'Heathers', the cult 1988 film that started an entire genre focusing on privileged teenagers – think 'Clueless' and 'Mean Girls' - is about to be remade into a TV series.
Centering around a set of girls all called Heather and a teenager on a killing spree, Heathers has all the hallmarks of the 80s: conformity, gangs, and power struggles.
And what better way to illustrate these concepts than through the clothes?
Those power-hungry shoulder pads and ankle socks finished off some fantastic outfits but also gave us a real insight about the nature of people in a status-defined society.
Here’s our pick of the top fashion moments in Heathers and how the classic film has influenced the AW16 catwalk.
Perfect purgatory
“God, Veronica. My afterlife is so boring. If I have to sing Kumbaya one more time…”
Whatever Heather Chandler might think of her situation, she is now more glamorous than ever.
Her distinguishing power shoulders and power red suddenly have a directional edge in the afterlife that would be the envy of all those remaining on earth – us included.
How to do it now: Saint Laurent
Hedi Slimane’s AW16 collection for Saint Laurent was a full-on 80s homage and a great look for the underworld: a collection which pushed the power shoulder to a wonderful excess, plunged necklines, belted waists with flourishing side-bows, pouffed skirts, and clad legs in sheer black tights.
The rise of the individual
Like most high schools, the social atmosphere in the Heathers’ high school is strictly divided into gangs which all have their own dress codes. The jocks dress in varsity jackets, the B-Listers in stripes and the rockers in leather and denim.
How to do it now: Gucci
The quirky maximalism that’s been sweeping the runways of late would work for all of these gangs – and Gucci’s Alessandro Michele would offer the perfect eclectic, geeky, vintage mash-up to suit them all.
Sleeping Beauty
Once in her funeral casket, Heather Chandler’s power red is limited to her bouquet and overshadowed by her saccharine pink nightgown.
How to do it now: Alexander McQueen
At Alexander McQueen, the models were beautifully wrapped in satin bed jackets.
The last look was a superb shell-pink eiderdown coat, lined with marabou and embroidered with flowers and butterflies – perfect for any finale life might throw at you.
big shoulders
They may look cute, but there’s no sweetness and light in these shoulders.
In Heathers, the bigger your shoulders the bigger your status.
How to do it now: Kenzo
The power shoulder was embraced by a collection of brands this season - Kenzo notably featured them with brash 80s animal print.
Power scrunchie
Love them or loathe them, the hair scrunchie absolutely defined the era.
One of the best scenes from Heathers is when Veronica relieves Heather of the symbolic red power scrunchie and wears it herself, saying: "Heather, my love, there's a new sheriff in town."
What power.
How to do it now: Roksanda Illincic
Roksanda Illincic is known for her vibrant use of colour and offered a more modern and subtle take on the scrunchie with each girl in her show wearing a coloured hair tie.
Colour-coded characters
In a somewhat shallow way, the main characters are all colour-coded - they even match their outfits to their croquet balls and sticks, a nod to the strictly conformist lifestyle of these A-list mean girls.
Heather Duke wears all green, because she’s green with envy; Heather McNamara, the weak-willed cheerleader wears yellow as she is seen as cowardly custard; Queen Bee Heather Chandler rules the school and wears power red, naturally.
How to do it now: Ashish
For AW16, Ashish took inspiration from two things: 80s couture and a box of crayons, sending each one of his models down the catwalk in head-to-toe colour. Heathers, take your pick.
