The 80’s Inspired Art Take 2

Ah, yes, time again for more art.

This time we’re taking a look at Storm (Ororo Munroe from X-Men for those of you who aren’t quite sure) alongside her beau from that time period, Forge.  Man, I miss these two as a couple.  Their breakup was so bittersweet and “wtf” inducing.

I always had a soft spot for the Storm Mohawk look.  It was trendy, daring, especially during a time when most of the women were wearing less clothes to look ’sexy’.  Quite frankly, I think the mohawk made Storm MORE sexy, because it was a hair-do that she pulled off with her trademark grace and goddess-like demeanor.

The next art post will probably be a whole slew of 80’s inspired fashion stuff… mainly because Halloween is slowly approaching and wouldn’t we all like some costume ideas!  Maybe Jem and the Holograms as the subject matter?  Who knows?  I suppose you’ll have to come back to see.

Popularity: 17% [?]

80’s Inspired Art

So sometimes I draw stuff.  Go figure!

Today I was trying to figure out some more stuff to add to this lovely site here, and it occured to me to put some new pictures.  Only problem with that is that I don’t exactly have too many things to scan up that are 80’s related.  But then I remembered I draw so there!  Problem solved.

For those of you who don’t know, the X-Men comic has been around since 1963 and their team members have gone through an array of costume changes throughout the decades.  The character shown here is Rogue, most noted for the white stripe in her hair and southern accent but also known for using costumes that cover her full body.  Though this one is a waist up shot, the full costume consisted of a full length black body suit, a short shirt that hung off one shoulder, thigh high boots, a pair of gloves, and two white belts that sort of hung sideways off either side of her hip.  Gotta love those 80’s aerobic inspired uniforms.

Possibly more art to come (anything to add content, right?) but for now, you get one.  I’m seriously debating Jem and the Holograms pictures because it is lacking on the net in general.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Confessions of a Jheri Curl

It was 1986 and the Jheri curl was wet, sexy and cool.

For the glistening shiny look you had to spray it with activator every few hours, you had to endure the occasional chemical burn on your scalp and you had to live with Jheri curl juice stains. I know this because I am a Jheri Curl juice survivor. It is with great shame that I confess my Jheri curl survival.

My Chemical Romance?

Before you pass judgment on my chemical dependency please remember that the Jheri curl was actually considered attractive. I had girls approach me when my hair was dripping with activator. Also, keep in mind that it was the 80s so there were scores of hairstyle atrocities against humanity that were not only accepted but considered “totally awesome”, “fresh”, “killer” or whatever other stupid 80s superlative you want to nail to it. Here are a few awful hairstyles that were considered “gnarly”:

the mullet/mouse tail. Any combination of short or medium length hair followed by a long crop of uncut trashiness in the back. Large side burns and/or spiky top a plus.

new “flock of seagulls” wave. Basically a reverse mullet with highlights and make up. Really long bangs that can be combed over half of the face.

Big Rocker hairs. See Poison (80s).

Gumby. Hair cut short on the sides, combed high on top of the head and shaped at an angle like Gumby’s head.

Knowing that there were other terrible hairstyles running free in the wild does not make me feel any better about having a Jheri curl. Furthermore, I don’t want or need you filthy pity. I just want you to understand the context of my addiction to hair chemicals.

What Would Jesus Do?

Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus said to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter began to cry very hard. – Mark 14:72

I knew at the time how blasphemous the Jherri curl was. Once my friends father asked me: “what happened to your hair? Is that a Jherri curl?” And I denied it. Yeah.. that’s right. I lied to his face even as imagines spraying activator in his face. I said it was just water in my hair of something equally ridiculous because water alone would never make my hair less nappy than it was.

If Jesus had come back in the 1988, as predicted by American Evangelist Hal Lindsey, I don’t think that the Son of Man would have sported a Jheri curl. Don’t get me wrong, it would be kind of cool to see Jesus sporting a curl or a perm like Reverend Sharpton, but honestly he’s a savior NOT a pimp.

So how did I overcome the sacrilege of World’s of Curl? Three words – Male Patterned Baldness. While being bald does not win me the side long glances of the ladies, it does grant something that activator never did: human dignity.

Popularity: 25% [?]

80s prom dress

If you are looking for an 80s prom dress, Madonna’s lacy teeny bopper
style is a solid choice. Some 80s prom dresses are timeless. They look
good in almost any decade: 80s, 90s and 2000’s - if you want something that looks
like it came from the 80s, you almost have to do something slightly over
the top, tacky that screams 80s. HUGE 80s “Poison” Ozone killing hair,
a side pony tail, a New wave hair do… something crazy. Accessories
like fingerless lace gloves, bracelets and RayBan glasses. layered
pleated dress were popular on prom dresses.

