The 1980s was a decade of creativity, whether it’s the homemade fashions of pop-starlets like Madonna, or the home-made tune-age of 80’s punk bands. It is only right, therefore, that 80’s fancy dress costumes live up to that creative 80’s ideal, and that you get creative with your 80’s outfits for fancy dress parties.

For example, there are some obvious 80s outfits, such as a Madonna costume for the ladies or a Ghostbusters’s costume for the gentlemen, and whilst these are great and iconic 80s outfits they lack a little originality. So, why not mix things up a little? Perhaps if you’re a girl you could go as a Ghostbuster, or if you’re a guy you could go as Madonna – guaranteed to make an impact at any eighties party!

Another great way to make an impact with your 80s fancy dress costumes is to coordinate them. This could be as simple as colour matching with some eighties Day-Glo accessories, or you could push the boat out and go as the two leads form Dirty Dancing – jut be prepared to show everyone a few dance moves!

These, of course, are just a couple of ideas, and the possibility for 80’s fancy dress costumes is only as limited as your imagination allows. For example, rather than dressing as an iconic eighties individual, why not dress as an iconic 80s object such as a famous eighties board game, like Twister! Alternatively, you could go as that iconic car we all remember: the Delorean from Back to the Future!

Whilst the 1980s is fertile ground for fancy dress, there are so many potential 80s fancy dress costumes that choosing what to wear can be a real challenge. Whilst it is possible to create some really complex and authentic 80s looks, it is important not to overlook the obvious.

Remember – fancy dress is all about impact and fun, and therefore you should be less interested in looking good and more committed to creating a 1980s look that will be truly memorable. With this in mind, one of the best ways to create maximum eighties impact with minimal effort is by choosing an appropriate wig.

The eighties is famous for its exuberant hairstyles, and therefore the hair is a great focus for 80’s fancy dress. Whilst on the one hand you could go the whole nine yards and have your hair dyed or styled to an 80s ideal, this is perhaps only for the most committed fancy dressers! Instead you could create an fabulous 80s hair look just with a great wig!

So, what makes a good eighties wig? Well eighties hair came in a variety of looks, for example, the 1980s was famous for its Day-Glo colours, which means a brightly coloured shocking pink wig would be ideal for an 80s fancy dress party. Of course the 80s was also renowned for its rock n roll, which means long hair or mullet wigs are just the ticket to create that instant eighties effect.

The 1980s was a decade of powerful women. Whether it’s the femme fatales of Dallas or Dynasty or it’s pop superstars like Madonna – the 1980s was the first decade that was truly defined by its women. This makes an 1980s fancy dress party perfect for girls, who will not only have loads of style options to choose from, but will have plenty of female 80s style icons to imitate with fancy dress.

Undoubtedly the queen of 80s fashion was Madonna, and therefore she is the ideal template for 80s outfits. In fact her 80s styles where so diverse that choosing exactly what Madonna look to go for is a real challenge. Of course you don’t have to go the whole hog and dress entirely as Madonna, and you could use her style to inspire a more modest look by, for example, wearing some large earrings and having your hair teased.

If a Madonna costume is a little to obvious for your tastes, never fear, as she’s not the only 80s superstar. In fact there are loads of other female stars that are perfect for drawing inspiration from for 80s outfits! For example, perhaps you are going as a couple, in which case you and your partner could opt for the iconic style of Dirty Dancing. Or maybe you want to truly make an impact, in which case the flamboyant style of Cyndi Lauper is a great fancy dress look to copy.

The 1980s was the decade of icons, from iconic bands like Duran Duran, to iconic TV stars like Mr T. The 1980s, however, is perhaps most famous for its iconic film stars, which makes it the perfect template for a fancy dress party.

In particular 1980s film stars offer some great style ideas for men’s 1980s fancy dress, and, if your struggling to come up with an eighties fancy dress costume, dressing like an 80s male style icon is a great way to go.

