1980's

The 1980's was a decade of many styles.

With the influence of hit television shows and a booming marketin conjunction with a number of truly unforgettable fashion trends. It was also a decade heavily influenced by music and television icons. Some of the dominant trends to come out of the 1980s are the new romantic, valley girl, and power dressing. The new romantic was a style mostly influenced by the United Kingdom’s nightlife. This style can be defined by “heavy, bold and streaky make-up, spiky hair, outrageous and exuberant clothing inspired by punk and Goth.” 

Some of the designers of the new romantic are Vivienne Westwood, Colin Swift, Stevie Stewart, and David Holah. The valley girl look came from the west, in California. Some of the main trends to come out of the valley look are headbands, leg warmers with miniskirts, and cheerleader inspired skirts.

During the 1980s more and more women entered the workforce. 

Due to this grow of women in the office, a new genre of clothing was born. The 1980s was a decade of power dressing. 

Power dressing emulated the popular 80s television show, Dynasty. Some of the main elements of power dressing are various sized shoulder pads, Velcro, glitzy jewelry, silk, wool and cotton, and bright colored spiked heels. 

For men, the power suit became popular. Narrow pinstripes, four button vests, skinny and narrow neckties, and button down collars were key elements of the power dressed man.

Madonna

In addition to the new fashion trends of the 1980s, two music icons defined their own fashion trends that became legendary. Madonna first emerged on the dance music scene with her ‘street urchin’ look consisting of short skirts worn over leggings, necklaces, rubber bracelets, fishnet gloves, hairbows, long layered strings of beads, bleached, untidy hair with dark roots, head bands, and lace ribbons. Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” era included brassieres worn as outerwear, oversized crucifix jewelry, lace gloves, tulle skirts, and boytoy belts. Madonna also popularized gloves that were lace and/or fingerless, fishnet stockings, short, tight lycra or leather miniskirts and tubular dresses with bolero-style jackets.

Michael Jackson

The other icon to come out of the 1980s is Michael Jackson. Jackson created the “Thriller” look. Some of the key elements are matching red/black leather pants and jackets, one glove, sunglasses, and the jheri curl. Other fashion trends inspired by Jackson are over sized faded leather jackets with puffy sleeves accompanied by gloves, which at times were fingerless, and aviator sunglasses.