Popularity: 100% [?]

fashion of the 80s

The 80s fashions are some of the most flamboyant of the of any decade in the 20th century, perhaps that is because some of the 70s DISCO fads contaminated it.  Fashion in the 80s can definitely claim the biggest hair (comparable only to the “big wigs” of the 18th century). 

Popularity: 43% [?]

80s Clothing Trends

The early 80s clothing trends are tight fitting remnants of 70’s styles. Although the bell bottoms don’t flare out as much and the afros are much more conservative, 70’s clothes could still pass up into 1983. A good example of the transition from 70’s to 80’s clothing trends is the 80s television show One Day at a Time. Bonnie Franklin can be seen wearing her hip hugger jeans. The show ran from 1975 to 1984. The 1980 movie, 9 to 5, with Burt Reynolds and Dolly Pardon is another good example of early 80’s clothing trends for business offices of the era. Polyester, three piece business suits and pastel chiffon dresses adorn the all-star cast.

By 1984, the 1970s styles died out. 80s clothing trends took on a pseudo futuristic look as seen in Miami Vice.

The clothes worn on Miami Vice had a significant influence on men’s fashion. They popularized, if not invented, the “T-shirt under Armani jacket”-style,[24] and popularized Italian men’s fashion in the United States.[4] Don Johnson’s typical lineup of Italian sport coat, T-shirt, white linen pants, and slip-on sockless loafers became a hit.[4][25] Even Crockett’s perpetually unshaven appearance sparked a minor fashion trend, inspiring men to wear a small amount of beard stubble, also known as a five o’clock shadow (or “designer stubble”) at all times.[24] On an average episode, Crockett and Tubbs wore five to eight different outfits,[1][4] appearing in shades of pink, blue, green, peach, fuchsia and the show’s other “approved” colors.[4] Designers such as Vittorio Ricci, Gianni Versace, and Hugo Boss were consulted in keeping the male leads looking trendy.[1][4] Costume designer Bambi Breakstone, who traveled to Milan, Paris, and London in search of new clothes, testified that, “The concept of the show is to be on top of all the latest fashion trends in Europe”.[4] Jodi Tillen, the costume designer for the first season, along with Michael Mann set the stylistic agenda. The abundance of Pastel colors on the show was reflected in Miami’s Art-deco architecture.[25]

During its five-year run, consumer demand for unconstructed blazers, shiny fabric jackets, and lighter pastels increased.[4][25] After Six formal wear even created a line of Miami Vice dinner jackets, Kenneth Cole introduced Crockett and Tubbs shoes, and Macy’s opened a Miami Vice section in its young men’s department.[4] Crockett also boosted Ray Ban’s popularity by wearing a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer (Model L2052, Mock Tortoise),[26] which increased sales of Ray Ban’s to 720,000 units in 1984.[27] Many of the styles popularized by the TV show, such as the t-shirt under pastel suits, no socks, rolled up sleeves, and Ray-Ban sunglasses, have today become the standard image of 1980s culture.[24][27] The influence of Miami Vice’s fashions continued into the early 1990s, and to some extent still persists today.[28][24]– Wikipedia

80s Avant-Garde Fashion
Music videos marked an explosion of avant-garde 80s clothing styles in the mid and late 80s. Men started wearing make-up women were less restricted with what they could wear to feel accepted. From Bon Jovi to Prince to Poison, long hair was in. You could see male artists wearing lace and frills and female artists with spikes and suits.

Teen Agers

You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing some teenage girl copying Madonna’s laced gloves, teased hair and religious necklaces. Slick back hair dos and mullets were in. Greasy “Jherri curls” and “S-Curls” on black youth were at their peak. Late 80s brought on the plague of gangsta rap whose street style can still be seen today.

Popularity: 49% [?]

80s Nerds

Confessions of an 80s Nerd

I was always a strange kid, but I the first time I realized I was a nerd was when I first watched the movie Revenge of the Nerds (1984). I didn’t just root for the nerds in the movie, I identified with them as an outcast, reject with fringe talents. I wasn’t officially a “nerd” until the 1990’s (most of my teen years) where I was given the full Nerd christening: joined a writing club (full of other nerds), fell in love with computers, bullied, made fun of for my (lack of) style, looks and love of books.

