Also known as the Second Indochina War, the Vietnam War marks an important time in US history, a time where a nation was not only at war against communism, but at war with itself. Due to the bloody nature of the conflict, many of its veterans came home forever scarred, mentally in addition to physically. The 1982 film First Blood addresses one such veteran.

The film, which is based upon a 1972 novel of the same name, follows the journey of John Rambo, a highly troubled Vietnam War veteran who finds himself unable to re-adapt to society after the horrors he faced in the jungles of Vietnam. When a series of unfortunate events leads him to come into conflict with the police force of a small town, Rambo does what he knows best – uses guerrilla warfare tactics to survive and defeat the enemy. “They drew first blood, not me” is the much-quoted line Rambo gives when asked why.

While the Vietnam War is not a shiny moment in US history, it is an incredibly iconic one. In addition to Rambo, other classic films addressing the effects of Vietnam include Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Apocalypse Now, The Killing Fields, Forrest Gump, Good Morning Vietnam, The Deer Hunter, and Full Metal Jacket.

For 1970s fancy dress, military styling can be found in costumes for both men and women. This includes a Rambo costume which takes its look from the character John Rambo, as portrayed by Sylvester Stallone.

Back in 1988, two men with model looks appeared on the music scene that immediately won the hearts and minds of music fans.  Known as Milli Vanilli, the pop/dance duet was comprised of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus.  Their hit songs included “All or Nothing”, “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” and “Blame It on the Rain” from their album, Girl You Know It’s True.  An 80s costume inspired from this former pop duo consists of longhaired braids, hats, and bright-coloured suits.

Milli Vanilli were known for their good looks, dance moves and popular tunes but later became infamous for not truly singing on their album.  Rob and Fab tried to keep up appearances, but when it became obvious that they were lip-syncing, they had to admit the truth.  Rob and Fab were the good-looking dancers serving as eye candy; the actual singers were not given credit.

Milli Vanilli still shines as fancy dress inspirations.  The key to this look is the hair; both Rob and Fab wore their hair long and braided.  The men’s Shake and Fake Wig is ideal to recreate that look.  Rob and Fab favoured jackets with large shoulder pads, often in bright colours as shown in their videos, award appearances, and concerts.  They are also seen in the classic torn denim look popular during their reign as pop stars.  People can relive the classic Milli Vanilli moments again while lip-syncing, swinging their long braids, and living it up at an 80s costume party.

When it comes to fancy dress inspiration, we find music videos to be a great source. For 1980s fancy dress, this time we are turning to Band Aid from 1984.

Band Aid was formed by Bod Geldof and Midge Ure, who brought together popular British and Irish singers and musicians to help raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Released at Christmas, the song was so popular that it became that year’s Christmas number one single.

The name ‘Band Aid’ is a double entendre: 1) It was a play on words, making a pun out of the popular American brand of plaster known as Band Aid.  (Americans also use the term ‘band aid’ generically to mean plaster, just as we use hoover to mean vacuum.) 2) It was a play on words, in reference to a band that was formed to provide aid. Put the meanings together and the result is a band that is hoping to provide aid, much like a plaster (or band aid) does for a wound.

Watching the original video, we are inspired by several looks. Hairstyles for one; many of the male artists wear the classic 80s style of longer in back, shorter on top and sides. Also many of the artists wear jackets with small lapels and big shoulder pads; another look quite popular in the 1980s.

The ladies favour messy, curly hairstyles, often with headbands with bows. They also show a great affection for big shoulder pads. Another popular look for the ladies is oversized jumpers and sweatshirts.

Some of the most fun fancy dress costume events are those with a specific theme – and there are so many themes to choose from. Here are some to consider.

Complementary

For a fancy dress event tailored around couples, there are themes that provide the opportunity to dress in complementary outfits. These include vicars and nuns, gangsters and molls, doctors and nurses, and football players and cheerleaders. Other complementary styled themes include cowboys and Indians and cops and robbers.

Decades

Any decade makes a wonderful theme for fancy dress, but some of the most popular are the 20s, 50s, 60, 70s, and 80s. The beauty of decade-based themes is that it allows the fancy dress wearer to choose something from that decade that he or she wants to reflect: the 50s jock or greaser, the 80s punk rocker or preppie.

Films and Video Games

Have a favourite film or video game? Why not use it for a theme? Are you a Sims fan? The Sims Medieval provides the perfect opportunity for medieval fancy dress. Pirates of the Caribbean can serve as inspiration for the would-be swashbuckler.

