Rewind to the 80s

It’s Rewind Scotland this weekend and all overthe country people are scrabbling madly through their wardrobes for the fabulous fashion that we actually wore – and not fora bet – back in the 80s. Caroline Lindsay finds out more

WITH A line-up that includes Jason Donovan, Sonia, Tony Hadley, The Blow Monkeys, Level 42, Rick Astley, Belinda Carlisle, A Flock of Seagulls and The Human League, it’s only natural that audience members at Rewind will want to look their best.

Someone who knows a bit about 80s costumes is Kirsty Thomson who manages Utopia Costumes in Dundee. Now 37 she was just starting to get into music in the late 80s: “I vividly remember leg warmers, net gloves, brightly coloured beads and rara skirts.

“There were two extremes – the very girlie Bananarama look with the big hair and the bows and then the punky look with the Doc Martens, the ripped jeans and the chains. Everything was very exaggerated and big then – nothing was calm and collected!”

Kirsty has noticed a steady increase in people of a certain age – 30s and 40s – coming into the shop this week, looking for their accessories or full costumes for Rewind. “Everyone wants something different – some want to be dressed in neon from top to toe while others just want a wig, a tattoo sleeve or a string of beads to complete the look.

“You get the folk who go every year who know exactly what they’re after and then you get people going for their first time, who aren’t quite sure what to expect. Last year there was a lot of neon.”

Kirsty is predicting there will be a lot of Jason Donovan mullet-style wigs in evidence this weekend, along with Frankie Goes to Hollywood ‘Relax’T-shirts, Top Gun jumpsuits, and Ghostbusters, Rambo and MrT get-ups.

“Last year a lot of people were inspired

“People want to come out of themselves for a wee bit and be their favourite 80s character”

by the Village People – there were some real sights wandering about!”

One look that Kirsty is certain will be big for the guys this year is their new range of OppoSuits. “Pattern-wise anything and everything goes for these, from leopard print and the Festicard (the 80s TV test card) to poker chips and diamonds. There’s one covered in moustaches too which I think will be popular for Movember later in the year.”

When it comes to 80s make-up. “Big and bright and you can’t go wrong,” says Kirsty. “The great thing about 80s fashion is that it transcends the decades and a lot of today’s youngsters know all the songs from that time, and there are so many TV programmes and cartoons that everybody still knows now like Scooby Doo, the Gremlins and Bugs Bunny. It was my first visit to Rewind last year and it was a real eye-opener. It was completely different from T in the Park where people go crazy all the time – there was a really family atmosphere. We had a stand there and you wouldn’t believe the number of wigs we sold!”

So why do we love dressing up? “In the case of Rewind it reminds us of our youth and makes us feel young again,” explains Kirsty.

“When we put on a costume we become someone different for a while and if people want to come out of themselves for a wee bit and be their favourite 80s character then I’m only too happy to help.”

Utopia Costumes, 214 Perth Road, Dundee. www.utopiacostumes.com

Rewind Scotland, Scone Palace, July 26 to 28. www.rewindfestival.com

“Last year there was a lot of neon.”