80s gay fashion
A Brief History of Queer Fashion
By Sam Godley (They/Them)
Queer fashion is everywhere, that is a noun. From leather and handkerchiefs to socks and sandals, the queer experience is vast and couldn’t possibly be summed up in a single blog post. So instead, let’s take a very, very brief look at just a few elements of the joy that is queer fashion history.
Where better to start than with dungarees? It’s no covert that dungas are beloved among the queer community. Did you know that dungaree was initially used to refer to the thick cotton-twill cloth used for hardwearing work clothes? The pos itself was first used in the 17th century and is thought to have originated from the small village of Dongri, near Mumbai. By the 19th century, the word ‘dungaree’ was used (in the plural) to describe the garment we verb and love today! So where am I going with this?
Well, flash forward to the 70s and 80s. Although this blog post was intended to be about fashion, let’s think for a second about anti-fashion. The lesbian feminist movement sought to subvert the notions of fashion, femininity
Straight Copying: How Gay Fashion Goes Mainstream
When J. Crew debuted their Liquor Store ten years ago, they transformed an after-hours watering hole into a menswear-only boutique laden with s-era references to traditional masculinity. Dimly lit rooms were covered in plush leather chairs, oriental rugs, and wood paneling. In the corner of one area, a bookshelf was stacked with Strand-issued classics &#; Kerouac, Hemingway, and Cheever among them. Thick cashmere cardigans were draped over Globetrotter suitcases; striped rep ties rolled into lowball glasses. In another area, J. Crew showcased their collection of Red Wing heritage work boots. Once made for loggers, carpenters, and longshoreman, the preppy clothier has since helped mainstream these blue-collar styles into white-collar offices.
A several years ago, I had the chance to interview Frank Muytjens, then the head of menswear design at J. Crew. We talked about his design process, his love for vintage, and how he chooses which third-party brands get included in J. Crew&#;s much-revered &#;In Good Company&#; section, which is
These Photos Capture the “Gay Paradises” of s America
Art & PhotographyIn Their Words
As his new manual is released, Nicholas Blair talks about capturing the heat and hedonism of the queer communities in s San Francisco and New York
TextMadeleine Pollard
In the sdelayed 70s, gay life began to spill out onto the streets of San Francisco’s Castro District, rapidly eclipsing the hippies as the most visible counter-culture movement of the day. People came to see and be seen, tease, cruise, and congregate in public as a community. “It was this outburst of pent-up celebration,” says Nicholas Blair, who was living in a free-love arts commune across town at the time. “It felt love the door of tolerance was opening and people were leaning in, hard, to live as their true selves.”
With a Leica rangefinder camera loaned to him by a childhood friend, Blair walked through this so-called “gay paradise”, capturing everything from the mundane to the profane. He photographed individuals dressed head-to-toe in fetish gear, others who preferred to communicate in more subtle codes and
80s Men&#;s Fashion &#; Clothing for Guys
Young men’s cotton pants, denim jeans and leather with layered shirts and jackets. Not to mention the totally awesome 80s hair!
While men’s fashion didn’t transform as dramatically throughout the 20th century as women’s fashion, s men’s fashion trends and styles developed new looks alongside a resurgence of older styles.
For the most part, s fashion for mature men settled back down from the flamboyant fashion of the ‘70s and closely resembled men’s classic styles of the ss. Pastel sportswear, conservative suiting, and even Hawaiian shirts were back in style.
–>Skip the history and shop for ’80s inspired men’s clothing and men’s 80s s costumes:
Shirts | Sweaters | Pants | Shoes | Jackets | Costumes | More
Young men’s fashion, on the other hand, was bold, colorful, and athletic. ’80s guys wore layers of denim, baggy jackets, leather goods, workout clothes, and sneakers.
Most teens and college kids adopted one of several key l