1980’s

Fashion World
MUST HAVE LABELS

Frenchmen
Christian Lacroix
for his puffball
skirt and rose
prints, and Jean
Paul Gaultier for
his cone bra; and
the German Karl
Lagerfeld for the
classic Chanel suit
updated in jewel
colors with a
flamboyant dash.
Some of the
influential 1980s
designers
continue to the
present day.
Vivienne Westwood
 POWER DRESSING

A POWERFUL MESSAGE he idea of using

clothes to convey status is as old as civilization,
but fashion historians point to the 1980s as the
pinnacle of power dressing. As more women
entered traditionally male- oriented work
environments, they found it advantageous to
dress as though they were in command, and
sure of their sexuality. This meant jackets with
heavily padded shoulders, vibrant colors, big
hairdos, bold accessories, and shoes with
pointed toes and spiked heels. From the 1990s
onward designers such as Calvin Klein and
Giorgio Armani developed a low-key, less
"costumey" style for working women. Neutral
tones, expensive fabrics, and minimal lines
sent a subtler message about competence and
capability.
DANCE CULTURE

The influence of clubs

spawned new modes of
dress in the 1980s, and
certain clubs attracted
certain groups of
people. New Wave
clubs such as The Blitz
in London, where host
Steve Strange would
only admit the "weird
and wonderful" ushered
in the dance culture.
The flamboyant New
Romantics, showcased
at the Fridge club in
south London.
Clubs such as
Heaven in
London brought
gay culture into
the mainstream,
which had a
huge effect on
fashion. Across
the Atlantic, hip-
hop and rap
were the
dominant urban
club styles,
associated with
pristine
sportswear,
leather bomber
jackets, and
heavy gold
jewelry.