80s Men’s Fashion: A Close Study with Insights for Designers
The 80s were very interesting and unique for men's fashion. Bright clothes marked this fashion era with a hint of hip-hop culture and preppy style. The best words that describe the 80s fashion for men are bold, excessive, colourful, and decadent.
The decade also witnessed a lot of experiments in all aspects such as clothing, hairstyle, footwear, and much more. The 80s fashion industry was a mix of culture and previous fashion trends, paving the way to upcoming fashion trends.
The trends we see today are influenced by past fashion. Retro is now the new aesthetic. Its designs, colours, patterns are regaining popularity and are becoming famous in the consumer base.
What kind of clothing did people wear in the 1980s?
Among the most popular items of clothing worn in the 1980s were men’s Oxford shirts, as well as polo shirts and turtlenecks for women, pants in khaki or tan, suspenders, striped linen suits, and corduroy for men.
What kinds of accessories were fashionable throughout the 1980s?
The use of accessories was quite popular in the 1980s fashion. Leg warmers, scrunchies, plastic bangles, fingerless gloves, giant wacky earrings in neon colours, fanny packs, mesh embellishments, and pearl necklaces were among the most popular things.
80s Fashion Men’s Trends
The details given below will give all the designers insights about the 80s men’s fashion for their clothing collection. Some notable trends of the 80s in men’s fashion till date influence the fashion industry and are as follows:
- 80s Casual Fashion
Dad jeans were a staple of casual design in the 1980s, and they were often paired with a denim jacket to complete the look. Bomber jackets, windbreakers, leather jackets, and sweaters were among the outerwear options available at the time. T-shirts and loose shirts were also fashionable during this time period. Talking about footwear, sneakers of white colour were the go-to option since they were versatile and could be worn with a variety of styles.
- Baggy Sweaters or Jumpers
One of the most loved and recognised trends in the 80s were baggy clothes, especially sweaters and jumpers. The popularity grew to the extent that formal clothing introduced baggy apparel.
The clothes were so that they never failed to stand out or amaze people even though loose on the body. The colours used were specifically bright and loud. There was no specific pattern for them, but retro-style thread work was prevalent.
Baggy clothes had an extensive consumer base, and the 80s fashion introduced many variations, types, and colours in this clothing category. Thus, it became famous among youngsters as well as other age groups.
- Fashion Trends of Hip Hop
During the 1980s, hip-hop indeed was another very popular trend that was followed. Run-D.M.C, N.W.A and Beastie Boys were among the musicians and rappers who inspired and were influenced by the style, which was well recognised for its enormous silhouettes and references to pop culture. Sportswear aspects, such as shoes and athletic hats, as well as statement accessories like thick gold chains, were also prominent in hip-hop fashion, in addition to baggy garments.
- Hawaiian Shirt
Another popular trend in the 1980s was floral or Hawaiian shirts, generally paired with Capri shorts. The colours used were intentionally vibrant and bright to give the clothing a Hawaiian vibe.
- High-waisted Jeans
No one denies the supremacy of high-waisted Jeans. Jeans popular during this time were generally in different shades of blue. A trend of folding/rolling the leg bottoms at the ankle emerged. The 80s consumer base chose loose over skinny jeans with tucked shirts.
- Preppy Fashion
Preppy trends of fashion played an important part during the 1980s as well. In contrast to hip-hop styles which tended to be dark in colour, preppy clothing was bright in colour, with tones of pink, yellow, and blue dominating the palette. Sweaters, which gentlemen would frequently wrap over their shoulders and trousers along with polo shirts, were essential accessories in the preppy design.
- Double Denim
Double denim might not sound cool in today's time, but it happened to be one of the most loved fashion trends in the 80s. The fashion trend of double denim consisted of two types of denim worn together. For example, a jacket worn over a denim shirt. The concept of double denim got such popularity that it continued for the longest time.
The denim shirts were faded, and the colours of the jacket or the shirt were not supposed to be the same. Two different colours were worn in a manner that complimented each other pretty well. Double denim was thus another dearly loved trend of the 80s.
- Workout Fashion
Despite the popularity of athleisure now, men's gym clothing has always been a preferred fashion choice. Workout fashion was huge in the 1980s, and a variety of sporting designs were adapted for daily wear, such as chunky kind of shoes, colourful sweatpants, windbreakers, tracksuits, and different athletic shorts, among other things.
- Neon Tracksuits
The tracksuits were mostly made of parachute material and had colourful patterns on them. The trend of neon tracksuits was again introduced in 2020 and became immensely popular among people.
- Rock Fashion
Rock fashion was all about excess. Wild clothing, big hair and plenty of make-up were signature rock fashion styles. Leather played a vital role, especially in making leather jackets. Jewellery and headbands were both becoming seriously popular as accessories for men.
- Leather Jackets
Leather jackets are an all-time favourite. It has a strong style statement and provides adequate protection from the cold. Mostly, some chains were included at different ends to give it a cool look. Such jackets were styled with t-shirts and sometimes shirts. Leather Jackets to date are a big fashion trend.
- High-top Sneakers
These sneakers were available in various colours such as red, blue, green, and many more. Nike was the pioneer in making such sneakers. The designs of such sneakers mostly included the logo of the brand, lining, and thread to tie the sneaker. These sneakers are quite comfortable for everyday use or even occasional use. High-top sneakers are thus one of the most loved and recognised fashion trends from the era of the 80s.
- Colourful Shorts
Colourful shorts are considered to be for kids but not during the 1980s. One very integral element of 80s men’s fashion is colourful shorts. They were considered to be the most comfortable and trendy fashionable clothing item. These shorts were up to the knee level and were available in vibrant colours such as blue, yellow, red, and others. These shorts were paired with baggy shirts or even t-shirts. These shorts are not specifically designed for beachwear; they can be worn during casual outings, informal get together, and much more.
- Polo T-shirts
Polo t-shirts are basically t-shirts with different colours and three to four buttons on them. These t-shirts generally have quarter sleeves or half sleeves. There is no specific material designated for such t-shirts, but they are generally made comfortable for the person wearing them; the material is kept soft and light.
There is also no such design designated for the t-shirt; they are simple with collars and buttons in them. Brands have their logo imprinted stitched on such polo t-shirts.
T-shirts have a single colour; these colours are mostly solid. Polo t-shirts were hence one of the most comfortable and easy-going trends introduced in the fashion era of the 80s by the designers.
Conclusion
Fashion is the way of life. It makes life more fun and stylish. History is proof that fashion trends have never stayed constant. It changes with time, and the changes are introduced according to the latest demand in the market. Fashion is thus modified according to the preference, comfort, and demand of the consumer base of a country. It also depends on the cultural, geographical, and climatic aspects, and this is the reason why trends are different for different countries and change with time.
The most loved trends and the types of material, and colours of the 80s era are still appreciated today. The evergreen trends of men's fashion can be revived and revamped by designers to create unique looks for their customers. Some of the 80s men’s fashion items have made a comeback and are followed today. For instance, neon tracksuits, varsity jackets, baggy sweaters, and much more.
Fashinza is a well-known B2B ( Business to Business) apparel manufacturing platform. This brand helps clothing brands to manufacture their collections by helping them connect with different suppliers. They also oversee the entire production process from the design to the delivery - the partner brands only need to place the order. This platform is much like Amazon for all clothing brands, basically a place for all brands and the best of products.
Fashinza aims at providing the best information about the fashion industry that is useful and informative for designers all around. Visit our website to learn more about such 80s Fashion Men trends, along with a detailed analysis of the material, colour, stitching, and much more.
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