School Shopping Through The Ages

Properly outfitting the modern kid to attend high school these days is a different experience than it was 30 years ago when it was their parents’ turn to go. And a vastly different experience than it was in Maw-maw and Paw-paw’s day, 30 years before that.
In 2014, a kid won’t be caught dead first day of school without an iPhone 5s 64GB ($849) attached to a pair of EKOCYCLE wireless beats by Dr. Dre headphones ($279) By comparison, a Sony Walkman would set a family back about $100 in 1984.
And a transistor radio would run $50 in 1954, as it was the first year of production and would see major price drops in coming years.
More and more schools are beginning to require laptops. And a HP ENVY 15z-j100 CTO laptop Notebook PC would be close to the top of the line at $480.
A Texas Instruments SR-50 scientific calculator would run $150 in 1984. In 1954, a slide rule’s cost would be on a sliding scale.
Kids can’t go to school with naked feet, so expect to kick about $80 for leather Sperry Top-Sider lanyard boat shoes these days.
In 1984, Air Jordan’s just launched with the “Notorious” model and cost $80. They violated NBA guidelines and Jordan was fined $5,000 a game when he wore them.
In the mid-’50s a decent pair of Kids low-tops would run between $10-$12, and would double as basketball and tennis and dating apparel.
Today’s athlete or faux-jock won’t be able to “protect this house” if he’s not wearing an electric green Under Armour HeatGear® Sonic Compression Long Sleeve shirt ($26).
Heat’s always been hot, as was evident in the mid-‘80s fascination with heat-sensitive Generra Hypercolor T-shirts ($20), whose mood-ring qualities faded when tumbled dry.
A men’s shirt could cost as little as $3.99 in the 1950s, according to one ad from New Jersey.
Unless mom’s on her toes, her daughter could slip out the door wearing a pair of Victoria’s Secret hip- (and other bits)-hugging Most-Loved yoga pant ($34).
In 1984 stores demanded right around $70 for a pair of Z Cavaricci high-waisted, four-buckled pleated jeans. (Chess King!)
In 1954, with a more DIY vibe still in place, poodle skirts were often nearly free, as moms could make them from patterns and spare felt material.
Kids wanting to make it home before curfew today, or check their heartbeat, need only glance at their Timex IRONMAN® Run Trainer ($180, without chest strap).
In 1984, the ultra-cool/nerdy Pulsar calculator watch was only $30 – and it doubled as “chick repellant.” Bonus.
In 1954, they would just shove a stick in the ground, make a de facto sundial, and grunt at suspected communists.
Today, it costs roughly $1,400 to outfit a kid so they’ll be seen in public; $450 in 1984; and in 1954, two chickens or one milking-goat gone dry.
Have fun shopping! And save the receipts! Because your kids will hate whatever you bring home! Even if they helped pick it out!