If you're putting together a casual look for women, think high-waisted jeans, turtlenecks, velvet blazers, and loose dresses with sneakers, thick heels, or round-toed boots. For men, early '80s casual looks included rolled straight-legged jeans with slouched socks, polo shirts, and polyester button ups.
Relaxed wear was striped polo shirts or baseball style tees with either solid color or striped sleeves. Jordache or Sergio Valente jeans. Short shorts. Adidas or Kangaroos sneakers or Dr Scholl's sandals... Tube socks or the ankle socks with the little puffballs on the back.
Men's casual attire in the 1980s resembled the laid-back fashion showcased in Ferris Bueller's Day Off: rolled jeans or khakis, cozy cardigans, basic tees, denim or bomber jackets, and slip-on loafers.
Ridiculous hair, oversized shirts and jackets, narrow ties and belts, mixed pastels or garish patterns, stark black-and-white patterns, huge shoulder pads, jumpsuits, flowy drapey accessories (scarf, bandanna, sash), black Wayfarers and large-rimmed glasses.
Ridiculous hair, oversized shirts and jackets, narrow ties and belts, mixed pastels or garish patterns, stark black-and-white patterns, huge shoulder pads, jumpsuits, flowy drapey accessories (scarf, bandanna, sash), black Wayfarers and large-rimmed glasses.
Some classic women's 1980's fancy dress costumes include: Let's Get Physical, Madonna, Hi-De-Hi and of course Where's Wally. From New Romantic bands like Adam and the Ants, A Flock of Seagulls and Culture Club to Rock Bands like AC/DC, Metallica and of course Queen, the 80's was a decade that rocked.
The '80s was an explosion of bright popping colours as the fashion scene ventured into new areas of outrageous! For your '80s themed party you can have the dress code as simple as BRIGHT COLOURS! But, more specifically, this was the era of loud legwarmers, vibrant tracksuits and fluorescent headbands!
If you need to dress up for an 80s party, look for baggy, off-the-shoulder tops with leggings, athletic wear, parachute pants, and anything in bold, bright colors.
The 1980s was a decade of excess, and fashion was no exception. Women's 80s fashion was characterized by bold colors, oversized silhouettes, and a fearless attitude towards mixing patterns and textures. It was a time when bigger was better, and subtlety took a back seat to statement-making ensembles.
The decade, characterized by eye-straining fabric colors and patterns, acid wash jeans, shoulder pads, massive, dramatic earrings, pearls, and big hair, had people confidently expressing themselves with their Style. Big, vibrant, and brilliant certainly capture the essence of 1980s fashion.
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.
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.
Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars were a staple of 80's fashion, just as they are today, and this short piece by Roger House provides an interesting retrospective on an iconic shoe that has now been around for over 100 years.
A classic 80s look, the off-shoulder top and dress were must-haves in the decade. Women's tops usually had a one-shoulder cut, while dresses were often designed with two straps that draped off the shoulders. In the '80s, women often wore off-shoulder tops with statement jewelry, making for a glamorous look.
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.
The fashion world of the Eighties is known for its bright colors, big hair and shoulder pads. In the last decade before the Internet and mobile phones, globally successful TV series such as Dynasty and Miami Vice shaped the style of fashion as much as the stars of pop music.
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.
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.
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.
If you've ever wondered, “What was popular in the 80s?” then know that neon colors, big hair, the Brat-Pack, iconic toys and games like Nintendo and Transformers, as well as Madonna, Duran Duran, and MTV videos helped define the decade.