In the 80s, the baggy, high-waisted jeans we know as
Wide-leg jeans, colloquially called baggy pants, are a style of clothing popular from the early 1980s to the 2000s, and also during a revival in the 2020s.
Baggy jeans emerged in the 1980s. The hip-hop and skateboarding communities first started wearing such loose fitting denim pants. These kinds of jeans first gained popularity in the 1990s. It is especially because skaters need loose clothing for movement.
Fit: Loose, baggy fits were very popular, especially for men. This was a stark contrast to the tight fits of the 80s. Rise: High-waisted "mom jeans" were common early in the decade. Low-rise styles gained popularity later, especially for women.
A History Timeline About Flared Jeans
Although the trend faded in the 1980s, flared jeans made a comeback in the early 2000s and have remained a popular choice for those looking to add a retro touch to their outfit. Today, flared jeans continue to be a versatile and stylish option for both casual and dressy occasions.
The high-rise, high-waist mom jeans are the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to 80s jeans. High-waisted pants were an iconic part of 70s fashion, but the style then was far more restrictive, with super cinched-in waists and tight-fitting to the hips and thighs.
I always associated bell bottoms with the mid-'70s. It's true that this is when they had their big moment—the spotlight was on the likes of Sonny and Cher, Queen, The Jackson 5, Jimi Hendrix, and Bowie—all wearing moderate to ultra-flared “Elephant Bell” bell bottoms in all kinds of cuts and colors.
Velour, velvet, and polyester were popular fabrics used in clothes, especially button-up and v shirts. Looser pants remained popular during this time, being fairly wide but straight, and tighter shirts were especially popular, sometimes in a cropped athletic style.
Popular in the late '80s and early '90s, mom jeans got their name from their association with the typical suburban mom's wardrobe of that era.
JNCO-style jeans. For those unaware, JNCOs are super-shapeless, super-wide-legged jeans favored two decades ago. They were seen on teens in iconic '90s films like Clueless and Can't Hardly Wait.
Origin. The style was popularized by hip-hop musicians in the 1990s. It is often claimed the style originated from the United States prison system where belts are sometimes prohibited due to fear that they could be used as a makeshift weapon, and there can be a lack of appropriately sized clothing.
Harem Pants
The loose, baggy fit and gathers at the waist and ankles are what define these pants. For a loose, flexible fit, drawstrings or elastic waistbands are sometimes used on harem trousers to keep the gathers in place.
Recreating the look of a famous icon is a popular choice for many attending an 80s themed party. Baywatch, Ghostbusters, Madonna, Prince and Pulp Fiction to name but a few.
Jeans/Denims Trends through the years (1980-1990) 1980: Somewhat Baggy Denim That Could Be Cuffed to Show Off Your Swanky Socks 1981: Stiff-Ass Fabric Belted Super Tight at the Waist 1982: Jeans That Could Be Stuffed Into Tall Boots 1983: High-Waisted, Cuffed Boot-Cut Denim 1984: High-Rise Patchwork Denim 1985: Super ...
JEWELRY STYLES
As the decade opened, the focus in jewelry was on gold and diamonds. Thin gold chains were worn in multiples as bracelets and, in various lengths, as necklaces, often with gold charms and small gem-set pendants.
Are mom jeans supposed to be tight on the thighs? Most of the mom jeans styles sit comfortably at your waist and feature a tapered or straight leg for a flattering fit of your choice. The baggy mom jean features a roomy leg and has a longer inseam that stacks at your ankle.
This was a stark contrast to the tight fits of the 80s. Rise: High-waisted "mom jeans" were common early in the decade. Low-rise styles gained popularity later, especially for women. Leg style: Straight leg and boot-cut styles were prevalent.
Bleached and ripped jeans or black leather pants will bring back all those '80s vibes! To complete your outfit, throw on a tight t-shirt with ripped-off sleeves or a spandex tank top - then accessorize with a long-haired wig for that iconic hair metal style.
Far and away the dominant pant style of the '60s and '70s, lasting from hippies to glam rock to disco, flares fell out of style in the 1980s. It wouldn't be until the '90s that they came back into style, this time in the form of “boot-cut” jeans, often with low waists.
Neon colours dominated the 80's in both pop culture and fashion. From this t-shirts got the neon treatment too. If you didn't own a neon colours tee you certainly owned one with neon print. Black t-shirts with neon pink and electric blue were the order of the day, which was inspired from music and culture.
Parachute pants played a pivotal role in 1980s fashion. In 2024, parachute pants and clothing began to fashionably re-emerge, primarily in the celebrity world.