'Club to Catwalk- Fashion in the 1980's'

Whilst in London I had the chance to visit the V and A's new exhibition 'Club to Catwalk- Fashion in the 1980's'. This exhibition almost seemed to follow on from the previously sold out exhibition 'David Bowie Is' and took a trip into the past club scene within Britain during the 1980s looking into all different types of sub cultures. I thoroughly enjoyed it as it was obvious where trends from today had been adapted from.

The exhibition itself explored the creative explosion of London fashion and the newly established London Fashion Week. London's unique fashion identity in the 80's was a result of the fusion between club and catwalk. Risk taking young fashion makers behind that new style remain some of the most influential figures in fashion today.

"Fashion is important, it raises the quality of life when people take the trouble to dress well it provides employment" Margaret Thatcher.

The 80's was an era that is defined by such vibrant style icons as David Bowie, Adam Ant and Boy George, following on from the 70's punk era it gave way to a new explosion of rave culture. In the early 80's London fashion stirred internationally, "young London was all about taking risks and creating something out of nothing through passion and ambition" said London based fashion designer Georgina Godley who lived through the fashion of the 1980's. Most well known designers of the time caused controversy with their clothes and followed either tradition or subversion, creating a stylish informality of flamboyance. Style of the time was very androgynous and was described as femininity on Saville Row. 

80's brought to light fabric explosions and evening wear counter-parted to street and club. Betty Jackson introduced colourful wild prints, huge shoulder pads, a mixture of patterns and an androgynous vibe. 

Knitwear in the 80's was diverse with vintage inspired hand knits, machine knits, sleek body hugging knits and deconstructed punk knits.

The 80's also introduced the New Romantic scene made famous from Blitz Club London, the look was androgynous dripping with diamonds. the Punk era of the 70's was hugely influential for the look of the 80's, designers and clubbers started to customise their clothes, combining different styles. Milliner Stephen Jones states that "fashion was their to express yourself".

The Rave scene started to come alight with ecstasy fuelled rave clubs, the aesthetic of early clubs had been replaced by sweat clubs showing fashions of day glo colours and metallic tones portraying a sports aesthetic. Voluminous shapes were replaced with figure hugging stretchable fibres. "Stretch is fashions dynamic force, a challenge for a designers and wearer alike" Vogue 1987.

Goth emerged from a combination of punk fetish and an 80's obsession with dressing up, black lace, leather, deathly makeup and hugely backcombed dyed hair.