The 1980s gave us so much to be thankful for. It was the decade of Madonna and Michael Jackson, it was the decade in which Mark Zuckerberg was born and it was the decade of some of the worst accessories ever worn by a human being.

Ahhhhh, the 1980s was a simpler time when people were outraged by things like New Coke, VHS rentals not rewound and trickle-down economics. But the worst part of the 1980s was undeniably the fashion.

This was a time when hair was big, colors were bright and shoulder pads were a fashion accessory. Unfortunately, it was not always a very flattering look. Still, it is a look that people are more than excited to mimic for a Halloween costume or to dress up for at a 1980s-themed party.

If you are planning on dressing up as someone from the 1980s, you will need more than just a pair of jeans and vintage t-shirt from American Recycled Clothing. You need the accessories to complete your getup. We can help.

Leg Warmers

When people think about 1980s fashion, leg warmers always come to mind. After all, anybody with the least amount of fashion sense had a minimum of 6 pairs.

Take a thick and comfy pair of socks and cut the feet out and you basically have a pair of leg warmers. To be fair, leg warmers came out in the 1970s, but were used for function. In the 1980s, leg warmers become a fashion statement and teenage girls everywhere wore them as everyday accessories.

Fanny Packs

Before they were instant indicators of a tourist, fanny packs were both stylish and practical. Where else are you going to store your collection of mixed tapes, back-up scrunchies and change for the pay phone?

Scrunchies

Larger than life and bolder than your average hair tie, scrunchies took the elastic hairband to the next level, plus some. Many of them were done up in sparkly fabrics and a variety of colors and when not holding up your side pony tail, they double as a wristband.

Huge Earrings

If you weren’t wearing a pair of door knockers on your ears in the 1980s, you weren’t doing it right.

Spandex

You couldn’t go anywhere in the 1980s without spotting an eyeful of spandex. Rock stars had a thing for animal-printed spandex leggings and you won’t see a workout video without all the women decked out in spandex.

Down Vests

Marty McFly wore one in Back to the Future. The down vest was a fluffy vest that wouldn’t keep you warm in temperatures that are slightly cool. You did, however, look cool wearing one.

Swatch Watches

Swatch watches were affordable enough that you could buy several, so most people did. The cool kids rocked one on each arm.

Neon

You had to see this one coming. Everything that was cool in the 1980s you had to spot from over a mile away. There wasn’t anything in the 1980s that wasn’t bright, bold and in your face with color.

Start your 1980s outfit with jeans and a retro t-shirt from American Recycled Clothing.