PRESS UPDATE : THE TELEGRAPH .. LIFESTYLE / FASHION .. MARCH 22ND 2019 ..

Lifestyle Fashion

Why Dame Joan Collins is spring's ultimate style muse..

• By  Chloe Mac Donnell, acting fashion editor

22 MARCH 2019 • 

How many times have you heard that the eighties are back? It seems that with every new season, someone somewhere will declare that once again the decade of power shoulders and party dresses has come back around, but dear reader, take my word it: in 2019, the eighties really are back, and the shoulders are bigger than ever. 

Confirming the official return of the trend is Tatler's magazine latest cover-star, Dame Joan Collins who fronts the May issue in a feathery white dress by Ashi Studio, an equally dramatic hat by Phillip Treacy and, of course, giant diamond and sapphire drop earrings by Moussaieff Jewellers. 

"Divas are Forever" declares the cover, alongside a quote from Collins stating: 'Old school is the best school, darling.' Inside, the British actress and author appears in a variety of equally fabulous looks including a puffed shoulder number by Giambattista Valli, printed tights from Falke and diamante heels from Manolo Blahnik. The finishing touch? Bouffant hair, plenty of eyeliner and oversized diamonds (we see a theme emerging) from Graff. 

The last couple of months have seen the former Dynasty star in high demand in the fashion world. In December, it was announced that she was the new face of Kurt Geiger whilst in February, Collins was invited by the designer Erdem to sit front row during his show at London Fashion Week. Wearing a black leather jacket, floral dress and oversized sunglasses, her appearance quickly became one of the most talked about celebrity spottings of the show season. 

Joan at London Fashion Week..

Collins' original Dynasty wardrobe perfectly sums up the mood of the spring/summer 2019 season. The eighties trend kicked off during New York fashion week with Escada, a brand which was a go-to for eighties corporate working women, staging an on-schedule catwalk show for the first time in the brand's history. In celebration of the brand’s 40th anniversary, global design director Niall Sloan's collection saw eighties films including Working Girl and Pretty Woman appear on his moodboard. The results? Plenty of oversized silhouettes, polka dots and languid colour blocking. 

Dame Joan Collins photographed in Tatler. See the full feature in the May issue of Tatler available via digital download and newsstands on Thursday 28th March.  CREDIT: LUC BRAQUET

 Marc Jacobs also made reference to the eighties era, and in particular Yves Saint Laurent's signature cuts, but this time around Jacobs took them to the extreme with supersized shoulders and billowing pleated trousers.

Meanwhile, in Paris there was plenty of lamé at Isabel Marant, acid washed denim at Dior and Chanel and thigh-skimming party dresses at Saint Laurent - plus, in Milan, Max Mara showed numerous XXL trouser suits.   

Unsurprisingly, it hasn't taken long for these eighties references to trickle down to the high street too. During a quick look around Zara last week I discovered plenty of neon hued slip dresses, Topshop has a huge selection of white boots and strappy sandals whilst blazers in Arket come complete with padded shoulders.

If you're in need of more inspiration, look to Collin's personal Instagram, where she regularly posts throwback photos and Dynasty video clips of her character, the vampish Alexis Carrington. For your own, inexpensive homage to the era head to Mango for several iterations of crystal and rhinestone pendant earrings.  Backcombed hair, optional.