The Most Iconic Fashion Moments of the 1980s

Published: March 13, 2024 by Stephanie Harper

Reflecting on the 80s can be quite eye-opening. This was an era known for movies like “Back to the Future,” “The Outsiders,” and “The Lost Boys.” This was the era when MTV first landed on television for music videos to be enjoyed. This was an era that honed in on mixtapes, home computers, and video game systems. Most of all, though, fashion was on just about everyone’s mind.

Shopping malls were built in different cities across the United States throughout the 80s. Malls gave teenagers, college students, and adults a one-stop shop where they could spend money on brand-new clothes from multiple brands in one trip. Competing brands popped up left and right to provide individualism and variety.

These days, fashion trends of the 80s are occasionally used for adorable-looking costumes on Halloween. Think of leg warmers, shoulder pads, and punk embellishments. Still, the 80s was a decade full of some undeniably iconic fashion moments. For more coverage on the 80s, click here to uncover the 25 biggest music hits from the decade.

To gather this list of iconic fashion moments from the 80s, 24/7 Tempo consulted several fashion-forward sources. These include Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Harper’s Bazaar, Who What Where, and Elle.

Princess Diana in 1985

Princess Diana wore this stunning off-the-shoulder gown on November 9, 1985. The solid black dress made her look fierce and fabulous in front of photographers. At the time, the princess was embarking on a royal visit to the United States. She was also photographed posing with Nancy Reagan on that trip. Princess Diana paired the stunning black dress with black gloves, an elegant choker with a black gem at the center, and a pair of sparkling earrings.

Madonna in 1987

Madonna is often referred to as the Princess of Pop when people think back on the 80s era. The 80s was her decade, because she was thoroughly thriving as a musician. Some of the biggest songs she released back then were “Like a Virgin,” “Like a Prayer,” and “Live to Tell.”

Madonna was photographed wearing this ruffled red gown during one of her stage performances. It was decked out with a midsection corset and gold rhinestones. Since it was sleeveless, her toned arms were on full display. The singer hit the stage wearing bright red lipstick to match the vibrant color of her party-style dress.

Cher in 1986

Just like Madonna, Cher attracted loads of admiration from music lovers in the 80s. She released songs like “After All,” “If I Could Turn Back Time,” and “Just Like Jesse James” within that decade. When she attended the 58th annual Academy Awards held at Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in Los Angeles in 1986, she wore an outfit that will never be forgotten. The singer paired an intricate black bra with several cutout spaces with matching gloves, a long black skirt, and a feathered headdress.

Tina Turner in 1984

Tina Turner took the stage in Los Angeles, California to perform at a lively show on May 2, 1984. The rock ‘n’ roll singer made waves for wearing accessories more consistently deemed appropriate for men. Her collared button-up shirt paired well with slacks, a black tie, and a belt. The gender-neutral fit certainly made a statement.

Turner was already iconic in the 80s for songs like “The Best,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” and “Private Dancer.” Her choice to wear outfits like this on stage cemented her in stone as a fashion icon as well.

Morgan Fairchild in 1987

Morgan Fairchild looked incredible in 1987.

When Morgan Fairchild attended the American Committee for the Tel Aviv Foundation on January 27, 1987, she looked stunning. The event was held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles where celebrities were welcome to make appearances. Fairchild wore this sparkling red dress with gold detailing and spaghetti straps.

She accessorized with gold earrings, a thin gold bracelet, a silver purse, and a white fur coat with spots. The iconic look was completed with a full face of makeup including thick black eyeliner and red lipstick.

Diana Ross in 1985

Diana Ross took the stage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on March 25, 1985, in Los Angeles. She wowed the audience with her performance at the 57th Academy Awards. Sometimes, simplicity is more special. She made that point with her chosen dress. Her elegant white gown was covered in sparkly gemstones from top to bottom.

It made a massive statement on fashion lovers in the 80s for being simple and divine at the same time. Ross accessorized with a sparkling bracelet, a thin necklace, and a pair of stud earrings. She wore her curly hair down as she belted out the lyrics of her most popular songs on stage.

Dolly Parton in 1984

Back in 1984, Dolly Parton starred in a musical comedy called “Rhinestone.” She filmed the project alongside Sylvester Stallone, Tim Thomerson, and Ron Leibman. Parton posed for a promotional portrait in preparation for the film’s eventual release that year. The iconic look showcases the singer-actress dressed up in cowgirl attire.

Her getup included a tan-colored cowboy hat, a plaid top, basic blue jeans, and dangly red earrings. Parton’s platinum blonde hair was curled to perfection for the publicity shot.

Janet Jackson in 1988

Janet Jackson was a genuine fashion icon in 1988.

Janet Jackson was fully prepared to make a statement when she hit the stage to perform her songs in 1988. The Pop singer offered up an iconic fashion moment that will go down in history. She wore a black suit with a button-up shirt and black pants underneath.

Michael Jackson’s younger sister accessorized with a large silver clasp bracelet, a thick midsection belt, and a large gold necklace over the front of her chest. Her hairstyle for the show was arguably the most memorable detail of all. She rocked her natural curls piled on top of her head in an Afro-style formation.

Joan Jett in 1984

Joan Jett was all about quintessential 80s fashion during the height of her music career. Some of the biggest songs Jett released in the 80s were “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” and “Bad Reputation.” For this particular photo shoot, she posed in pink leather pants, a scoop neck long-sleeved purple shirt, a blue spotted scarf, and a bandanna folded around her wrist.

Jett layered up on belts and necklaces to add some flair to the final result. The musician’s chosen hairstyle with spiked strands of hair on top of her head made Jett into a more memorable icon of the 80s.

Geena Davis in 1989

Geena Davis must’ve known exactly what would be required to look like a real-life princess at the 61st Academy Awards. The event took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on March 29, 1989. Davis won the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in “The Accidental Tourist.”

The dress she wore was reminiscent of the magical dress Cinderella wore in the animated Disney movie. Needless to say, Davis looked divine in the shiny blue gown with its off-the-shoulder design and glittery backside. The actress accessorized with silver earrings and a classy silver necklace.

Olivia Newton-John in 1983

Olivia Newton-John was a gorgeous star in 1983.

Olivia Newton-John became a household name after starring in “Grease” opposite John Travolta in 1978. Just a couple of years later, she was still making waves in the 80s. In 1983, Newton-John was spotted taking the stage for a show wearing an elegant purple outfit.

It will go down in history for being eye-catching. The shiny purple pants paired well with the sheer sparkly blouse she wore on top. Newton-John let her blonde hair down and rocked a full face of make up for that particular performance.

Paula Abdul in 1989

Paula Abdul was always so trendy in 1989.

Way before Paula Abdul became a household name for being a judge on “American Idol” in the early 2000s, she was known for being a singer and dancer who rose to fame in the 80s. On February 22, 1989, she wore this gorgeous sparkling dress to the 31st annual Grammy Awards.

It was held at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles that year. Abdul’s dress is iconic since it gave mermaid vibes before mermaids were even trendy. Glimmers of blue, black, and purple flawlessly came together on her off-the-shoulder gown. She also wore a full face of makeup, a pair of black earrings, a gold watch, and an updo hairstyle. Other outfits worn by people in the 80s aren’t respected as much, though. Click here to discover the fashion fads of the 80s that we will most likely never see again.