Companies promoted it. Celebrities touted it. Everyday people paid attention, and then spent hours in the sun, trying to get the perfect suntan.
Vintage beauty & fashion
Brunette Alison and blonde Larisa show off the newest, sexiest ’80s swimsuits for every figure type… yours included. 1986 was time to shine in a swimsuit that makes you look terrific!
Caboodles & Sassaby were the go-to beauty organizers of the ’80s and ’90s, keeping makeup, jewelry and hair tools in check with colorful style and smart design.
From pretty in pink to bold in black, teen girls put a lot of time and money into finding just the perfect now-vintage 80s prom dresses. Here’s a look at more than a hundred of the styles available back then!
80s Cherokee shoes were all about comfort and style, with wedge heels, strappy sandals and soft soles that made them a favorite with teen girls.
Although the 1980s leg warmers fad was inspired by dancers, they became a trendy, colorful way for girls & women to show some creative flair – and to prove that you were up on the latest fashions.
The history of Levi’s jeans shows that the power of a really good idea – like super-durable clothing that people like to wear – can make for a business that stays strong for more than 160 years.
Prell shampoo was popular since its introduction in the 1940s, and was best-known for being bright emerald green. Here, see how the product – and the brand’s message – changed from the ’40s to the ’80s!
For more than 100 years, if you needed a new pair of sneakers or sandals, oxfords or saddle shoes, you had to visit one or more vintage shoe stores. Through more than 100 photos, see what it was like!
If you need 1980s costumes for a cosplay event, a 1980s themed party, or for Halloween, check out the ideas we’ve rounded up!
What did vintage Target stores look like? Take a look back here at dozens of in-store pictures from the company’s start in 1962 through the end of the 20th century!
Check out more than 100 different colors of discontinued Revlon nail polish from the 1980s, from Super Platinum and Spunsugar Pink to Blackberry and China Almond.
See how dress styles have evolved from the 1600s to the 1990s Explore the evolution of dress styles from the 1640s to the 1990s, beginning
Liquid soaps like these were still somewhat of a novelty in the 1980s and 1990s, and people were happy to get a break from using bar soaps when they washed their hands. See some of the old brands here!
Take a step back in time and check out some of the most awesome 80s shampoos (and conditioners!) — including a lot of brands you can’t find anymore!
Take a look back at vintage Wal-Mart history, from a modest 5 & 10 store to a global retail behemoth, through innovations and key moments that redefined shopping and turned into today’s massive Walmart chain.
Check out this collection of vintage Lip Smackers ads, featuring delish fruity flavors (like a drool-worthy watermelon!) and those of popular sodas, including Dr Pepper, Crush orange soda, Hires root beer, 7-Up and others.
What were the hottest 80s men’s shoes? Take a look back at what guys were wearing – and how they were swapping traditional dress shoes for newer and more casual models.
From power jackets to casual sweaters, 80s shoulder pads infiltrated every corner of the fashion world back in the day. Let’s take a peek!
Take a scented stroll down memory lane with this look back at lots of the most popular vintage perfumes from the 80s, from both fashion designers and drugstores.
Indulge in a nostalgic journey with Figurines diet bars, the crispy, low-calorie delight from the 70s and 80s that were discontinued in the 90s, leaving dieters frustrated forevermore.
These old-school vintage blow dryers from the seventies were more than just hot air – the handheld tools could dry! Style! And came in retro-popular colors like yellow, orange and baby blue.
Remember when the designer trend that reigned supreme on most 1980s prom queens were Gunne Sax prom dresses? We have lots of memories here!
Love’s Baby Soft hit the market in the mid-’70s with a creepy ad campaign with lines like ‘that irresistible, clean-baby smell, grown-up enough to be sexy’ and ‘innocence is sexier than you think.’ So how did America respond?
Unlock the secrets of ’80s eye makeup through these vintage magazine how-tos. Learn how to nail that retro glam today.
The eighties had a unique flair, not just in music and movies, but also in footwear! As these dozens of 80s kids shoes show, the options back then were as diverse as the culture that influenced them.
Cowboy boots are more than just footwear; they symbolize tradition, individuality, and the spirit of adventure. Have a look back at how the styles have evolved.
Miami Vice was a ground-breaking American television show that aired from 1984 to 1989. Its blend of fast cars, flashy fashion, and synthesized music captured
Take a tour through our vast collection of vintage Ray-Ban sunglasses, and see how this brand has been shading our eyes with style for nearly a century.
See some long-forgotten photos of today’s celebrities before they were famous – young stars who paid the bills with modeling gigs until they hit the bigtime.
One distinctive feature of Gen X summers was the jelly shoes 80s fad. They made our feet weep — literally!
