by Aisling Ashbery

Created on: September 15, 2009   Last Updated: January 25, 2010

If you already lived through the fashion ups and downs of the '80s, you may be reluctant and skeptical as you hear fashion magazines proclaim loudly that the styles are coming back. But never fear! The trends have been reinvented for 2009.  They have been sleekened and modernized so that you won't feel like you've stepped into a time warp. Here are a few different '80s trends, with tips and explanations about how they have reemerged in 2009.

[1.] Strong shoulders.
In the eighties, we saw rock stars with crazily spiked shoulders, and working women wearing shoulder pads. The reinvention of this trend in 2009 is much softer; instead of a harsh line created with a shoulder pad, stores are carrying silhouettes with slightly poofed shoulders. This gives the strong shoulder a look of femininity and softness that it lacked in the 80s.

[2.] Neon colors.
We all remember the fabric of the 80s, right? Polyester! Thankfully, this fabric isn't seeing a resurgence on designer lines. Bright colors are all the rage, but they're being done in luxurious fabrics in tasteful, figure-flattering cuts. Another thing that's different than the 80s: only one bright color at a time. Let it be your statement. If you're not ready to change your black dress for a bright dress, try participating in this trend with bright polish on short nails.

[3.] Leggings.
In the 80s, leggings were likely to be worn with an oversized tee-shirt or a micro-mini. Today they're reemerging as a more modest cover-up for under dresses and skirts of a longer length. The hemlines that favor leggings are still short, but most are of the mini variety rather than the ghastly micro-mini of the 80s.

[4.] Mini-dresses.
In the 80s, the daring hemline of the mini dress had the potential for embarrassing situations. But also like the mini-skirt, today it's worn with leggings or tights. Or, if the dress does dare to bare legs, it is more often covered up on the top. This ensures that not too much skin is showing at one time. That way the legs become a statement rather than simply a free show.

Playing with 80s trends can be fun. The bold colors and silhouettes offer a playfulness with fashion that hasn't been around for a while (say - twenty years or so!) Just remember to be careful. As with all trends, this one will surely be temporary. Look for pieces with a nod to the 80s that will still have a place in your wardrobe for seasons to come.

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