40 Things All Baby Boomers Think Are Cool
Dear Baby Boomers of America, brace yourselves. We're about to serve a piping hot cup of reality. Some things you held dear and thought were the epitome of cool, well, they were never really that cool. It's time to swallow that bitter pill, accept these choices as blunders, and move forward with a renewed sense of decision-making.
We understand this might come as a shock. You may want to clutch your pearls, wave your walking cane at us in disbelief, or even write a strongly worded letter to the editor (yes, we know how much you love those). And that's perfectly fine. Feel free to disagree, even if you are wrong about it!
Today, we're going to sidestep the big, contentious issues (we'll save that for another fun-filled day) and instead shine a spotlight on the more mundane missteps. The kind of everyday errors that have been handed down like a dubious family heirloom to every generation after the baby boomers.
So, buckle up, children of the boom. It's time for a trip down memory lane to scrutinize exactly where your generation zigged when it should've zagged and why those choices don't quite hold up in today's world.
Let's get started!
Diamonds
Did you know...
- Jennifer Aniston's star-defining role on friends started a hair craze in the 90s that even lasted into the early 2000s. Called "The Rachel," Aniston's shoulder-length haircut had grown-out bangs and highlights styled to perfection. A hairdresser in Detroit noted that at the peak of its popularity, 40% of her business was devoted to recreating "The Rachel." Too bad that it was notoriously difficult to maintain on your own at home.
- Björk created a media sensation when she wore her iconic white swan dress to the 2001 Oscars. At the time, many derided it as hideous and a publicity stunt, but it has since gone down as one of the most memorable dresses of all time—even if it isn't exactly beloved. She says David Bowie was the inspiration behind the dress.
- In February 2020, Jeff Bezos bought the most expensive property in California: a $165 million mansion. It was designed for Jack Warner (the former president of Warner Bros. entertainment company). It took a decade to construct (spanning the 1930s and 40s). It comes complete with 9 acres of Beverly Hills land, a main house, a guest house, a tennis court, a golf course, and terraces.
- Jackie Kennedy is famous for redecorating and renovating the interior of the White House. Actually, on just her first day, she ordered $50,000 in changes for new rooms for the children and upgrades to the kitchen. She later hosted a tour of the White House for CBS News which was viewed by 56 million people and won her an Emmy Award.
- When Rihanna debuted her famous red locks in 2010 (around the same time she was featured on Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie"), she started a red-hair trend. Over the next twelve months, she changed her hairstyle 13 times—more than once a month! But that came at a pricey cost. Sources say the annual price tag came out to $1,168,000 on just her hair.