Units & Multiples 80s Fashions

Multiples or Units by Sandra Garratt were cool
mix and match fashions from the '80s.

The other day, my coworkers and I were at lunch. I told them about my blog and they insisted that I write something about Multiples or Units, the 1980s clothing line founded by Texas fashion designer Sandra Garratt.

I'll be honest, I vaguely really remember this cool mix and match concept of dressing. The photos of the comfy-looking fashions do look familiar, but for some reason, I missed the boat. Sandra's Units came out in 1979 and her Multiples line was launched in 1989.

Multiples for men and women.

Sandra Garratt's story behind Units and Multiples is an awesome rags-to-riches tale. A broke, single mom trying to make a living as a designer, Sandra used her last $38 (from an unemployment check!) to purchase some fabric. She fashioned a few simple cotton skirts, tops and pants, which were to be worn tied and layered. She called them modulars and sold them in a small local boutique. 

Sandra's modulars took off like wildfire and soon 600 shops opened in malls across the U.S. and women of all ages were smitten by the easy-to-wear Units and Multiples styles. Ladies loved Units for their comfort -- some say they loved how five pieces could be mixed, matched and layered to create a week's worth of styles. 

Today, Sandra Garratt is living in LA and still busy creating different looks for women, men and children with MODBOX, SilvrLining and more. 

Did you own Multiples or Units? My coworkers admitted they still have one or two of Sandra's simplistic, timeless pieces. 

Greatest American Hero William Katt

William Katt was awesome as the Greatest American Hero.

At nine years old, I loved this silly weekly TV show starring William Katt as The Greatest American Hero. My little brother and I would anxiously wait for Wednesday nights to catch William Katt and Robert Culp in ABC's brilliant 60-minute comedy drama. Researching, I'm surprised to learn it actually only lasted three seasons and 44 episodes. I guess when you're young three seasons feels like an eternity. 

Part of me wonders if it was the "Believe It or Not" theme song I liked best about The Greatest American Hero, or maybe Bill Katt's wild blond curls. I also found Robert Culp to be quite handsome, even though he was old enough to be my grandpa back in 1981. 

The show featured William Katt as Ralph, a special education teacher turned superhero. I loved how Ralph becomes a superhero with superhuman powers thanks to a run in with some aliens who gift him a spiffy red superhero costume.

Does anyone else remember this early 1980s TV show, The Greatest American Hero? 

1980s Board Games | Smurfs, A-Team, Cabbage Patch Kids ...

What was it about the 1980s toys that every toy required a Milton Bradley or Parker Brothers board game to go along with it? I vaguely recall owning the E.T. and Cabbage Patch board games. I'm quite sure both were on my Christmas list ... Did any of you have the following board games? Do you even remember these games?

Ms. Pac-Man & Pac-Man Board Games

Both board games were released by Milton Bradley in 1982 to try to "Bring the video game to the table!" definitely not as exciting as the video games though. Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Man board games are available on eBay ranging from $10-$20 depending on their condition.

Cabbage Patch Kids Hide-and-Seek Game

Milton Bradley released this fun-filled match game in 1984 during the height of the Cabbage Patch Kids craze. The idea was to match up as many Cabbage Patch Kids (they popped up) before the timer went off.

Cabbage Patch Kids Friends to the Rescue Board Game

Parker Brothers 1984 Cabbage Patch Kids - Friends to the Rescue board game is going for $10-$40 on vintage toy websites and eBay. According to BoardGameGeek.com:

"In this game, you must help rescue the kids from the clutches of Cabbage Jack. The delightful Bunny Bees will help you lead the kids to safety. And finally Colonel Casey, the kindly old stork, will help you bring the kids home. Collect 4 kids, each with a different color hair, or all the same color, and you're the winner."

The Smurf Board Game

 

First released by Milton Bradely in 1981, the above Smurf board game is available at $16.99 on Ecrater.com and makes a great gift for Smurf fans everywhere.

The A-Team Board Game

My younger brother was a fan of the A-Team, I personally was not. This Parker Brothers board game was hot in 1984 and looks just as silly as the show. More information is available at BoardGameGeek.com.

The E.T. Board Game

I love(d) E.T. so very much. We even have an E.T. movie poster hanging over our bed. I couldn't get enough of E.T. as a kid -- read more about it here. You can bet your bippie that in 1982, the E.T. Board Game by Parker Brothers was on my holiday wish list. Today this game goes from $10-$175 depending on its overall condition.



Watch the E.T. Board Game Commercial: 

Keith Haring, the King of 1980s Pop Art

Pop art has always been very hip with young people. Kids from the 1960s had Andy Warhol. Children of the 1970s had Peter Max (I had a Peter Max bed sheet set and loved it!) and we 1980s kids had Keith Haring.

Danny, my BFF in 7th grade (1985), first introduced me to cool Keith Haring designs. He had several Keith Haring Swatch watches, which we thought were totally awesome. I remember posters, t-shirts, stickers and other collectibles could be purchased at Pop Shop on NYC's Lafayette Street in SoHo. The stuff wasn't cheap of course, but it was so rad, you had to have something Keith Haring if you were truly hip and new wave.
  
