The MAD (Musée des Arts Décoratifs) celebrates probably the most iconic decade of them all through its music, fashion and design – the 80s… in France! If you’re nostalgic, or francophile enough to know of Mitterand, Joe le Taxi, le Palace, Philippe Starck or Jean-Paul Goude, this is for you…

From what we’ve seen, this may be the definitive exhibition about the 80s in France ever created. The influences of 80s music, fashion and design still resonate today, and many French names and brands came to the world stage for the first time during the decade. Whether you lived through it, or you feel like you were there, the flashbacks will be coming thick and fast.

With over 700 pieces on display in the museum’s vast nave – furniture, fashion, photos, posters, record covers, videos and magazines – the colourful presentation (conceived by French designer Adrien Rovero) will show you all the iconic things that 80s France gave the world:

— fashion stars like Jean Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler

— designers like Philippe Starck and Andrée Putman

— multi-talented photographers like Jean-Paul Goude, Jean-Baptiste Mondino and Pierre & Gilles

— legendary Parisian venues like the Café Costes, Les Bains Douches and Le Palace

— unforgettable French music: Les Rita Mitsouko, Etienne Daho

— huge architectural projects including the pyramid of the Louvre, the Bastille Opera House, the Ministry of Finance, the Arch at la Défense…

— new-style press, with newspaper Libération Actuel Magazine…

In just a few hours, you’ll be a French 80s expert!

Around the exhibition the usual guided visits and workshops are organised, but there’s also an addendum in the museum’s library, with a display of “electric, eclectic and et eccentric” works from the 80s, and a free conference from architect and designer Nestor Perkal is programmed for 17th Novembre at 6.30pm (book your seat here).

However, the main event is probably the special Club80 night on 20th October from 7-10.30pm, with DJs (Andrew Vanwyngarden from MGMT and Fishbach) and a live show from Eloi, in partnership with dance music station Radio FG.

And for any of you who won’t or can’t dance any more, a catalogue of the exhibition is also available – 304 pages, 350 illustrations, 49€ here at your nearest amazon.

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The exhibition Années 80. Mode, design, graphisme en France is at the MAD Paris (here) from 13th October 2022 – 16th April 2023

Note that access to the museum is now via the Carrousel gardens (here) for all visitors

Open every day except Mondays from 11am-6pm (9pm Thursdays)

Admission: 14€ / free for under 26 year-olds

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J-1 AVANT DE BASCULER DANS LE VERTIGE DES ANNÉES 80 ! #ExpoAnnées80⁠
⁠#Exposition « Années 80. #Mode, #design et #graphisme en France » du 13 octobre 2022 au 16 avril 2023 👉 https://t.co/wsq2w6ObJd pic.twitter.com/gnYrBpBB6U

— Mad Paris (@madparisfr) October 12, 2022

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To check out the English press release, simply click the fullscreen button at the bottom right of the image below.