What is it about winter that makes us reach for our greyest, darkest, dullest coat? What we need is a bit of colour and a little bit more ‘style’! We will not let these depressing months degrade our wardrobes!
Eighties clothing is back and bigger than ever in the fashion world. Even in the most mainstream shops there is something influenced by that shoulder-pad crazy generation. Plus, clothing inspired by this decade is the best way to be eased into the retro scene.
The good thing is; the eighties weren’t that long ago so it is still possible to find some genuine bargain buys in some of the most unexpected charity shops. My sister recently picked up a velour ‘body’ from ‘Help the Aged’ for £3. She wore it to all the summer festivals and it will be seeing some cold wintry days paired with leggings and a leather jacket.
Louis Vutton’s Autumn/ Winter collection inspired high street stores such a Topshop to hitch up those waistlines and embrace ruffles.
Designer Esteban Cortazar described the collection as ‘so romantic and so edgy at the same time….I don’t know what girl doesn’t want that’.
So, so true, no wonder this look has come back only twenty years after it was first done. It is malleable and can flatter just about anyone.
If you’re not a massive fan of leotards and jeggings, how about the silhouette dress? Slightly less causal and a little bit more sophisticated, the silhouette can be worn by night but equally it will not look out of place worn around campus. Unlike many of the eighties fashion garments it plays with the idea of ‘less is more’ so is not too revealing; but, as it says on the packet it is cut to give you one mighty silhouette!
Launch some colour into your wardrobe with multi-coloured, striped and bold power prints. It’s all about the neon this season; but remember neons should be approached with caution. Unless you are lucky enough to still be sporting a good tan, they can have the effect of making us look very washed out. No one wants to be described as ‘pasty’ and York isn’t exactly kind to us on that front.
In order to carry off eighties retro teased hair is a must. Backcomb if you can bear it, adorn with chunky clips and bows…whatever, just think BIG! It is not necessarily a high maintenance look as long as you have a comb and some hairspray you are well away.
Luckily the make-up for the eighties look is a little bit more subtle second-time around. Experiment with a bit of blusher and liquid eye-liner, just don’t over do it…. in some respects we have come along way in twenty years and I think that is definitely true in the make-up department.
There you have retro eighties in a nutshell: clothes, hair and make-up, experiment as you so wish, just make sure that this winter is a colourful one!