Men’s Styles and Fashion Trends from the 80s

Back in the 80s, men had a lot of different styles that suited them. While today men may think twice about wearing what they did then, nobody thought twice about taking it off the hanger in the 80s. In short, anything extreme and outrageous was popular.

Even today, men have got some crazy styles. Everything from edgy to sporty to sharp and clean allows them to show off who they are. There are also some 80s trends that are still popular today, like denim and bomber jackets and Ray-Ban sunglasses.

Men’s Fashion in the 80s

It’s hard to paint a clear picture of what men’s fashion was like in the 80s, but it is safe to say that, like women, the popular styles were bold, colorful, excessive and edgy. When I say edgy I mean ripped jeans, leather jackets and long hair, similar to The Lost Boys or The Outsiders or a rock stars. There was also the jock type like from the 80s rom coms like The Breakfast Club, Better Off Dead and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. T-shirts were another popular one; what you had on your t-shirt was at the very least, a conversation starter.

Also, fashion doesn’t only mean clothes. It’s everything you sport around, like your hairstyle, accessories and even boomboxes. Do you prefer Air Jordans or Converse? Denim jacket or bomber? T-shirt or polo? There was so much variety back then that every guy was unique, which is a big reason why the 80s was such an iconic era.

So whether you want to dress up for Halloween or have an 80s themed party coming up, you’ll definitely want to check out this list for some ideas! With these trends, there won’t be much guessing as to which decade you’re from. So here you go, the popular men’s styles from the 80s.

Popular Mens’ 80s Styles

1. Bomber Jackets

There were a few separate types of bomber jackets. One was the varsity letterman jacket like what Troy wore in The Goonies. Then there’s the casual bomber jacket. And finally there was the military bomber jacket like what Tom Cruise wore in Top Gun. But you should know bomber jackets didn’t come out in the 80s, but during WWI when they were worn by the military.

Speaking of military, there’s a new Top Gun coming out with Tom Cruise and of course some younger pilots who I bet will be wearing bomber jackets. After all, it was Tom Cruise who made them popular. They’re even popular among women as the celebrity Kendall Jenner and other hip-hop stars wear them around Hollywood and during their performances. Some popular brands that make these are Acne Studios, Patagonia, A.P.C and Alpha Industries.

2. Hawaiian Shirts and Mustaches

Hawaiian shirts definitely fit into the extreme category during the 80s as Tom Selleck from the TV Show Magnum, P.I. rocked his Hawaiian T-shirt and mustache every episode. If you’re not familiar, the show was set in Hawaii as the main character, Tom Selleck, underwent private investigations to solve crimes. On his days off, he was shown drinking beer, picking up women or just sunbathing, all while wearing his trendy Hawaiian shirts.

Another proud icon of the Hawaiian shirts is Jimmy Buffet, especially famous with his “Margaritaville” song. Everything about him screams beach island as he can be seen wearing these tropical shirts all day everyday. Can you blame him? They’ve gotta be comfortable!

While not as popular today as in the 80s, Hawaiian shirts are making a comeback as many luxury designers like Aries, Off White, Gucci and AMIRI are releasing their own versions of the floral fashion trend. If you’re going for this look yourself, I recommend pairing them khakis or loose fitting shorts to complete the look. Even Justin Bieber has been caught wearing them!

3. Tracksuits

I don’t think tracksuits have gone out of style since the 80s. I remember they were definitely popular during the 90s. But you should also know that tracksuits go back to the 70s and were made popular by Run DMC, Ice Cube and LL Cool J. They wore Adidas tracksuits which started the trend as designer brands use different materials like velvet, velour and polyester. They were also worn both inside and out of the gym.

Today, popular brands like Nike, Lulu Lemon, Carharrt and Uniqlo are coming out with designs of all kinds. They’re also popularly worn by Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian.

