The Top ’80s Fashion Trends You’ll Actually Want to Wear

Whether it was ruffles, ruching, scrunching, or draping, ’80s fashion was dominated by texture from clothing all the way to accessories. Our favorite rendition of this has by far been the slouch boot. It’s an easy way to incorporate some texture into your closet without going overboard on puff sleeves and tutus. Not to mention, they were a favorite style of fashion icon Princess Diana.

Have moto jackets ever really fallen out of style? This season, the oversized version of the silhouette appeared to be fashion’s favorite. For the perfect ’80s model-off-duty look, style it with a pair of blue jeans.

It’s no secret designers recycle denim trends of the past. We’ve seen the return of low-rise boot-cut jeans from the early 2000s to ultra-long, ultra-baggy skater jeans of the ’90s. Why not acid wash? Invest in a full-on ensemble à la Dolly Parton. Or, for a more subtle take, opt for an understated skirt.

Oversized blazers have been everywhere this fall. Whether they’re paired with trousers for the office or a sparkly mini dress for a night out, they give off the effortless cool girl look we can’t help but fawn over. When sporting one for your look, remember the bigger, the better.

Designers of the 1980s were famous for their use of bright colors. Take this iconic photo of Iman Abdulmajid strutting down the runway for the Claude Montana spring/summer ’86 show as an example. Today, we can turn to designers like Ester Manas and Undercover for bold, showstopping hues reminiscent of their ’80s predecessors.

This photo of Grace Jones walking the Azzedine Alaia spring/summer ’86 couture show may or may not be the reason why my love for hooded dresses is so strong. They are sleek, regal, and leave much to the imagination, which is why they are so alluring. Plus, they were featured in shows across the board this season, ensuring their spot on the 1980s comeback roster.

Dainty jewelry has been the standard for the last couple of years. However, recently we’ve noticed a shift towards chunkier, more artistic styles. Take notes from ’80s supermodel Kelly Emberg, who paired a gold statement necklace with a spaghetti strap dress for the perfect balance between excess and minimalism.

When it came to the ’80s, the more lace, the better. The material was initially popularized by pop stars of the time but then caught on with younger generations making the fabric a 1980s staple. As we know, what goes around comes around, and this time the trend has stayed true to form without many modern-day alterations.

Similar to today, the ’80s were all about mixing the masculine and feminine. At the time, the power suit served as a feminist symbol for women entering the male-dominated workforce. More recently, it has morphed into a signifier of androgyny and the decline of gender binaries in fashion.

Shoulder pads go hand-in-hand with the power suit trend of the 1980s. At the time, their purpose was to create a more masculine shape. Today, they symbolize the rejection of our work-from-home loungewear. When it comes to shoulder pads, we say go big or go bigger. Make like a true ’80s icon in a luxurious silk dress. For a more low-key look, try this long sleeve from The Frankie Shop.

For a decade that was over the top in almost every way, the ’80s understood the power of being subtly sexy, which has been a breath of fresh air as we move away from the overt sexiness of Y2K fashion. A style we feel encapsulates that certain je ne sais quoi is the off-the-shoulder look that has been popping up everywhere lately.