Photos of Fitness and Gym-Goers from the 1980s' Peak
A lot of things come to mind when you think about the ‘80s, and many of those things include slim people dancing to catchy tunes while wearing flashy fits. With tons of movies about dancing, being your best, and kicking behind, finding the best version of ourselves through workouts became a defining ‘80s theme.
From tight colorful outfits, to gyms inside malls, to VHS tapes for training at home, not to mention tons of fun; vibes and the aesthetic reigned supreme over crushing imaginary enemies or discover muscles you didn't know existed.
Stepping into a gym in the '80s could be a life-changing experience for anyone unprepared, but for those who went through the pain and sacrifice, enjoy this journey down memory lane.
Ideal of Beauty
Before we even start, we have to acknowledge the ideal of beauty at the time. Everyone wanted to look like this because we were made to believe it.
Fitness core
People in the 80s knew exactly what they wanted and how they wanted. So, everything you'll see about gyms around that time will look something like this.
Fitness babe
People had VHS tapes with plenty of workouts they did maybe once, and everyone looked like this.
A Whole Aesthetic
Those who dared would use brighter colors and combos to steal the spotlight in gym class.
80s Malls
80s Malls were something else. Meaning: 80s Malls were your gym.
Heather Locklear
There were many fitness icons back in the day, and Heather Locklear was one of the many actresses who took the chance to shine even brighter.
Start Up with Jane Fonda
Many celebrities had their own fitness brand and VHS workout tapes, too.
Gym Soundtrack
80s movies were all about peak physique and had really catchy workout songs, so working out with your Walkman was almost mandatory.
Gym Reality
In reality, not everyone was wearing flashy clothes, but it was expected of you.
Heel Workout
You could also wear heels if you were trying to impress someone.
Mirrors everywhere
There was no fitness center without mirrors on almost every wall. Even workout videos were filmed in places like that, creating mind-boggling effects.
Science!
There was a lot of crossing over between science and fitness in the search for the perfect human form.
Amtching outfits
Sometimes, it wasn't enough to wear flashy outfits; you also needed to match with your friends like you were in some kind of sports team.
Fit Hairstyles
But clothes weren't everything; hairstyles were also part of the entire look.
Summer fitness
In summer, the vibes were the same, but with way fewer clothes.
Shorts
At some point, someone thought it was cool to wear shorts like this.
Casual fit
Lots of girls were peaking in the 80s thanks to the fitness craze.
Colorful fads
The boys weren't peaking with these outfits, but they were glad to be part of it.
Sports Sports Sports
Sports were everywhere, with celebrities joining the fun and lots of different outfits for lots of different situations.
Outdoor fitness
While it wasn't very common to see an outdoor gym, people would casually wear these clothes everywhere.
