Big hair, leggings, sky high shoulder
pads…it was the decade of decadence. Wall Street was flying high and so was
everyone’s taste for the good life. Consumer
culture reached a peak to the tune of Madonna’s “Material Girl.”
Though over 20 years have passed since we
said goodbye to the 80s, the style influences continue to infiltrate modern
fashion. The spring runway, like that of Ronald van Der Kemp's couture collection, was full of padded shoulders reminiscent of Melanie
Griffith in “Working Girl”…the only thing missing were her white sneakers.
Dressing for success in the 80s often meant classic
black and white, which continues to be on trend for ladies ready to conquer the
boardroom. When creating his iconic “Men in the Cities” series in the 70s and
80s, artist Robert Longo dressed his contorting figures in the classic
workwear.
Classic lines and colors help make the images timeless--and the look continues to bring a powerful punch as seen in the Ronald van Der Kemp look on the right.
Did someone say party dress? After a hard
work day, what girl doesn’t need to enjoy a night on the town in a pretty
outfit? The glitz and glamour of the Texas darlings from “Dynasty” hit the Alexandre Vauthier couture runway in full force with an array of one-shouldered frocks, puffy sleeves and
pantyhose.
From flowing trains, to ruffles, sequins
and sashes…the 80s glam options were endless this season. Some options even
shimmered, like the design that mirrored the shining Rabbit sculpture by Jeff Koons.
Always a go-to for glamour, little black
dresses go vintage with textured volume. Dressed up in a LBD from Ronald van Der Kemp, what girl
wouldn’t feel like a celebrity?
"Celebrity" by Christopher Wool, 1989
Not in a black dress kind of mood? Keep
it sleek with color blocking and an elegant coiffure inspired by Richard
Prince’s photography.
"Untitled 1" by Richard Prince
As each day brings us closer to the
future, fashion proves that we never leave history behind. There are styles we think will never return, and yet they always find ways of coming back for the next generation.
Runway Photos: Vogue.com
