1980 outfits for teens and youngsters were all about vivid colors, bold patterns, and cheerful designs that are still making them trend among GenZ and Millenials. The 80s era had some iconic fashion moments, including statement shirts, padded shoulders, and neon pants, inspired by TV shows, music videos, and movies.
Few decades captured that excitement like the 1980s, one of the trendiest and flashiest times in fashion. It was all about big and bright, from high-top sneakers to hot pink shades, striped polo shirts, flipped-up brims, and baggy jean jackets.
It was an era characterized by oversized silhouettes, eye-catching patterns, and attention-grabbing accessories. Shoulder pads, neon hues, and parachute pants were not just trends—they were statements, reflecting the exuberance and optimism of the time.
Bold Colors
No 80s outfit is complete without a bold, daring color. Think about bright hues like neon green, pink, and yellow. Also, the popular color-blocking technique was used heavily in the '80s. You can incorporate this into your look by pairing two bright colors or one bright color with black or white.
The most popular 80s clothes for women were power suits, legwarmers, dresses with padded shoulders, and spandex and Lycra tights. For men, some of the most popular clothes in the 80s were leather jackets, polo shirts, Oxford shirts, and turtlenecks. What did women wear in the 80s?
Oversized clothing was a big part of the 80s look. Look for items like oversized blazers, sweaters, and jackets. You can also look for items with exaggerated details like shoulder pads and big collars. High-waisted pants, skirts, or shorts were a popular choice in the 80s.
Neon Headband & Wristband Set
Off-the-shoulder styles were super popular during the '80s, along with bows, sash-tied waistlines, and floor-length hems.
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.
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 eighties was the decade of MORE: Big hair, loud fashion, neon color, fast cars, mega-hold hair gel, and acid-washed jeans, the more rips, the better. Paradoxically, the eighties beauty rules were still about deprivation. When it came to the female body, LESS was still more.
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.
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.
Women's apparel in the late 1980s included jackets (both cropped and long), coats (both cloth and fake fur), reversible inside-out coats (leather on one side, fake fur on the other), rugby sweatshirts, sweater dresses, taffeta and pouf dresses, baby doll dresses worn with capri leggings or bike shorts, slouch socks, ...
Naturally, styles from the late seventies continued into the start of the 1980s. During the first few years of the decade, footwear for women included knee-high boots with thick kitten heels, trainers (sneakers), mules, round-toed shoes and boots.
Headbands were a favorite among '80s preps, thanks in part to movies like Heathers and Pretty in Pink. Whether they were padded, braided, or covered in satin, headbands added a polished touch to any outfit. These weren't your basic stretchy bands—they were accessories in their own right.
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.
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.