Once you’ve had a look through the fantastic and outrageous eighties fancy dress costumes that Fancy Dress Ball have to offer, the next thing you need to do is perfect the hairstyle, as we all know that the 80s fashion was all about the hair! Whilst many of us may look back on our hair styles from the 80s and cringe with embarrassment, the frizzy, big hair is the perfect way of perfecting your overall 80s fancy dress outfit.

Big Hair – in the eighties it was all about who could achieve the biggest and frizziest of hair dos, so it’s time to ditch the straighteners and bring on the mousse, the back combing and the biggest curls you can achieve for really authentic fancy dress costumes.

Side Pony Tails – if you don’t fancy opting for the big hair, why not slick your hair up into a messy side ponytail – the higher and bigger, the better! You could even crimp your hair to achieve an even more radical effect.

The Mullet – yes gentleman, it’s time to reinvent the mullet. Whilst you may not want to have your hair cut into a mullet (after all it was rare that a man could successfully pull of this style), then opt for a mullet wig. We have many available at Fancy Dress Ball.

The Water Fowl – the little piece of hair that dangles from the back of the neck downwards, a little bit like a rat tail. If included alongside a mullet you really will ooze 80s fancy dress dedication. However, if you don’t want to grow one of these specifically for an eighties fancy dress party, this look is easily achieved with the appropriate hair extensions.

If you’re having an 80s fancy dress party, you’re definitely going to need a fantastic playlist to get all of your guests into the 80s party spirit. Equally, music is one of the best ways to drag out nostalgic memories and help entice you back into a time you may have distantly forgotten. As soon as you and your guests her Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer”, your 80s fancy dress themed party will transport you back to the time of big hair, outrageous clothes and fantastic music. Here are just a few of Fancy Dress Ball’s musts for your 80s playlist:

Irene Cara – “Fame” – the theme to the film Fame stormed the charts in 1980.
Journey – “Don’t Stop Believing” – the re-release of this song this year shows just how inspiration the 80s were.
Bryan Adams – “Summer of 69” – appearing on his album “Reckless” in 1984, this song is still the anthem of many parties.
Madonna – “Material Girl” – just one of her many songs that won’t fail to get everyone on the dance floor.
Michael Jackson – “Man in the Mirror” – released in 1988 from his album “Bad”, this song reached number two again in the year 2009 following his tragic death.

These songs just touch on some of the fantastic music you can have at your 80s themed fancy dress party. With ten years of sensational hits, your 80s fancy dress party will leave people singing the 80s classics for days on end.

To make any eighties fancy dress party as authentic as possible, it is always advisable to consult professional fancy dress companies when you need to buy your costumes. For high quality with every purchase, Fancy Dress Ball are one such company that can guarantee one of the widest online ranges of fancy dress costumes out there.

Having an 80s fancy dress party is likely to induce nostalgic thoughts of what the 80s held for many of you. Fancy Dress Ball understand just what an impact the 1980s fashion, music, and celebrity lifestyle had on many people, including today’s culture, which is why they’ve drawn up some music trivia facts from the 80s to accompany the fantastic 80s fancy dress costumes they have on offer. These facts are guaranteed to help you find inspiration for your fancy dress costume if you previously were struggling for ideas.

The top selling albums of the 80s was Brothers in Arms by The Dire Straits, Michael Jackson’s Bad and Thriller, and Queen’s Greatest Hits. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album is the best-selling album of all time, selling over a staggering 42 million copies worldwide. Fancy Dress Ball have a range of Michael Jackson costumes inspired by the outfits worn in several of his videos.

The top five artists during the 1980’s were Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, The Smiths and U2, therefore making them ideal sources of inspiration for fancy dress parties.

Kylie Minogue entered into the charts with her first big hit coming from “Locomotion” in 1987. However, who can forget the famous duet with Jason Donovan with followed in 1988, “Especially for You”. Kylie is ideal to draw ideas from if you prefer the girl-next-door look for your fancy dress.

In 1983, David Bowie alone had 10 albums in the UK charts. One of the most iconic men of the 1980s – not just for his music but for his outrageous fashion and hairstyles, he is perfect for a fan of glam rock.

Topping yourself up on this music trivia has no doubt got you pining for the 80s again, so make sure your 80s fancy dress party is full of a fantastic playlist from this amazing decade.

Another way in which the 80s was defined was through its influential television programmes, and the iconic films of the era. Amongst those instantly recognisable are Ghostbusters or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – both of which we at Fancy Dress Ball provide fancy dress costumes for.

