Ready to dive into 80s fashion?
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Fashion in the eighties can be summed up in one word: sensational. Just picture yourself in neon colors, with gigantic shoulder pads and styles that proclaim nonconformity. Many years ago, boys and girls wore clothes to exhibit their personalities, in line with music, movies, and pop stars such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Princess Diana. These stars were the ones who laid down the standards that people wanted to emulate. Thus, even though the 80s are now referred to as the ‘retro’ period, their style is still considered modern and new.
The fashion in that decade was daring and colorful, thus playing a significant role in defining today’s fashion. This season will be characterized by high-waist trousers, oversized blazers, and neon colors in the fashion shows and fashion-conscious individuals. Designers incorporate 80s materials and trends into modern-day clothing, making them look fresh and artistic.
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High-Waist Trousers
A button-up hunter green jacket paired with high-waisted trousers, featured in the Oscar de la Renta Fall/Winter 1984 show in New York.
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Oversized Blazers
An oversized pale pink blazer paired with black gloves, seen at the Oscar de la Renta Spring/Summer 1985 show in New York.
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Neon Colors
A model strutting down the catwalk in a pink suit during the Stagegear fashion show at the Mudd Club in New York.
Let’s talk about Embracing Boldness and Authority with power dressing
Power dressing was popular in the 1980s and was a symbol of dressing to gain more power, especially among women. This style was not just about appearance but about the appearance of power and being in charge. Women incorporated power dressing to attract the attention of their bosses and other colleagues at the workplace. It was more than a fashion trend; it was how women could assert that they were serious business.
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The must-haves for power dressing
Blazers and shoulder pads were the main components of the power dressing in the 1980s. They provided clothes with a stiff cut, with shoulders looking wider, and the overall figure of an individual was much defined. Women especially liked attaching pads to their blouses, dresses, and blazers. Blazers were a key part of the power dressing look and could be worn over shirts or dresses for a polished business look. Another component of this look was power suits. These suits, which involved blazers worn with skirts or trousers in the same material, gave women stature. Many were brightly colored or had some paintwork to make them easily noticeable. Power dressing was about looking and feeling good and the impact one wanted to make.
Let’s dive into the Athletic vibes of the 80s
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sporty chic by Princess Diana
The 80s were when companies such as Adidas and Nike became more popular. The populace appreciated their apparel for not only fitness but also for casual wear. These brands also provide nice-looking and comfortable athletic wear that can be worn while exercising and outside the gym. Adidas became popular with tracksuits and shoes with the three-stripe logo on them. Adidas was used to signify that a person was fashionable and, at the same time, interested in sports. At the same time, Nike burst into the global market with its ‘Do It’s catchphrase and the Air Jordan range. These shoes were especially preferred by youthful people who wished to have something trendy to wear during sporting activities.
You’ll need some Sporty Staples: think tights, leotards, and those iconic headscarves
In the 80s, leotards and leggings were very popular as far as the sporty look was concerned. They were extremely comfortable and stretchy, excellent for exercising and walking around the house. Most of the time, leggings used to be in vibrant colors of the then-famous neon shades.
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Aerobic wear by Jane Fonda
An exercise craze popular in the 80s was aerobics, especially by Jane Fonda, and people were not shy about dressing for the energetic sessions. As usual, aerobic wear comprised leotards, leggings, and leg warmers, and the clothes were as cheerful as the exercises to perform.
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Princess Diana Braided Headband
Headbands were also a prominent part of sporty looks. They helped keep hair off the face during exercise and gave a fashionable appeal to the exercise wear. Most of the headbands were made of terrycloth and were in bright colors, which also enhanced the general outlook of the team.
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Alex from Flashdance
One of the biggest inspirations for such a sporty fashion style was the movie ‘Flashdance’ released in 1983. Alex wore off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, leggings, and leg warmers, a dance look everyone wanted to emulate. The film depicted that one could wear a sweatsuit on any occasion due to the sporty look, which became a trend.
