How many times have you been to a fancy dress party in an outfit that you threw toether at the last minute without much thought, and then spent the night wishing that you’d put a bit more effort and imagination into it? If this sounds familiar, there’s no need to find yourself in this position again thanks to Fancy Dress Ball, a website that gives you hundreds of great ideas for fancy dress costumes.

If you have had an invitation to an eighties fancy dress party, then this is the place to look for the costume that will make you stand out from the crowd. The Fancy Dress Ball website has sections covering every type of fancy dress, and the eighties section is full of great ideas, from a Madonna costume through to Top Gun and Ghostbuster outfits for the boys.

One of the most iconic images from the eighties is Freddie Mercury during the Live Aid concert, and if you like the idea of being Freddie for the night, you can buy an outfit from the website. The only thing you’ll have to supply is the trademark moustache, or you could perhaps buy a stick-on one.

Madonna is still going strong today, but during the eighties she was the biggest selling act throughout the decade, which is why she is so strongly linked to that period. If you want to stand out from the crowd at that 1980’s fancy dress party, have a look at the Madonna costumes on the website and imagine yourself vogueing the night away.

When you think about the 1980s there are a number of people from the world of showbusiness who stand out from the rest. Madonna is perhaps the main icon of that decade, as is Michael Jackson, and these are just two who have inspired the hundreds of eighties fancy dress ideas on the Fancy Dress Ball website. Eighties fancy dress parties have never been so popular, and while it could be argued that all you have to do to achieve the 80’s costumes look is wear a tea towel over your shoulders and claim to be one of Spandau Ballet, you’ll want a more professional look than that if you are planning to organise an 80’s fancy dress party, or you have been invited to one.

The eighties was a time of big hair and even bigger shoulder pads. And that was just the men, so if you are thinking of going to a party in 80’s fancy dress the Fancy Dress Ball website will have something for you. An Officer and a Gentleman was one of the biggest hits in the cinema in the eighties, and you can buy Officer outfits from the 80’s costumes section of the website.

Top Gun was another huge box office success, and an outfit similar to that worn by Tom Cruise is sure to be a big hit with the ladies when you turn up at your 80’s fancy dress party. And if you’re a bit on the tall side, you can always say that you’ve come as that bloke who was Tom’s sidekick in the film.

It’s not that long ago that seventies-themed parties were the most popular type of fancy dress party, but that seems to have changed recently in favour of 80’s fancy dress parties. The people at Fancy Dress Ball cater for all kinds of costumes to suit every occasion, so if you are planning to hold an eighties fancy dress party, or you’ve just had an invitation to one, you will be able to see the wide range of 80’s costumes on their website.

Fancy Dress Ball are always looking for new ideas which will make you stand out at the eighties fancy dress party, or whatever type of fancy dress occasion you have planned.  So whatever kind of eighties outfit you are looking for, you will find it on the website, everything from a Ghostbusters outfit – complete with a back pack to zap any ghouls who might be at the same party – through to a Top Gun outfit. In between these two extremes you can choose 80’s outfits which will make you look like Freddie Mercury or one of the Village People. It all depends on how outrageous you want to at the eighties fancy dress party.

If you are going for the shock approach, how about the men’s bling suit which comes in a suitably shocking pink? If that is a bit too much, you can buy the same suit in red, but whichever one you choose it’s sure to make an impression on your fellow party-goers. You can buy online from the website, so what are you waiting for? Get looking and make sure that you look the part in your 80’s outfits when you turn up at that eighties fancy dress party.

If you are looking for the perfect outfit for an eighties fancy dress party, you’ve come to the right place! Fancy Dress Ball have a fantastic range of 80’s costumes if you are planning to either hold an eighties themed party or you’ve just had an invitation to one.

If you’re a lady and want to make a real impression at the party, how about a Madonna fancy dress costume? Madge may still be making her mark on the charts today, but she is the ultimate eighties icon, so if you want people to notice you when you enter the room, have a look at the Madonna costume on the Fancy Dress Ball website.

