The Return of Gladrags: A Look Back at the Flashy Fashion Trend of the 1970s and 1980s

Gladrags is a term that was popularized in the 1970s and 1980s to describe a type of clothing that was considered to be flashy or overly ornate. The word is derived from the phrase "glad rags," which was used to describe formal or party clothes.

In general, gladrags are clothes that are designed to make the wearer look fashionable and attention-grabbing, often featuring bright colors, bold patterns, and lots of embellishments like sequins, ruffles, and feathers. Gladrags were often associated with disco culture and the glam rock movement of the 1970s, and they continued to be popular in the 1980s with the rise of pop and hip-hop music.

Some examples of gladrags include flashy dresses, sparkly tops, and oversized blazers with lots of buttons or other decorative elements. The term is still used today to describe clothing that is particularly eye-catching or flamboyant, but it has largely fallen out of mainstream fashion discourse in recent years.