The typical outfit for men during the 1980s at Montevallo was jeans, a patterned button-up, and in the colder months a work or leather jacket. Of course, denim is still popular today, however double denim is not nearly as popular as it was in the 80s. And during the 80s very rarely did we see jeans without the hems rolled up. Much of men’s fashion was like this, with style being expressed in the little details: a cuffed hem or a un-tucked shirt.
Hairstyles were also a major part of men’s fashion in the 80s. Center parts were very common, or men would experiment with facial hair. Many also rocked one of the more recognizable hairstyles of the 80s, the mullet. Hair appeared to be a way for men to express their personality. At least at Montevallo, the wildest fashion got was in hairstyles. Most men just liked their jeans, and maybe a fancy jacket.
The largest difference between current and past men’s fashion at Montevallo is the lack of shorts and sweatpants in the 80s. Most of the time men wore long jeans or overalls. Few images of men wearing shorts appeared in the yearbooks, aside from sports or volunteer events where they probably would have been necessary for practicality’s sake. Very much like for women, jeans and plaid button up shirts were all the rage.
Please scroll to see example of 80s men fashion at Montevallo.
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(Image used by permission of the Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections)
(1.) Montage. 1980-1989. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama. Accessed April 05, 2018. https://archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22University+of+Montevallo+yearbooks%22&and[]=subject%3A%22University+of+Montevallo+yearbooks%22&and[]=year%3A%221989%22&and[]=year%3A%221988%22&and[]=year%3A%221987%22&and[]=year%3A%221986%22&and[]=year%3A%221985%22&and[]=year%3A%221984%22&and[]=year%3A%221983%22&and[]=year%3A%221982%22&and[]=year%3A%221981%22&and[]=year%3A%221980%22
(2.) “What Will You Become?” The University of Montevallo. Accessed April 05, 2018. https://www.montevallo.edu/.
(3.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
Image Citations
(1.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(2.) Montage. 1983. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama. Accessed April 05, 2018. https://archive.org/stream/montage421983stud#page/6/mode/2up
(3.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(4.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(5.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(6.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(7.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(8.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(9.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(10.) Montage. 1985. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama. Accessed April 05, 2018. https://archive.org/stream/montage441985stud#page/40/mode/2up
(11.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(12.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.
(13.) Montage. 1983. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama. Accessed April 05, 2018. https://archive.org/stream/montage421983stud#page/200/mode/2up
(14.) Student Life Photos. 1980s. The Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Oliver C. Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama.