1980s Fashion

For the world of 1980s fashion, the 1980s were a time of traditionalism, consumerism, and luxury. People longed for better times after the past two decades of political turmoil, and wanted to return to the familiarity and comfort of the past.

In 1981, the Reagan inauguration was the most expensive celebration in history. It gave Americans a sense of security, and an excuse to indulge after having to constrain themselves throughout the ‘70s. People wanted to enjoy life again, and were turning to the media. Movies and music had a huge influence on the culture of the 1980s, as well as the fashion.

(Above)Designing Women was a TV series in the 1980s that was a perfect example fashions in the 80's.

When Madonna became a superstar, everyone wanted to look like her. She embodied rebellion, feminism, and punk. Striped shirts, jelly bracelets, big belts, big hair, and lots of accessories. While women’s fashion was becoming more cluttered and complicated, men’s fashions was simplified to jeans and t-shirts.The unisex fashion was carried over from the ‘70s, and had women wearing tight pants, leather jackets, over-sized t-shirts and torn up blue jeans. The unisex fashion was carried over from the ‘70s, and had women wearing tight pants, leather jackets, over-sized t-shirts and torn up blue jeans.

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