Within the last few months we’ve been fed new albums from some of the most prominent female artists today. “Vie,” “Man’s Best Friend” and “The Life of a Showgirl” have produced some refreshing singles from familiar artists, and with that comes some fresh music videos. It just so happens that all these vintage-inspired music videos had me questioning: What decade are we in again?
Vintage never dies and the stylistic choices in recent music videos reflect that. Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift all use fashion and recognizable vintage references in their recent music videos. Spanning from the 60s to the 80s, decades worth of style is shown off between each music video. Doja’s “Jealous Type” and “Gorgeous” videos are undeniably 80s. Carpenter’s “Tears” brings 70s camp. Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” gives us a taste of 60s and decades before.
So many years covered in so few videos and each is fabulously old-fashioned.
Doja Cat’s “Jealous Type” and “Gorgeous”
Not sure how many people had 80s on their Doja Cat bingo card, but it didn’t disappoint. Doja introduced her new era with the release of “Jealous Type” in August, and it not only sounded 80s, but looked the part too. The choice of fashion in the video screams that era. But what exactly is 80s fashion defined by?
Big hair, shoulder pads, leather and bold colors. Each of these descriptions define the era. Throughout “Jealous Type,” almost every look has at least one of these assets. Doja suits a bold red bra and corset with a leather jacket just like the rockers of the decade. Her big, curly blonde hair is also hard to miss and undeniably that era. Later in the video, she wears a green overcoat with ruffled shoulder pads, which was extremely popular for prom dresses at the time. The bold, feathery headdress only further encapsulates the time’s loud style.
“Gorgeous” may not contain as much fashion, but certainly gives hair and makeup. The big, teased hair remains and the makeup provides 80s cover-girl beauty. Paired with models such as Anok Yai and Alex Consani, the video replicates an 80s beauty advertisement. Though most people think bold eyeshadow and lips for the decade, subtleness was still in. Especially for models back then — think Brooke Shields or Christie Brinkley — stunning but never over-the-top.
Doja’s turn to the 80s is evident in her stylistic choices and new music. And although Doja herself is posting memes about “Vie”‘s lack of streams, it’s certainly worth a listen. It’s fun and the videos only make it better. If anything, the dedication put into its authentic theme makes it all the more worth it.
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Tears”
Welcome back Janet Weiss! Those with a keen eye (although it’s pretty obvious) picked up on Sabrina Carpenter’s “Rocky Horror Picture Show” nod. The “Tears” music video is smart, sexy and totally Carpenter. With a feature from Colman Domingo in full drag, the video gives full 70s “Rocky Horror” camp.
Carpenter is fully embodying Janet Weiss, the leading lady in the cult classic. The comparison is obvious when Carpenter’s stripped down to a white lingerie set, which is reminiscent of Janet in “Rocky Horror.” The supporting cast and Domingo also pull their weight with their looks and performance. Domingo serves as a Frank-N-Furter type and everyone else is just as wild as the characters in the movie.
Although there isn’t any obvious 70s vintage fashion, like flared jeans or flowy sleeves (aside from a fabulous blowout), it tackles a whole other area of 70s culture: film. 70s cinema was defined by an urge to push the limits. There had never been more grittiness, realism and certainly there had never been more sex. “Rocky Horror” fit beautifully into that era of film. Released in 1975, it featured drag, horror, sex and insanity in the best way.
This was a perfect movie and era for Carpenter to work with. She could be authentically herself without losing the reference. The video was well received and for good reason. It’s refreshing to see a nod done so well. Frank-N-Furter would be proud.
Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia”
Taylor Swift goes through about as many eras of time as she did eras on The Eras Tour. “The Fate of Ophelia” video didn’t disappoint, and certainly didn’t stray from a vintage theme either. The video goes from the Shakespearean era to today, covering a lot of ground. Though the most notable inspirations come from 20th century pop culture.
When the chorus hits, Swift is seen in a trio sporting dark beehive hair and a beautiful black mini dress. Her supporting dancers have similar hairstyles and wear mod-style dresses, all of which are key 60s styles. The choice of a trio is a nod to popular girl groups of the time such as Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes, and Diana Ross and The Supremes. So-called “showgirls” of their time!
The second time the chorus starts Swift is in a sequined swim cap and vintage teal one-piece swimsuit (a teal Karma jacket too). Her dancers are matching and this references Busby Berkeley’s 1933 “Footlight Parade” and the human waterfall scene. The monochromatic color scheme in the video pairs well with the black-and-white film and the costume design is a perfect tribute. The film was an extravagant musical in the era of transitioning from silent films to talkies. The design and detail in Swift’s video captures said extravagance from Berkeley’s film.
There’s plenty more references throughout the video, from a portrait model, to a Marilyn Monroe inspired showgirl. Swift and her team truly outdid themselves with this music video as it’s arguably one of Swift’s best videos put out in a while. While reception on the album might be mixed, this video is well loved!
Why vintage doesn’t get old
Vintage is so in, but has it ever really gone out of style? Whether it’s through thrifting or watching these music videos, we love to see something with history behind it. We feel nostalgia for a time we never experienced. Plenty of people say that they were “born in the wrong generation” and the aesthetic is perfect for them. But it’s so appealing to the masses because of this “timeless” aspect to it. We may not wear big hair and mod dresses anymore, but there’s something so iconic about it anyway.
Older audiences get it, younger audiences want to understand it. There’s something satisfying about film having an old 70s grain rather than a clear HD shot. Bold 80s patterns and colors standout amongst minimalist fashion today. The stark constant between decades ago and now is what makes vintage so appealing. Though it’s old, it’s something refreshing in a time where we’re constantly looking ahead to the future. Vintage can’t go out of style because that’s what fashion and pop culture has evolved from. It would be a disservice if modern icons didn’t pay tribute to the trends before them.
