The youth fahion movement that was New Romanticism peaked in the United Kingdom during the early 80s. It was a direct backlash against the austerity of the punk movement, often associated with the electronic/synthpopp music scene that had become popular at that time. It continues to come back around again and again and continues to influence popular culture.
Associated bands - Visage, Adam and the Ants, Ultravox, Duran Duran, Human League, A Flock Of Seagulls, and Spandau Ballet.
Brian Eno and Roxy Music were also influences.
The term New Romantic was coined by Richard James Burgess in an interview with reference to Spandau Ballet.
I love the feel and spirit of the New Romantics, and think they are definately the 80s area I want to concentrate on.
Men and women would dress in counter-sexual clothing, wearing lipstick and eyeliner. Exaggerated quiffs were adopted and many wore frilly fop shirts influenced by the English Romantic period. The flamboyant, colourful dramatic look used frills and luscious fabrics associated with historical periods. In contrast to punks the wearers made an effort to look flamboyant in an attractive, luxuriant, beautiful, narcissistic way. They would dress as uniquely as possible to stand out, they celebrated glamour; ostentatious clothes and hedonism.
Typical romantic glamour had a definate pirate and buccaneer style, with full sleeved frilled pirate shirts made from luxury fabrics. Theatrical brocade jackets were copied in velvet or silk with braiding. The New Romantcs wanted to reflect the fantasy of the nineteen thirties and fifties glamour of Hollywood.
No comments:
Post a Comment