Brilliant 80's collage from Dunlavey
The advent of the first Conservative Prime minister in 13 years has us all thinking back to the last Conservative government which in turn inevitably leads to the 80’s, a decade of big frizzy hair, cheesy pop hits, yuppies, and the advent of the technological boom. It all sounds so distant but the similarities are there…
Keeping your life organised
The Filofax and iPad
The Filofax was pricey but essential for the smart and savvy businessman, an on the move hub of numbers, contacts, ideas and figures. Fast forward to today and we await the UK launch of the iPad. Pricey but essential for smart and savvy affluent men an on the move gadget crammed full of contacts, ideas and…you get the picture.
Actors with power
Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Ronald Regan was a Hollywood actor before he became President of the United States in 1981 but previously he served as the Governor of California. The current Governator of California (yes it’s an old joke but I still love it), is Arnold Schwarzenegger and if the Constitution can be amended then the possibility of President awaits.
Avant Garde female led music
Siouxsie Sioux and Florence Welch
Way before the glut of avant garde style music bands we have now (La Roux, Nite Jewel) Siouxsie and the Banshees experimented with gothic rock and combined it with elements of pop, together with a unique fashion style with wild hair. We now have Florence and the Machine who has an avant garde music style which is a mixture of rock and soul combined with unique vocals and fashion sense topped off with wild hair.
Wearing Denim with Denim
Double Denim loving celebs, Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung
For those of us unfortunate to remember this trend the first time round we had believed that no-one would be foolish enough to repeat the mistake. We thought wrong, the trend this summer is indeed the horror of wearing denim shirts with denim jeans. Think I’m kidding check Elle’s fashion report.
Ladies with huge shoulders
Dynasty and Rhianna
The humble shoulder pad started off as a way of creating a better silhouette for tailoring but got way out of control during the eighties when power dressing women became more like American football players. And it’s back in our dresses, jackets and even t-shirts to bulk up our shoulders and create strange puffy shapes.
Music on the go
Sony Walkman's through the ages
Sony launched the Walkman and introduced a whole generation to listening to music on trains, whilst jogging or at your relatives. Roll on 20 odd years and nearly everyone has an iPod or MP3 player. Just wish that some people could understand the concept of personal music (i.e. keep it to yourself).
Other things we’d pledged never to wear again but sneaked back into our fashion wardrobes:
Leggings, skinny jeans, neon, wearing ankle socks with shoes, batwing tops, lace miniskirts, blue mascara…and finally jumpsuits and dungarees. Now I understand why my parents hated the resurgence in 70’s fashions.
Tell us if you’ve spotted an eighties throwback.
80′s collage by Ryan Dunlavy
