Alright so today I’m diving into 1983 fashion after seeing all these old celeb pics popping up. Gotta recreate that vibe myself, right? Started by hitting the thrift stores hard – kinda felt like hunting for buried treasure. Seriously, took me like three trips just to find anything decent that screamed “early 80s”.
The Research Phase (Basically Just Googling)
First thing I did? Stared at photos for hours. Like, obsessively. Needed to really get those iconic 1983 looks burned into my brain. Think shoulder pads you could land a helicopter on, HUGE! And neon? Oh man, neon was everywhere. Acid wash jeans tighter than my budget? Definitely. Saw Princess Diana rocking those power suits, Madonna being all punky, Michael Jackson in those military jackets… wild mix.
My notes were a total mess:
- Big shoulders (like, comically big)
- Bold stripes & geometric patterns (looked kinda busy)
- Leather + Denim together? (not sure about this…)
- BELTS EVERYWHERE (over shirts, cinching sweaters, seriously)
- Sweaters tied over shoulders (very preppy vibes)
Thrift Store Adventures aka “The Struggle”
Okay, hitting the thrift shops. This was… frustrating. You find one cool thing, but then nothing else matches. Spent a whole Saturday digging.
- Found this cream power blazer – sleeves too short, but those shoulder pads? Perfectly ridiculous 1983 style. Snagged it anyway.
- Stumbled on some bright blue acid wash jeans. They were… shockingly tight. Tried them on and honestly laughed out loud in the changing room.
- Struck gold with this hideous/amazing pink and green striped sweater hanging lonely on a rack. Screamed “1983 prom reject” – had to have it.
- Scored a thick, fake leather belt with a ginormous gold buckle from a pile. Pure power dressing accessory.
Trying It All On (And Feeling Ridiculous)
Time for the home fashion show. Put the big-shoulder blazer on over a random black tee. Instantly felt like a tiny football player. Added the neon sweater tied around my shoulders – super preppy move. Pulled on the acid wash jeans – yeah, super tight. Struggled breathing for a sec. Buckled the huge belt OVER the sweater knot? Don’t ask me why, photos said so.
Looked in the mirror. It was a lot. Like, visually overwhelming. Felt kinda awkward, stiff, and also like I needed bigger hair. Definitely gave that dramatic early 80s silhouette though. Mission kinda accomplished?
Accessories & Hair Battle
Okay, almost there. Needed the details.Big earrings – found some cheap gold hoops. Aviator sunglasses? Dug some old ones out of a drawer. Hair was a problem. My hair just doesn’t perm. Tried teasing it like mad with a comb and way too much mousse. Result: less “big 80s hair,” more “slightly irritated bird’s nest.” Gave up. Threw on the sunglasses to distract.
Finally… Pictures!
Set up the phone camera against a boring wall. Tried posing like those stern, serious 1983 model faces. Felt super unnatural. Clicked a bunch. Looked at the photos and cracked up. The lighting was harsh, the outfit was chaotic… but man, it screamed 1983 celebrity. You could totally imagine it on a Duran Duran album cover or some prime time soap opera.
So Was It Worth It?
Whole process was messy fun. Learned 1983 wasn’t messing around – they went big, bold, and often kinda clashing. The shoulder pads were an architectural nightmare. Wearing it? Super uncomfortable after ten minutes, honestly. Makes you appreciate how trends change, but also kinda see why big shapes are coming back. Main takeaway? Looking like a 1983 celeb takes guts… and maybe less breathing room. Would I wear it out? Maybe just the belt. Or the sunglasses. Not the shoulder pads though, never the shoulder pads again.
