10 Tips to Dress Like The 80s With Normal Clothes
The 80’s a time when all the colors of the rainbow were appropriate to wear in one outfit, and having lipstick and eyeshadow to match was deemed a fashion must. In hindsight, although some of the clothing choices weren’t esthetically pleasing, there are a few we still could rock today.
Typically people don’t have the basics of an 80’s ensemble sitting around but fret not; there are several tips to dress like the ’80s with normal clothes from your closet. Some of these tips are wearing bold and bright colors, rocking a trench coat, showing half a bare shoulder with a slouch shirt, ripped jeans, or an oversized bulky sweater. The list can go on and on!
Do you want to know how you can pull off an 80’s inspired outfit without a trip to a thrift store? Stay tuned for ten tips to dress like the ’80s with normal clothes, and we promise the blue eyeshadow looks, the best makeup to wear with a red dress, and using pink lightning bolt eyeshadow is optional but recommended!
What Did Women Wear In The 80s?
For anyone who grew up in the ’80s or had parents whose fashion fads peaked in this era immediately, the first vision that comes to mind is the shoulder pad. Women everywhere rocked a shoulder pad and blazer look like it was nobody’s business. Shoulder pads in a t-shirt don’t mind if I do, shoulder pads in my dress, absolutely, shoulder pads on top of shoulder pads, why not.
For the most part, everyday women in the ’80s were all about relaxed fit, oversized comfy off-the-shoulder sweaters with ripped jeans and a pair of Doc Martens. It was about minimalist comfortable clothing like jean jackets, trench coats, high-waisted pants with sneakers, and high-waisted everything.
Businesswomen were all about long skirts, high necklines, baggy slacks with a button-up shirt, and a blazer. The focus was accessories: big belts with clunky designs, enormous shaped earrings( clip-ons to be exact), and a stellar pair of sleek black gloves.
Shoes consisted of,
- Huarache flats
- Chunky baby pumps
- Eight Inch stiletto heels
- Converse
- Penny loafers (must be patent leather)
- Infamous Doc Martens
Even in their mini skirts and short leather or pleather shorts, women still worshipped pantyhose, and the style wasn’t about showing too much skin or any at all. If anything, women in the 80s wore baggy clothes like parachute tracksuits, MC Hammer or better known as parachute pants, baggy dress slacks, and mom jeans. The general idea was sinched at the waist and ankle but fully oversized in the middle.
What Were Some Common Trends For Women's 80's Fashion
The ’80s were all about trends, and there were quite a few to choose from! Women had their daytime looks, going out on the town look, work ensemble, and weekend vibe attire. Their style revolved around the time of day and where they were going and changed drastically according to either.
The ’80s had fashion icons of the likes of Madonna and Princess Diana, who were the epitome of the different fashion spectrums that were in the ’80s. Accessories were a big must-have in the 80s necklaces that contained every geometrical shape possible, earrings to match, a killer broach, and two-inch kitty heels polished off just about any look.
To find looks from other years like the 70s, found some Tips on What to Wear To a 70s Party here.
How Long Does it Take to Get Certified in Brow Lamination?
If you are still interested in getting your certification after hearing about how you can perform the procedure at home, then you might be wondering how long it will take for you to get your certification. The truth is that it depends on your situation.
If you are already an esthetician, cosmetologist, or eyebrow professional, then it will not take very long for you to receive your certification for lamination. Most online courses allow you to move through the course at your own pace, but they do give you a maximum timeline of a couple of months to finish all aspects of the course.
It is important to remember that this time doesn’t include the time that it would take you to become an esthetician, cosmetologist, or eyebrow professional. If you aren’t already a professional, then the process to become certified in lamination will take much longer.
Trend 1
Ripped jeans
Either bought already ripped with the knees were torn out of purposely cut that way. Whatever the case, jeans that looked like you got in a fight with Edward Scissorhands and you didn’t win was where it was at.
Trend 2
Off the shoulder shirts
Nothing screams 80s fashion quite like an off-the-shoulder shirt or bulky sweater. Although most of the fashion trends weren’t about flaunting skin, shoulders were the risqué moment of this era. Many teens used their mom’s kitchen scissors to cut out the necks of their favorite t-shirts for this trend.
Trend 3
High-wasted skin tight jeans
Better known now as “mom jeans,” this trend still required a chunky belt with the most enormous belt buckle you could find to complete the look. This trend was commonly paired with trends one and two, cutting out the knees of the jeans and throwing on a slouched sweater, and out the door, you went.
Trend 4
Spandex
Typically you would think spandex and envision going to the gym, not in the 80s. Spandex was an everyday fashion choice, and no one batted an eye. Spandex shorts with a baggy top, spandex pants with a matching spandex shirt, spandex leggings with a spandex bodysuit, its goes on like Forest Gump and his endless shrimp recipes.