80’s nerdom, for me, was nothing more than being unable to fit into the incrowd & hanging around with other nerds. 80’s nerd crowds would talk about the V: the series, computer games (if you were lucky enough the have access to a computer, not everyone had one), Dungeons & Dragons, and of course Star Wars & Star Trek. I remember being filled with hate when I was called a nerd or a geek in the 80’s. It wasn’t until the very end of my short stay in High School (in the 90’s) when lots and lots of “nerds & geeks” were getting super rich that I realized that being a nerd was a complement. The meek started to inherit the earth.

In the 80’s a nerd was the kid that got beat up and had his lunch money taken. I didn’t see any benefit to that. For me, the word has greatly evolved and I take it as a compliment said only as an insult by people who are either jealous or don’t understand what they are saying.

The pocket protector was popular 80s geek accessory. The stereotype of the typical 80s nerd is in the Revenge of the Nerds movies: button down shirts tucked in, with high-water quarteroy pants (or slackes) riding high over the belly button. Hygiene was optional. Taped glasses and suspenders were a plus. Realistically, I did know any one that wore all that stuff, but hygiene was usually lacking, shirts were usually tucked and pants were sometimes high-waters.

Like the pimps, the stereotypical 80s nerd is a timeless and unmistakable costume.

Popularity: 51% [?]

Dainese Ducati 80s Jacket

Much like its world famous racing bikes, the 80s Dainese Ducati motor cycle jacket has stood the test of time. The cut of the jacket is still very popular among bike riders. It was created by Dainese specifically for riding. You can find the Ducati jacket online for anywhere between $100 to $400 US dollar (include leather pants). The jacket is leather with a slim, high torso and full length sleeves.
There is a womans 80s Ducati too its an 1980s style leather jacket was designed by Giugaro. It features larger letters on the front than on the back.
The tapered cut of the Women’s 80s Jacket and adjustable waist fastening gives the women’s version a feminine feel.

Its hard to feel “80s” in the Dainese ducati jacket, because it doesn’t really look “80s”. It just looks cool.

For some reason, when I think of the style of the jacket I think of the cover of Cool as Ice… I keep thinking he is wearing an 80s Dainese Ducati jacket, but I am mistaken.

Popularity: 53% [?]

80s hair dos

I had a few 80s hair dos and even a 70s one. Looking back on the 80s and comparing it to some of the other decades, I must say the 80s is as flamboyant and crazy as 18th century “big wig” era styles. Just think of the big hair rock bands, chemicalized hair dos such as the jheri curl.

I shamelessly present to you, “My 80s hair do timeline:”

AFRO (a big one) - late 70s

I was in Kindergarden and 1st grade with an Afro. I looked like young black Jesus. I went to an all white school surrounded by a lot of neo-nazi types so I don’t know why mom had me stand out even more with a ‘fro.

Jheri Curl - ‘85

If you were born sometime in the 80s then you probably don’t realize that Micheal Jackson is a black man. Some people say that he is “weird” or he looks like a “white woman” or that he “molests young boys”. I can say one word to erase all these ridiculous allegations: THRILLER. BECAUSE THIS IS THRILLER, THRILLER NIGHT. GOT TO BE STARTIN’ SOMTHIN’ GOT. BILLY JEAN IS NOT MY LOVER, JOMONE!! Now bow down to MJ!

The jehri curl was incredibly popular because Micheal Jackson made it popular (this was before Pepsi lit his highly flamable jheri curl on on fire.) Ice cube used to also keep it real with the jehri curl back in when the jehri curl was the most “gangsta” 80s hair do you could get.

Shag - ‘87

The shag is something I don’t see a lot of information about online. It is as if people are trying to pretend that it didn’t exist. The shag was like a black man’s mullet. I was short hair all over except for longer hair or a “shag” in the back on the neck. Nearly, every young black male I knew went through a “shag” phase.

S-Curl - ‘89

The S-Curl is actually more of a 90’s style. It is the coolest hair style in my oppinion. It is just like the jehri curl as it uses chemicals to get the arabic wet curly look, but it was for shorter hair and used less chemicals.

Gumby - 8?

This is by far the dumbest 80s hair do that I attempted to have. The gumby hair style let a young male fro in the shape of Gumby’s head, hence the name. Some guys could pull it off. Big Daddy Cane made it look good.

 

Want more 80s hair dos? click here.

Popularity: 74% [?]

80s Punk Fashion

We've got a new little page up covering some of the finer point of 80s Punk Fashion.
You don't like it?!  Do you honestly think that Billy Idol gives a DAMN what you think?!
Well he doesn't.  In fact Billy is crying out with a rebel yell “MORE, MORE, MORE.”
So can it dweebs before you find yourself with eyes with out a face and check out the 80s Punk Fashion.

Popularity: 72% [?]

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