(ot)in search of 80's inspirado

[Strider The Ranger]

For a real good movie to look at 80s era styles, language, etc, try The Breakfast Club (sounds pansyish but it's actually a decent movie....haha oddly enough, we got to watch it in psychology). Good stuff there: you see the "metalhead/stoner" look, the geek look, the miss-priss look, the burnout, and the jock....great stuff.

I was, and still am, heavily influenced by punk and metal/hardcore. What I remember most of these looks are:
odd colored hair (of which, I myself am still guilty as it is blue)
badass leather jackets with spikes, studs, zippers, skulls, chains, and metal or punk band logos
The sex pistols (hell ya!)
fishnet (although it was borderline "queer")
black leather belts with pyramid studs/spikes in them
biker boots
the canvas Converse all-star sneakers
ripped jeans

Oh, another good movie (as weird as this is gonna sound) for 80's stuff is......Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the movie. The first one mind you. Theres one scene where the whole 80's scene is very prevalent...

Hope that helps

 

[Katerek]

All this talk of Hairbands and nobody thought to mention Hanoi Rocks?

Michael Monroe (i think) was involved with this band. They really were the precursors of the hair band era, Vince Neil was driving drunk one night and one of the members of Hanoi Rocks was with him when he wrecked. That band member died, the band fell apart, I vaguely remember some litigation, this would have been early to mid eighties.

Also, do not forget the fads, where we basically advertised for free. Spuds McKenzie, Panama Jack, Ocean Pacific, the Noid, Max Headroom.

Alf was stragely popular.

The stoner/metal head crowd in my area wore a single bandana around one leg, I believe the left one, just above the knee. To wear it on the right signified gay-ness. Also, only one ear-ring and that as well had to be on the left side.

Posers wore the Michael Jackson jackets.

I remember spiked bracelets and colored hair spray. The Swatch Phenomena was really late eighties, as was Espirit for girls.

Bon Jovi was a cowboy (on a steel horse he rode), Motley Crue had looks that killed, Kiss was demanding that everyone Lick it up, Michael just beat it, Duran Duran was hungry like a wolf, and Cyndi Lauper just wanted to have fun.

Def Leppard was actually cool and didn't sing those poopy ballads yet. Speaking of which, that whole G-Chord power ballad thing got a bit much didn't?

No self respecting metal head gave one rat crap about who shot JR.

I also remember Dr. Ruth being quite popular, and Phil Donahue was the closest thing to sensationlist talk show crap that we had. Back in those days there were actually shows on to watch during daytime TV on all 13 channels!

DnD was VERY evil back then as we were all waiting for the real spells while lamenting the loss of poor Black Leaf, and Tom Hanks was the ENEMY (even though several of us had clerics named Pardue just for spite.)

The Challenger explosion was all the talk here in America for a while, and the more base life forms had plenty of Krista jokes to go around.

I remember alot of nighmares revolving around nuclear holocaust and Anti-Soviet Sentiment was pretty widely spread.

Reagan was King and "mommy" taught us to Just Say No.

Denim Jackets were covered with patches.

The ONLY cool cars on TV were KITT and a certain Black Van with a big fat red stripe. Only red necks watched that General Lee crap.

Stephen J Cannel ruled prime time. Who remembers Automan or Manimal?

Miami Vice was edgy.

We were watching V, so we all enjoyed ID4 as more of a nostalgic trip several years later.

Voltron ruled in the afternoon. The lions, not those doofy cars.

Those are just some of my highlights.