A defining period in music history, the 1980s also saw the emergence of a particular rock scene fashion aesthetic. The flashy and larger-than-life style of 80s rock fashion was a strong and resistant statement. It was a time when fashion choices pushed limits and challenged expectations, reflecting the dynamic and rebellious spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.
The emphasis on excess was one of the main characteristics of 80s rock attires. Bright colors, striking patterns, and attention-getting accessories were popular during the period. Artists and spectators alike adorned themselves in leather jackets, studded belts, and ripped denim trousers. The fashion choices were all about making a statement. As a tribute to the colorful style of the rock genre, spandex was a favored material for the tight-fitting clothing that dominated the fashion scene.
80s Rock Fashion Trends
Here are some of the most iconic 80s rock fashion styles of the era when it comes to looking fantastic while rocking out:
1. Big Leather Jackets
In the 1980s, leather jackets were in style everywhere. Oversized leather coats were fashionable, whether you were a fan of Tom Cruise or even Michael Jackson. The V-shaped red and black patent leather jacket worn by Michael Jackson in his video for “Thriller” is arguably the most well-known leather jacket from the 1980s.
Even though they were well-liked in mainstream culture, rockers began to wear leather jackets as a must-have piece of clothing in the 1980s. Leather jackets were worn by almost all rock bands, including Guns n’ Roses and Def Leppard, and they quickly rose to prominence as one of the most recognizable fashion trends of 80s rocks.
2. Over the Top Hats
On stage, you would frequently see one or two band members sporting an over-the-top hat. These hats, which were either leather top hats or police caps, only served to enhance the extraordinary rock style. They were typically black and occasionally studded with silver to match the rest of their leather attire.
3. Sleeveless Tops
There appears to be a preference for sleeveless tops among 80s rockers. The rockers of the era tended to favor sleeveless tops more frequently than not, whether they were shirts, denim jackets, or even leather jackets.
Sleeveless tops were quite popular in rock fashion, whether it was to show off tattoos or to keep cool while performing on stage.
4. Metal Chains
It is likely that you wore metal chains in some capacity if you were an 80s rocker. They were hanging as a bracelet or even a necklace from the loops on your jeans.
It was only natural to have that silver contrast that reflected well off the stage lights since so many rock musicians of the era wore leather, which further enhanced the performances.
5. Doc Martens Boots
Leather boots like Doc Martens were popular among bands like Black Sabbath, Mötley Crüe, and even Iron Maiden. The two qualities you were looking for in footwear—great support and stylish coolness—are both present in these boots.
These boots were a must-have for 80s rockers and were also well-liked in punk fashion circles.
6. Ripped Clothes
Ripped clothing had a significant role in both rock fashion and 80s fashion in general. Parents despised the 1980s because most youngsters would begin tearing up and cutting their new pants as soon as they got them.
Because torn jeans were the favored appearance of your favorite rock band at the time, putting holes to your favorite pair of jeans was very common, whether using scissors or even sandpaper.
Not only were your jeans torn, but they were frequently worn with torn shirts as well. Many disobedient young adults in the 1980s wore tattered clothing to show that they did not care what society thought of them.
7. Gloved Hands
Wearing gloves, especially leather gloves, was a different fashion trend that became very popular in the 1980s. A pair of motorcycle gloves gave you the “do not mess with me” appearance if you were into rock and roll. Billy Idol and other 80s rockers frequently wore leather fingerless gloves to emphasize their rebellious identities.
But the trend of wearing gloves did not just apply to the rock age; it also permeated pop music. However, leather gloves were a common sight at most rock concerts, which is why we strongly identify the style with rock.
8. Colorful Bandanas
Of course, without a bandana, you would not have the authentic 1980s rock appearance. This was an important item since it prevented all of that hair from becoming tangled due to perspiration or headbanging.
Legendary front men like “Guns n Roses” singer Axl Rose popularized bandanas in 80s rock culture by wearing them frequently while onstage. Bandanas were not just fashionable; they also served as utilitarian clothing.
9. Big Sunglasses
The best decade ever offered a wide variety of iconic 80s sunglasses styles. Without matching black sunglasses to your leather jacket or slacks, no rock fashion look was complete.
10. Big Hair
Big hair was undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and pervasive 80s rock fashion trends. Rock in the 1980s was huge, and you needed hairstyles to match.
Big styles and 80s mullets, which were frequently seen worn by some of the largest rock bands in the world at the time, were among the most popular haircuts. It was fashionable to have long, wild hair, and of course, you needed long hair to head bang.
11. Bold Makeup
Of course, we had to mention the makeup in addition to the bigger haircuts associated with 80s rock culture. When it came to the genre, several rockers of the time established 80s makeup trends.
When we consider 80s rocker makeup, we primarily recall groups like KISS, Mötley Crüe, and frontmen like Dee Snider. However, other well-known artists, like as David Bowie in the 1980s, frequently used a lot of makeup when performing.
Obviously, the women must also be mentioned while discussing 80s rock makeup. Female rockers like Joan Jett and Susanna Hoffs frequently wore bright eye shadow and thick eyeliner while performing, which contributed to the widespread makeup trends at the period in rock fashion.
12. Washed Denim
For the majority of the 1980s, acid wash jeans and jackets were in vogue when it came to denim. Any event would have been appropriate for its soft fading look.
Rockers of the day were drawn to the sturdy denim because it could easily endure the weight of thick pocketbook chains.
13. Leather Bracelets
Talking about 1980s rock clothes would be incomplete without mentioning studded leather bracelets. If you did not wear at least one choker or bracelet made of studded leather, you were not a true rock musician or music lover.
14. Mullet
Although mullets were popular in the 1980s, they will always be associated with that decade. The younger generation of today simply is not interested in them, despite the fact that they went well with the rock style look and were simple to keep because they did not get in people’s eyes.
But back then, even the women in heavy metal, screamo, and punk rock bands were pleased to sport this haircut. We can only recall how fantastic it was to attend a rock concert with a mullet in our memories.
80s Rock Fashion Today
Not much has changed when it comes to rocker attire today because so many of the well-known bands from the 1980s are still active! We still see these older rock bands wearing the attire they used to perform in thanks to the era’s established trend, which is still very relevant today.
Since nostalgia is a big part of the attractiveness of these events and the concertgoers, who are also now older, it is unlikely that the 80s rock attire worn today will alter. Therefore, it may be said that 80s rock fashion was a trend that endured a decade of fads that were mostly abandoned (with good cause) in the history books.
Conclusion
The rock ‘n’ roll era’s rebellious and energizing energy was mirrored by the colorful, vibrant fashion of the 1980s. It was distinguished by edgy and form-fitting attire, including the ones mentioned above. Excess was celebrated in the fashion world with the use of eye-catching patterns, bright colors, and accessories. Equally colorful were the hairdos, with enormous, teased hair quickly becoming a defining trend. The famous sign of self-expression, breaking limits, and embracing a larger-than-life attitude that defines 80s rock dress still resonates in contemporary fashion.