The 1980s fashion trends were influenced by the fashion industry and popular icons as women strove to recreate looks seen on their televisions. From Jane Fonda to Lady Di, the rich and famous of society has a big impact on the fashion trends of the decade, including some bold accessories.
In fact, the entire decade is known for some pretty bold statements in regards to fashion. Today, some of those looks are even experiencing a resurgence. For example, the crop top became stylish then thanks to pop music star Madonna and her contemporaries.
Along with the midriff-revealing tops were huge, colorful earrings. Women of all ages chose to wear these large plastic loops and geometric shapes in colors to match the season.
Hair was a huge part of fashion in the 1980s, with women teasing it as large as possible. To accessorize, scrunchies could be used for style on days when an updo was desired. These ponytail holders were often created in the same prints and colors that were being used for clothing so women could coordinate with all of their favorite outfits.
Lace was one such material, which saw a great deal of use during decade. In large part thanks to Madonna, women and girls bought up all kinds of lace clothing and accessories. No longer limited to undergarments, gloves and headgear were also made from the material.
For those with a bit more of an athletic focus, headbands were a popular accessory. Previously restricted to the gym, women began to wear them as a fashion statement after exercise guru Jane Fonda released her first workout tapes.
In addition to the headbands, these workout videos also made legwarmers a wardrobe staple for a few years in the first half of the decade. Women who had no intention of hitting the gym would wear these fashion statements over their jeans, keeping their calves warm and their reputation as fashionistas on target.
Also from the gym, spandex became the latest material for use in pants. This stretchy stuff was used for leggings while fabric with a looser weave was utilized for stirrup pants. These provided a similar look but without the close up body contact many women disliked with leggings.
The popular 1980s fashion trends showed more than just a desire to be fit. The clothing also reflected the changes going on in the corporate world. As women worked to establish themselves as contenders in previously male-dominated pursuits, power suits came into play.
Along with bold colors and sharp designs, these suits had outrageously large shoulder pads. For years, women in the business world saw their shoulder pads grow larger and larger. Finally, the trend faded and women in the boardroom no longer resembled linebackers.
The decade saw many changes in the political and entertainment arenas. The fashions of the time reflect aspects of the world climate. The empowerment gained in the previous decades shone in the fashion and accessory choices that were available to women.