TEN 80S FASHION TRENDS WE'D RATHER FORGET ABOUT!
by Mark Nobes, chief editor
1.
For those who needed them, it was essential to wear a pair of spectacles so huge, that if you stood still for long enough you were in danger of the local window cleaner giving them a wipe over. They were ghastly and often came in putrid colours. The trend continued into the early
In recent years we have seen a resurgence in large, geeky frames, although they are usually in black or tortoiseshell, thankfully.
Diedre Barlow in the 80s |
2. Big Perms
From Whitney Houston to Diedre Barlow in Coronation Street, almost everyone seemed to be sporting a massive perm of some sort back in the 80s. Most perms (particularly poodle perms) were ghastly to look at and almost impossible to manage, and you would need to allow for an extra two hours of preparation in the morning just to ensure it looked decent enough to venture out in broad daylight.
Debbie Gibson wearing hooped earrings in the 80s |
3. Big Plastic Earrings
Remember those huge, neon-coloured plastic earrings that girls used to wear? Not only did they look cheap and tacky, but they also took the emphasis away from everything else you were wearing - just try looking at that photo of Debbie Gibson without focusing on her earrings and you'll see what I mean! Hooped earrings were a popular choice and they always came in bright colours - discreet wasn't a word used when describing 80s earrings. By the way, Debbie is also sporting a whale spout ponytail which was also popular in the 1980s.
Jennifer Beals in Flashdance |
4.
Big and bulky sweatshirts or sweaters worn off one shoulder really did nothing for the female form, and most girls just looked like a sack of coal. Jennifer Beals wearing a baggy grey sweatshirt in
5. Wearing your hair swept over one eye
You may have thought that the singer Gabriel was at the forefront of this very awkward
However, Phil Oakey's hair looked positively normal compared to the hair style worn by Mike Score from the new wave synthpop band A Flock of Seagulls. Hmm, maybe this is where Donald Trump gets his inspiration from?
Mike Score - A Flock of Seagulls |
6. Men who looked like women
The new romantic era in the first part of the decade saw many male pop stars wearing make-up accompanied by dandy clothes and strange hairstyles. However, the most flamboyant and campest look of all came from someone who created a style all of his own, Boy George.
Nick Rhodes and John Taylor - Smash Hits Dec 1983 |
7. Women who looked liked men
After men had finished trying to look a feminine as possible, by the
While many articles on 80s power dressing cite Joan Collins and Linda Evans as being amongst the most influential celebrities to sport the style, singer Grace Jones was at the forefront of it all as you can see on the cover of her 1981 album Nightclubbing.
8. Heavy make-up
Heavy and bright eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipstick with bold and clashing colours became
1. They were colour blind.
2. They were in a rush to get to work.
9. Acid-washed and ripped denim
Just why did everyone suddenly start walking around looking like they had slept in a skip full of battery acid the night before? It
Unfortunately, the fad didn't end with just the jeans. Denim jackets also got an acidic makeover, and I remember 80s pop star Debbie Gibson
10. Wearing leg warmers over your jeans
It was bad enough that everyone suddenly started wearing workout gear and took up aerobics in the 80s, but wearing leg warmers over the top of your jeans was completely pointless exercise and made no sense whatsoever. Leg warmers were designed to stop muscle cramps in dancers legs, not to be used as a ridiculous fashion accessory!
Well, I hope you've enjoyed my rant and it was good to get it off my chest.
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