As a teenager I was out most days of the year. I treated my home like a hotel with my elusive appearances there restricted to bed, breakfast, Christmas lunch and Miami Vice nights. I loved that show.

Gold Coast, as Miami Vice almost came to be known, debuted over twenty five years ago. The series was an immediate smash and pioneered a new era in television, being one of the first shows to be broadcast in stereo. It defined a decade in music and fashion and is widely recognised for its massive influence on the latter. 

I’d never miss an episode and in my household, it was a brave individual who admitted to the reprehensible act of failing to set the timer on the VCR. Among the guys, Miami Vice was a justifiable excuse for calling time early; wherever we were, there’d be a synchronized look at our watches and we’d disperse in different directions to make it home in time for the opening credits.

Not a lot about the early to mid-80s could impress my grouchy teen persona. The only exception was Scarface.

Tony Montana had such an impact that never again would certain phraseology be spoken without the accent of a political refugee from Cuba. Our lexicon had changed. Words like cockroach developed an extra syllable in the middle – it was powerful stuff. I still maintain that this 1983 cult movie, centred on the cocaine dominated underworld of Southeast Florida, primed us perfectly for Miami Vice which came the following year.

Much in the same context as Uma Thurman’s line in Pulp Fiction: “You’re either an Elvis or a Beatles’ man”. Where dress codes were concerned, you were either a Crockett or Tubbs man. I tried both – the Don Johnson look for smart casual nights and the Phillip Michael Thomas approach for weddings and job interviews. I couldn’t carry off both styles and quickly found which one worked for me.

The summer after season one, wearing a pastel blue jacket (cuffs rolled back), mint green granddad tee, shiny marine blue chinos and loafers – sockless - I followed my mates through the doors of a London nightclub. The bouncers nabbed me!

The bizarre thing was that the guys had walked in before me looking like Swytek and Zito after a 12 hour stakeout and nothing – not a glance. I strolled in like a dedicated follower of fashion and three flat-nosed giants in dinner suits moved towards me in perfect synchrony. Alright, so I was kitted out like an undercover TV cop posing as a Miami drug dealer – but this was Camden Palace, London not the Babylon Club, Florida! As for the ladies, they must of thought I was an idiot.

A few weeks later, at a relative’s wedding, I left the venue with two telephone numbers. One note was placed straight into the pocket of the black satin shirt I wore under my light grey double breasted suit. Yep, I was definitely a Tubbs man. Or at least a Tubbs adolescent!

Miami Vice’s influence on male fashion was unprecedented. The expertise of designers such as Hugo Boss and Gianni Versace was called upon to ensure that Crockett and Tubbs were up to date with European trends. Large stores around the world devoted entire departments to the style of clothing worn by the main characters of the show.

My cousin, who we all thought was destined for a career in accountancy, took the Crockett look to the extreme; adopting bourbon as his drink and taking up smoking just as his favourite TV cop did.

Miami Vice went far beyond influencing the wardrobes of average guys like me and my oddball relatives. If it was worn, driven, sailed, seen, heard or even fired on the show – it sold!

Sunglass makers, Rayban, reported a significant increase in sales of their Wayfarer range – popularised by Don Johnson’s character.

The detective’s five o’clock shadow became known as “designer stubble”. A leading manufacturer of hair clippers produced a beard trimmer designed to leave a neat unshaven look. The item was known briefly as the “Miami Device”.

Crockett’s 1972 shiny black Ferrari Daytona was really a kit car built on a Corvette chassis. Once this became known, Enzo Ferrari took legal action against the various companies that supplied the four – wheeled knock offs. This meant the designer cop’s car had to be removed from the show during season three. Aware of the effect his lawsuit had on the show, the Italian sports car legend donated two brand new 1986 Testarossas to the series – a classy move!

Numerous episodes showed a pensive Don Johnson bouncing along the waves in his speedboat whilst reflecting on yet another lost love interest. After arresting his third fiancé for conspiracy to supply, he’d take to the ocean in a Scarab 38 KV. Seriously though, the boat makers - Wellcraft, experienced a 21% increase in sales of the $130,000 machine in one year. 

Even the guns used in the show were of ground-breaking design. Crockett carried a Bren Ten. The pistol was designed by experts for law enforcement agencies. Facing an evermore heavily armed criminal, the police wanted a sidearm that combined the power and accuracy of magnum revolvers with the fast-fire, quick reload of the semi-automatics. The Bren Ten came in the new 10mm calibre and fashionable stainless steel finish. Even the holster Don Johnson wore under his designer jackets was later named the Miami Classic!

The theme tune for the series won two grammy awards in 1986 and the soundtrack topped the album charts for 11 weeks in 1985. The producers would spend around $10,000 per episode for licenses to play original recordings of some of the decade’s best music. The programme’s popularity brought great publicity for the featured artists, musicians and their record companies.

There were many famous singers and actors who appeared on Miami Vice. At the time, I couldn’t help but feel that the guest stars’ celebrity was somewhat lessened when they were alongside the cast’s main characters. It could be that they usually played bad guys who were nearly always killed in a shoot-out at the end of the show.

Edward James Olmos played the squad’s boss - Lieutenant Martin Castillo. The Steve McGarrett of Miami Vice dressed like a Blues Brother and had a moustache that novice ventriloquists would kill or die for! A rather staid chap, I think he smiled in season three – once!

Then there were the ladies. Detectives Gina Calabrese and Trudy Joplin played by Sandra Santiago and Olivia Brown. I had a crush on the former, and as a teen, I imagined going undercover with her a few times! I think it was the way the Latin brunette pulled her .38 special revolver from the holster strapped to her inner thigh that was concealed under her flowing Valentino skirt. Sorry, I thought I’d dealt with that!

Many fashion cycles have passed in the 25 years since Miami Vice was first televised. There are those who argue that certain facets of Don Johnson’s 80’s style are still with us. Whilst I wouldn’t be seen eating out in North London wearing a dolphin blue suit over a pink t-shirt, I will hold my hands up to being sockless in linen in recent years!

Watching an episode from the DVD box set - the clothes, music, girls and cars, brought back many associations from my youth. Almost enough to expedite a mid-life crisis, although I won’t be wearing lilac pastel trousers. Not again anyway!