Fashion in 1988



Fashion in 1988 was the strong comeback of trousers that were featured in high fashion collections, from Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani. Yves Saint Laurent was in, what some considered, a slump when he released what was arguably his best collection in 1988. Lacroix made bubble skirts that very popular for a moment. Armani set the pace for soft-tailored suits. Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Louis Dell’Olio and Donna Karan all softened their look. Geoffrey Beene celebrated his 25th year in the fashion industry. During a six-week retrospective honoring his career, his clothes were displayed on mannequins as art.

In the spring of 1988, Chanel introduced a handful of suits with long, narrow, elegant skirts. The next month Donna Karan released some summer dresses with hemlines that ranged from the knee to the mid-calf. Sales were down in 1988, with most retailers blaming either the stock market crash or the fad that was the miniskirt.