Few decades captivate and inspire modern culture quite like the 1980s. From its unapologetically bold aesthetic to its genre-defying music, the Eighties weren’t just a period in time—they were a full-on cultural explosion. In his latest hardback release Eighties, legendary British photographer David Bailey invites us to relive that transformative era through his distinct lens, offering a sexy and stylish retrospective that celebrates the vibrancy, audacity, and cultural dynamism of the time.
Published by Taschen, Eighties is a 296-page visual journey through the decade’s kaleidoscope of fashion, fame, and flamboyance. Bailey, who first rose to prominence for his iconic photography during the Swinging Sixties, steps boldly into a new era of excess and experimentation. His work in this book spans editorials for Vogue, Tatler, and other major publications, capturing an eclectic mix of high-fashion moments and intimate celebrity portraits that reflect the decade’s decadence.
The pages burst with familiar faces—Princess Diana, Naomi Campbell, Grace Jones, and more—each image serving not only as a window into Bailey’s signature style, but as a document of cultural legacy. He doesn’t just shoot his subjects; he connects with them, pulling back the curtain to reveal raw, magnetic energy. His relationships with icons of the time allowed him to capture them in rare moments of authenticity—playful, provocative, and entirely at ease.
In many ways, Eighties feels like a love letter to a world where excess reigned supreme and rules were meant to be broken. The book explores the period’s seductive interplay between art, fashion, and rebellion—elements that Bailey himself has always embodied in his work. Whether it’s the electric pop of neon colors or the gritty glamour of behind-the-scenes moments, each photograph radiates the freedom and fun of the Eighties, while grounding it in Bailey’s unmistakable elegance.
“The eighties turned out to be magic,” Bailey reflects in the book’s foreword—and that magic practically jumps off the page. Every shot feels cinematic, yet intimately candid. Every model or public figure seems simultaneously untouchable and disarmingly real
More than just nostalgia, Eighties underscores Bailey’s lasting influence and relevance in today’s creative world. With the resurgence of 80s-inspired trends across fashion runways and digital aesthetics, this book is timely, serving as both a masterclass in photography and a testament to an era that still pulses through pop culture.
For art and fashion lovers, for collectors and the creatively curious, Eighties is an essential addition to the bookshelf. It’s more than a visual archive—it’s a celebration of glamour, grit, and the golden age of individuality.
