Iconic 80’s Trends Making a Comeback
The resurgence of the 80’s: from vibrant tracksuits to oversized blazers
The revival of 80’s fashion is back in full force, from voluminous boxy blazers, and vibrant power suits to full statement leopard print outfits. As trends are said to operate in a cyclical pattern, emerging roughly every two decades, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the revival of 80’s fashion was coming, and we are so ready for it.
When you think of the 1980’s, your mind might imagine a kaleidoscope of bold colours and eclectic prints, the oversized shoulder pads or the even bigger hair. The decade was known for daring choices in fashion as a statement to show off creativity and present your self-expression and identity.
The 80’s saw the rise of many iconic fashion designers who created both innovative and fearlessly creative designs. From Vivienne Westwood’s punk inspired collections to Gianni Versace’s opulent, regal designs - many paved the way, shaping the bold trends that would live on for decades to come.
Whilst we may not see people walking around in neon leg warmers or spandex bodysuits as such, 80’s trends have made a comeback with a slicker, modern twist.
Here are some trends we are seeing making a comeback four decades on:
Oversized blazers and power suits
A pivotal movement in the 1980’s, when women were increasingly emerging into male-dominated corporate careers, came the rise and popularity of the power suit. Characterised by its sharp silhouette featuring big, boxy, shoulders which tapered in to cinch the waist, creating a more feminine flair version of the traditional male business suit.
The power suit empowered women to exude confidence whilst fitting into corporate environments. Even now the fashion trend still has the same influence and feeling of female empowerment. There’s no denying that the trend has always been timeless, whether that’s an oversized blazer with a pair of jeans to create a more casual look, or the hallmark look of a full blown boxy two-piece, the 80’s trend has been making a comeback for some time.
The 1983 advertisement for Yves Saint Laurent’s River Gauche perfume is a prominent example of how the power suit defined the era and was a celebration of female empowerment and elegance. The advert featured a sophisticated woman dressed in a sharp, tailored suit, holding up the fragrance. The advert symbolised confidence and strength, aligning with the avant-garde ethos of the River Gauche perfume.
Tunisian-born fashion designer, Azzedine Alaïa, praised for his form-fitting power suit designs with meticulous detail, had deep admiration of the female form which was prevalent in his designs. His suits were crafted featuring cinched waists to accentuate the hips, often using stretch fabrics which led to a second-skin fit.
Both bold and elegant, Alaïa’s designs revolutionised the industry in the 80’s, empathising both curves and natural beauty. His legacy and design techniques have carried on to impact contemporary fashion even to this day.
In modern times, the oversized suit has become a symbol of androgynous fashion, building strong shapes in silhouettes ultimately transcending conventional gender norms. Designers have also embraced the power of the oversize suit, walking during New York Fashion Week 2023, Thom Browne’s menswear presented blown up draped shoulders, which reshaped the classic masculine suit whilst somewhat mirroring the classic 80’s more feminine silhouette.
Meanwhile, Gucci’s fall 2022 show brought eclectic prints and bold lapels, extenuating the powerful fit of the suits and how gender fluid they can be. Incorporating a nod to 1980’s athleisure presenting a collaboration with Adidas to create a double-breasted suit with the brand’s iconic and recognisable three stripes.
This year, when it comes to the red carpet, elegant gowns still reign supreme, but many more female celebrities choose to make a statement in a power suit. Boy Genius members Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker all matched in ivory Thom Browne suits at the Grammys this year.
Director Greta Gerwig also represented the 80’s style with a black oversized blazer with satin lapels, mirroring the famous silhouette created in the decade.
Influencers have also played a big part in making boxy blazers popular again, including Swedish fashion influencer Matilda Djerf incorporating the chic look in her everyday style to her three million followers.
Whether dressed up for a professional endeavor, or a chic night out, the oversized blazer seems to have made its mark on modern fashion trends, asserting its statement as a timeless staple.
Double denim
Often mistaken for being brought to the mainstream in the 1990’s, double denim was a huge fashion statement which originated during the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Love it or hate it, the style found itself spreading like wildfire, even rockstar and punk icon, Blondie’s Debbie Harry was often seen sporting the distinctive look during the decade.
Whilst the trend resurfaced in cyclical fashion in the 2000’s, with the likes of icons Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake walking red carpets draped in denim at the 2001 American Music Awards. Singer Justin in a full denim-on-denim suit designed by costume designer, Steven Gerstein, whilst Britney’s patchwork denim dress was the idea of her stylist duo Kurt and Bart.
As the creative director of Gucci during early 2000’s, Tom Ford helped popularize double denim in high fashion. In Gucci’s 2000’s Spring/ Summer runway show, Ford presented a collection of sophistication and glamour, incorporating casual textiles such as denim.
One notable look from the collection featured a tailored denim blazer alongside matching high-waisted denim trousers. Creating a sharp silhouette with a nipped in waist and sharp shoulders, it was certainly a nod to the 80’s in an elevated, high fashion way.
In their Spring/ Summer 2001 collection, Alexander McQueen, incorporated denim-on-denim looks with his distinctive avant-garde aesthetic, showing how versatile the fabric can be. One outfit featured a fitted denim jacket with detailed embroidery, paired with matching high-waisted jeans, similar to ‘Mom’ jeans popularized in the 80’s.
Even now some people wear the classic look as part of their everyday style, whether that’s a denim shirt paired with jeans, or a waistcoat and skirt, the style has been modernized to suit contemporary times.
