As a kid in the mid-90s I asked my optometrist the same question. He said that, during the late 70s and early 80s optometrists thought that larger lenses were better for vision.
i totally have some photos like this, only i had a smear of blue eyeshadow above each eye and way too much lipstick for an 8 year old. hilarious! thanks for the fun flashbacks…
She gets the Janet Jackson Wardrobe Malfunction Award for 2009. Poor kid. It’s awkward in so many ways — on so many levels. I hope she is a stunner today.
You are all mistaken. This is not a photograph, but a painting in the Julio-Claudian style (ca. 20–54) of Sequina, the Roman Goddess of Awkward Pubescence.
Oh dear! Oh my! (That’s all I can think of to say.) Oh wait, I just thought of something…I DO hope she grew up to become a beautiful swan! – Like Sarah Jessica Parker.
and yes, that is an amazing photo! i especially love the glasses. my cute, girl-next-door-type friend has a pair of actual glasses (a bit smaller though) and pulls it off like the coolest indie queen ever. if only all of us had that gift….*sigh*
I was about to reply a snotty comment about the various spellings of “awkward”, but then I just discovered that I have been spelling awkward wrong for all my (over 29) years! How awkward!
oh how I wanted to be that type of girl when I was little! I was too klutzy for dance lessons…this pic reminds me of the dance troupes that would go on the philadelphia saturday morning kids shows…..Chief Halftown, Captain Noah and Al Alberts showcase!
“Let’s get physical, physical” – oh, how I used to work out to that Olivia Newton-John song and apparently she did too! Bless her heart for being brave enough to face the past.
Kids are so BRAVE!
We have photos of my girls in the first glasses they ever picked out by themselves…there is a collective groan from all of them when the albums come out but their husbands think it is ADORABLE!
Love the drama of the blue eyeshadow and magenta cheek color!
I would have cheered for you sweetie!
Too bad about the wardrobe malfunction. It draws attention away from the awesome sparkly headband. I too had those glasses in the 80s, but I was in my 20s and they were dark red. Kudos to her though – her smile says “I’m hot!”
Hey, I used to have glasses like that and much worse looking back at the photo’s!! I’m sure at the time I thought they looked cool, at least that’s what I tell myself now!!
How many of the people laughing at 80s fashion will be the subject of an identically awkward photo in 20 years? If people can look at you and know what year it is, you’re trying waaay too hard.
wait – hypercolor like the kind that changed colors depending on where you were sweating? Who thought that was a good idea, and why did I wear one so proudly?
What are you talking about? I still have mine! Changes from this hideous grayish/grape colour to pink!! I just love it! (Although I didn’t get mine until the early ’90′s)
What an amazing photo. I’m sure the young lady is absolutely stunning now, and if she sent this in herself, she’s gained quite a measure of self-assurance. As for those of you who plan to burn your photos, please don’t! This is a wonderful visual lesson for girls who might be a bit awkward now!
Yeah,looks about the same year(s) I was in dance.To further show my age,I get a Sarah Jessica/Square Pegs era vibe. It’s very possible she looks fabulous now ala SJP.
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afp
oh geez… this is me like .. age 5 through… 14?
Ouch. I’m sorry for your sake that it lasted that long!
will someone kindly tell me why, at one point during the late 70s/early 80s, giant face-covering lenses were somehow considered the trend in eyewear??
I see that a lot in (relatively) old pictures and movies and I can’t help but wonder WHY???
As a kid in the mid-90s I asked my optometrist the same question. He said that, during the late 70s and early 80s optometrists thought that larger lenses were better for vision.
“Fame! I’m gonna live forever!!”
i totally have some photos like this, only i had a smear of blue eyeshadow above each eye and way too much lipstick for an 8 year old. hilarious! thanks for the fun flashbacks…
She gets the Janet Jackson Wardrobe Malfunction Award for 2009. Poor kid. It’s awkward in so many ways — on so many levels. I hope she is a stunner today.
she IS a stunner today, which makes this picture all the sweeter!
Sometimes Good old glasses just make the picture.
You are all mistaken. This is not a photograph, but a painting in the Julio-Claudian style (ca. 20–54) of Sequina, the Roman Goddess of Awkward Pubescence.
LOL!
the photographer owes this princess an apology. And, a free 8×10!
“jazz hands”
My Technicolor Dreamcoat so Rocks!
Oh dear! Oh my! (That’s all I can think of to say.) Oh wait, I just thought of something…I DO hope she grew up to become a beautiful swan! – Like Sarah Jessica Parker.
aww, i love how kind everyone is on this board.
and yes, that is an amazing photo! i especially love the glasses. my cute, girl-next-door-type friend has a pair of actual glasses (a bit smaller though) and pulls it off like the coolest indie queen ever. if only all of us had that gift….*sigh*
I’m lovin’ those jazz hands!
This is awkward on too many levels to number…
It’s not a wardrobe malfunction, it’s a cotton gusset (sorry, TMI).
