“It was about rebellion, creativity, originality, being yourself and having a damn good time doing it”
– Graham Smith
![new romantics London 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London-1200x675.jpg)
Clare Thom, Boy George, Michele Clapton, 1980
These photographs are from photographer’s Graham Smith’s book of London club life, We Can be Heroes: Punks, Poseurs, Peacocks and People of a Particular Persuasion. There’s over 320 pages of fashion eye candy from that time and place.
![new romantics London 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London3.jpg)
Boy George
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London-5-1200x798.jpg)
Clare Thom and Stephen Linard apparently on their way to see Spandau Ballet, 1981
“Meeting people like George O’Dowd and Judith Frankland who lived their fashion, I learned more in one year at the Blitz than my three years at Saint Martins”
– fashion designer Stephen Jones
![new romantics London 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London-6-1200x1776.jpg)
Alternative Miss World, 1981
![new romantics London](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London-8.jpeg)
Chris Sullivan. The Blitz, 1980
![new romantics London 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London-9-340x340.jpeg)
Kim Bowen, 1980
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London-11.jpeg)
Michele Clapton
![new romantics London 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London-12.jpeg)
St. Moritz club, Stevie Stewart, 1980
![new romantics London 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London-13.jpeg)
Stephen Linard, 1979
![new romantics London](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-romantics-London-7-1200x790.jpg)
Camden Palace, opening night. Martim Kemp, Biddie and Eve, Steve Norman, 1981
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