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If ever a decade benefited from eye candy, it’s the 1980s. In an age that is notorious for “bites” like puffball skirts, shoulder pads, double denim and neon, some of the worst excesses have yet to be seen better, considering the issue of greige’s good taste the paths in recently.
Although we already have 80s period pieces in form Any twoy Griselda and Joanno television program this year adds to the joy of the decade more than Competitors. Fans of Jilly Cooper’s 1988 bonkbuster will be happy for its surfeit of shagging – less so, for its spectacular orgy.
“The ’80s was a period of great fashion innovation that started in nightclubs and spread to the high street,” says the show’s costume designer, Ray Holman. “The young designers who influenced fashion were realists.”
Holman painstakingly recreated the period by sourcing from costume hire companies, vintage websites and specialty shops that still stocked 80s fabrics, and the wardrobe department from scratch made any look they couldn’t find. “Every female character had something gorgeous done, and all the male characters had a custom suit made in vintage fabrics.
Holman’s favorite look? “One of them is the Bugsy Malone double striped gangster style suit worn by Lord Baddingham (David Tennant). We styled it with all the accessories – braces, pinky ring, watch, tie pins and sleeve cuffs. Another is the strapless emerald green dress worn by Maud O’Hara (Victoria Smurfitt) when she arrives at her party on a camel. All the actors embraced the period and the style.”
As for what viewers should consider, read on for suggestions on which 80s look could be relevant in your wardrobe this season.
High waisted jeans
They may not be everyone’s preferred style, and whether or not they are will depend as much on your stomach shape and discomfort tolerance. Fans claim they act like a corset to give a flat, slim silhouette, and whether you agree or not, the style isn’t going anywhere for autumn. For a simple way to wear them, make like Taggy (Bella Maclean) in a pair of mid-wash Wranglers paired with a simple white tee.
Agolde High waist straight leg jumper, £310, Net-a-Porter
Party dresses
Whatever your views on 80’s fashion, you can’t deny that party wear was exceptional. Those looking for Christmas party inspiration need look no further than Competitors: it is a riot of ra-ras, puff balls, bustiers, ruching, body stockings and bows, in sumptuous velvet, mesh, taffeta and silk shantung.
Satin dress, £175, Algin
Polka dots
Don’t forget florals: polka was the biggest print of the eighties, seen on everyone from Strawberry Switchblade (Google them, Gen Z) to Julia Roberts in Beautiful Woman. Whether they’re enlivening a party dress or a halter blouse, polka dots have been treated as a neutral, especially in their most popular black and white incarnation. Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent and Tove are championing black and white polka dots for autumn, making it the perfect time to dig out any of yours.
Ruffled bow blouse, £149, Holland Cooper
Chain link belts
If you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to update your look, a chain link belt is a safe and secure option. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t worn one since 1988: whether you’re rocking a sweater or livening up a dress, it’s a simple style hack. If you are not sure of the i Competitorscheck out Miu Miu’s spring 2025 show for more inspiration.
Belt, £180, Rixo
Red stilettos
If you remember the cover of the book, you’ll know why the TV adaptation featured a pair of red shoes. This is probably why they are a prominent feature in the first scene – traveling, like man himself, faster than the speed of sound. “It’s a great way to start and set the tone,” says Ray Holman. Their origin? “I want to keep that between me and our women, but them [authentic 80s versions] increasingly difficult to find sure. If we want more in the future – and fingers crossed – they need to be sorted.” Hints of a second season already? We can but I hope so.
Patent leather pumps, £750, Jimmy Choo
Plates
Those who lived through them will probably agree that if there’s one aspect of the 80s that should be consigned forever to the fashion graveyard, it’s the hair. Bubble pan, backcombing, feathered edges and bad bleach jobs are no one’s friend, and the amount of Elnett used was certainly no friend to the ozone layer. But not all 80s hairstyles need instant. One of the prettiest styles was having hair slicked back in a single bun, as seen very reminiscent of Sade (and recreated in Competitors by Cameron Cook). The pared-back look is currently enjoying a revival and is perfect for showing off this season’s statement earrings.
Gold-plated rings, £350, YSSO
Waxed jackets
The character is rarely i Competitors who is not married to his waxed jacket, whether it is a restless habit or beaten chewed by generations of labradors. This is a play set in the bucolic Rutshire countryside: outerwear is its unofficial star. But you don’t have to live in the country to wear a waxed jacket this autumn: they’re the autumn choice for both men and women.
Waxed jacket, £299, Barbour
Leather blazers
What biker jackets are to the 2020s, leather blazers were to the 1980s. After showing up on the runway at Balmain and Versace, they’re also seeing a resurgence this autumn (see Fédóga and Jigsaw for mid-priced versions). Those of us bemoaning why we gave ours to Oxfam in the 90s (me?) can’t help but hope the next owner saw them for the wardrobe classics they are.
Leather blazer, £359, Whistles
Buses
Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) is very much remembered by the adults. Competitorsmaking them work-appropriate by wearing a black bustier over a crisp white shirt. It’s a look that could have been taken straight from the autumn/winter 2024 runway and is one of many sharp office looks worn by one of the show’s most stylish characters.
Rosie Mesh and wire corset with detachable straps, £42, Marks & Spencer
Denim shirts
Anyone looking for the slightly challenging fall menswear trends right now might know that a denim shirt can occasionally be found among the big knits, camouflage trousers and the “grandpa core ” on the pile. I Rivals, Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner) presents a strong argument for a failed eighties staple. Bonus points if you have one with an authentic workwear brand like Levi’s, Wrangler or Lee.
Denim shirt, £130, With Nothing below
shiny lips
After seasons of dominant matte lipstick in the trend cycle, the shine is back. Autumn is a great time to invest in a high gloss lipstick or gloss in a vibrant berry hue. Take your look from popular 80s shades like deep raspberry or muscadine, as worn by Sarah Stratton (Emily Atak).
Clarins Comfort Lip Oil in Pitaya, £25, Sephora