Fosse, Fosse, Fosse!
Finally! Someone who knows the proper term!
I went to high school with this girl (redmond to be exact) how strange that I would see her on here.
And she didn’t grow out of that akward phase when I last saw her. This might be a current pic
:O
I’ll bet she knows how to spell “awkward”, though.
ZING!
I was about to reply a snotty comment about the various spellings of “awkward”, but then I just discovered that I have been spelling awkward wrong for all my (over 29) years! How awkward!
LOL awesome zing
oh how I wanted to be that type of girl when I was little! I was too klutzy for dance lessons…this pic reminds me of the dance troupes that would go on the philadelphia saturday morning kids shows…..Chief Halftown, Captain Noah and Al Alberts showcase!
it’s multidimensional awkwardness. I’m not sure what to look at.
jazz hands!!
Oh,that poor girl! We’ve all been there, sweetie!
Oh, those high kicks will mess up your pantyhose every time!
SUPER STAR Mary Katherine Gallagher
I want her to marry pedestal/fan/parasol boy and make uber-awkward babies…
Best Spirit Fingers Ever!!
haha SPIRIT FINGERS!
Flash dance hands+wardrobe malfunction.. BAD ONE BTW……+20 shades to dark nylons.. = perfect.!
I bet she’s a major hottie now. You go, girl!!
She’s a doll but…total jazz hands fail!
I have these bangs in a picture of me from 3rd grade, i want to post it but don’t want to hear about the bags under my eyes being a “black eye” HAHA!
“Let’s get physical, physical” – oh, how I used to work out to that Olivia Newton-John song and apparently she did too! Bless her heart for being brave enough to face the past.
I had those glasses too-maybe a tiny bit smaller-in 1979 or so and they were hot for the times.
Oh, my is that her underwear poking out from under the suit?
I wish the people in the photos would post their “now” pictures…
This reminds me of an ad for American Apparel. Way ahead of her time apparently!
Jazz hands…
No, no, no – say it with feeling like Bob Fosse is producing. JAZZ HANDS!!!
You are both wrong. It’s “JAZZ HANDS with A SASSY POSE!”
I just can’t stop laughing. That is too good!
Anyone remember the TV show “Square Pegs”? I’m getting a strong whiff of vintage Sarah Jessica Parker.
YESS! That’s exactly what I was thinking!
She’s A MANIAC!
Kids are so BRAVE!
We have photos of my girls in the first glasses they ever picked out by themselves…there is a collective groan from all of them when the albums come out but their husbands think it is ADORABLE!
Love the drama of the blue eyeshadow and magenta cheek color!
I would have cheered for you sweetie!
Best awkward pic EVER!!
it’s one of my all-time faves too. this definately deserves to a be in an Awkward Photo Hall of Fame.
FAME!!! I want to live forever or die of embarrassment!!!
Oh, I totally heard the theme music. Awesome
OMG! YES! *ROTFL!* XD
Too bad about the wardrobe malfunction. It draws attention away from the awesome sparkly headband. I too had those glasses in the 80s, but I was in my 20s and they were dark red. Kudos to her though – her smile says “I’m hot!”
Those glasses are A-mazing!
Hey, I used to have glasses like that and much worse looking back at the photo’s!! I’m sure at the time I thought they looked cool, at least that’s what I tell myself now!!
Where’s the “after” ?
ahh snap!
it ain’t snazzy without the purple matching eyeshadow and as much fuschia blush as you can get on the brush! work it girl!
How many of the people laughing at 80s fashion will be the subject of an identically awkward photo in 20 years? If people can look at you and know what year it is, you’re trying waaay too hard.
Amen
I have embraced my inner hypercolor t-shirt
wait – hypercolor like the kind that changed colors depending on where you were sweating? Who thought that was a good idea, and why did I wear one so proudly?
What are you talking about? I still have mine! Changes from this hideous grayish/grape colour to pink!! I just love it! (Although I didn’t get mine until the early ’90′s)
agreed
Everything that was so wrong about the 80′s. I’m sure this outfit would have matched my flourescent Wham ‘choose life’ t-shirt.
no no no darrin, say it isnt sooooooo
flourescent?Orange or green?
What an amazing photo. I’m sure the young lady is absolutely stunning now, and if she sent this in herself, she’s gained quite a measure of self-assurance. As for those of you who plan to burn your photos, please don’t! This is a wonderful visual lesson for girls who might be a bit awkward now!
This photo must have come back to haunt her a thousand times…
…and now for all eternity thanks to this website LMAO
This is a classic 80′s wardrobe malfunction!
Oh. Oh. Oh.
You know, I am sure she grew up to be a beautiful woman.
(Also count me as another person who thought that stocking crotch was something else sticking out…)
Yeah,looks about the same year(s) I was in dance.To further show my age,I get a Sarah Jessica/Square Pegs era vibe. It’s very possible she looks fabulous now ala SJP.