Ready to let your Rebellious Side Shine
The punk and New Wave fashions appeared at the close of the 1970s and went on to the 1980s. These fashion trends were highly inspired by the music scenes of the time: punk rock and New Wave bands. Punk fashion was pioneered in London and New York nightclubs, where youths involved in punk activities and music wished to be different. This style was also influenced by social and political factors such as unemployment and economic difficulties.
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Punk Fashion
Punk Fashion was aggressive, raw, and rough. It was called punk fashion because it preserved the freedom-loving punk attitude despite establishing a new trend.
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New Wave Fashion
New Wave fashion originated from punk fashion but was usually more diverse. It incorporated pop electronic dance music with a futuristic feel. The New Wave was characterized by bright colors and even more distinctive designs.
Get into the Punk Groove
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Leather Jackets
Punk fashion included leather jackets. These jackets were decorated with studs, patches, and pins, the only way to show their personality. Smooth and rough was a sign of rebellion and non-conformity in mainstream culture, represented by leather.
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Ripped Jeans
The other significant aspect of punk fashion was torn trousers, specifically ripped jeans. These jeans were tight-fitting and faded; they ripped or patched with safety pins. This do-it-yourself approach to clothing was a rebellion from conventional fashion and was an indication of the punk movement’s rebellious nature.
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Punk Pins
It was helpful for fastening clothes and gaining the status of a punk pin. They were worn in seams, as trinkets, and also in the form of jewellery such as earrings and brooches. This idea made safety pins one of the symbols of punk clothing and fashion because they were both creative and practical.
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Punk Rock Group The Clash
Punk fashion was mainly popularized by the British punk rock band Clash. Their music is complex, and they dress it, wearing leather jackets and ripped jeans and looking like rebels; this made many fans emulate their style. These elements were also popularized as punk fashion by the bands’ influence.
Fashion Trends that made The 80s Unforgettable
The 1980s are considered when people wore much brighter and flashier clothes. This trend was all about being colorful and attention-drawing, so people wore hot pink, electric blue, and bright green. From their clothes to belts, shoes, handbags, lip balms, and all accessories, they all had to be trendy. Neon colours were in all types of wear, whether for a wedding or a party or just for strolling around or exercising. This trend introduced an element of fun into mundane dressing; even formal dressing was not exempted from the fun. Neon also crept into the clothing worn when going out and to clubs, a perfect reflection of the 80s.
The second popular trend in the 80s was the preppy style, referring to the Ivy League students’ outfits. This style was all about neat and classy dressing, and some items that were in vogue then included polo shirts, blazers, khaki trousers, and plaid skirts. The preppy fashion was clean and sophisticated in design, but it also came with a social class representation mainly depicted through white privileged characters in television shows and movies.
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The 80s was also characterized by splendid and opulent fashion. This style was more glamorous, with glitter, metallic clothing, and anything else that could be considered flashy. It was a favorite choice for nightclubs, parties, and celebrity events, capturing the essence of 80s fashion. This is well explained by features such as boldness and opulence. These trends allowed people to be individualists, rebels in punk and New Wave clothes, sporty looks, and glamorous outfits. 80s fashion is diverse, which means there is something for everyone. It is still possible to observe the echoes of the 80s in contemporary fashion, proving that the trends of that decade are still relevant.
Curious about Everyday 80s Fashion for Women? Let's Dive in!
Crop tops were very popular for women. They were worn with high-waisted jeans or oversized sweaters, giving them a fashionable feel. Another item of clothing in vogue was leggings and stirrup pants, which were teamed with tunics, oversized blouses, and shirts. Neon colors and bold patterns were characteristic of casual wear and gave an energetic and bright note to casual clothes. At the workplace, women adopted what was referred to as power dressing. This style consisted of fitted suits with shoulder pads, blazers, slimline skirts, and silk shirts. Pieces such as statement earrings and belts were important in finishing these looks, embodying the corporate workplace and females’ confidence.
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Crop Tops
A model wearing a crop top from the Michael Kors Summer 1987 Ready-to-Wear collection on January 19, 1987, in New York.
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Oversized Sweaters
Marc Jacobs’ Fall/Winter 1985 collection featured oversized sweaters.
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Tunics
The transgender model Teri Toye looks stunning in a white jacket, which she paired with a tunic dress and printed leggings designed by Stephen Sprouse for the Summer 1984 Ready-to-Wear collection.