Trend 5
Leg warmers
Along with spandex leg warmers were that trend that just makes you sit and ask, “why?” Whose legs were really that hot during a workout or in general to rock that look and walk out the door ready to seize the day?
Trend 6
Not a clothes trend but an honorable mention at the very least, “big hair don’t care.” Nothing screams the 80s quite like the teased bang and mullet, aka business in the front and party in the back hairstyle. A side pony with a waterfall teased bang and a scrunchie that was the same color as your outfit, and more than likely, your eyeshadow was all the norm.
Trend 7
Lace and fishnet see-through shirts with the matching colored tank top, acid wash jeans, and a pair of crisp white Keds or Skippies, and you were the most popular kid in the whole school.
While some of these trends had their moment to shine, it’s safe to say a majority are better left in the 80s and never to be spoken about again. Unless your mom decides your fifth-grade school portrait with the fluorescent green parachute tracksuit is a throwback your boyfriend must-see.
10 Tips To Dress Like The 80s With Normal Clothes
Now that we have walked down the 80s memory lane of fashion trends, let’s get on with how you can replicate those looks with ten tips to dress like the 80s with normal clothes.
Tip 1
The 80s loved color; in fact, the brighter, the better. Bold blues, vibrant yellows and pinks, and even greens were all the rave back then. So basically, any color that is bright enough and fluorescent enough to be seen with clear visibility on Google maps live. Bonus points if you wear a paid pf matching bottoms, earrings, and belt!
Tip 2
Women loved blazers with shoulder pads in the 80s but wearing a jacket that comes down to your hips isn’t always the best look. Take that cute waist-length blazer out of your closet and throw on some detachable shoulder pads, and you have yourself a customized 80s look.
Buy colorful blazer with shoulder pads on Amazon here!
Tip 3
A chunky sweater or an oversized cardigan was the go-to for a comfy relaxed fit in the 80s. Take that knitted sweater out the back of the closet or the cardigan you can’t quite match with anything, and rock the look. Tuck in the corner of the sweater into a pair of mom jeans, or wear that cardigan along with a pair of slacks, and you just created two iconic 80s fashion looks.
Buy Yaiewey oversized cardigan on Amazon here!
Tip 4
Trench coats and jean jackets were a staple for everyday wear in the 80s, not just to stay warm. Chances are you have one or both in your closet. Pair a trench coat with a white t-shirt, ripped jeans, and a pair of converse or a jean jacket with matching colored jeans and some black boots, bonus points if you have Doc Martens and you look like you just stepped out of an 80s time machine.
Tip 5
An off-the-shoulder top was the 80s version of sexy without showing too much skin. Suppose you don’t own a shirt already off the shoulder, head-on into the kitchen, and get your scissors. Take that shirt that needs a little oomph to it and go to town! Cut along the neckline enough to where you can slouch it down towards your armpit and expose your shoulder.
Tip 6
Ripped skin-tight high-waisted jeans were a must-have for anyone with any fashion sense in the 80s. It is likely that you have one of each of these jean types but not probable that you have all in one. No worries, if you have a pair of tight high-waisted or mom jeans, then grab those kitchen scissors once again, and for the love of the 80s, cut out the knees. Pair them with your favorite t-shirt or wool sweater, and you’ve rocked the jean trend, bonus points if you have a chunky belt hidden in the depths of your closet.
Tip 7
This tip should be relatively easy for most women as chances are we all have a mini skirt lying around somewhere. The one thing you probably don’t have is a pair of black pantyhose, but slap on some black leggings a pair of clunky boots, and you have mastered the 80s mini skirt ensemble. Bonus points if the mini skirt is plaid!
Tip 8
A pencil skirt with a crisp white button-up to the neck shirt was how most women dressed for their workday. Take the longest skirt you have, and whatever button-up you just picked up from the dry cleaners, add in some great accessories like a long beaded necklace, big earrings, or a bold red lip, and you will be the talk of the office.
Tip 10
The best is always saved for the last, the 80s tracksuit. Granted, wearing a solid-colored top and bottom tracksuit made entirely of material that could take you out with one strong gust of wind isn’t ideal; however, there is an alternative. Let’s take away the parachute material (or keep it if that’s your jam) and instead rock a solid colored matching Adidas tracksuit and bonus points if you throw in an old-school pair of white Adidas sneakers.
Final Thoughts
Although there were many iconic trends and fashion statements that came from the 80s, not all deserve a comeback, even with normal clothes. Staples like a trench or jean coat, comfy sweaters, and a sexy peek, a boo shoulder will always have a place in today’s fashion trends. Legwarmers, full spandex leotards, and lime green parachute pants; however, maybe not.