Fast Facts About Keith Haring

• Keith Haring was born in Reading, Pennsylvania and grew up in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.
• He studied graphic design at The Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh between 1976-78.
• Keith Haring moved to NYC at age 19 and studied at SVA, School of Visual Arts.
• Keith Haring died on February 16, 1990 of AIDS-related complications.  
• All ticket proceeds of Madonna's first New York date of her Blond Ambition World Tour went towards AIDS charities including AIDS Project Los Angeles and amfAR.  
• Keith Haring's work was included in the song "Into the Groove" during Madonna's live performances on her 2008 tour and during the U2 performance on the 1997/1998 PopMart Tour.

Back to 1982-1983, Age 10/11

Cool photo shoot at Long Island's Hot Skates with
Drew Barrymore for her movie Whip It.

Due to a slight case of writers block today, I've decided to cheat once again. So I'm bringing you back to 1983 Ally style! Here are some boring gems for your reading pleasure. Please note, the following is word-for-word including poor spelling and grammar.

Monday, February 1, 1982
Today I and my friend made a club with Kathy P. and Patricia. We got back our SS [Social Studies] test. I got an 86.

Saterday, February 5, 1982
Today I went to Hot Skates and mite go swiming [my mom always loved to swim indoors at Echo Park Pool in West Hempstead] and I had a good time at Hot Skates.

[Hot Skates was the hottest skating rink in Western Nassau County, Long Island. Every kid in the area can attest to countless memories at Hot Skates including first kisses, first dates and first slow dance - er couples only skate. It was a safe place too. I don't remember kids threatening other kids or causing trouble. It was just a great place to spend a Friday or Saturday night. This indoor rink still exists allowing today's kids to create their own memories there. A while back, I discovered a cool photo shoot for that skating movie, Whip It featuring celebs Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page. So weird to see Drew kickin' back at the same table where I would sit, happily consuming a Coke and hot dog as the DJ set the mood with a little Air Supply, Billy Joel and Journey. It could even be the same table I blew out the candles for my 4th grade Hot Skates birthday party. In going through diaries, it appears that every week I had an adventure at Hot Skates until about 7th grade.]

Sunday, April 4, 1982
Today in soccer the coach made me be goaly and I let 3 goals in.

[I'm guessing that was the last time the coach made me a goalie. I was so God-awful in soccer. My mom insists she put me in for five seasons of soccer, otherwise known in town as "The VSSC" to keep me from getting super chubs. She says it kept me active and away from the TV. She meant well. The only thing I liked about soccer was halftime oranges and water. I freakin' HATED soccer!]

Saturday, February 19, 1983
Today I saw Silver Spoons. I love Jason Bateman. I finished my school project.

I loved Jason Bateman and Silver Spoons.

[Silver Spoons was my most favorite show in the early '80s. I wasn't a big Ricky fan, but boy I had the hots for Jason Bateman. I worshiped him in the worst way. From the moment I saw his little freckled face crying in pain. "Go get help! Fetch Pa!" he moaned to his sister Casandra while laying helpless in the woods, his little twelve-year-old foot stuck in a bear trap on Little House. I still think he's pretty hot today.

Oh young Jason Bateman...
 Oh how I loved theee  back then.

One thing I hated, was that my grammar school had these wretched, mandatory Science and Social Studies fairs. I never ever won. Ever. Why? Because my folks, teachers with lame teacher morals, refused and I mean REFUSED to create our projects for us. No working molten lava volcano for me. My crap-ass tin-foiled lined Shoe Town shoebox filled with planets made of hanging balls of clay was a big fat LOSING project compared to that volcano. Kathy's amazing historical farm house at the History Fair above and beyond. It was the coolest project anyone had ever brought in. Obviously Kathy's dad knew the importance of winning the first place ribbon. Once again, no ribbon for me. Mrs. Tobin was in charge of rating my lovely homemade sock doll. How the heck was that garbage prize-worthy compared to a farm house awesome enough for a kid to actually want to play with!]

Have More Fun In Bed

I've always had a thing for fun sheets and pillowcases. Right now you will find a Skurvy/Paul Frank, Hello Kitty and Pac-Man pillow atop our bed. When we first moved in together, we had a full sized bed. It was easy to find Hello Kitty sheets at Target to accommodate our bed back then. However, when we switched to a Queen, it's been boring sheets with very little character. I know I can get fun prints and polka dots, but I love my characters.

Luckily I can still spice up our bedding with fun pillowcases. I believe you're never too old to take part in youthful bed and bath items. My husband doesn't seem to mind our Hello Kitty shower curtain and Ziploc type bags.

Strawberry Shortcake
Target released newer versions of Strawberry Shortcake as she made a successful comeback over the past few years. I prefer the original pictured here.



ET
My most favorite movie and treasured bedding featured the lovable alien and Elliot in various scenes from the movie. We used the ET sleeping bag until recently - it was so badly torn, I had to trash it. I still have the flat sheet and a pillowcase though.





Smurfs
In addition to ET, I was a big-time fan of The Smurfs. I had several Smurf lunchboxes (who didn't in the '80s?) and especially adored my Smurf sheets. My aunt still has my cousin's Smurf sheets which is sure to come in handy for my cousin's child, seeing as the Smurfs have made a comeback and have an entire line of toys out for today's kids to enjoy.



Pac-Man
My husband and I are serious Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man fans. When we first met, we discovered we had a common bond of loving the old '80s video game. This made selecting a wedding cake topper pretty damn easy. We went with Pac-Man groom and Ms. Pac-Man bride figurines. He loves his old Pac-Man pillow case (as does our kitty, see image below) and we still have a vintage trash can we use for recyclables in the kitchen.



Our cat, Chawklit relaxing against her favorite pillow.

Our Pac-Man wedding caketopper.