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

M is for Mini Skirt

The mini skirt isn’t an ’80s invention, but it was popular at the time and became part of business attire too. Different styles appear in Fall 2025 – bodycon, tartan, abstract animal print, and leather.

Doublet Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Masayuki Ino; Photo: NowFashion.com

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

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

Duran Lantink Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Duran Lantink; Photo: NowFashion.com

Munthe Fall 2025 [Copenhagen] Creative Direction: Naja Munthe; Photo: James Cochrane for CPHFW

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

N is for New Romantics

The New Romantic subculture began in the UK in the late 1970s but really became well-known in the 1980s, beginning from nighclubs like The Blitz, and featuring eccentric fashion that often nodded to gothic fashion and historical romanticism. It also took inspiration from stars including David Bowie and Marc Bolan. Some bands and musicians came to adopt the style, including Adam and the Ants, and Boy George of the Culture Club. Gothic styles are trending in Fall 2025 fashion – the below looks feature poet shirts, and even a stylised hussar jacket at McQueen (Adam Ant famously wore one).

Ann Demeulemeester Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Stefano Gallici; Photo: NowFashion.com

Dior Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Maria Grazia Chiuri; Photo: NowFashion.com

Agnès b. Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Agnès b; Photo: Courtesy of Agnès B.

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

Chloé Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Chemena Kamali; Photo: NowFashion.com

Doublet Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Masayuki Ino; Photo: NowFashion.com

O is for Off-Shoulder

Off-shoulder sweaters are one of the Fall 2025 fashion trends that mirror the 1980s trend where oversized sweaters would hang off one or both shoulders.

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

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

Kiko Kostadinov Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Laura and Deanna Fanning; Photo: NowFashion.com

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

Dries Van Noten Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Julian Klausner; Photo: NowFashion.com

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

P is for Power Dressing

The 1980s was the decade of power dressing, and while shoulder pads have been appearing on the runway for a few seasons now, it seem that for Fall 2025 they are bigger and they are everywhere. Both womenswear and menswear features strong shoulders this season.

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

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

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

Juun.J Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Juun J; Photo: Courtesy of Juun.J

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

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

Q is for Quirky Couture

In 1981, Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto held their first shows in Paris, and the Japanese avant-garde movement was born. Although these Fall 2025 looks all have some 1980s fashion attributes to them, they lean on the side of the avant-garde.

Comme des Garçons Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Rei Kawakubo; Photo: NowFashion.com

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

Andrej Gronau Fall 2025 [Berlin] Creative Direction: Andrej Gronau; Photo: Finnegan Koichi Godenschweger

Riv Nobuhiko Fall 2025 [Tokyo] Creative Direction: Nobuhiko Kohama and River Garam Jang; Photo: Rei Takatsukasa and Syuya Aoki

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

Duran Lantink Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Duran Lantink; Photo: NowFashion.com

R is for Ruching

Ruching was popular in 1980s fashion both in casualwear and eveningwear; it added movement and shape. Trending for Fall 2025, ruching is added to jeans, dresses, even a tracksuit.

E.L.V. Denim Fall 2025 [London] Creative Direction: Anna Foster; Photo: Courtesy of E.L.V. Denim

yoshiokubo Fall 2025 [Tokyo] Creative Direction: Yoshio Kubo; Photo: Courtesy of Yoshiokubo

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

Forza Collective Fall 2025 [Copenhagen] Creative Direction: Kristoffer Kongshaug; Photo: James Cochrane for CPHFW

HOUGA Fall 2025 [Tokyo] Creative Direction: Moe Ishida; Photo: Courtesy of HOUGA

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

S is for Sequins

Sequins and paillettes were popular for 1980s eveningwear; as a Fall 2025 trend they are used on knitwear and dresses in both casual and glam styles for men and women.

