What was his effect on fashion like back in the hey day? I know people would dress up like Madonna and Michael back in the day, but how common was it to find someone with Prince inspired attire like the fancy coats and ruffled shirts? I'm interested in the effect that music stars have on fashion, like the Beatles and long hair.

In the early 80s the New Romantics were wearing ruffled shirts, bouffant hair snd makeup. If you Google 80s pop bands youll find it was a popular look amongst the likes of Duran Duran ans Spandau Ballet. Prince had his take on it too.

khill95 said:

What was his effect on fashion like back in the hey day? I know people would dress up like Madonna and Michael back in the day, but how common was it to find someone with Prince inspired attire like the fancy coats and ruffled shirts? I'm interested in the effect that music stars have on fashion, like the Beatles and long hair.

It was the costume designer on Purple Rain that gave him the bigger Edwardian shirt that we know of now. He was wearing these tuxedo shirts you get at dept store before that, turning up the collar etc. (LOL Prince was poppin' his collar early on). Marie-France said "Here, try this" and took that puffy shirt thing up a notch by the time Purple Rain rolled in. I think it was the recent Academy talk with Apollonia, Magnoli, Cavallo, Jerome, etc., where that was brought up again. She did talk about it some on the PR DVD too.

But I'd agree with Billieballoon that, being a kid of the 80s, many bands were doing similar things. Prince certainly saw that and used it for himself. Even before the Parade era, Madonna was already wearing half shirts and showing off her belly. Many British new wave and New Romantics were doing the long coat look, too.

Prince did make it okay for men to wear purple, a color many considered more girly before that (not exclusively). Men's fashion broke out a bit more, became a bit sexier and not so utilitarian or formal. Women always had a sundress or an off-the-shoulder number, but men pretty much stayed the same over a few decades, minus the width of their collar and tie. Men started wearing scarves pinned down with broaches, more colorful blazers, pants, and shirts, and maybe a little guy-liner. Again, the New Romantics were pulling out that androgynous look way before it got pinned on Prince. Prince still looked like a dude in his bikini brief and trench coat (albeit it a pervy one). Folks like Human League were going full on blush, mascara, and lipstick. Nick, from Duran Duran, was dolled up the most out of the whole group.

Go further back to Flock of Seagulls. That guy was a hairstylist before being a singer. That hair was swept back on BOTH sides. hahaha Not that Prince was influenced by that, but he was certainly finding his way on his own and had to also see the influence the UK was bringing over here at that time. I think the harder edge like the metal bedazzling on his jacket, or the leather snapped collar he wore (as did Wendy in PR) were notes from the punk scene, as were the black and white checkered elements (like the Rude Boy pin).

Interestingly enough, the black and white checkered look that was once punk became a backdrop of art deco influence once the Parade stage took shape. (The stage flooring was black and white checkered.) But still again, black and white checkered was a thing in the 80s, often with a messy neon color slapped on it like someone with a paint brush having a seizure.

I don't disagree with TrivialPursuit, but by way of comparison for the average Joe, I think Prince was still a little too far out there to copy.

Growing up in a rural area, we all watched and listened to Prince, but I knew no one who dressed like him. All of the New Romantics influence was carried off by the girls (hairstyles, lace, ruffles, etc.). I think it did influence our fashion. I also knew a lot of girls sporting modified Madonna styles, and plenty of guys (and a few girls) who wanted to look like Michael, but no guys who were looking like Prince.

In the cities/suburbs I'm sure that there was more variety, but that's what I remember growing up.