1980s Fashion
So much can be said about the 80’s and 1980s fashions, two words that could describe it is BIG and COLORFUL!
MTV hit the scene and the rest was history. It actually revolutionized fashion. The clothes worn in the 80’s mirrored individuality and people expressing their personalities and styles in big ways. It was a time of the glam look for men, modeled after the rocker bands that wore teased big hair and makeup, as well as lots of long hair and spandex. Short hair was in for women and lots of layered clothes. Leggings, leg warmers and lots of color were the main trends.
The 80’s silhouette was a very distinctive one. Hair was big, and either spiky or curly. Shoulders were also very big, and sweaters were styled to be big and baggy along with bat wings. The leg clothes were the only thing about the 1980s fashions that was not big, as in general, legs were wrapped in leggings, and really tight pants, especially for men, since 1980s fashion saw a huge popularity for spandex.
Hair was also big, spiky, bouffant, teased hair do’s, which were equally big for men as they were for women. And while women’s haircuts were primarily short, they were still “big” and the bigger the better.
The Basic 1980s fashion ensemble consisted of Bat wing sweaters, leggings, leg warmers, pointy-toed stiletto court shoes and lots and lots of color for everything. Neon, socks, laces, jackets and hair accessories included.
Acid washed jeans, and pretty much jeans in any style, color and design were big in the 1980s. Since nothing came between Brooke Shields and her Calvins, made Calvin Klein a household name and Sassoon Jeans were big as well. High top sneakers, with Reeboks and Vans were the 80s trends for shoes and if you didn’t have any, then you were not hip at school.
Jewelry played a role for women in this fashion era, it was usually costume, big and flashy. Broaches were popular that had big pearls and and lots of metal and were worn on everything especially long coats that were fancied by the ladies.
The 1980s fashions keep coming back to the modern times. These days you can visit a Target and find leg warmers on the shelves, and of course leggings are always around. And of course, jeans, sans the acid washed variety keep reappering in the fashion pages of top magazines.
photo credit: Flair Candy
Key 1980s Fashion Styles and Trends
New Wave and New Romantic
New Romantic was a New Wave and fashion movement that began initially primarily in British nightclubs but quickly spread like wild fire. Most of these styles stemmed from the music of the day and was heavily influenced by punk fashion. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, by WHAM, was not just a song, the video clearly depicts the styles, trends, colors and fashions of the 1980s.
Oh Myyyy Gaaawd – The Valley Girl
You cannot mention the 1980s without referring to and reflecting on The Valley Girl. With her headbands, that trend began in California and spread across the nation. Other associated trends with the Valley Girl look were, leg warmers and miniskirts, such as those that were adorned by cheerleaders.
Miami Vice
The 1980s fashion scene brought an explosion of colorful styles in men’s clothing modeled after the popular Miami Vice tv show. made popular by it star, Don Johnson, playing Sonny Crocket, flossing his colorful pastel suits. And, of course the requisite colorful t-shirts worn under the suit, instead of dress shirts, which became a popular trend in 1980s fashion, and especially for the older gents. .
Stirrup Pants
The 80′s saw a popularity of the stirrup pants, which, reached a clothing zenith within the middle 1980′s, about 1985-1986. They are made up of a knit fabric pant which tapered gradually in in the direction of the ankle, in which they’ve got a stirrup. The stirrup is an elastic strap which fits beneath the heel. Unfortunately for the stirrup, they were not very flattering on anyone’s figure, and often made the top of the leg and hip area appear wider and had a ballon affect.
photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography
Hairstyle Trends of the 80s
Women’s Hair Trends in the 1980s were usually comprised of anything big and puffy and razor edges.
- Feathered Hair
- Rave, tons of it
- Spikes
- Various colors, including pink
- Crimping
- Ponytails worn on the side
- Tons of Teasing
- Glitter
Men’s Hair Trends – For the men hair was everything, it was spiked, long, layered, tinted and frosted and it was all about the hair
- Lots of Length and Layers
- Bushy Length
- Rainbow
- Mohawks
1980s Styles for the Legs
Ladies
- Tight Stonewashed and Acid Washed Jeans
- Leggings
- Zippered Legs
- 3/4 Length Legging
- Stirrup pants
- Corduroy Pants
- Super Tight Miniskirts
- Colored Hose w/Rips
- Spandex
- Legwarmers
- Scrunch Socks
- Exercise Gear in all colors
Men
For men’s pants fashions, “tight anything”, could generally describe the pants that were in style in the 1980s.
- Tight Leather Pants
- Spandex
- Tight Stonewashed Jeans
- Jammers
- Parachute Pants
- Bright Colors
- Corduroy Pants
Popular Fashion Brands of the 1980s
Brand name popularity saw a big spike in the 80s, and became a staple of the complete fashion statement, and made Ralph Lauren, Sassoon and Kalvin Klein household names.
- Ocean Pacific
- Calvin Klein
- Jordache
- Banana Republic
- Reebok
- Ralph Lauren
- LA Gear
- Liz Claiborn
- Keds
- Vans
- Esprit
- Vidal Sassoon
Fashion and Purse Related Posts:
- Baggy Jeans – A Timeless Fashion Style
- 1960s Clothing Fashions
- 1800s Fashion
- 2010 Summer And Spring Fashion – 3 Essentials
- 1930s Fashion
- 1900 Fashion
The 1980′s is often defined as “the decade that taste forgot” although it was not all bad, though spandex and stonewashed jeans should be dispatched for good:)
[Reply]
Ann Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
@ Dave
I definitely agree with you on that!
[Reply]