The best of 1980s fashion: 37 iconic outfits including polka dots, worn-in denim and oversized blazers

The award-winning actress is known best for her sexy siren-esque looks, however, we love this shirt and tie combo on her. Something you are seeing fashion girlies everywhere wearing RN, here Basinger is doing it back in 1989 at the Deauville American Film Festival. The wavy beach hair adds her signature sultry edge.

This is the cover shot for Janet Jackson's 1984 album 'Dream Street'. While the record might not have had the widespread commercial success she had hoped for, the look is giving 80s fashion at it's finest. The studded red leather gloves are very current-season Alaïa, and the big hair combined with the soft glam is just *chef's kiss*.

There's no denying that model Jerry Hall defined the 80s — hopefully this image shows why. Walking for Chanel's haute couture Spring/Summer 1985 show, this head-to-toe red ensemble is so 2025. The statement gold buttons and jewellery are the perfect finishing touches...we wonder if we can find something similar on Vinted?

YES, SJP! One of the Cosmo-approved qweens of 80s style, she's ticking off so many trends that we can hardly keep count. Scrunched big hair, knotted hair scarf, oversized blazer, classic blue jeans, slouchy ankle warmer-style socks, plimsolls, fancy AF sunglasses and a nonchalant pose. Perfection.

How about Michelle Pfeiffer putting all of our mismatched pyjamas to shame? Her grooming in Scarface is on point: the flawless claw-like nails, her bob blow-dried within an inch of its life... and can we take a moment to appreciate that her entire nightwear ensemble is perfectly colour coordinated with her boudoir? She couldn't possibly be any cooler, TBH.

Hello Christy Turlington and hello P.O.W.E.R D.R.E.S.S.I.N.G. Can you imagine going to a job interview in this and not getting the job? Yeah, that's because it wouldn't happen. You can probably request a corner office, chauffeur and personal chef too while you're at it. This look will literally never get old.

You can't talk about 80s fashion without mentioning the certified QUEEN of extremity and self-expression: Grace Jones. This particular lewk is one of our faves, because, quite simply, it's proof that the "take one thing off before you leave the house" maxim simply did not exist back then. If anything, 80s fashionistas ascribed to the total opposite. A giant hat, statement earrings, gloves, naked cage dress, exposed pants and a red lip? Why the hell not!

Brooke Shields with her BIG HAIR DON'T CARE is a whole Eighties mood. Top-to-toe white was often seen in the 80s, to offset all the colour exploding across everyone else's wardrobes (scroll further to see what we mean). This navy sweater vest adds a hint of nautical vibes – another much-loved style of the decade, even for people without boats...

Cher did naked dressing before it was even *called* naked dressing – and she remains the one who did it best, in our opinion. Per the era's maximalist style, the singer attended the Met Gala in a most iconic of ensembles: a see-through, crystal and bead-covered bodysuit paired with a low-cut black maxi-skirt, some seriously major ear cuffs AND a typically Eighties purple eyeshadow look.

It's the workout that defined a decade (and beyond) – and a whole generation's idea of what constitutes gymwear. The rules? The higher-cut the leg on your skintight leotard the better, always ensure your legwarmers and sweatband match perfectly, and pop a belt on top just 'cos.

How to do retro vamp, à la Cindy Crawford. This cropped biker jacket shape was super popular back then, worn with a stretch mini or high-waisted jeans. Cindy's messy kind of blowout and red lip are classic 80s beauty trends, too, as is the pairing of black and red more generally.

The lead singer of The Runaways, Joan Jett is showing *exactly* how people in the 80s weren't afraid of wearing multiple trends at once. Clashing prints, extreme haircut, full-glam makeup, accessorising until she couldn't fit anything else on... It's so fabulously extra. And the metallic belt is just the cherry on top, to tie it all together. Mind. Blown.

Hello, Demi? Is that you? It looks like someone took our favourite Charlie's Angel and put her in an '80s Instagram filter, TBH. Crimping a fringe is a bold move because – as this photo proves – it just won't sit down, giving a kind of "glamorous but windswept" (and slightly crazed) vibe. Demi's soft makeup is also hella flattering, finished with a sequin blazer, bow earrings and glitzy beads.

Three massive 80s trends on Elle 'The Bod' Macpherson: a velvet jacket with HUGE shoulder pads, a harlequin print mini skirt, and sheer black tights. Spare a thought for those 80s gals having to be majorly on top of their leg hair situ... Sadly for them 50 denier tights were yet to become a wardrobe staple of busy women everywhere.

Debbie Harry is giving us all a masterclass in pre-'90s makeup by pairing a colourful smoky eye with super strong blusher. Forget about contouring – this is another level. The popularity of Jane Fonda and aerobics meant that leisure-wear from the likes of Pineapple became super popular, and velour tracksuits like Debbie's were absolutely EVERYWHERE (and cosy AF, too). Sign us up!

The Breakfast Club has all the classic teen movie characters: the jock, popular princess, awkward goth, geek and the rule breaker. In this cult film, they each have lust-worthy wardrobes too. Classic sweats, varsity jackets, double denim, parkas, all black everything, throwback grunge... *Adds to watch list immediately*

Princess Di is one of our all-time favourite style icons and the 80s was her jam. This paintbrush-print puff sleeve blouse admittedly does look slightly 101 Dalmatians, but we're down with that.

A waist belt was a classic 80s accessory – they all had tiny waists from all the Jane Fonda workouts, remember! – so everything got cinched within an inch of its life. Spot her sunglasses too: oversized retro beauties. So chic.

Heathers is a 1988 film about the meanest high school clique that ever lived (did you know this film inspired Mean Girls?) – and it has a tonne of teen power dressing moments to boot.

As you can see from this image, they were majorly into double-breasted blazers. They also always looked like they'd come straight from a hair and make-up sesh. This is high school at its most glamourous.