The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces their 2025 inductees in 5 days (April 27). It will take place on American Idol, but that’s where my trusty DVR comes in! In the past few years I’ve been pumped that new wave artists are finally getting in, and it started with Talking Heads. When Duran Duran ($) got in: bonanza! This year 3 new wave artists got nominated: Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, and a Joy Division/New Order combo platter. I love them all! But who’s the most electable by the Hall? Usually, an artist getting inducted comes down to 3 factors:
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)
