Grace Jones; Audrey Hepburn; Cher.Dave Hogan/Getty Images; Ron Galella/Getty Images; Barry King/Getty Images
- In the 1980s, extravagant, out-there outfits were worn on the red carpet and at other events.
- Flashy trends like sequins and feathers were popular among celebrities throughout the decade.
From Cher to Prince, some of the biggest icons of the 1980s paved the way for today's bold red-carpet looks.
Photos taken throughout the decade show stars wearing daring fashion, from the revealing to the unexpected.
Liberace wore a sparkly, detailed white suit to the 1982 Oscars.
Liberace in 1982. Ron Galella/Getty Images
Brooke Shields wore an open blazer over a revealing blue bodysuit in 1983.
Brooke Shields in 1983. Ron Galella/Getty Images
Shields wore this look, which i-D magazine referred to as "thoroughly modern" and "eccentric" in 2021, to the premiere of "Staying Alive" in 1983.
In 1983, actress Genie Francis wore a layered, flowy pink dress on the red carpet.
Genie Francis in 1983. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty
Francis attended the 1983 Oscars with actor Steve Guttenberg as her date. Her off-the-shoulder, ruffled dress was the event's "most daring look of the year," according to Insider's Gabbi Shaw and Frank Olito.
Prince wore a sparkly purple cape with a hood to the 1985 Oscars.
Prince in 1985. ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images
Cher's feathery headpiece and exposed torso made her 1986 Oscars outfit an especially daring look.
Cher in 1986. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Cher's strappy bra-top and exposed midsection is arguably the least daring part of this look — the accompanying oversized fluffy headpiece turned heads on the red carpet at the 1986 Oscars. In 2021, CNN refered to Cher's 1986 Oscars look as "a bat-crazy mash-up of witchy showgirl and Halloween Big Bird."
In a 2019 interview with Vogue she said that, to this day, this look is one of her "favorite, favorite outfits."
Heather Locklear showed up to the 1987 People's Choice Awards in a lacy, see-through white gown full of ruffles.
Heather Locklear in 1987. Ron Galella/Getty Images
Annie Lennox wore a bright red bra to a music festival in Belgium in 1987.
Annie Lennox in 1987. Gie Knaeps/Getty Images
In 1987, at the Torhout/Werchter Festival, Lennox wore a red bra with black suspenders covered in large sequins.
Paula Abdul wore a blue, three-piece set to the MTV Music Awards in 1987.
Paula Abdul in 1987. George Rose/Getty Images
Abdul, who released her debut album, "Forever Your Girl," the following year, wore a coordinating bra top, jacket, and skirt.
Helena Bonham Carter wore a black dress with a variety of textures and fabrics to the 1987 Oscars.
Helena Bonham Carter in 1987. Ron Galella
In 1988, Kim Cattrall put a colorful twist on a classic look.
Kim Cattrall in 1988. Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images
At a benefit for Alzheimer's disease in Canada, the actress' black dress with a sweetheart neckline featured a brightly colored, floral bottom.
At the 1988 Oscars, Cher wore a see-through dress with a plunging neckline.
Cher in 1988. Barry King/Getty
In 1989, Angie Dickinson showed up to the Oscar after-party wearing an all-white, feathery dress.
Angie Dickinson in 1989. Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images
Dickinson, who, at the time, had recently been featured in "Dressed to Kill" and "Once Upon a Texas Train," paired the feathery dress with matching white gloves.
Grace Jones wore black cutout dress that resembled strappy lingerie to the International Rock Awards in 1989.
Grace Jones in 1989. Dave Hogan/Getty Images
In 1989, on "The Tonight Show," Dolly Parton wore a white dress with a cutout at her chest.
Dolly Parton in 1989. Ron Davis/Getty Images
At the CFDA Awards in 1989, Audrey Hepburn wore an over-the-top dress featuring a boa of red feathers.
Audrey Hepburn in 1989. Ron Galella/Getty Images
In addition to being covered in feathers, the bright-red dress featured a sparkly corset. Hepburn paired the gown with heels and a purse of the same color.