This is an occasional series highlighting historical movie and TV costumes that best represent the decade they were produced in. They may or may not be the most historically accurate, but we think these costumes stand out as icons of when they were made. Comment with your faves, and watch the blog for the next decade we review!
Pride and Prejudice (1980), costume design by Joan Ellacott
Somewhere in Time (1980), costume design by Jean-Pierre Dorléac
Brideshead Revisited (1981), costume design by Jane Robinson
Excalibur (1981), costume design by Bob Ringwood
La Dame aux Camélias aka Lady of the Camellias (1981), costume design by Piero Tosi
Mommie Dearest (1981), costume design by Irene Sharaff
Annie (1982), costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982), costume design by Edith Head
The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982), costume design by Sue Blane
Evil Under the Sun (1982), costume design by Anthony Powell
The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982), costume design by Phyllis Dalton
Victor/Victoria (1982), costume design by Patricia Norris
Amadeus (1984), costume design by Theodor Pištěk
The Cotton Club (1984), costume design by Milena Canonero
A Room With a View (1985), costume design by Jenny Beavan & John Bright
Out of Africa (1985), costume design by Milena Canonero
Blackadder II (1986), costume design by Annie Hardinge
Lady Jane (1986), costume design by Sue Blane & David Perry
Blackadder the Third (1987), costume design by Annie Hardinge
The Last Emperor (1987), costume design by James Acheson
The Princess Bride (1987), costume design by Phyllis Dalton
Dangerous Liaisons (1988), costume design by James Acheson
What’s your favorite iconic historical movie costume of the 1980s? What would you add to the list?
Nothing beats Dangerous Liaisons in terms of 80s costume design, but The Scarlet Pimpernel is also magnificent. And A Room With a View.
The French Revolution!
Many of my favorites. Definitely a treat for the eyes!
I had to do a double take. Young Meryl Streep looks so much like Jennifer Ehle!!!
Dangerous Liaisons was a feast for the eyes. That blue gown, taken from one of Pompadour’s!
Oh joy oh bliss I can’t choose [Yes I can- a room with a view and the glorious Miss B-C]
Second! :)
Valmont!
2 points and then I will get dressed and haul my ass out the door and into work.
1) How much would you all die to see Helen Mirren break out that cray-zee leather cut-out dress from Excalibur and traipse down a contemporary red carpet?!? That dress is so badass and Metal(tm) and fabulous it remains a formative element of my young Goth awakening. The grit around which a nacre accretes, to form a pearl. A dark shiny, gloomily shining Goth Pearl.
2) Looking at Steve Martin, I have to ask – has always been that hot, I missed it the whole time?
okay, 3 things –
3) I would wear every last thing in that Black Adder spread of photos
OK, Dangerous Liaisons for costume is the top, but there are a lot of good items here. I adore Black Adder for both the dialogue and the costumes. Had to smile at the young Diana Rigg and the ever so over the top Helen Mirren. Really liked the smocking and needlework on that blouse close up in Room With A View that Maggie Smith is wearing.