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80s Fashion
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Published: September 22, 2006
Greed is good. These immortal words of fictional Wall Street stock broker Gordon Gekko could very well have been the motto of the 1980s, a decade celebrating wealth and shamelessly promoting excess. It had to be big and it most certainly had to be better. Nowhere was this credo more apparent than in the plethora of 80s fashion trends emerging during this time period.
The 1980s was one of those rare decades where fashion, music and movies ran the gamut from greed and vanity to the anti-fashion ethos of punk rock. Madonna, the self-proclaimed Material Girl, burst onto the scene in the 1980s wearing a chic uniform of leggings, lace and teased hair, and singing about life in the material world.
Glamorous fashion moderately popular in the 1970s (as evidenced by the decadence of disco and Studio 54) became enormously popular with the highly fashionable Princess Diana and Nancy Regan. For her wedding to Prince Charles, Princess Di wore an extravagant gown characterizing the New Romantic Movement and First Lady Nancy Regan was often criticized for her opulent fashions. Nevertheless, these two ladies influenced the return of glamorous 80s fashion.
When Flashdance came out in 1983, women across the nation began wearing the dancer's outfit- consisting of an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, leg warmers and teased hair. Around this time, power dressing also became popular. Now that women were finally getting a piece of the corporate pie, powerful shoulder pads were all the rage.
As influential as Madonna was for women, Michael Jackson was equally influential for men looking to emulate his 80s fashion. After his album Thriller was released, leather jackets with rolled sleeves and the collar turned up became a popular outfit for men. A pair of Ray Ban Aviators was the only thing needed to complete the look.
Another popular item for the 1980s man was a hot pair of kicks. These could be Pumas, LA Gear, KSwiss or Converse, but they absolutely had to be name brand. If men were partial to the burgeoning hip-hop movement, their shoes had to be Adidas with the laces undone.
At the other end of the trendy spectrum, there were the anti-fashion punk rockers. Punk 'fashion' usually consisted of a D.I.Y. (do-it-yourself) look in direct protest to mass-produced trends. Many punks sported black drainpipe pants (especially the men), and multiple piercings and tattoos. Hair was done up in an eclectic fashion, usually in asymmetrical shapes and bright colors.
Even though it was a decadent decade many would like to forget, 80s fashion trends are making a comeback. Popping the collar of a jacket or polo shirt is a fresh look and leggings are once again a closet staple.
The 1980s was one of those rare decades where fashion, music and movies ran the gamut from greed and vanity to the anti-fashion ethos of punk rock. Madonna, the self-proclaimed Material Girl, burst onto the scene in the 1980s wearing a chic uniform of leggings, lace and teased hair, and singing about life in the material world.
Glamorous fashion moderately popular in the 1970s (as evidenced by the decadence of disco and Studio 54) became enormously popular with the highly fashionable Princess Diana and Nancy Regan. For her wedding to Prince Charles, Princess Di wore an extravagant gown characterizing the New Romantic Movement and First Lady Nancy Regan was often criticized for her opulent fashions. Nevertheless, these two ladies influenced the return of glamorous 80s fashion.
When Flashdance came out in 1983, women across the nation began wearing the dancer's outfit- consisting of an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, leg warmers and teased hair. Around this time, power dressing also became popular. Now that women were finally getting a piece of the corporate pie, powerful shoulder pads were all the rage.
As influential as Madonna was for women, Michael Jackson was equally influential for men looking to emulate his 80s fashion. After his album Thriller was released, leather jackets with rolled sleeves and the collar turned up became a popular outfit for men. A pair of Ray Ban Aviators was the only thing needed to complete the look.
Another popular item for the 1980s man was a hot pair of kicks. These could be Pumas, LA Gear, KSwiss or Converse, but they absolutely had to be name brand. If men were partial to the burgeoning hip-hop movement, their shoes had to be Adidas with the laces undone.
At the other end of the trendy spectrum, there were the anti-fashion punk rockers. Punk 'fashion' usually consisted of a D.I.Y. (do-it-yourself) look in direct protest to mass-produced trends. Many punks sported black drainpipe pants (especially the men), and multiple piercings and tattoos. Hair was done up in an eclectic fashion, usually in asymmetrical shapes and bright colors.
Even though it was a decadent decade many would like to forget, 80s fashion trends are making a comeback. Popping the collar of a jacket or polo shirt is a fresh look and leggings are once again a closet staple.
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