Regardless of whether you weren’t even born at the time, the eighties have that modern and familiar essence. Whether it is because they literally changed everyday life in terms of culture and society, or because it was the time for technological innovations, it’s easy to feel this decade is a part of us. We don’t feel as connected to the sixties or seventies as we do with this time. Not only did they give us great movies, TV shows, and awesome music, but the fashion continues to inspire several current trends. Okay, maybe we can forget about the shoulder-pads and mullets, but there’s no doubt that the use of fabrics and colors are still revisited every once in a while.
It was in this era when music and fashion had a very strong bond. The eighties gave us several subcultures that differentiated themselves from society through their outfits, as well as with the music they produced and listened to. In that way, the one that might be the most extravagant of all is the group called the New Romantics, born in London’s nightclub scene at the beginning of the decade. These group, that emerged as a new form of the new wave music genre, stood out with their glamorous and extravagant attires, their use of makeup, and their messy big hairdos.
Bold Makeup
Being the main movement against the punk anti-fashion statements of the time, these New Romantics used fashion as their tool to oppose those ideas and look different from the other youth groups of the time. One of the main characteristics of their looks were the extreme use of makeup, fashioned in bold lines, colorful shadows, and lots of glitter, looking almost theatrical. This bold androgynous makeup choice has been rescued recently. YouTube and Instagram are filled with dark and contoured eyebrows, as well as very bright choice of shadows.
Crazy Hair
While the crazy and messy hair was one of the main recognizable characteristics of the eighties, New Romantics take the statement to the next level. With humongous mohawks or just voluminous style, they showed us that messiness gives you that fresh and modern essence that many have tried to repress. Just let your hair be free to evoke this fashion statement.
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Vintage essence
One of the things that made them stand out in fashion terms was their choice for outfits from past historical times. From eighteenth-century dresses and suits to Victorian attires, the New Romantics wore these both to honor the past and make themselves noticeable among all the different fashion styles of the time. They basically used these outfits to achieve a flamboyant and dramatic look, adapting it with the modern fabrics of the time. This made their outfits look modern and audacious while keeping a vintage essence.
Trailblazing outfits
Many designers saw this group as an opportunity to expand their creativity and explore other realms of the fashion world. For instance, we have Vivienne Westwood with her pirate designs mixed with the dandy essence of the Regency era. Nowadays, fashion has become more similar to this idea, bringing several different bold statements to the table. Who knows? Maybe in a couple of months we’ll be wearing incredible Napoleonic-like outfits.
There are two main feelings about the eighties: either you try to separate yourself from this decade or you wish you were living at that time. Regardless of which group you belong to, there’s something true about the eighties: it was a time of separation and modernity that we still embrace nowadays. If you want to know more or remember those days, take a look at these:
Androgyny, Art, and Sass: The Fashion Trailblazer You’ve Being Copying All Along
The 80s Anthem That Was Banned By The BBC For Being Too Dirty For Radio