Whilst there are many 80s costumes based on music legends, such as Freddie Mercury and Madonna, the popularity of these can often mean costume clashes with other guests at fancy dress parties. For a more unique and unusual approach, why not dress up as a famous video game character, or even a member of The Village People? Fancy Dress Ball can provide customers with a particular video game passion an authentic Mario or Luigi costume, as featured from the Super Mario Brothers and Dinkey Kong games.

Amongst just some of the film-inspired 80s costumes we have available feature famous characters from Beetlejuice, Top Gun and even Robocop.

However, if you were more of a TV enthusiast in the 80s era, why not dress up as someone from your favourite TV show? Featuring in our selection of 80s costumes from the television include Dangermouse, Bananas in Pyjamas and Jess the Cat from Postman Pat.

Dressing up as something – or someone – that you were once, or still passionate about gives you the opportunity to discuss your unique costume choice with other party guests. A guaranteed effective conversation starter, a fancy dress costume provided by Fancy Dress Ball can make the difference between a costume falling flat or wowing the crowd.

If you’re attending an 80s fancy dress party and you’ve decided upon the costume, your complete 80s makeover shouldn’t end there, as the 80s fashion statement was also strongly achieved through the use of accessories. So, take a look at the fantastic range of accessories that Fancy Dress Ball has to over to make sure your 80s fancy dress costume has the ultimate wow-factor.

Hairstyles – the 80s was very influential when it came to hair styles. Men dared to be different with big hair and hairstyles became very androgynous. Why not try:
-    Multi-coloured hair
-    Hair tied in a ponytail to one side
-    Brightly coloured headbands or bandanas
-    Crimped hair
-    Big clips in your hair
-    Hair Bows
-    Messy, big, knotted hair (both male and female)
-    No parting to the hair.

Accessories – these were worn wherever possible – the head, the arms, on the clothing – so be sure to have as many 80s costume accessories as possible:
-    Leg warmers
-    Big Earrings
-    Men wearing one earring in their left ear
-    Bracelets (as many different colours and as many as possible). The rubber bracelets were incredibly popular during this time
-    Black hats; take a look at Boy George’s style to ensure the right type of hat
-    Sunglasses
-    Gloves with no fingers. “Punk gloves” were leather and fingerless. Equally, leather gloves with spikes on them are even more outrageously 80s
-    Leather jewellery with spikes; chokers, bracelets and so on
-    Beads and feathers
-    Bows tied anywhere; e.g. around the waist
-    Leather clothing items with chains attached
-    Beauty Moles
-    Purses and bags that are see-through.

Just looking at this list you can see that almost anything goes in your 80s fancy dress outfit, so be confident and experimental when putting together your fancy dress. You’re sure to find all of these accessories and more here at Fancy Dress Ball.

Michael Jackson – another icon of the 80s that is very easy to impersonate, with the guarantee that people will definitely know who you are at your eighties fancy dress bash. Michael Jackson’s style in the 80s was defined by his music videos and appearances, including “Bad”; which involved red leather jackets and tight trousers. Equally a white glove, glittery jacket, half-mast trousers and aviators will be just as effective.

Adam Ant – who can forget this swashbuckling, stylish man who oozed sex appeal and practically initiated the romantic post-punk movement? Casting aside the denim of the sixties, Adam Ant took on a whole new role for fashion in the 80s. Bearing his trade-mark white face paint across the nose in any setting, you may find yourself repeatedly mistaken for impersonating this 80s icon in fancy dress.

Bon Jovi – hair may be the most appropriate fashion tool to employ here, as Jon Bon Jovi himself made many fashion statements with his big hair – ironically, his music was defined as hair-metal. Using mousse to create volume or a purchasing a wig and a bit of glitter and you’re good to rock up to the party as Bon Jovi. For the 80s costume, there is no such thing as too much denim – denim jeans and a denim jacket should set you well on your way.

Once you’ve chosen your 80s style icon, you’re ready to wow your family and friends at your 80s fancy dress party with your outrageous, sensational 80s fancy dress costume! Fancy Dress Ball have a fantastic range of 80s fancy dress costumes perfect for your fancy dress party.

Gentleman, you may have recoiled at the thought of having to dress up as an 80s star when you heard you were invited to an 80s fancy dress party. However, once you start delving into the many possibilities of characters you could impersonate, you’ll realise you have the perfect excuse to dye your hair, wear face paint – or even just some extrovert clothing. Here are just some of the male fashion icons from the 80s to give you some food for thought and inspiration.

Boy George – if you’re feeling pretty confident for your eighties fancy dress party, and you’d like to do what the 80s did best and make a statement, dressing up as Boy George is the perfect idea for you. Just as Annie Lennox provided the androgynous look for the ladies, Boy George does exactly the same for the gentlemen. With the use of make-up, bows, feminine clothing (not dresses!) and so on, this look symbolises the 80s.

