If You Don’t Stop And Look Around Once In A While, You Could Miss It.
The 1980s were a big decade in every sense, big shoulders (pads), big hair, big personalities. From the birth of MTV to royal weddings, this era gave us fashion moments we’re still talking about (and remixing) today. Many of today’s trends actually trace back to the fearless style choices of the ’80s. Below, we celebrate ten iconic celebrities who defined 1980s fashion. Each had a signature look that not only turned heads in their day, but continues to inspire our wardrobes. Let's explore ten people we think were some of the ultimate style icons of the 80s.
1. Madonna - The Rebel Queen
No ’80s style list is complete without Madonna. Dubbed the "Queen of Pop," Madonna was also the queen of reinventing fashion. In the early 1980s, she rose to fame with a “street urchin” look that inspired young fans everywhere. Think lace gloves, stacked bracelets and rosaries, mesh tops, and even lingerie as outerwear. She made it edgy and mainstream.
Madonna’s bold mix of punk, vintage, and DIY fashion empowered women to dress with wild creativity. One week she’d channel Marilyn Monroe, the next, a downtown club kid. Love or hate her outfits, everyone watched Madonna for the next trend. (She’s also the reason many of us begged for fingerless lace gloves. Honestly, iconic.)
Madonna proved that fashion could be fun, fearless, and totally unapologetic, making her arguably the most influential style icon of the 1980s.
2. Princess Diana - The Royal Trendsetter
Princess Diana wasn’t just royalty, she was a bona fide fashion icon of the ’80s. Whether in casual jeans or a dazzling ball gown, Diana had a knack for looking effortlessly chic and put together.
In her early princess years, she popularized the elegant, preppy look (think sweaters and tailored riding boots) and made classic pieces feel youthful. She rocked power suits and shoulder pads with the best of them, but always with her own twist of softness and class.
Her signature feathered blonde bob and flicked fringe hairdo were copied by women. Diana’s evening gowns, like that ink-blue velvet number she famously danced in at the White House, are the stuff of fashion legend. Under constant media scrutiny, she never missed a style beat.
Importantly, Diana showed that a modern princess could be a trendsetter: from sporty sweatshirt-and-bicycle-shorts looks to stunning red-carpet dresses, she brought approachability and glamour together. It’s no wonder major designers (and even today’s royals) cite Princess Di as an inspiration. Truly the People's Princess.
3. Prince - The Style Shape-Shifter
Prince didn’t just break musical boundaries in the 80s, he shattered fashion norms too. Dubbed “The Purple One,” Prince built an image around theatrical, gender-blurring style. He could strut out in a frilled lace shirt, brocade jacket, high heels and eyeliner and somehow look both royal and rebellious.
The iconic Purple Rain era outfit says it all: a purple velvet frock coat, ruffled white blouse, and jodhpurs - bold, romantic, and unmistakably Prince. He mixed feminine and masculine elements seamlessly, rocking feather boas and crop tops one day and studded moto jackets the next. His beautiful curled hair and a little beauty mark became part of his signature look.
Prince basically gave us permission to ignore the “rules” and wear what makes us good. Fashion was just another form of art for him. Decades later, modern male artists in flashy suits or eyeliner owe a nod to Prince’s trailblazing. In the kingdom of 80s style, Prince was the flamboyant, fearless king.
4. David Bowie – The Chameleon of Style
David Bowie spent the ’70s reinventing himself, and by the 1980s he had already achieved style-icon status. In true Bowie fashion, he didn’t stop there, he evolved again.
The ’80s Bowie dialed back the glittery Ziggy Stardust jumpsuits and emerged with a sleeker, New Wave-inspired wardrobe. He embraced elegant suits (often with bold colors or oversized proportions) and that famous bleached-blonde pompadour during his “Let’s Dance" era. Yet, even toned down, he still pushed boundaries.
Bowie’s androgynous edge remained: he’d pair a sharp suit with theatrical makeup or don a bold coat on stage as the Goblin King in Labyrinth. He was dubbed a “fashion chameleon” for good reason. From punk to new-romantic to avant-garde, Bowie tried it all.
His fearless experimentation paved the way for performers to treat fashion as performance art. In the ’80s, Bowie proved you can mature your look without losing your eccentric soul. (And let’s be honest, nobody made a pastel suit look cooler than Bowie did.)
5. Molly Ringwald – The Teen Queen of the 80s
As the reigning movie queen of the ’80s, Molly Ringwald became a style icon for every awkwardly cool girl in school. In John Hughes films like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink, Ringwald’s characters each had a relatable, eclectic fashion sense that fans eagerly imitated. She mixed feminine pieces with a touch of masculinity in her outfits, like a boyish oversized blazer over a lacy blouse, or sweet floral prints with combat boots.
Molly’s personal style (on-screen and off) showed you could be feminine and a little punky at the same time. She wasn’t a supermodel or pop star; she felt like one of us, which made her fashion influence even stronger. Thrift store chic? Pattern mixing? We have Molly to thank for making those mainstream in the ’80s. Case in point, her character Andie in Pretty in Pink literally DIYs her own prom dress, inspiring countless teens to get creative with their own looks. She gave ’80s teens (and beyond) the confidence to embrace their own unique style, no matter how “uncool” it might seem to others.
6. Winona Ryder – The Offbeat It-Girl
Winona Ryder’s late-’80s rise to fame made her an unexpected style icon for the misfits and “alt” kids. She wasn’t about neon leg warmers or big mall hair, Winona brought a cooler, darker vibe that set her apart. Her breakthrough roles nailed it: in Beetlejuice (1988) she was Lydia Deetz, the proto-goth teen in lacy black veils, and in Heathers (1989) she played a too-cool-for-cliques schoolgirl rocking blazers and subtle angst.
