One movie which has had a huge impact on fashion is Ridley Scott's 1980s cult classic Blade Runner, set in Los Angeles in 2019. Its gritty, dark style described as dystopian disco chic has influenced many designers, among them Raf Simons, Alexander McQueen, Bottega Veneta, Vivienne Westwood and Gucci.
This winter the film’s vision of a sartorial future was referenced in collections from Chanel, Saint Laurent and Comme des Garcons and is cited as the idea and cinematic mood behind this fashion shoot set in the Voodoo Rooms nightclub in Cork. It’s a mix of 1980s glam rock, sci-fi and current sparkly trends using animal print, lurex and faux fur from vintage shops, fashion boutiques and Irish designers. Yes, you might normally run a mile from some of these trends but at this time of year, it's worth trying trends you usually don't dare to wear.
The Roman designer known for his wild mix of styles and who piles them on with exuberance is Alessandro Michele at Gucci, who in two years at the helm has excited millennials and revitalised the 96-year-old house’s image and profits with a dazzling 48 per cent increase in sales. A costume designer manqué, his multi-layered approach, re-defining gender roles (boys in brocade gowns, girls in floral trouser suits) has revived an interest in vintage and he jumbles up styles, periods, cults and cultures piling on the references with abandon. “Creativity has no rules”, he says.
There’s a nod to the Far East (floral cheongsams and kimonos) and a nod to the West (Hollywood glamour and red carpet gowns) in upbeat ways. “It’s the contradiction between the past and the future,” he has said.
“Renaissance mixed with street style. Fashion is about clothes and colour.... and I try to have fun”.
That freewheeling aesthetic and borrowing from the past to make the present has chimed with a new generation who see the mix as commercially appealing, a desirable way to dress and who search for less expensive copies on the high street.
This shoot shows how to create a modern 1980s glam vibe mashing up leopard print, faux fur and tracksuits with accessories essential to the look – the jewellery (oriental), the shades (vintage) and the bags (sequinned rucksacks and crossbodies) not forgetting glitzy socks, fishnet tights, boots and metallic heels. Pile it on for the season that’s in it and remember - more is more.
Credits
- Director, creative director and stylist, MUA: Mary Ginnifer; Photographer: Glenn Norwood assisted by Ruth McGinley; Styling assistant: Catherine Ginnifer; Hair: Origin Hair Design, Cork, The Pink Octopus Dreadshop, Cork; Models: Claire Aherne, Jessica O' Neill of Runaway Modelling Agency Cork, Aoife Healy of Pulse Model Agency, Cork; Location: The Voodoo Rooms nightclub, Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork city.
