Brits name worst decade for fashion – and trends could be returning

Nearly a third of Brits have named one particular decade as the worst for fashion.

A nationwide survey has revealed 30% of UK adults consider the 1980s the decade with the most regrettable style moments – despite beloved trends from the time making a return to the runway.

Shoulder pads have emerged as the era’s most divisive trend, with over a third (31%) of respondents considering these the most regrettable, while nylon tracksuits (28%) and MC Hammer pants (23%) aren’t far behind.

Analysing the results, fashion expert Lauren Bulla reveals why she believes the 80s may have been labelled as the most regrettable fashion decade in this recent survey.

Speaking to Zingo Bingo, who commissioned the survey, she shared: “When you think of the 80s, the first things that come to mind are big, bold colours, clashing patterns, neon, the tail end of disco – just a lot. The 80s were a lot. Not necessarily in a bad way, but they leave a very loud first impression, and that might be why people hit that button for ‘most regrettable’.

“Especially now, coming off trends like the clean-girl aesthetic, quiet luxury, and this general push to minimize your public appearance for the sake of being ‘serious,’ sustainable, and pared down – it all contrasts sharply with the maximalism of the 80s. That might have nudged people toward ranking the decade the way they did.”

However, she does go on to note we are no doubt seeing some reappearing trends from the decade – such as shoulder pads – which Lauren says are only going to become ‘more established’ in the fashion landscape going into 2026.

“A few specific trends from the broader 80s era are definitely going to keep reappearing in the fashion landscape – and they’re only going to become more established as we move into the Spring-Summer 2026 cycle. Shoulder pads, for one, are absolutely back. No question. They’re all over the runways – truly everywhere. You see them at luxury houses like Saint Laurent, Versace, and Mugler, and you see the same thing trickling down into high street brands like H&M and Zara,” she adds.

“This all lines up with the current appetite for masculine silhouettes infused with feminine detailing. There’s this ongoing play between masculine and feminine elements, especially within traditionally masculine garments that have been reclaimed, tweaked, softened, or inverted – then sent back out as something ‘new’, even though it’s fundamentally the same shape we’ve seen before. The 80s silhouette isn’t unfamiliar, but despite being one of the most disliked trends in the poll, some may be surprised to hear it’s clearly one of the ones coming back the strongest – and it’s not going anywhere.”