Amor magazine sent one of our talented writer’s Catherine Morgan, to check out the Club to catwalk showcase at the V&AS!
Let’s see what she has to say!
On Monday (8th July 2013) I went on an adventure to the V&A! The V&A is one of my favourite museums in the whole world as there is always something on there and interesting things to look at. I thought I’d be the perfect opportunity to check out the fashion of the 1980s. The 1980s is a period our parents, well, my parents grew up in. I’m always intrigued by the art decor/fashion/music everything of the 1960s/70s/80s. As sometimes I prefer how clothing, music, cars and everything used to be back then. If you threw an iPhone back into the 80s then I’d consider getting a time machine. This exhibition made me realise the great heights of fashion styles, and why it is so influential now to present day.
Margaret Thatcher fashion statement. Quite right too.
First items I saw as I walked in! a colourful collection reflecting the 80s by Chrissie Walsh. Simple and vibrant, a good start to the exhibition.
Willy Brown’s collection, who designed for Duran Duran in the 80s.
Paul Smith menswear collection. All black.
Katherine Hamnett bold t-shirt print collection. She was known for her green politics, using fashion she caused a sensation by wearing a t-shirt with ’58% Don’t Want Pershing’ to meet the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1984.
Is it a peacock, is it a bow?
John Galliano menswear collections. Dress on the left is a muslin dress from 1986 and the two garments to the left are from Galliano’s 1985 ‘Fallen Angel’ collection.
Vivienne Westwood collection. I knew of course she would be around this area. I liked how the Campbell soup print is on the white dress to the left. Keeping it 1950s. Do you smell punk coming its way soon?
‘English Eccentrics’ Asian style influences.
80s style evening wear.
‘Blitz Denim’ I loved this part of the exhibition. The works of performance art designer Leigh Bowery and features of magazines at the time such as The Face, ID Magazine and Blitz. These publications were a social documentation of life and style in the 1980s. Definite ‘style bibles’.
I’ve researched Leigh Bowery images before, and I particularly like this as it’s a jacket made from hair clips. (of course) very innovative.
Jacket by Zandra Rhodes. Similar to Westwood, her career is launching around this time.
Some of my favourites from the exhibition, I love kimonos and more Asian style influences
Wendy Dagworthy. I really like the print on this! and like the old fashioned vintage vibe to it aswell. Saying this she used Liberty London prints, by making print fashionable. It certainly takes my eye.
Betty Jackson worked with The Cloth helping to create loose shirts and bold prints through the 80s.
Now to the upstairs of the exhibition! where I saw goth, new romantic and body conscious explicit outfits.
Ha, enough print there?
Wild body tight dress! I like it though.
Body conscious scenery. Who would of thought people would wear this?
and that’s it for my trip to the V&A, I explored plenty of 80s fashion and very inspiring to me too. I think my favourites have to be the Leigh Bowery clip jacket, Vivienne Westwood’s Campbell soup dress and Zandra Rhodes’ print jacket. This exhibition is on till the 14th February 2014! so you have plenty of time to check it out! also give The Streets a follow at @amormagazine
What do you guys think of London Fashion in the 1980s? Share your thoughts!