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Leggings and Stirrup Pants
Carol Decker, the English rock band T’Pau singer, was on a live stage in 1988 in leggings and stirrup pants.
Here's What Men Wore in the 80s, from Casual to Corporate
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Denim Jackets
The American actor Peter DeLuise, wearing a denim jacket, jeans, and a white T-shirt, sits on a grand piano during a press conference in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 1987.
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Printed T-shirts
Arizona freestyle practitioner Victor Starr is clad in an Ocean Pacific screen-printed cotton T-shirt.
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Polo T-shirts
American actor Peter Barton wearing a blue polo shirt with a white collar, blue shorts, and blue Nike trainers, circa 1980.
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Rugby T-shirts
Shaun Edwards was seen in a rugby shirt during a match for Wigan Rugby League, circa 1988.
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Denim Jeans
Brad Pitt was seen in a pair of denim jeans at the Sex, Lies, and Videotape Los Angeles premiere.
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Khaki Pants or Chinos
David Letterman was captured wearing sand-colored trousers know as khaki pants while he strolled in Shubert Alley during the first season of The David Letterman Show.
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Pinstripe Suits
In 1988, actor Johnny Depp was spotted in a pinstripe suit in Beverly Hills, California, at the 18th Annual Nosotros Golden Eagle Awards.
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Men Power Dressing
Men’s power dressing was showcased at the Dior Homme Spring 1982 Menswear Collection fashion show.
Discover Distinctive 80s Attire for Every Occasion
Looking back at the 80s, one could easily distinguish between formal and casual clothing. Business casual dress was more refined and less flashy; it was also an extension of one’s personality but with a business-like appearance. On the other hand, work clothes were somewhat more formal, intended to communicate business and bureaucracy.
Casual clothing is comfortable and generally an extension of the wearer’s personality. They were bright in colour, with stripes, a combination of fabrics, and fashionable elements. Some wore jeans, leggings, T-shirts, and sneakers for casual activities. This was a good thing because this casual wear gave much room for fashion creativity.
Meanwhile, work wear was more orientated toward a clean and muscular look. This frequently meant wearing suits of material of the finest weave in such practical hues of blue, black, and grey. Small accessories such as ties, belts, and simple jewellery pieces complement the formal aspect of the business attire, thus creating a neat and bright appearance.
Meet the 80s Fashion Icons who shaped the decade
People's Princess and her timeless style
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Picking up from the previous decade, Princess Diana was among the most popular fashion-savvy personalities of the 1980s. Her style shifted from fairy-tale gowns to elegant and trendy outfits, which influenced fashion all over the globe. Everyone watched what outfits Diana preferred and copied her, which is why she can be considered a real fashion icon. In the early 80s, people remembered Diana for her glamorous fairy-tale wedding gown created by British designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel. She accessorized herself with frills, bows, and pastel shades, which were her favorite. Thus, Diana’s style became more sophisticated as she gained confidence. He also endorsed well-fitted suits, elegant dinner dresses, and provocative jewelry. Her informal outfits, such as jeans with blazers, also became a trend.
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well-fitted suits
Princess Diana wore a well-fitted suit at the memorial service for the Marchioness disaster victims.
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dinner dresses
Princess Diana wearing a dinner dress designed by Jacques Azagury and Jimmy Choo shoes while attending the English National Ballet’s Royal Gala performance in London, United Kingdom. Garrard, the Jeweller, loaned her necklace.
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pastel shades dresses
Princess Diana wore a pastel shade of pale blue chiffon evening dress created by Bellville Sassoon at the Victoria and Albert Museum for the Splendours of Gonzaga’s exhibition gala.
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frilly collar
Lady Diana Spencer wore a frilly collar, which was a reminder of the pie frill shape, during a walkabout at Broadlands. This style was a favorite at the time.
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bows
Princess Diana was dressed in a peach dress named after a beautiful part of the feline anatomy’s body and a pleated skirt created by Jan Van Velden. She also wore a hat by Frederick Fox while watching a polo match at Guards Polo Club in Windsor, United Kingdom, on June 20, 1985.
