Reviving the 80’s Style: Iconic Fashion Trends That Define the Decade

The ‘80s were more than just a period, it was the decade of boldness, beauty, confidence, and power attitude toward everything, especially fashion. The 80’s style  was both ambitious and rebellious, from the corporate high places to the underground punks. 80’s style clothing was like that: A woman could power dress with bold lines and strong shoulders on men. Meanwhile, singers and band members in punk and the new wave subcultures had boundary-pushing looks. Grace Jones and Madonna were crowned style queens and icons “80’s women style”, and they are still relevant today. In this article, we pay particular attention to clothing and accessories that were considered fashionable, like 80’s style ankle boots, 80’s style earrings and a lot more. Such provocative solutions can fit, but in light of modern trends. That said, let us soak up the spirit of the decade and use it to guide our fashion choices today.

The ‘80s was the decade of change in fashion – bright colors, and touches, and variety coming in from all directions at a time when the prevailing pop culture was on the expansion.

Artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince became the most popular names of this decade as well as hugely contributed to music and mark on 80’s retro style.

The 80’s design style can be distinguished thanks to the century’s fashioned stamped clothing a female must entirely possess which consists of clear-cut items like high waist jeans, oversized blazers, and acid-wash denim as well as hair accessories like scrunches and statement pieces like earrings.

This stylistic shift did not only characterize the people at that time, but they also shaped the style that would later come in future fashion trends and so the eighties were very much a decisive decade in the glamor world.

The 1980’s is perhaps the most loathed age in terms of fashion – it is a decade where variety was in vogue and self expression was king and there were very few limits today’s fashion trends.

High-waisted jeans have carved a special niche and become a part of many wardrobes as they are often worn with stylish crop tops and chic platform shoes. This decade saw the advent of shoulder pads, spandex and the neon color which combined to form casual dressing as well as power dressing making resounding impacts in several social situations.

And acid-wash denim and parachute pants can be listed as classic pauses for this style as they contributed to the fun and fierce concepts of the eighties fashion clearly.

Blazers, bold cuts and vibrant hues are elements of power dressing in the 19s. It was like the fashion of making a statement. This trend developed as women started to join the workforce and fashionable power was established.

The new wave and the punk movement of the 1980s were not just revolutionary in the terms of the music genre, but also highly transforming in the sense of fashion, with both giving an attitude of roughness and boldness that went against the accepted norms of the society.

Due to its‘ Do It Yourself philosophy‘, punk rock promoted the wearing of band shirts, leather coats, and ripped jeans. Conversely, the new wave was a little more dressier but still creative with it, with bright hair color and unique decoration. The combination of these directions in fashion was the reflection of a large youth subculture that was not only anti-establishment but was also experimenting with cross-dressing styles, thus making new trends possible.

Besides providing boundaries for cultures, these movements also took their place in the mass culture, extending the impact on fashion designers and sometimes celebrities themselves. Fashion that had loud statements could be a way of expressing one’s character, where numerous examples of second-hand clothing could be seen as a reminder from history and a green practice.

You can find a little part of punk, polite low fusion of new wave , and found new ways of wearing old clothes with a different meaning behind them, making them much more tolerant and inventive designers than the past.

The relevance of these avenues is further heightened by the fact that these avenues have remained relevant over the years, setting the stage for subsequent generations to be able to express themselves in new self-assertive ways that are impossible to describe as beauty.

The 1980s witnessed an eclectic mix in the fashion scene with unique accessories and strong beauty forms taking center stage. Such embellishments adorned wearers and made a statement regarding their personalities.

Large statement earrings and necklaces, and brightly colored hair scrunchies exemplified the turn that pop culture took while Calvin Klein, Versace and Ralph Lauren were notable designers running the fashion industry in the era. In terms of hair trends it is most striking that the 80s adopted the vivid hairstyles across the world.

Makeup and beauty paint was applied deliberately to draw attention to the eyes and lips and bold makeup was an easy way to make an impression in the competitive music industry for male and female performers alike. Trends were taken to a new level and this was a declaration of dominance by feminists in the 1980s setting the stage for the emergence of new aesthetics. Not only was it common to wear a brightly patterned outfit, but makeup applied on such events would often be no less than impressive, and invariably including extremely colored eyebrows and functional accessories carefully merged with the outfits and hair touches. It was a time when glamor was at its peak, and who wore the most gorgeous eye shadow made headlines. The decade pioneered not only the expression of radical aesthetics but it created the strategies of amazing beauty.

This evolution has created inspiring icons of bold accessories and heavy make-up that are featured in the fashion industry.

Because of this custom, many believe that looks are not the be all and end all, it’s a statement about oneself.

The combination of statement jewelry and strong makeup exists in the culture of the times, which encourages self-expression in color.

There is no doubt that wearing styles from the 1980’s has become one of the most popular fashion statements today for many people and this appears to have emerged pretty recently.

Retro fashion is popular, incorporating elements such as high waisted jeans, oversized blazers, and statement accessories whilst actively browsing vintage boutiques and thrift stores for more unique and authentic pieces.

More so, the 80’s fashion influences street style immensely as it depicts the sustainability of these styles while elevating them to modern aesthetics.

Statement belts, bold prints seemed to reflect the time, when self expression through one’s dress was fashionable. Bright colors and patterns served as a trademark for this movement because it was in direct defiance to norms.

In the 80’s, people like Joan Collins and Linda Evangelista popularized the style and other models also followed on runways across the world. As they wore unusual clothes and made an appropriate fashion statement, they raised the bar on what it meant to be dressed with authority.

Electric blue and fiery red not only allowed individuals to display different wardrobe styles but also represented a new kind of woman that society was now accepting.

This change greatly affected the fashion world, and it let new designers grab a hold of the boldness of the day and create a history that is still breathing and influencing fashion to this day.

When one tries to wear the 1980’s style in the present times, it is vital to strategically combine those elements with current trends rather than going all out on nostalgia. In doing so, individuals can select outfits that incorporate strong, bright colors and prints from the era while keeping up with the fashion of today and the modern aesthetics.

For example, wearing high-waisted jeans with graphic tees, or long oversize blazers on casual dresses shows how vintage looks can be adapted for a casual day.

To amplify this look further, one should go for statement accessories such as chunky necklaces and scrunchies that help reflect the decade’s flair. The importance of shoes cannot be overemphasized as well: classic high-top sneakers or ankle boots could round up an outfit with the much needed vintage touch.

With a mix of retro items, there should always be a couple of modern basics like fitted tops or tailored pants which would serve as a dominant point and not make the outfit too cluttered.

With this kind of strategy, one will be able to appreciate the development of fashion, making the 1980’s era style revival easy and chic in today’s society.