The ‘80s were my era when it comes to ardently keeping up with fashion. I shopped till I dropped at the Galleria in Houston, which was a short walk from my office at the time. I even worked part-time in a couple of highly regarded ready-to-wear retailers back in the day, putting my employee discount to very good use. With fashion designers channeling the ‘80s for the past couple of years, the trend has garnered mixed reactions. Not everyone’s excited about this revival, but I have to say that most of the ‘80s inspirations have kept me quite entertained.
Honestly, I could only afford a small fraction of the haute styles I adored back in the day, but I sure knew how to get the look for less. From power suits with pleated trousers to polka dot dresses and flowing printed skirts, the designs I’m seeing on city girls and in fashionable magazine spreads indeed take me back. What’s the cherry on top? Today’s clothes beg for ‘80s fashion jewelry—necks, ears, wrists, and lapels are just plain naked without the proper period adornment to complete these resurrected looks.
Whether you’re suggesting this type of jewelry to your clientele or buying it for yourself, here are a few reasons scouring thrift stores and online marketplaces for these timely 1980s goodies makes some sense.
It’s Jewelry with Distinction
It wasn’t so long ago that vintage jewelry with the ‘80s look wasn’t selling well. That’s changed, especially for brands like Yves St. Laurent, which had a licensing agreement with Monet in the 1980s. Jewelry branded Dior, Givenchy, Monet, and Napier from the era is usually found in pristine condition and is very wearable, too.
From chunky chains marketed by a plethora of brands to enameled examples, tailored beauties that were out of favor a decade ago are now really coming into their own and bringing good prices. Even those rigid collars worn close to the neck and boho strands of beads are having a moment once again. Look for pieces with large specialty stones in vivid colors, too.
Over-the-top bracelets, especially bangles, that were just too much of a good thing to anyone other than the most ardent of vintage collectors, are now being worn in eye-catching stacks as well. Bold charms are also garnering their share of fans right now, and plenty of ‘80s options fit the bill, so watch for them while you’re roaming the flea markets in the coming months. Some of my personal faves are summery seashell designs.
The Earrings Make a Statement
Some of my all-time favorite earrings from the ‘80s were made using flat-backed rhinestones by Richard Kerr, Barbara Groeger, and James Arpad, among others. I love how these look with the throwback metallic fabrics that are once again popular. One caveat is that these sometimes drop stones over time. Even if you’re not usually adept at repairing jewelry, it’s pretty easy to order flat-backed replacement stones and glue them in place. For this reason, I do pick up jewelry of this type needing minor repairs, but I always consider the cost of replacement stones.
Large button earrings in an array of colors popular in the ‘80s can be found for a song these days, and many of them work well with the updated power suit. Earrings with dangling elements, even faux pearls, are back in style, and plenty of those were produced in the 1980s. Asymmetric earrings are still popular with the fashionable set, so if you have a fantastic single chandelier earring, consider pairing it with a more demure stud or hoop, or try selling it on its own, especially if it’s a designer piece.
The Brooches are the Real Deal
With trendy magazines touting them as accessories du jour, lots of fashion influencers are discovering the beauty of the brooch right now. In fact, maybe you read “Is the Brooch Back in Style?” recently and learned more about them making a comeback. As I mentioned in that feature, several styles I’m seeing marketed by upscale retailers these days look almost identical to pieces worn in the ‘80s. In my mind, I can’t see paying several times as much for a new pin when I can buy a nice collection of vintage pieces for the price of just one at retail.
One unusual aspect of the brooch rebirth is that long-ignored ‘80s styles are also being revived. That means you might find a buyer for matte gold brooches in abstract or geometric designs that haven’t really been on the radar previously. The key is to reach the right audience looking for them, so delving into some social media promotion might be in order.
You’ll Discover Memphis Design
Neon colors were big in the ‘80s, and they’re back for modern wear, too. What goes with them when it comes to jewelry styles? The first thing I personally think of is the Memphis Movement and the far-reaching impact it had on jewelry design of the period. The quirky pieces produced during the decade that defined what it means to be rad don’t always feature neon-bright hues, but many of them do fit into this color scheme.
An international troupe of designers made up the Memphis Group that produced enameled jewelry decorated with lots of symmetrical shapes and squiggling lines in eye-catching color combinations. Many other accessory designers were obviously influenced by this new look, and jewelry at every price point was sold to satisfy demand. Other materials like plastics, foam, and rubber were incorporated into this funky style of adornment that still works with some ’80s-inspired clothing and can make a very interesting and colorful collection.
You might not think reviving all these “totally tubular” styles to be as “gnarly” as I do, but the accessories of this decade currently offer more potential for profit than they did in the past. That reason alone is enough to focus on the jewelry of the ‘80s, whether you’re purging pieces from your own jewelry stash or buying for resale.
Pamela Siegel is a freelance writer and author who has been educating collectors for more than two decades. In addition to three books on topics relating to antiques and collectibles, she frequently shares her expertise through online writing and articles for print-based publications. Pamela is also the co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI) and the proprietor of Chic Antiques by Pamela.
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