Gen X Fashion Trends and Fads No 80s Girl Will Forget

Every decade has its own signature style, but few made a statement quite like the 1980s. It was an era made up of bold choices, fearless experimentation, and a level of confidence that could only come from neon eyeshadow and a Walkman blasting Tina Turner. Girls growing up in that time didn't just follow trends, they completely embodied them and turned every school hallway, shopping mall, and roller rink into their own personal runway.

Fashion wasn't just about looking good; it was about expressing attitude, individuality, and a little bit of rebellion. Whether you were layering on accessories, mixing patterns that had no business going together, or trying out the latest DIY look from a magazine, being a girl in the '80s meant having as much fun as possible with style. I know this for a fact from photos of my own mother from the 80s; in some pictures, she looked like a tiny, teenage business woman in a pantsuit. In others, she looked like she was one eyeliner smudge away from joining The Cure on tour.

Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit four fashion staples no '80s girl will ever forget.

Let's kick this thing off with shoulder pads! The bolder, the better. You could get anything foam-lined: dresses, blazers, blouses! They made every woman and girl look ready to either close a business deal or join an ‘80s rock band… sometimes both!
01

via LikeTotally80s
Advertisement
02

via u/koellner_michael
03

via u/sam2thewise
04

via u/sloan-so-bad69
Advertisement
05

via u/AndyKWHau
Up next, we have acid wash! Denim went from durable workwear to fashion statement, and the more blotchy and bleached it looked, the cooler you were.
06

via u/Taradacty1
07

via u/kebblerdog
Advertisement
08

via Reddit
09

via u/cakerton
10

via u/pantsparty
Advertisement
Next, we have the cozy, colorful essentials to every sporty outfit: leg warmers! You didn't need to have ever stepped foot in a dance studio to rock these bad boys. Evidence down below shows that girls even wore them with jeans!
11

via u/gigglechick
12

via u/Ok_Cook_6665
13

via u/just-readingit
Advertisement
14

via u/vagin8r5000
15

via u/ironfist1982
Lastly, we have none other than Aqua Net. This gravity-defying spray held bangs, perms, and teased layers in place through wind, rain, and high school heartbreak and probably punched a hole in the ozone while doing it. It transcended subcultures and its signature scent could be found lingering on the heads of jocks, preps, and punks alike.
16

via u/Familiar_Big3322
Advertisement
17

via u/Natjemaan
18

via u/Fitzgeraldgrace
19

via u/Horror_Course_9431
Advertisement
20

via Reddit

Like what you see? Find more hilarious women's memes and crazy stories on our Instagram @Cheezcake_Humor and more videos on our TikTok @cheezcaked