Vintage 80s clothing was influenced by punk rock, heavy metal, new wave, and young urban professionals. Trends included leather jackets, ripped jeans, leg warmers, stirrup pants, and polo shirts with shoulder pads. Women wore monochrome suits with thick shoulder pads to appear more balanced with men in the workplace.
The 1980s are often referred to as the decade of self-discovery, when young people were trying to find their own identity and create their own unique characters. Vintage 80s clothing reflects that theory. Major fashion trends were primarily inspired by the rise of several different forms of music, including punk rock, heavy metal, and new wave. Young professionals created the more conservative trends, such as polo shirts and shoulder pads.
The rise of punk rock actually began in 1977, but it reached the height of its popularity in the decade that followed. Vintage punk-inspired clothing trends of the 1980s include leather jackets covered in studs or metal spikes, ripped jeans, and leather miniskirts for women. Combat boots, often covered in metal spikes, chains, or other accessories, were commonplace on both men and women. Men often shaved their heads, leaving only a small amount, and women often used brightly colored hairspray to paint their hair in different colors.
The popularity of the movie Flashdance inspired numerous vintage clothing trends of the 1980s, including leg warmers, one-shoulder draping and cut-neck sweatshirts, and sweatpants with mid-cut legs. Many women wore brightly colored high-heeled shoes and giant barrettes in their hair to accessorize this look. Stirrup pants were also popular during this decade. These pants were typically lightweight leggings, although some were made of thicker material, with an elastic band that rolled under the foot to keep them in place. Oversized socks and leg warmers were often paired with stirrup pants.
Several popular vintage 80s clothing trends were made famous by the female pop singers of the decade. Such trends include fishnets and gloves with cut-finger tips, oversized headbands or scarves, and ruffled skirts paired with tank tops. Gel or “jelly” bracelets and large bangle-style bracelets, usually worn by the dozens, completed the look.
The 1980s also gave rise to the young urban professional, commonly known by the slang name “yuppie.” This group fell at the complete opposite end of the fashion spectrum than those primarily inspired by artists and musicians. Common “yuppie” 1980s clothing included polo shirts, freshly pressed slacks, and brown loafers. Women trying to break into the corporate world often wore monochrome three-piece suits. Thick shoulder pads were sewn onto the shoulders of other women’s suit jackets, blouses, and blouses, effectively hiding the woman’s smaller, rounder shoulders and psychologically placing her more evenly balanced with men in the workplace.
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