1980s Fashion Trends

1980s fashion trends all had one thing in common: they were wild. Spandex, shoulder pads, neon and animal prints were rampant. The big business attitude of the 1980's was reflected in a very preppy style approach that featured suit coats and pastels, but the counter culture responded to this country club taste with any anything goes attitude, which included mesh shirts and three pairs of different colored socks.

The hairstyles of the 1980's were something special-and not necessarily in a good way. Both men and women had terrible bangs that went straight up, much like a little wall, on top of their head. Hair was ratted and huge. When it wasn't massive, it was usually slicked back into a look that easily strayed into greasy territory. Regardless of the exact style, most 1980's haircuts made you look like you needed a shower.

Women
1980s fashion trends for women meant they were either dressed for success, dressed like a bag lady or dressed in spandex. Power suits were as popular for women as they were for men. Matching accessories were a must and fashion jewelry sales skyrocketed. Women also like to mix it up, using bright colors and clashing patterns. A oversized sweatshirt coupled with a pair of skintight leggings was thought to be very chic.

Jelly shoes were all the rage for women, and particularly for young girls. So were wearing multiple pairs of different colored socks. Legwarmers were everywhere, as were spiked heels-and sometimes these two looks were worn together. Glitter, sequins and rhinestones were a must, whether you were wearing a casual shirt or a business suit.

Men
Men's suits in the 1980's were huge in the shoulders and tiny in the pants. Coats were waist to hip length with massive shoulder pads. Pants were either skinny and slick or pegged at the ankles. Neon, pastel and everything other hue were popular colors for most types of men's attire. 1980's fashion trends provided a rainbow of tones to choose from, and men wore them all. The popularity of the television show Miami Vice carried over into the fashion world, as men began adopted the style seen on the show: blazers in light colors worn with the sleeves rolled up and unbuttoned. T-shirts replaced button down shirts to complete the Miami Vice look.

Men also wore tight spandex pants, loose parachute pants and ripped and bleached pants during the 1980's. Any one of these bottoms could be matched with a suit coat, netted shirt or no shirt at all. Men truly embraced the "anything is possible" fashion attitude of the 1980's.

Fashion Trend Hits
Leggings were one of the great inventions of the 1980's. Now that leggings are no longer made of shiny spandex, they can be seen as an attractive style option. Leggings are great for a quick run to the store and fantastic under workout clothes. The laidback nature of leggings make them useful enough to be worthy of a place in any woman's closet.

Fashion Trend Misses
The massive shoulder pads everyone wore in the 1980's were a huge disaster. Women looked particularly bad with the boxy shape, but men did not look much better.

Both men and women had big hair in the 1980's. It was a very ratted look that was far from flattering on most faces and made it seem like everyone was suffering from a bad case of split ends.