The Modern 80s Era
The 80s are back and (hopefully) here to stay.
Image Courtesy: Fanpop
Leave low-rise looks behind. 80s fashion is back—shoulder pads and all. And while reminiscence on the ‘90s and early 2000s brings faux fur and mini skirts to the forefront, the modern era yearns for nothing but Prince and purple ruffles.
Harry Styles is known for his eccentric fashion choices, repeatedly finding clever ways to style suspenders and the highest-waisted pants you’ve ever seen. But one of his most iconic looks premiered at the 2019 Met Gala, where he heavily channeled Prince’s ruffled glamour from the forever-famous “Purple Rain” music video. The black ruffled blouse is strikingly direct, drawing all eyes to Styles on fashion’s most opulent night of the year. Some claim that Styles “won” this Met Gala, but on whose precedent? Sparing no praise for Gucci’s creative director, Alessandro Michele, my money’s on Prince.
Ah, street style— the modern celebrity’s favorite stage. Extensively covered by “E! News” and Vogue alike, street style acts as a means for fashion discovery. Hailey Bieber tells us that nothing is better to wear on a day off than an oversized blazer; the shoulder pads are salient in the best way, paying tribute to blazers as a staple of 80s casual wear. But attributing Bieber’s inspiration to a specific 80s icon seems unfair. Whitney Houston, Winona Ryder, Molly Ringwald: all and many more flaunted their love for the oversized blazer. And so, the ‘80s continue to shine.
Shoes make or break a look. Proving that sneakers are anything but an afterthought is Kanye West. He takes direct inspiration from Michael Jordan, one of the most famed athletes to date. MJ debuted his custom-made Air Jordans on November 17, 1984, after stepping onto an NBA court for only the eleventh time. Now, almost 40 years later, Kanye West wears them, too. Nike Air Jordans are so ubiquitous that even designer brands have taken notice: Dior recently collaborated with Nike to create Air Dior, an artful pair of sneakers with an even more impressive price tag. The ‘80s comeback is here, and it is more popular than ever.
And if you ever find yourself peering into your parents’ closet, look into the ‘80s abyss and find something — a blazer, perhaps? Inheriting clothing beautifully exemplifies the cyclical nature of fashion, and now highlights the ‘80s genre. Fashion does look forward, but it also pauses to look back. Looking back at the ‘80s, we see a perennial painting of timeless pieces. This generational painting endures today, but who paints it now? Bets are on you.
Strike Out,
Maddie Arruebarrena
Editors: Kimani Krienke, Natalie Daskal, Will Kennedy
Writing Director: David Kramer
Blog Director: Helenna Xu
Notre Dame
