A to Z of New Wave Aesthetics
And who wore it best!
New Wave wasn’t just a sound—it was a full-body transformation. From hair that defied physics to fashion that flirted with the future, the genre created a visual language that was equal parts theatrical, ironic, and electric. Here's an A to Z tour through the looks that made New Wave unforgettable—with one iconic artist representing each vibe.
A is for Asymmetry
Haircuts, hemlines, eyeliner—nothing was balanced on purpose. (See: A Flock of Seagulls)
B is for Big Hair
Teased, crimped, or gravity-defying—hair made a statement. (See: Cyndi Lauper)
C is for Colorblocking
Bold, geometric combos in neon, pastel, or black-and-white. (See: The Human League)
D is for Day-Glo
Fluorescent hues that practically hummed under stage lights. (See: Missing Persons)
E is for Eyeliner (for Everyone)
Mascara was genderless; shadow was warpaint. (See: Boy George)
F is for Futurist Fashion
Silver lamé, vinyl trench coats, tech-wear vibes. (See: Gary Numan)
G is for Gloves Without Fingers
Because full coverage was for conformists. (See: Eurythmics)
H is for High-Waisted Everything
Pants, skirts, even thoughts. Tuck it in and hike it up. (See: Altered Images)
I is for Icy Stares
Detached and dramatic expressions—a perfect match for synths and sequins. (See: Depeche Mode)
J is for Jumpsuits
Utilitarian or glam, from Devo's uniforms to Soft Cell's satin. (See: Devo)
K is for Keytar Confidence
Nothing screamed “the future is now” like a synth you could strut with. (See: Howard Jones)
L is for Lace Meets Leather
Romantic frill clashed with punk edge. (See: Cyndi Lauper)
M is for Military Jackets
Embellished, epauletted, and often ironic. (See: Spandau Ballet)
N is for Neon Accessories
Plastic earrings, chunky bangles, shoelaces that could blind. (See: Bananarama)
O is for Over-the-Top Shoulder Pads
Big sounds called for big silhouettes. (See: Missing Persons)
P is for Post-Apocalyptic Chic
Deconstructed and distressed with a dose of Mad Max. (See: Nina Hagen)
Q is for Quiffs & Queer Codes
Hair teased high, fashion teased boundaries. (See: Culture Club)
R is for Ruffles & Romance
Flowing shirts and dramatic silhouettes from gothic novels. (See: Spandau Ballet)
S is for Spiky Hair & Spray Paint
Personal rebellion in every strand and stencil. (See: Billy Idol)
T –is for Tartan With Attitude
From schoolgirl punk to androgynous edge. (See: The Boomtown Rats)
U is for Undone Ties & Unisex Blazers
Part business, part club kid, fully subversive. (See: Talking Heads)
V is for Vinyl Everything
Pants, trench coats, hats—shiny and synthetic ruled. (See: Classix Nouveaux)
W is for War Paint Makeup
Bright streaks, sharp lines, unapologetically theatrical. (See: Adam and the Ants)
X is for X-Ray Accessories
Transparent bags, sunglasses, and plasticky fashion with sci-fi flair. (See: Lene Lovich)
Y is for Yin-Yang Contrast
Black vs. white, cold vs. warm—New Wave was all tension. (See: Eurythmics)
Z – is for Zippers as Design
Decorative, functional, excessive—punk’s little hardware legacy. (See: The Stranglers)
Which aesthetic do you remember rocking—or wish you had?
Drop your favorite letter (or artist) in the comments, and don’t forget to share this list with your favorite fashion-forward freaks. And give this pretty playlist a listen!
New Wave was a visual movement too. Our premium Best-of-Year series shows how the look matched the sound—track by track. Start here .