In retrospect

Junior Violet Kopsell explains why thrift stores, vinyl records, classic concerts keep pulling her back to the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s

Anna Chang, Staff Writer

Jan 12, 2026

Anna Chang

Violet Kopsell is a time traveler of sorts, drawn more to the sounds and styles of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s than whatever is trending today. While most Ironmen see ’80s Day as just another spirit day, for Kopsell, almost every day is decades day—powered not by a DeLorean or the TARDIS, but by thrift stores, vintage vinyl and concert venues that carry her back through time.

In this Q&A, Kopsell shares what sparked her love of vintage culture and why she thinks those decades still matter.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: What first sparked your interest in vintage culture—and what made it stick?

Kopsell: My grandparents. I spent a lot of time with my grandpa and grandma. My grandpa would play old music, and my grandma would show me her rings and tell me about her high school life. From then on, I was fascinated.

After watching the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump,” I got really interested in it.

Q: What is it about the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s that’s so interesting to you?

Kopsell: For me, the ’60s were about social change—breaking free from what society used to think, kind of like how in the ’40s and ’50s women were viewed as housewives. But in the ’60s, there started to be a lot of social change. Women were able to gain more rights, especially with the civil rights movement.

And also the British Invasion. I love that.

And the ’70s—the culture and the fashion—people just seemed so free back then. And they had some really cool pants in the ’80s.

I love all the movies that come from the ’80s, like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Back to the Future,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and “Adventures in Babysitting.” Genuinely, the ’80s movies were so fun.

Q: Music, fashion and objects—what’s your favorite part of those eras?

Kopsell: The ’60s—definitely the music.

The music in the ’60s has such a distinct sound. It’s honestly hard to describe—you just have to listen for yourself. But the music feels so freeing, and it sounds so cool. I love it so much.

And fashion. Right now, fashion feels kind of basic. But if you look at some of the dresses and patterns from the ’60s, it had so much more character. It feels like people were able to be themselves and have fun.

That’s how I feel about the ’70s and ’80s too. The ’70s had earthy tones, while the ’80s had bright colors like the ’60s. People were able to express themselves in a way that I don’t see in fashion now.

And it’s the same with objects. Things weren’t boring.

Q: You collect items from those eras. What do you look for?

Kopsell: I have a lot of records, which is my main thing from the ’60s.

I also have a clock from the ’60s, and it’s so beautiful. It has a bunch of little flowers on it and gold trim.

If I see something I think is beautiful, I’ll buy it and put it on my shelf. It makes my room feel so cool.

Q: Do you have a most prized item? What’s the story behind it?

Kopsell: My most prized object is my original pressing of “Rubber Soul,” the Beatles album released in 1965. It’s my favorite Beatles album, and it was actually my birthday when I found it, which made it extra fun. Right now, it’s in a frame on my wall.

Q: If you had to build a playlist of must-listen artists from each decade, who’s on it—and why?

Kopsell: For the ’60s, you have to have the Beatles, because they defined that era. At the beginning, their music was kind of conforming to what was trendy, but at the end they broke off and did their own thing, which I think is amazing.

The Beach Boys too—I love all their harmonies.

You need folk music for the ’60s too. So Peter, Paul and Mary—definitely my favorite folk band. I love Joni Mitchell, but she’d be more for the ’70s.

For the ’70s, you have to have ABBA, the Bee Gees and Joni Mitchell—all the folk and disco music.

Q: What music from those eras have you been able to see live? What was that like for you?

Kopsell: Recently, I was able to see Paul McCartney. He played his own songs and Beatles songs, and it felt so surreal to experience what people were experiencing in the ’60s.

Q: Besides collecting and listening, how else do you show your love for those eras?

Kopsell: I talk about them a lot, especially when I’m listening to music with my grandpa. We talk about what made those eras great, and it’s fun to see him relive his past through the songs.

I also like to dress in vintage clothes. Right now, I’m wearing a sweatshirt from the ’80s. It’s just really fun to show your love for the past.

Q: For many people, the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s can feel like ancient history. Why are they worth appreciating and preserving?

Kopsell: My dad told me that without the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, music now wouldn’t be where it is.

And I feel like now—not just with music—the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s paved the way for what society is like today.

You had all the social movements of the ’60s and ’70s: the civil rights movement, the women’s rights movement, the gay liberation movement. Those eras brought so much social change that the world would not be the same today.

Q: If someone wants to get into vintage culture, where should they start?

Kopsell: The easiest and best way to start is listening to the music from that era. It’s such a good way to immerse yourself and experience what it was like for people back then.

Watching old movies too, because they can really make you feel like you were part of that time.

Q: What stores, shops or websites would you recommend for someone who wants to start collecting?

Kopsell: There’s an amazing store in Springfield called Springfield Vintage, and that’s where I get most of my vintage clothing and items.

I also have a suitcase from an estate sale, and I got my clock from an antique store in Indiana.

If you’re looking to collect, I recommend going to local thrift stores and local antique stores and spending time looking through what they have. I guarantee you’ll find something you love.

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