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Let us know what you're thinking!  We'll publish your thoughts, reflections, or memories of anything 80's!  When submitting an editorial, please keep it tasteful and within a reasonable length.  All submitted editorials will be considered, but due to site limitations, not all will be published.  To submit an editorial, just click on the link below.  Thank you!

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80's MUSIC


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80's CULTURE

Gender Fashion Lines Blurred in the 80s
One of the definitions of the word, "fashion" is "prevailing style". Style is always changing from year-to-year, even from season-to-season, and for a while in the early to mid 80s, the line between what was "normal" and accepted fashion for men and women was continually and purposely blurred.
Popular styles that were once predominantly male "business" attire, such as neckties, vests, jackets and even hats (to an extent) became popular for women to wear, and even if they didn't wear all the above in one outfit, each component could be used to accessorize an outfit. Even in the business world, what became known as "power suits", (i.e. jackets and skirts either made of the same material from which men's suits were made, or skirts and jackets that came in a "power" color such as red) were popular among women looking to climb the corporate ladder. In women's fashion magazines, there were articles instructing women on how to tie a necktie, and what length of skirt would give them the best advantage in each social situation.
On the other side of the gender fashion issue, it also became popular for men (generally those in rock bands) to make free and copious use of cosmetics which were traditionally used primarily by women. Many bands that had a predominantly male lineup such as Duran Duran, Poison, Twisted Sister, Culture Club, and countless others wouldn't be caught dead without their eyeliner, and some bands embraced cosmetics to an even further extreme, adding blush or rouge, eyeshadow, and even lipstick. Women of course wore cosmetics, but often in unnaturally vibrant colors such as cobalt blue, orange, and gold to accent the eyes, and even more bizarre color combinations on the lips or cheeks.  Musical artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Nina Hagen, and Dee Snyder were known for their loud makeup; it helped set them apart from other "mainstream" artists. The 80s was a colorful, diverse, and sometimes surprising decade in which to live, and I, for one, had alot of fun.
Patty Jenkins (aka Bookmistress4ever)

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