80s men’s style featured a mix of mentalities: Bigger (and louder) is better and a return to old school formality. Then there was the result when those two combine and confuse. It’s undoubtedly an important style era.
I live in New York. As someone who moved here from the West Coast, I learned a lot about the sartorial ways of the city through 80s men’s fashion. Swinging London made a splash in ‘60s fashion. Similarly, New York made a splash in the ‘80s — or rather, the ‘80s did a number on New York.
It was a time of economic prosperity. The Wall Street crowd was trying to emulate old world-class but in a more conspicuous way. The art scene and MTV were influencers long before social media. And the first generation of people who grew up with television were at the helm of fashion brands, magazines, art galleries, and finance.
Though generations beyond, New York today is still a product of that ‘80s boom. And therefore, the fashion world as a whole is as well. Are you excited to learn about dynamic 1980s men’s fashion? Let’s get started.
80s Mens Fashion: An Overview of 1980s Fashion Trends
From the early ‘80s to the close of the decade, 1980s fashion trends changed. Initially, the fashion pendulum swung from loud disco to minimalist conservatism. 50s and early ’60s revivalism was big. This traditionalism is arguably the beginning of the Wall Street suit man and the ‘80s preps, though they’d find a livelier ‘80s rendition of it. Think Back to the Future.
And though disco metallics became a thing of the past, fluorescence and neons would eventually take their place. 1980s fashion for men got brighter as the decade progressed. Aerobics became a big thing, which may arguably be the start of athleisure. This and the hip-hop movement gave rise to the fashion tracksuit.
This prosperous time also meant these Wall Streeters and New York gallerinas were jetsetting. Avante-garde Japanese designers like Issey Miyake made fusion fashion and art fashion popular. Everyday guys weren’t wearing these deconstructed looks, but 80s fashion men were. Of course, power dressing as we know it was invented and became popular in men’s 80s fashion. Boxy suits, bedazzled Rolexes, and a lot of padding made you look like a deal closer.
Naturally, with this pro-ambition, pro-consumer movement came the anti-consumer reaction in the form of ‘80s punk. Wearing leather jackets and ripped jeans meant you wouldn’t let the man dictate your life. Then there was the New Wave, a sort of artsier, more colorful post-punk look. Even mainstream popstars of the time would lightly adopt this look — which meant tweens did, too. All of this came together in the form of MTV. LL Cool J sported tracksuits, Madonna made underground club style mainstream, and Prince peacock his velvet suits. As you can see, men’s styles from the 80s varied. And it depended on which crowd you fell into.
7 Men’s Styles From the 80s
Here are some 80s men’s fashion subcultures that started or became popular in the decade. Keep in mind that many people mixed and matched among these sets.
1980s Hip Hop Fashion
You can thank 1980s hip-hop fashion for the fact that various sneaker styles now go for big numbers at high-end auction houses. The aerobics craze made workout wear fashionable for women. However, when it came to fashion in the 1980s for men, it was hip-hop that did that.
Between rap becoming mainstream and Michael Jordan becoming an icon, tracksuits and sneakers were all the rage. Young men and teens loved their Adidas sneakers. And hey, now they’re a classic. For a breakdancer look, one might consider bucket hats, flat-brimmed hats, and gold chains if you were so bold.
Long gym socks (the ones with stripes) were meant to be seen. Ironically, this would go out of favor towards the ‘90s and aughts. It would then come roaring back in the 2020s among the youth.
Long before 2024, cool kids were combining high-end with low-end brands. 1980s fashion men in the hip-hop sphere were doing it. There likely wouldn’t have been any Supreme-Louis-Vuitton collabs if not for the ‘80s.
Of course, rap culture is an African American contribution to society. As such, pan-African shades were a big part of the fashion. Artists used yellow, red, green, black, and combinations of these colors as a form of self-expression. And this proliferated into 80s fashion for men in general.
1980s Neon Fashion
Technological advancements have made producing bright fabrics easier. The result? 1980s neon style played a huge role in 80s fashion men’s clothes. The beginning of the ‘80s started subdued compared to the ‘70s. However, the optimism brought about by a healthy economy and a happy society manifested in fashion. Neon colors represented this new optimistic attitude. These bright colors were particularly popular in aerobics clothes and the growing club scene.
The youth culture born of MTV was enamored by vibrant, neon visuals in music videos. So, of course, the kids of this culture wanted lime green track jackets, bright orange hats, and neon blue parachute pants. Even more conservative sets were adopting bright colors. Preppies, who never feared pastels, traded in their salmon polo shirts for bright pink ones. Green blazers weren’t uncommon at country clubs, either.
