No CC Decades Outfits 2.0

1980s: Women's fashion

For women, the game actually gives us quite a lot to work with when it comes to the 80s. Pleated skirts, ruffled dresses, power suits... There are still items missing (the huge wedding and prom dresses, the legwarmers...hairstyles, and again, hairstyles!), but we do have options for most categories. 

Everyday: 

Let's start with the power suits. With women entering the work force in much larger numbers, they needed clothes that reflected that. The power suit became popular. The business chic kit actually gives us quite a bit of options (I love the leopard print on the first outfit for this decade), but there are options even in base game. That hideous career outfit for the business career actually works for the 80s. 

Women also wore separates, and here I've tried to put together a few looks that might work for a working woman. The top from the Golden Years kit works well here, as the entire kit has a very 80s feel to it. For the third outfit I wanted to represent the more lively color palate during the decade. The second to last outfit is a representative of a more casual style, as jeans became more popular for adults as well as teens. The last outfit I just adore. Perfect for the 80s. 

Another trend was the long flowing skirts, often pleated, that could be worn with basically anything. I have made three outfits I think work well with the decade in mind. 

Pants were also becoming increasingly common for women to wear, especially the balloon pant which we still don't have a really good option for in game. Jeans became more common too. 

 For the younger adults, and especially towards the end of the decade, a more casual style works. The oversized clothing became more and more common and stayed into the early nineties (all these looks would work for 90-92 as well).

Winter wear: 

Winter wear was harder for women than for men. There are a few coats and jackets that work well (I love the new addition we got to base game for both men and women), but I managed some looks that I think work. The last two are a representative of the skiing fashion of the time. 

Summer wear: 

For summer it was so much easier, and here it was almost more an issue about not going overboard (which I might have anyway). The key word here would be pastels, navy and stripes. Horisontal blue stripes were especially popular, and featured in every single Sears, Montgomery Ward and JC Penny summer catalogue from 1980-1989 in different variations. 

Other trends were pastells, tone on tone matching, fairly loose fitting dresses, and A-line skirts in various varieties. The pleated long skirt was popular for summer too, and the jackets with shoulder pads were represented too, especially in lighter or more colorful varieties. 

Finally I made some outfits with shorts as that too was popular, especially for leisure activities. 

Swimwear: 

For swimming there were a rather large variety of styles, from the tiny bikini, to the loosefitting bathing suit here represented in the third version. With or without straps this was a popular shape, though usually with prints and in blue, this was the closest I could get to the shape, so the color had to be the compromise. 

Work out wear: 

Just as with men, track suits in bright colors was very popular, as were shorts and different forms of t-shirts or sweaters.

But of course what most of us think of in terms of work out wear is the leotards with legwarmers. We don't have any legwarmers in game, but I found a pair of socks that can sort of represent them. Now if anyone can explain exactly why people in the 80s decided underwear outside their leggings were a good idea...

 Formal and Party wear: 

One of the hardest parts in making 80s outfits was the lack of appropriate formal wear, especially the full bodied ruffled dresses. Luckily the decade had quite the variety and if you think less prom/wedding and more fancy dining, it gets easier to find options. I really like the black and gold in picture three. 

For just a little less formal occasions you can get quite creative, as styles varied greatly. The black gold belted dress is perfectly 80s. 

For party wear, you can do almost anything, especially if you think night club rather than at home birthday party, a situation where no rules applied. You could wear modest fancy dresses or suits, or come in a sparkly bikini. Anything was allowed. So while I absolutely adore the pink and black dress here, it's almost more fun with the outfits you get to make from separates. 

Sleepwear: 

Underwear was another thing that started to vary more during this decades. You had the soft bras of the 70s next to the sculptured bras that allowed for all those strapless tops, as well as corsets with stockings.

Nightgowns could be short and sexy or long and warm, depending on your style. Matching Pjs for the entire family was also still a thing. 

But just as with men, silkier and fancier robes were also in style, on tv at least often combined with high healed morning slippers (so practical and just what I am dying to wear when I get out of bed, right?)