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© History Oasis
We’ve put together some of the more interesting and quirky facts of 1980s fashion.
What do American football players and 1980s power women have in common? Shoulder pads. Originally inspired by football gear in the 1930s by designer Elsa Schiaparelli, shoulder pads got supercharged in the ’80s thanks to Dynasty’s Joan Collins.
After the dark, dreary 1970s, America needed to brighten things up. Neon colors took fashion in the 80s to a more hopeful form. From hot pink to electric blue, these colors screamed the future is bright.
Starting as ballet gear in the 1940s, leg warmers hit the mainstream when Jane Fonda’s workout video became the best-selling VHS ever (17 million copies sold). Suddenly, everyone wanted dancer legs.
Working out wasn’t just for gyms anymore, it became a lifestyle in the ’80s. Jennifer Beals in Flashdance made sweatshirts and leggings street-ready. Suddenly, looking like you’d just left aerobics class was cool. This predated the yoga pants craze we all know and love today.
Women stormed boardrooms in the ’80s, and they needed new clothing to fit the vibe. Sharp suits with massive shoulder pads weren’t just fashion, they were statements of equality. Giorgio Armani designed female empowerment with their popular female suits. Pant suits were in, and we never looked back.
MTV launched in 1981 and changed everything. Teenagers weren’t just listening to music—they were watching it. Madonna, Boy George, and MC Hammer became style gurus through 3-minute videos. Popular culture now was leading fashion trends like no other era.
The ’80s transformed designers into celebrities. Versace, Lacroix, and Lagerfeld were creating identities, one iconic logo at a time. Wearing a designer name became as important as the design itself.
A shy kindergarten teacher became the world’s most-watched woman. Diana’s evolution from “Sloane Ranger” preppy to glamorous royal mirrored the decade’s transformation. Every outfit choice became global news. And women everywhere couldn’t wait to copy her every move.
The higher the hair, the closer to God wasn’t just a joke, it was a lifestyle. Hairspray sales soared as both men and women bleached, permed, and teased their way to crazy heights. Making Marge Simpson blush. Mullets ruled supreme.
London’s punk scene crashed the fashion party in the ’80s. Vivienne Westwood took safety pins and ripped jeans from underground clubs to high fashion. Boy George made rebellion look glamorous and accessible.
Kids also had their own fashion icons! MC Hammer’s parachute pants, Michael Jackson’s leather jackets, and Madonna’s plastic bracelets turned playgrounds into fashion runways.
Lisa Birnbach’s “Official Preppy Handbook” in 1980 accidentally created a fashion movement. Suddenly, everyone wanted to dress like wealthy Ivy League students. Popped collars became a worldwide phenomenon.
Athletic wear got a luxury makeover. Tracksuits in velour and nylon became status symbols, while Nike Air Jordans (launched 1984) transformed sneakers from sports gear to expensive fashion statements. Comfort was the new cool. Athletic wear transformed from purely functional to a luxury status symbol.
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