Hang Ten clothing made a splash in the 1960s, 1970s and 80s, serving up a healthy dose of California beach culture to a country —
80s lingerie trends presented an intriguing dichotomy: a nod to tradition with an eye towards inclusivity and diversity. Here’s a look back at some of the hottest underwear, bra and slip styles of the eighties!
Want to make real retro 1980s hairstyles? Here’s how to re-create these 80s looks, with this step-by-step guides and retro beauty tip sheets!
From awful double entendres to horrible diseases to the just plain bizarre, here are some vintage bad product names that used to appear on grocery store shelves.
This collection of advertisements captures the evolution of vintage press-on nails from their inception to the end of the 20th century.
Throughout the 20th century, the nursing profession and vintage nursing uniforms evolved in step with society.
Let’s consider for a moment the soap on a rope phenomenon — a peculiar fusion of the useful and the whimsical that once occupied a
Before she took the microphone and became the international pop sensation adored by millions, young Whitney Houston was making strides in the world of fashion.
Vintage sequined dresses were popularized as the signature look of glamorous Motown groups like The Supremes and became a top party fashion in the 1960s.
Here’s a look back in time to see some of the popular old bar soap brands from decades past – many long forgotten, and some that still are available to this day!
For decades, guys have been styling their hair with products made just for them. Here are some of the hottest brands of vintage men’s hair products!
From neon streaks to bold sprays, 80s temporary hair colors gave everyone a chance to play with their look — without a permanent commitment.
Beyond the basic ‘suntan’ shade of nylons, vintage 80s tights & pantyhose came in lots of colors and patterns. See some retro women’s legwear here!
Swiss watchmaker Swatch revitalized the industry with a bold and vibrant analog quartz marvel, sparking the colorful watch craze of the 1980s and 1990s. See dozens of retro Swatch designs here!
In the seventies and eighties, sock styles – especially those for girls – started to get a lot more fun as new colors, patterns and ways of wearing them became all the rage. Here’s a look back at 1980s socks!
Do you remember tasty vintage Maybelline Kissing Potion, Kissing Glosses, and more from the 70s & 80s that came in mouthwatering flavors like strawberry, bubblegum, peppermint & watermelon?
If retro and vintage fashion are your thing, check out these seven fantastic styles of footwear styles from the past! Featuring laces, T-straps and buttons,
Introduced in the late 1970s, Underoos were a popular brand of colorful children’s underwear featuring characters from popular franchises like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Star Wars.
Ayds candy debuted in the 40s, and was basically a piece of caramel or fudge that contained an appetite suppressant. For years, the diet candy called Ayds was a big seller… and then came AIDS.
Casual vintage ’80s menswear was more relaxed than sportswear, but more socially acceptable than pajamas. But the big new star of this era? Jogging suits. See retro t-shirts, sweatpants & much more here!
What were girls, tweens & teens wearing in 1983? See vintage 80s clothes for girls like preppy polo shirts, ruffle-trimmed plaid blouses, oversized shirt-dresses, dirndl skirts, and drop-waist minidresses.
Vintage Esprit fashions enjoyed their heyday in the late, great 80s, conveying energy, youthfulness and authenticity. Click to enjoy a spirited & colorful nostalgia trip.
Though she was born famous, then grew her fame as an actress, Jane Fonda’s workout videos were one of her greatest successes. Here’s how it happened.
In the beginning, The Gap was a completely different store – selling only Levi’s and music. Through dozens of pictures, see how vintage Gap evolved and came to be known for so many trendy styles!
What is cottagecore? Old-timey, flowery, ruffly skirts; lacy high-necked tops and dresses with a Victorian/Western vibe. Sound familiar? Turns out, yesterday’s prairie revival is today’s cottagecore dress.
In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, anyone who wanted to give their hair a healthy, voluminous bounce could get it with the help of vintage hot rollers like these.
Red, pink, gold & beyond – See the top vintage nail polish brands and colors from the 20th century, with shades & styles from decades ago – see how manicures have changed over the years!
Here’s a look back at some vintage 1980s Nike shoes – from the early ‘just plain sneakers’ to the later mega-successes of classic Nike Air Jordans and the well-known ‘Just do it’ slogan.
Want to see some fancy retro footwear? Take a look back at a few of the many styles of women’s shoes from the ’80s, including spike heels, wedges, flats, pumps, penny loafers, moccasins and boat shoes, just to name a few!
Qiana was a silk-like fiber introduced by DuPont during the late sixties, and often used in high-end and designer fashions. See how it looked in some beautiful vintage Qiana fashions from the 1970s here!
