When you think about the 80s, what comes to mind? The Brat Pack movies, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and hair bands are a given, but there is something that stands out from all the rest when it comes to 80s popular culture, and that is 80s fashion.
The Many Examples of 80s Fashion
The unique thing about 80s fashion is that you can see it anywhere and know exactly what decade it came from. This is not as true with fashion from, for example, the 60s and 70s, because they tended to blend in. No, 80s fashion is indeed in a category all its own.
Tube socks are something that boys still wear today, but 80s fashion had girls wearing tube socks with practically any kind of outfit. It should be noted, however, that the tube socks had to be scrunched into ruffles for a really cool look.
After the movie Flashdance, overly large sweaters that fell to the side over one shoulder (with a gym bra strap showing) were the defining 80s fashion look for teenage girls. As an addition to the look, the hair had to be swept up with a scrunchie into a ponytail that was on the side of the head.
Something that was often seen in 80s movies as an example of 80s fashion were stonewashed jeans, and the jeans had to be tight. These were commonly worn by guys with shirt or t-shirts that had really decorative, fluorescent prints, but they could be worn by women as well.
Another 80s fashion example is leg warmers. These were made popular after Olivia Newton John’s music video “Let’s Get Physical.” Soon, teenage girls were wearing leg warmers over skirts, spandex pants, or shorts.
When it came to accessories, the ultimate 80s fashion statement was bangle bracelets, and the more that were worn on an arm, the better. These were often paired with large hoop earrings. For the guys, a really popular accessory was fluorescent shoelaces.
Another popular fashion statement that ended up moving from the late 80s into the early 90s was women’s hats. These hats often were the feminine version of bowlers, and were decorated with fake flowers or sometimes other decorative prints.
There were many other 80s fashion trends, some that would still be cool today, and others that would just be considered hilarious. Indeed, 80s fashion was all about being creatively unique.
Filed under fashion of the 80s, fashion trends by on Feb 28th, 2008. 1 Comment. 
With each decade, comes a new fashion; however a prominent fashion era is that of the 1970s. The most popular element of 70s fashion is one that is still in motion today. It is the punk movement that was started by Vivienne Westwood.
The Early 70s Fashion
In the early 70s, the fashion scene was just dying down from the hippie movement. The first couple of years of 70s fashion was just a continuation of the 60s. Faded jeans and tie dye could be seen in the first couple of years.
This fashion then changed to the peasant look. The peasant look consisted of long flowy skirts called mid skirts and off the shoulder tops. The look was supposed to be full of movement and peaceful.
The Late 70s Fashion
When the dance of disco sky rocketed in popularity, the 70s fashion took another turn. Three piece suits became really popular among the men. Usually these suits had wide lapels and flared pant legs. Usually the tie and suit were in bright and bold colors.
Another 70s fashion was that of punk. The punk fashion started among those who were poverty stricken. Safety pins became all the rage among them.
They were used to decorate clothes and even worse to be used as nose and ear jewelry. Punks also wore clothes that were ripped, such as ripped jeans and ripped tee shirts. They also wore their hair in a grungy matter.
Guy punks choose hair styles that were longer. This style was really popular among those who did not have much money because most of the clothes could be made by the wearer. It does not take a Benjamin Franklin to wear ripped clothes.
How to Incorporate 70s Fashion Today
Even today, 70s fashion can be seen every once in a while. Any one can easily add the fashion from the 70s into their wardrobe. The best things to look for are longer, peasant like skirts.
Vests were also very popular. Bolder colors were also a key to 70s fashion. You can even dress punk now. To dress like the punks did in the 70s, all you need is a band shirt from that time, or any shirt, and just place rips where you desire. You can also rip and fade jeans for a punkish look without going all out punk.
The best place to find these kinds of clothes are at hand me down clothes stores or thrift stores. Also, those who were in their teens or twenties during that era may still have a lot of the popular clothes stashed away somewhere.
Filed under fashion of the 70s, fashion trends by on Feb 25th, 2008. Comment.
The 1960s were a very interesting time period that saw the advent of many new styles and elements of 60s fashion. Many of these styles have been revived today, and can be seen as influences in modern fashions. Bellbottoms, for example, are one element of 60s fashion that has been revived today. Many people think that bellbottoms were characteristic of the 70s disco era, when in fact they were first introduced in the 60s.
Most people also believe that platform shoes originated in the 70s, but these too are an element of 60s fashion. Singers, such as Cher and Elvis, made bellbottoms popular in 60s fashion. Another distinctive trend of the 1960s was dyed shirts. In the early part of that era, 60s fashion was designed mostly for older people and featured dull, colorless clothing. As a result, small, inexpensive boutiques began selling cheap dyed shirts, which jump started the tie-dyed shirt trend.
Common trends among women of this time included leather boots, false eyelashes, and the mini skirt. The mini skirt was designed by Mary Quant and was a very controversial element of 60s fashion because many people thought that women who wore mini skirts were improperly dressed, but the women who wore them felt as though they were declaring their freedom. As a result of the increasingly popular miniskirt, the 60s fashion era was the first to see pantyhose. Women liked pantyhose because the darker color gave them the appearance of a slimmer, tanner leg. The bikini also became popular in 60s fashion, especially after the release of the movie Beach Party.
It was common for men in the 1960s to wear paisley shirts, or to dress somewhat fancily. Men began growing their hair long as well.
Influences of 60s Fashion
There were many things that influenced the development of 60s fashion. The hippie movement played a huge role in the sixties styles, including bell bottoms, tie-dyed shirts, and paisley prints. There were many people who had an impact on the development of these fashions; notably The Beatles, Twiggy, and Jacqueline Kennedy. Other things that influenced 60s fashion were the women’s liberation movement and ethnic fashions. Ethnic fashions, especially the Oriental look and the Middle Eastern/African look, became very popular during this time.
The elements of 60s fashion are not only interesting because they are distinct, but also because they were able to make a comeback during the nineteen nineties. Why were these styles able to come back? It’s not as though they can be considered “classic” or “timeless.” Perhaps it is because many of the self-liberating ideas and movements of the sixties have been revived today, and the clothing that is worn expresses that.
Filed under fashion trends by on Feb 22nd, 2008. 1 Comment.