80s Clothing Trends

The early 80s clothing trends are tight fitting remnants of 70’s styles. Although the bell bottoms don’t flare out as much and the afros are much more conservative, 70’s clothes could still pass up into 1983. A good example of the transition from 70’s to 80’s clothing trends is the 80s television show One Day at a Time. Bonnie Franklin can be seen wearing her hip hugger jeans. The show ran from 1975 to 1984. The 1980 movie, 9 to 5, with Burt Reynolds and Dolly Pardon is another good example of early 80’s clothing trends for business offices of the era. Polyester, three piece business suits and pastel chiffon dresses adorn the all-star cast.

By 1984, the 1970s styles died out. 80s clothing trends took on a pseudo futuristic look as seen in Miami Vice.

The clothes worn on Miami Vice had a significant influence on men’s fashion. They popularized, if not invented, the “T-shirt under Armani jacket”-style,[24] and popularized Italian men’s fashion in the United States.[4] Don Johnson’s typical lineup of Italian sport coat, T-shirt, white linen pants, and slip-on sockless loafers became a hit.[4][25] Even Crockett’s perpetually unshaven appearance sparked a minor fashion trend, inspiring men to wear a small amount of beard stubble, also known as a five o’clock shadow (or “designer stubble”) at all times.[24] On an average episode, Crockett and Tubbs wore five to eight different outfits,[1][4] appearing in shades of pink, blue, green, peach, fuchsia and the show’s other “approved” colors.[4] Designers such as Vittorio Ricci, Gianni Versace, and Hugo Boss were consulted in keeping the male leads looking trendy.[1][4] Costume designer Bambi Breakstone, who traveled to Milan, Paris, and London in search of new clothes, testified that, “The concept of the show is to be on top of all the latest fashion trends in Europe”.[4] Jodi Tillen, the costume designer for the first season, along with Michael Mann set the stylistic agenda. The abundance of Pastel colors on the show was reflected in Miami’s Art-deco architecture.[25]

During its five-year run, consumer demand for unconstructed blazers, shiny fabric jackets, and lighter pastels increased.[4][25] After Six formal wear even created a line of Miami Vice dinner jackets, Kenneth Cole introduced Crockett and Tubbs shoes, and Macy’s opened a Miami Vice section in its young men’s department.[4] Crockett also boosted Ray Ban’s popularity by wearing a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer (Model L2052, Mock Tortoise),[26] which increased sales of Ray Ban’s to 720,000 units in 1984.[27] Many of the styles popularized by the TV show, such as the t-shirt under pastel suits, no socks, rolled up sleeves, and Ray-Ban sunglasses, have today become the standard image of 1980s culture.[24][27] The influence of Miami Vice’s fashions continued into the early 1990s, and to some extent still persists today.[28][24]– Wikipedia

80s Avant-Garde Fashion
Music videos marked an explosion of avant-garde 80s clothing styles in the mid and late 80s. Men started wearing make-up women were less restricted with what they could wear to feel accepted. From Bon Jovi to Prince to Poison, long hair was in. You could see male artists wearing lace and frills and female artists with spikes and suits.

Teen Agers

You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing some teenage girl copying Madonna’s laced gloves, teased hair and religious necklaces. Slick back hair dos and mullets were in. Greasy “Jherri curls” and “S-Curls” on black youth were at their peak. Late 80s brought on the plague of gangsta rap whose street style can still be seen today.

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