Every year, fashion presses the pause button, rewinds and sets the clock back by a decade or two. This year, the hand has stopped in the 80s. Now, those of us who have lived through the '80s era know that fashionwise, it wasn't a really good year. It was a time filled with legwarmers, high-cut spandex, sequins, neon, white heels, big hair and maroon lipsticks - and all of this together or otherwise didn't make for good style. But as filmmaker Terrence Malick once said, "Nostalgia is a powerful feeling, it can drown out anything." This probably includes memories of bad fashion because the 80s are back in your closet.
From Balmain's giant shoulder pads to pegged pants, to Saint Laurent's and Isabel Marant's big belts to Ashish's use of sequins, the decade has been showcased on the international runways for both the Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter lines. Closer home, power sleeves by Amit Aggarwal, lame tops and dresses by Monisha Jaising and use of ruffles by Gauri Nainika doff a hat to the period.
RETRO-SPECTIVE
Jaising says fashion revival is par for course as fashion designers are always tapping back into their youth for inspiration. "Revival fashion usually refers to bringing back to life fashion trends from past decades - be it the 70s, 80s, 90s or so on," she says. This year, its the 80s turn.
Jaising lists out customised denim jackets with floral patches, mirrored sunglasses and gold lame as her must-have trends to follow this style redux. Of these, lame is her personal favourite. If you are looking to do lame, think small like a ball top paired with denim shorts. Designer Varun Bahl says, "Fashion, like everything else in life, has its seasons and its cycles." He has noticed the 70s and 80s revival but would rather pick the romantic and intricate femininity of the Victorian era (the 1800s) as his go-to style inspiration.
Present Tense, Past Perfect
Aggarwal asks you to approach this trend via cold shoulder, big volume sleeves and wrap tops. "I think it is almost impossible to keep reinventing new silhouettes so it is nice to look back in history and inspire ourselves," he explains the new 'old' wave. Fashionwise. the 80s will always be remembered as a decade that threw out the rule book. Bahl says, "Incorporate one big element that suits your personal style and pair it with your everyday wardrobe to create a wearable look. Pay attention to body flattering silhouettes while recreating the looks for a figure proportionate ensemble." It's time to take out the shoulder pads and the stilettos.
What's back? Sequins.
Glitzy sequins were all about excess - what the 80s stood for. If you want to wear sequins, pick one statement piece, and keep the rest of your look basic
What's back? Big wide belts.
The wide belts were worn with everything from high-waisted balloon pants to dresses. Its back now but paired with more fitted silhouettes and mostly deployed as the only accent
What's back? Lame.
Gold lame earned its infamy with poofy dresses and shiny skirts in the '80s era. To follow the trend now, use it in small accents like a top or a vest
What's back? Shoulder pads.
Shoulder pads have been a fashion don't, even with Joan Collins putting her heft behind it. But it's back. Pair with high-waisted skinny jeans and heels for a 2017 upgrade
What's back? Big denim jackets.
Whether you score an '80s piece or customise your own, make sure the denim's not too dark, and the cut is fairly large
What's back? Ruffles/frills.
From your wedding lehenga to your dresses, we are in the midst of a ruffle resurgence. It was always thought to be too girly or too dated but now that's what is leading to its revival.
From Balmain's giant shoulder pads to pegged pants, to Saint Laurent's and Isabel Marant's big belts to Ashish's use of sequins, the decade has been showcased on the international runways for both the Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter lines. Closer home, power sleeves by Amit Aggarwal, lame tops and dresses by Monisha Jaising and use of ruffles by Gauri Nainika doff a hat to the period.
RETRO-SPECTIVE
Jaising says fashion revival is par for course as fashion designers are always tapping back into their youth for inspiration. "Revival fashion usually refers to bringing back to life fashion trends from past decades - be it the 70s, 80s, 90s or so on," she says. This year, its the 80s turn.
Jaising lists out customised denim jackets with floral patches, mirrored sunglasses and gold lame as her must-have trends to follow this style redux. Of these, lame is her personal favourite. If you are looking to do lame, think small like a ball top paired with denim shorts. Designer Varun Bahl says, "Fashion, like everything else in life, has its seasons and its cycles." He has noticed the 70s and 80s revival but would rather pick the romantic and intricate femininity of the Victorian era (the 1800s) as his go-to style inspiration.
Present Tense, Past Perfect
Aggarwal asks you to approach this trend via cold shoulder, big volume sleeves and wrap tops. "I think it is almost impossible to keep reinventing new silhouettes so it is nice to look back in history and inspire ourselves," he explains the new 'old' wave. Fashionwise. the 80s will always be remembered as a decade that threw out the rule book. Bahl says, "Incorporate one big element that suits your personal style and pair it with your everyday wardrobe to create a wearable look. Pay attention to body flattering silhouettes while recreating the looks for a figure proportionate ensemble." It's time to take out the shoulder pads and the stilettos.
What's back? Sequins.
Glitzy sequins were all about excess - what the 80s stood for. If you want to wear sequins, pick one statement piece, and keep the rest of your look basic
What's back? Big wide belts.
The wide belts were worn with everything from high-waisted balloon pants to dresses. Its back now but paired with more fitted silhouettes and mostly deployed as the only accent
What's back? Lame.
Gold lame earned its infamy with poofy dresses and shiny skirts in the '80s era. To follow the trend now, use it in small accents like a top or a vest
What's back? Shoulder pads.
Shoulder pads have been a fashion don't, even with Joan Collins putting her heft behind it. But it's back. Pair with high-waisted skinny jeans and heels for a 2017 upgrade
What's back? Big denim jackets.
Whether you score an '80s piece or customise your own, make sure the denim's not too dark, and the cut is fairly large
What's back? Ruffles/frills.
From your wedding lehenga to your dresses, we are in the midst of a ruffle resurgence. It was always thought to be too girly or too dated but now that's what is leading to its revival.