Ghostbusters

Perhaps the most iconic of all the 80s films is Ghostbusters, and therefore it is easily one of the best eighties fancy dress costumes available. Whether you want to go as a Bill Murray’s “Peter Venkman” character or Dan Ackroyd’s “Ray” character, a Ghostbusters’s costume is a simple but highly effective way to make an 80s impact.

Patrick Swayze

If you feeling particularly flamboyant you might opt for Patrick Swayze’s “dirty dancing” look, which consists basically of a black leotard. Of course this eighties costume is not for the faint hearted, but it will make dancing that little bit easier! Also, the dirty dancing look is best pulled off by a twosome, so is a great option for a couple.

Mr T

Although technically not a film icon, Mr T deserves a special mention, basically because he is just so iconic. Not only that but he is also the perfect template for 1980s fancy dress, as not only is his look instantly recognisable but it is also pretty easy to pull off with some fake gold chains.

Today we are spoilt for choice for style icons, whether for everyday fashion or ideas for fancy dress costumes, and we might assume that we are the only decade to really experience what a celebrity culture is. However, there was a decade when trendsetters where not only famous, but also true style icons – the 1980s. It is this distinction that makes the 80s the real celebrity decade.

Unlike today, where celebrity is more often than not short-lived, in the 1980s icons where so memorable that they are still as famous as they ever were, which means that hosting a 1980s fancy dress party will not only be a nostalgia fest but it will appeal even to people who weren’t around in the 80s.

So, who exactly are these 1980s icons? The King of Pop Michael Jackson was at his best in the 1980s and single handedly defined the era with his iconic songs and his defining tracks – even more so his outstanding presence in everyday media. What better template for an eighties fancy dress party, as not only will you be able to draw upon a whole library of looks, but you will have loads of party anthems to play that are guaranteed to get guests into the eighties moonwalking mood.

Of course the eighties wasn’t all about Jacko, and Madonna was equally symbolic of the flamboyance and exuberance of eighties styles, which makes her the ideal template for an 80s fancy dress party. Of course a Madonna costume is perhaps most effective when worn by ladies, but don’t be afraid to let your guests know that humour is on the cards for fancy dress costumes, too – you may even get some of the male guests turning up as Madonna!

People usually think of the 1960s when they consider the ultimate party decade, but it was only in the 1980s when parties really reached their apex – why? Well with the most flamboyant fashions, and most memorable party anthems, the 1980s truly was a decade of party fun.

The 1980s was particularly memorable because it was so bright. With Day-Glo and florescent fashion at the heart of 80’s style, this means that for 80s costumes you need to ratchet up the bright colours to the max for an authentic fancy dress costume. For example, you could embellish your 80s costumes with some shocking pink jewellery or some neon leg warmers.

The 1980s was a decade of excess, and this means the fashion too! Therefore with 80s costumes you should dress to high excess. For example, you should definitely go overboard with the jewellery and accessories wherever possible to achieve that overdone 80′s look.

The challenge with 1980s fancy dress is that there are just so many options, so choosing accessories can be a little daunting. With this in mind, choosing an 80s theme is a particularly good idea as not only will it help you to choose a fancy dress costume, but it will also help with the choice of music and decor for the party venue itself.

A Madonna costume, for example – whilst giving you plenty of style templates and a whole library of classic party anthems – will also afford you plenty of options – from material girl Madonna to vogue Madonna.

With arguably the best music, and probably the best style icons, the 1980s is the perfect template for a fancy dress party. However, if you want to truly throw the most memorable 1980s fancy dress party then you need to go beyond music and costumes, and turn your house into an 80s paradise!

Posters

Where other decades had wallpaper the 1980s had posters, and therefore putting up a few posters of 80s icons or iconic film posters is a simple and an affordable way to transform a room into an 80s haven, so why not dig out those old 80s posters or track some down online?

