By: Jackie Hanna, Natazia Green,
Nicole Leishman and Nicole
Dibenedetto
Historical Events and Discoveries!
• Ronald Reagan was elected president, after a
landslide vote against Jimmy Carter. This time
was referred to as the “Regan Revolution”
because the economy completely turned
around and the Soviet Union went from a
superpower to a third rate power.
• The first woman, Sandra Day O’Connor was
appointed to the Supreme Court.
• The aids epidemic affected many people
especially the gay communities bringing
prejudices against them.
• Michael Jackson came out with Thriller
inspiring a new dance move and fashion.
• Cabbage Patch Kids become extremely
popular and in high demand.
• New coke hits Markets and the public reacts
negatively. Sales go down an eventually “Coca
Cola Classic” came back.
The biggest impact on fashion in the 1980’s was music. People like Madonna and Michael
Jackson were greatly influential on the trends that were made during this time. These trends
included leggings, neon colors, lace, and many different accessories. Michael Jackson also
popularized the “one hand glove” and the leather jacket like the ones he would wear in his
music videos. Another big thing of the 80’s was extravagant make-up and big hair, usually
dyed different colors.
Nicole DiBenedetto
Mini Skirts:
These were a major fashion trend during the 80’s. They
were popular in leather and denim materials. This trend
has come back recently in fashion.
Stirrup Pants:
Stirrup pants
were used
when people
would go out
and party. They
went good with
mini skirts and
oversized tops.
Nicole DiBenedetto
Leg Warmers:
Leg warmers were also a very popular trend
during this time. They were used as accessories
to add more color to their outfits.
Earrings:
Earrings were a big trend of the 80’s.
Many of them were over the top and very
large because the women of this decade
loved to over-accessorize.
Members Only Jackets:
These jackets were a huge trend in the
80’s because they were seen in
Hollywood movies such as The Goonies.
Nicole DiBenedetto
Shoulderpads:
Shoulder pads were a huge
trend in women to show
empowerment and wealth.
This is power dressing to
show that this was a time
when women were getting
higher ranked in the work
force so they used shoulder
pads for the assertion of
power. These suits were
known as “power suits”.
Nicole DiBenedetto
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein was born on Novenmber, 19, 1942 in Bronx, New York. As a young
boy, he had a passion for drawing fashion. He studied at the Fashions Institute
of Technology and then graduated in 1964 with a major in apparel. He later
worked as an apprentice for a suit manufacturer. His life long friend and
investor Barry Schwartz, decided to set up a clothing company with Calvin
Klein. In 1968, Calvin Klein opened his own company, inspired by the fresh
style of the youth of New York. They hired a seamstress to make Klein’s
illustrations and a sought out a department store buyer, who offered $50,000 for
his clothes. His jeans became very popular in the 70s and by the 80s his
underwear collection became famous. It was made famous with its nearly
naked, young models exotically posing in lingerie. This was something never
done before. Some models were made famous by these ads like Kate Moss,
Mark Wahlberg and Christy Turlington. He has created a billion dollar business
from putting his brand on pillows, perfume, clothing, shoes and more. He won
the CFDA Award twice in 1987 and 1993. Calvin is still working in the world of
fashion and still releasing clothing collections .
By:Natazia Green
Calvin Klein
• Calvin Klein inspired many fragrances during the
1980s such as “obsession”. A warm, spicy, woody,
powdery, amber sent.
• Calvin Klein jeans were the most popular jeans of
the time. The jeans were Calvin Klein's signature,
and the suggestive campaign featuring Brooke
Shields saying “Nothing comes between me and
my Calvin's” brought the jeans even more status
and popularity. Everyone wanted to be Brooke
Shields and the commercial aroused
controversy especially in the south.
• Calvin Klein overlooked the production of a sexier
line of underwear. The men wore almost no
clothes and lower pants to advertise the product.
This advertising trend to sell underwear was
copied by companies like Abercrombie &
Fitch and Hollister.
• Calvin Klein is a minimalistic designer. He strips
down his clothes to their most fundamental
features making the beauty in the simplicity of
the garment.
• Calvin Klein influenced women’s wear by creating a more sexier
appeal to women’s jeans and lingerie during the 80s. He also
created trendy simple sportswear for men and women.
Natazia Green
•
Jackie Hanna
Nicole DiBenedetto
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren was born October 14th, 1939 in the Bronx, NY. He grew up with very little
knowledge about fashion at all. But, by the age of 12 he was the best dressed among
all his friends, and was known for how he dressed. He would work after school so he
could save money to buy expensive suits. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High in
1957 along with Robert Klein, Colin Powell, and Stan Lee who also became very
successful .He attended Baruch College as a Business major, and dropped out 2 years
later. He then served in the Army but was discharged in 1968, and later that year he
married Ricky Low-Beer. Ralph did not go to fashion school but he worked for Brooks
Brothers as a salesperson. While working there he created the Polo label of neckties.
He then bought that name from, Norman Hilton. He redid the Rhinelander Mansion
for his first store for Polo Ralph Lauren. His fashion expanded drastically when he
dressed the male actors of the Great Gatsby and Annie Hall. In 1983 he expanded in to
the home décor department. Throughout his career he also won three Council of
Fashion Designers of America awards, for lifetime achievement, womenswear designer
of the year and menswear designer of the year.
Nicole Leishman
How Ralph Influence the 80’s
•
Ralph Lauren influenced the 80’s by focusing on sportswear which was simple and
comfortable. His clothing was mostly made for the upper class with a very preppy feel. Polo
shirts were also a very popular item, because of him.
Nicole Leishman
Ralph Lauren Trends
Ralph Lauren created a preppy style for young girls such as the tight top with
jeans shorts, Polo Suits for men, American flag loafers and Nautical colors.
By: Nicole Leishman and Natazia Green
Ralph Lauren
Fashions
Nicole DiBenedetto
Nicole DiBenedetto
Nicole DiBenedetto
Nicole DiBenedetto