Proof Our Parents Were Cooler Than We’ll Ever Be

By Media Feed | Published

We tend to think of our parents and grandparents as washed-up old folks who can’t keep up with current trends, but it turns out that, back in the day, they were a lot cooler than you or me. In fact, our parents and grandparents may actually be the epitome of cool.

Keep reading to see some old photos that have only gained charm and coolness after all these years. We could only hope that our selfies and Tik Toks look this good in 50 years.

Motorcycle For Sale

shirtless man with broken leg standing next to motorcycle for sale
Photo Credit: ventface / Reddit

Well, this photo certainly tells a whole story. It seems like that motorcycle might be the reason why this guy has a broken leg. This photo was taken back in 1976.

Meeting The One And Only B.I.G.

man standing next to notorious BIG
Photo Credit: sloanmar / Reddit

Reddit user sloanmar posted this iconic photo online along with the caption, “My dad and the Notorious B.I.G. circa 1996 when he visited my dad’s clothing store in Detroit, Michigan.”

Just A Group Of Friends Having Fun In The ’80s

group of friends in the '80s
Photo Credit: tomjulio / Reddit

Could this picture be any more ’80s? Reddit user tomjulio posted this photo of his parents and their group of friends online. The short shorts were really, well, short in the ’80s.

She Jumped On Stage

woman with ac/dc
Photo Credit: se7en30 / Reddit

Reddit user se7en30 posted this photo online along with the caption, My aunt with Angus Young in the early ’80s. This was taken after she went out on stage with AC/DC and just kind of jumped around wearing the iconic schoolboy outfit.”

A Wedding To Remember

old wedding photo
Photo Credit: superbusymom / Reddit

This Reddit user spent some time restoring her parents’ wedding photo. Now it looks as good as new. This photo was taken in 1957, which was a heck of a long time ago.

Sneaking A Drink

kid sneaking a drink of wine
Photo Credit: lanko69 / Reddit

This photo was taken in 1987. This kid (who is now a parent himself) was sneaking a drink of wine at a wedding when his mom wasn’t looking. Kudos to the photographer for capturing this shot.

Mom In The Early ’70s

woman with motorbike
Photo Credit: puggernault / Reddit

Reddit user puggernault shared this picture of his mom from the early ’70s. We’re not sure how she managed to ride that motorbike in a long skirt, but hey, she looks great standing next to it.

Just A Couple Of Kids

couple standing by pool
Photo Credit: jensinec / Reddit

Reddit user jensinec posted this photo of her parents online along with the caption, “My parents in the early ’80s during their honeymoon with matching sneakers.” Well, aren’t these two the very definition of “cool.”

The Coolest Man Who Ever Lived

man with blonde streak in hair sitting on the grass
Photo Credit: musland / Reddit

Everything about this photo reeks of coolness. The gray streak in this guy’s hair, the way he’s sitting on the grass, his Johnny Depp swagger. I love this. Apparently, this guy was always self-conscious about his hair because he was teased about it as a kid.

What A Hairdo

Picture of woman in red coat taken in 1966
Photo Credit: Maire13 / Reddit

Reddit user Maire13 posted this photo online. This is a picture of her mom that was taken by her dad in 1966 in Japan. We love the big hair and the winged eyeliner.

Dangerous Curves

woman standing next to dangerous curves sign
Photo Credit: YiddishThunder / Reddit

Well, it looks like somebody’s grandmother had a sense of humor. Reddit user YiddishThunder posted this photo online along with the caption, “My Grandmother Nancy on her honeymoon near Capitan, NM. Taken by my grandfather on a Kodak Kodachrome, 1949.”

Hanging Out In A Van

young couple in the '70s standing in front of van
Photo Credit: kwgnuemu / Reddit

Reddit user kwgnuemu posted this photo online stating that this picture of his parents was taken in 1974. They’re standing in front of the van that was most likely the site of his conception.

At The Helm Of The Ship

man driving boat
Photo Credit: jeffpeepgrass / Reddit

Reddit user jeffpeepgrass posted this photo online along with the caption, “My Uncle Billy just turned 90, so here’s him on his boat during the early ’80s.” He’s the captain now.

On The Set Of A Movie

man working on special effects
Photo Credit: GoodSquirrelGoneBad / Reddit

Reddit user GoodSquirrelGoneBad shared this photo of his dad working on the set of the movie Critters in the 1980s. It looks like some of the critters in that film were rather terrifying.

Mom And Dad

woman with pink hair next to blonde kid wearing batman t-shirt
Photo Credit: hlg97 / Reddit

This photo was taken in 1987 when Reddit user hlg97’s parents were 16 and 17 years old. These two are still together to this day. They look so punk rock in this photo.

His Mom Dated Jason Bateman

woman skiing with jason bateman
Photo Credit: bhuge33 / Reddit

Reddit user bhuge33 posted this photo online along with the caption, “Talking with my mom about Ozark and she told me she went skiing with Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) back on New Year’s Day 1987.”

Hitting The Pavement

man riding skateboard
Photo Credit: fulltimeanalyst / Reddit

Reddit user fulltimeanalyst posted this photo online. It features his father carving up some pavement on his skateboard back in the 1980s. He looks like a pretty cool dude to me.

An Old-School Selfie

man using stick to take a selfie
Photo Credit: RAZORBACK / Reddit

This is a photo of Reddit user RAZORBACK’s grandfather taking a selfie by pressing the camera shutter with a long stick. This is how people used to take selfies back in the day.

Meeting For Lunch

old photo of couple
Photo Credit: FabBee123 / Reddit

Reddit user FabBee123 posted this photo of her parents online. This seriously looks like a still from a movie. I can’t believe that people used to casually go out for lunch looking this fabulous.

All Dressed Up

man with afro in pink suit
Photo Credit: 19266042 / Reddit

Reddit user 19266042 posted this photo online along with the caption, “It was a very good year for a pink polyester tuxedo with my larger than life Afro.” He looks fantastic!

Gas Station Chic

man sitting at gas station
Photo Credit: dangerbhapa / Reddit

Reddit user dangerbhapa posted this photo online along with the caption, “I was told this might be appreciated here: My dad and those amazing pants posing in his first gas station… Early 90s.”

When Your Grandmother Was A Spy

portrait of woman
Photo Credit: Aek2332 / Reddit

Reddit user Aek2332 shared this photo and wrote, “My grandmother was a code girl during WWII. It was her best-kept secret until 2017.” She certainly looks like she has a lot of secrets.

On Their Honeymoon

couple leaning on car
Photo Credit: 0eckleberg0 / Reddit

These two cool cats are on their honeymoon in Scotland. We can’t get enough of this dude’s monochromatic outfit and his wife’s very white boots. They look like they belong on a movie poster.