'80s Style Clothing Ideas You Should Try This Spring

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This post shows you ’80s style clothing ideas with outfit sets.

Image of a woman wearing an oversized denim jacket and high-waisted baggy jeans with the text: '80s style clothing ideas — Jacket

1980’s style clothing has had a huge resurgence in popularity over the past several years.

Simple styles and monochrome is out. Big shoulders and bold colors are in! Fashion straight from the ’80s is becoming more and more trendy. Outfits inspired by the decade of Salt-N-Pepa and Journey are being seen worn by influencers and celebrities alike.

Fashion inspiration and trends from the ’80s are easy to style. Why not try spicing up your wardrobe with some of these styles? Trust me: incorporating some of these key pieces into your style will be incredibly fun.

This post is an all-inclusive guide to ’80s clothing styles that you can wear this spring. I created 7 outfits around key trends from the decade. This post will also show you hair and makeup ideas inspired by the ’80s, as well as some key fashion brands that were very influential at the time.

Now let’s get to it! Here are some of our favorite looks and ideas from the 1980’s that can help you re-create the decade’s style for yourself today.

Table of Contents

’80s Style Clothing Ideas

This era of fashion is known for bright colors, big hair, dramatic earrings, and lots of ruffles! Below you’ll find 7 outfits inspired by these ’80s fashion trends!

’80s Style Clothing: Big Shoulders

80s style clothing outfit 1: Pink crop jacket with puff shoulders, high-waisted distressed baggy denim jeans, white sneakers, pink beaded circle earrings, white shoulder bag — **Products:** Top, Jeans, Sneakers, Earrings, Bag

The first major trend that comes to mind when you think of ’80s fashion is big shoulders. We saw this with exaggerated shoulder pads and power suits becoming popular for women. The outfit that I created is a modern take on the famous power suit and something that I would wear in a heartbeat today.

This set is styled around this drool-worthy cropped blazer. It comes in this bright, metallic fuchsia shade and has an open back and exaggerated, pointed shoulders. The top features a luxe satin-like fabric and is an ultra-cropped cut.

I paired this blazer with some ripped boyfriend jeans. These are high-waisted and in a great light wash. They have distressing and a faded, vintage look to them. I added some platform leather sneakers to keep the look casual.

For accessories, I gravitated towards these brightly beaded statement earrings, another huge trend for the ’80s. I also added this white mini shoulder bag to stash all your essentials. It is embossed with a croc print.

’80s Style Clothing: Bold Colors

Outfit 2: Oversized purple sweatshirt with bell sleeves, blue miniskirt with white daisies, white doc martens with black soles, orange geometric beaded earrings, puffy ruched baby blue handbag — **Products:** Sweater, Skirt, Boots, Earrings, Bag

Bold colors were part of every girl’s wardrobe in the 1980s. Every outfit included at least one bright color, but usually multiple. These colors often clashed, but in the best way. For this ’80s style clothing set, I focused on the colors neon pink, baby blue, and bright orange.

The neon pink sweater has balloon sleeves and a classic crew neckline. The sweater has ribbed knit accents at the neck, cuffs, and hem. I paired it with this adorable baby blue mini skirt with a daisy print. This skirt is so whimsical and also comes in purple and pink.

I added some platform white Doc Martens, one of my favorite styles of boots, to pair with this type of look. The girliness of the skirt goes so well with the edginess of the boots. For accessories, these bright orange textured earrings make a statement, as does the baby blue mini shoulder bag.

’80s Style Clothing: Sequins

80s style outfit 3: silver shimmer crop top, green flare pants, converse high top sneakers in rubber, black crocodile tote bag, silver snake earrings — **Products:** Top, Jeans, Bag, Sneakers, Earrings

Sequin-studded style is a clothing trend from the ’80s that is still going strong today. Sequins are such a fun element to add to a look and are so fab when styled for festive occasions, like holidays, birthdays, parties, or any time you want to make a scene.

This silver sequin top has a strappy open back that you can wrap around and tie in multiple ways. It is such a sassy detail that adds a lot to the top and it’s really unexpected.

For bottoms, I brought some color into the look with these high-waisted, flared green jeans. I love this deep hunter green color and the thin corduroy material adds something extra. The flared leg brings inspiration back from the ’70s too, even though today’s post is all about the ’80s. It never hurts to mix and match!

I added some chunky high-top white Converse and these fun silver snake earrings. Last, for a bag, I finished off the look with this single-fixed handle black purse. It has a faux croc print and a magnetic button fastening. I love the flat base and super structured look of the bag.

’80s Style Clothing: Ruffles

Outfit 4: black tulle ruffled dress, black faux leather trench coat with fur detailing, white chunky heeled wrap-around sandals, silver hoop earrings — **Products:** Dress, Heels, Jacket, Earrings

This has to be one of my favorite trends from the ’80s that has recently made a huge comeback. Ruffles and all things tulle were super popular back then and are seen just about everywhere now.

