The image shows two individuals, presumably from the 1980s, captured in a classic portrait style that was popular during that decade. The portrait features a younger girl with curly hair, bearing a wide, toothy smile, and an older girl with similarly voluminous hair. Both subjects have hairstyles that significantly increase their perceived volume, with the older girl's hair being notably teased and permed to achieve a quintessential '80s look.
The caption of the image suggests a humorous observation, saying, "Some of us 80s kids could've passed as a middle age secretary named Debbie." This injects a layer of humor derived from the cultural stereotype that was once associated with a certain professional look for women, particularly secretaries in the 1980s, further implying that the style made younger individuals look much older than their actual age.
Both individuals in the image are dressed in fashion typical of the '80s. The younger girl is wearing a dress with a bold floral pattern and puffed sleeves, while the older one has a dark dress with a pattern that might be considered dated by today's fashion standards. The attire adds to the overall '80s aesthetic, cementing the temporal context of the photo.
A key part of the humor lies in the exaggerated hairstyles which were trendy at the time, but which may seem outlandish by current standards. The high-volume hairdos were a hallmark of the era, and looking back, they can appear comically disproportionate, especially on younger individuals who might nowadays adopt much more subdued hairstyles.
The phrase “middle age secretary named Debbie” harkens back to a stereotype that includes not only the fashion sense but an entire persona that comic media and pop culture might have portrayed during the '80s and '90s. It's this cultural reference that adds a layer of wit to the image, as viewers are prompted to imagine these young individuals inadvertently embodying a stereotype due to the style of the times.
The image, therefore, becomes a playful nod to the past, eliciting laughter perhaps through a mix of nostalgia and the recognition of how drastically fashion and associated stereotypes have evolved. It’s a humorous juxtaposition that comments on the cyclical nature of style and the sometimes humorous consequences of its most extreme trends. Some of us 80s kids could ve passed as a middle age secretary named Debbie totally80sroom