80s fashion - best outfits from celebrities and models to on-screen icons

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.

If we had abs as rock hard as SJP's we'd we wearing our bras out, too. Anything beaded just screams 80s – and would often be super heavy and found in vintage or charity shops from all over. This exact style of jacket is called a Bolero and was appropriated from Spanish matadors and dancers. SJP's bull is just out of shot (lol jk).

Working Girl is a movie about a hard-working secretary (played by Melanie Griffith) being screwed over by her boss – before she becomes an absolute baller and gets her revenge. And in amongst the epic storyline are some seriously retro lewks. Shoulder pads taller than the Empire State Building, trench coats tied tighter than a Kardashian waist trainer and hair so large that any kind of hat would be a physical impossibility.

Double denim? Pah. The 1980s were all about triple denim. Because, well, why do things by halves, right? Iman, supermodel and wife of David Bowie, shows how to accessorise this denim trifecta, by popping her collar to show off her enormous hoops, chunky men's bracelet and belt. And to top it off? A pair of tinted glasses.