The rise of the ‘yuppie’

Emerging from recession and the decline of industry in the 1970s, Britain was re-invigorated by the computer and banking industries in the 1980s and the 'yuppie' (young urban professional) was born into a culture of 'more is more.'

Sparkles and drama

As office work boomed, women became more prevalent in high-powered positions and ‘power dressing’, such as women’s suits with big shoulders, became de rigeur. Glamorous American soap operas like ‘Dynasty’ introduced even bigger shoulders, bigger hairstyles and sparkling embellished evening wear, a style adopted by the young Princess of Wales, earning her the nickname 'Dynasty Di.'

Trends such as New Romanticism developed in reaction to the hard anarchic style of 1970s punk, and saw both men and women sporting frilly shirts, foppish hair and eyeliner. New Romantic pop acts such as Duran Duran and Boy George popularised their looks through music videos shown on the brand new MTV.

Above: Diana, Princess of Wales in a Murray Arbeid gown. Photo: Nils Jorgensen / Rex Features