Glamoratti is maximum 1980s glamour, updated for today. Power suits with sharp, padded shoulders, oversized gold earrings, high collars, glossy fabrics, big hair and a confident red lip. Pinterest named “Glamoratti” one of its defining trends for 2026, describing a sharper, more exaggerated take on 1980s luxury. After years of quiet luxury and soft neutrals, fashion is ready to be loud and powerful again.
What is Glamoratti?
Glamoratti is a name for the revival of 1980s “power dressing”, the look of ambition, money and confidence. It focuses on strong silhouettes (especially the shoulder), luxurious materials, bold jewellery and an overall sense of drama. Unlike a straight copy of the 1980s, today’s version is cleaner and more knowing, mixing big shoulders with modern tailoring and simpler hair and make-up.
Where it came from
In the 1980s, more women were entering senior roles in business and politics, and fashion responded with clothes that borrowed the authority of menswear. Giorgio Armani’s soft but structured suits, Thierry Mugler’s and Claude Montana’s dramatic, wide-shouldered silhouettes, and Donna Karan’s practical “Seven Easy Pieces” collection of 1985 defined the decade. Karl Lagerfeld, who took over Chanel in 1983, made gold chains and logos a status symbol, and Christian Lacroix brought theatrical couture.
Television and film spread the look. The American soap opera Dynasty (1981–1989), with costumes by Nolan Miller and Joan Collins’s scheming Alexis Carrington, made shoulder pads and sequins prime-time viewing. Films such as Working Girl (1988) linked power suits with career success. Princess Diana, Grace Jones and Madonna offered very different 1980s glamour. In India, Bollywood stars such as Sridevi and Rekha wore bold shoulders, sequins and big earrings in films and at events, and that era of Hindi film fashion is enjoying a nostalgic comeback.
The revival has been building for several years, with designers including Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello and Balenciaga showing sharp, broad shoulders. Pinterest’s 2026 report gave it a name, based on rising searches for 1980s glamour, power suits and statement jewellery.
The codes
- Tailoring: power suits and blazers with strong shoulders, double-breasted jackets, wide trousers, pencil skirts.
- Dresses: structured cocktail dresses, sequins, lamé, satin, high necks and dramatic sleeves.
- Accessories: oversized gold earrings, chunky chains, brooches, gold-buttoned jackets, wide belts, structured handbags, oversized sunglasses.
- Beauty: volume in the hair, bold lips, defined brows.
- Colours: black, red, gold, ivory, royal blue and fuchsia.
See the mood
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The references
Designers: Giorgio Armani, Thierry Mugler, Claude Montana, Donna Karan, Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint Laurent, and today Saint Laurent and Balenciaga.
Film and TV: Dynasty, Dallas, Working Girl, Wall Street (1987), and the 1980s Hindi films of Sridevi and Rekha.
People: Joan Collins, Princess Diana, Grace Jones, Madonna, Sridevi.
Why it is catching on
Trends often swing like a pendulum, and after years of muted quiet luxury, many people want to have fun with fashion again. Glamoratti offers confidence and drama. Some writers also see it as emotional armour: in uncertain times, clothes that make you look powerful can help you feel it. The 1980s also carry nostalgia for Gen Z and millennials who know the decade mostly through films, TV and their parents’ photo albums.
The debate
The original power suit was tied to a particular kind of corporate feminism, one that encouraged women to succeed by copying male dress codes inside existing systems. Critics also connect 1980s glamour with an era of greed and excess. Supporters argue that today’s Glamoratti is about personal confidence and joy rather than climbing the corporate ladder, and that vintage shopping makes it one of the easier trends to wear sustainably, since the 1980s produced so many well-made jackets.
How to wear it now
Start with a blazer that has a strong shoulder, from a vintage shop or a modern brand. Wear it with straight trousers or jeans, a simple top, and big gold earrings. Add a structured bag and a bold lip. For evening, try a satin or sequinned piece with a dramatic sleeve. Keep one element modern so the look feels fresh rather than fancy dress.
Where it is now
Glamoratti is one of the key trends forecast for 2026, alongside other bolder, more maximalist looks. Expect strong shoulders, gold jewellery and glossy fabrics across runways, high-street shops and vintage stores.
Related aesthetics
Mob Wife · Office Siren · Old Money · McBling · Art Deco
Learn more: hear from more voices
A look at how women’s fashion changed in the 1980s, and a short explainer on why the Armani power suit mattered.
Read more
- The ’80s-inspired “Glamoratti aesthetic” turns power dressing into a placebo — Marie Claire. Why we want to dress powerful now.
- On the Glamoratti aesthetic — Grazia. A guide to the trend and its key pieces.
Sources: Pinterest Predicts 2026; fashion histories of 1980s power dressing. Videos are embedded from YouTube and remain the work of their creators. Linked articles belong to their publishers.
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