For those who just missed the disco era, and its inimitable fashion choices, there was only one thing to do, create a fashion statement of their own. In the trendy nightclubs of New York City and beyond emerged a new creature of the night on the fashion scene – the club kid. Inspired by the likes of Madonna and the fashion design and art students of the era, club kids introduced their own sense of style onto the scene and the youth of the world followed their every move.

 

Most any piece of attire was considered fair game to the club kid – a coveted item might come from mom’s closet, where it was forever altered by a nice hack session, or simple procured from rummaging through the garbage or thrift store collection. The name of the game was to make yourself outrageous, eye-catching, a one-of-a-kind entity that was anything but boring. Perhaps a little vinyl attire was what was calling to you, maybe some foot-tall platform shoes and glitter eyelashes to round out the look. This was do-it-yourself dressing of the highest order and a little bit of creativity was sure to get noticed by your peers.

 

And all of this fashionable risk-taking managed to propel the generation into celebrities in their own right, at least for the allotted fifteen minutes that they had been promised by Mr. Warhol. They became as much a part of the nightclub scene as the music itself, often overshadowing it in the process. And in the process, certainly making Madonna smile at this nod to her as astute fashion visionary.

 

"Ladies with an attitude,
Fellows that were in the mood,
Don't just stand there, let's get to it,
Strike a pose, there's nothing to it,
Vogue…"