Gadgets

The 1980s was also a decade that was full of iconic gadgets. Whether its Walkmans or ZX Spectrums – and incorporating some 80s gadgets into a 1980s fancy dress party is a great way to create that recognisable 1980s aesthetic. You could use gadgets merely as decoration, or better yet, if you’re luckily enough to still have some functioning 1980s technology you could create a fully interactive 1980s centre-piece.

Films

Of course no 1980s fancy dress party would be complete without some 80’s tunes, but have you ever considered putting 80’s films at the centre of your party? This could mean decorating your home with 80’s film posters, or even better you could even make films the centre-piece of your 1980s fancy dress party and put them on TV.

At Fancy Dress Ball, we have got all of your authentic 1980s costume needs taken care of. With fancy dress costumes inspired by traditional 80s looks, music icons and films of the decade, we are your one stop shop for affordability and quality.

The modern world is an amazing place. However, in large doses all that modernity can get a little tiresome – the solution? Why not take a break from the present and relive the past – and in particular, the 1980s.

Remember the 1980s? A time when technology was still blossoming, and space invaders was considered cutting edge. Well why not take a time machine to that exciting decade, with a 1980s fancy dress party?

There is a reason why the 1980s shines so brightly (or fluorescently!) in the memory, and this is because it was a decade of great fashion and even better parties. So, what better theme for a fancy dress ball than the 1980s?

For example, you could ditch that modern style and break out the day-glo, which will guarantee a party that glows with 80s fun, even when the lights are out!

Or why not draw upon your 80s back catalogue to provide a 1980s fancy dress soundtrack that is guaranteed to get keep the party going, long into the night.

Of course, perhaps the most memorable thing about the 1980s was the movies. And with films like Ghostbusters or Beetlejuice, with a 1980s fancy dress party, you will never be short of great ideas for a party theme.

There’s surely nothing better than a nice big dollop of nostalgia, and with a 1980s fancy dress party not only will you be able to relive those nostalgic memories – but you can do it in style.

Everybody knows that there’s no better theme for a fancy dress party than an 80’s fancy dress theme! But why exactly do we love fancy dress, and what makes the 1980s such a perfect fancy dress theme?

Fancy dress is such a popular format for parties for a variety of reasons. Firstly it allows a partygoer to really inhabit a whole new character, which makes it much easier for them to break the ice and lose those inhibitions! Also it affords the party planner (and partygoer) with a whole load of party possibilities, whether it’s choosing the music, based on perhaps a specific 80’s fancy dress party theme, or its deciding exactly what your going to wear – a fancy dress party makes it easy!

So, fancy dress parties are a idea for a variety of reasons – but how do you go about hosting one? Well if you want to make things easier on yourself as well as your guests, it is a good idea to choose a specific theme for your party. For example an 80’s fancy dress theme will be pretty easy to organise, as not only will you most likely have plenty of 80’s anthems on your iPod, but you guests will also be able to embellish their 80s costumes with items from their own wardrobe – whether its Mr T style gold chains, or an oversize 80s jacket.

Planning a party can be a stressful occasion, and unless you engage in a thorough logistical exercise you could find it difficult to keep your head above water. However, fancy dress parties need not be like this, and by setting a theme for your bash, you will find that organising our party is not only easy, but a whole lot of fun.

Let’s say you chose an 80s fancy dress theme. Immediately this affords you with a whole pantheon of potential party options. For example, 80s fancy dress immediately gives you plenty of options for 80s costumes, such as leg warmers or shoulder pads. In fact the 80s was so synonymous with fashion that the possibilities are endless!

Keeping with the 80s fancy dress theme, you will be able to draw upon a rich catalogue of 80s music. What fancy dress party would be complete without some great tunes! Whether you want to play music all from one iconic star, or whether you want to play a mixture of 80s party anthems.

On a similar note, if you want to host a really unique 80s party, then you could focus your theme on a specific icon – it just so happens that the 1980s is full of them. For example, you could host a Michael Jackson theme or a Madonna theme, which not only gives you access to some great 80s costumes options, but all a fantastic back catalogue of awesome party songs.