It was
the decade that MTV was created, Margaret Thatcher ruled the ever
changing Great Britain, Shoulder pads emerged and John Lennon was shot
outside his New York City House. It was an Era that would have an impact
on years to come. – The Music, The Fashion and The People influenced a lot of the ways we look and do things today.
Women
and men were trying to find an identity, break out of the mould. They
were finding themselves, creating individuality and showing uniqueness.
The sound in their ears
A
mixture of Brit pop, Punk rock and the hip-hop scene evolved with the
likes of Run DMC and De la Soul becoming successful, but of course the
woman of this decade is no other than Madonna, her music was listened to
everywhere and she was noted for her many fashion moments.
Two significant figures in music died- John Lennon was shot outside his home December 8 1980 and Bob Marley 11 May 1981 who defined reggae and taught the world that ‘the herb is the healing of a nation.’
MTV
started to produce music videos that changed the world of fashion,
music and TV. Hard rock, glam metal was the most popular genre of 80s;
silver, sequins and glitter sparkled under the stage lights of Live Aid
in 1985 where the likes of Paul McCartney and David Bowie where to be
seen in this heroic performance to make money for those not as
fortunate.
Techno, Detroit, Michigan, USA during the mid to late 1980s and house music Chicago, Illinois, USA in the late 1970s and early 1980s
It was the infamous STUDIO 54,
that to this day people hear about and talk about. On the hedonistic
balconies you might have indulged in some champagne or a little extra
with the likes of Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger and Calvin Klein, it was
the place to be and be seen. You could have been dancing to Wham! or
Duran Duran above the Man in the moon with an animated 'cocaine spoon'
depicted on the floor or be sparkling with the four inches of glitter
that was dumped on the ground to create a 'standing on stardust' effect.
Is there such thing as a time machine?
Significant fashion trends of the 1980s include:
Perm, mullet
Leggings, Big Socks
Shoulder pads
Headbands
Ray-ban sunglasses
Christophe Decarnin- Designer Balmain (If i could be dressed head to toe in it, I would)
‘Creative expression of the 80s inspired me’
‘I
love that sense of liberty they had, throwing vintage together with
luxury, sportswear with designer brands, a tailored jacket on top of a
sexy dress- and it all looked so right.’
People that made their mark
Vivienne Westwood- she defined Punk-rock fashion
Jerry hall and Mick Jagger- the David and Victoria of the 80s
Debbie harry- the one and only Blondie
Michael Jackson- Dancing around stage in a sequin jacket and white gloves
‘There was spontaneity in the 1970s and 1980s says Richard Young which has since been eroded by the media-savvy stars neutered by ‘brand awareness’
‘Everyone is so body conscience now- God forbid you should see a breast’
‘When I look back, there was this incredible, charged, Studio 54 feel to that time. People didn’t care.’
Take me there.
