Stylight party trends report calls out strong 1980s influence

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Dec 17, 2019

Ruffles, puffed sleeves, and one-shoulder dresses all add up to a party shopping season that's being heavily influenced by the late 1980s, according to online shopping portal Stylight’s latest trends report.

Using Google data, the company has analysed the shopping behaviour of its 12 million monthly users and found that the big trend is 80s inspired fashion. According to Google, searches for ‘80s dress’ have increased by 123% compared to last year.

The company has seen a 1,000% increase in searches for blazer dresses, the androgynous style that “went mainstream after the Kardashian-Jenner clan started sporting the Balmain version on the red-carpet”. It has also been boosted by endorsement from other big-league celebrities including Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber and Rihanna.

Meanwhile, searches for metallic dresses with puffed sleeves have risen 382%, another 1980s-influenced style that has been endorsed by celebrities including Celine Dion, Kate Hudson and Hailee Steinfeld.

Bows and ribbons might not have seen quite such a leap, but this retro trend has seen its searches rising 31% and the company is expecting this to continue into 2020. 

Stylight has seen a much bigger uplift in searches for organza items with a 1,000% increase. The company said it's a trend it hadn't been expecting but it’s one that’s being seen across both dresses and tops as a detail or a main fabric.

One-shoulder dresses have also taken off for the party season with a 409% increase in searches, and again the trend is channelling the 1980s.

Another big trend has been ruffles and ruching, which is up 169%, and is  also expected to continue into 2020.

And the final trend called out is sequin flared pants, with a 22% search rise.