Perhaps unlike any other decade, the 80s was responsible to a whole host of no-nos, from no-nos in music to no-nos in fashion. Of course, these faux pas examples have their uses, and if you really want your eighties fancy dress costume party to go off with a bang then you’ve just got to indulge in some of the decade’s biggest embarassing mistakes.

Perhaps the most fertile ground for no-nos in the eighties was fashion – one need only say mullet or shoulder pads to send a chill down anybody’s spine. However, such is the nature of 80s fashion with its exuberance and theatre that it is the perfect template for a fancy dress party. With this in mind, there are a few easy tips to really set off 1980s fancy dress outfits. For example, you could opt for day-glo colours, or embellish an outfit with some 80s accessories such as oversize bangles.

Of course an true 80s fancy dress party should go beyond costumes, and if you really want to create an 80s atmosphere then you’re going to want some 80s anthems. The options for this are diverse, and range from iconic hits from 80s legends such as Michael Jackson and Madonna to more obscure hits from 80s electro pioneers such as Gary Numan. Of course, the 80s is also home to plenty of musical no-nos such as cheesy dance anthems, and dare I say it, flamboyant artists such as Duran Duran or Adam and the Ants.

Whatever 80s theme you choose, by incorporating some no-nos into your 80s fancy dress party you can be certain that your party is one to remember.

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.