Another idea is to have your guests to come as characters from their favourite film: Scooby and Daphne, Popeye and Olive Oil, Wilma and Fred, Beetlejuice or a Ghostbuster. Guests can be glamorous, silly, fanciful, or comfortably toned down. For the man uncomfortable with fancy dress costumes, Indiana Jones might be ideal.

These are just a few themes. From Disney and fairy tales to traditional seasonal like Christmas and Halloween, themes are all around.

The 1970s and 1980s were great decades for punk rock and the looks and styles of that genre make for great 70s and 80s fancy dress ideas. 

Punk rock is a musical genre that has its roots in the 1970s, first developing in the USA, UK and Australia between 1974 and 1976.  Its beginnings were rather humble, starting with garage rock and growing from there.  Songs were short, instrumentation was minimal, and the music was fast, with a hard edge to it. 

Key figures in 1970s punk rock include The Clash, Ramones, and the Sex Pistols.  With the rise of these bands came the rise of the punk subculture, from which we draw many of our fancy dress inspiration. 

With the advent of the 1980s also came the advent of faster, more (if you can imagine it) aggressive punk rock, which then branched out to give way to post-punk and the 1990s alternative rock movement. 

To achieve punk fashion for 70s fancy dress, look to the UK.  Many of the punk styles favoured, were based upon designs by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren: torn t-shirts with offensive slogans, leather jackets, ripped fishnet stockings, safety pin adorned clothing, studded, spiked and silver jewellery, and heavy eyeliner on men and women. 

The 1980s where much of the same, but included Doc Martin styled and motorcycle or combat boots, bandanas, chains, jeans torn and splattered with bleach and tartan kilts. 

For 80s fancy dress, the 80s Punk Girl Costume includes the tartan skirt, leather-look basque, studded collar and cuffs.  Add Ripped Fishnet Tights and one of the selection of wigs, like the 80s Multi-Coloured Cutie Wig.

As a fancy dress costume inspiration from the 1980s era, one that really stands out is Joan Jett.  Lead singer and guitarist for the group known as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Joan Jett epitomises 1980s rock chick chic. 

Joan, who was born Joan Marie Larkin, started her career as a rock chick in the 1970s with a band known as The Runaways.  In 1979, she went solo for a while and then, in the 1980s, she advertised for “three good men” who, once found, became The Blackhearts.  Their song, I Love Rock and Roll, is still not only as popular now as it was back then, it is still serving as a rock anthem for rockers everywhere. 

As a fancy dress inspiration, Joan Jett has the perfect rocker chick look: from her edgy black hair to her preference for black leather and studded accessories. 

To get an idea of how to rock the look, let us start with the hair.  Think the Rock Diva Wig in black or the Jagged Edge Black Wig.  For the outfit, to go fully Joan Jett, think black leather and a biker’s jacket.  Or, take it to a different level by putting a twist on the look.  The 1980s Icon Costume combines hard rock chic with styles and colours popular during the era: leggings and lace in black and pink.  Aviator shades add to the rock appeal. 

Joan is a guitarist, so an inflatable life-sized guitar would not be out of order for completing the rocker look.

If you are not sure what to wear to an 80s fancy dress party, perhaps we can help.  First, let us think about some of the biggest 80s icons and once you have an idea of what you want, you can head into our 80s fancy dress department and take a look at what we have.  Mix and match; combine our selection with pieces of your own; add accessories and top it off with an 80s inspired wig such as 80s Wild Child, Heavy Metal Rocker, Rockin Soul, and Mississippi Mud Flap (a long, mullet look).

Female 80s iconic looks
The 1980s were a strange mix.  The Preppy look had girls wearing Izod jumpers over plaid skirts with knee socks and penny loafers.  Madonna inspired girls to go a bit wild with layered, ripped tops, tutus, wild hair, crucifix jewellery, and fingerless lace gloves.  Olivia Newton John inspired girls to get physical, in leotards with tights, leg warmers and headbands while Alexis and Krystle Carrington had women fighting over who could wear the biggest shoulder pads.  Other 80s iconic fashion influences included Toni Basil in Hey Mickey, Debbie Harry of Blondie, Flashdance, Punk Rock, New Romanticism and, of course, the girls from the Simply Irresistible video.

