30 Gen X Fashion Trends and Fads That Every 80s Girl Will Remember from Childhood

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Aug 26, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

Greetings, Gen X girlies. The 80s were (and still are!) having a bit of a comeback in the wake of Stranger Things and 80s movie franchise reboots. If you step outside, you'll see Gen Z hipsters sporting mom jeans, mullets, and second-hand windbreakers from Depop. Instagram and TikTok are rife with young creators recreating 80s looks with trends that everyone knows about: neon color, geometric prints, acid wash denim, but those who actually lived through the decade may remember some fashion moments that live only in the dustiest corners of the collective Gen X memory. No one ever really talks about parachute pants, whispy bangs, or that brief point where every girl was dressed like a 1890s paperboy. People seem to forget that the 80s were a whole ten years, so there was a lot going on at once, and it's impossible to remember everything. Hopefully, this listicle full of 80s fashion fads and trends will refresh your memory - for better or for worse. 

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  • 01

    Leotard With A Belt Was A Great Look

    Cheezburger Image 10394941952
    via u/hotbowlsofjustice
  • 02

    White Blouse & Belt With Pastels… Such A Fun Look

    Cheezburger Image 10394942464
    via u/hotbowlsofjustice
  • 03

    This Power Suit is On Point!

    Everywhere Seevit #26 be couture... a unique give-and-take, a unique experience New York ว
    via u/hotbowlsofjustice
  • 04

    Bananarama Had A Bold Look

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    via u/hotbowlsofjustice
  • 05

    Colorful Sweatshirts and Some Foot Strap Pants!

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    via u/hotbowlsofjustice
  • 06

    Fun Summer Time Fashions from The 1980s

    Elutioned mesh beadband with bow 11-0979 $5 10 WHITE 60 RED 71 YELLOW 01 BLACK ANIMAL MAGNETISM 1 Grrrab him with our not pink leopard graphic Just push up the 3/4 dolman eeves and this sweatshirt is roaring to go Poty/cotton knit. Order sizes: Jrs. SML 02-7810 $24 10 WHITE THE FREDERICK'S LEGEND What better way to say you're a Fredericks womant Our Frederick's any graphic of tters with a spariding ring and bracelet on this scooped neck shirt Poly/cotton knit order sizes: SM-L 02-7887 $16 66 PIN
    via u/hotbowlsofjustice
  • 07

    Does Anyone Else Miss The Side Ponytail?

    Cheezburger Image 10394942208
    via u/hotbowlsofjustice
  • 08
    Skimps $18.99 and up D D L 7 White Black 253
    via u/
  • 09

    I Just Love The Bright and Colorful Fashions of The 1980s

    Cheezburger Image 10394944512
    via u/hotbowlsofjustice
  • 10

    Fantastic Denim Available at The Merry Go Round Fashion Boutique

    Hes Fries Frie MERRY GO ROUND FASHION BOUTIQUES JOUJOU LO.U.
    via u/hotbowlsofjustice
  • 11

    Powder Jackets!

    Cheezburger Image 10394944256
    via u/groshretro
  • 12

    Shoulder pads

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    via u/singelguy79
  • 13

    Units Modular Clothing. Upscale sweat clothes that came in solid colors and could be mixed and matched. Patterns were eventually developed but all the girls in my high school wore the solids.

    Cheezburger Image 10394945536
    via u/ deepfriedgreensea
  • 14

    Who had jelly shoes?

    Cheezburger Image 10394944768
    via u/Redcatche
  • 15

    Who remembers Kinny’s Earth Shoes!

    Remember vintage Famolare shoes?. Click Am... GET UP FAMOLARE: Click Am... WALKING Click Am... PPinterest FAMOLASE P Pinterest THANK YOU MALDIS FAMO DIAE TAMOLADE Click Am...
    via u/Ambitious-End-1066
  • 16

    Knickers: when 1980’s girls dressed like 1880’s newsies.

    Pinterest christmas.musetechnical.com 1983 Sears Fall Winter Catalog. Page 479 - Christmas Catalogs... Images may be subject to copyright. Learn More Related images Visit PIC COLLAGE
    via u/SerJaimeRegrets
  • 17

    There was a brief moment in the mid to late 80's when painters caps were popular. I had a few of them. I also colored my own.

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    via u/FantasticPiglet
  • 18

    How did these very thin bangs get popular?

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    via u/fhkubem02178
  • 19

    Who wore SKIDZ?

    SKIDZ MERRY GO ROUND FASHION BOUTIQUES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
    via u/ooone-orkye
  • 20

    Right or Wrong?

    What girls think we looked like in the '80s What we actually looked like.
    via u/The_one_who-repents
  • 21

    Who wore SKIDZ?

    SKIDZ
    via u/ooone-orkye
  • 22

    Women 1980s euro baggies jeans

    C LEVI'S EURO-BAGGIES JEANS Now $36.50 B Also Women's
    via u/kkan2020
  • 23

    Mid-late ‘80s female fashion

    Mid-late 1980s female fashion starterpack Waist belts Neon/pastel colors Bouffant teased hair Leotards with tights Glasses in this style Leg warmers Pointy heels Disk shaped earrings Memphis flowy nightgowns Suede maxi skirts print High rise acid wash jeans Geometric long sweaters Shoulder pads
    via u/NoahtheAttacker
  • 24

    80s women's summer fashion

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    via u/VictoryTour1984
  • 25

    80s women's summer fashion

    Cheezburger Image 10394948352
    via u/VictoryTour1984
  • 26

    80s Parachute Pants

    Cheezburger Image 10394949632
    via u/CardNGold
  • 27

    The cold weather didn’t stand a chance against these leg warmers, 1980s

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    via u/Quick_Presentation11
  • 28

    80s women's summer fashion

    Cheezburger Image 10394947840
    via u/VictoryTour1984
  • 29

    80s women's summer fashion

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    via u/VictoryTour1984
  • 30

    80s women's summer fashion

    Cheezburger Image 10394949120
    via u/VictoryTour1984
  • 31

    There will never be a generation who fought harder against the wind.

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    via u/RexLayne
  • 32

    Feather hair clips - legend says they were secretly roach clips

    Cheezburger Image 10394950144
    via u/SlackjawJimmy
  • 33

    1980 K-Mart ad featuring Phoebe Cates!

    they're terry... they're terrific... ...they're $3.96ea. Terry t-shirts and shorts make summer even more terrific! Play it just right in the new bold bright colors of summer. And you can wear them in many winning combinations. So make the terry scene... T-shirt or shorts are only $3.96 each, in sizes S-M-L, at over 1,500 Kmart stores across the U.S.A. Kmart Copyright 1980 The Saving Place Kmart Corporation Troy, Michigan 48084
    via u/DiosMioMan63

Tags

childhood memory fashion retro teenagers nostalgia relationships nostalgic 80s gen x couples 90s kids love memory lane trends girlhood dating 1980s
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