List of Eighties Fashions

This great list of 80s fashion trends was submitted by one of our readers. Thanks, Celeste for the great recap of 80s fashions!!

We’d love to see a list of all the 80s fashions you remember wearing back in the day. To email us your list, email us. Or, you can post your list as a note on our Facebook page.



  • Lloyd Dobler wearing a trenchcoat in 'Say Anything' holding boombox in the airNormandy rose jeans they were the thing when I was young
  • Cotler pants jeans that had snap pockets that would fold over exposing a different color.
  • zebra club oversize sweatshirts (maybe its only a west coast thang)
  • la bands (black bracelets Madonna’s wearing (now sell it at hot topic))
  • trench coats
  • long scarves
  • jelly shoes/sandals
  • sling back usually by spirit
  • Esprit laundry bags
  • guess or jean jacket (usually in light pink or blue jean and or white)
  • door knocker earrings gold bamboo
  • ripped jeans
  • pink lip stick
  • blue eyeliner
  • heavy eyebrows
  • wearing non matching earrings (pretty n pink)
  • pumps (all colors)
  • large buttons or large burgundy tan striped out fits w/ a flip over collar
  • playboy bunny sweatshirts, t-shirts etc
  • putting letters or your name or tag on the back of t-shirts or member only jackets
  • Sailor hats and or sailor like blouses
  • Mob like hats
  • Zoot suits pants w/ suspenders
  • Overalls
  • button type earrings and or odd shaped/dice earrings/metal or metallic earrings
  • kamikaze shirts that had sleeves that would zip off like a t-shirt length or like a muscle shirt
  • Japanese earrings or clothing w/ Japanese characters on them
  • Biker shorts or spandex
  • Wearing biker shorts under mini skirts
  • polka dots
  • lace jeans on one side/jeans w/ different color front & backs
  • EBS tennis shoes that were much like skippies very simple tie up
  • Mary janes or the karate type shoes for guys
  • wearing jeans tight or tapered around the ankles (also called pegging)
  • wearing jeans tight period!
  • head bands
  • hair ties, banana clips and ribbon barrettes
  • Coca-cola shirts
  • blush & visual apparent foundation cover up makeup
  • nose piercing
  • carrying around a large radio/ghetto blaster / cassettes
  • wearing your bra outside w/ a jacket over or wearing a mesh / see thru shirts

Author: Pia Sooney

Just a little obsessed with all things 80s, Pia still has her Swatch, her cassette tape collection, and her Converse Chucks. When not making friendship pins or listening to Depeche Mode, she runs a web design business.

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