The ‘80s was an iconic decade with some of the best music and fashion trends influencing individuals worldwide. The fashion was bold and electric, and the music laid the foundation for many famous artists today. However, what may have been popular in the ‘80s may not be popular today. Here are 22 classic teen trends from the ‘80s that would be deemed unacceptable today:
Punk Fashion
When it comes to fashion, punk fashion led the trend in the early 80s. The punk movement and music from the previous decade heavily influenced this fashion choice. People incorporated a lot of black, leather, studs, and various kinds of hardware into their outfits. Hair would be dyed in bright colors, and band-tees were the go-to. Although many features of punk fashion still exist, the trend has never made a complete comeback, with more minimal fashion choices preferred today.
Neon Colors
People who didn’t like punk fashion would wear bright neon colors that ran through several parts of their outfits. The colors made outfits pop and stand out, and they were primarily seen in fitness and aerobics and the dance and club scenes of the ‘80s. Today, neon colors are considered outdated, with neutrals and pastel colors dominating modern fashion.
Big Hair
The classic big hair was one of the most iconic trends of the ‘80s. It was seen on screen, on the runway, and even on teens. To achieve this look, one would use a lot of hairspray, accompanied by techniques like hair teasing and using heat on the hair, which would be considered damaging to hair health. Today, this trend would be considered unacceptable because of the damage that would be done to the hair just to achieve the look.
Smoking
Smoking was prevalent in the ‘80s. Everyone did it, including adults and even teens who were too young to do so. Smoking was more acceptable in the ‘80s, and teens would be seen smoking in cars, indoors, walking in the streets, etc. There were no qualms about young people smoking, but times have changed since then. Today, smoking is seen as highly unacceptable because of the health risks that smoking poses.
Colorful Eye Shadow
The colorful eye shadow look was one of the biggest make-up trends from the ‘80s. Women wore heavy and colorful eye shadow looks to work, and the same was seen among teenage girls who would go to school sporting the same look. Today, colorful eye shadow has been replaced with make-up techniques that give off a “no make-up” look, with people wearing more neutral colors daily.
Bushy Eyebrows
Like many beauty trends, eyebrows also undergo multiple trends, with certain looks preferred over others. In the ‘80s, bushy eyebrows were very common. People preferred to have full eyebrows with a more exaggerated look. Today, the trend with eyebrow looks has taken a turn, with many people preferring natural eyebrows or even laminated eyebrows that give them a proper shape, ensuring they do not look bushy.
Shoulder Pads
Shoulder pads were icons of ‘80s fashion. Men, women, and teenagers all liked to wear coats, shirts, or even dresses with shoulder pads to create a broad and powerful silhouette. This silhouette was common among people of all ages, and teenagers would even be seen wearing clothes with shoulder pads to school. This broad silhouette has been replaced with softer silhouettes, which many teens prefer.
Casual Drug Use
In the ‘80s, parents were not very strict, and teenagers could go out with their friends for long hours of the night. Often, they would go to parties where drug use was prevalent. This included a range of illegal drugs that would be used casually without any adult supervision. With the increase in awareness of the harms of drug use, this trend has been rightfully left in the past.
Music and Movie Content
Many iconic movies and music were made in the ‘80s. However, much of the popular content among teens in those days often contained offensive and inappropriate language and themes. It was trendy for teens to listen to this music and watch these movies. Today, teens are more aware of being inclusive and what is socially acceptable and, therefore, usually listen to music and watch movies that support these ideas.
Tanning Beds
Tanned skin that looked sun-kissed was popular among people from the ‘80s, including older teenagers who wanted to look like the people they saw on screen or in magazines. Many of these people would use tanning beds to get the tanned looks on their bodies without much concern for their overall well-being. Today, with greater awareness of skin cancer, using tanning beds would be considered outdated and even unacceptable because of the health concerns it causes.
