Not Just Your Mom’s Penn State Gear
While attempting to create a vintage window display for the store, I asked several Penn State alumni, including my mom, to loan old Penn State sportswear to Lions Pride. In my search I found that surprisingly, looks from the 70s and 80s are not that different from popular looks today. While past hair styles- afros, mullets, and the famous “Farrah Fawcett” have not made such a comeback, popular looks from decades ago are trending some 30 years later. The trend leads me to wonder, are our parents really THAT crazy for keeping 30 year old shirts?
Looks you will see this fall on campus, at football games, and while walking in downtown State College include lacrosse pinnies, made popular in the 1980s, burnout t-shirts with designs from the 1970s and 1980s, and flat brimmed hats, a look that was stylish in the early 90s’. Some looks produced by various Penn State vendors this year were originally seen in catalogs published by Lions Pride throughout the late 1970s and early ‘80s. Lions Pride owner Steve Moyer commented on the trend saying that, “What’s old is new again.” The soft fabrics and unique designs are flying off of the racks. LP employee Serene added, “With all forms of technology being so new, people need something to hold onto that’s old. The looks are fun and appealing.”
Love it or hate it, the Penn State football team will even being rocking an “old school” look this year wearing a jersey style from the 1970s and 1980s. The trim from the neck and sleeves of the jersey has been removed giving the uniform an even plainer look. Even a team that prides itself on being traditional is becoming a bit trendy?
Next time you are cleaning out your closet and getting rid of your old Penn State gear, remember, what goes around, comes around…eventually. While your children may make fun of you for keeping an article of clothing that holds sentimental value, you may have the last laugh as they are begging to borrow it for the 2035 Penn State v. Ohio State White Out.
