Back in the day, I knew a thing or too about 80s outfits – I may have even thought I was a bit of an 80s style icon!
Fortunately Sadly, there aren’t many photos of my style in the early 80’s, so you will just have to use your imagination 😉 .
I was still at high school, and on a very limited (non-existent) budget, so mostly, I coveted the latest must-haves from the sidelines …
- Does anybody else remember happy shoes – flat Mary-Janes made out of black canvas, mass produced in China, and cheap as chips?
- It was the era of the “New Romantics” in music (Adam Ant, Duran Duran) and fashion. So typical 80s outfits featured ruffled pirate shirts, black velvet knickerbockers, brocade and waistcoats.
- My Senior Formal in 1983 was memorable for the huge amount of taffeta that was sacrificed for our dresses!
The Mid 80’s
The mid 80’s (1984 – 1986) were my college years. Some of my favourite 80s outfits for everyday included:
- pastel polo shirts in the warmer months;
- leg warmers in winter (my favourite colours were jade green, and purple);
- neon anything.
Typical 80s outfits for going out, featured satin shirts, dangly earrings, and dressing a la Madonna – heavy chains and cross necklaces, layered t-shirts and tank tops, and a bandana in my hair.
The Late 80’s
The late 80’s are packed with great memories, as the hubster and I first met in 1987 😉 .
This was the era when big hair reigned surpreme, and I used to rock 80s outfits which included:
- a black leather mini skirt;
- acid wash denim;
- t-shirts with a bright Ken Done print on the front;
- lots of studs;
- banana clips in my hair – a great way to tie your hair back, but not lose the length like with a ponytail 🙂 ;
- and by 1989, natural colours (brown, bottle green, navy etc) – it was the start of what I call the “Country Road” era.
Which 80’s Outfits Are Still in Style?
Looking back over my 80’s outfits, there isn’t much that I would wear these days – and I don’t think Miss 19 would be caught dead in any of them either!
I’ve been known to still wear denim and studs, and pastels and bright pink – but in more moderate versions.
I guess that was the thing with 80’s style – everything was big, bold, bright and completely over the top – before moving into the neutrals and naturals of the nineties.
Were you a bit of an 80s style icon too? What sort of outfits did you wear?!
Oh gosh, there are some memories there. I’m kind of glad there were no smart phones around in those days to capture my fashion fails, although a number of them seem to have made a horrible comeback.
Yes, we were very lucky indeed!
the 80’s were a great decade for fashion! For my engagement party in 2008, I wore one of my mother’s party frocks from the 80s, with elbow length lace fingerless gloves. The height of fashion!
Oh how lovely! Would love to see a pic. The hubster is very sentimental, would you believe he actually kept the dress I wore on our first date?! It’s a serious 80’s classic but being mostly white, it has turned yellow with age …
Woohoo, look at you with your big hair and funky clothes (very reminiscent of my mums old photos!). I was really stylish in my rompers in the 80’s, I was an ’82 baby so didn’t show much fashion sense at that age but my mum made lots of my clothes and they were pretty darn cute!
I’m sure you were super cute! x
I only had a few years experience, but I think I went ok fashion wise. I had an awesome Minnie Mouse outfit that my parents got at Disneyland when I was 3. I stayed here with my maternal grandparents.
I have to admit, you rocked the 80’s. I do especially love the pic of you leaning on the car!!
They went to Disneyland WITHOUT you? What the!!! I can’t get over how skinny I was back then … certainly not a problem now …
Oh gosh, this is fun! You were definitely a cutie in the 80’s! Sometimes I wish that banana clips were still in. They were so handy and easy to use!!!
I know right! How awesome would that be?!
He he he. I was born in 1980 so some of the early stuff escapes me, but I definitely remember parachute silk tracksuits! Or was that the early 90s… ?
Hmm I’ve never owned one so I don’t remember for sure – they were brightly coloured, right? I think they were 80s …
LOL Janet, so many sad fashion memories from the 80s!! I used to rock a black leather skirt too 🙂 Taffeta, happy shoes, acid wash denim! How about the thin leather ties the boys used to wear – ROFL!! Thanks for giving me a good laugh x
Haha one of the first photos I have of me and the hubster, he is wearing a skinny leather tie 😉
What a fun post! Shudder at the fashions from the 80s! LOL.
OMG I remember ALLLLL of these things. I am OLD!!!! Cute post by the way – you actually did a pretty good job of looking chic despite all that dodgy 80s fashion.
Well I was born in the 80s so I pretty much wore what I was told 😉
You were such an 80s icon Janet! Love your big perm 🙂
So many style memories – I think my eighties self would be arrested by the current day Fashion Police for crimes against fashion! I loved Neon, rocked a perm and my favourite wardrobe staple was a deep green ra-ra skirt! In my opinion, the eighties were the greaties and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of those style trends are back in vogue sometime soon! Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane!
A stroll down memory lane. I started high school in 87 and my style even though it horrified my mother was anything that resembled Madonna. I remember my sister went to a school dance in a news paper skirt we made ah la Cindi Lauper lol
Love your style! I was born in 88 so I escaped the big, bold fashions. My mum seemed to enjoy dressing me in tartan though looking at my baby pictures lol.
Ken Done! How good was Ken Done? I had some swimwear I thought was so cool!
I wanted my first flat to be sleek white with Ken Done paintings, curtains and cushions everywhere … alas by the time I could afford anything so stylish, it was all out of fashion. I’m still a fan of white sleek furnishings (Ikea anyone?!) though!