Eighties glam is making a stylish come back for spring

Designers are teaching us how to dress Eighties, the 2017 way

Saint Laurent embodied the 1980s spirit for spring/summer 2017 (Getty)

A time associated with legwarmers, high-cut Spandex and stacks of neon, the 1980s can’t be on trend again, can it?

Afraid so. But, while the Eighties aren’t exactly renowned for being subtle, this season we’re getting the best it has to offer.

Believe it or not, there was some pretty great stuff happening in this decade, fashion-wise; think ruffles, metallics and oversized everything, and a bevy of designers are on a mission to teach us how to dress Eighties, the 2017 way.

At Anthony Vaccarello’s debut show for Saint Laurent, the Eighties party girls took hold. There was plunging bustier tops in leather and velvet, pelmet skirts, gold lame and asymmetric cut bodycon dresses.

This was typical Saint Laurent sex appeal imbued with a shot of sheen that nodded to the glamour of the decade.

The same could be said for Balenciaga too, where Demna Gvasalia risked the use of Spandex in intense hits of colour but, they somehow looked less shrink-wrapped and more slinky.

Balmain served up a heavy 1980s resurgence too with cut-outs, wide snakeskin belts and seriously statement earrings a la Dynasty.

Of course, this all sounds like a great idea under the beaming lights of the runway but is it possible to pull of Eighties glam without looking like you’re going to a costume party?

Absolutely. When it comes to this decade, if you know how to interpret the trends properly, they’ll look anything but dated.

Perhaps the easiest and most fashion-forward way to nod to the Eighties is with some serious shoulders.

Shoulder pads have been considered a serious no-no since their heyday but thanks to labels like Balmain and Balenciaga, they’re staging a comeback.

While maxi proportions work on the runway, it’s best to keep yours understated and skip the bulky fabrics. Instead, opt for a silky blouse tucked into slim, tailored bottoms and, of course, a pair of killer heels.