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.

If you are planning an eighties fancy dress party, you’ll want to make sure that all the little finishing touches are done to give your party an authentic feel. After you have chosen your 80’s costumes, you can then look at adding the extra touches to your party, and you’ll find loads of ideas on how to do this in the accessories section of the Fancy Dress Ball website.

There are things you can do yourself to give the room where you are holding the fancy dress party an eighties look. As well as hanging posters from that period on the walls, you could place a couple of eighties toys around the room, for example a Rubix Cube and Executive toys, like a Newton’s Cradle. And when it comes to the type of food you will be serving, don’t forget the cheese and pineapple sticks and prawn cocktails!

But the most important element of an eighties fancy dress party is of course, the outfit you will wear. If you are the hostess of the 1980s fancy dress party, why not consider a Madonna costume? She was perhaps the most famous face of the eighties, so you will certainly stand out if you do decide to choose a Madonna costume as your 80’s fancy dress. And if you wear a Madonna costume, how about your partner wearing an outfit from Top Gun? You will find these and hundreds of other ideas for 1980’s fancy dress on the website, so all you have to do is decide which look to go for!

The first 80s outfits most people think of are the ones that look like the clothes worn by rock stars of the era, be it glam rock, new wave, punk, or whatever you used to listen to as kids or young adults. It’s true that those are the 80s outfits that really defined the fashions of the decade, but there are other things we all associate with the 80s. It was also the golden age of Saturday morning cartoons, for example.

With that in mind, we’ve got a range of cartoon-related 80s fancy dress costumes that will impress on two levels. First, they are high-quality costumes, instantly recognisable and sure to bring back a flood of fond memories from other party guests. Second, they take a different route to most 80s fancy dress costumes. Do something different and you’ll stand out from the crowd.

The Danger Mouse costume is wonderful. A true icon of the age and a favourite for millions of 80s kids, you can find Danger Mouse in the men’s 80s fancy dress – but he’s really suitable for anyone. We’ve also go He-Man, Skeletor, and She-Ra. They are especially effective if you can form a group of three and arrive together. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is another great group theme.

Other 80s television fancy dress includes Flash Gordon and Ming the Merciless, Postman Pat, and Ghostbusters – including a more feminine version for ladies. Have a look through the catalogue and see what you remember best from Saturday mornings long past.

There are a huge range of 80s fancy dress costumes for men and women in the 80s costumes section, but elsewhere in the catalogue there are a few gems that hark back to the 80s, or can be used to create the right effect.

Have a look through the general wig section as well as the 80s-specific one. There you’ll find a wider selection of wigs and of course the essential brushy 80s fancy dress moustache. There isn’t an 80s costume it doesn’t go with, either as part of the theme or for comedy value, but moustaches are a key element in many costumes, so they are housed in with the rest of the collection.

Cartoons and superheroes can also be found under their own sections, as well as in the 80s categories. Danger Mouse and He-Man are in the men’s 80s fancy dress section but if you were most attached to Batman as a child, you can find him in the Superhero fancy dress section because he is relevant to more than one specification. The same goes for Loony Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny – look through the cartoon fancy dress section before making a decision. Check out the movies as well, to find some you will remember from the 80s.

There’s also a huge selection of hats to go with any outfit, as well as costume jewellery and sunglasses. Choosing a costume and everything to go with it is all part of the fun, so take your time and enjoy browsing through the different sections of our site.

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.

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.