1

Bright colors

Image: Yaritza

In the 80s, neon was absolutely everywhere, and let’s be honest, it was very hard to miss. Found in clothes, accessories, makeup, signs, and posters, blindingly bright colors became a new style statement. From hot pink to acid green, neon yellow to electric blue, this color palette could be found in pop culture, on the streets, and everywhere in between.

2

Bold fashion

Image: cottonbro studio

There's only one word to describe 80s fashion: bold . B old hair, bold accessories, bold colors, bold everything! Fashion during this decade was strongly influenced by pop music and new rock subgenres such as New Wave. For the first time, different styles began to mix, combining formal garments with rebellious accents —like pairing suits with sneakers, mind you. Whether it was shoulder pads, multicolored leg warmers, or those striking Miami Vice suits, fashion in the 80s was all about vibrancy and an aura of success.

3

Big hair, strong makeup

Image: Gustavo Cerati, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the 80s, crazy cuts and dramatic makeup became an everyday thing, a way of expressing one’s personality and style everywhere you went. From musicians like Madonna to leading ladies like Demi Moore or Julia Roberts, the stars led the way with their perms, pumped-up hair volume, tanned faces, and bright eyeshadows.

But let's not forget the guys! They also introduced the iconic mullet, popularized by celebrities like Rod Stewart, tennis player Andre Agassi, and Patrick Swayze, just to name a few.

4

Rise of yuppie culture

Image: MART PRODUCTION

In a nutshell, Yuppie culture was characterized by slicked-back hair, V-neck sweaters, and a condescending attitude. The term yuppie , an acronym for "young urban professional," emerged in 1980 in an article in Chicago magazine. It described a young person in their 20s or 30s who was part of the middle to upper class, a socioeconomic group that became the forefront of the decade.

From the beginning, this label sparked divided opinions: For some, it represented ambition and success; for others, it symbolized superficiality, an excessive materialism, and an apparent superiority complex. Accurate or not, the trend eventually faded away after the 1987 Wall Street Crash.

5

Toys on TV

Image: cottonbro studio

The 1980s were marked by spending Saturday mornings watching ads on cartoon commercial breaks. How did this happen? From this decade onwards, companies were finally allowed to market directly to kids. The result was hundreds of all kinds of toy ads. They advertised everything from creative games like the Rubik's Cube or Lego to cute and cuddly toys like Care Bears and My Little Pony. This era also saw the beginnings of the must-have toy trend, with Cabbage Patch dolls leading the pack.

6

Music on the go

Image: cottonbro studio

During the 80s, it was common to see people walking down the street with a Walkman on their hips or a boombox to their ears. Although the boombox gained popularity in the 70s, it became mainstream in the 80s thanks to hip-hop and breakdancing culture. Yet, the Walkman would soon steal its thunder. This revolutionary new audio player allowed people to bring their music with them anywhere without bothering everyone around. And that’s also how mixtapes became a thing!

7

Personal computers

Image: Tomas Martinez

The 80s were a prominent decade for electronics development. In 1981, IBM introduced its first personal computer, and everyday life and work would never be the same again. More affordable computers were created thanks to the introduction of powerful, smaller, and cheaper processors, reaching a wider audience and creating greater demand. Models such as the IBM PC, the Commodore 64, and the Apple Macintosh became household names, paving the way for the era of domestic computing.

8

Rise of video games

Image: cottonbro studio

Thanks to technological advances in graphics and gameplay over the decade, video games finally became undeniably popular. With the rise of arcade machines and home consoles, a series of iconic games managed to capture the attention of a wider audience, igniting a cultural phenomenon that would influence music, film, and television. Titles such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong became classics that defined an era.

9

Cable TV goes mainstream

Image: Coline Haslé

When cable TV hit the mainstream, it not only gave the big three American networks a run for their money, but it also allowed the world access to specialized shows that better suited their tastes. Whether your interest was sports, comedy, or music, cable had something for everyone.

CNN and HBO definitely changed television forever, but it was perhaps MTV that left the most indelible mark by offering greater insight into contemporary bands and musicians via live performances and music videos.

10

Fitness fever

Image: Ron Lach

The 1980s were the golden age of fitness, a trend that reflected society's growing interest in health and wellness. Exercise routines were not just a workout, but a cultural phenomenon that turned our living rooms into mini gyms.

Major clothing brands began designing exercise-specific apparel and accessories, such as leotards, crop tops, and headbands. Celebrities also capitalized on the fitness craze. Jane Fonda, for example, became a massive hit in 1982 with her iconic workout videos, some of the best-selling VHS of all time.

1

Edward Furlong

Image: Logan Voss

Moving on from childhood is a natural transition for most people, except for child actors, who often experience it as a kind of identity loss, since they are publicly connected to their younger selves.

