The 1980s was truly an incredible era, brimming with distinctive trends and vibrant nightlife. However, it’s only natural that these trends eventually die out, and these days, most things that were popular in the ‘80s seem pretty ridiculous. If you want to know how ridiculous, these popular trends from the ‘80s show you just that.
Neon Colors
Another popular trend that has mostly been left in the ‘80s was bright, neon colors, which once dominated dancefloors around the world. It didn’t matter if it was your dress, shoes, or accessories; these eye-catching neon hues were everywhere. Nowadays, neon colors are pretty rare to find, although they are still popular among rave and cyberpunk circles.
Leg Warmers
Initially popularized by dancers, leg warmers became a widespread trend in the 80s. Often worn with workout attire or casual outfits, they were a staple of the era, but they’re unusual to see outside of dance studios these days. They’ve since been replaced by more functional and stylish activewear options, although they do seem to be becoming popular among modern teens.
Mullets
Perhaps the most ridiculous haircut of the ‘80s was the mullet, characterized by short hair in the front and long hair in the back. It was particularly popular amongst men, but it wasn’t long until this unconventional fell out of favor, lasting only until the early ‘90s. However, there has been a recent rise in mullets, especially in Australia, suggesting the haircut may be making a serious comeback.
Synth Pop Music
If you headed onto the dancefloor in the ‘80s, you could expect to hear synth-pop, a very popular genre at the time. It was characterized by its heavy use of synthesizers, catchy melodies, and, of course, big hair. While some artists still experiment with these sounds, the genre as a whole has waned in popularity.
Big Hair
Back in the ‘80s, huge, teased hair was a hallmark of fashion, and you’d see it anywhere, with both men and women. As Groovy History remembers, achieving such volume required excessive use of hairspray and styling products, which, looking back, was incredibly impractical. These days, modern preferences have switched toward favoring more natural and manageable hairstyles, and let’s be honest–that’s probably for the best.
Shoulder Pads
For some strange reason, shoulder pads became immensely popular in the 80s, with just about everyone incorporating them into their outfits. They were completely exaggerated, designed to project authority and confidence, but if you wore them these days, everyone would just mock you for looking ridiculous.
Acid-Wash Jeans
At one point in the ‘80s, it was very trendy for your jeans to be acid-washed, marked by their unique, bleached appearance. This trend has since faded as denim styles have evolved, although we’re still wrecking our jeans on purpose. However, instead of bleaching them, the kids are now ripping them intentionally, which is equally bizarre.
Boomboxes
Smartphones, MP3 players, and even CDs weren’t around in the ‘80s, so we had to improvise, carrying around a large boombox on our shoulders instead. These portable music players allowed people to share their favorite tunes loudly, even if they did ache their muscles with their weight. Thankfully, it wasn’t long until people realized that this was impractical, so eventually the walkman was invented, leaving boomboxes in the past.
Rubik’s Cube Obsession
One of the trendiest toys of the ‘80s was undeniably the Rubik’s Cube, which swept through classrooms at an absurdly fast pace. Most people found them very challenging, although there was always that one kid who could complete them easily. Today, interest in puzzles and games is a lot lower due to video games, although there is still a thriving Rubik’s Cube community, which is nice to see.
Aerobics Fashion
High-cut leotards, shiny leggings, and headbands were all iconic aerobics attire in the 80s. These outfits, often seen in workout videos, were as much about fashion as fitness, and we all loved them. Sadly, modern exercise clothing focuses on functionality and comfort, with materials designed for performance rather than making a fashion statement, which we think is a lot more boring.
Pac-Man Fever
Video games were starting to become popular in the ‘80s, with Pac-Man, the arcade game phenomenon, leading the excitement. Captivated gamers would crowd around arcades enjoying this unique game, but these days, this little guy is pretty rare to see. Today’s gaming is dominated by more complex and immersive experiences, leaving Pac-Man as a nostalgic nod to gaming’s history.
Mix Tapes
Considering that we didn’t have streaming platforms or even CDs, creating mixtapes for friends and loved ones was a cherished 80s pastime. These compilations were a personal way to share music, and most of the time, they were created illegally. Thankfully, that’s no longer necessary, and everyone can share digital playlists with whomever they like without breaking any copyright laws.
Breakdancing
Everyone loved dancing in the ‘80s, and when breakdancing came along, dancefloors only became more popular. It was an exciting, energetic, and alternative dance style that nobody had seen before, with everyone giving the complex moves a go. Of all things on this list, breakdancing has actually remained somewhat relevant, although you certainly won’t see it when you go out clubbing anymore.
Parachute Pants
Made from lightweight, often shiny fabric, parachute pants were another distinctive 80s fashion trend. However, they were short-lived, falling out of style almost as quickly as they appeared. People wear much more tailored and versatile pieces these days, leaving the baggy and shiny pants as a quirky reminder of a bygone fashion era.
Cassette Tapes
Once we realized boomboxes were just too heavy to carry around, cassette tapes were invented, and they blew up fast. Everyone had them, and they were the primary format in which mixtapes were recorded. However, once the ‘90s came along, CDs took their place, leaving cassette tapes gathering dust on shelves ever since.
Glam Metal
If synth-pop wasn’t your thing in the ‘80s, you were probably more into glam metal bands, with their flamboyant outfits, outrageously huge hair (even for the ‘80s), and over-the-top makeup. It was a truly spectacular time for music, but eventually, its popularity waned, with the theatrical nature of glam rock now being considered rather cheesy.
Cabbage Patch Kids
If you didn’t have Cabbage Patch Kids as an ‘80s kid, you were certainly hoping that Santa would bring you one. They were the must-have toy of the 80s, sparking massive demand and selling out in stores across the globe. While they remain nostalgic collectibles, kids these days will have never heard of them, much preferring digital toys to play with, which is sad to experience.