I remember back in the day, I was super into fashion, especially the styles from way back when, like the 80s. So, I decided to dive deep into 1981 fashion trends. I started by hitting up the internet, you know, just to get a general idea of what was hot back then.

After browsing through tons of old photos and articles, I started to see some patterns. Big, bold shoulders were everywhere. I guess shoulder pads were the big thing. I found this old blazer in my closet and tried stuffing some socks in the shoulders to mimic the look. It was kinda funny, but it worked!
Next up, I noticed a lot of bright, neon colors. I didn’t have anything neon, so I went to a thrift store. I managed to find a bright pink shirt and some electric blue leg warmers. When I put them on, I felt like I was straight out of a music video.
I also read that denim was huge in ’81. I had a bunch of old jeans, so I decided to get crafty. I cut up some jeans to make a denim skirt and even tried to distress them a bit to get that worn-in look. It was a bit messy, but kind of fun.
- Gathered my old clothes
- Went thrifting for some key pieces
- Did some DIY with denim
- Tried to recreate some iconic looks
One thing I realized was that accessories were a big deal. Big, chunky jewelry was in. I raided my mom’s old jewelry box and found some huge earrings and thick necklaces. They were so heavy!
Putting it all together was a blast. I tried different combinations of the clothes and accessories I had gathered. I even attempted some of the hairstyles I saw in the pictures, using way too much hairspray. It was a total throwback.

At the end of the day, I had a newfound appreciation for 1981 fashion. It was bold, it was fun, and it was definitely a statement. I took a bunch of pictures of my outfits and shared them with my friends. We had a good laugh, and they even asked me to help them put together some 80s looks for a party. I felt like a totally rad fashion time traveler!
Results from My Little Experiment
- Realized how much fun it was to try old styles
- Got a better understanding of 1981 fashion trends
- Shared my “creations” with friends and had a great time
Honestly, this little experiment was way more fun than I expected. It’s cool to see how fashion has changed over the years and how some things, like those big shoulders, have even made a comeback. I might even try to incorporate some of these 1981 elements into my current wardrobe, just for kicks.
Alright, that’s all for today. Time to see what fashion I should try on from other years!