So80s by Patrick McMullan, 1st Edition 2003 Photography Art Book

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Forward by Tom Ford :
New York nightlife in the 80s felt like that game where you dream up the … Read more Forward by Tom Ford :
New York nightlife in the 80s felt like that game where you dream up the ultimate dinner-party guest list--the one where you'd invite JFK Junior, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Debbie Harry, if you could. Every night felt like a glamorous combination of strange bedfellows, all of whom possessed iconic personal styles, seemed to know each other, and were always having the time of their lives. To a large extent, that was the case. Wall Street, SoHo, and the dance scene all exploded at once and collided together, and the early part of the decade felt like a lavish and eccentric, Member's Only club. For a while, extreme creativity was as valued as extreme wealth, and the nightlife reflected both ends of the spectrum.
Of course, there was a certain amount of mythmaking going on, and Patrick McMullen helped to create those myths with his pictures. He was good at it, because he was an insider; so when he took pictures of the rich and famous or the wanna-be famous they weren't annoyed. Unlike the camera guys who lurked outside, Patrick had credentials: he actually had an invitation. He got the shot because he was a member of the family. I've known Patrick for more than twenty years and I still think he learned his best tricks back then. He'd approach people with a drink in his hand, talk to them as if they were old friends, and then take their picture.
Celebrity media took off in the '80s. The photographs of the beautiful, the powerful, and the plain outrageous hanging out together during that time have an almost manic energy because everybody had something to promote--even if it was just their own notoriety. There was a rush that came from being at the biggest party at the center of the world. It felt like anyone could be famous just for being original. 1980s fashion made that process a lot more exciting than it is today. It wasn't exclusively about wearing labels or looking like a model. There was more cachet to breaking the rules. If you looked unique, if your hair was extreme enough and your outfit provocative enough, you too could make it into the picture. Providing you'd been invited to the party, of course.
Tom Ford
March 2003
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Book, despite having some wear and tear on outside dust jacket (see photos), remains in good vintage condition.

Measurements
11 3/4" tall
9 1/2" wide
2" deep
(weighs 5.13 lbs) See less