Extravagant 80s

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I hope you are all doing well and having a wonderful week so far. As it is Friday that means I have another fashion related topic for you all. As I haven't talked about a fashion era in a long time I thought I would take you back to the 80s and show you what women wore at the time. Many of you may be aware of what women wore in the 80s or have seen pictures of your parents or even grandparents dressed up in the 80s. I know many people loved that era but unfortuntly I wasn't around to see it. So for those of you that are too young to have lived through it, I have all the information you need to learn about what women wore in the 1980s. I hope you enjoy...

Workwear..

In the 1980s it was all about the large broad shoulders. Women's shirts and suit jackets often had shoulder padding to give them a masculine strong character. Some shoulder pads were removable while others were permanent. Women would often wear suits and padded shirts to work to make them look more professional and the unisex look was welcomed. 

Tops...

The 1980s was all about the masculine unisex look so all feminine attire was left behind in the 70s. Instead they welcomed many sweaters including: turtlenecks, crew necks, and V-neck jumpers paired with baggy trousers or Mom Jeans. Long tunic tops were also popular, especially worn over jeans or leggings. On the other hand, women were all about the skimpy look too. Crop tops and boob tubes were also a popular choice with women and teens. These were often in bright neon colours and worn with a mini skirt and leg-warmers. The off-the-shoulder look also became a trend in the 80s after Jennifer Beals was spotted wearing an off-the-shoulder slouchy top on a Flashdance movie poster. Women everywhere started to wear their baggy tops off-the-shoulder and this soon became very popular.

Skirts...

Mini skirts made a come-back in the 80s, although they were worn differently to the 60s. Before women would pair their mini skirts with go-go boots. However, women of the 80s would pair theirs with leggings or leg-warmers. The mini skirts would often be made from a tight, clingy material containing spandex. The denim mini skirt was also a popular choice in the 80s. Some women wore knee-length skirts but they weren't as popular. Those that did opt for the longer skirt would often go for a tight-fitted denim midi skirt instead. 

Trousers...

Women were all about the loose fitted trousers and Mom Jeans in the 80s. They would often have a crazy pattern or would be brightly coloured. The jeans would often have some embroidery or would have an acid wash effect. Designer jeans (especially Levi's) were a popular choice and some women even went for a leather pant instead. The baggy trousers were often worn with a baggy jumper and some people paired their jeans with a crop top. Baggy pinafore jumpsuits were also popular, especially in the younger community. They were often worn over a turtleneck jumper.

Dresses...

It was all about the large ruffle dresses in the 80s. It was basically a tutu with a bodice sewn on. Most of the dresses were short and had layers of ruffles on the skirt. However, some women would opt for a slim fitted dress for work. These ofter had a tight bodice and a midi-length pencil skirt. They would often have a high-neck or low cut neckline. The sleeve-length varied but they were most popular sleeveless. The dresses would often be made from either: cotton, silk, satin or polyester. 

Coats...

The 80s was all about the fur-lined jackets and coats. The puffer coat was one of the most iconic looks from the 80s. Especially in bright multicolours. The long faux-fur coats were also very popular in the winter time. Leopard printed ones were also a popular choice.  Dark coloured velvet blazers were also popular. They were mostly worn in a deep plum or dark green colour. The trench coat also started to become more popular in the 80s. Some women opted for a real leather designer trench while others stuck to the faux leather look.

Sportswear...

Excerise became a huge trend in the 1980s and it was all about the funky outfits. Women would often wear bright neon leotards, brightly coloured tights, headbands and leg-warmers. 

Accessories...

The most iconic accessory in the 1980s has to be the bright neon legwarmers. Women would wear them with anything: mini skirts, jeans or sportswear. They were available in pretty much every colour you could think of and were seen on almost everyone throughout the era. Women also liked to expresses their wealth and success through their jewellery. Shiny costume jewellery was a popular choice. This included: large gold earrings, pearl necklaces and bracelets. However, bright neon beaded necklaces and hoop earrings were worn frequently as well, especially in the younger community. The most popular neon colours worn were: green, yellow, pink and blue. Hair scrunchies were also made popular in the 80s. They started off as a sports accessory but when the leg warmers moved across to daily fashion, so did the scrunchies. Of course gloves are also an iconic accessory of the 80s. Sequined gloves, made popular by Micheal Jackson, and lacy fingerless gloves, made popular by Madonna, were seen everywhere. A very different style of glove then women had previously worn in any other era. 

Shoes...

All the shoes worn in the 80s have very different styles. They ranged from knee-high boots, kitten heels, sneakers, jelly shoes, mules and round-toed shoes and boots.

The Preppy Style...

Some women decided the bright neon colours and ruffles skirts weren't for them so instead they opted for the preppy girl look. They would often wear a dress with puffy sleeves. They also loved to wear turtlenecks, blazers, sweaters tied around their necks, knee-high socks, pencil skirts and sweaters layered over shirts or turtlenecks. Plaid fabrics were also a popular choice and wrap skirts were also popular. Women sporting the preppy look would often finish their look with a headband and either a pair of kitten heels or knee-high boots. This is personally my favourite 80s look and the style I would have gone for if I lived through the era.

So thats all I have for you about the 1980s and the fashion trends of the era. If you liked this post then make sure you check out my other fashion era posts. If you want to read about different fashion topics then make sure you head back to my blog every Friday for more. You can also head back to my blog every Wednesday for outfit styling posts. I hope you enjoyed this post and I look forward to seeing you back here again soon...

Emma Victoria