Gothic Fashion
Similar to the punk fashion choices in the ‘80s, gothic fashion was also trendy among certain groups of people who grew up then. While punk fashion would include specific pops of colors, gothic fashion was darker, moodier, and often inspired by more macabre themes. The trend was seen in clothes, make-up, and even people’s accessories. Today, gothic fashion is out of style.
Camcorders
Many teens who grew up in the ‘80s were seen lugging around camcorders to document their days. Many family videos, celebrations, and even performing skateboarding tricks and breakdances were recorded on a camcorder. Camcorders slowly lost their relevance as time passed, especially with the invention of smartphones, where people could take videos and photos from their phones. Today, teens take high-resolution photos and videos on their phones because they are easier to carry around and more convenient overall.
Athletic Wear
The trendy athletic wear in the ‘80s consisted of leotards, running shoes, sweatbands, leg warmers, etc. Many people and teens opted to wear these clothing items, which soon became a fashion trend. Today, athletic wear has taken a turn, with different styles and silhouettes being more popular than those in the ‘80s.
Hair Treatments
No matter your age, everyone who lived through the ‘80s went through some form of hair treatment, which was very popular then. This included getting perms or using chemicals to achieve curly or wavy hair. Many teens sported a fun perm in the ‘80s without much concern for the health of their hair. Nowadays, using chemicals on hair would be considered unacceptable. People prefer hair treatments using effective products that do not damage their hair.
Teen Magazines
With limited forms of entertainment, magazines often offer the best source of entertainment among many teens. Teen magazines covered music, fashion, and everything pop-culture-related. Today, teen magazines are considered outdated as many teens get their pop-culture news and content from their phones.
Reckless Driving
Many teens in the ‘80s drove their cars once they were old enough. It was also trendy for these young car owners to make all kinds of modifications to their cars. In addition to owning their cars, teens would often be seen driving recklessly. This trend has become highly unacceptable because of its risks to the car’s occupants and pedestrians.
Fitness
Fitness and athleticism often mean people are healthy and follow routines, prioritizing their health. However, this was not the case in the ‘80s. It was trendy for people to be thin in the ‘80s, and this body shape was even promoted in the fitness industry. Today, promoting thinness would be highly unacceptable. Many prioritize their health and stay fit for health reasons rather than physique.
Clubbing
Clubbing in the ‘80s was often glamorized for more than what it was. Many older teens would be seen going into clubs and seemingly having the time of their lives. However, many times, clubbing would involve underage drinking and even substance use, which were both illegal and unacceptable. Today, this trend would be considered inappropriate by many. Clubs also have strict age restrictions to ensure that teens cannot get in and partake in illegal activities.
Access to R-rated Movies
In the ‘80s, people watched movies by going to the movie theatre or renting them out because streaming was unavailable then. It was straightforward for teens to get access to movies with inappropriate language and themes because there were no strict regulations or age restrictions on who could rent out the movies. Today, theatres must ensure that only audiences of the appropriate age can watch movies and streaming platforms are required to ensure that proper age restrictions are placed on their platforms.
Video Arcade Culture
Video games have been a part of teen culture for a long time. In the ‘80s, playing video games included going to the arcade, where teens could spend multiple hours playing. Teens were seen wasting their hours at the video arcade without any care for more important things. Today, this trend is considered unacceptable because of the amount of time teens spend at the arcade, which may adversely affect multiple areas of their lives.
Swatch Watches
Wearing a swatch watch was one of the biggest ‘80s trends. It was considered one of the coolest accessories to own back then. This trend symbolized consumerism, which is unacceptable today. People are more aware of environmental problems and sustainability.
Boombox Culture
In the ‘80s, many teenagers were seen carrying around boomboxes and playing loud music in public spaces. This was done without regard for the people around them, who may have been disturbed by the loud music. Although this was a trend that all the cool teens were doing in the ‘80s, it was regarded as disrespectful towards people in public spaces.
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Alanna Rosen is an experienced content writer that focuses on many finance and educational content. Her articles are regularly published on Web3Tribe and syndicated on large publications.