15 Iconic 1980s Fashion Trends
They say that everything old is new again, and never is that more true than when it comes to fashion! Most fashion gets recycled from decade to decade, and what you wore a decade (or two!) ago may come back in the current decade. So, if you’ve shoved your favorite 80s clothing to the back of your closet, you may be in luck as some 1980s fashion trends are still wearable today. Other styles are—with a nod to 80s slang—enough to gag you with a spoon!
When it comes to big, bold, and over-the-top, 80s trends were all about a decade of “look at me!” with power suits and big hair. Whether you embraced your inner Material Girl or just wanted to have fun, 80s fashion was the best! From neon-colored everything to layers and layers of lace and tulle, most 1980s fashion trends didn’t take life too seriously.
Many fashions in the 80s reflected the iconic sounds of the decade. Whether you layered on accessories like Cyndi Lauper, doubled up on tulle tutus like Madonna, or wore one glove like Michael Jackson, you were totally rad!
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, 1980s fashion trends are fun to remember. And if you’re feeling especially bold (or you need an easy Halloween costume!), we’ve got you covered with the looks that are too good to forget.
Big Hair
The bigger, the better! The 1980s was a time of hair and more hair, with a highly-teased look and lots of volume (made possible with tons of hair spray!). If you weren't blessed with natural curls, you just got a perm every few months. This is one trend that, thankfully, stayed in the 80s.
Neon Everything
Neon colors like hot pink, electric blue, and bright yellow were super popular in the 80s. And the more you wore at the same time, the better it looked (or so we thought). Nowadays, one small pop of vibrant neon color —whether it's on your nails or an accent piece-- is a more subtle way to do neon if you love it.
Over-the-top Makeup
The more makeup you wore, the more 80s cool you were! From bold eyeshadows, contoured blush, and frosty-pink lips, we wore it all at the same time in the 80s. This is another trend that thankfully hasn't followed us into this decade.
Headbands
The popularity of athletic wear (long before "athleisure") was big due to the growing interest in aerobics. It didn't matter if you weren't actually working out or sweating, headbands made any outfit look awesome.
Track Suits
Along with your headband, add a tracksuit, preferably in some silky nylon fabric with matching pants. Bonus points if your tracksuit was neon. This fad has morphed so that this type of athletic attire isn't quite as colorful as it used to be.
Leg Warmers
Leg warmers graduated from dance to aerobics to streetwear in the 80s. Leg warmers with everything? No, duh! You do need leg warmers over your jeans! Or when you're wearing a tutu-style skirt! Or over your capri leggings! Or anytime! Leg warmers are back, paired with everything from skirts to heels.
Oversized Blazers
Big, slouchy blazers were a thing, especially when paired with jeans, sneakers, and chunky, slouched-down socks. But they were equally popular with neon pieces like these. Interestingly, relaxed-fit blazers are still in style.
Power Suits
As more women entered once male-dominated fields of business and politics, business attire took on a certain look known as "power dressing." This often meant a business suit with a coordinating skirt. The look was done especially well by Joan Collins and Linda Evans on the nighttime soap, Dynasty. Suits are still popular, although often paired with pants instead.
Shoulder Pads
First worn in the 1930s, shoulder pads disappeared for a few decades before making a comeback in the 80s. They were often used in power suits, but they were also added to jumpsuits, slouchy jackets, and blouses.
Bow Tie Blouses
The bow tie blouse was another way 80s fashion interpreted female power in the workforce: It was the equivalent of the male tie. It's a feature that's back in style in force.
Fingerless Gloves
If you were really rad, you wore fingerless lace or fishnet gloves. If you were even more bodacious, you wore one fingerless glove. Like, totally.
Matchy-matchy Outfits
Polka dots were huge! And you really had it together if you could assemble an outfit that matched from head to toe, including your earrings, dress, and pumps. Bonus points for wearing black hosiery. Fortunately, this look isn't embraced today.
Scrunchies
Ahh, scrunchies! What did we ever do without you? This accessory took off in the 80s with everyone from Madonna to Sarah Jessica Parker. And it's been going strong ever since!
Layered Accessories
Borrowing from punk rock fashion overseas and popularized by the eclectic looks of Cyndi Lauper and Boy George, layering on accessories was huge. Pile on the pearls, the chunky chains, the bracelets, and huge earrings (often only one). Layering is still in style, albeit with a more scaled-down delicate approach.
Hightop Sneakers
Like other athletic wear, high-top sneakers were popularized by the booming interest in aerobics in the 80s. They were often all-white and worn with everything from skirts to stirrup pants, but colorful options also existed if you opted for the low-top Chuck Taylor.
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