Simplyeighties.com

The type of suits that get the most mentions in many 80s fashion articles are the ones worn by Tubbs and Crockett in Miami Vice. Now, while pastel shades and rolled-up sleeves were just so very 80s, there was another type of suit that I remember just about every guy wearing in British nightclubs in the latter half of the 1980s. Yes, it was the fleck suit, which was actually an updated version of a 50s classic.

I still fondly (?) remember my dark grey suit which had multi-coloured flecks running through it. The trousers had high, twin pleats and the legs tapered towards the turned-up hems. Turn-ups were essential if you wanted to be on trend. Grey was certainly the most popular choice of colour, although the flecks were sometimes just white rather than coloured.

It was around 1987 when I first ventured into a nightclub. To be honest, I had know idea what kind of suit was in fashion at the time. I just knew that flares and drainpipes had had their day, and noticed that everyone seemed to be wearing pleated trousers with turn-ups - they were on display in Foster's shop window in Stratford-Upon-Avon - this must surely be the way to go!

I actually felt very comfortable wearing turn-ups, and unlike standard trousers, they prevented me from worrying about whether the trouser legs were flapping around too much and, therefore, looking uncomfortably like I was still stuck in the 70s.

You can sometimes find original suits from the eighties being sold on ebay. So, if you want to recreate the authentic look of a smart 80s man, then ebay is probably your best bet.