The VFG believes that informed selling and buying communities are good for the vintage-fashion industry as a whole, and all visitors to the website have access to the VFG resources. These are continually updated and constantly evolving, thanks to a dedicated volunteer staff.
Our blog features our picks of the freshest vintage items, member news and articles. We have also created a growing series of articles on some classic designers.
The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of vintage fashion.
The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international community of people with expertise in vintage fashion. VFG members enjoy a wealth of resources, avenues for promoting their shops and specialties, and camaraderie with others who share a common interest and passion.
One word comes to mind when you think of the 1980s: BIG. Overconsumption, oversized and just plain over-the-top were cornerstone features in this decade of excess and materialism. It was a time of abundance, optimism and unabashed greed.
Shoulder pads returned to fashion in a super-sized version, and the “power suit” reflected women’s emerging status in the workplace. The term “Yuppie” was coined as an acronym for the Young Urban Professional who was a career driven, 20-30 something male or female, obsessed with upward mobility, money and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Casual wear for the Yuppie set was collegiate or preppy with khaki pants, traditional blue blazers, crisp white shirts, polos by Izod Lacoste and Ralph Lauren and cotton cardigans draped over one’s shoulders, loosely tied in front. Designers boldly emblazoned their logos on the exterior of their designs and their clothing became elite status symbols.
Glamour in the 1980s, as depicted in the popular TV shows Dallas and Dynasty, translated to bedazzled evening wear studded with sequins and beads. Hair was permed, teased and coiffed to ever larger proportions and extravagance. Makeup was bold and colorful, as was jewelry of the era which featured large statement necklaces and long, dangling earrings which grazed the shoulders.
In contrast to the more conservative and affluent set, youthful counterculture was defining their own style. Music continued to have a strong influence on fashion, particularly with the emergence of MTV which brought music fashion to the masses. Numerous pop music stars became style icons as well. Underwear as outer wear, popularized by Madonna, infused street fashion with women donning crinolines and lacy bustiers. New Wave music and the corresponding New Romantics style trend was further popularized by London designer Vivienne Westwood, who embraced historical fashion with the use of corsets and bustles and later created the mini-crini. Music legends like Annie Lenox, Boy George, David Bowie and Grace Jones blurred the lines of androgyny in fashion. Japanese fashion designers continued to push fashion barriers exploring gender-bending, sculptural, avant-garde silhouettes.
The fitness boom of the 1980s, as part of this self-conscious and self indulgent decade, spawned a fashion trend that took dance and exercise wear from the studio and gym to the runway and the street. Jane Fonda sported neon leotards and leg warmers in her exercise videos and women soon embraced them as functional fashion. The aerobics craze influenced designer fashion with Lycra and other body conscious fabrics and styles infusing the dress designs of Azzedine Alaia and bodysuits by Donna Karan. The movie Flashdance inspired women to wear tight leggings paired with oversized, baggy sweatshirts with the necklines cut to drape casually off one shoulder. Designer Norma Kamali created an entire collection fashioned of sweatshirt fabric. Jogging or track suits became socially acceptable as casual day wear.
1980s style with its juxtaposition of trends, variety and influences created a unique legacy of fashion and anti-fashion. It is emerging as an era of sought-after vintage for its unique characteristics and lasting impact.
Written by Vintage Devotion
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1980s asymmetrical dress
1980s metallic silver cocktail dress
1980s Gunne Sax prom dress
1980s Diamond Collection prom dress
1980s Oscar de la Renta velvet & feathers dress
1980s metallic party dress
1980s Mary McFadden gown
1980s Jean Muir gown
1980s wedding dress
1980s dress
1980s raspberry dress
1980s Anthony Muto coffin pleated dress
1980s cocktail dress
1980s little black dress
1980s velvet dress
1980s bubble hem dress
1980s Lanz floral dress
1980s Laura Ashley dress
1980s strapless dress
1980s pink suit
1980s Norma Kamali dress
early 1980s Michaele Vollbrach dress
1980s Betsey Johnson dress (early label)
1980s Betsey Johnson dress
1980s Caron peplum suit
1980s Christian Dior suit
1980s velvet suit
1980s Bergdorf Goodman wool suit
1980s jumpsuit
1980s Stray Cats t-shirt
1980s Carole Little blouse
1980s French bra
1980s Marie Jo metallic bra
1980s sweater with leather trim
1980s Delia western novelty sweater
1980s Yves Saint Laurent vest
1980s Thierry Mugler corduroy jacket
1980s Thierry Mugler jacket
1980s Moschino jacket
1980s Jean Paul Gaultier jacket
1980s Oleg Cassini jacket
1980s leopard arm warmers
1980s magenta gloves
1980s Ray Ban Street Neat Wayfare sunglasses
1980s Anne Klein sunglasses
1980s wrap sunglasses
1980s check sunglasses
1980s sunglasses
1980s leather handbag
1980s Italian leather clutch
1980 Neiman Marcus holographic handbag
1980s leather belt
1980s Emmanuel belt
1980s Kokin felt hat
1980s suede and zipper boots
1985 Valentino kid boots
1980s fishnet and sequins boots
1980s leather boots
1980s Candies inspired high heels
1980s leather pumps
1980s Norman Kaplan stilettos
1980s pumps
1980s metallic shoes
1980s patent leather pumps
1980s tennis shoes
1980s neon choker
1980s Tibetan necklace
1980s new wave necklace
1980s plastic stars necklace
1980s Butler and Wilson brooch
1980s romantic brooch
1980s wood necklace
1980s animal theme wood necklace