Some loved them while others hated them, either way there can be no argument that the 80s affected everyone who lived through them. Whether you read through this Top Ten with nostalgia in your heart and a tear in your eye, or just for cringe at the memories – there’s certainly something in the Top Ten 80s Trends for everyone.
10. Shoulder pads
People loved big stuff in the 80s, big hair, big phones and big cars. No wonder then, that by the end of the decade shoulder pads had pretty much taken on a life of their own. And not just for the ladies!
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9. Acid wash
Acid wash jeans were all the rage in the 80’s. If you were into punk you could add a few studs to your chlorine-splashed denim. If you were more of an outlaw country dude a few well-placed rhinestones would have done the trick. Hair Metal enthusiasts would often go one step further, adding frayed holes to create ‘destroyed denim’.
8. Fingerless gloves
80s pop stars like Michael Jackson and Madonna donned fingerless gloves but the guy who really nailed the look was Billy Idol. The cover of his 1983 album Flesh for Fantasy is testimony to this.
They were embraced by more than one sub-culture too; new romantics wore the lace version while punks went for the leather, studded variety. Maybe the trend had something to do with the 80s obsession with cutting things off (like jeans and shirt sleeves) – a way to tie it all in together. In any case, it was certainly distinctive.
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7. Spandex
This is one of those things that really makes a feller hold his head in his hands and ask ‘what were they thinking?’ I mean seriously, how did this seem like a good idea to anyone, ever?
6. Bum Bags
Why don’t guys rock bum bags any more? Because they look ridiculous? Well maybe, but the 80s were all about looking ridiculous and if you wanted to have a handy little sack hanging from your waist while you were at it, there was really nothing to stop you. If you were a real fashionista you might have even sported one in fluoro. Mmm fluoro…
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5. Parachute Pants
Made famous by MC Hammer, parachute pants might have made you look silly but they certainly gave your privates some room to breathe while pulling off those fancy dance moves! You Can’t Touch This was actually released on January 13 1990 but we reckon that still counts. After all, it was still the 80s at the time of filming!
4. Ghetto Blasters
Ghetto blasters have got to be one of the best things about the 80s. Whether you were pumping out rap, punk or pop the willingness to carry one of these bad boys around with you showed a real commitment to your vibe. It says a lot about attitudes in the 80s really. Today’s equivalent would be walking down the road cranking out tunes with a battery-powered iPod dock. Would that go down well? I think not my friends, I think not.
3. The Mullet
Made famous by legends such as Andre Agassi, Jason Donovan and Billy Ray Cyrus, the mullet is one hell of a haircut. Business up front and party in the back, the ’80s mullet was best rocked with a sweet stache, leather jacket and acid washed jeans. With the hipster trend in full swing now, we reckon this ridiculous hairstyle is in line for a pretty strong comeback pretty soon. Ladies, you’re in for a treat!
2. Water beds
Like a bad smell from the 1970’s, waterbeds stuck around in the ’80s and actually peaked in popularity in the US with 22% of all US mattress sales coming in the form of undulating pillowy squish. They were bad for your back, punctured and leaked at first contact with sharp objects and kids could actually get stuck between the bladders and the bed frame. But, if you loved the feeling of sleeping on a cruise ship, in the middle of the Atlantic, then these babies were the best thing ever.
1. B-boying aka Breakdancing
Kicked off in the ’70s, b-boying exploded in Australia in the 1980s, when kids busted out on sheets of cardboard to hip hop and funk pumped through their ghetto blasters at parks, schools and on the streets. B-boys and B-girls showcased an array of moves but the four main elements include toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes which, when combined, is downright funky.
