How to Dress Like an 80s Rocker

Co-authored by Lana Blanc

Last Updated: September 5, 2022 References

Whether you're planning a killer costume or you want to work some 80s rocker flair into your everyday style, you’ll have a lot of fun experimenting with your look. The 80s rocker look is all about excess, and the artists of the decade are remembered not just for their incredible music but for their big hair, tight clothing, and over-the-top accessories. You can stick with a more tuned-down classic rocker look, or turn up the volume with a flashier outfit inspired by the glam metal movement. Whatever outfit you choose, complete your look with a swaggering air of confidence and a rockstar attitude.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Creating a Heavy Rocker Outfit

1
Slip on a pair of shredded skinny jeans. Opt for either black or acid wash denim. Look for a pair with holes at the knees or rips all the way up and down the pant legs for an edgier look. Choose your denim in a skin-tight skinny jean cut.^{[1]
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- Skinny jeans are still in fashion today, so feel free to pull a pair from your wardrobe or a mainstream retailer. Keep in mind that the softer, stretchier denim of today differs from what was worn in the 80s, though.
- Pick out a second-hand pair of 80s jeans from a thrift shop to get a more authentic look.^{[2]
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2
Wear a t-shirt featuring your favorite 80s rock band. While band members didn’t necessarily wear their own logos around, this is a great way to show off your allegiance to specific 80s rockers. Choose a black t-shirt with a large graphic featuring the name of one of the decade’s top rock groups like Iron Maiden or AC/DC.^{[3]
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Research source} A brand new t-shirt won’t look very rock-n-roll, so opt for a distressed, lived-in t-shirt instead.
- Choose a band t-shirt featuring muddy, worn colors like deep red or dark blue in the graphics.
- Make sure your t-shirt features a band you love. Others might use your t-shirt as a conversation starter.
- Instead of a band t-shirt, you can try a plain white, gray, or black t-shirt. Just be sure to amp up your rocker look with additional layers and accessories.
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3
Throw on a leather motorcycle jacket or a denim vest over your t-shirt. Try a vintage jacket from a thrift shop to get the right silhouette and a lived-in look. Find one with big shoulders and a tapered waist that’s embellished with silver zippers and studded lapels.^{[4]
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Research source} For a sleeveless look, opt for a vest. Try either a leather biker-style vest or a cutoff acid wash denim option.^{[5]
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- Personalize your denim vest with patches and pins.
- Consider placing a large motif on the back panel of your jacket or vest so anyone approaching you from behind will know your rock allegiances.
- For ladies, try tulle and lace mixed with edgier leather and denim in the style of Cindy Lauper and Madonna. A denim jacket can work as well!
4
Ground your rocker look with a pair of black leather boots. Finish off your hard rock ensemble with tough black boots. Choose a pair that’s edgy and worn-in, with messy laces, scuffed and distressed leather, and heavy silver buckles.^{[6]
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- If you want to aim for a sleeker, more New Age rock look, try a pair of black leather Chelsea boots instead.
- Avoid wearing sneakers with your 80s rocker outfit.
5
Layer on heavy silver-toned jewelry. When it comes to 80s rocker jewelry, the more the better.^{[7]
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Research source} Focus on studded leather and thick chains. Stack up a selection of mismatched bracelets, wear an edgy choker, add a studded belt, and sport chains around your neck, wrists, and belt loops. Pick out a handful of chunky metal rings and consider wearing a rocker hoop earring in one ear.^{[8]
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- Stick with silver-toned metal to get the 80s look. Avoid gold jewelry and accents.
- Work classic rock imagery – skulls, snakes, crosses, and roses – into your accessories. For instance, try a thick snake ring or a heavy skull pendant.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Sporting Glam Metal Styles