Edward Furlong is forever known as John Connor , the kid from Terminator 2: Judgment Day . Though he has appeared in some movies in minor roles, he never truly moved beyond his most famous role.

2

Macaulay Culkin

Image: Liubomyr Vovchak

One of the most famous child actors of all time, Macaulay Culkin, became a phenomenon with Home Alone , released more than 30 years ago. The film made him a household name.

Since then, Culkin has appeared in a few minor roles, but nothing approaching the impact of the movie that made him famous.

3

Carrie-Anne Moss

Image: Markus Spiske

Released in 1999, The Matrix quickly became a cultural phenomenon, and Carrie-Anne Moss shot to fame as Trinity .

She later appeared in the sequels and in a few Marvel projects, but Trinity remains her most iconic and defining role.

4

Tobey Maguire

Image: Stem List

Tobey Maguire became a Hollywood star thanks to his role as Peter Parker in Spider-Man (2002) , with his upside-down kiss scene becoming iconic.

He returned for Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 before the franchise was rebooted with a new actor. But he reprised the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), earning widespread acclaim from fans. So far, it remains the biggest role of his career.

5

Helen Hunt

Image: Ralf Sauter

Helen Hunt won four Emmys and three Golden Globes for Mad About You , and later earned an Oscar for As Good as It Gets .

Despite these honors, her later roles didn’t match the staying power of those roles. The Sessions (2012) marked one of the last peaks of her career in terms of critical acclaim, even though she has continued to take on other roles since then.

6

Demi Moore

Image: Taylor Heery

Demi Moore has often made headlines for her personal life, and while her acting career has included other notable roles ( G.I. Jane , A Few Good Men ), there is one that has truly stood the test of time.

Ghost (1990) , in which she starred alongside Patrick Swayze , remains her most successful and iconic role to this day.

7

Elijah Wood

Image: Ergo Zakki

Elijah Wood has taken on a variety of roles in films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Green Street Hooligans , as well as series like Wilfred and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency .

But despite his diverse work, most people still remember him best as Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings trilogy .

8

Anthony Perkins

Image: Maxime Roedel

Perhaps one of the earliest examples of an actor best known for a single role, Anthony Perkins is remembered above all for his portrayal of the murderous motel owner Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 thriller Psycho .

He reprised the role in three sequels, none of which matched the success of the original film.

9

Christopher Reeve

Image: MeSSrro

Christopher Reeve became forever linked with Superman , a role that brought him both fame and typecasting. He chose roles carefully, hoping to protect the image of the character he had defined.

In his 1998 memoir Still Me , Reeve reflected on life before and after his 1995 accident, noting that Superman had both opened and limited doors in his acting career.

10

Hugh Jackman

Image: Jack O'Rourke

A man of many talents, Hugh Jackman is an actor, singer, and producer. But he is forever linked to the character that brought him international fame: Wolverine , from the X-Men film franchise .

Although he’s acclaimed for roles in The Greatest Showman and Les Misérables and has appeared in numerous films and stage shows, winning many awards, he is still best known to this day for his role as the mutant superhero.

11

Daniel Radcliffe

Image: Artem Maltsev

Another famous child actor, Daniel Radcliffe, rose to fame at age twelve for portraying the title character in the Harry Potter film series . He starred in all eight films, from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 .

He has since appeared in a variety of roles, but none has matched the impact of his most famous one.

12

Mark Hamill

Image: Venti Views

The last entry on this list is one of the most iconic examples of an actor identified with a single role. Mark Hamill is best known for starring as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise .

And although he has also built a strong career as a voice actor (notably as the Joker), the movies were such a cultural phenomenon that his persona became forever linked to this character.

1

United States flag

For years, Americans loved telling the story of Robert G. Heft , the Ohio high school student who supposedly designed the modern 50-star flag as part of a class project in 1958. According to the tale, his teacher gave him a B minus, only to change it after President Dwight Eisenhower selected his design for the nation.

But real history turned out to be more complex. When Alaska and Hawaii officially joined the U.S. in 1959, the government received roughly 1,500 proposals for a new flag. In 2022, writer Alec Nevala-Lee dug deeper into the records and found that the final version was actually credited to the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, not a teenager from Ohio. The current version first flew in 1960 and has now lasted longer than any other American flag design. Those 13 stripes still honor the original colonies, while the 50 stars honor the states.

2

National anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner"

You’ve probably sung it hundreds of times, but did you know that "The Star-Spangled Banner" didn’t begin as a song? Our national anthem started as a poem written during one of the most dramatic moments in early American history.

