Long hair, baggy pants, leather jackets and sun britches are some of the things that define the eclectic 80’s men's fashion that screamed for attention. Bold and bright colors ruled the day and everything was opulent and larger than life. While some people may call it a sartorial wasteland, that’s certainly not a fair judgment! It was a glorious era where the generation had the freedom to take liberty with fashion and go extreme.

It was the time when men sported long locks and voluminous hairstyles that could put supermodels to shame. They could freely move around just in their favorite sun britches or wear a lime-green colored suit without the fear of judgment (well, until they saw their own photos three decades later).

The 80’s men’s fashion also saw the rise of new trends such as preppy, hip-hop, rock, workout, and punk styles, heavily influenced by the music culture. We may have left the incredible era far behind us but the retro fashion is still alive. If looking at the old photo album makes you feel nostalgic, you will be delighted to know that the fashion designers of today are reviving the 80’s style.

Here are some of the best 80’s men's fashion trends that we love even today.

Sun Britches

Bold and bright-colored broad shorts were the order of the day. Men loved to sport these bright shorts made out of rayon, nylon or cotton when relaxing by the swimming pool or on the beach. Sun britches were absolutely must-have when heading for an exotic summer holiday.

The biggest catch was that these shorts dried quickly and they were comfortable enough to be worn for the rest of the day. No wonder the 80’s men feel nostalgic about their favorite pair of Sun Britches that was an essential part of their summer fashion. Other popular summer items included crop tops and short-sleeved shirts.

 

Funky T-shirts

During the 80’s, men loved to wear baggy and bright colored t-shirts with almost everything from jeans to suits. Preppy fashion trend included shades of bright pink, blue, and yellow. Some of the popular styles were polo t-shirts, baseball t-shirts, crop tops, and crew-neck t-shirts with a logo or bold prints.

80’s Dad Jeans

Faded, acid washed jeans were a popular style statement of the 80's mens fashion. Almost everyone had those dad jeans that are now making a comeback in fashion. To rock the 80’s look, choose a pair of faded mid-blue jeans with a relaxed fit. Select one that has a tapered leg or pin roll the bottoms to achieve that look from your Dad’s old photo.

Power Suits

Remember Leo’s look from the Wolf of Wall Street? Powerful men from the corporate world wore pinstriped suits, often paired with a formal shirt, printed tie, and suspenders. Slicked back hair completed the look of business class men who had no time for the games. Outside the office, they could be seen wearing pastel colored suits paired with crew-neck t-shirts or polo shirts.

The Stylish 80’s Shirts

The 80's mens fashion saw two main types of shirts – business and casual. The executive class preferred the more professional looking striped shirts and banker shirts. For casual wear, men loved to sport loose fitting baggy shirts with abstract prints and bright colors. Polo shirts were also a popular fashion wear of the era. Men loved to pair them up with a jacket or sweater. Another popular 80’s style was the all-denim rage that included denim shirts with jeans.

Men’s Fashionable Jackets

When we talk about 80’s men’s jackets, we refer to the bomber jackets, leather jackets and denim jackets that are popular even today. The casual look of the time saw men wearing dad jeans with a matching denim jacket. The 80’s rock bands had a huge fan following and they heavily influenced men’s fashion. They popularized leather jackets and pants with heavy metal accessories, headbands, and big funky hair. The windbreakers and sweaters were also an essential part of the 80's men's fashion.

Workout Wear

The workout fashion was all the rage for both men and women in the 80’s. The era saw a wide range of stylish and comfortable sportswear being adopted as daily wear. The workout wear included sweatpants, tracksuits, windbreakers, athletic shorts, and chunky sneakers.

The 80’s Fashion Accessories

If you are looking to subtly include the 80’s men’s fashion trends in your wardrobe, don’t forget to pair them up with funky accessories to complete the picture. As the 80’s was heavily influenced by hip-hop, rock band, and pop music culture, the popular accessories were gold chains, reflective sunglasses, bum bags, and chunky white sneakers.