Striking Polaroid Portraits Taken by Tony Viramontes During the 1980s
Tony Viramontes was born in 1956 in Los Angeles, USA, of Spanish and Mexican parents. He traveled extensively as a child. He studied fine art and photography in New York at FIT and Parsons, before switching to fashion and beauty illustration.
When Viramontes made his debut in the late 1970s, his hard and direct style was a marked contrast to the prevailing soft pastel school of fashion illustration. He scored an immediate success, rapidly acquiring the kind of prestigious editorial commissions too often allocated to photographers, from Lei, Per Lui in Italy, Vogue in the USA, The Face in Britain, as well as Jill Magazine, Marie Claire, Le Monde and City Magazine in France.
Viramontes also worked with some of the most renowned names in fashion including Yves St. Laurent, Valentino, Versace, Chanel, Perry Ellis, Claude Montana and Rochas cosmetics. As well as creating portraits of Paloma Picasso and Diana Ross. The album covers he conceived for seminal artists of the period-Duran Duran, Donna Summer and Janet Jackson- caught the glitzrieg mood of the 1980s. His striking images are of strong, dominant, aggressive yet feminine women, sensuous men, smoldering and smokey-eyed, who vibrate with New Wave energy. He did not like to be labeled an illustrator, and considered himself to be an artistic creator, a creator of ideas in images.
Tony Viramontes had great artistic potential, but he died in 1988 at the age of only 33. Two decades after his death, his work still shimmers with sensuality and a power that remains undimmed.
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27 Worst ’80s Fashion Trends
The ’80s were all about pushing the limits in terms of colors, prints, and geometric shapes. People weren’t afraid to mix materials, patterns, stripes, polka dots, sequins, and the list goes on!
1. Neon
Believe it or not, in the ’80s, fluorescent (or simply neon for those in the know) was a sign of good taste. We wore it from head to toe, mixing colors without shame. The most important thing was to be seen—from afar!
2. Shoulder Pads
For some unknown reason, in the ’80s this “coat-hanger” style was all the rage with men and women alike. Shoulder pads lent a broad-shoulder look to any jacket (preferably pastel), but you could also sport them under a blouse or, even worse, a sweater—neon, of course.
3. Acid-Washed Jeans
The ’80s were the glorious era of acid-washed jeans. How many of us sanded our jeans or washed them with bleach to recreate this style? This trend applied to anything denim: jeans, shorts, jackets. The rule of thumb was to wear them all at the same time. It was acid wash from head to toe.
4.Spandex
Spandex was everywhere in the ’80s and any excuse to wear it was a good one! From rock stars (like the Scorpions or Iron Maiden) to actors who thought they were aerobics instructors, like Olivia Newton-John, to name but one.
5. The Side Ponytail
This classic ’80s look almost outdoes the perm or the mullet. A side ponytail isn’t complete without those iconic rooster bangs and mega hair spray to hold your masterpiece in place throughout the day.
Forget the natural look, when it came to make-up, the ’80s motto was the more, the merrier! Eyeshadow all the way up to the eyebrows, thick red lipstick, bright pink blush, and blue mascara were just some of the supplies required to paint—sorry, embellish—your face.
7. The Fanny Pack
An ’80s staple, the fanny pack can still be seen even today! Nobody can deny how hideous it is, but you have to admit it was pretty handy for carrying around your Pogs and Tamagotchi.
8. The Mullet
Any man alive during the ’80s surely sported this classic “business in the front, party in the back” style. Long and messy down the neck, but clean cut up front, the mullet paired perfectly with a thin moustache.
9. The Perm
Hair wasn’t just big in the ’80s, it was enormous! The bigger, the better. And who was to blame? The perm! This trend was also a “big” hit among men and women.
10. Dancewear
In the ’80s, you didn’t have to be a dancer to don dancewear. Everyone was wearing neon legwarmers, tights, and leotards at all times. Movies like Flashdance and Dirty Dancing were definitely to blame.
11. The Scrunchie
The ’80s were all about the scrunchie. This sparkly fashion faux-pas could be found in every horrendous colour, from emerald green to lavender, and crowned the heads of all young girls. Rumour has it that this trend might be making a comeback—a little hard to believe!
12. The Bucket Hat
Combine velour and a floral pattern with a floppy brim that looks a bit like a bucket and presto—you’ve got all the elements of a major fashion mistake.
