The New Romantics
This essay contains information about the New Romantic Movement. In the second part of this essay two contemporary designers will be discussed that still work with elements of this period.
The New Romantic movement was a cultural and fashion movement that emerged in the United Kingdom during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It grew as a reaction against the raw, aggressive style of punk, offering instead a world of glamour, creativity, and escapism. Young people involved in the New Romantic scene loved theatrical fashion, drawing inspiration from historical eras like the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Their look was characterized by flamboyant clothing, elaborate makeup, and a sense of drama and performance (Rimmer, 2003).
Music played a key role in the New Romantic movement. Bands like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Visage, and Culture Club rose to fame with their stylish images and synth-driven sounds. These groups often performed in clubs such as London’s Blitz Club, a central hub for New Romantics, where dressing up was considered just as important as the music itself (Worley, 2024). Also the videoclips from that time give a great impression of the New Romantic movement.
More than just a fashion trend, the New Romantic movement represented a desire for individuality and a break from the harsh realities of the time, including economic struggles and political unrest. It celebrated fantasy and imagination, encouraging people to create their own identities through style and performance. Although the movement was relatively short-lived, its influence was powerful. It helped pave the way for the mainstream popularity of synthpop and glam fashion in the 1980s. Today, the New Romantic movement is remembered for its boldness, creativity, and refusal to conform. It showed that fashion and music could be more than entertainment and that they could be tools for self-expression and transformation (Dylan, 2020).
A designer that is clearly influenced by the New Romantics is Dilara Fındıkoğlu. Dilara Fındıkoğlu is a London-based Turkish-British fashion designer renowned for her theatrical, rebellious designs that blend gothic, Victorian, and punk influences with feminist themes. A Central Saint Martins graduate, she gained attention by organizing a guerrilla fashion show after being excluded from the school's official press event. Her creations have been worn by celebrities like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Doja Cat (Findikoglu, 2025).
Richard Quinn is a British fashion designer known for his bold prints, dramatic silhouettes, and theatrical runway shows. His work draws clear influence from the New Romantic movement through its sense of fantasy, performance, and emotional excess. Like the New Romantics, Quinn uses fashion as a tool for transformation and escapism, often blending historical references with futuristic elements. His extravagant designs and love for visual spectacle reflect the same spirit of rebellion, creativity, and self-expression that defined the New Romantic era (Quinn, 2025).
Sources
Dilara Fındıkoğlu. AW24 Collection. Dilara Fındıkoğlu, 2025, https://shop.dilarafindikoglu.com/collections/aw24. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Jones, Dylan. Sweet dreams: From club culture to style culture, the story of the new romantics. Faber & Faber, 2020.
Quinn, Richard. Richard Quinn. 2016, https://www.richardquinn.london. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Rimmer, Dave. New Romantics: the look. Omnibus Press, 2003.
Worley, Matthew. "Past! Future! In Extreme!: Looking for Meaning in the “New Romantics,” 1978–82." Journal of British Studies 63.3 (2024): 542-567.
