‘80s Preppy Fashion

Surprisingly, there was a certain amount of crossover between hip hop fashion and preppy fashion in the ‘80s. Although they differed in some key ways, hip hop fashion used elements of prep – particularly from brands like Tommy Hilfiger and their ubiquitous Polo look – to capture that aspirational and exclusive feel. However, the 1980s preppy trend largely emphasized lighter and brighter colors than hip hop. Achieving the look today is easy with pink, yellow, or navy polo shirts, a pair of slacks or khakis, and a sweater as an accessory, rather than use.

‘80s Workout Fashion

Modern fans of athleisure wear have the 1980s to thank for yoga pants and casual tank tops. Due to the increasing popularity of gym culture at the time, athletic brands were developed and expanded, leading to men’s basic sweatpants, tracksuits, and trainers. The style is as comfy and cool today as it was when it first hit the Sears catalog.

‘80s Summer Fashion

While ‘80s summer fashion for men took a lot of its cues from preppy styles, with bright colors for shirts and pants, you could also expect to find short shorts and crop tops that would keep you feeling and looking cool on the hottest summer days. Iconic and stylish, these summer styles are still in play in modern menswear.

‘80s Rock Fashion

The ‘80s rock fashion took accessories, hair, and attitude to the next level. Big hairstyles were a key element of the rock fashion look, but the style also included leather jackets, boots, headbands, faded and ripped jeans, and lots of silver studs.

‘80s Punk Fashion For Men

While you can purchase a lot of punk accessories in mainstream stores today, punk was initially an anti-establishment, anti-capitalist movement and the fashion reflected that. Clothes were DIY with safety pins, spikes, and chains. Although hairstyles like dyed mohawks and pixie cuts were bold and impossible to miss, these haircut styles were part of the punk ideology that countered the mainstream and fought against consumer culture.