Supermodel Bella Hadid has repeatedly been snapped wearing double, and sometimes even triple denim. Experimenting by layering a demim corset alongside jacket and jeans. Whilst social media trends such as the ‘coastal cowgirl’ have contributed to the resurgence of the trend, offering a fresh twist.
Through styling these often include denim floaty skirts and matching waistcoats, a twist on the 80’s classic - reaffirming its status as an iconic fashion statement.
Bold Athleisure
The 80’s were not shy to show off in vibrant tracksuits and stretchy spandex leggings often in neon or electric colours. The Gucci X Adidas collaboration in 2022 introduced a fusion of business and athletic wear paying homage to 80’s silhouettes.
Whilst the knee length leggings haven’t quite made a comeback, colourful tracksuits are growing in popularity with some modern alterations. Gucci’s 2022 Fall/ Winter show which took place in Milan showcased the power suits, a high neck track top with zip details evoking the spirit of 80’s athleisure, showcasing stripes to represent Adidas, but with colour palettes synonymous to the decade.
Although the trend 40 years ago was dominated by windbreakers made of nylon and shorts, modern alterations have evolved to feature longer trousers and softer, plush fabrics including velour, another popular trend of the decade. Despite the minor changes, the vibrant colour palette of the decade still infuse modern fashion,
The modern streetwear movement has helped the resurgence and popularity of bold tracksuits, allowing individuals more confidence to express themselves, whilst still perpetuating the style of the 80’s.
Virgil Abloh, artistic director for both Off-White and Louis Vuitton, will be remembered for his groundbreaking work seamlessly merging streetwear aesthetics with high fashion. During Off-White’s 2019 runway show Public Television showcased Abloh’s reimagined streetwear collection with oversized hoodies and track pants which took notes from the 80’s style.
Vetements designer, Demna Gvasalia, also took inspiration from the decade creating recognisable known for their blown up proportions, oversized silhouettes with exaggerated proportions which included streetwear garments such as hoodies and T-shirts. Staging shows at unconventional locations such as a parking garage, usually casting non-models, Gvasalia echoed the 80’s ethos of being bold and self expression, even if it doesn’t conform with society’s norms.
Velour
One of the 80’s fabric staples that was vastly used and related to the era was velour. Similar to velvet, velour is known for its luxurious feel, becoming a versatile fabric creating garments such as dresses, tracksuits and accessories such as handbags.
Fashion pioneer Vivienne Westwood, known for her avant-garde designs and pivotal role in leading the punk movement, often used velour in her experimental designs. By using velour and her iconic style of bold embellishments and unconventional silhouettes, Westwood paved the way for velour in high fashion.
Westwood’s Nostalgia of Mud collection, debuting in 1982, was one of her most influential collections which was inspired by the practical and layered clothing of indigenous Peruvian people. Featuring oversized, layered silhouettes, Westwood used a lot of distressed and recycled materials, as well as velour to add a rich element to the garments.
Similarly velour played a significant role in Westwood’s Witches Collection, which had a huge impact on the growing goth and punk subcultures. Fusing luxury and occult themes, velour was used to create sharp silhouette dresses and structured skirts.
Yves Saint Laurent was another trailblazer being noted as one of the first designers using velour in high fashion, creating exquisite elegant evening wear. Mostly regally jewel toned, the designs include precision tailoring and silhouettes, reflected the essence of 80s glamour.
Velour still remains an enduring symbol of luxury, and was very evident so during this years Met Gala. The theme being ‘Garden of Time’, both designer Tom Ford and actor Barry Keoghan graced the red carpet in velvet suits, similar to the regal garments created by Yves Saint Laurent.
Animal Prints
The 80’s was also the true emergence of extravagant animal prints adorning any, and every, fashion item you could think of and catapulting them into the mainstream. Skirts, leggings, tops, hats and handbags, real fur had been gradually weaned out for its printed counterparts.
Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, who was known for his distinctive, flamboyant designs have also made a resurgence in recent times. Known for his exotic prints being fused with luxury fashion, Cavalli’s designs were appreciated for their glamour, detailed craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Cavalli paved the way and pushed boundaries in fashion design with his techniques such as printed denim which included exotic prints such as snake, tiger and leopard. His work in the 80’s set the stage for his later success in the 1990’s, making him a well-known name in high fashion.
With the return of the ‘indie sleaze’ movement combined with the ‘mob wife’ aesthetic earlier this year, we saw the resurfacing of audacious animal prints. This generation even coining up the term that leopard print is the “new neutral”, explaining the ubiquitous presence it has had in modern fashion.
Synonymous with daring and dynamic fashion choices, leopard print has not only made a return on everyday style but also on the runway.This year the print was a choice for fashion designers as Versace and Nina Ricci showcased their SS24 collections featuring head to toe leopard print all-in-ones to mesh dresses and trench coats draped in the same print.
Other designers such as Miu Miu, Christian Louboutin, and so many more have also jumped on the craze, with leopard print being the new staple and available in every item imaginable.
Overall, the fashion trends of the 1980s are experiencing a resurgence in contemporary style, four decades after they first made their mark. Whether consciously or not, we are witnessing the return of iconic trends such as leopard print and oversized blazers, pioneered by the fashion trailblazers of that era.
From Vivienne Westwood, Thom Browne, Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace to name a few, paved the way and reshaped the boundaries of fashion with their wild and bold creations.
While some of these trends have been reimagined with a modern twist, the 1980s will always be celebrated for its striking colors, bold prints, sharp silhouettes, and audacious fashion choices.
