American Psycho style

"The brute covers himself, the rich man and the fop adorn themselves, the elegant man dresses!"

-Honore de Balzac

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Guest

Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:52 am

i just wonder what the guys on this forum who've read the book think about it, i just never seen a well dressed man on my life, specially in new york. i 've only seen effeminate s on Madison or fifth, but maybe i simply need to go out more often, i just want to know if it's true young rich guys in new york during the 80's dressed well, many interest things are described on this book the main characters wear double breasted wool suits,slicked back hair, and glasses. Also many currently fine stores are mentioned, bergdorf, Paul smith, Ralph Lauren. if anyone was around during that time in new york, could you tell me if there was well dressed gentlemen on wall street or on those trendy restaurant and clubs around the city. I mean it's well described on the book and i'd like to believe it, but the 80's i don't know.
Cufflink79
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Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:41 pm

I have not read the book, but have seen the movie. I'm not one for horror flicks but this movie did a good job with the wardrobe.

In the end credits they thank Nino Cerruti for the custom clothing. During the movie when the character Patrick Bateman is narrating while in the conferance room he makes a statement about Valentino suits. The eyeglasses in the movie were provided by Oliver Peoples.

Moving onto the 1980s in general.

Ah the 80s when cell phones were the size of a brick, Armani suits reigned over the silver screen and on young up and coming professionals, Rolex watches rested on the wrists, and Mercedes Benz had that sleek but tanky look.

As for men in NYC dressing well in the 80s, even though I was a little kid in Minnesota I know for a fact that many men dressed well during that time. Look at restaurants like 21 Club and The Four Seasons.

Movies that do a good job with 1980s era wardrobe include "Wall Street" and "Barbarians at the Gate."

American Psycho did do a good job getting the wardrobe right for 1987, at that time I was in 1st/2nd grade and I can remember businessmen in the Twin Cities dressing that way. The older businessmen dressed a bit more subdued such as J Press or three piece suits from Brooks Brothers, much like the Duke brothers in the movie "Trading Places."

Colors I remember from the 80's include sunny/banana/gold yellow ties, blue shirts with contrasting white collars and cuffs, and of coures braces, lots and lots of braces. :D

As for DB suits in 80s a lot of them were 1 on 6, 1 on 4, 1 on 2, and somtimes you'd see the ever classical 2 on 6 which always looks great.

We must not forget the preppy look as well, Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren did a good job with that.

Also during the 80s we had Ronald Reagan as President and he always looked great.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79
carl browne
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Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:41 am

Alan Flusser provided the wardrobe for Michael Douglas in "Wall Street," no?
Guest

Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:08 am

I'm very impressed and happy that writers like Flusser and Boyer, were writing about classical style clothing during the 80's. they were doing a great job, and i think their love for fine clothing is what kept them going. I propose a monument in honor of Mr. Flusser for his work, during those years. I learned most of what i know, not much, from his books.
JRLT
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Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:11 am

I read an article on Wall Street recently where the wardrobe designer described how she had deliberately created a heightened 80s look for Michael Douglas, combining elements that no-one really wore together. And of course when the film came out life imitated art and people started to dress like that. So we see how Art can create, rather than reflect, reality. We watch the film and think "this is how people dressed in the 80s", but they didn't, or not at least unless influenced by the film.
Gruto

Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:59 am

santy567 wrote:I propose a monument in honor of Mr. Flusser for his work, during those years.
What do you mean?
pvpatty
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Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:24 am

Gruto wrote:
santy567 wrote:I propose a monument in honor of Mr. Flusser for his work, during those years.
What do you mean?
I was wondering the exact same thing.
Guest

Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:46 pm

oh forget it, no monument.
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