Discover more from Soirée

Exploring ideas, stories, and opportunities in culture, fashion, and entertainment that awaken people's passions.

🏖️ What fashion trends did "Miami Vice" make popular?

AND: DONDA & Supreme drops

shaan

Sep 3, 2021

We've heard of the famous NBC tv series. And we've seen the pastels that have come from the south beach crime drama.

The famous Hollywood tv show enamored the US in the 80s. Undercover detectives catching drug dealers. What's not to like? And it had a direct influence on fashion trends in the 80s. It's considered one of the most influential television series ever made. So many concepts from the Emmy award-winning crime story have been integrated into our current tastes. From things like the birth of contemporary music and cinematic filming style that's become a standard in modern box office tv shows… influencing the development of cop shows, and giving birth to shows like Law & Order.

So how has the NBC television series developed our fashion trends?

Find out more after the jump. But first, whose our brand of the week?

contents:

brand of the week
what fashion trends did “Miami Vice” make popular?
what’s in my closet
threads
what’s on the coffee table
aesthetically pleasing
upcoming product drops

This installment of Soirée is free for everyone. I send this email every Friday. If you were forwarded this email and would like to receive it every Friday morning you can join the hundreds of other fashion enthusiasts by hitting the button below.

Amundsen Sports was founded in 2010 by Jørgen Amundsen based on his family heritage. Jørgen based the brand on an old family member, Roald Amundsen, who was a Norwegian explorer and a key figure in Antarctic explorations. And his accolades are almost hard to believe. He:

Conquered the North West Passage
First man to set foot on the South Pole
First to circumnavigate the Northern Hemisphere
First man to Fly across the Arctic Ocean via the North Pole
First man to fly from Europe to America

Amundsen’s take on outdoor is not like the others. Their sportswear is designed so you can conquer the highest mountains in the harshest conditions. But they also believe that being an “outdoor brand” is not all about being extreme and pushing the limits. It’s also about having fun and enjoying nature as one big playground.

With timeless sportswear of real quality, they take their products seriously. They continue to not lose our sense of Roald’s wonder, and never forget that nature is best enjoyed in the company of good friends.

Check em' out →

James "Sonny" Crockett

Detective Sergeant Sonny Crockett was an officer with the Metro-Dade Police Department. He worked undercover in the Organized Crime Bureau, Vice division. In one of the first episodes, "Brother's Keeper," Crockett was portrayed as an aloof and laid-back character. Made famous by Don Johnson, Crockett had a unique appearance that set the fashion world on fire. Known for having blonde hair and a suntan, his famous loose-fitting suit over a T-shirt, paired with loafers or boat shoes became an instant trend in the 80s and early 1990s. And that was just from the first season. Harsh neons from season 3 were extremely influential, although it didn't enjoy the timeless pastels that have become heavily ingrained in fashion today.

During the first 2 seasons of the tv show, Crockett's suits and shirts were tailored with shades of pink and blue, slowly moving to dark neons in the 3rd season. Don Johnson originally wanted Crockett to dress like an urban cowboy. But after arriving in Miami, the contact heat and humidity changed his mind. He took on Executive Producer Michael Mann's ideas of a pastel linen suit.

Don Johnson's "designer stubble" was copied by men across America. It even led to the marketing of a face razor called the "Miami Device" that would leave a short layer of stubble. Brands like After Six created "Miami Vice" dinner jackets, Kenneth Cole created Crockett and Rico Tubb's shoes, and Macy's even opened a dedicated "Miami Vice" section for young men.

It didn't stop there. Guest stars like Bruce Willis would join the show for a few episodes dawning similar looks. Crockett would wear Ray-Ban Wayfarer glasses that would popularize the brand. It nearly quadrupled the sales of Wayfarers. Sonny Crockett's fashion was inspired by John Taylor of Duran Duran, who in the video "Hungry Like the Wolf," is seen wearing a white sport coat and slacks with no shirt and slip-on shoes. Michael Mann and Dick Wolf also said that the pastel colors from the show were influenced by a trip to the paint store many years before the show's debut. Mann had taken a vacation to South Beach and played around with a few colors before coming up with the theme.

Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs

Played by Philip Michael Thomas, Tubbs was the partner of Detective Sergeant Crockett. They would ride in Crockett's Ferrari together... with Tubbs carrying a similar style. Because Ricardo Tubbs suffered storylines of constant tragedy, even though his character was stylish, his outfits didn't catch fire like Crockett's. But Tubbs' outfits took Italian men's fashion and spread it to America. Sales of unconstructed blazers, shiny fabrics, and lighter colors went up massively. Philip Michael Thomas didn't experience the fame of Don Johnson's character in the show. It explains why Sonny Crockett was such a massive character from the get-go.

Less prominent characters, like Detective Stan Switek (played by Michael Talbott) also sported pastel and unique looks. But on the polar opposite, Martin Castillo (the department's police chief) would offset the show’s designer fashions. Played by Edward James Olmos, the character would remain simple, with inexpensive black suits and skinny ties. It was his standard outfit throughout the show.

Lasting effects

Miami Vice didn't just have an impact on fashion. It completely changed tourism in South Florida. Before the television show premiered, Miami and Miami Beach were not the destinations they are today. The tv show played an important part in rehabbing the city's infrastructure and reputation.

Dubbed the "Vice Effect," the show led to protections for the city's art and buildings. Michael Mann was adamant that earth tones couldn't be visible in the background shots of the show. So the production team would be tasked with fixing historic buildings, reworking boring tones with pink, blue, and other famous pastels from the show. Changing Miami forever.

🧥 Puffer jacket → Made for the modern man, Bershka's contemporary casuals are influenced by the latest music, technology, and social media trends.

🧥 Fleece jacket → Self Made jumpsuit sherpa jacquard jacket, animal print fleece

👓 Blue light glasses → Founded with the belief that you shouldn't have to sacrifice style for protection, Fifth & Ninth offers a collection of accessories for any occasion and every style.

When did album covers get so lazy? READ MORE HERE
Thierry Henry is still football's undisputed king of cool READ MORE HERE
Dwayne Johnson reacts to viral Alabama doppelgänger READ MORE HERE
Drake and Giannis have a collaborative 'Certified Lover Boy' Nike tee on the way READ MORE HERE

Wall planter → Rectangle forms made of antiqued galvanized metal are sized to hold growers pots for an easy and dynamic living wall. Hangs with 2 keyhole hangers.

Flameless candle → With a hammered bronze base and luminous luster glass, the Langdon Hurricane is a stunner.

Sneaker book → With over 600 pairs, films, archive documents, photos, and personal accounts, this book presents all the facets of this iconic object, from its success with New York breakdancers to the cutting-edge technological research that goes on with that.