Years ago, companies promoted all kinds of vintage freebies and low-cost mail-in offers, usually requiring some boxtops or proof of purchase. Look back at some of the premiums from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s!
Look back at these cute vintage Tinkerbell manicure kits, BO-PO (Brush-on, peel-off) nail polish and other beauty treats marketed to little girls back in the ’70s and ’80s. Lots of memories here!
In the mid-1980s, Co-Ed magazine took on a problem facing a lot of high schoolers: the coolest clothing styles didn’t fit well. So here are the retro ’80s fashion tips for teens that they recommended… in all their eighties glory.
Vintage Famolare shoes were easy to spot – they had that signature wavy sole, and sometimes wedge heels that elevated the wearer by four inches. Walk down memory lane here!
When vintage Dial Soap debuted in the late forties, one of their selling points was ‘Dial smells good — not strong, not sissy.’ See how the product – and the message – changed over the years!
Pajamas that, by their appearance, whisk you back to the memorably warm, cozy little bed you slept in when you were 10 are all the more efficiently escapist and, therefore, all the more to be prized.
While the stars were still aligning for her first big acting role, young Mariska Hargitay, daughter of the legendary Jayne Mansfield, took on other jobs.
Even though the girls who used liberal amounts of 80s hairspray were born before beehive and bouffant hairstyles, they still took part in a grooming ritual dating back to the fifties.
Look back at these vintage nail polish ads from the ’80s to see the most awesome colors and brands that were out there for a retro DIY manicure.
Throughout the eighties, Cheryl Tiegs – one of the original supermodels – had her own clothing line at Sears. Her branded line of womenswear could be found at malls nationwide, and here’s what it looked like!
Girls who grew up in the late 1970s and early-to-mid 1980s: Do you remember these little ‘Lip Lickers’ brand of lip glosses that came in metal slide-top tins?
If you think fashions in the eighties were bad, just wait until you see these ’80s maternity clothes – the often tent-like outfits pregnant women were wearing.
Converse for the U.S. Olympic Basketball team (1968) Just because the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team will wear Converse basketball shoes, should you? Lightning-fast breaks …
Priscilla Presley wasn’t just the former wife of mega-star Elvis Presley – she was a model and actress in her own right, and has the receipts to prove it.
Remember those wood-soled vintage Dr Scholl’s Exercise Sandals, and their flexible counterparts? Take a look back at the slip-on shoes that were so stylish!
Take a look back a few decades to when these cute vintage plastic bangle bracelets were fashionable accessories for women and juniors!
Supermodels like Iman and Paulina came together for this ’80s ad series from Pantene, with the memorable tagline, ‘Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.’
Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific shampoo & conditioner are extra rich, extra thick — so it leaves your hair shiny clean and fresh. Slightly spicy. Slightly flowery. And ready for compliments.
Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Connelly started out as a child model. Here’s a look back to those days in the early ’80s when she was just getting her career off the ground!
See more than two dozen examples of vintage makeup, showing the evolution of blue eyeshadow from the ’50s to the ’80s. As you will see, sometimes it works… and sometimes it really, really doesn’t.
Remember the old Palmolive dish soap ads, featuring Madge the Manicurist (actress Jan Miner), who was always telling women how terrible their hands looked?
Hot ’80s beauty product Aapri was made with crushed apricot seeds in a creamy base that was supposed to scrub off dead skin that could clog pores.
Here’s a look back at the life of Diana, Princess of Wales – including photos of her with young Prince William and Prince Harry!
Here’s an interview with Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter from 1980, when she was just about to star in her own CBS special – and just before she started to model for Maybelline makeup.
Apple Computer was once known for their apple-shaped, multi-colored rainbow logo. In keeping with that style, you could buy all kinds of Apple-branded merchandise — from gym bags to running shorts, and thermoses to picnic baskets. Take a look!
To help get the flamboyant & daring looks of 80s makeup, we have some tips straight from the decade that invented them!
Opulent enough even for fashionable Linda Gray – Dallas’ superspender Sue Ellen Ewing – she models these high-style silk dresses were stylish in the eighties.
In the ’80s, popular Dynasty actress Linda Evans made a series of ads promoting Clairol Ultress hair color – take a look back here!
In the 1980s, Hart to Hart actress Stefanie Powers used her beauty power for the Cover Girl cosmetics brand’s MoistureWear line of makeup and lipstick. See her here!
No-sew wrap-and-go fashion from the 80s From a beach cover-up to a party dress, the perennial “pareo” does it all, with just two yards of
From electrifying makeup to head-turning hairdos, this fun-filled journey of before and after makeovers is all about celebrating the creativity of 80s beauty trends.