13. Tracksuits
In the ’80s, tracksuits could be spotted everywhere, except the gym. Trendy and comfy, tracksuits slowly wormed their way into schoolyards and suburban streets until even our parents were wearing them to the grocery store or the office.
14. Stirrup Pants
Before leggings, there were stirrup pants. These stretchy pants with a strap under the foot lent the legs a seriously unflattering triangular shape. They made the perfect combo with your favourite Au Coton pullover—comfy, but dead ugly!
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15. Futuristic Sunglasses
Just because it’s flashy, doesn’t mean it’s pretty. In the ’80s, futuristic sunglasses multiplied at lightning speed. Giant, off-the-wall, and like a sculpture straight out of the fourth dimension, these in-your-face sunglasses were a hallmark of the era.
16. Crimped Hair
You were waiting for it: the famous crimped hair look! Between 1980 and 1989, no young girl could resist this trend that involved crimping her hair with an iron designed specifically for this purpose, turning smooth, healthy hair into a big, disheveled mess.
17. Huge Earrings
They can always be bigger! That was the motto for earrings in the ’80s, when you could see girls (and guys!) with the equivalent of two bowling balls dangling from their earlobes. Who can forget the classic hoop earrings that almost reached your shoulders? Not to mention that “chic” plastic was a hot item at the time.
18. Cotton Sweats
It was an epidemic! Everyone was wearing sweats from head to toe in school, at work, and even in bars. At the time, Au Coton was in its full glory, only to die a natural death two decades later, once we realized that dressing exclusively in soft cottons is bad for your mental health.
19. Popped Collars
For a more serious look, nothing could beat the popped collar. A classic among preppies, this trend paired perfectly with the sweater around the neck and nonchalant medium-length hair. You glanced in the mirror before heading out, popped your collar, and proudly proclaimed: I’ve got the look.
20. Plastic Charm Necklaces
They could hear us coming a mile away, with our necklaces and bracelets jangling with plastic charms. Seriously high-class jewelery! We collected them, traded them, lost them, and bought more. This trend was truly bad for the environment and your back!
21. Mom Jeans
Worn by moms for years until the ’80s hit, and then every girl had a pair of her own. But why? With their tapered legs and high waist that made your butt and hips look bigger, a sack of potatoes would have been sexier.
22. Hypercolor
Remember this popular trend that lasted about three days in the ’80s? At first you thought it was a regular T-shirt, until, as if by magic, it suddenly changed color in the sun or from the heat of a hand touching it. But really, we all knew it was just an excuse to get free hugs.
23. The Headband
In the ’80s, everyone wore a headband—from rock stars to teenage girls. This fashion trend spread like wildfire. Admittedly, it was great for keeping all that big, permed hair out of your face.
24. The Mini Miniskirt
In the ’80s, the miniskirt reached its pinnacle in terms of mini-ness, sometimes so small that it was hardly even there, like in this photo. Made from all kinds of fabrics, like denim, vinyl, or cotton, the miniskirt was the perfect match for another ’80s classic, the off-the-shoulder oversized sweatshirt.
25. Men’s Pastel Suits
Thank you, Miami Vice, for encouraging thousands of men to don pastel suits with oversized jackets, big shoulders, and baggy pants. To complete the look, men also had to wear a tight-fitting T-shirt underneath and, above all, no socks.
26. Faux Leather Bomber Jacket
Oh, the ’80s bomber jacket! This popular item seemed to include all the fashion faux-pas: fake leather, hideous appliqués, oversized sleeves, cut above the waist, and even neon lining. If you still have one of these “gems” hiding out in your closet, please, burn it.
27. Geometric Prints
The ’80s were all about pushing the limits in terms of colors, prints, and geometric shapes. People weren’t afraid to mix materials, patterns, stripes, polka dots, sequins, and the list goes on! Why? To get attention, of course!
15 Fabulous Vintage Photos That Prove 1980s Was the Best Decade Ever!
Whether you grew up in the 1980s or not, there is no denying that there is just something about the decade that people can’t seem to get enough of. Perhaps it is the neon spandex, leg warmers, boomboxes, and big hair that we love to look back on, or maybe we just long for a much simpler time.
Were things better back in the day? It is hard to say, but there is definitely something about the 1980s that keeps people reminiscing about it – so why not go back in time with these fabulous vintage photos from one of the best decades ever.
1. Going Shopping
In the 1980s, still many years before the days of Amazon and Ebay, the popularity of shopping malls was at an all time high. It became the number one hang out spot for America’s youth, who would often meet up with their friends at their neighborhood’s mall sporting their trendiest clothes and hopping from one chain store to the next.
