Is your wardrobe predicting an AI bubble?
By Andrea Felsted
IT鈥橲 NOT JUST , or that the tech could trigger massive unemployment, or even : Fashion, too, is signaling economic danger.
After ruling sartorially for the past few years, the 1990s are finally giving way to another nostalgia trip: the 1980s. For retailers, the shift is necessary and much appreciated. Fresh looks help to drive purchases: Think the post-pandemic transition . But for the broader economy the adjustment may be less welcome. The 1980s, from which the latest styles take inspiration, was a period of excess, unleashing the animal spirits that led up to the 1987 stock market crash.
In some ways, the aesthetic oscillation is inevitable. Fashion typically rebels against the prevailing norm, and the 鈥90s vibe has been turbocharged by everything from Beyonc茅鈥檚 , which borrowed heavily from house music, to Oasis鈥 reunion tour last year, which sent
Just when the decade was due to fade away, along came the TV series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette. But it turns out Bessette鈥檚 sleek 鈥90s minimalism was a finale, not a renewal.
In December, US Pinterest searches for 鈥溾80s鈥 convincingly overtook 鈥溾90s鈥 and have remained elevated since, despite Love Story鈥檚 popularity. The platform identified 鈥淕lamoratti鈥 as a key trend for 2026 after a surge in search terms including 鈥80s luxury, gold cuff, and chunky belt.
Saint Laurent has led the revival, with Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello sending tailored suits with exaggerated shoulders and pencil skirts in clashing jewel tones down the runway for the past few seasons. This is resonating. The Kering SA-owned house took the number one slot on shopping platform Lyst鈥檚 quarterly ranking of fashion鈥檚 hottest brands in the second half of last year.
Dario Vitale鈥檚 first and only collection for Versace, and the accompanying campaign image of a pile of people wearing primary colors 鈥 a reference to early 鈥80s ads from the house 鈥 have continued the theme. Even Alessandro Michele, who put the 鈥70s on the map at Kering鈥檚 Gucci, has incorporated elements from the decade, such as polka dots, satin dresses, and pumps, into his most recent collections for Valentino.
Such styles have begun to filter through to main street, according to research company EDITED. Garments with sculpted shoulders are leading the way. The number of padded-shoulder tops appearing on retailers鈥 websites in the US and UK this year is up 188% from 2025.
Stores are also stocking stirrup leggings, shown on the runway by Cie Financiere Richemont SA鈥檚 Chlo茅, as well as garments with funnel necks, peplums, and ruffles. Color palettes are reflecting the period too, with purple, cobalt, tomato red, and orange burning bright, according to EDITED.
The 鈥済reed is good鈥 era鈥檚 renaissance isn鈥檛 confined to womenswear. Menswear is experiencing a return to 鈥80s tailoring, , which Helen Brocklebank, chief executive officer of British luxury association Walpole, says is helping lift Savile Row鈥檚 bespoke orders. The mass market is following: EDITED found that the number of double-breasted blazers appearing on US and UK retailers鈥 websites in the final quarter of 2025 rose 28% year on year.
Miami Vice-style suiting is also en vogue, with searches for Vintage Armani on resale platform Depop up 50% over the past month. Retailers are also seeing high demand for knitted polo shirts and suede loafers.
The return of 鈥80s maximalism is a response to the . It鈥檚 notable that lace and bold colors build on some of the cracks in quiet luxury, such as the (exemplified by red lips and huge fur coats), that briefly burned bright on social media in early 2024.
Pop culture is playing a part, too. Stranger Things, one of the earliest phenomena to put the era back on the popular radar, may have come to an end, but not before sending Depop searches for 鈥80s inspiration up more than 800% when the final season aired in late 2025. The TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper鈥檚 1988 novel Rivals returns next month, promising more big hair and bubble-hem dresses.聽 聽
Perhaps the decade of decadence has come to prominence because it dovetails with aspects of today鈥檚 politics and economics.
US President Donald Trump, whose worldview is rooted in the 鈥80s, embraces money and power 鈥 as well as sharp-shouldered suits. MAGA women , not too far from the era鈥檚 over-the-top glamor.
My colleague that the current economy resembles the one leading up the global financial crisis in 2007 and 2008. And with the stock market at record levels, there are also parallels with the exuberance of the mid-鈥80s that preceded the 1987 crash, the peak of the Savings and Loan Crisis and, as the decade turned, recession.
Given the number of 鈥80s references for men and women at recent fashion shows, it鈥檚 a fair bet that power dressing will only get bigger. Looking ahead, Vitale鈥檚 successor at Versace, Pieter Mulier, will unveil his first collection early next year. The 鈥80s were a golden time for the brand, so that too could give the trend lace-covered legs.
That should provide retailers with plenty of time to buy into the glitzy look 鈥 and investors to ponder the potentially less glamorous implications for their portfolios. 鈥 Bloomberg Opinion
