80s Fashion Trends Are Back — Here's How To Wear Them In 2022-23

Summary: Fashion trends in the 1980s were inspired by glam-rock and took after icons like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Princess Diana, and Boy George. The 80s fashion style meant everything big. Oversized blazers, acid-washed jeans, animal print, chunky boots, puff sleeves, and padded shoulders are ideal to bring back 80s fashion through your 2022-23 collection.

Styles in 2022-23 are witnessing a return of the unapologetically glamorous 80s fashion that was inspired by style icons like Bianca Jagger, Madonna, Princess Diana, Boy George, and Michael Jackson. The 80s were a decade of dramatic earrings, permed hair, shoulder pads, acid-washed jeans, and exceptionally bright colors and patterns. 

Over the next year, you can expect to see the kind of bold colors and playful silhouettes that marked dressing in the 1980s. Fashion inspired by the era is defined by everything big and bright. It was the ‘got it, flaunt it’ period when owning designer labels and branded logos meant telling the world that you had the money for it. 

Think oversized sweatshirts, Jane Fonda-inspired leg warmers, bold-shoulder blazers, biker shorts, and statement slogan tees. Some of these 80s-inspired looks are already trending. You have seen them in OTT shows like Stanger Things and Bridgerton. Here’s a roundup of all the 80s fashion-inspired looks you can expect to see more of in 2023:

Go Big With The Blazers 

Cold shoulders are out, bold shoulders are in! Since we’re talking about everything big, this applies to blazers too. Princess Diana rocked the look as much as she popularized padded shoulder dresses. They can be one of the most versatile items in the wardrobe. Oversized blazers work with a pair of jeans, matching trousers, and tight skirts for a party look. They can be padded, plaid, or cropped. Stock them up in bright colors for your buyers to choose their favorite shades.

Black Is Back

Is it the 1980s, or is it just Wednesday Addams? Whatever the case, a mix of black, leather, and lace is the look to tap fashion’s dark side. It lies somewhere between goth and biker fashion. To customize this 80s fashion style to this year’s aesthetic, use more fabric layers and exaggerated details for intense all-black pieces. If you are a designer or stylist custom-creating the punk-rock look for clients, chunky boots with oversized tees and matching tights will bring out that 80s vibe quite well. 

Acid Washed Jeans

Whether you’re going with skinny tight jeans, or ‘mom jeans’ – high-waisted and loose-fitted –  creating an 80s fashion-inspired look requires acid-washed denim fabric. This style peaked in the 80s and waned thereafter. It is often frowned upon, but the trick is to keep it subtle. Brands should look at acid-wash denim skirts, jumpsuits, and jackets. Gray acid-wash jeans or dark washes look equally good. For fashion-conscious buyers, acid-washed jeans make the perfect match with colorful tie-dye tops and ​​plain white t-shirts. These looks keep the wearer on-trend, without going overboard. 

Animal Print

You didn’t have to own actual fur to flaunt this look of luxury. The animal print trend, which re-emerged in the 2000s, was the go-to plush print for 80’s textiles. Bold impressions of zebra patterns, leopard spots, cheetah skin, snake skin, and giraffe skin were seen all over sunglasses, leggings, and handbags. They even featured on underwear! You may not have to go that far, but keeping it subtle to match modern aesthetics will create a good look. 

Chunky Boots

Doc Martens made their way into the fashion of the decade, and these chunky boots are still going strong. Also back in the game are chunky sneakers, platform boots, and cowboy boots that can be paired with skirts, a pair of jeans, mini skirts, and free-flowing dresses. Brands can make use of these retro-inspired shoes to amp up their 80s fashion line. 

Puff Out That Sleeve 

Another trend making waves of late is that of puff sleeves, also known as balloon sleeves. Recently seen in Bridgerton, this style is reminiscent of the British Regency era. It entered the 80s fashion style with Princess Diana’s wedding gown and continued through the decade. Let your buyers wear them in exaggerated volume this year. 

Sequins

As far as evening dresses go, glitzy sequins ruled 80s fashion. It is returning as the go-to outfit for happy hour and girls' night out. Sequin-embellished mini skirts, sequinned power suit lapels, sweaters, and sequinned accessories are in trend too. Sequins came into the 80s fashion style, riding on the popularity of glam rock bands. Mag covers, photo shoots, and award shows are where you will mostly see sequins now. They never really went out of fashion, and aren’t going anywhere in the near future too.

Leather Dresses

A bit of black again? Leather dresses and leather jackets make up another major 80s fashion trend, which is still inspiring many looks. If they are yet to find a way into your collections, the right time is now. Styles in 2022-23 are revisiting leather-everything, including Madonna’s favorite leather jackets. Wearing them in the cropped version has a more 2023 vibe. 

Bringing back 80s fashion

Leg warmers, mini skirts with brightly colored leggings, padded sleeves (androgynous much?) and big, voluminous hair were the other stars of the 1980s. Then there were oversized, one-shoulder tops that were worn with large belts. These same trends haven’t found many takers, but some of this has been imbibed into mainstream fashion. 

If you’re looking to create an 80s look, the idea is to go big and glam on the clothing. The hottest looks include oversized blazers, patchwork jeans that were also popular during the 2000s, acid-washed denim, shoulder pads, puffy sleeves, and sequined dresses. Brands should be looking at variations of these. You could use 80s fashion-inspired fabrics like lycra, velour, natural silk, and cotton.

Key Takeaways

• Riding high on a wave of pop icons, 80s fashion was unapologetically glamorous
• Popular 80s fashion trends included shoulder pads, acid-washed jeans, oversized blazers, leather dresses, and sequinned outfits 
• Brands can make use of  80s fashion-inspired fabrics like denim, lycra, natural silk, and cotton

Brands looking to source these fabrics can connect with reliable suppliers through Fashinza and create their custom 80s collection.

Get all your design-to-delivery needs fulfilled on Fashinza.