The ‘80s Are Calling
A case for embracing the decade.
*I’m holding a boom box over my head as you read this*
Isn’t it interesting that the trend right now is just an iteration of an older trend? (Yes, I know, that’s literally what a trend is.) Lately, every trend feels like a remix of a remix of a remix. The cycles are getting shorter, and yet, the same decades keep getting all of the love.
Isabel Marant owned the 2010s with her take on ‘60s / ‘70s boho. Less than a decade later, she’s back—hello, bell sleeves and low-rise, studded belts skimming the tops of frilly mini skirts. So nice to see you... again. And yet, in all this decade-hopping, we keep skipping over the best one (IMO): the ‘80s.
The ‘80s is a polarizing decade. Either you love her or you hate her. There was a brief moment when fashion wanted to give the moment her much-deserved flowers. Enter Saint Laurent Fall 2016: the shoulder pads, the metallics, the angular smokey-eye *chefs kiss*. Unfortunately, this didn’t totally stick. It’s a lot of statement for a lot of people.
Saint Laurent Fall 2016:
I’m not saying designers have given up on the ‘80s entirely. Plenty of downtown brands are still weaving in neons, tights, shoulder pads, and mules into their collections. Think MNZ, Mr. Larkin, Caro Editions, and Nicklas Skovgaard. Our boy Simon over at Jacquemus served up this and this at his stunning Spring 2025 show, and more recently, YSL took another swing with an ‘80s-infused Fall 2025 collection. The proof is in the pudding, babe(s).
The ‘80s have been a whisper, but trust… she’s about to be a SCREAM.
I feel that, for the first time in a long time, the ‘60s, ‘70s, and even the ‘90s will take a backseat, leaving us face-to-face with the ‘80s. She’s teetering on the edge of the mainstream, and I want you in on the trend—better yet, ahead of it—before she goes full Zara, IYKWIM.
1980’s SEARCH TERMS: Lillie Rubin, Bill Blass, Pleated Shoulders / Shoulder Pads (duh), Sequins, Cropped Blazer, Emanuel Ungaro, Costume Brooch, Yves Saint Laurent Pumps, Robert Lee Morris Belts, Claude Montana, Skirt Suits, Micro Pleats, Bolero, Double Breasted Jacket, Peplum, Lycra Bodysuits, Geoffrey Benne, Mary Mcfadden.
Here’s how I’ve been bringing my favorite decade into my wardrobe:
Proportions: The ‘80s had a damn-good-time with proportions and shapes. From shoulder pads to cropped jackets, the silhouettes were all about exaggeration and accentuation—making everything bigger, bolder, and more dynamic.
Here’s how I’m wearing / shopping the trend:
A Statement Brooch: Flowers, feathers, bold geometrics—a brooch was the perfect touch of drama. Pinned to a collar or perched on the hip, it was the ultimate cherry on top.
Here’s how I’m wearing / shopping the accent:
A Belt: If there’s one accessory that screams the ‘80s, it’s the belt. Waist-cinching, outfit-defining, and never-subtle—belts were as essential as necklaces or bracelets. The rule? The bigger, the brighter, and the closer to a cummerbund, the better.
Here’s how I’m wearing / shopping the accessory.
The Color Palette: I’ll keep this short and sweet! Please consider the following: teal, royal purple, royal blue, mustard, hot pink, and any/all pastels. The end.
The Pump: No full ‘80s look is complete without it. The go-to for the working woman, it offered just enough lift to take her from office hours to after-hours. And let’s be real, fashion has always loved a desk-to-drinks moment.
Here’s how I’m wearing / shopping the shoe:
just ordered 2 fluffy brooches TY
Okay so you’re brilliant?