That double-whammy of goth meets prep cemented Winona’s status as an ’80s style queen. Off screen, she often kept things simple with a tomboyish twist, think jeans, leather jackets, and a pixie-ish haircut, earning her a reputation as the “cool girl” next door. At the tail end of the decade, while others were still in bold colors, Winona and her peers ushered in the more subdued, vintage-inspired looks that would blossom in the ’90s. She made it okay to be a little moody in your fashion.
7. Michael Jackson – The King of Pop (and Jackets)
When Michael Jackson hit his stride in the 1980s, he not only ruled the music scene but also set major fashion trends across the globe. His onstage outfits were as much a part of the show as his moonwalk.
Signature pieces? Oh, there were so, so many.
The single sequined white glove is perhaps the most famous accessory in pop history. His red leather Thriller jacket with its sharp V design became the must-have knockoff for kids in 1984. Michael made military-style jackets with gold braids and epaulets a wardrobe staple, pairing them with cropped black pants and those unmistakable white socks and loafers.
He even brought back fedoras, tipping one on his head for the “Smooth Criminal” look. Let’s not forget the aviator shades and armband, small details like these became part of MJ's signature styles.
Fans around the world emulated his style, malls were full of Thriller-esque jackets and “Beat It” parachute pants. He had younger fans trying out the Jheri curl hairstyle too, thanks to his glossy curls. Michael’s fashion was flashy but also had a classic showman’s flair, blending old Hollywood influences with rock star edge. The result? Truly timeless looks.
8. Cyndi Lauper – The Neon Daydreamer
Cyndi Lauper didn’t just sing Girls Just Want to Have Fun, she wore it. Her style in the ’80s was an explosive celebration of color, kitsch, and creative chaos.
She’d pile on bright clashing patterns, throw on a dozen chunky bangles, neon eyeshadow up to her eyebrows, and top it off with a shock of manic-panic dyed hair. The result? Instantly recognizable and utterly joyful.
Lauper mixed punk elements (safety pins, ragged tutus, leather jackets plastered with pins) with thrift-store finds and high-fashion whimsy. One day she might rock a vintage prom dress with combat boots; the next, a studded denim vest over a tutu with mismatched high-top sneakers.
Crucifixes as accessories, tutus over leggings, and even two different color socks - nothing was off-limits in Cyndi’s world. Her free-spirited style was hugely influential for young women in the mid-80s. Cyndi proved that fashion could be playful and that breaking the rules sometimes creates the coolest look. Modern pop stars with rainbow hair or quirky ensembles owe a debt to Ms. Lauper’s so unusual style. In the grand 80s tapestry of fashion, Cyndi’s look was the wild, colorful thread that you couldn’t help but notice (and love).
9. Boy George – The Colorful Culture Club Kid
Boy George turned heads in the 1980s with a look as catchy as his songs. As the frontman of Culture Club, he embraced androgynous fashion and made it mainstream. Picture Boy George in his prime: brightly colored everything (often in flowing silhouettes), a big hat or braided headpiece, face full of dramatic makeup, and an eclectic mix of gender-bending attire. He’d wear a man’s suit one day and a glam kimono the next, always topped with heavy eyeliner and a knowing smile.
His trademark became those long dreadlock braids, oversized coats, boots, and harem pants, usually all in eye-popping. In the early 80s, when the New Romantic movement in the UK was in full swing, Boy George pushed it further, showing that you could cherry-pick from any style you fancied. He’d mix Victorian-inspired ruffles with punk-rock accessories and unique hats. The result was pure Boy George.
Importantly, he made many question traditional gender dress codes and he did it with warmth and accessibility (there’s a reason he was everywhere on MTV). His influence is evident even now whenever you see celebs playing with gender-fluid fashion or rocking a flamboyant stage look. Boy George was the face of British 80s pop fashion, and his fearless unique style still resonates as a symbol of that era’s creativity.
Learn more about The New Romantics era with this documentary from the BBC.
10. Grace Jones – The Futuristic Femme Fatale
Grace Jones is in a category all her own. The model-singer-actress was the embodiment of edgy glamour in the 80s, practically inventing the term “fierce” before it was a thing.
With her striking androgynous features and chiseled physique, she treated fashion as high art. Grace’s style was defined by sharp, angular silhouettes, think huge shoulder pads, sculptural hats, and avant-garde jackets, often done in monochrome or metallic tones that screamed futuristic. She’d wear a tailored men’s suit one night, then turn up in a hooded Issey Miyake gown the next. Known for her flat-top fade haircut and bold makeup, Jones pushed fashion into the realm of fantasy.
On stage, she accessorized with masquerade masks, corsets, and even bondage-inspired pieces, making sure all eyes were on her. Yet she could also stun with pure minimalism, like a simple hooded robe looking like the coolest outfit on earth when Grace wore it. Her fearless style redefined beauty standards, blending feminine and masculine in ways that felt ahead of even our current times. Other famous faship icons, like Lady Gaga, cite Grace Jones as a muse, and it’s easy to see why. In the ’80s, Grace was not following trends, she was light-years ahead creating them.
Who were the biggest fashion icons of the 1980s?
The 1980s had many fashion icons. Some of the most influential include Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Boy George, and Grace Jones.
What fashion trends were popular in the 1980s?
The 80s are typically remembered for bold, flashy styles. A few staples of the decade include big shoulder pads, bright neon colors, bold patterns, spandex, leg warmers, high-wasted acid-wash jeans and of course, big hair. Another staple of the decade was lots of layering and oversized accessories such as bangles, big earrings, and fingerless gloves.
Why is 1980s fashion still popular today?
1980s fashion has a timeless appeal because it was all about self-expression and fun. The decade didn’t shy away from color or drama, and that adventurous spirit resonates with people now and most likely always will.