The 1980s Fashion Staples You’ll Be Wearing Again Thanks To TV Show ‘Rivals’

If ever a decade benefited from the rosy glow of hindsight, it’s the 1980s. Maligned at the time for “abominations” such as puffball skirts, shoulder pads, double denim and neon, some of its worst excesses have come to be regarded rather more fondly, given the stranglehold that greige-hued good taste has had on the catwalks in recent times.

While we’ve already had ’80s period pieces in the form of One Day, Griselda and Joan, no TV show this year captures the decade’s exuberance more ebulliently than Rivals. Fans of Jilly Cooper’s 1988 bonkbuster will be braced for its surfeit of shagging – less so, for its orgy of fabulous looks.

“The ‘80s was a magnificent period of fashion innovation which started in nightclubs and extended to the high street,” says the show’s veteran costume designer, Ray Holman. “The young designers who influenced fashion were real trailblazers.”

Holman diligently recreated the period by sourcing from costume hire companies, vintage websites and specialist shops that still stocked ‘80s fabrics, and the wardrobe department made from scratch any looks they couldn’t source.

“Every female character had something gorgeous made for them, while the male characters all had bespoke suits made in vintage fabrics.

Holman’s favourite look?

“One of them is the Bugsy Malone gangster-style striped double-breasted suit worn by Lord Baddingham (David Tennant). We styled it with every accessory: braces, pinky ring, watch, tie pin and sleeve cuffs. Another is the emerald green strapless dress worn by Maud O’Hara (Victoria Smurfitt) when she arrives at her party on a camel. All of the actors embraced the period and style.”

As for what viewers should embrace, read on for suggestions of which ‘80s looks could have relevance in your wardrobe this season.

Try: Agolde’s Pinch Waist jeans, $449

They may not be everyone’s favourite style, and whether they are or not will depend as much on your stomach shape as your tolerance of discomfort. Fans swear they act like a corset to give a flat, sleek 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 mid-wash pair of Wranglers teamed with a simple white tee.

Party dresses

Try: Wynn Hamlyn Holly Mini dress, $695

Whatever your views on ‘80s fashion are, you can’t deny the partywear was exceptional. Those looking for Christmas party inspiration need look no further than Rivals: it’s a riot of ra-ras, puffballs, bustiers, ruching, body stockings and bows, in sumptuous velvet, mesh, taffeta and shantung silk.

Chain link belts

If you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to update your look, a chain link belt is a failsafe option. No matter that you haven’t worn one since 1988: whether cinching a sweater or enlivening a dress, it’s a simple style hack. If you’re not convinced by the ones in Rivals, look to Miu Miu’s spring 2025 show for further inspiration.

Red stilettos

Try: Nicole Rebstock Nemesis heels, $319

If you remember the book’s cover, you’ll know why the TV adaptation had to feature a pair of red shoes. This is likely why they’re a prominent feature in the first scene – travelling, like their wearer, faster than the speed of sound. “It’s a great way to start and set the tone,” says Ray Holman. Their provenance? “I’d like to keep that between me and our ladies, but they [authentic ‘80s versions] are definitely getting harder to find. If we need more in the future - and fingers crossed that we do - they’ll need to be made to order.” Hints of a second season already? We can but hope.

Polka dots

Try: Y’s A-Volume dress, $510

Forget ditzy florals: the most predominant print of the eighties was the polka dot, as seen on everyone from Strawberry Switchblade (Google them, Gen Z) to Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Whether enlivening partywear or a pussybow blouse, polka dots were treated as a neutral, particularly in their most popular incarnation of black and white. Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent and Tove are backing black and white polka dots for autumn, making it an apposite time to dig out any you own.

Plaits and statement earrings

Those who lived through them will likely agree that if there’s one element of the ‘80s that should be forever consigned to fashion’s graveyard, it’s the hair. Bubble perms, backcombing, feathered fringes and bad bleach jobs were nobody’s friend, while the amount of Elnett used was certainly no friend of the ozone layer. But not every ‘80s hairstyle required volume. One of the chicest styles involved hair being slicked back into a single plait, as seen most memorably on Sade (and recreated in Rivals by Cameron Cook). The pared-back look is currently enjoying a revival and is ideal for showcasing this season’s statement earrings.

Try: Jasmin Sparrow New York, New York earrings, $500

Waxed jackets

Try: Toteme Country jacket, $1399

Rare is the character in Rivals who isn’t wedded to their waxed jacket, be it a pristine affair or a battered one chewed by generations of labradors. This is a drama set in the bucolic countryside of Rutshire: outerwear is its unofficial star. But you don’t need to live in the country to wear a waxed jacket.

Leather blazers

Try: Coach leather blazer, $1650

What biker jackets are to the 2020s, leather blazers were to the 1980s. After being shown on the catwalk at Balmain and Versace, they’re also seeing a resurgence (see Whistles and Jigsaw for mid-priced versions). Those of us lamenting why we gave ours to Oxfam in the ‘90s (just me?) can only be mollified by the hope that their next owner saw them for the wardrobe classics that they indubitably are.

Bustiers

Try: Magda Butrym Draped Wool Corset, $1795

Worn most memorably by Madonna, it’s Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) who provides the most grown-up take in Rivals, making them work-appropriate by wearing a black bustier over a pristine white shirt. It’s a look that could have been taken straight from the autumn/winter 2024 catwalk and is one of many sharp office looks worn by one of the most stylish characters in the show.

Denim shirts

Try: Levi’s Barstow Western Shirt, $140

Anyone who’s currently finding menswear trends somewhat challenging may be heartened to know that amid the sheer knits, camouflage trousers and “grandpa core” on the catwalk, there could also be found the occasional denim shirt. In Rivals, Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner) presents a strong argument for the failsafe 1980s staple. Bonus points if you own one by an authentic workwear brand such as Levi’s, Wrangler or Lee.

Shiny lips

Try: Clarins Comfort Lip Oil in Pitaya, $59.

After seasons of matte lipstick dominating the trend cycle, the shine is back. Invest in a high-shine lipstick or gloss in a vibrant berry hue. Take your cue from popular ‘80s shades such as deep raspberry or muscadine, as worn by Sarah Stratton (Emily Atak).

More on screen

Binge-worthy shows, guilty pleasures and box-office hits.

The Best Films Of The Year (So Far), According To The Viva Team. From otherworldly epics to intimate romances, these are all of the films our team of editors and writers have loved this year.

There’s So Much Good Television. Why do we love to hate-watch?

’The Substance’ is A Stylish, Ruthless New Film. Beauty – and monstrosity – are skin deep in Demi Moore’s new movie.

‘Challengers’ stars put new spins (and slices and volleys) on the love triangle. Zendaya, Luca Guadagnino, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist on the sizzling sports drama.

How Sofía Vergara Created Her Tony Soprano Role In ‘Griselda’. Nuance was crucial to her portrayal of a drug lord.