As Requested: Fab '80s Style

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

For Claudia, and anyone else who is interested.

I don't think of '80s style as Princess Di style at all. I think more along these lines.

Granted, as with EVERY decade, there is awful '80s stuff. And there is no mullet love from me either.

Anyway, a little Thursday afternoon fun. xo

ETA: British Punk added further down.

10 years ago

Inspiration

28 replies

Latest reply was from Beth

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

And btw, these are all authentic '80s photos. Not people dressed like the '80s in 2014.

#8 could be a Vogue shoot TODAY. This is my point about incredible '80s fashion. It's more than Dynasty, Woking Girl and Lady Di. Just looking at these pics makes me happy.

10 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

#8 jumped at me right away too like very current look.
80s were fun!

10 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

Thank you, Angie. Love 8, I don't recall seeing anyone dressed like that and would NEVER have guessed the picture was from the 80's. The coats in 24 are great too, although personally I'd love one in a much less bright hue. Photo 21 could be from today's The Sartorialist.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

#8 is brilliant!! Yes, very current yet 100% 80s. I remember such looks.

As Claudia said, 21 also reads very current.

The shoes in 18 remind me of our Hi-Ness!!

10 years ago

deb

Veteran

Yes, I dressed 'Flashdance'. Loved my long oversized jackets with my skirts and leggings. And wore my hair very short. Here I am in an oversized sweatshirt and I am sure I have on leggings.

10 years ago

doubleh

Veteran

Molly Ringwald is the best. Breakfast Club outfit is a lifelong HEWI.

Oh, - DH and I always joke about my boyfriend "Roger". He just happened to peer over my shoulder and see me gazing at the other man (#5). Now we have a visual!

10 years ago

Aquamarine

Veteran

Yes, those '80s sweaters were awesome...and I could rock big hair with the best of them

10 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Thank you, Angie. I loved the 80s and it always pains me when people disparage the entire decade. I got married, started my career, and had a baby, so it's all very memorable for me.

Here's a few shots from a favorite movie, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai.

10 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I'm feeling the love for Duran Duran, as they or a member are represented in 6 of the 26 photos. Nick Rhodes was always my fave. Can't say I'm fond of the higher waisted pants on men, although I thought women's style from the 1980's was fabulous.

Oh, and I absolutely adored James Spader then and I still love him now.

10 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like #8 but that is definitely more restrained than the other looks! I had fun in the 80s but there really isn't a whole lot style wise I'd want to repeat from then. I would do shoulder pads in moderation, same for big hair if it comes back around, because my hair actually naturally does the "big" thing pretty easily. I'll reclaim the color-blocked sweaters and pointy toe flats I had back then, though.

10 years ago

lari

Active Member

this is super fun! I see these pics and immediately hear the soundtrack : maniac (best workout song of all times https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NjbGr2nk2c, you keep me hanging on, wild boys, purple rain…
Claudia you right - #21 looks like it came straight from the Sartorialist

10 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

It is fascinating to see the decade through your eyes, Angie. My fashion board for that decade looks quite different because I was in my late thirties and early forties at the time. My inspirations were designer looks from Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Chloe, and Jean Muir. I posted some of the actual patterns I used to sew my own work clothes in the other thread.

It's interesting how we end up defining an entire era through the lens of our own age at that point in time.

10 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

13 & 18 for me draped to the heavens and back.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

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So interesting, Gaylene -- I had not thought of it that way, but you are right. (As usual).

10 years ago

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the fun trip down memory lane, Angie! I'm finding it odd to see so little punk--was that later?

10 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have mentioned this before but Ally Sheedy in #15 is a more stylish me in high school - as reported by virtually everyone at the time. It was more about the expression I think.

10 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

OMG!!! Duran Duran! Her name is Rio, and she dances on the sand ...

And PRINCE. I die. *thunk* I loved him more than Duran Duran, which is saying A LOT.

Your pics are how I saw the 80s, too, Angie. #18 is hilarious!! I would have thought that was an incredible look I totally rocked #22 and a la #1, I ripped the neckline of my pink sweatshirt after watching Flashdance.

I am *such* an 80s girl.

10 years ago

Anonymous

Awesome! I loved looking through all those trips down memory lane. And Duran Duran! Whohoo! Love!

10 years ago

gryffin

Veteran

Angie - if #8 had a longer sweater I would wear it as is!! I don't think there is ever a bad decade. We may have a strong personal preference for a type of look or different looks at different time but there is interest, beauty, elegance and just plain fun in every decade!!

10 years ago

froggiebecky

Veteran

One thing I love about the 80s was the commitment to the look. More was more, and if anything, it was BOLD. You know who these people are just by looking at them.

Tia (the teenage girl) in Uncle Buck was the height of fashion in my eyes http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wggN...../UB+T4.png

10 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad you had fun browsing the pics. I just looked through them again. All so killer fabulous - I can barely stand it. SUCH a fun decade. Spot on, Sveta and FroggieBecky. There was an incredible fashion commitment to '80s style.

Shevia, I vote you a more stylish version than Ali Sheedy. Killer brows.

Deb, great picture. You look really pretty.

JAileen, I'm very protective of the '80s myself. High five. And fab photo.

LAURA, my '80s style spirit. Wooohooooo. Go Team '80s.

Echo, I'm a Simon Le Bon gal, but do have a soft spot for all the members.

Gaylene, your memories of '80s fashion is just as fab. I deliberately didn't include those looks because you cleverly covered them already.

Suz, high five. I'm thrilled that you remember the '80s like I do.

Alana, I didn't include British punk - but should have - so here you go. Lots of British punk style in Bristol and London. Punk was more of a late '70s movement actually.

I haven't included Madonna, because her '80s style did not resonate with me. Duran Duran's '80s style resonated with me the most and I was inspired to wear their style of clothing (androgynous since I was a teen) - as well as what the women wore in their music videos.

Much of today's fab fashion stuff comes from the '80s. I will always stick up for this incredible decade in fashion.

10 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

Fun pictures! This is how I remember the 80' although I was fairly young and not really interested in fashion at the time.

10 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

At least you remembered the best stuff, Sara.

10 years ago

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Yes! I was in my late teens/eary 20's in the 80's and had so much fun with fashion. I took inspriation from Flashdance, Madonna, Duran Duran and David Bowie. Oh yes, and Sonny Crockett. In my high school yearbook photo I wore a blazer over a tee shirt. And the big sweater over leggings with ankle boots was my fallback weekend outfit.

10 years ago

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I want 8 and 24 TODAY!

10 years ago

claracluck

Active Member

all great memories but i thought grace was fab and still is.

10 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

Fun to take a look back.

10 years ago

Beth

Veteran

Love, it love, it, LOVE it. The 80s were the ultimate "have fun with fashion" decade. We were bold and committed to a particular look. I haven't been as stylish since.

10 years ago

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