1
Incorporate light or neon colors into your outfit. Stick with the shredded skinny jeans and worn-in band t-shirts, but try heather gray and light acid-wash. Aim for the bleached-out look of the 80s with acid wash and white clothes.^{[9]
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Research source} Or go with saturated fluorescent hues like pink, yellow, and blue.
- Feel free to start with an all-black base look and use brighter colors as accents.
- Alternatively, you can create a head-to-toe bleached or saturated look.
2
Glam up your look with bold prints in stretchy fabrics. Try out black-and-white or colorful graphic stripes, or work diamond harlequin prints into your ensemble. Work animal prints including leopard spots and tiger stripes into your outfit in small or large quantities. Commit to the glam look with skin-tight Spandex featuring these prints.
- Some rock looks bordered on circus-y during the 80s. Embrace the decade’s excess and eccentricity!
- Think back to the bright bodysuits worn by Freddie Mercury of Queen, as well as the tight leggings that many glam metal rockers of the time wore.
- The glam rock styles of the 1970s heavily influenced the glam metal of the 80s.^{[10]
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3
Make your outfit more visually dynamic with sparkle and fringe. Add light-reflective sequins, glitter, and metallic silver to the hard rock essentials and you’ll look like a glam metal rocker who just stepped off the stage. Incorporate heavy leather fringe as a nod to the western influence that was fashionable during the decade.^{[11]
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- Sparkling details will scatter the light while the fringe will swing and sway as you move. These elements will make your 80s rocker look extra eye-catching.
- Or try out historically-inspired ruffles and metallic brocade which were favored by Prince and Adam Ant.^{[12]
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4
Create a layered look with oversized jackets and blazers. Not all 80s rockers wore leather jackets. Consider topping off your look with a slouchy, oversized blazer in a bright or pastel hue, reminiscent of the decade’s Miami Vice style. Make sure it has big shoulder pads. Or opt for a loud, metallic windbreaker-style jacket.^{[13]
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- Layer your jacket over a deep v-neck t-shirt to show off your chest like a real 80s rocker.
5
Pick out a pair of platform boots to finish off your look. The platform boots of 70s glam rock stuck around in the 80s. Go wild with a brightly colored or metallic pair of chunky platforms. Or stick with black boots in the outrageous 80s platform shape.^{[14]
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- For a more down-to-earth style citing western influences, try cowboy boots.
- To get an authentic pair of 80s shoes, search vintage listings online. Some quirky modern-day fashion brands also sell platform boots in a variety of 80s-inspired styles.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Styling Your Hair and Makeup

1
Curl and tease long hair into a voluminous lion’s mane. The right hair is essential to the 80s rocker look. After all, hair metal didn’t get its name for no reason!^{[15]
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Research source} When styling your hair, try to get it as big and voluminous as possible.^{[16]
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Research source} Curl, crimp, and frizz it out to achieve lots of texture. Keep the ends hanging loose around or below your shoulders. Add short, choppy layers around your crown and face to get that feathery lion’s mane look.^{[17]
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Research source} Hold your hair in place with tons of hairspray and volumizing product.
- Most 80s glam metal rockers were clean-shaven to get the androgynous look, but some hard rockers sported stubble and facial hair.^{[18]
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- Don’t keep your hair straight or you may get mistaken for a 70s rocker.
2
Tease and spike short hair. If you have shorter hair, tease the roots and use lots of pomade and hairspray to create a funky 80s rocker style. At the crown and sides of your head, try to get your hair to stand straight up in a spiked ‘do. If you can, leave the bottom layer long to create a shaggy mullet.^{[19]
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Research source} Or consider spiking the front strands toward your face if your hair is shorter around the sides and back.
- Look at Rod Stewart and Flock of Seagulls as examples of how to style short to medium-length hairstyles.^{[20]
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- Not many 80s rockers had short hair, so consider getting an 80s wig to create the iconic lion’s mane look.
- Ladies can sport a voluminous curly bob like Madonna.^{[21]
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Top off your hairstyle with a bandana headband. Pair a classic red or blue bandana in a paisley print with a cutoff denim vest in the style of Bruce Springsteen. Or choose an outrageous bandana, like one in leopard print or a bright color, for your glam metal band look. Tie it so it completely covers your forehead and allows your voluminous hair to stand up at your crown.
- While the headband-style bandana was popular, it was worn in a variety of ways. Try tying your bandana around your arm or leg instead.^{[22]
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- Add a pair of dark aviator sunglasses to a classic bandana.^{[23]
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4
Add a smudge of black eyeliner or a full face of heavy makeup. Makeup is key to the 80s rocker look. If you prefer a classic hard rocker look, pencil on some black eyeliner around your upper and lower lids.^{[24]
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Research source} Or for a glam look, go all-out with the androgynous made-up face of 80s rock. Use bronzer and blush to sculpt your cheekbones, brush on brightly colored eyeshadow, and highlight your pout with dark lipstick.
- Feel free to try a full face of white and black makeup like KISS.
- Unlike the use of makeup in 70s glam rock, makeup in the 80s wasn’t really about gender ambiguity. Instead, it was more about visual and creative experimentation.^{[25]
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5
Paint your nails with black nail polish. Male and female rockers of the 80s wore nail polish. Keep your nails short and apply 2 or 3 coats of an opaque black polish. Slip into fingerless leather gloves for an edgier take.^{[26]
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- It’s ok if the polish gets a little chipped. The idea is to look scruffy and edgy, and like you’ve been busy shredding your guitar.
6
Add real or temporary tattoos to toughen up your look. Many 80s rockers are covered in tattoos. For a night out, try adhering temporary tattoos to your skin. If you’re committed to the rocker lifestyle, consider getting permanent tattoos that you love. Focus on placing your tats on your arms in a full sleeve, across your chest and neck, and over your knuckles and fingers.^{[27]
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- Focus on including rock imagery in your tattoos. Skulls, roses, crosses, and even imagery drawn from song lyrics will solidify your edgy 80s rocker identity.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Finding Inspiration

