Quick summary: Digital analytics reveal that the premier of the second series of the television drama Rivals has triggered an immediate cultural revival, driving an 85% surge in consumer searches for 1980s outfits alongside an annual high for vibrant blue eyeshadow. Beauty professionals indicate that recreating these expressive, voluminous styles requires specialized multi stage backcombing techniques and deliberate cosmetic concealment bases to achieve the eras signature high intensity pigments and structural silhouettes. This dramatic aesthetic shift carries important implications for individual well being and public policy, highlighting how modern media platforms actively shape consumer purchasing behaviors and community self expression by offering joyful, nostalgic avenues for creative escapism.
Searches for 80s makeup and fashion have risen sharply following the release of the 2nd series of the hit Disney+ drama Rivals, according to new data analysed by beauty and wellness app Fresha.
Pinterest searches for 80s makeup have risen 28% in the past month, while interest in 80s outfits has surged 85% over the same period, peaking in the week the 2nd series debuted. Blue eyeshadow searches have hit a yearly high, up 56% from this point in 2025, and searches for 80s curls have risen 143% on Pinterest over the last month.
The show, an adaptation set against the glamorous backdrop of the 1980s, has epitomised the era’s camp culture with bright colours, bold makeup, and big hair, blending 80s excess with a Cotswolds-inspired aesthetic featuring bold patterns and large silhouettes.
Beauty expert Annabelle Taurua has shared advice on achieving the era’s signature bold eye. She says the key is swapping primer for concealer as a base: “To achieve that bright, signature look with blue eyeshadow, many think it is just as easy as applying primer and then eyeshadow as with any other shade, but they are forgetting one crucial step. Instead of using a primer, swap this for a concealer and use that as a base. This will make the blue colour appear much brighter and bolder and give the desired 80s effect compared with a translucent primer base. Back in the 1980s, there were not the same range of primers that we have today, so using a basic concealer is what will make your blue eyeshadow look like all of those inspiration pictures.”
For those inspired by the voluminous styles worn by character Sarah Stratton, played by Emily Atack, Taurua recommends treating each strand individually and backcombing throughout the entire process rather than only at the end: “The 1980s was all about teasing and backcombing. These days, there might be a bit of teasing at the end of the styling process, but to achieve long-lasting 1980s curls, the teasing and backcombing needs to happen at every single stage of the styling process. As soon as you have curled a strand of hair, you need to pick up that comb and begin teasing. Every strand should be backcombed and styled and then have hairspray applied liberally, instead of applying hairspray only to the top layer of your hair at the end of the styling. Persistence is also the key to styling 1980s hair; it really is a trust-the-process hairstyle. Your hair may look a bit like a bird’s nest to begin with, but treating each strand of hair as its own individual hairstyle is part of the look. Style it, tease it, and position it in the way you want, and at the end, you can make those tweaks to complete the look.”
Taurua notes that the show’s influence extends well beyond beauty: “Many TV shows hit our screens and impact more than just our television viewing. It influences what we wear, the aesthetics that we surround ourselves with, and even our everyday jargon. Rivals is no exception here. The Cotswolds-core aesthetic that it has created, along with a 1980s backdrop, has established a particular style that many people are seeking, with bright colours, bold patterns, and large silhouettes in our clothes and makeup.”
The 1980s revival encompasses accessories, hair tools, and clothing items evoking shoulder pads, neon accents, and voluminous silhouettes. Experts suggest starting with key items such as bold eyeshadows and strong-hold hairsprays to capture the era’s essence. Similar trends have previously emerged with other period dramas, where viewers translate on-screen visuals into real-world wardrobes and beauty routines. With series two now available, the trend is expected to sustain momentum across beauty counters and social media feeds.