In September 1814, lawyer Francis Scott Key watched from a ship as British forces bombarded Fort McHenry near Baltimore, Maryland. The darkness was heavy, but at dawn, Key spotted the American flag still waving over the fort. That moment inspired him to write a poem called "Defence of Fort M’Henry," and the melody that kept matching in his head for the poem was borrowed from an old British drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven," from 1775. Ironic, considering the circumstances. The song became widely popular across the country, but it became the official national anthem in 1931, under Hoover’s presidency.

3

Pledge of Allegiance

For generations of Americans, the school day began the same: standing by a desk, hand over heart, facing the flag. But the Pledge of Allegiance has changed since it was first written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy for a nationwide Columbus Day Celebration.

The original version didn’t even mention the U.S. by name. Children simply said, "I pledge allegiance to my flag." Years later, in 1923, the words were changed so that every school kid, native or immigrant, would think of "the flag of the United States of America" when reciting it.

4

National bird: bald eagle

The first relevant appearance of the bald eagle wasn’t as the national bird; it was in the design of the Great Seal. This was in 1782, when the first committee appointed to design the task suggested this bird. The committee was formed by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, who was the only one who thought of the bald eagle as a bird of "bad moral character." Jefferson and Adams, instead, thought the bald eagle represented strength and independence, which seemed perfect for a young country trying to stand on their own. Moreover, the bird was unique to North America at the time, which made it feel distinctly American.

While it has appeared on the Great Seal, currency, and documents since that year, it was only in 2024 when it was designated as the national bird by an Act of Congress under Biden’s administration.

5

National motto: "In God We Trust"

Many Americans assume that E pluribus unum is still our national motto, but in 1956, that changed. The modern motto "In God We Trust" first appeared during one of the country’s darkest moments.

In 1864, as the Civil War tore the nation apart, several religious leaders urged President Lincoln to recognize God on American currency. Many believe the nation needed a symbol of faith and stability during such uncertain times. That same year, the motto appeared for the first time on a two-cent coin. But it was during the Cold War in the 1950s that the words took on new importance and officially became the national motto in 1956 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the law.

6

Great Seal of the United States

The seal is printed on passports, official government documents, and even the back of the one-dollar bill. It features a complex design, and every detail on it means something.

The story of the Great Seal begins on the 4th of July, 1776, when the Continental Congress recognized that the new nation needed a seal to sign official documents. But that was just the beginning. Six years and three committees later, in 1782, Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, designed the seal we know today. The olive branch and the arrows held in the eagle’s talons denote the power of peace and war. The eagle faces the olive branch, but gazes toward the arrows, meaning it’s ready to defend. The 13 stars honor the colonies, and the escutcheon represents the eagle’s courage, along with the motto E pluribus unum, which was the official motto at the time.

7

National march: "The Stars and Stripes Forever"

Today, no Independence Day is complete without the bass of "The Stars and Stripes Forever," but its origin goes back to 1896. The national march began during a difficult trip across the Atlantic.

In 1896, composer John Philip Sousa was traveling home from Europe after learning that his close friend and business partner, David Blakely, had suddenly died. As Sousa paced the deck of a ship, a melody kept playing in his mind. By the time the ship reached New York, the entire march had taken shape. Inspired by the American flag waving as he returned home, Sousa later added the title we know today. But it was on December 10, 1987, that the march was named the "Official March of the United States of America" under Reagan’s administration.

8

National mammal: American bison

Long before highways crossed the country, bison herds thundered across the American grasslands from Texas all the way to Canada. But in the late 1800s, hunters began massively exterminating them to the point of extinction. Oddly enough, that’s when Americans began paying attention to them. Bison started appearing everywhere: on state flags like Wyoming’s, official seals, coins, and giant statues in cities across the country.

President Roosevelt became a big defender and helped create the American Bison Society in 1905 to protect the remaining herds. More than a century later, in 2016, Congress officially named the bison the national mammal of the U.S. and, today, more than 400.000 bison once again roam American grasslands.

9

National floral emblem: rose

Roses have been part of American life for generations. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5574, declaring the rose the national floral emblem of the United States. This choice was highly practical since roses are grown in all fifty states and have been cultivated in American gardens since the nation’s inception. Reagan noted that Americans have long used the rose to "speak the language of the heart," making it a fitting symbol for the country.

10

National tree: The Mighty Oak Tree

The oak tree didn’t become America’s national tree through congressional debate alone. In 2004, the National Arbor Day Foundation opened the decision to the public, and Americans of all ages cast votes for their favorite tree over four months. From the start, t he mighty oak was the frontrunner, earning more than 101,000 votes and beating out redwoods, maples, and pines.

The choice came from the symbolism behind it. Oaks are some of the most widespread trees in the country, with more than 60 species stretching across the states. Besides, it carries roots in American history: The USS Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" because its oak hull was strong enough to repel British cannonballs during battle. Strong, enduring, the oak was a perfect match.