Fashion And Its Sense Of Style During The 1980s

Introduction

The fashion history of 1980s is memorable and quite distinctive. A variety of fashion looks ran parallel to each other in the 1980s.” Women of this era began to feel they that really could at last choose from one of the many contrasting looks available”.

Discussion

The fashion look that was the most powerful over the decade was the wide shoulder. “Fashion history reveals that the 80s fashion look was a tailored look. It was hard to go anywhere without at least a jacket”? but preferably a complete suit. This was influenced by several movements including media influence on 1980s fashion through the popularity of TV dramas like 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas'. Costume dramas brought fashion into real everyday eighties life.

Influence of Television Soap Series 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas'

'Dynasty' the 1980s television fantasy soap series promoted fashions which enlarged the shoulder. One of the main characters was played by the naturally broad shouldered film star Linda Evans.

Nolan Miller? “the Dynasty film set costume designer decided to go with her big shoulders and give slight emphasis to them.” Every other actor had to be shoulder padded? but with more depth to match her shoulders.

In the 1980s 'Dynasty' was watched by a global audience of over 250 million viewers. Many who watched did so for a look at the 80's fashions which were always over the top and frankly camp. Throughout the 80s styles did filter to the mass market in watered down versions.

The fashion of 1980s favoured applied decoration on suits and T-shirts and beadwork on clothing which all pandered to the ideals of a time of conspicuous consumption. The 1980s was a time of greed and individuals living a lie that they had everything whether it be fashion? champagne or property. Many fell into debt as the only way to acquire an 80's lifestyle for many was via the credit card.

Lavish use of both fine and costume jewellery was worn day and night on the show and it drifted into mainstream fashion. Big? almost huge gilt fashion earrings several centimetres across drew attention to faces drowning in shoulder pads. Stones could be fake or real. Diamante? pearls and gold chains were intended to tell the rest of the world you had arrived.

The women in Dynasty wore all the trimmings of jewellery along with a wide range of lavish covetable underwear and lingerie. In the ...