FINDING THE LOST BOYS: HOW TO DRESS LIKE AN 80s FILM VAMPIRE (AND FRIENDS)
So, I really, really like this film. When I say ‘really, really’ like, I mean that when I was fourteen or so, I adored it with such a painfully unironic joy. My friend and I would sit in classes and quote Edgar and Alan at each other and cackle. In fact, I’ve never managed to get past this early puppy love stage and I’m turning twenty soon. Not even Queen of the Damned’s (2002) ridiculous punk-mixed-with-Southern-Gothic aesthetic could top this 1987 masterpiece in the fabulous stakes, and that had Aaliyah.
Fun fact: The Lost Boys was actually, in the first drafts, going to be cast with all children, like Laddie — the only vampy kid to make the cut. The Frog Brothers were going to be Boy Scouts. BOY SCOUTS. I mean, I used to be a Scout, so I was so close and yet so far from being in this film. (What’s that? I wasn’t born yet? Being literal is awfully boring, darling. You should stop that nasty habit.) It was going to be Wendy and Peter with extra meat. In reality, of course, the concept of the Lost Boys — creation of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie — translates in a darker sense with this film that mixes Anne Rice and pop culture to reanimate the genre. And seeing as I’m of the opinion that the 80s shouldn’t stay dead, I’ve hunted down some tips as to how to steal bloodsucker style, based on my four favourite characters in the film. (We aren’t doing the sequels because I haven’t seen the sequels yet.)
Star
So Star is notable by being the only female of the species in this vampire film that’s otherwise all about the boys. I mean, I have a lot of feminist critique on this, mostly on the concept of her being the vamp equivalent of a Madonna figure to Laddie and the general body horror of her victimisation/subjugation at the hands of the gang. But our half-vampire Everygirl is also notable for a costume design that mixes Old World nomadism and Americana Eighties.
To channel Santa California’s babe du nuit, I’d suggest a broderie anglaise bustier, devore shawl or jacket and a long, gypsy-style skirt — not to mention those gold hoop earrings that she seemingly palms off on Michael. (It can’t just be me that thought that.) All of these things can be found secondhand at charity shops (or thrift stories as they’re called in the US) but if secondhand isn’t your deal, here’s some other suggestions I found online. Go hither and smoulder at strange boys on a carousel.
Edgar and Alan Frog
Oh, man. These guys. THESE GUYS. They marched onto my screen and into my heart with their earnest geekery, hippy parents and awesome fashion sense. If you, too, want to intimidate pastel-wearing boys with horror comics, I suggest you should be getting yourself a lot of camouflage and a lot of sass. No, really. Camouflage t-shirt or overshirt is a must. Same for the trousers, but jeans are also a good call. Add a trusty bandanna, slogan shirt (they do sell replicas of the ones in the film here) and tongue-in-cheek accessorising. Mix it up with a more feminine patterned scarf instead of a bandanna if you want to be less androgynous but if you do that’s A-okay in my book. Leather cuffs, scarves as wristbands, comic-book pattern details in homage to the Frogs’ day job. Don’t forget those boots for stamping the vamps back into their graves. Again, all of this can be found incredibly cheaply secondhand, or here’s some other suggestions below. Raid a local army surplus place, go wild, but don’t go out after dark. I’ll pray I never need to call you.
Sam Emerson
Sam Emerson: what a babe. I mean, his weird shirts, his fluffy duckling hair, his righteous indignation (“You just wait till I tell Mom!”). Everyone loves Sam. Or at least, they should. To mimic his style, find some geometric pastel shirts, wear them a size big, add some leggings or jeans. Make today’s hair bedhead fluffball. All-American high tops, a plastic chunky watch, a big soft sweater tied around your waist and a patterned backpack and you, my friend, are good to go snitch on your big brother’s nocturnal activities and ruin your mum’s date.
Sleep all night, party all day but don’t go motorbike racing with strange boys now, kids. You know how that ends.