You’ll probably think of 80’s costumes consisting of Dynasty-style big shoulders and rah-rah skirts, and you’ll be able find outfits like this for your eighties fancy dress party, but the people at Fancy Dress Ball have given a lot of thought to the 80’s costumes they offer. If you want to go to a party as a Rock Chick – Joan Jett was big in the 80’s and it’s still a great look – you’ll find the right outfit for you.

One of the best aspects of choosing your eighties fancy dress from Fancy Dress Ball is that it’s yours to keep. They don’t hire out 80’s costumes but sell them to you, so they are in pristine condition, brand new and in your size, which isn’t the case when you are hiring an eighties fancy dress or any other type of outfit.

Musicians may have been the great fashion leaders of the decade, and we have plenty of eighties fancy dress outfits with that theme, but there are other icons that were no less important at the time. There are two key factors in great 80’s costumes – or any fancy dress. One is picking a theme and sticking with it, adding as much detail as you can. The second is picking a novel and interesting theme that other people might not have thought of. That way, your 80’s costume is sure to start more conversations and get you more creativity points than one that took the more travelled road.

Have a look in the eighties fancy dress section and see what makes you smile with fond nostalgia first. Who were the real style icons of the 80’s?

Everyone remembers Baywatch. David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson are still famous for it, even though it was cancelled years ago. Skimpy red swimwear, bulging arms and running up and down beaches of golden sand were the centrepieces of every episode, and were as popular here in the damp, cold UK as they were around the world. We have Baywatch 80’s costumes in both the men’s and women’s sections. The big red float is included, and added padding for the comedic effect is optional.

The Village People were defined by their individual and collective style, and set the scene for the celebration and reinvention of everyday uniforms that characterised the 80’s. Get a group together and pick a costume each. It’s guaranteed to get people doing the YMCA dance at an 80s fancy dress party.

As with all fancy dress, you can achieve a lot with a few small details. If you don’t want to go all out and get a full 80s costume, that doesn’t mean you can’t turn up to the party and fit right in with the theme. The addition of a few carefully chosen accessories can make all the difference.

The most obvious element is hair, and that’s what a lot of people associate most strongly with the era. An 80s fancy dress wig will make almost any outfit pass muster at a costume party. Go for volume or bright colours. A big platinum blonde perm is the icon of the age, but a fluorescent bob will do just fine, and women can add ponytails and hair scrunchies for extra effect. For men, think power ballad. A bush of curls is ideal, or if you’re taking a really minimalist approach to 80s fancy dress, get your hands on some really thick gel or wax and create something with your own hair.

Moustaches are great too, for men or women looking for a little extra fun. It should be dark and brushy, and doesn’t need to match hair colour at all. In fact, there is a lot to be said for the blonde wig and black moustache combination at an 80s costume party. Find our moustache collection in the general wigs and moustaches section.

Sweatbands for the wrists and forehead were all the rage, and they were pretty much restricted to the 80s, so they’re guaranteed to make any outfit iconic. A very simple jogging outfit can be transformed into a fancy dress masterpiece with some sweatbands and a wig, or maybe a tennis-style visor cap.

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.

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.

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.

One key feature of 80s fashion was its use (and overuse!) of accessories. Whilst back in the day this led to some practical issues regrding fashion, but nowadays it affords us some fabulous oppourtunities in terms of 80s fancy dress.

Bracelets and bangles are a simple way to add a bit of 80s extravagance to any outfit, and are a great way to add an authentic finish to any 80s fancy dress. To give that characteristic 80s feel, you should opt for bangles that are oversized and brightly coloured – preferably in 80s colours, like neon and shocking pinks.

To truly exude 80s glamour you’ll need to spend a lot attention getting your hair just right; ideally, 80s fancy dress hair should be as big as possible, teased and should be clipped or tied by a bulky 80s hair band. If you don’t have big hair, a great solution is to were a novelty wig – that way you can be sure of getting your 80s hair just right!

Some fingerless gloves are a great way of adding a stylish element to any 1980s fancy dress costume, and will immediately add a little Madonna-style to your costume

Sweatbands of any colour will do, but for the definitive 1980s fancy dress costume feel you should opt for are Day-GLO colours. Sweatbands are great fancy dress accessories because they cause maximum impact for little cost – and will absorb all your party sweat!