From SJP's to Diana's, These Are the 1980s Outfits Worth Copying (2024)

FAQs

What clothing was popular in the 1980s? ›

General women's street-wear worn in the early 1980s included ripped sweatshirts, tights, sweatpants, and tracksuits (especially ones made in velour). Athletic accessories were a massive trend in the early 1980s, and their popularity was largely boosted by the aerobics craze.

Embrace Bright Colors

The 80s were all about vibrant and bold colors. To capture the essence of this decade in fashion, embrace bright hues such as neon pink, electric blue, and sunny yellow. Incorporate these colors into your outfits through statement pieces like a colorful blazer or a pair of neon sneakers.

Make your own 80s outfit by wearing bright colors, a loose top, and tight-fitting pants. Thrift for 80s fashion staples like acid-washed jeans, jumpsuits, and denim jackets. Channel the spirit of the 80s with a teased hairstyle, sweatband, and heavy, bright makeup.

Neon colors like neon pink, electric blue, and acid yellow made a profound impact on 80s culture and style. People wore bright colored outfits, used neon makeup, added neon decals to vehicles, and decorated photo slides with neon markers.

Huaraches & Sperrys

This casual leather footwear was great for keeping cool in the summertime – and we're not just talking temperature. Sperrys, the infamous boat shoe, was similar in nature in the idea that they were a mix between a shoe, sandal and a sneaker (sole) while also being perfect for those hot days.

Leggings were a huge part of '80s fashion, and can be used to create a wide variety of looks. It was used popularly as a fitness or dance st...

Step into a time machine and embrace the neon colors, shoulder pads, and leg warmers that defined 80s fashion. From Madonna-inspired lace gloves to high-waisted acid wash jeans, this post is your ultimate guide to rocking retro style with a modern twist.

While Y2K and '90s fashion have been big in recent years, '80s looks are also making a comeback — particularly for 2023. This year already feels bolder than in years past with bright geometric patterns, dance-inspired looks, and more of those oversized blazers (with or without shoulder pads).

What did 1980s fashion look like? ›

The 1980s was possibly the boldest decade in modern fashion history, a magical era of over-the-top silhouettes, teased perms and saturated colors. They were the years of puffed shoulders and power suits, flashy skirts and spandex leggings, velour, leg warmers and voluminous parachute pants.

Bright neon pink, yellow, blue, and light green hues are used in this color scheme, reminiscent of the '80s and its "bigger is better" fashion trends.

Outfits back in the 80s were big, bold, and not to forget, covered in sequins. Sparkly sequins and metallic fabrics redefined the era with color, glam, and drama. Using sequins, modestly or dramatically, can bring a distinct personality to outfits.

These 'Casuals' as they became known, prided themselves on dressing in smarter clobber than the average football fan, wearing tracksuits, Lois jeans, cagoules and pristine trainers. The 80s was also the era of the tennis superstar.

Although the '80s were a time full of boldness and color, oversized blazers were one of the more luxe trends. However, one could dress it down with bike shorts or a pair of jeans à la Sarah Jessica Parker. The versatile trend is here to stay, so when sporting one for your ensemble, remember: the bigger, the better.

From the gritty underground punk scene to the colorful leg warmers and neon colors of the aerobics lifestyle to oversized blazers with epic shoulder pads, we're constantly seeing the influence of '80s trends in today's fashion.

'Power dressing' became a new phenomenon as they wore sharp tailored, bold coloured suits with large shoulder pads reflecting their desire to project authority and success. American TV shows such as Dynasty with starts such as Joan Collins championed this look.

The retro 80s aesthetic gave us some really bold fonts, futuristic styles, neon colors, and anything that screamed 'bolder is better'. It's safe to say that the 70s were a direct reaction to the 60s, and 80s design just took it a step further.