1980’s in Fashion

The 1980’s in fashion. Illustrated women’s style and beauty from 1980 to 1989. The trends, dresses, hairstyles and makeup.

1980’s in Fashion | The Age of the Label

During the height of the Cold War, the 1980’s was a decade of innovation and excess, and all during a period of global recession and hunger. It was the age of the personal computer and music videos. Apple Inc and Microsoft were slowly becoming household names. As in the 1940’s, fashion was dominated by big American names like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, with Japanese designers also giving Paris a run for its money.

Street Fashion in the 1980’s

Borne out of necessity, students made up their own styles from several sub cultures such as punk fashion and new wave styles. Denim jeans and jackets were typical day wear for younger women. The 1980’s in fashion saw sports labels like Reebok and Nike make inroads in to the affordable fashion market. Hairstyles were big and the sale hairspray quite possibly widened the hole in the Ozone layer!

Power Dressing

Women began establishing authority in traditional male roles. The style of the power dress was a tailored short-skirt suit, usually of pin-stripe, but often in bold colors as depicted in the TV series Dallas.

Key Trends of the 1980’s in Fashion and Style

• Big Hairstyles
• Dolmen Sweaters
• Androgyny in clothing
• Full Skirts and Micro Skirts
• Power Suits and Padded Shoulders
• New Romantic Style
• Post-punk Fashion
• Ra-Ra Skirts
• Leotards, Unitard and Leg Warmers

In the latter 1980’s, designer Azzedine Alaïa  created tight body hugging dresses, most famously worn by Grace Jones, which defined the look of the next decade.