1980s Preppy Fashion
Speaking of the country club set, 1980s yuppy and preppy style worked hand in hand to modernize vintage ‘50s looks. In the 1950s, a preppy gent might wear a button-down shirt with a tie, a cream cardigan, slim-fit khakis, and leather oxfords.
In the ‘80s, he’d have a polo, perhaps with the collar popped, a pastel cardigan, and loafers. He might even be in white sneakers. And while the silhouette would maintain a similar clean look, it was looser in some areas. The pants may loosen up top, then taper down to your ankle. The cardigan likely wasn’t as tight. In fact, he may have even tied it around his shoulders.
Ivy League style, which had always existed, proliferated in the ‘80s. Again, many people were doing economically well. The Ivy League, and to an extent, universities in general, were once reserved for legacies and geniuses. Now, the nouveau riche set had the resources to send their kids to fancy colleges. Cardigans, cable-knit, nautical style, polos, blue blazers with khakis, club ties, pastels, and cashmere were popular among would-be preps.
Meanwhile, yuppies were wearing power suits, a lot of padding, suspenders, gold tie clips and cufflinks, and cashmere Burberry scarves. It was as conservative as mainstream ‘50s and ‘60s fashion but made slightly more conspicuous with athletic wear, loud colors, and patterns.
Even the most conservative weren’t impervious to the trends of the day. Of course, how much they incorporated these livelier looks into yuppie and preppy styles varied from person to person. Those in the fashion industry, the 80s style men, often incorporated more trends ahead of their heyday. Now, let’s talk about the non-style guys.
1980s Everyday Fashion
So what if you weren’t a hip-hop guy or an Ivy League legacy (or legacy wannabe)? What did most guys wear? Well, 1980s everyday fashion was a subdued mix of all the style movements at the time. Most men pulled from a toolbox of American workwear, preppy aesthetics, athletic styles, and Western fashions. Remember, around this time, the blazer-with-jeans combo was normalized.
On a night out, a man might wear a blazer (yuppie), a flannel (workwear), and acid-wash jeans (heavy metal). He’d also likely roll his blazer sleeves up. His more traditional friend might be wearing a neon dress shirt, suit jacket, jeans, and boat shoes. And the cool guy in the group might be in a windbreaker and high-top sneakers.
Though it was “a look,” the urban cowboy movement popularized cowboy hats, Western belts, and boots. This look briefly went mainstream again during the aughts.
Casual 80s Mens Fashion
Casual 80s men’s fashion is a huge staple of the decade. Keep in mind that for a long time, people considered T-shirts to be underwear. And yes, men wore them as outerwear long before the ‘80s. But it’s safe to say that this is the first decade that people universally embraced the T-shirt and jeans combo.
The athletic wear craze seeped into everyday wear. People wore sneakers and windbreakers as go-to weekend wear, even if you weren’t in the gym. Even jeans and chinos sported the tapered cut of track pants. And, of course, likely thanks to Marty McFly, a puffy vest was one of the coolest things you could wear.
Thanks to fashion’s receptiveness to brighter colors, the Hawaiian shirt had a significant moment in casual 80s style for men. I’m sure part of this had to do with people’s interest in late ‘50s and early ‘60s aesthetics. Tiki was huge back then.
80s Men’s Summer Fashion
Skin was in when it came to 80s men’s summer fashion; think ripped-sleeve muscle tees and short shorts. You might see the local jock might in short, tight jean shorts with a loose neon tank top on a hot July day. Of course, he’d wear this outfit with sneakers and bunched-up athletic socks that went almost up to his calves. Some guys even tucked their acid-wash jeans into their socks.
For a summer yacht party, guys might wear white Miami Vice-esque or neon suits with a T-shirt. Again, since athletic aesthetics dipped into every style subculture, they might roll up their suit sleeves.
1980s Mens Hair Fashion
In the 1980s, men’s hair fashion varied far more than hairstyles of the past. Going for a feathered look was popular even for everyday men with short hair. You can thank Patrick Swayze and Johnny Depp for the fact that even non-fashion boys next door were buying blow dryers.
The mullet had a moment thanks to rock stars and Full House’s Uncle Jesse. Flat-tops and the Jheri curl were popular in hip-hop fashion, while mohawks and spiked hair dominated punk.
Conclusion: The Dynamism of Men’s Fashion in the 80s
While it wasn’t the end of monoculture as we knew it, 80s men’s fashion allowed for a wide range of personal styles. They did so to an extent that we won’t see again until the internet becomes commonplace.
Sure, the ‘90s were varied, but you can chalk that era up to grunge and pop. You can even categorize alternative fashions as the former and futurism as the latter.
What are some of your favorite ‘80s trends? What about the ones that have come back since then? Let’s start a conversation in the comments!
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