The 80s were a golden age for many reasons, but chief among them was the fashion, at least for the ladies anyway. It is no wonder that 80s fancy dress parties are huge right now as ladies fall out of taxis dressed as Madonna, Princess Di and even Margaret Thatcher. There were some ladies fashion ideas that are uniquely 80s, and these can be applied to make your 80s fancy dress costume look perfect!

Shoulder pads

All manner of ladies dresses and tops had large shoulder pads that made women look like NFL quarterbacks. This style was made popular by glamorous, feisty women in TV shows such as ‘Dallas’ and ‘Dynasty’ and went on to define eighties power women, making them perfect for imitating in fancy dress costumes.

Accessories

Madonna practically funded the accessories industry in the 80s by wearing single earrings, fluorescent beads, and plum coloured hair. She was a female fashion icon and girls across the world copied her penchant for fingerless gloves, tight laced corsets and fishnet tights.

Make-up

80s make-up was characterised by bold, pink cheek bones and painted eyes. Any colour of eyeshadow would do, with bright blues and greens being favourites. Eyeliner was plentiful and shiny red lipstick was a given.

Ladies 80s fancy dress costumes can be any length of dress or skirt and can be complemented by most colours of make-up and accessories. Be bold and bright, add some stockings and fingerless gloves and your 80s fancy dress costume won’t be too far wrong.

When it comes to 80s fancy dress parties, one of the coolest costumes for men has to be that of the 80’s most iconic pop star – Michael Jackson. Although Michael Jackson had been a star from his youth in the Jackson Five, it was in the 1980s that he became a global superstar with his thrilling music videos and amazing dance routines. Never resting on his laurels, Michael Jackson was diverse in his style as well as his music, meaning there is plenty of scope for your 80s fancy dress costumes.

Of course, the white socks and black shoes are the obvious choice for whichever fancy dress outfits you choose, but there are also the red leather trousers to consider with the classic red and black leather jacket. If you prefer his look from the ‘Billie Jean’ era then you will need a black tea-shirt and a white suit. However, if you want to be completely unique then you could really go the extra mile by ransacking the Halloween costume department and announcing yourself as a zombie from the ‘Thriller’ music video.

Remember, Michael Jackson still had afro hair in the early 1980’s so this can be another string to your bow as there are lots of 80s fancy dress wigs available to complete the look. No matter what Michael Jackson costume you choose, you are sure to make quite an impact at your 80s fancy dress party; just be sure to practice your moonwalk!

For a wide range of accessories suitable for creating an authentic Michael Jackson look, browse the Fancy Dress Ball website.

So, you’ve finally got your 80s fancy dress party sorted: the food, the 80’s fancy dress costumes – but is there anything missing? Well, if you really want your 80s fancy dress party to be one to remember, why not host some 80s party games?

Whilst you might assume that party games are more appropriate to kids parties, some 1980s fancy dress party games are a great way to help your guests break the ice at an 80s party, as well as ensuring that everyone has a whole lotta fun!

Now whilst there aren’t necessarily any traditional party games that immediately suggest the eighties, that doesn’t mean that games can’t be adapted for an eighties fancy dress party. For example, a classic party game such as musical statues can be adapted for a 1980s theme simply by using 1980s party anthems instead of modern songs.

Alternatively you could invent some brand new 1980s party games – what could be more fun than that? Basically, the only thing that limits what kind 1980s fancy dress party games that you play is your imagination, and some great examples of 1980s party games include 1980s name that tune, and a 1980s fancy dress contest!

Of course whilst party games will really turn up the party atmosphere, the fundamentals of an 80s fancy dress party are the costumes, and at Fancy Dress Ball you can find loads of great 80s party outfits all at great prices!

So, you’ve decided to host a fancy dress party. Well whilst fancy dress parties are unsurpassed in terms of fun, there is a problem – how do you choose the perfect fancy dress party theme?

Well one idea, could be to choose a theme that is pretty broad. For example, rather than simply choosing an 80s fancy dress party, you could instead opt for a 20th century theme party – which will give your guests a near unlimited choice of costume options!