The main statement of the look is this mini ruffle black dress. It is strapless with layers of ruffles and tulle. I paired it with some white lace-up block heels that are to-die-for. I love these heels because they are not too high, so they’re comfortable enough for a night out. They have a square toe and ankle wrap fastening to add some extra detail to the look.

For warmth, I added this amazing black jacket. This jacket is so chic and screams high-fashion, but for a pretty affordable price. This long coat is made out of smooth vegan leather and has faux fur trimming and a removable waist belt. I love the look of the jacket without the belt and left unbuttoned and opened over the dress.

Finally, I finished off this look with some textured silver mini hoops. They have a braided detail to add a little something more than just plain hoops.

’80s Style Clothing: Off-the-Shoulder Tops

80s style outfit 5: blue crop top with off-the-shoulder sleeves, baggy asymmetrical jeans, chunky black booties, mini red handbag — **Products:** Jeans, Boots, Top, Bag

Off-the-shoulder silhouettes were a super popular clothing style in the ’80s and are still full steam ahead today! This look styles this off-the-shoulder top. It has an elastic neckline, cuffs, and underbust, so it stays up on its own. It also has sheer puff sleeves in this sheen organza fabric. This bright blue color is so bold and pops so much.

I styled the top with these asymmetrical ripped jeans. They are high-waisted and have distressing throughout the legs. For shoes, I added these simple chunky black booties and then polished off the look with this bright reddish-orange crossbody mini purse.

’80s Style Clothing: Off-the-Shoulder Dresses

Outfit 6: green wrap asymmetrical off-the-shoulder dress, fuschia chunky heeled platform sandals, colorblock purse, gold hoop earrings — **Products:** Dress, Heels, Bag, Hoops

This next outfit set styles the same trend, off-the-shoulder silhouettes, but in dress version! This satin dress is super chic and trendy. I love the high-fashion look to it and the beautiful sage green color. It features a gathered high waist, mini skirt length, and an asymmetrical overlapping panel.

I paired it with these bright pink chunky heels. They are super strappy and have a platform, square toe, and ankle strap.

For accessories, I added these bright color block mini bags. This really makes the look pop and ties in the colors from the heels. To keep the jewelry simple, I just added some gold mini chunky hoops for a little bit of bling.

’80s Style Clothing: Statement Earrings

80s style outfit 7: crop bra top in blue plaid with sleeves and square neckline, dark grey denim jeans wiht distressed knees, white chunky sneakers, peace out printed tote bag, daisy acrylic yellow and orange earrings — **Products:** Top, Jeans, Sneakers, Tote Bag, Earrings

Statement earrings are a simple way to bring some ’80s clothing trends into your style. These earrings are very retro and add some ’70s inspiration to this look. They are daisy flowers in all neutral colors.

I paired them with this blue plaid, long-sleeve cropped top and some black distressed mom jeans. I added some chunky white sneakers and this adorable blue and tan tote bag to hold all your necessities in for the day. This is a total gal-on-the-go look.

1980’s Trendsetting Brands

Reebok, Nike, and Adidas Sportswear

Photo of two feet in white Adidas Superstar sneakers with crew socks.

Fitness became a huge fad in the 1980s and that was expressed through fashion. Athleisure really was a clothing style that was born in the ’80s. Major name brands that are still house names today, like Reebok, Nike, and Adidas, were gaining huge popularity back then. The brands became less about fitness and more about streetwear and wearing these known names every day.

Swatch Watches

Swatch watches were a huge trend in the ’80s. Every cool kid has one of these inexpensive plastic watches. They were made with bright colors and patterns and people often owned several and wore them all at once.

Jordache, Guess, Wrangler, Levi, Gitano, Bonjour, Sasson

Close-up photoshoot of Levi's denim jeans.

Denim. Denim. Denim. These jean brands became household names and grew in popularity in the ’80s. Brands like Guess, Wrangler, Levi, and more were seen being worn by everyone. Whether you liked mom jeans, wide leg jeans, or acid-washed jeans, there was a pair out there for everyone, and everyone had a favorite style.

Ray-Ban

Ray-Bans became famous for their Wayfarer and Aviator sunglasses. These styles gained even more popularity to help fuel them into the notable brand that they are today. Everyone who was anyone had a pair.

’80s Hair & Makeup

Closeup photo of an eye with red, blue, and gold liner.

Intense Eyeshadow

The 1980’s were defined by not just fashion, but by beauty too. Specific hair and makeup trends became iconic and transitioned into styles we know and love today.

Intense eyeshadow was super popular to wear. This included bright colors but also bold application. Women would wear their eyeshadow all the way up to their brows and use bright colors like blues and purples. Bold eyeshadow is back with bright colors on your lid and smeared across your lower lash.

Big Hair

Along with bold eyeshadow came even bolder hair. ’80s hair was big and wild, with full volume and extreme curls or waves. This volume is still popular today. Women wore their hair up, down, and to the side. Either way you wore it, there were tons of hairspray and lots of teasing.

What is your favorite ’80s style clothing trend?

Which outfit set are you most likely to wear? Let me know in the comments below!

’80s Style Clothing Ideas You Should Try This Spring