MEMORIES:
pardus remembers...I had a pair in sixth grade -- black lycra with green neon stripes. I remember wearing them on summer ... More »
Posted on 08/15/08
PHOTOS:
The mention of bicycle shorts today might, for some, conjure images of Lance Armstrong, the Tour de France, and sports enthusiasts. Just take your time-machine of a mind back to the 80s and think about it some more: thin spandex, sometimes down to the knee, sometimes just below the glutes. Bicycle shorts weren’t just for cyclists. They came ready-to-wear for the masses, and hit pop culture hard with its stretchy versatility and in many cases, sexy appeal.
Little was left to the imagination with these shorts. Some were shiny, some were soft and cottony, but they were all meant to fit like a glove. Bicycle shorts were especially popular with the fit and trim crowd, but could be worn by just about anyone with a clever cover up of an oversized shirt or a cute skirt. In fact, bicycle shorts were popular with young girls looking to wear a skirt without showing too much.
Bicycle shorts were also popular with pop stars of the late 80s. Rappers Salt-n-Pepa rocked the mic with their K-Swiss sneaks, giant gold chains and 8-ball-style leather jackets, and of course, spandex shorts. Janet Jackson gave bicycle shorts a sexy twist by wearing them under shredded cut-off shorts. And who could forget Milli Vanilli bouncing around on-stage with their oversized blazers and big black boots?
It’s not often that sports wear gets to find its way into the mainstream of pop culture. Unfortunately for the bike short, it’s time in the sun was brief, and by the early 1990s, it was relegated to bicycle messengers and fitness fanatics alone.