These three young shoppers were caught on camera in the 1980s, each wearing a pair of huarache sandals, one of the most popular style of female shoes of the decade.
2. Fashion Girls
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If you were one of the ‘cool kids’ of the 1980s, then chances are you had a pair of L.A. Gear sneakers. The athletic footwear and clothing company, which was founded in 1978, quickly became one of the most popular brands for shoes and clothes by 1980. Their chunky ankle-high white sneakers with bold-colored laces became a fashion staple of the era.
3. New York Subway
Photographer Bruce Davidson captured this stunning shot of a woman waiting for the subway in New York City circa 1980. With her voluminous hair, dark denim waist-high jeans, bold-colored tank top, and fierce look on her face – this unknown woman is a perfect representation of 1980s city fashion.
4. Beauty Queens
Pictured here are the reigning beauty queens of 1983. Here we have Miss U.S.A. 1983 Julie Hayek, Miss Teen USA 1983 Ruth Zakarian, and Miss Universe 1983 Lorraine Downes posing together with their pageant-ready smiles at a Maybelline press luncheon in New York City. At the time, these three lovely ladies with their fanned out hair and strikingly white teeth were considered the ‘It’ girls of the decade, gracing the cover of nearly every fashion magazine cover in the country.
5. 3D Dinner
This photo from 1982 shows a family enjoying their dinner – and a bit of 3D television. Although 3D film can be traced as far back as the 1920s, it saw a worldwide resurgence in the 1980s. Back before the days of high-def television, these cardboard red and blue glasses were all the rage.
It is hard, if not impossible, to talk about the 1980s without mentioning Madonna. In 1982, the singer quickly went on to reach ultimate fame after releasing her first ever singles, Everybody and Burning Up – which were both major hits throughout clubs in the US. Not before long, the Material Girl singer became known as the Queen of Pop.
7. Punk Couple
In the 1980s, the punk rock subculture continued to rise, becoming more hardcore and provocative in its fashion choices. Punk rockers of the 1980s – who idolized bands such as The Misfits and The Clash – would commonly dress in torn, ripped clothing sporting spikes, studs, safety pins, chains, as well as leather jackets, dark eyeliner and makeup. They also were recognized by their often elaborate, spiked up, bleached hairdos – similar to the ones this hip 1980s couple are seen with here.
8. Record Store
This woman is seen here in 1986 holding the newest Bruce Springsteen album at one of the most frequented record chains of the era, Tower Records – which sadly went out of business in 2006.
9. Not So Mobile
While it may be hard to recall a time when we didn’t have smartphones, let this picture be a reminder of what life was like before we all had phones that we can easily place in our pockets. This woman seen here was photographed in the mid-1980s while walking around an airport talking on her ‘mobile’ phone.
10. Game Boy
With many people already crazy about the Nintendo Entertainment System, which was launched in 1985, this portable device meant that kids could take Super Mario Bros. with them wherever they went. In this picture from 1989, this mom is seen here helping her children through a tough level in Super Mario on their brand new Game Boy.
11. Fitness Craze
The aerobic-dance workout became all the rage thanks to fitness gurus like Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons, whose VHS workout tapes became best-sellers. Pictured here is a Jazzercise class from The Jazzercise Center in Pennington New Jersey circa 1989.
12. The Walkman
The beginning of the 1980s welcomed an exciting revolution in music technology, the Sony Walkman. The portable cassette player, equipped with its own set of headphones, became so popular, that by 1983 cassette tapes were outselling vinyl for the first time ever.
13. Concertgoers
These dedicated and excited fans photographed here on October 18, 1985 are getting ready to see their favorite band perform live at the Forum arena in Inglewood, California.
14. Boombox
Despite the popularity of the Walkman, people who preferred to listen to their music publicly, with a group of friends, still were crazy about the boombox. These heavy, bulky musical devices were huge especially in more urban communities, and quickly became a symbol of the American hip hop culture.
In the 1980s, it wasn’t an odd sighting to find a group of breakdancers showing off their moves on a New York City street corner somewhere, with their large boombox nearby blasting hip hop beats.
15. In Style
Another favorite clothing brand of the 1980s was the footwear and apparel company Reebok. In 1982, the company made history by coming out with the Reebok Freestyle aerobics sneaker, the first athletic shoe designed and marketed for women.
