FROM massive perms to power jackets, ear-brushing shoulder pads to four inch stacked boots, the 80s was the decade of anything goes – as long as it shouted out STATEMENT! And Flashdance is no exception.
Adam Ant and Boy George teamed up New Romantic guyliner with military braiding while Jane Fonda introduced leg-warmers to a whole generation of teenage wanna-be dancing queens. Speaking of which, not many fashion freaks could get away with flared white, sequin littered dungarees like ABBA’s Björn Ulvæus wore – but they’ve stayed the staple of fancy dress outfitters ever since.
A dance routine performed by the chorus of Flashdance-The Musical which plays Bristol Hippodrome from June 25 – 30, 2018
If gladrags were the order of the day, then handbags were a must have accessory. Whether it was a Gucci black lizard day bag or a Donna Karan pochette; whether it was Margaret Thatcher’s leather Ferragamo or Diana Ross’ Louis Vuitton travel sets, accessories were as much a status symbol as the shoes celebs wore on their feet. But while the A-listers were slipping on the Manolo Blahniks and Jimmy Choo’s, on the street the fashion was for jelly shoes, Doc Martens and sneakers with even the occasional pair of moccasins making an appearance.
Never mind if 1980’s style was good, bad or just plain ugly, it had an identity all of its own and made an impact that fashion watchers say is creeping back onto the catwalk right now.
It’ll be like experiencing an 80s flashback when Flashdance the musical takes to the stage of Bristol Hippodrome later this month. The iconic show plays at the Bristol Hippodrome from 25th – 30th June book at http://www.atgtickets.com/bristol