How Much Did 80s Clothes Cost When They Debuted?

Adult positive smiling funky man with curly hair style in suglasses and vintage clothes posing on white studio background. Funny portrait of stylish male person. 80s fashion. Unusual eccentric guy

Adult positive smiling funky man with curly hair style in suglasses and vintage clothes posing on white studio background. Funny portrait of stylish male person. 80s fashion. Unusual eccentric guy

From Madonna and Cyndi Lauper to Michael Jackson, the 80s was an incredible time for music, movies, and fashion.

If you’ve got a case of nostalgia, take a look back at some of the most popular 80s clothes and find out more about how much they cost back in the day.



These crazy clothing styles were wild and dramatic, and it’s fun to look back on this beloved decade gone by.

Denim Ruled the Day

Even though denim is still hot now, it was definitely on fire back in the 80s. Just think about Bruce Springsteen’s album cover for Born in the USA, and you’ll immediately be taken back to this denim-crazed era.

When it comes to jeans, designer labels were definitely haute couture. If you owned a pair of jeans with a label, you were prepared to pay the price.

Most high-end designer jeans back in the 80s started at around $50 a pair. Guess was no doubt the most coveted brands, and those would set you back closer to around $60.

On the other end of the spectrum, lower-end brands like Lee jeans cost about $15 per pair. You could easily find these denim duds at your local Kmart or the mall for a reasonable price.

Shoe Prices

Even back in the 80s, the type of shoes you wore was a true status symbol. Styles varied from the crazy, glitter-infused jelly sandals to designer heels.

A pair of jelly shoes were pretty cheap, running anywhere from $5 to $10 a pair. During this decadent era of Wall Street money, men’s dress shoes were some of the most expensive styles.

A quality pair of leather dress shoes for men was around $21, while leather shoes for more casual wear were closer to $40. And don’t forget Timberland boots. which would run you around $70 or so circa 1986. Nike Air Force basketball shoes were a mere $55 back then.

Thankfully, shoes were fairly affordable and you didn’t need to worry about no credit check financing in order to afford some. Tennis shoes were incredibly popular and included things like white Reebok high tops and Converse All Stars.

Ladies wore everything from shiny patent leather pumps to combat boots. Prices generally ran anywhere from $10 up to around $60 for a pair of ladies’ shoes, depending on the brand and style.

Basic 80s Clothes Staples

The style of 80s clothes ran the gamut from neon t-shirts to tulle skirt and loose-fitting blazers. And speaking of blazers, a woman’s corduroy blazer ran around $40.

Sweaters were approximately $11 for women, while a wool shirt was approximately $15. Ski jackets were all the rage and cost approximately $40 compared to their much higher prices today.

Accessories like socks and belts had a range from $2 to $10 for both men and women. A man could buy a whole suit for under $200 and a cashmere overcoat would be just under at around $189.

A Price Time Machine

While wages were lower and costs were, too, the price of 80s clothes varied based on the brand name and material. Whether Guess was your thing or you loved you Lee denim, the options were truly endless.

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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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