Male 80s iconic looks
For the guys, there was everything from the hard rocker look encapsulated by Dee Snider of Twisted Sister to the cone head hats of Devo.  The mullet was in style, as was the cross-gendered look favoured by Boy George and the Human League.  Other inspirations included the A-Team, Miami Vice, MC Hammer, and Michael Jackson.

No other decade offers such a wealth of opportunity when it comes to make up than the 1980s.  New Romanticism influences saw many cross-gender fashions, which meant the guys were wearing lipstick and eyeliner as much as the girls were.
To achieve an 80s makeup look, the trick is following the line of thought that more is better.  The 80s was definitely a time when people ‘painted’ their faces on.  Major defining elements were serious eyes, accentuated cheeks, and bold, bright lips.

 As an example, take 80s music and fashion inspiration Cyndi Lauper on the cover of her Time After Time album.  Her eyes are heavily lined in black with eyeliner extended out in an upward sweeping motion.  Her eye shadow is bright orange and her cheeks are accentuated with plenty of pink blush.  Cyndi’s hair, which serves as great inspiration for 80s costume hair, is teased on top, has little braids running through here and there, and swept over one shoulder.  In this particular photo, she is blonde but Cyndi made having multi-coloured hair all the rage in the 80s.

Typical 80s eye shadow was often applied in two colours; for instance, a bright blue on the lids with a bright orange extending up to the eyebrows.  Also popular was coloured mascara.  Lips were made to look pouty in colours from bright pink to blood red.

To dress like Cyndi, the 80s Party Girl Costume with the True Colours Red and Yellow Wig work well.  Add fingerless fishnet gloves, loads of bangles and beads and ripped fishnet tights.

For 80′s fancy dress ideas check out our Mega range from Fancy Dress Ball.

The 1980s fashions are hard to describe if you did not live through the decade.  Brightly coloured clothing, florescent legwarmers, and big backcombed hair helped to complete the look of this era.  The music however was simply fabulous and so any 80s-themed fancy dress party is sure to go with a swing.

Fancydressball.co.uk has some great 80s-inspired fancy dress costumes.  There are outfits inspired by the early stylings of Madonna during her Papa Don’t Preach and True Blue phase and what 80s costume collection would miss a Baywatch inspired number, available for both men and women?

The 80s were the decade of mixed fashions, classy clothes with huge shoulder pads on one outfit, stripy knee high socks on another.  Anyone who remembers Dynasty will know Alexis Colby (amongst other married names) and Fancydressball.co.uk has an outfit that would be right at home in the Carrington / Colby households.

Also available is a princess Peach outfit that is inspired by the Super Mario computer game that first came into existence in the 80s and whose popularity grew rapidly in subsequent years.  There is also a princess Peach outfit for children so your little girl can dress up with you. 

Fancy dress costumes in an 80s theme are available for both men and women.  Men’s outfits are inspired by many 80s musical influences from Freddie Mercury, to Slash and to MC Hammer.  There are several Michael Jackson outfits and of course, no 80s collection would be complete without an E.T. costume.

In the 1980s, the new romanticism movement was a key influence in music and fashion.  The main 1970s influences for the movement were David Bowie and his androgynous Ziggy Stardust, and Roxy Music.  Later influences included Culture Club, Ultravox, Spandau Ballet, and Duran Duran.  Also connected to new romanticism, although not directly, were Adam and the Ants and the Human League.

Style-wise, new romanticism embraced androgyny.  Women and men dressed in a counter-sexual way, with both embracing cosmetics such as lipstick and heavy eyeliner.  Fashions were also based on romantic themes: frilly shirts reminiscent of the English Romantic period and styles that looked like they were taken straight from a 1930s cabaret.  Mullets, wedges, and quiffs were common hairstyles.  Headbands were also common.

In the mainstream, new romantic fashion served as an influence on major designers; key among them was Vivian Westwood and her ‘pirate collection’.
As an 80′s fancy dress influence, the eclectic nature new romanticism leaves plenty of room for originality and diversity.  The New Romanic Costume is Adam Ant inspired, featuring a jacket, shirt, trousers, belt, and headband.  An 80s tennis player wig and grease paint sticks top off the look.  As an option to your own boots, deluxe pirate boot covers can be used.

For a Boy George, Culture Club cross-gender look, the Boy George 80s Pop Star Costume features a long shirt, waistcoat, and hat with wig.  Topped off with lipstick and eyeliner, the look is completed with a classic Boy George lip pout.