Five Accessories and Clothing Pieces Popular in the 1980's Men's Fashion Scene

Most of us have accepted the fact that the 1980's aren't going to fade away. The 80's are here to stay whether it's the fashion, hair, video games or music. For those that grew up during the 80's, it seems amazing that everything, particularly the fashions could make such a comeback. For those that may have blocked it from their memory or are too you to remember, you may be wondering what people wore during the 80's and why. Many of the items that are the most memorable were worn by men rather than women. We are going to take a look at some of the fashions that were most memorable.

Members Only Jackets

Any guy that was anything had a Member's Only jacket and wore it with pride. These jackets were made from a poly/cotton fabric, had a nylon lining with a zip up front. In retrospect these jackets weren't the most attractive ever made. Many people wondered why they were so popular even back then. Even though they weren't very attractive, every man that grew up in this era wanted to own a Member's Only jacket.

Flat Bottom Knit Ties

One of the hottest fashion trends of the 80's was the flat bottom (a.k.a. square end) knit tie. These neckties were slim and could be purchased in nearly any imaginable color. Many men wore a square end knit tie with a button down shirt or suit along with a pair of acid washed jeans. Unbelievably, this neckwear is making a comeback after being resurrected from a men’s fashion vault of the 1980's.

Men’s Skinny Ties

Twenty years after the height of their popularity, thin narrow neckties once again became the neckwear of choice along with the square end knits. Manufacturers paid proper homage to the past by creating designs which had the retro look of men's vintage ties. For instance, they incorporated a flourish midway up the ties. Fast forward 20 years to today, only to find that they are a popular trend again! The Mad Men TV show certainly was pivotal to their return.

Aviator Sunglasses

Aviator sunglasses became popular after the hit movie "Top Gun" came to the big screen. These sunglasses were made by the manufacturer Ray Ban and were worn by Tom Cruise in this popular film. Every male that was growing up during the 80's wanted to sport a pair just like Tom Cruise. The aviator sunglasses have a distinctive teardrop shape and are still made by Ray Ban today. These sunglasses come with a price tag around $115 and are still very popular. They are popular, but not like they were in 1986.

Acid Washed Jeans

Even though this is one fashion trend that may make you run for the hills, the acid washed craze of the 80's won't be forgotten. These jeans showed up on the fashion scene about 1986, but thankfully fell out of style about four years later. To create the acid washed jeans, a regular pair of jeans was treated with special chemicals. The chemicals exposed white patches on the denim fabric, creating a unique look for each pair of jeans. Even though the acid washed jeans were considered to be unisex, they were most popular with men. During this era, acid washed denim jackets were also popular.

In Summary

There you have it. These fashions were among the most memorable and popular men's fashion trends of the 80's. Many men could be seen during the 1980's sporting a Member's Only jacket, acid washed jeans, a square knit tie and aviator sunglasses. Surprisingly, these are fashions that can still be seen today. It will be fun to watch the other trends that start to appear from the 80's over the next few years.