I did a piece for a friends magazine recently on what makes that ultimate 80's look, and while it's not everyone's cup of tea, I was fairly sure some of you would be interested.
DRESS TO KILL
Getting that 80’s look properly nailed is often pretty damn hard, if were honest and very few of us ever manage to pull off a fully convincing get-up. At least not without preparation, and a gentle shove in the right direction. Here we’ll take a look at the underlying concepts of ‘hair metal’ fashion, and examine the principles behind such an iconic and instantly recognizable dress.
The first, and most obvious pointer with regards to 80’s fashion is the need for a centrepiece. These can be anything, from a Big scarf tied round the head-Steven Tyler style, so that it trails, providing a focal point and drawing the eye. These centre pieces are important because while the rest of the outfit may in itself be eye catching, it really needs an introduction, a kind of over-arching, dominant item that sets the general tone and informs the observer, saying ‘this is what I’m about’
Another good reason for adopting a unique centrepiece or dominant accessory is that so many items of ‘glam’ clothing, while of course incredibly stylish, are pretty interchangeable; leather pants, boots, maybe even Nike high-tops, and vintage t-shirt’s are all recurring themes within the genre, and while they should certainly be a part of your get-up, making your outfit all about everyday and relatively stereotypical items won’t make you stand out, and if were honest that, more than anything else, is what your after.
Aside from the need for a unique or eye catching centrepiece, another often overlooked rule in constructing glam outfits is the rule of co-ordination. You’ll often see people taking stereotypical glam items; leather trousers, band t-shirts etc, and mashing them together any old how. The result? An un-coordinated and half-arsed look. The answers simple; look for colours and cuts that complement each other. The simple cut off a White shirt, and leather vest combo, especially with skinnies and cowboy boots works fantastically; simple colours and simple lines make a striking image. Similarly the stark minimalism of tight jeans mixed with high-tops adds a whole extra dimension to any outfit.
Of course the power of contrast shouldn’t be overlooked either, although contrasting textures and colours should be used carefully. Really faded, almost white jeans, for instance make good contrast when mixed with dark tops, a technique Vince Neil often took advantage of. Similarly Slash’s cowboy boots, with their very authentic feel, create fantastic contrast when mixed with plain, minimal t-shirts or uncluttered and simplistic leather trousers. Another interesting idea is the combination between sporty shoes for example, and the authentic feel of leather pants, this contrast helps create a very alive, interesting and eye catching image, as well as stopping the appearance becoming heavy or bland.
Contrast of shape is another important factor to take account of; a lot of glam outfits work because of the combination of baggy top half and very tight lower half, giving very flouncy over-embellished impression, this is important as it helps maintain the illusion of movement at all times, this can be seen when looking at Steven Pearcy’s frilled shirts, and to some extent Joe Perry’s fondness for open shirts with turned up cuffs.
Colourings obviously important as it sets the mood or tone of you look; Red bandanas, really dark read, with a dark leather jacket, for instance, create a dark, edgy look, whereas a white sleeveless t-shirt and black leather jacket or vest will create a much more open, ‘loud’ image. Bright colours can easily be worked into an outfit, it’s not something to avoid, but again, emphasise caution, and look at glam artists; very few wear predominantly bright clothing, as this detracts from the power of the centrepiece.
One other recurring problem with dressing glam is the intrinsic fear of playing on stereotypes; people will go out of their way to avoid some ‘over-used’ accessories. This is a mistake. Clichéd items are useful because they can immediately group or stereotype an outfit in general. Aviators, for instance, immediately evoke a ‘rock’ reaction, and while this may detract from the individualism of an outfit, it saves you a lot of hassle; like somebody writing your CV for you. Similarly studded wristbands, leather, and plenty of belts, always work, implying an edgy, glam feel. In short don’t be afraid to accessorize in a predictable manner; the rest of your outfit does the talking, and the clichéd extras work by immediately creating an association in the eyes of the observer.
As a final point; don’t be afraid to experiment, be radical. That’s what it’s all about. Patterned jackets for instance, especially sequined ones, are eye catching and memorable, similarly animal print bandanas for wrists make a memorable and slightly unusual extras, as do Piercings and odd, outlandish jewellery, which is often a must, especially with simple outfits. Hair should always be eye catching, either sprayed up or excessively curly.
That said dark, understated clothing is good in some cases, most notably for secondary guitarists, as it doesn’t draw eye from the singer/guitarist, and has the added affect of creating a mysterious/strange figure to counterbalance the flamboyance of singer, giving the stage show more depth.
In short, nothings set in stone have fun, be creative, but be careful not to ignore some very simple cardinal rules. It’s easy to become sidetracked, to forge about the effect you want, but a bit of care and attention and anyone can look like a rockstar.
Good luck
Rexx
xxx
suprisingly enough.
myspace @ http://www.myspace.com/shockrockalex
Glad it helped man, and welcome to the scene
