80s Casual Clothing The Look That Defined the Decade
The 1980s were the decade the casual look went national, and the clothes it made famous are still everywhere: the colour-blocked track top, the golf jumper, the polo and the box-fresh trainer. This guide walks through the pieces that defined 80s casual clothing and how to wear them now, from an official stockist of the original terrace brands.
The short answer
Bold sportswear, golf knits and spotless trainers. The 80s casual wardrobe was a colour-blocked Sergio Tacchini or FILA track top, a Lacoste or Fred Perry polo, a pastel or argyle golf jumper, straight jeans and clean trainers. Logos were small, colours were big, and being first to a new label was the whole point.
The decade
From Merseyside to every terrace. The casual look began with Liverpool fans at the end of the 1970s, but the 1980s is when it went national. The Face magazine put a name to the casuals in 1983, and by the middle of the decade grounds across the country had their own crowd chasing the next label before anyone else, dropping each brand the moment it went mainstream and finishing the look with a wedge haircut. How the football casuals started
Track tops
The centrepiece. The colour-blocked track top was the signature piece of 80s casual clothing: Sergio Tacchini's styles, worn on court by John McEnroe, and FILA's Settanta, the track top Björn Borg made famous, alongside Ellesse. The Sergio Tacchini Dallas and Orion are still the shapes most people picture. Sergio Tacchini tops come up small, so size up, while FILA is true to size. Shop track tops · Sergio Tacchini track tops explained
Golf knits
Pastels and argyle. Golf knitwear was one of the decade's surprise hits on the terraces. Pringle and Lyle & Scott jumpers, often in pastel shades or argyle, were worn over a polo shirt, and they were as prized as any track top. Lyle & Scott's Archive Revisited range brings the argyle back, and most of its knitwear is true to size. Shop Lyle & Scott · Jumpers and knitwear
Polo shirts
The layer under everything. A Lacoste or Fred Perry polo sat under the track top or the golf jumper, and the small crocodile or laurel wreath on the chest was the only branding most casuals wanted. Lacoste is true to size, and so is Fred Perry. Shop polo shirts · Fred Perry vs Lacoste
Jeans and trousers
Straight, plain and clean. Straight-leg jeans, often from continental labels such as Lois, and cords or smart slacks completed the outfit. Nothing baggy and nothing ripped: the trousers were there to set off the top half. A regular straight-leg jean does the same job today. Shop denim and trousers
Trainers
Box-fresh, every time. Adidas trainers such as the Stan Smith and the Forest Hills were the classic 80s casual choice, kept spotless. Clarks Originals has 80s roots of its own: the Wallabee Lite first came out in 1986 and is back in 2026, and the Wallabee and Desert Trek are the smarter alternatives to a trainer, all true to size. Shop Clarks Originals · Clarks Originals sizing guide
How to wear it now
One 80s piece, not the whole decade. Pick a single statement, usually a colour-blocked track top or an argyle knit, and keep everything around it plain: a polo or white tee, straight jeans and clean shoes. Small logos, bold but coordinated colours and a good fit make it read as modern rather than fancy dress. Shop 80s casual clothing · Mod clothing
Common questions
What is 80s casual clothing?
What did 80s casuals wear?
What is the difference between 80s casuals and football casuals?
What trainers did 80s casuals wear?
Where can I buy 80s casual clothing?
Still unsure
Ask the team and we will help you build the look. Tell us what you are after and your usual size, and we will point you to the right pieces, because we are an official stockist of every brand in this guide. If the size is not right, exchanges are free, and UK returns are £3.00 within 14 days with a pre-paid Royal Mail label. Contact us · Shop 80s casual clothing
Written by the Spiral Seven buying team · Updated 23 September 2026 · Official stockist of every brand in this guide
