In 1987, Christmas wish lists weren’t typed or texted. We took our time perusing the Sears Christmas Book, Toys R Us catalogs and teen magazines in search of the perfect gifts to ask for. Then we painstakingly wrote them out on notebook paper, making sure to sandwich the items we really wanted in the middle of the list to camouflage how badly we hoped to receive them. At 14, I was officially stuck between childhood and full-blown teenhood—and my wish list showed it.
Here are 25 things that absolutely would’ve been on my Christmas wish list in 1987.
1. A Giant Teddy Bear Not a small one. I wanted the kind that sat on the floor, wore a ribbon, and took up half my bedroom.
2. Designer Jeans Guess, Jordache, or Calvin Klein—anything with the right label stitched on the back pocket. The tighter, the better.
3. Leg Warmers Preferably pastel or neon. Bonus points if they matched my sweatshirt.
4. Coca Cola Sweatshirt Bright colors, oversized fit, and instantly cool.
5. Acid-Wash Denim Jacket The ultimate 80s fashion statement. I imagined wearing it everywhere.
6. Scrunchies (Lots of Them) Velvet, shiny, pastel—one was never enough. I needed one to match every outfit I owned.
7. A New Caboodle Filled with makeup, obviously. Pink or purple preferred. The Caboodle, not the makeup.
8. Bonne Bell Lip Smackers Dr Pepper, Strawberry, Vanilla Frosting—I needed all the flavors.
9. Electric Youth Perfume Because if Debbie Gibson wore it, I needed it on my dresser.
10. Love’s Baby Soft Sweet, powdery, and very “first perfume” energy. I'm not gonna lie, I still want a bottle of this despite being 52 years old!
11. The latest VC Andrews series. We felt so grown up reading about things we had no business reading about at the tender age of 14!
12. A Swatch Watch Clear, neon, or pastel—any Swatch was a status symbol.
13. Slouch Socks Worn scrunched down with sneakers. Required fashion item.
14. A Stuffed Animal from the Hallmark Store Usually pastel, maybe wearing pajamas, and way too cute to admit I still loved them.
15. A Jean Skirt Paired with tights in winter, Reeboks year-round.
16. Eyeshadow in Blue or Purple Because subtle makeup was not a thing in 1987.
17. A Boom Box So I could record songs off the radio and make the perfect mixtape. I was Queen of the Mix Tapes back in the day.
18. Cassette Tapes Madonna, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, or Debbie Gibson—no skipping allowed.
19. Fingerless Gloves Usually lace or knit. Fashion over function, always.
20. A Big, Slouchy Sweater Preferably with a wide neckline that slid off one shoulder.
21. Strawberry Shortcake or Care Bears Plush I was 14… but still not ready to let go. I'm still not ready to let go...
22. Nail Polish in Wet & Wild Colors Hot pink, coral, electric blue—nothing neutral.
23. A Fashion Magazine Subscription Seventeen or Teen magazine for life advice, makeup tips, and cute boys.
24. A New Hairbrush and Accessories Because big hair required serious tools. Like a crimping iron!
25. A Diary with a Lock To write about crushes, friends, and absolutely dramatic problems.
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