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Spandex, Scrunchies, and Shame: 55 Of The Greatest 80s Fashion Hits And Misses
HistoryFEB 5, 2025

Spandex, Scrunchies, and Shame: 55 Of The Greatest 80s Fashion Hits And Misses

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Get ready to cringe, laugh, and maybe even feel a weird urge to dust off the boxes in your attic, because we're diving deep into the most radical (and questionable) fashion choices of the 1980s! Back when bigger meant better and more meant MORE, we somehow convinced ourselves that acid-wash everything, shoulder pads that could double as flotation devices, and hair that defied both gravity and reason were totally tubular fashion choices.
From fluorescent windbreakers that could be seen from space to perms that survived nuclear-levels of hairspray, these trends defined an era when fashion said "hold my New Coke" and went absolutely bananas. Whether you lived through these sartorial adventures or just enjoy pointing and laughing at old family photos, join us for a bodacious trip down memory lane. Warning: This much neon and spandex in one place may cause an unprompted performance of "Flashdance."

#1 Early-Mid '90s Windbreaker/Tracksuit: Just A Reminder That We All Wore These And We Thought They Looked Good. I Can Still Hear The Swoosh/Swish

Early-Mid '90s Windbreaker/Tracksuit: Just A Reminder That We All Wore These And We Thought They Looked Good. I Can Still Hear The Swoosh/Swish
38points

#2 Big Earrings And Big Hair! The Classic 80s Combo

Big Earrings And Big Hair! The Classic 80s Combo
37points

#3 Shoulder Pads

Shoulder Pads
36points

#4 Spandex And Paint Splash Pattern

Spandex And Paint Splash Pattern
35points

#5 Dance Style Of The 80s

Dance Style Of The 80s
35points

#6 My Friends And I Grew Up Hundreds Of Miles Away From A Beach, But We Sure Did Have A Ton Of Ocean Pacific Gear In The 80s!

My Friends And I Grew Up Hundreds Of Miles Away From A Beach, But We Sure Did Have A Ton Of Ocean Pacific Gear In The 80s!
34points

#7 Crop & Mesh Tops Were Popular Mens Fashion Options Back In The 1980s

Crop & Mesh Tops Were Popular Mens Fashion Options Back In The 1980s
33points

#8 The Perm

The Perm
32points

#9 The 80's Secretary: Big Hair, Stockings And Heels, Smoking Cigarettes In The Office

The 80's Secretary: Big Hair, Stockings And Heels, Smoking Cigarettes In The Office
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31points

#10 1988 Side Ponytail And Rolled Up Mc Hammer Pants. The Coolest I've Ever Been

1988 Side Ponytail And Rolled Up Mc Hammer Pants. The Coolest I've Ever Been
31points

#11 Going To The Chapel - Vintage Images Of Wedding Fashions, 1980

Going To The Chapel - Vintage Images Of Wedding Fashions, 1980
31points

#12 Acid-Washed Jeans

Acid-Washed Jeans
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30points

#13 The Scrunchie

The Scrunchie
30points

#14 Stirrup Pants

Stirrup Pants
30points

#15 Don't You Just Miss The Fashion

Don't You Just Miss The Fashion
30points

#16 Wanted To Appreciate Some Colorful 80s Footwear From Jcpenney

Wanted To Appreciate Some Colorful 80s Footwear From Jcpenney
29points

#17 Punk Fashion Circa 1986

Punk Fashion Circa 1986
28points

#18 At The Prom, 1981

At The Prom, 1981
28points

#19 The Side Ponytail

The Side Ponytail
28points

#20 The Mullet

The Mullet
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28points
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