8 iconic 1980s celebrity outfits we would totally wear now
Ah, ’80s fashion. If you’re anything like us, you grew up with a mild case of second-hand embarrassment whenever your parents would show you photos of the oversized styles, neon prints, and dramatic shoulder pads of their youths. But alas, as the adage goes, everything old is new again, and the new again happens to be ’80s fashion.
Between Molly Ringwald’s LBD and Princess Diana’s tartan trench, these eight iconic 1980s celebrity outfits are still inspiring our wardrobes today. And who knows? One day you might be telling your kids, “I swear, this was really cool at the time.”
1. Molly Ringwald, 1987
What would an ‘80s appreciation post be without an appearance from Molly Ringwald? Between Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink, Molly’s Chanel dress has been inspiring our LBD’s since the first time Don’t You (Forget About Me) got stuck in our heads.
-60%
Comme Des Garçons
Midi dresses Black
$321.00
$803.00
Yoox
-68%
Genny
Midi dresses Black
$357.00
$1,107.00
Yoox
-83%
Dsquared2
Midi dresses Black
$393.00
$2,345.00
Yoox
-58%
Red Valentino
Mini dresses Black
$560.00
$1,338.00
Yoox
2. Princess Diana, 1981
Then 20-year-old Princess Diana and her 32-year-old husband Prince Charles on their honeymoon at Balmore, Scotland in 1981. Update the look by pairing Di’s tartan jacket with jeans and knee-high boots.
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Self Portrait
Checked cotton and linen jacket Brown
$604.00
$755.00
Mytheresa
Twik
Womens Waxed-finish ribbed-collar jacket Brown
$199.00
Simons
Frankie Shop
Baxter plaid oversized blouson jacket Grey
$575.00
Mytheresa
Barbour
Womens Bedale tartan underside relaxed jacket Blue
$555.00
Simons
3. Meg Ryan, 1989
No. 3 on this list but no.1 in our hearts, Meg Ryan, the ultimate rom-com queen, and then-boyfriend Dennis Quaid at the Los Angeles premiere of Great Balls of Fire! in 1989 in a cooler-than-cool leather jacket and circular sunnies.
Frankie Shop
Hope faux fur jacket Brown
$460.00
Mytheresa
Alo
| Socialite Shacket Jacket in Bone Beige, Size: Medium White
$198.00
Alo Yoga
-40%
Frankie Shop
Hester jacket Brown
$237.00
$395.00
Mytheresa
Contemporaine
Womens Brown leather crew-neck jacket
$375.00
Simons
Who says ’80s fashion automatically means neon colours and oversized fits? The Cosby Show’s Lisa Bonet is a boho bombshell in an embroidered velvet jacket, layered jewelry, and feminine blouse.
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Rixo
Denver embroidered cotton velvet jacket Brown
$556.00
$695.00
Mytheresa
-15%
Barbour
Barbour X Ganni Jacket Green
$903.00
$1,067.00
Balardi
-20%
Chloé
Chloé Floral cropped cotton velvet jacket Purple
$4,532.00
$5,665.00
Mytheresa
-49%
Pierre-Louis Mascia
Printed Silk Blend Bomber Jacket Beige
$1,007.00
$1,961.00
Balardi
5. Tina Turner, 1989
The one, the only, the Tina. An ode to the woman who makes us believe in the power of high-waisted jeans and with enough liquid confidence, who we aspire to be at any and every karaoke event.
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A Gold E
Ren cropped high-rise wide-leg jeans Beige
$456.00
$570.00
Mytheresa
-33%
A|X Armani Exchange
Jeans Grey
$109.00
$163.00
Yoox
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BOSS
Jeans Beige
$89.00
$240.00
Yoox
-75%
Off-white
Jeans Black
$134.00
$529.00
Yoox
6. Brooke Shields, 1982
What could possibly be more emblematic of the decade than Brooke Shields with her infamous curls in an oversized blazer? The Blue Lagoon actress was beyond her time in a bra top, matching separates, and a funky gold bag.
The Sei
Oversized silk blazer White
$1,830.00
Mytheresa
Andamane
Oversized ivory jacket in wool blend White
$1,300.00
TheDoubleF
-20%
Stella McCartney
Oversized blazer White
$2,196.00
$2,745.00
Mytheresa
7. Sarah Jessica Parker, 1986
Honestly, what we would give to raid the closet of Sarah Jessica Parker. Pre-Sex and the City, SJP swapped her iconic naked dress for an oversized fringe jacket and her Manolo stilettos for cowboy boots. BTW – who else is thinking about the SATC episode where Carrie ventures to Aidan’s cabin for some R&R and Samantha hits on the hot neighbor farmer? No? You should be.
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Goldbergh
Marna fringed down ski jacket Beige
$854.00
$1,220.00
Mytheresa
Twik
Womens Cropped faux-suede jacket Brown
$59.00
Simons
-20%
Zimmermann
Rhiannon fringed denim shirt Blue
$600.00
$750.00
Mytheresa
-42%
Frankie Morello
Frankie Morello Denim Jacket Blue
$552.00
$947.00
Balardi
We want to be everything Winona Ryder is in this photo. A girl with the ability to pull off an oversized white shirt, classic jeans, and a cooler-than-thou stare. Team ’80s Winona Ryder forever.
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Joseph
Congo oversized cotton poplin shirt White
$329.00
$470.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Dries Van Noten
Oversized denim shirt White
$473.00
$675.00
Mytheresa
Bottega Veneta
Oversized linen shirt White
$2,660.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Leset
Yoko oversized cotton shirt White
$266.00
$380.00
Mytheresa
