What Did People Wear In The Eighties

What did people wear in the eighties 80s?

What Did People Wear In The Eighties

The eighties were a fun time for fashion. Big hair and neon colors were the order of the day. However, much of the fun in 80s clothing was in the small details like turned up colors and rolled up sleeves. You could turn almost any article of clothing into a statement just by adhering to a few simple tricks.

Some of the brands that were very popular during the 80s were Guess jeans, Aquanet hairspray, Esprit clothing and tote bags, and Izod and Polo shirts. Acid-washed jeans were tight; sweatshirts were oversized and the bulkier the better. Parachute pants were a big thing with the guys and neon colored jelly shoes and jelly bracelets were all the rage with the girls. Mesh shirts and polka dots made a loud return, as did preppie clothing.

Preppie clothes included penny loafer shoes, Izod shirts with the collar most definitely turned up and a sweater tied around the shoulders, blazers with the sleeves rolled up, shirts with big shoulder pads, and wedge shoes. (They were called “wedgies” then, which has now taken on a different meaning today!) Casual wear consisted of high-top sneakers, tight acid-washed jeans, denim jackets, and t-shirts or sweatshirts that were about 10 sizes too big. Checked flannel shirts were also popular. Girls would frequently wear biker shorts under a mini-skirt.

Many of the styles we adopted during the 80s were patterned after Madonna and Michael Jackson. No spindly little eyebrows for us! Heavy, dark eyebrows and heavy makeup were a definite must. For those special dress-up occasions (read: prom), girls would wear sailor-inspired dresses or the oh-so-incredible drop-waist dress. The more ruffles and frills, the better! The big hair was somehow reined in by banana clips, hair ribbons, or headbands.

Accessories played a big role in the 80s dress code. As with most of the colors and styles, the jewelry was loud. Big, long, metal earrings, charm necklaces and bracelets, chain or bullet belts, silver name belt buckles, scarves tied willy-nilly here and there, mirrored sunglasses, baseball caps with the short bill flipped up in the front, terry-cloth headbands, narrow leather ties, and lots of jelly bracelets were vital to the statement we were trying to make. What was that statement? “Look at me! I’m an original individual!”

If you still need a refresher course as to what 80s, clothing was all about, and then check out the movies “The Breakfast Club” and “Sixteen Candles.” These films are a pretty good depiction of what the 80s were all about.

Those of us who were growing up during the 80s are now realizing we must be getting old because many of those trends are on their way back in! For example, leg warmers and skintight jeans were very popular in the 80s and now leggings and skinny jeans are all the rage. Just goes to show everything that goes around eventually does come around!