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Jeans with blazer
Princess Diana was photographed wearing a British Lung Foundation sweatshirt, a baseball cap, boots, jeans, and a blazer at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor, United Kingdom.
Queen of Pop who always wowed us with her daring fashion
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Madonna’s musical personality was also growing and changing, so her fashion was unique and constantly evolving. She was always a trendsetter in those days, wearing daring and provocative clothes. It is essential to note that Madonna’s early style was majorly defined by punk and the new wave genres. She had lace tops, fingerless gloves, fishnet stockings, and layered necklaces. Madonna’s next growth phase was characterized by her exhibitionist and theatrical appearance. She made fashionable corsets, cone bras, and accessories with symbols of religion. Her music videos and concerts were sometimes fashion shows on their own.
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lace tops
Madonna, a pop singer, is seen wearing a lace top while on stage in New York City in 1984.
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corsets
Madonna wearing a corset while performing onstage at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
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cone braS
Madonna, who rocked the stage of the Sunflower concert hall in Tokyo, Japan, defying gravity in her Jean-Paul Gaultier cone bra outfit, reminds the spectators about the numerous changes the pop diva underwent.
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fingerless gloves
Madonna, an American singer and actress, was dressed in fingerless gloves while shooting Slammer, later renamed ‘Who’s That Girl?’
Michael Jackson: Remembering the King of Pop and his iconic fashion moments
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It can be easily said that Michael Jackson was as influential in fashion as he was in music. A true artist who is hard to copy, Jackson was famous for his rather distinctive and eccentric clothing style. Michael Jackson was well known for wearing military-style jackets, sequined gloves, fedoras, and high-water pants with white socks. Thus, the red leather jacket from the “Thriller” video became one of the most recognizable symbols of the 80s clothing. Jackson’s stage clothes were quite flashy and most of them had sequences, metallic and bright colors. He paid much attention to details and was ready to take risks to revolutionize performance fashion.
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High-water pants with white socks
Musician Michael Jackson wearing high-water pants with white socks during Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, which aired on May 16, 1983.
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Military Jackets
American singer Michael Jackson wearing a military jacket at a press conference in New York to promote a tour by the Jackson 5 in 1983.
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Fedoras
Michael Jackson wore a fedora while performing at a concert in Bremen during the History World Tour.
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Squined gloves
On the 15th of July 1988, at Wembley Arena, audience members had already been gathering, some of them wearing gloves of the sequin, a showing of a tribute to the singer’s iconic style.
Meet the other fashion trailblazers who defined the 80s
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Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker This actress gained fame for her versatile and stylish choice of clothes. Carrie Bradshaw portrayed by Parker in “Sex and the City” was a fashion queen and even in the 80s Parker was a fashion queen.
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Brooke Shields
Teen idols and models such as Brooke Shields’s dressing style was followed keenly by many people. She made the American fashion with her Calvin Klein jeans and fresh and young style.
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Grace Jones
Grace Jones is a Jamaican singer, model and actress, who shocked the world with her style that can be described as androgynous and avant-garde. She went against the norm and even had fun with it with her dramatic and futuristic looks.
major fashion shows and designers of the 80s: Versace, Gianni Versace, and Jean Paul Gaultier
Fashion of the 80s was an exaggeration of everything, including high fashion, and rightly so it was a time of innovations. There were real legends in the sphere of the fashion at that time and Gianni Versace and Jean-Paul Gaultier were among those designers.
Versace, particularly Gianni Versace, was famous for the use of prints and bright contrasts of colors. His designs were mostly geometrical and stood for richness and minute work. His fashion shows were as theatrical as he was, and he had a certain style and panache about him.
On the other hand, Jean-Paul Gaultier was well-known for his provocations and going against all the norms that were set by the fashion industry. He designed the cone bra for Madonna and liked to incorporate the features of various cultures into his works. Gaultier’s approach was very creative and daring and that is why he was truly the icon of the 80s fashion.
New Wave fashion originated from punk fashion but was usually more diverse. It incorporated pop electronic dance music with a futuristic feel. The New Wave was characterized by bright colors and even more distinctive designs.