Rewind Fashion <<< - LONDON FASHION IN THE 80's

              

Courtesy - Victoria and Albert Museum.

Discover the creative outburst of London fashion in the 1980s in a exhibition at the Victoria &Albert.  More than 85 outfits over viewed,
Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s showcased the bold and exciting new looks by the most talented and risk taking young designers of the decade, including Betty Jackson, Katharine Hamnett, Wendy Dagworthy and John Galliano, Paul Smith, Chrissie Walsh, Willy Brown.. and a couple of more designers..

 

INSIGHTS ON HOW 80'S EXPLORED

Club to Catwalk explores the creative explosion of London fashion in the 1980's. London's unique fashion identity in the 80's was result of the fusion between club and catwalk. The risk taking yound makers behind that new style remain some of the most influential figures in the fashion today.

Designer Michiko Koshino - 1985-87
Japan born opened her store in Covent Garden - London in 1981, selling street DJ and Mixing tables, it felt more like  anight club than a clothes shop. The lean sillouhete of the 70's fashion began to  be replaced with layered,oversized styles that changed the propotions of the body. Sports wear also became increasingly important influence. Most people in London start out with things like chiffon dresses, but I started wih Sportswear said KOSHINO.

Display of the Rain Jacket at the V & A.

Shorts by Designer - Malcom Mc LAren and Vivienne Westwood. Hynos Collection. S/S -1984.
Nylon and cotton given by David Barber.

Skate Board - 80s - Metal & Plastic.

Koshino's inflatable plastic rain jacket was based on the American goose down B-Boy jackets popular with clubbers.

Designer
CHRISSIE WALSH
She began to colonise previously unfashionable areas of London. Independent shops appeared, selling distinctive upbeat clothing that appealed to a new young clientele. By mid 80s she was making sleek, pared down lycra outfits and swimwear in tune with the increasingly body - conscious decade.

Vest, Skirt and Trousers by Jewel Collection.
1981-82. Inspired by exotic performance costumes designed by leon Bakst in early 20th century.
Jacket with repleca trousers - Chrisse Walsh.
Insipred by fringe Flap Collection S/S 1980.
Appliqued designs flat blocks of colour.
Fringe Flap Collection S/S 1980 - T - Shirt with Trousers.




It was quite a Dramatic and Block Colour feel with applique and bias yoke designs.
Looked like 80's was quite a Circus inspired and Drama was HIGH !


Designer
WILLY BROWN
He opened his shop Modern Classics in the unfashionable shore ditch. The austere functionalism of Brown's work provided an alternative to more Flamboyant trends of the early 80's. He dressed Pandu ballet in Khaki army jackets worn over plain kilts, and mad commissions for Davd Bowie during his Berlin phase.

One of the Display Dress.

Brown described this dress as combining Regency and Bauhaus styles. The two-dimensional quality of the garment is enhanced by flattened side seams.
'Peacock eye' dress
Modern Classics (Willy Brown)
Cotton with hand painting -1980.
Industrial work wear and khaki uniform.

DESIGNER
PAUL SMITH
Suits & Plim Soles
Traditional & Sub diversions

Formal city dressing was enlivened with the bright accessories, smart jackets were teamed with jeans and evening wear ranged from stylist informality to flamboyant traditional British textiles such as
wool suiting's, tweeds, & shirting's provided a palette of colours and materials that also appealed to the women's wear designers. Subverting classics such as the white shirt and tailored jacket they brought  new feminity to savike row styling.

Then came a REVOLUTION OF THE 80''S

GOTH,PUNK,NEW ROMANTIC,DRESS AND CAP,JACKETAND BODYSUITS,BLOUSESCORSET,PANTS,HAT,GLOVES,BOOTS,HIGH CAMPSKIRTS,HOODED TOPS, EARRINGS AND UNGLASSES, BDY MAP, BODY CONCIOUS,CUSTOMISED,CLUB AND HARD TIMES.

So the trend of the 80's was so much Rock and High Dark Fashion. It was Glamorous with an EDGE.

These trends set an impact in the fashion globally and Icons like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, George Michael, Demi More, Diana Spencer, Banarama, Boy George were so Iconic and inspired, the real Punk fashion by carrying the Dark look and Punk styles through out their carrier.

 

Fashion is still Inspired by these Iconic Personalities and we relate to them over a time and frame now.

So when you think of PUNK,GOTH,DARK GLAMOUR ROLL INTO THE 80'S FOR INSPIRATIONS AND STYLE.