60s Outfits

The 1960s was perhaps the birth of fashion, and there are some simple ways to create a 60s look that will really make an impact at a fancy dress party. You could, for example, go for the hippie look with some coloured sunglasses and some longed haired wigs – not to mention some flairs and headbands!

80s Outfits

The eighties is like no other decade in that it provides a fancy dress party with loads and loads of diverse party looks. For example, an eighties fancy dress party goer could opt for some iconic shoulder pads, or could replicate the look of an 80s icon such as Jacko or Madonna.

Other Decades

Whilst the 60s and the 80s are perhaps the decades most associated with style – there is no reason why you cant draw on other decades for inspiration. For example, taking inspiration from the 90s, you could opt for some MC Hammer parachute pants!

Whilst fashion is perhaps the most important factor when throwing a 1980s fancy dress party, affording your guests with loads and loads of costume options, if you really want your 1980s fancy dress party to be success then you should also try and decorate the party venue appropriately.

Luckily, it wasn’t just the fashion that was popular in the 80s, and there are a whole host of 80s cultural landmarks that provide the perfect inspiration for that 80s fancy dress party.

For example, if your hosting a 1980s fancy dress house party, then you might consider decorating your walls with some classic 80s posters – these could either be music or 80s film posters – such as the famous back to the future or Ghostbusters movie posters – or you could opt for iconic images of some 80s legends, such as Madonna or Michael Jackson.

Of course, 1980s posters is just one way to decorate for a 1980s fancy dress party, and you could also try to re-recreate an 80s dance-floor complete with a disco-ball and some neon lighting. Even better you could hire a genuine 80s DJ, to play all those memorable 1980s party anthems!

Whilst the heart of an 80s fancy dress party will be the clothes – whether its shoulder pads or leg-warmers – by including some 80s decoration you will really add to the 80s atmosphere, ensuring that your 80s party is one to remember.

The 1980s is perhaps the perfect inspiration for a fancy dress party. However, it is perhaps a little too perfect, and such are the options that the 80s provides the potential 1980s fancy dress party planner that it can be difficult knowing exactly what to include.  As a starting point, however, you might consider incorporating some 1980s food into your 1980s fancy dress party plan.

Now the 1980s isn’t perhaps the most food-centric decade, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of ideas for 80s party food that will really help to foster the 80s fancy dress party atmosphere. Depending on how old you were in the 80s there are certain brands and kinds of food that just scream the 1980s. For example, if your guests where youngsters in the 80s then sweets and the like will give your party a nostalgic twist, alternatively you could opt for some familiar 80s brands, such as Whispas or Wham Bars.

You may even decide to base the food choices on popular culture references from the eighties, or even TV shows such as Bananas in Pyjamas! Whilst incorporating 80s food is one way to cater for a 80s fancy dress party – there is another way. For example, you could theme your food to represent certain 80s ideas – so, for example, you could host a yuppie feast complete with sushi and champagne!

When planning an 1980s fancy dress party, the food is often overlooked, which is understandable as unlike a decade such as the 70s, the 80s does not suggest many food ideas – however, with a bit of creativity is definitely possible to create a perfect 80s banquet!

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.

Even though the 80s was three decades ago, it has never really gone out of fashion. Mobile phones started to come out in the 80s, as did some of our greatest pop-stars, such as Madonna to name but one. With this in mind then, the 1980s provides the perfect template for a fancy dress party, as not only are there a wealth of 80s fancy dress options, but even if your guests weren’t around for the 80s they are likely to understand the references.

So, what are the options for 80s fancy dress?

Well, were do we start? How you choose to throw an 80s fancy dress party will depend on a few factors. For example, if you and your friends have a clear recollection of the 80s, then you’ll probably get away with some obscure film and music references.

On the other hand, if you and your guests are on the younger side, then the chances are that some of the more obscure references might be lost on people who where young in the 80s. With this in mind, decorate your party with some immediately recognisable 80s icons – or better yet choose a theme that still has relevance in the modern day – such as a Madonna theme.

Right, so you’ve been won over to the idea of 80s fancy dress, but where do you get the gear? Well at Fancy Dress Ball we’ve got everything you’ll ever need to host the perfect fancy dress party – 80s or otherwise.

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!

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.