4. Leather Jackets

Every 80s bad boy wore a leather jacket; most had a closet full of them. While it was popular in other eras like the 50s, many rock and roll bands, punk rockers and bikers wore these and still do so today. It gives off a bit of an edge.

Today, leather jackets haven’t lost their appeal. It’s a simple item that keeps you warm and goes with a lot of styles. But you should probably know these can be quite expensive, depending on the quality of leather, some getting into the hundreds and even thousands of dollars. If you just want to try it out, most people can’t tell the difference between real and fake leather, so you can hit up any department store and find one. But if you feel like leather is your thing, you’ll want to check out AllSaints, Superdry, Uniqlo and RM Williams.

5. High Top Shoes

High top sneakers are most proudly worn by basketball players, but they were highly sought after by teens and 20 somethings in the 80s. Nike and Air Jordans have withstood the test of time and have made it into the hottest fashion trends of today.

One such icon who made high top shoes is Michael Jordan of course, coming out with his own line of shoes selling for hundreds of dollars each. Buyers became so obsessed that they became a collector’s item, storing them in display cases to keep them in pristine condition. If you saw someone walking around wearing these, you can be sure it was most likely a special occasion.

Another popular high top sneaker was Converse as they were also worn playing basketball and baseball. They don’t have much support, if any, but they are trendy!

Today, you can still find high tops and Air Jordans online and of course at athletic apparel stores. But the cool twist is that many 80s styles are sold as retro styles today. So you shouldn’t have a hard time finding them.

6. Power Suits

Every man loves a power suit to make him feel…well, powerful! And of course it never went out of style. Men who wore these not only wanted to feel like they were upper class, but to be respected and taken seriously. While in the 80s, they were worn a bit more loosely, including among women; now they are a bit tighter to show off some figure. As a woman myself, I like a man who works out and works in a power suit to flaunt their gorgeous muscles.

During the 80s, they were worn by Gordon Gekko in Wall Street as well as other business women, accented with large jewelry and big hairstyles.

Today, almost every CEO wears a power suit, although the tie has come off with the top buttons undone over the years. Things have become a bit more relaxed nowadays as events become more informal. Plus it must have been hard to breathe with the ties wrapping around the collar of the shirt. Nevertheless, both men and women still love sporting the power suits to work.

7. Oversized Printed Shirts

Patterns of all designs and colors could be found on these huge shirts. There’s a popular saying that goes “real men wear pink”. I have to say oversized printed shirts take it a step further with some crazy patterns, some more intricate than others.

Today, they’re still worn by many, but nowhere near as much as before. They’ve also come down in size over the years most shirts are now more form-fitting to show off a nice figure. These can still include Hawaiian shirts but others include plaid, diamonds, squares, animal print, squiggles and some with no pattern at all. But if you choose to wear something that has a lot going on on the shirt, pick a simple bottom like jeans or pants with a solid color.

8. Double Denim

Speaking of denim, it was widely worn in the 80s, often known as The Canadian Tux. It was warm, stylish and cheap, at least, cheaper than leather. Many kids wore it to school, sometimes ripped, depending if they were bad boys. But most wore double denim with confidence as they weren’t afraid to wear it on dates, around town and to school. As long as the wash and styles matched, you could look good in this stylish trend. Personally, I think it gives off more of a country appeal, like Tim McGraw or Alan Jackson.

Double denim isn’t as popular today as it was in the 80s, but denim jackets have made their comeback over the years. Most men just don’t wear both top and bottoms at the same time as they’ll definitely stand out in the crowd.

9. Ear rings

Popularly worn by Rob Lowe and Johnny Depp, boys would be begging their parents to let them get an ear pierced. Most of the time just one, to give off that edgy vibe that they could handle pain. Some would also combine this with getting their hair highlighted, but the frosted tips didn’t become a thing until the 90s.

Ear rings back then are like tattoos today. Although I personally like the tattoos more since they tell a story and allow people to better express themselves. But ear rings today have lost their charm, especially after the 90s when NSYNC fell out of sync (haha).

