No matter what generation you belong to, certain things are inherently nostalgic; for that reason, you might gravitate toward them again at some point in your life. But what happens when you take nostalgia out of the equation? Here are nine retro things that today’s kids didn’t get to enjoy during their peak popularity, but are now finding completely cool. 

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1. Vinyl Records

Vinyl records were overtaken by cassette tapes in 1985, and the surge of CDs in the ’90s sealed the deal. Except now, the deal is getting, well, unsealed. In 2023, vinyl record sales topped that of CDs for the first time in 30 years. Superior sound quality, unique artwork, and collectability all contribute to the rising popularity of vinyl records among younger generations. 

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2. Shopping Malls

Shopping malls first took the nation by storm in the late 1950s, and for the next several decades, they were seen as epicenters of American social life. Where were you and your friends heading on Friday nights to usher in the weekend after a long week at school? During the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s, one of the main answers to that question was, “The mall, duh.” The rise of online shopping shifted weekend plans for quite some time, but GenZers are starting to flock to them once more — if not for the shopping, then certainly for the social aspects. 

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3. Tamagotchi

Tamagotchis were one of the biggest toy fads of the late ’90s and early 2000s. They were essentially digital pets on a keychain, and kids loved them. For a while, the toys were defunct, until their 2021 resurfacing (and reinvention). The new-and-improved Tamagotchis include full-color screens and a camera to take pictures with your pets, as any kid in the 2020s would want to do.

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4. Polaroids

First introduced in the late ’40s, with color involved from 1963 onwards, polaroids were all the rage during the 1970s and were considered a pop culture phenomenon. Instant and digital photography swept polaroids under the rug for a while, until young hipsters realized what good keepsakes the photos made and clued the rest of the younger generation into all the hype.

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5. Bell Bottoms

Bell bottoms were fashionable for both men and women during the ’60s and ’70s, and the pants are stylish once more, thanks to young girls. Along with bell bottoms, flare-bottom pants are also trendy, and come in a variety of materials and patterns. 

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6. Mullets

Mullets were everywhere during the 1980s, with everyone from Billy Ray Cyrus to Metallica’s James Hetfield sporting the “business in the front, party in the back” hairdo. The hairstyle was almost entirely obsolete until the pandemic hit, when everyone started experimenting with DIY haircuts and pulling out some retro ‘dos for fun. At least, that’s what happened with my little slugger son who still won’t close down the party in the back years later.

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7. Chokers

Chokers were an undeniable part of pop culture during the ’90s and 2000s, but their roots are actually much deeper than that. Even still, the accessories weren’t all that common until teenage girls started rocking them again in recent years. 

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8. Big-Framed Glasses

During the 1970s, big-framed glasses were an elite accessory, but for a while thereafter, they were considered nerdy. It wasn’t until the 2010s that young people started to gravitate toward them once more, especially in funky colors.

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9. Platform Shoes

Platform shoes enjoyed the bulk of their prominence between the 1960s to the 1980s. These days, they’ve made a comeback in everything from sandals to sneakers — especially platform Converse.

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