Welcome, fellow time-trippers, to a neon-lit adventure through the labyrinthine alleyways of 80s alternative culture. Strap on your Doc Martens, grab your Walkman, and let’s dive headfirst into a world where synthesizers ruled the airwaves and eyeliner was as bold as your aspirations.
In the heart of the city, amidst the towering skyscrapers and flickering neon signs, lies a hidden world where the misfits and dreamers come out to play. Picture yourself in a dimly lit club, the air thick with the scent of hairspray and the pulsating beat of New Order echoing through the speakers. The dance floor is a kaleidoscope of fishnet stockings, leather jackets, and hair teased to towering heights. Ah, yes, the 80s were a time when conformity was out, and individuality was in, and boy, did we (the royal type) embrace it with open arms.
Fashion in the world of 80s alternative culture knew no bounds. Anything goes, and the bolder, the better. Whether you were channeling your inner goth with a wardrobe straight out of a Tim Burton film or rocking the cyberpunk chic look inspired by Blade Runner, there was no shortage of sartorial inspiration to be found. It was a time when fashion wasn’t just about clothes—it was a form of self-expression, a way to tell the world who you were without saying a word.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the makeup! In the 80s, eye makeup wasn’t just a way to enhance your features—it was a statement. Smudged black eyeliner, vibrant eyeshadows in every hue of the rainbow, and lips painted in shades so dark they could rival the night sky. It was a time when makeup wasn’t about adhering to conventional beauty standards but about expressing your inner rebel. After all, why blend in when you were born to stand out?
The true crown jewel of 80s alternative culture was the music. From the brooding melodies of The Cure to the electrifying synth-pop anthems of Depeche Mode, the 80s were a golden age of sonic experimentation and innovation. Each song was a journey into the unknown, a sonic landscape populated by pulsating beats, haunting vocals, and enough synthesizers to make even the staunchest technophobe swoon. Music in the 80s wasn’t just something you listened to—it was something you felt in your bones, something that spoke to your very soul.
As we journey through the neon-lit corridors of 80s alternative culture, it’s hard not to feel a sense of longing, a yearning for a time that holds a special place in my heart, even if I was just and infant during its heyday. There’s something about the nostalgia of the era that tugs at my soul strings, a feeling of connection to a time and a place that I may never fully understand but will always hold dear. For those of us who were mere babes in arms during the 80s, the allure of that bygone era is like a distant dream, tantalizingly out of reach yet ever-present in our minds. Perhaps it’s the stories we’ve heard from our parents, the faded photographs tucked away in dusty albums, or the snippets of music and fashion that have seeped into our collective consciousness over the years. Whatever the reason, there’s a sense of longing, a desire to capture the magic of a time that feels both familiar and foreign.
In a way, our fascination with the 80s is a form of time travel, a way to bridge the gap between the past and the present, and to experience a world that exists only in our memories and imaginations. It’s a reminder that even though we may have missed out on the neon-soaked nights and synth-filled soundscapes of that era, we can still find solace in the echoes of its influence that reverberate through our lives today. So as we bid adieu to our retro reverie and return to the present day, let’s carry with us the lingering feeling of longing for a time that we may never fully understand but will always hold dear. After all, the past may be gone, but its spirit lives on in the music we love, the fashion we wear, and the memories we cherish. And who knows? Perhaps one day, we’ll find ourselves back in the neon-lit streets of the 80s, dancing to the beat of our own drum once again. Until then, let’s keep the spirit of the 80s alive in our hearts and minds, forever chasing the echoes of a time that will never fade away. In the mean time, go watch Blade Runner, turn on some Depeche Mode, and resist the urge to get a perm.
xoxo
-S
Diet Coke and Hair-Spray 