10. Logo and Phrase T-Shirts

T-shirts were as popular then as they are now, except then they were a bit more oversized. But they were frequently sported by concertgoers, sports fans and those who just wanted to be lazy at home. Whether it be a phrase that’s important to them, something funny or their favorite brand, phrase and logo t-shirts exploded during the 80s.

The trend continues to remain robust today as you’re more than likely to see someone walking around wearing a t-shirt with something funny. Personally, I’ve seen them get quite political as the line between the Republican and Democratic parties becomes more apparent. But overall, I love buying t-shirts that are both comfortable and fashionable to wear in public at home.

11. Mullets

One of my favorite hairstyles from the 80s, the mullet was proudly worn by many gorgeous men like John Stamos, Steve Perry, Patrick Swayze and even The Tiger King! Everybody from movie stars to jocks sported the mullet well that allowed their hair to blow in the wind and yet short enough to stay out of their face. If you’re unfamiliar with this hairstyle, the hair is short in both the front and sides of the head, but long in the back. This is probably where the popular phrase “business in the front, party in the back” comes from.

If you’re still rocking the mullet today, you’re one of very few. But if you’re looking to have one for a party or theme day, I suggest ordering a wig online as it will take a while to grow one of these babies out yourself.

12. Ripped and Cropped Jeans

If you loved wearing jeans in the 80s, Levi’s was your go to store. They sold everything from ripped to cropped to heavy wash and even high top jeans during the 80s. All of these styles were popular, depending if you were a jock, nerd or rock star. Many kids would often wear their jeans to school with the bottoms rolled up to show off their shoes, most often Converse high tops.

Jeans are still more popular today than ever as styles of all kinds are worn. Acid washed, ripped, loose, skinny, cropped, low and high-waisted, whatever you want, it’s easy to find. But you might notice the 80s dad jeans are coming back with a more loose fit and a lighter wash.

13. Accessories

if you think accessories are only for women, think again. Swatches, sunglasses, gold chains, belts and even fanny packs were sported around with confidence in the 80s. They all had different styles of course, and they were a great way to accentuate a plain old shirt or even an intense pattern.

Many accessories are still worn today with the exception of fanny packs and Swatches. But everything else like sunglasses, gold chains and large watches gives men a feeling of both power and confidence.

14. Neon Outfits

Men didn’t always go as far as wearing neon, but this was certainly the hottest color in the 80s, apart from pastels. Bright colors on track suits, athletic wear and even leisure clothing was in. Both shirts and pants were full of color to help them stand out. Yellows, pinks and oranges were great to wear while running, around the house, college dorms and even concerts.

Nowadays, people are more selective of how they wear neon. It isn’t so much worn by men as it is younger girls today, but you might still see it around the city. But if this is the look you’re going for, you might want to pair it with some black pants or top, unless you’re headed to an 80s theme party. Then you might want to go all out!

Popular Men’s Outfits

A few key looks during the 80s were what defined men’s fashion during the 80s. Dad jeans and denim paired with preppy polos or a sweater would work well. For a summer look, you’ll want short shorts, athletic wear or a tight tee. As the fashion world was also influenced by music artists, you can opt for some baggy clothes, snapbacks, gold chains and sneakers or big hair, a leather jacket with a fake earring like a rock star. If you’re going for the business look, a power suit with a striped button down shirt would be what I recommend. Throw in some accessories like sunglasses or a bum bag and you’re ready to go!

What Was Your Style in the 80s?

Men had some pretty unique styles in the 80s, but that was one of the reasons the 80s were so cool! While some might call it weird, it was definitely unique and makes a great theme at a college party or day in the office.

So what was your style from the 80s? Did you have a mullet or rock star hair? Slogan t-shirt or polo? Any swatches or gold chains? I’d love to hear it in the comments below!