Mix, Match, and Imagine

If you grew up in the '70s and '80s, like me, you know the joy of toys that didn’t need Wi-Fi or a touchscreen to be fun. The ones that kept us entertained for hours, sparked our creativity and inspired childhood adventures - even if they were only in our mind. 

One of my favorite toys growing up were my Fashion Plates.  They were the ultimate creative outlet for budding designers and fashionistas in the late '70s and '80s. With a set of interchangeable plastic plates featuring tops, bottoms, and accessories, kids could mix and match to create endless outfit combinations. Once the plates were arranged in the frame, a sheet of paper was placed over them, and rubbing a crayon or colored pencil across the paper revealed the design like magic. It was part fashion designing, part puzzle, and completely satisfying. 

I would spend hours (no exaggeration) designing outfit after outfit, carefully coloring each one with as much detail as I could. As I created, I imagined elaborate stories about the girl wearing them: where she was going, what she was doing, and how each outfit fit perfectly into her day. For me, Fashion Plates weren't just fashion - they were the catalyst for entire stories.

Looking back, it’s amazing how something as simple as a set of plastic plates and a few crayons could spark so much creativity and joy. Fashion Plates weren’t just my toy—they were a doorway into imagination, storytelling, and self-expression.

What was your favorite childhood toy?