The Fashion of Madonna

A Reflection of the '80s

Presenter: Julie Vickers

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 20-21

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Anne-Louise Dierkes

Department: Art

Funding Source/Sponsor: SYRCE Symposium

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1D1ssLe_TeutaH02i-GHSaF40kiqkJOF1

Abstract:
Madonna’s appeal went beyond her music videos. The fashion she wore throughout her career, especially during the 1980s, was a reflection of the times she was living through. My project discusses the popstar Madonna’s fashion and more specifically, the themes during the decade along with some of Madonna’s personal experiences that inspired some of her outfits and styles. Topics within the presentation include Madonna’s childhood and her experiences with Catholicism, the political environment created by Ronald Reagan that inspired the diversity of her feminine outfits, idols responsible for the spark of her more vintage trends, and materialism. Additionally, I created my own drawing of Madonna with an outfit that represents the amalgamation of all of the listed themes that was present during Madonna’s career in the '80s.