What is the worst decade for fashion?

UK fashion has certainly had its ups and downs over the last 50 or 60 years, and it is very difficult to pin down the worst decade for fashion. On the one hand, you could argue that the 1970s was the worst, but this was also the decade when Calvin Klein made its name, and you can still buy Calvin Klein Menswear from EJ Menswear, so how bad can it have been? Others will point to the 1980s and its wild excesses. Let’s have a look at each one.

The 1960s

The 1960s saw the birth of colour and pattern in menswear. The decade started with smart suits and jumpers but ended with a much more relaxed, scruffy hippie look. Rock and roll and the new pop music had a huge influence on what people wore and how they lived.

The 1970s

If the 60s opened the door, the 70s flung it wide open, for better or worse. Flares, wide collars and androgynous glam rock styles left some people confused about how they should dress. Punk started out as anti-fashion and anti-uniform, but before long the leather jacket and ripped denim became a uniform of their own, which rather defeated the point.

The 1980s

The 1980s saw a return to a more glamorous look with the New Romantics. However, it also gave us shoulder-padded power suits and shell suits, which many would call a disaster. The pastel colours of TV’s Miami Vice were a big influence on menswear, but by the end of the decade denim, jackets and T-shirts were back.

So which decade was the worst? We’ll let you decide!