STYLE

While the ‘80s is known for its aerobic-inspired spandex obsession, the root of the desire arguably goes back just before the decade began. On Halloween 1977, Pat Benatar dressed up as a character from the sci-fi B movie Cat-Women of the Moon, fully clad in spandex and bold eye makeup, a toy ray gun at her hip, then later that night performed onstage at the New York cabaret Catch a Rising Star. Though she sang her usual set, this time audience exploded in delight. It inspired more, similar costumes, and that sleek, skintight look soon became her signature and paved the way for future female favorites like Gwen Stafani, P!nk, Marina and The Diamonds, Haim, Miley Cyrus, and more. 

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For Benatar, the clothes she wore onstage were chosen out of necessity. Her earliest look — the Danskins and nylons combo that caused such a sensation — was simply an evolution of the Cat Woman costume, worn for comfort. ‘For some reason I need the freedom of being able to move like this. So, tights were what worked,’ she said in 1980. ‘I can’t wear jeans and sing, I can’t, and I won’t wear a dress.’