Style of the 80s
Some styles from the 1970s still remained present in the era of the 1980s. Men and women began to wear tight fit shirts and lose fit bottoms. A new style came into play that was called “valley girl.” Girls started to wear headbands, leg warmers, miniskirts, flared skirts, long jumpsuits, and sweaters. Shoulder pads also became popular as women began to ‘power dress.’ This was because women believed they were equal to men and they could wear shoulder pads. Leotards were first popular in the 1970s and in the 80s people began to use them in the gym for aerobics and dance.
A famous trend that began to stir up among men was the Hawaiian shirt often accompanied with sport coats. Cowboy boots and loafers were another trend. Then came the preppy look. It originated from the Ivy League look from the 1950s and men would dress in micro-suede jackets. This style initiated a snobbish type of attitude and males would have their initials engraved in the buttons of the jackets.
Celebrity icons like Michael Jackson and Madonna gave a huge influence on the style and trends of many people. Teens would copy Michael Jackson’s style of the red/black leather pants, jackets, the one glove, and the perm hair. Girls would copy Madonna with styles like fishnet stockings, short skirts worn with leg warmers, head bands, and lace ribbons. Leggings with oversized sweatshirts became popular towards the middle of the decade. Plaid skirts with leggings worn with sneakers, or boat shoes, bike shorts, track suits, Doc Martens, and baby doll dresses were all common outfits. Designer underwear and name brands, like Calvin Klein and Polo Ralph Lauren, became more of an important role as well. Pants called happy pants and parachute pants were also popular because they were worn by MC Hammer and other artists.
A famous trend that began to stir up among men was the Hawaiian shirt often accompanied with sport coats. Cowboy boots and loafers were another trend. Then came the preppy look. It originated from the Ivy League look from the 1950s and men would dress in micro-suede jackets. This style initiated a snobbish type of attitude and males would have their initials engraved in the buttons of the jackets.
Celebrity icons like Michael Jackson and Madonna gave a huge influence on the style and trends of many people. Teens would copy Michael Jackson’s style of the red/black leather pants, jackets, the one glove, and the perm hair. Girls would copy Madonna with styles like fishnet stockings, short skirts worn with leg warmers, head bands, and lace ribbons. Leggings with oversized sweatshirts became popular towards the middle of the decade. Plaid skirts with leggings worn with sneakers, or boat shoes, bike shorts, track suits, Doc Martens, and baby doll dresses were all common outfits. Designer underwear and name brands, like Calvin Klein and Polo Ralph Lauren, became more of an important role as well. Pants called happy pants and parachute pants were also popular because they were worn by MC Hammer and other artists.