10 Nostalgic Mementos You Have Buried in Your Closet
Top 10 Nostalgic Mementos You Probably Have Buried in Your Closet
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were looking back at childhood pop culture and fashion items you probably forgot you even had.
Tekno the Robotic Puppy
Nowadays, the concept of a robot dog is actually legitimately terrifying. But in the early 2000s, having a robot dog honestly felt like we had reached the peak of civilization. Tekno the Robotic Puppy was voice-activated and moved on its own. Capitalizing on the dot-com boom and the digital age of Y2K, the device was essentially a learning machine in place of a living, breathing pet. It might be time to dig him out and see if you cant stir up some of that childlike wonder. Maybe he remembers a few of his old tricks.
Low-Rise Jeans
Chances are youve got at least one pair of these low-sitting, midriff-exposing somewhere in a box that you just never had the heart to get rid of or donate. With the 20-year nostalgia cycle in full effect, it might be time to dig through your closet and find out which of those fashion fads are making a major comeback. They werent just a hit with celebrities, though. For millennials of a certain age, this garment was all the rage. You may question whether this is necessarily a nostalgic item, but theres something about the bravery and audacity of youth that it took to wear them.
Sony Walkman
Carrying your music around with you in a little machine? The very idea is preposterous. Even before MP3 files and streaming apps, the Sony Walkman was the height of technology when it came to listening to music on the go. Its no wonder it got buried in your closet. The Walkman was a hot ticket item for most of the 1980s and 90s, becoming a sought-after Christmas gift and a serious status marker. At the end of the day, though, it was a portable CD player. Other machines and technologies rendered it obsolete. Eventually, it ended up in a box somewhere in your house. The Walkman brand is still around, but its adapted to the modern streaming market.
Jelly Bracelets & Wristbands
Thick and durable, these silicone wristbands were a multi-purpose fashion statement. They could demonstrate your loyalty to a brand or artist. There were even bracelets crafted to raise awareness of social causes and charities, like some sort of prototypical hashtag. Some of us treated them like Pokémon, with a gotta catch em all attitude that saw us wearing as many as we could at one time. Most of all, though, jelly bracelets were our friendship bracelets. We traded them back and forth and gifted them to each other. If youre lucky enough to find them again, be prepared to remember a lot of friends from days gone by.
Slinkies
Its a classic toy of any era. Whether you bought one at the store or you won one at an arcade at some point, the Slinky is a cool illustration of physics. However, its also a toy with diminishing returns. Still, the Slinky is the emblem of simpler times. Before apps, video games, and endless streaming services, there was a time when watching a spring make its way down your stairs was genuinely cool. If you do find one in the back of your closet, hopefully, its not too squished to make it down the stairs on its own.
Polly Pockets
Although it has since branched out into traditional dolls and even a media franchise, this IP started out in the 1980s. Polly Pockets were exactly as their name described. These were compact dollhouses and doll sets that you could carry anywhere. Small and unobtrusive, if you were a Polly Pocket kid, you might find youre an adult with a treasure trove of these in one of your closets. Its also just a reminder of a simpler time. The toy line was discontinued in the U.S. for a few years, only to be revived a few years later. Its expansion into film and TV is really just another reminder that everything doesnt have to be a franchise.
Digital Cameras
For a brief moment there, we were all amateur photographers. Between the decline of the disposable camera and the advent of the iPhone, there was the HD camera. Digital cameras were a must-have tech item. Youre telling us you could upload and develop your own pictures without having to go talk to someone at the photo counter? Particular models like the Canon PowerShot were genuinely amazing to behold. Unless you were into photography as a hobby, digital cameras soon got buried when cell phones began integrating camera technology. Who knows what embarrassing selfies and school dance pictures these forgotten cameras still hold?
Magic 8 Ball
It doesnt matter when you were born at this point. The Magic 8 Ball is that perennial childhood experience that just keeps coming back with every new generation, and theres a big reason why. Yes, its fundamentally just a plastic ball with liquid and a little blue token inside. But it definitely gave off true oracle vibes. Will my parents find out that I didnt do my math homework? Does my crush like me back? Will I marry my favorite celebrity crush? The Magic 8 Ball has the answers. Frankly, if we dug it out of our closets right now and asked it whether everything was going to be okay, who could blame us?
iPod
Before touchscreens, you had to use the wheel. Ah, remember the wheel? Nestled comfortably between the analog age of CDs and streaming, this handheld music device used to be as essential as a smartphone is now. Whats more, you didnt have to risk being distracted by your phone while you were listening. Its one thing to listen to a playlist full of 2005 songs. But itd be nothing compared to actually listening to the catalog of MP3s you had loaded up on your iPod the last time you used it. That would be a blast from the past that a modern playlist just cant capture.
Video Game Consoles
What exemplifies your carefree childhood days like video games? If you were lucky enough to unwrap a Nintendo 64 or first-generation PlayStation on Christmas morning, youve probably spent the better part of adulthood trying to chase that high. Back when you didnt have to worry about how expensive a hobby gaming was, the Super Nintendo, PlayStation, and Game Boy were everything. Whether you preferred the PS2 or the GameCube, odds are youve still got one of these stashed away somewhere. Yes, you can play some of the games on modern consoles. But until they also invent an accessory that lets you blow into the game cartridge to get it to work, its just not the same.
Which of these made you most nostalgic? Tell us in the comments.