My peers had found 'the eighties' to be an emerging trend this season. They were attracted to the bold colours, statement, jewellery, satin fabrics and flashy metallics that all fit the archetypal image of the 1980's boom era.
I agreed with my peers but wanted to inject something more to the concept. I find 'protest' and 'activism' to be one of the biggest trends within this current climate. Whether for the right reasons (to publicise injustice or promote change) or the wrong (jumping on the band wagon) designers are turning to their catwalk shows to promote a political or social message; with Westwood a perennial in this kind of approach to design and perhaps the earliest mainstream example of this, Lagerfeld's s/s 15 collection for Chanel which saw the likes of Cara Delevingne and Gisele Bundchen protest for women's equality, against war and in favour of divorce for all.
I believed the following idea was a success because it combined superficial and nostalgic period style with socially-aware depth.
I looked to the strongest example of protest in the era of the stereotypical trend we were looking at. This was the 1980's miner's riots of 84 and 85. By combining the ostentatious opulence of the 'Studio 54' regular, lycra boiler suit clad, big haired power dresser with the brutal truth of economic instability for the poor and intense unrest within lower echelons of society I believe I successfully added an original twist on the tried and tested trend that is '80's Glam'.
I am confident that I could present the work shown to a business like Topshop or River Island who could work with my combination the trends for power dressing, bolds and activism creating a look centred around Studio 54 glamour oddly merged with a northern British, poverty inspired aesthetic.
I chose to make a 34 second long taster video to present the Eighties glamour mood of our trend report. I used the song 'Egomaniac' by the iconic and legendary eighties band 'The Human League'. The track feels immediately of the era and helps to immerse the watcher in the mood of the trend.
I came to like the word 'Egomaniac' because it seems the extravagant boldness of the looks could only be worn by someone with a huge ego. The idea of false advocates for change is also summed up by the word 'Egomaniac' as many politically ignorant individuals pretend to engage and care about pressing political/social/environmental issues, simply to be 'on-trend'.
We looked too at the notion of 'good taste vs bad taste' which is major trend thanks to industry leaders like Alessandro Michele, with his Wes Anderson-like kitsch, granny-chic at Gucci and Demna Gvasalia's with his artful exploration of exquisitely slouchy and brazenly anti-establishment street-style in high fashion. Even houses such as Alberta Ferretti, famous for romantic femininity, appear to have joined the trend for the typically 'bad taste', done well.
I collaged the following 10 slides on Microsoft and used Adobe Premiere Pro for the video. I was surprised how successful the video feel having only used the software once before, but would like it to be longer and include the anarchic/ poverty/ riot section of the trend report.
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