruary 5, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    Never had these

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  7. Jersey Diva MomFebruary 5, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    Another wayback flashback on your site. Too funny- and the bells! It was like hanging out w/ dozens of kittens!

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  8. Cajun Girl Living In The MountainsFebruary 5, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    Wow! I completely forgot about these!!

    I say totally rock them! I'm working my way to the big 40, and I say screw it and wear what you want.

    LPM

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  9. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comFebruary 5, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    I wish I had collected those. They're adorable and fun.
    Be well, Ally!
    xoRobyn

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  10. RMbFebruary 5, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    i remember these!!!! i totally loved them too. pretty much all the pictures of me when i was 4 have me wearing those. i'm totally going to hit up ebay. :)

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  11. Pat TillettFebruary 5, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    Despite rumors to the contrary. I neve wore these things. I did however, find lot's of them in the carpet and imbedded in my feet!

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  12. Oilfield TrashFebruary 5, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    Oh my, I actually remember seeing those things when I was in school. All the "cool" girls had them.

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  13. THUNDERCATFebruary 5, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    Am I wrong for being riding the ass of 30 and still wear stuff like that? lol

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  14. Heather TaylorFebruary 5, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    I had the shoe charms though I do not remember how I acquired them!

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  15. SusieQTFebruary 6, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    Oh, I was just thinking about these recently! Thank you for showing some. I have to dig through my parents' attic and see if they're still there.

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  16. TeachinfourthFebruary 6, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    Never had any of those myself, and I don't remember them; however, we lived out in the middle of nowhere.

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  17. ErikaFebruary 6, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    I barely remember the plastic charms. and who cares how old you are, rock them!

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  18. Pandorah's BoxFebruary 6, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    ACK! I was always sooooo jealous of the girls who had those when I was a kid!! My vice was sticker books though...couldn't afford both on my measly allowance...

    I have been wanting to buy a grown up version of a charm bracelet. Not quite the same thing, but maybe wouldn't look weird? (Not that I think it would, you rock those bracelets girl!!)

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  19. CheeseboyFebruary 7, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    My sister had a boatload of these. They were always all over our floors. Drove my mom crazy.

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  20. MarleneFebruary 7, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    I totally do NOT remember these at all! Maybe they weren't as big back home in Canada?

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  21. Blast from the PastFebruary 8, 2011 at 4:17 AM

    As a guy, I didn't get into these, but I do remember them. When I was a kid, we used to make gum wrapper necklaces... not the same, but fun.

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  22. Amber Von FeltsFebruary 8, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    These were the silly bands of the 80's & 90's!!! They were great! I loved them.

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  23. UnknownFebruary 8, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    Ha!!! I totally forgot about those! You have resurrected a really dusty memory, my friend. Really dust. Love it!

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  24. MIGFebruary 17, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    I remember these! WOW! I had forgotten all about the charms until I saw this post. What a way to take me back. Thanks for making me smile today! :)

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  25. ~ NoelleJune 1, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    no wayyyyyyyyyyyy
    i had tons of them.
    wow, i am starting to think my parents don't love me ... lol... as i have NOTHING like this anymore, they threw it away when we moved

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  26. MarjiFebruary 9, 2012 at 12:51 AM

    I wish I still had mine, I had several hundred of them and after I quit wearing them they hung on the back of my door for years. My last banana clip broke a couple of years ago and I cried! Real tears, I loved those things!

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