Why do you wear vintage? 1980's

Pictured: Decades Collection 1980

One word comes to mind when you think of the 1980s: BIG. 

Shoulder pads returned to fashion in a super-sized version, and the “power suit” reflected women’s emerging status in the workplace. The term “Yuppie” was coined as an acronym for the Young Urban Professional who was a career driven, 20-30 something male or female, obsessed with upward mobility, money and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.  Designers boldly emblazoned their logos on the exterior of their designs and their clothing became elite status symbols.

Glamour in the 1980s, translated to bedazzled evening wear studded with sequins and beads.

Hair was permed, teased and coiffed to ever larger proportions and extravagance. Makeup was bold and colorful, as was jewelry of the era which featured large statement necklaces and long, dangling earrings which grazed the shoulders.

Japanese fashion designers continued to push fashion barriers exploring gender-bending, sculptural, avant-garde silhouettes.

The fitness boom of the 1980s, as part of this self-conscious and self indulgent decade, spawned a fashion trend that took dance and exercise wear from the studio and gym to the runway and the street. Jogging or track suits became socially acceptable as casual day wear.

1980s style with its juxtaposition of trends, variety and influences created a unique legacy of fashion and anti-fashion. It is emerging as an era of sought-after vintage for its unique characteristics and lasting impact.

Overconsumption, oversized and just plain over-the-top were cornerstone features in this decade of excess and materialism. It was a time of abundance, optimism and unabashed greed.

Why Do You Wear Vintage? 1970's.

The early 1970s fashion scene was very similar to 1969, just a bit more flamboyant. 

 Polyester was the material of choice and bright colors were everywhere. Men and women alike were wearing very tight fitting pants and platform shoes. 

Early 1970s fashion was a fun era. It culminated some of the best elements of the 60s and perfected and/or exaggerated them. 

By the late 1970s the pant suit, leisure suit and track suit was what the average person was sporting. Every woman had a cowl neck sweater in her closet and every man had a few striped v-neck velour shirts.

Tunics, culottes and robes were also very popular. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which dresses were meant to be worn at home, and which ones were for a night on the town.

It is probably the first full decade in which women could be seen wearing pants in every walk of life.

It’s also hard to miss the fact that color almost completely disappeared by 1979. Earth tones, grays, whites and blacks were back in full force, as people had apparently tired of the super bright tones of the early 1970s.

There is one common theme throughout fashion in the 1970s: pants were tight fitting.

Pictured Men's 70's