If You Love 1980s Fashion, Fall 2025 Was Made for You (Here’s Our A–Z Guide)

1980s fashion elements have been bubbling under the surface for a few seasons now, but until recently, the influence wasn’t strong enough to be considered truly significant. We’ve seen far more references to the 1970s, the Y2K era, and even early 2010s nostalgia. But as far as Fall 2025 fashion trends go, something has shifted. Perhaps now that we’ve reached the era of revisiting the 2010s, it all feels a little too recent, so fashion has instinctively chosen to look back to 1980s fashion as an inspiration.

And so here’s the shift that has been coming for a while now. That’s how trends work: they simmer slowly until they reach a boiling point that can’t be ignored. And Fall 2025 fashion trends seem to be that moment for 1980s fashion. If you’re a fan of 1980s style, this season will feel like a gift – full of nods to the silhouettes, textures, and icons of the decade.

Below, I’ve compiled an A–Z guide to the 1980s fashion influences making their mark in Fall 2025 fashion trends. While not every look screams “1980s,” the influence is undeniably present – and I’ve broken down how each reference appears throughout the collections.

This trend report is quite long and detailed and so is spread across two pages – scroll to the bottom to move to the next page. Same as other trend reports on The Fashion Fold, it is a unisex report and incorporates multiple cities including both major and minor fashion weeks.  And unlike most trend reports on The Fashion Fold, this one is not subscriber-only. So dive in and enjoy!

The featured image shows (l-r): Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Stella McCartney (all images by NowFashion.com).

A is for Athleisure

For as much as 1980s fashion was known for full-on glamour, the decade was also known for athleisure – a fitness craze had taken over, with music videos like Physical by Olivia Newton-John and workout videos from Jane Fonda. Tracksuits, windbreakers, spandex – gymwear made the transition to streetwear. Fall 2025 fashion trends see designers pair sporty looks with ’80s-style court shoes and leggings. Socks are worn over tracksuit trousers akin to leg warmers.

Undercover Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Jun Takahashi; Photo: NowFashion.com

Sandy Liang Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Sandy Liang; Photo: Filippo Fior

Avavav Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Beate Skonare Karlsson; Photo: Courtesy of Avavav

Magda Butrym Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Magda Butrym; Photo: Courtesy of Magda Butrym

Magliano Fall 2025 Menswear [Milan] Creative Direction: Luchino Magliano; Photo: NowFashion.com

Ernest W. Baker Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Reid Baker and Inês Amorim; Photo: Courtesy of Ernest W. Baker

B is for Batwing Sleeves

These aren’t the exaggerated batwing sleeves of the ’80s where the underarm connects near the waist, but for Fall 2025, the sleeve and shoulder are slightly disjointed, rounded, and connect at a lower point than they should, giving a visually awkward appearance.

Hed Mayner Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Hed Mayner; Photo: NowFashion.com

Situationist Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Irakli Rusadze; Photo: Courtesy of Situationist

Fendi Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Delfina Delettrez Fendi; Photo: NowFashion.com

Egonlab. Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Florentin Glémarec and Kevin Nompeix; Photo: NowFashion.com

Thom Browne Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Thom Browne; Photo: NowFashion.com

Eckhaus Latta Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta; Photo: GoRunway

C is for Crolla Florals

Crolla was a 1980s British brand and boutique founded by Scott Crolla and Georgina Godley which became famous for its use of furnishing fabrics and lavish florals and textures, being frequented by the likes of Boy George, Princess Diana and Isabella Blow. Retro florals are not a new trend, but continue in Fall 2025 as a key motif.

Valentino Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Alessandro Michele; Photo: NowFashion.com

Anna Sui Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Anna Sui; Photo: NowFashion.com

Meryll Rogge Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Meryll Rogge; Photo: Alessandro Garofalo

Moschino Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Adrian Appiolaza; Photo: NowFashion.com

Louis Vuitton Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Nicolas Ghesquière; Photo: NowFashion.com

Carolina Herrera Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Wes Gordon; Photo: NowFashion.com

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D is for Drop Waist

The drop waist was very popular in the 1980s and early 1990s, although it is also associated with the 1920s. The feature is modernized for Fall 2025, appearing on slip dresses, quilted skirts, even menswear.

Diesel Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Glenn Martens; Photo: NowFashion.com

Nicklas Skovgaard Fall 2025 [Copenhagen] Creative Direction: Nicklas Skovgaard; Photo: James Cochrane for CPHFW

Florentina Leitner Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Florentina Leitner; Photo: Courtesy of Florentina Leitner

Meryll Rogge Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Meryll Rogge; Photo: Alessandro Garofalo

Saint Laurent Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Anthony Vaccarello; Photo: NowFashion.com

Coach Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Stuart Vevers; Photo: NowFashion.com

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E is for Electric Hues

The bright color palette of the 1980s along with rich jewel tones return for Fall 2025, with bright red and royal purple being two key colors.

Saint Laurent Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Anthony Vaccarello; Photo: NowFashion.com

Ulla Johnson Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Ulla Johnson; Photo: Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

Homme Plissé Issey Miyake Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Sen Kawahara, Yuki Itakura, and Nobutaka Kobayashi; Photo: NowFashion.com

Tory Burch Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Tory Burch; Photo: NowFashion.com

Versace Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Donatella Versace; Photo: NowFashion.com

Lacoste Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Pelagia Kolotouros; Photo: NowFashion.com

F is for Fingerless Gloves

Madonna and Billy Idol wore fingerless gloves in the ’80s, and it looks like they are set to make a come back, with styles in leather, fabric and lace appearing on the Fall 2025 runways.