1
Choose an 80s rock genre or band to inspire your outfit. In the 80s, rock music was full of variety! Think about your favorite groups and artists and how they looked. Consider if you’re interested in dressing like a heavy rocker or a glam metal rocker. Some of the qualities and style elements overlap across genres, but try to pinpoint a band or genre so you can create a convincing rock look.
- Male heavy rock groups from the decade include AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses, and Def Leppard.^{[28]
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- Male glam metal or hair metal groups include Mötley Crüe, Poison, Bon Jovi, Ratt, White Snake, and Twisted Sister.
- Female rockers include Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Pat Benatar, Heart, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, and the Eurythmics.^{[29]
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Research images of 80s rockers in your chosen band or genre. Look online for video clips of performances and interviews with artists from the 80s. Take a look at some music magazines as well, if you can find them.^{[30]
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Research source} Search for candid snapshots and styled shoots featuring your favorite bands as well. Write a list of the specific colors, textures, garments, and accessories they wore so you’ll know what you’ll need in your outfit.
- Pull up a variety of photos and determine whether your favorite artists changed up their style frequently, or if they kept a more consistent look with the same types of garments and accessories.
- Many 80s rockers were active in the preceding and following decades, so make sure you only reference sources from the 80s. This way, you’ll really get an understanding of the look of the decade.
3
Recreate a specific outfit or create your own unique look. If your rocker inspiration is known for an iconic outfit or look, try recreating that exact outfit with similar pieces. Alternatively, you could gather inspiration images of a variety of rockers and pick and choose your favorite elements from those outfits to work into yours.^{[31]
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- Once you know what pieces you need, see what you can use from your own closet first. Then head out to thrift shops and vintage clothing stores to build out the rest of your look.
- You may need to DIY some pieces, so get out your needle and thread or enlist the help of someone who knows how to create costumes.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I get the Kiss look?

Community Answer

I suggest wearing a distressed Kiss sleeveless shirt with tight leather pants and a leather jacket. Heavy eyeliner will complement the look.
Question

How do I dress like different rock stars from the 80s?

Community Answer

Search for pictures on the internet of your favorite rock bands and singers from the 80s and use them as inspiration to compose your look.
Question

What can I do for more of a fluorescent 80s look?

Community Answer

For a more fluorescent look, try searching for leggings/leg warmers with vibrant colors, flashy loose shirts, stamped skirts, shoes with neon colors, colorful exaggerated makeup, and big sunglasses. Look at pictures of Cyndi Lauper for reference.