How to Dress in 80’s Fashion

For some of us the 80’s seemed a bit dull after the Flower Power and Hippies of the 60’s and Disco and Glitter of the 70’s, but the 80’s had a vibe and independence of its own and was responsible for Punk Music with dictated fashion for many. The main theme was to be anti-establishment and show it in one’s dress, hairstyle and attitude, not so much of violent protest, but total apathy.

To dress as a Punk, tear your clothes, wear T-Shirts bearing anti-establishment slogans (hand-written if necessary, wear black PVC and/or leather, and have many body piercings, especially around the head and face, using studs, chains and safety pins. Tattoos are optional.

The rules are that there are no rules. There is a long list of possible to choose from and just mix and match until you feel you look different enough. Express yourself and look as if you just don’t care about anything.

Make up for men made its first appearance for centuries in the 80s. If you want to be Punk, then anything goes in terms of colour and placement, but as a general guideline look a bit like a (not too anaemic) vampire. For the New Romantic look, men should wear smart, but still eye-catching make-up, in the same way as women do.

The 80’s silhouette was a very distinctive one. Hair was big, and either spiky or curly. Shoulders were equally big – think Crystal Carrington in Dynasty and you’re on the right track. Sweaters were big, baggy and bat-winged. In fact, the only thing that wasn’t big about 80’s fashion was the legs, which were generally encased in leggings, creating a “sack balanced on two sticks” look. Your basic 80’s fashion wardrobe, then, would consist of: Bat wing sweaters – the crazier and louder the pattern, the better , leggings, leg warmers, pointy-toed stiletto court shoes in neon colours (In fact, anything in neon colours), acid-washed jeans or jeans with cartoons printed on them (or cartoon patches sewn on), high top sneakers – Reebok was popular, but you had to remember to thread them with neon “crazy laces” and lastly, neon socks, especially mismatched neon socks. One pink, one yellow – what’s not to love? Shoulder pads are a must for women as are power suits, pencil skirts and big, boxy jackets. One 80s fashion to probably avoid is the shell suit. It doesn’t have quite the same appeal today somehow.

But 80’s fashion wasn’t just about the shell-suits and the shoulder pads. There were accessories to think about too, and many of them were just as bad as the other items we’ve already discussed. Let’s take a look at some of them…

Hair should be either big and curly, like a poodle perm, or short and spiky for the more punk look. This look requires its own accessories like scrunchies. Banana clips, pineapple clips and hair mascara to stay true to the 80’s. Pony tails are also OK, but at the side not the back.