New Romantic was a fashion-led youth subculture and music scene that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Emerging from exclusive London nightclubs like Billy's and The Blitz, the movement was a flamboyant and escapist reaction against the austerity of the era and the perceived drabness of punk .

Influenced heavily by David Bowie and Roxy Music, the New Romantics embraced androgyny, theatricality, and a DIY approach to glamour. The aesthetic was eclectic, blending historical costumes with futuristic elements. The scene was closely tied to the rise of synth-pop, and its visual extravagance was perfectly suited for the nascent medium of the music video, which helped propel associated bands like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and Visage to international fame via MTV.

The New Romantic movement began in 1978 with a weekly David Bowie-themed club night at a Soho club called Billy's. Hosted by Steve Strange and DJ Rusty Egan, the night attracted a small group of art students and fashion-conscious youths who rejected the punk uniform in favor of more glamorous and individualistic styles. As the scene grew, it moved to the Blitz wine bar in Covent Garden in 1979, where Strange's strict and creative door policy ensured only the most flamboyantly dressed patrons, dubbed the "Blitz Kids," could enter.

The scene was a hub for young designers and artists, and it quickly attracted media attention. The movement was propelled into the mainstream when David Bowie himself recruited several Blitz Kids, including Steve Strange, to appear in his 1980 music video for "Ashes to Ashes." This exposure, combined with the rise of synth-pop and the launch of MTV, created a perfect storm. Bands from the scene, with their striking visuals and electronic sound, became staples of the new music video era, leading the "Second British Invasion" of the US charts. By 1983, the movement's initial creative energy had dissipated as many of its key figures achieved mainstream success and moved away from the original club-based aesthetic.

The New Romantic look was not a single uniform but a philosophy of extravagant self-expression, characterized by androgyny and the blending of historical and futuristic styles. Adherents, both male and female, often wore theatrical makeup, including eyeliner and lipstick, with heavily stylized, often teased, hair. The fashion was largely DIY, assembled from vintage stores, costume shops, and bespoke boutiques like PX in London. There were two main visual strains:

One was a flamboyant, historical style, drawing inspiration from the Romantic era, pirates, and rococo dandies. This look, heavily influenced by designer Vivienne Westwood's "Pirate" collection, featured frilly poet shirts, sashes, velvet, and brocade. Artists like Adam and the Ants and the early Spandau Ballet epitomized this style, mixing historical costumes with tribal and punk elements.

The other strain was a sleeker, more futuristic look influenced by glam rock and German electronic bands like Kraftwerk. This style featured sharp suits in unconventional colors or fabrics like gold lamé, geometric haircuts, and a cool, detached elegance. It evoked a sense of film noir and futuristic decadence, and was famously adopted by bands like Duran Duran, Ultravox, and the later work of Spandau Ballet.

The music most associated with the New Romantic movement is synth-pop . The scene's DJs at clubs like the Blitz moved away from punk and rock, instead favoring the electronic sounds of European artists like Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder alongside the art-rock of David Bowie and Roxy Music.

This preference for synthesizers and danceable rhythms was adopted by the bands that emerged from the scene. The resulting sound was polished, melodic, and often futuristic, a stark contrast to the raw aggression of punk. While synth-pop was the dominant genre, the movement also incorporated the soulful, polished sound of New Wave and "blue-eyed soul." Key bands that defined the New Romantic sound include Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Visage, Ultravox, and Culture Club.