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

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

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

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

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

Kiton Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Maria Giovanna Paone; Photo: Courtesy of Kiton

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T is for Tutus and Tulle

Another 1980s fashion style made popular by Madonna – the tutu skirt. Fall 2025 sees it reimagined in layers of fabric, lace, and tulle.

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

Chloé Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Chemena Kamali; Photo: NowFashion.com

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

Collina Strada Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Hillary Taymour; Photo: Alessandro Viero on behalf of GoRunway; Courtesy of Collina Strada

Comme des Garçons Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Rei Kawakubo; Photo: NowFashion.com

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

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U is for Unitards

The unitard had long legs – these Fall 2025 leotards are worn with tights and leggings in a way that calls back to the unitards used for aerobics and fitness classes of the 1980s.

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

GESTUZ Fall 2025 [Copenhagen] Creative Direction: Sanne Sehested; Photo: James Cochrane for CPHFW

Coperni Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant; Photo: NowFashion.com

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

Kasia Kucharska Fall 2025 [Berlin] Creative Direction: Kasia Kucharska; Photo: Finnegan Koichi Godenschweger

Kiko Kostadinov Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Laura and Deanna Fanning; Photo: NowFashion.com

V is for Velour and Velvet

Both velour and velvet were popular fabrics for 1980s fashion – the former offered some stretch and had a semi-shiny finish. Fall 2025 sees velour and velvet used for trousers, suits, dresses and a very ’80s bubble skirt at Markarian.

Willy Chavarria Fall 2025 Menswear [New York] Creative Direction: Willy Chavarría; Photo: Courtesy of Willy Chavarria

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

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

KIMHĒKIM Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Kimintē Kimhēkim; Photo: Courtesy of KIMHĒKIM

Cucculelli Shaheen Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Anthony Cucculelli and Anna Rose Shaheen; Photo: Courtesy of Cucculelli Shaheen

Markarian Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Alexandra O’Neill; Photo: Courtesy of Markarian

W is for Waist Cinching

The smaller the waist, the bigger the shoulders? Whether through tailoring, a belt or garment construction, the waist is pulled in so that the shoulders can look bigger.

Setchu Fall 2025 Menswear [Florence] Creative Direction: Satoshi Kuwata; Photo: Courtesy of Setchu

Luar Fall 2025 [New York] Creative Direction: Raul López; Photo: NowFashion.com

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

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

Véronique Leroy Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Véronique Leroy; Photo: NowFashion.com

Henrik Vibskov Fall 2025 [Copenhagen] Creative Direction: Henrik Vibskov; Photo: James Cochrane for CPHFW

X is for Xtreme Shoulders

1980s-style shoulder pads get bigger than ever for Fall 2025 – both men’s and women’s style feature strong shoulders on coats, blazers, denim and blouses.

Juun.J Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Juun J; Photo: Courtesy of Juun.J

Willy Chavarria Fall 2025 Menswear [New York] Creative Direction: Willy Chavarría; Photo: Courtesy of Willy Chavarria

Ouest Paris Fall 2025 Menswear [Paris] Creative Direction: Arthur Robert; Photo: Courtesy of Ouest Paris

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

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

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

Y is for Yellow

Various shades of yellow were popular in the 1980s; the color is showing up again as a Fall 2025 trend.

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

Nina Ricci Fall 2025 [Paris] Creative Direction: Harris Reed; Photo: NowFashion.com

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

Feben Fall 2025 [London] Creative Direction: Feben Vemmenby; Photo: Courtesy of Feben

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

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

Z is for Zig-Zag and Chevron

Two key patterns of 1980s fashion were zig-zag and chevron – these are trending for Fall 2025 across knitwear, skirts, and dresses.

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

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

Forza Collective Fall 2025 [Copenhagen] Creative Direction: Kristoffer Kongshaug; Photo: James Cochrane for CPHFW

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

Kiton Fall 2025 [Milan] Creative Direction: Maria Giovanna Paone; Photo: Courtesy of Kiton

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