U2 – are you going to an 80s fancy dress party but still want to cling onto some of the security of the present, why not opt for a step back in time with U2? Still fast-selling artists at present, U2 were just as, if not more iconic in the 80s with their statement music taking over from other artist’s use of statement fashion. Due to their more subtle approach to fashion, they are perhaps “cooler” than other more outrageous artists. With the use of leather jackets, big hair and fur collars you’ll soon release the 80s punk-rocker.

For 80′s-inspired looks that light up with authenticity, contact Fancy Dress Ball today for genuine, good-quality fancy dress costumes.

If you’re thinking of having a fancy dress party and aren’t sure what theme to have,why not take a wild step back in time and opt for the 80s? Having an 80s fancy dress party is guaranteed to get everyone dressing up and enjoying themselves as they relive their lives over twenty years ago. Fancy Dress Ball can make you look absolutely sensational with their fantastic 80s costumes, but here’s what you need to do to make sure your party goes with a swing!

Why not dig out some old 80s games you may have lurking at the back of your cupboard? Or, if you don’t have any, then picking some up at car boot sales or on eBay, or even asking a friend will no doubt guarantee trivia fun for your party. Whilst some games at parties can be tedious for guests, having an 80s trivia game will also help the step back in time as you quiz them on their knowledge of the time they all knew and loved.

If you’re having your 80s fancy dress party at an event hall with a dance floor, nothing will set the theme and excitement than an 80s soundtrack. Having this playing will almost certainly get everything thinking, or at least wishing, they were still living in the 80s.

If you are playing games, or would like party bags/gifts for your guests, why not have an 80s theme revolving around this too? Things like bandanas, bright hairspray, cool sunglasses, wigs and so on are fantastic gifts that will just add to the 80s fancy dress theme and certainly entertain your guests – all of which are all available at Fancy Dress Ball.

Annie Lennox – should definitely be a contender in one of your 80s fancy dress icon ideas, as Annie herself was an entirely different icon to all the others. Completely unique in her fashion, Annie was as bold and outrageous as the rest and is often referred to as the “androgyny diva” (dressing to both male and female fashions) which was also incorporated in Boy George’s fashion. Annie Lennox isn’t only someone that should remain confined to the 80s fancy dress party as she her fashion trend can still be seen to this very day.

Olivia Newton-John – this style icon gives you a whole host of possibilities. If you take her career as a singer, you could find yourself covered from head to toe in lycra. Or, you could adopt her super sexy style from her character Sandy in Grease, again wearing spandex trousers and tight tops. However, if you’d like to tone down the outrageous dress sense of the eighties fancy dress party you could also dress in the classic Sandy costume from Grease, with the chic girl-next-door look.

Molly Ringwald – she was so 80’s, with her glamorous attitude both in the film Pretty in Pink and in real life celebrity stardom. Everyone wanted to be like her, so why not take the opportunity to now?

If you’ve been invited to an 80s fancy dress party, it’s the ideal opportunity to dress like the childhood icons you all loved and adored. With glamorous costumes, Fancy Dress Ball offer a wide range of 80s fancy dress outfits for you to choose from, so you’ll soon be an 80s style icon in your own right!

The eighties has always seemed like the decade in which the unofficial female revolution took place, and women finally saw it fit to dress in whatever way they wanted – however outrageous. If you’re attending or hosting an 80’s fancy dress party, here’s a fantastic rundown on some of the inspirational ladies of the music world that took us by storm during this influential decade.

Madonna – of course Madonna became a style icon of this time and with the eccentricity of her outfits, girls dared to be different. Some of her costumes were outrageously provocative, with suspenders, garters and lacy tights being just some of the clothing items featuring in her stage wardrobe. Therefore, becoming Madonna for the eighties fancy dress night is the perfect excuse to go out dressed like you’ve never dared to before. Don the coned bra, the wild hair, the red lips and the gorgeous corset and you’re bound to steal the show just like Madonna herself.

Cyndi Lauper – the lady that just wanted girls to have fun. However, her song “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” shows the empowering sexual appeal Cyndi and other style icons of the 80s gave young women. With Cyndi’s overall wardrobe style being more punk than Madonna’s, she too allowed girls to dare to be different. Adopting her style for fancy dress would entail chic vintage dresses, bright colours and so on.

Debbie Harry – glamorous, gorgeous, sophisticated… a sure fire way to add the glam to your 80s fancy dress party. With blonde wigs, red lips and gorgeous outfits, becoming Debbie Harry for the night won’t fail to make you feel like the most glamorous woman in the world.

Fancy Dress Ball provide a host of authentic eighties-inspired fancy dress costumes to make any 1980′s themed fancy dress party a night to remember.