Versace Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Donatella Versace; Photo: NowFashion.com

Hermès Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Nadège Vanhée; Photo: NowFashion.com

Valentino Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Alessandro Michele; Photo: NowFashion.com

Pauline Dujancourt Fall 2025 [London] Creative Direction: Pauline Dujancourt; Photo: Courtesy of Pauline Dujancourt

Anna Sui Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Anna Sui; Photo: NowFashion.com

Avavav Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Beate Skonare Karlsson; Photo: Courtesy of Avavav

G is for Grace Jones

What would 1980s fashion be without Grace Jones? Her style often incorporated hoods, and these Fall 2025 looks all do too.

Homme Plissé Issey Miyake Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Sen Kawahara, Yuki Itakura, and Nobutaka Kobayashi; Photo: NowFashion.com

Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Andreas Kronthaler; Photo: NowFashion.com

Carnet-Archive Fall 2025 Menswear [Milan] Creative Direction: Halyn Kim and Youngdae Kong; Photo: Courtesy of Carnet Archive

Diesel Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Glenn Martens; Photo: NowFashion.com

Stella McCartney Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Stella McCartney; Photo: NowFashion.com

ATLEIN Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Reid Baker and Inês Amorim; Photo: Courtesy of Atlein

H is for Herringbone

Herringbone was a popular fabric choice in 1980s fashion for two reasons – its use in power dressing and the rise of menswear-inspired looks for women, and also its use in outwear and more minimalist styles toward the end of the decade. Fall 2025 features herringbone looks across both menswear and womenswear.

Ernest W. Baker Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Reid Baker and Inês Amorim; Photo: Courtesy of Ernest W. Baker

Ferragamo Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Maximilian Davis; Photo: NowFashion.com

Todd Snyder Fall 2025 Menswear [New York] Creative Direction: Todd Snyder; Photo: Kevin Tachman Studio

Caro Editions Fall 2025 [Copenhagen] Creative Direction: Caroline Bille Brahe; Photo: James Cochrane for CPHFW

Songzio Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Jay Songzio; Photo: Courtesy of Songzio

Prada Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons; Photo: NowFashion.com

I is for Iridescent

A lot of shiny fabrics were used in 1980s fashion – metallic finishes for clubwear, futuristic and tech-inspired looks, along with fabrics like lamé and velour. Iridescent and metallic fabrics are used on both sporty and more formal styles for Fall 2025.

Giorgio Armani Fall 2025 Menswear [Milan] Creative Direction: Giorgio Armani; Photo: NowFashion.com

Lacoste Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Pelagia Kolotouros; Photo: NowFashion.com

Homme Plissé Issey Miyake Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Sen Kawahara, Yuki Itakura, and Nobutaka Kobayashi; Photo: NowFashion.com

Ulla Johnson Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Ulla Johnson; Photo: Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

5000 Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Taylor Thompson; Photo: Courtesy of 5000

Sandy Liang Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Sandy Liang; Photo: Filippo Fior

J is for Jacquard Knits

1980s jacquard knitwear featured all kinds of patterns: Fair Isle, geometric, and Memphis design. Fall 2025 sees sweaters use patterns including vines, dots, and Fair Isle in bright and clashing colors.

Federico Cina Fall 2025 Menswear [Milan] Creative Direction: Federico Cina; Photo: Courtesy of Federico Cina

Lacoste Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Pelagia Kolotouros; Photo: NowFashion.com

Magliano Fall 2025 Menswear [Milan] Creative Direction: Luchino Magliano; Photo: NowFashion.com

Moschino Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Adrian Appiolaza; Photo: NowFashion.com

Anna Sui Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Anna Sui; Photo: NowFashion.com

Acne Studios Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Jonny Johansson; Photo: NowFashion.com

K is for Knit Cables

Cable knitwear features texture created by twisting patterns – heavily associated with 1980s fashion, they feature in many Fall 2025 collections too.

Diesel Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Glenn Martens; Photo: NowFashion.com

McQueen Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Seán McGirr; Photo: NowFashion.com

Lacoste Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Pelagia Kolotouros; Photo: NowFashion.com

Chanel Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Design Team; Photo: NowFashion.com

Pauline Dujancourt Fall 2025 [London] Creative Direction: Pauline Dujancourt; Photo: Courtesy of Pauline Dujancourt

Bally Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Simone Bellotti; Photo: NowFashion.com

L is for Leggings

Related to the fitness and athleisure styles in 1980s fashion, leggings (sometimes with stirrups) are a key Fall 2025 trend.

Meruert Tolegen Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Meruert Tolegen; Photo: NowFashion.com

Caro Editions Fall 2025 [Copenhagen] Creative Direction: Caroline Bille Brahe; Photo: James Cochrane for CPHFW

Burc Akyol Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Burc Akyol; Photo: Courtesy of Burc Akyol

Ottolinger Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Christa Bösch and Cosima Gadient; Photo: NowFashion.com

ATLEIN Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Reid Baker and Inês Amorim; Photo: Courtesy of Atlein

Ferragamo Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Maximilian Davis; Photo: NowFashion.com