The style of the 1980s still influences fashion today, appearing on runways, in editorials, and in the wardrobes of a new generation. Few photographers captured the era quite like David Bailey, the photographer who didn’t just define the Swinging Sixties but continued to document fashion’s evolution well into the ’80s and beyond. His work from the decade is now brought together in Eighties, a new book that offers a visual record of the era through his lens.
Bailey’s work throughout the decade appeared in Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, and British Vogue, as well as Tatler and other leading publications. His photographs reflected the changing landscape of fashion: confident, bold, and full of personality. He shot some of the most recognisable figures of the time, including Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Catherine Deneuve, Princess Diana, Jerry Hall, Grace Jones, Kelly LeBrock, Christy Turlington and Tina Turner, many of whom are featured in Eighties.
Eighties, a monograph of Bailey’s photography from the decade, presents his work in a single volume. The book compiles runway, editorial and portrait work, highlighting designers such as Azzedine Alaïa, Comme des Garçons, Guy Laroche, Missoni, Stephen Jones, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent. It offers a look at the decade through Bailey’s eyes, unfiltered and direct, focusing on the clothes, the people and the attitude that defined the time.
Bailey’s impact on fashion photography stretches far beyond one decade. He was first commissioned by British Vogue in 1962, a moment that marked the beginning of his influence on how fashion would be photographed for generations to come. His naturalistic shooting style set him apart, favouring a more relaxed and spontaneous approach over the formal, structured images that had dominated before.
Often credited as the first celebrity photographer, Bailey’s work frequently crossed into pop culture, photographing some of the most well-known figures in film, music and art alongside his fashion work. His photography from the 1980s included a mix of high-fashion editorials, portraiture and advertising.
The 1980s saw shifts in style, from exaggerated silhouettes to more refined tailoring. These changes were reflected in the fashion photography of the time. Eighties gathers Bailey’s work from the decade, providing a photographic account of the era’s fashion.
With its mix of editorial, runway and portrait photography, Eighties presents a curated look at Bailey’s work from the decade. The book serves as both an archive of 1980s fashion and a reflection of Bailey’s distinctive approach to capturing it.
