Like a Fashion Virgin: The 80s Revival Is Here
Bold Shoulders, Leopard Prints, and Power Dressing — How Brands and Celebs Are Bringing Back 80s Glam
Calling all Material Girls!!! It’s officially that time—the 80s is back! All I’ve been listening to are Madonna, Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, and Paula Abdul. I’m truly living for it. Ever since I saw Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle campaign starring Whitney Peak, I knew that the 80s was on its way. The campaign featured Whitney Peak dancing through Paris at night—it felt very Madonna. Ever since then, I’ve just been waiting for it to return in full swing, and here we are!
Brands Embracing the 80s Feel
Saint Laurent is leading the charge in reviving the essence of 1980s power dressing. Their Spring/Summer and Fall 2025 collections, designed by Anthony Vaccarello, are absolute perfection in bold tailoring and exaggerated silhouettes. The collections feature oversized proportions, iconic 80s shoulder pads on leather jackets, and sculpted coats. Vaccarello strikes the perfect balance between masculine and feminine elements — a style that gained major traction in the 80s. Key pieces include floor-length wool overcoats and gowns paired with oversized leather jackets, radiating that glamorous yet rebellious energy.
Gucci's "Where Light Finds Us" campaign for Spring/Summer 2025 also taps into the decade’s aesthetic. Creative director Sabato De Sarno merges lightweight fabrics with bursts of color, creating a vision that channels the vibrant energy of 80s fashion. Standout pieces include the reimagined Bamboo 1947 bag — a nod to Gucci’s heritage with a modern twist. The campaign’s cinematic visuals, directed by Xavier Dolan, elevate the collection into an emotional, visually stunning tribute to the decade.
Carey Mulligan and Harris Dickinson starred in Prada’s Spring/Summer 2025 campaign. The collection takes a different approach, reviving retro-futuristic styles reminiscent of 80s space-age glamour. Metallic dresses and sequins dominate the lineup, evoking bold experimentation, while blending futuristic aesthetics with timeless elegance.
Versace fully embraced 80s extravagance in their Spring/Summer 2025 collection. Classic materials like metal mesh and baroque prints made a return, paired with modern tailoring to keep it fresh. Versace feels like it’s leaning back into the bold, over-the-top identity that made the brand legendary—and honestly, I’m here for it.
Zimmermann’s Resort 2025 collection, though softer in tone, is an homage to my favorite part of 80s fashion. Inspired by iconic films like Pretty in Pink and style icons like Winona Ryder, creative director Nicky Zimmermann filled the collection with polka dots, leopard prints, and soft florals. The exaggerated proportions and bold colors feel like a love letter to 80s feminine elegance, blending nostalgia with modernity.
Celebrities Flaunting the 80s Style
It’s not just the runways embracing the decade. Celebrities are on board, too. Hailey Bieber has been leading the charge in popularizing 80s-inspired tailoring. At a Rhode skincare event in Beverly Hills, she wore a Saint Laurent Summer 2025 oversized double-breasted pewter suit that oozed the essence of power dressing.
The White Lotus star Leslie Bibb has also been living for the power suit trend, seen in a variety of sharp looks during the show’s press tour, including a Thom Browne ensemble and an all-black Munthe set.
The Indie Sleaze revival has brought back another 80s staple: pleated skirts. Charli XCX and Alexa Chung, Indie Sleaze royalty, have been spotted rocking the trend. One standout Alexa look perfectly blended 80s grunge with 90s and 2010s energy—a metallic pleated skirt paired with a vintage band tee and combat boots.
Kate Moss, my queen, has also been dipping her toe in the 80s revival. She and her daughter Lila have been loving a leopard print moment. Kate was spotted in leopard print boots, while Lila paid homage to her mom by wearing Kate’s iconic leopard print coat from 2006. Very 80s-coded.
Another leopard print lover is Doja Cat. She left me gagged at the 2025 Oscars in a jaw-dropping, leopard-print Balmain dress designed by Olivier Rousteing. Then at Paris Fashion Week, she showed up in a Schiaparelli with major 80s Grace Jones energy. Aside from the clothes, rumors has it that her next album will be heavily 80s-inspired. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for that drop.
Undoubtedly, the 80s revival is here. From fashion houses to it-girls, the decade’s bold silhouettes, playful prints, and unapologetic glamour are making a full-force comeback…and frankly, I couldn’t be more excited.