The fitness craze of the 1970s continued into the early 1980s. General women's street-wear worn in the early 1980s included ripped sweatshirts, tights, sweatpants, and tracksuits (especially ones made in velour).
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.
There isn't a single style that represents the entire decade. Rather, style trends included punk, preppy, new wave, athletic, skater and hip-hop styles.
1982 was a year filled with dramatic and bold fashions. The biggest trends of the year were statement patterns, exaggerated sleeves, broad power shoulders, vibrant colors, and oversized costume jewelry.
Spring/Summer 1983: The early '80s were all about bold colors, oversized silhouettes, and statement-making styles. Some standout trends included power suits with shoulder pads, high-waisted jeans, crop tops, and mini-skirts. The athleisure trend also took off, with tracksuits and leg warmers becoming wardrobe staples.
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.
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.
These 'Casuals' as they became known, prided themselves on dressing in smarter clobber than the average football fan, wearing tracksuits, Lois jeans, cagoules and pristine trainers. The 80s was also the era of the tennis superstar.
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.
Fashions included leggings, jean jackets, parachute pants, giant shoulder pads, short skirts and fluffy hair, and Madonna's head-to-toe lace look. The “Where's the Beef?” catchphrase was introduced in a Wendy's commercial by a character played by character actress Clara Peller who was 81 at the time.
The 1980s have been called “the decade of decadence,” and one of the era's most notable movie characters, Wall Street's Gordon Gekko, famously declared that “greed is… good.” But the decade was about more than just excess. It was a period marked by defining events that continue to resonate.
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, ...
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.
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.
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.
In 80-degree weather, removable layers are your friend! A lightweight jacket or sweater is ideal for warm weather activities like cycling, rock climbing , or hiking. Make sure your base layer is made from a breathable, moisture-wicking fabric like Tencel or a polyblend.
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.
The 1980's were filled with fun candy introductions like Nerds, Cow Tales, Big League Chew and many more iconic confections. Break out the Rubik's Cube and cassette tapes and relive this awesome era! BarNone Chocolate Bar 1.48 oz.
'80s Slang Words and Phrases. Rad/Radical: Used to describe something cool or awesome. Tubular: Another term for cool or excellent.
May 21, 1980: Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back, the second movie in the Star Wars franchise, is released. May 22, 1980: Pac Man, one of the most popular arcade video games of all time, is released, originally in Japan, but soon in the United States where Pac Man becomes a pop culture sensation.