What I notice from the new romantics movement is how expressive it is. It started in the beginning of the 80s and seems to be around the united kingdom. Within this youth culture there is super dramatic big hair and heavy make up looks with graphic eyeliners and big jewelry. I feel like it’s a way of saying: we don’t like standards and neither gender confirmation. Adrogony seems to be a big part of this as well. New romantics seems punk but has a different portrait visually. Around this time there was a noticable increase of global and visual mass media and MTV became big ass well. New Romantics is also linked to the British clubbing scene. With in a hard economical time that was happening around the youth, in the nightlife this didn’t seem to matter. People were dressing up with a lot of glamour anyways. That also really visuable in the pictures i found.
If i would have to connect this movement to something historical/fantasy: it would be pirates. It feels also like it’s inspired from glam rock. With overzised trousers, frills and very extravagant elements. It’s all about experimentation and allowing your creativity through your fashion sense. There is one look called the Swashbuckling pirate look. The shirt that they used were made from luxery fabrics. It also has a theaterical appeal to it. I feel like New Romantics is also inspired on the 18th century. With fabrics such s satin, silk, and velvet. It’s super eyecatching. Vivienne Westwood also made a variation on this design. She took her inspirations fromregency designs and this later turned into a pirate look. The romantic idea of dressing up with glamour inflenced the world also through television such as soap operas like dynasty. When Princess Diana got married to Prince Charles, She was wearing a flamboyant wedding gown. This was in the beginning of the 80s. New romantics seems to be occasion wear. So for more special places. And what better place to be is the underground night life scene. It’s also all about making a statement and embracing your uniqueness. This way you step into a world with no bounds.
Designers that really stood out in this era are Colin Swift. He is super ambitious with flamboyant style, enjoying extravaganza. Stevie Stewart and David Holah also did their part within the movement. They seem extra focused on how to be individual and pushing bounderies of fashion also with outragious fabrics. Adam Ant is also someone who gave the light with theatrical performances, with beautiful costumes based on historical and pirate elements. These shows weren’t only just shows. But showed perfectly the essence of New romantics. Because of these designers this movement came alive. Creating a legacy. That will be continued to be an inspiration. I will also take inspiration from this. In my daily life i already wear things from this era. I always wear quite heavy make up and am obsessed with enormous hair. And glamour. Pose the tv show is also a great example of extravaganza.
Club, L. Y. (2021, 4 november). New Romantics - Museum of Youth Culture. Museum Of Youth Culture. https://www.museumofyouthculture.com/new-romantics/
Chloe. (2023, 5 augustus). New Romantics 1980s fashion history. Fashion-Era. https://fashion-era.com/fashion-history/1980s/new-romantic-fashion
West, L. (z.d.). Style Guide: New Romantics – VCG. https://vintageclothingguides.com/fashion-subcultures/style-guide-new-romantics/
