You say ‘eighties fancy dress‘, you think ‘neon fishnet, big hair and crazy make-up!’ Not everyone lived through the 80s quite so merrily, so if that’s not really your cup of tea, here are a few of our favourite alternatives that pay homage to the great decade of ridiculousness!

Cartoon Character 80s Outfits
If you’re a child of the 80s you’ll know just how difficult it is to choose a favourite! But, if we’re forced to choose a Fancy Dress Ball favourite of the day, it has to be the time honoured partnering of He-Man and She-Ra (He-Man kind of makes sense as a name, but why She-“Ra”?)  The He-Man costume features a full body suit (so no need to panic about just wearing a pair of what are, essentially, red trunks!)

Tasty Delights
For many, the 80s was a decade of weird processed foods! We love fancy dress costumes that focus on all the weirdo food present in the average 80s household. Our food of the day is… SPAM! The Spam Can Costume is an awesome costume alternative!

Games and Fun
Our two 80s games of the day – Super Mario and Twister! Take your pick from the bunch of Super Mario characters we stock, including Princess Peach, Toad and the revered Italian super plumber himself! For couples (or just folks obsessed with Twister!) there’s the brilliant option of male and female Twister costumes, both featuring a dapper Twister board headdress!

While trends for parties come and go, the fancy dress party is a constant when it comes to having a fun time with friends. There are hundreds of ideas for an adult fancy dress party, but occasionally we can get stuck when it comes to inspiration for what to wear. One of the most popular themes is the Eighties party, so if you like the idea of dressing up like Adam Ant or Boy George for the night, there is only one place to go to find the perfect outfit. Fancy Dress Ball have a great reputation for supplying top quality outfits for parties, including sexy fancy dress costumes, 80s outfits and if you really want to go wild, there is a great range of 70s fancy dress ideas on our website.

Sexy fancy dress costumes are really popular, and one of the reasons for this is they allow you to dress in a way you perhaps normally wouldn’t. When you wear these outfits in a fancy dress environment, it’s a fun thing, but you can be sure to draw some admiring glances from the men who are at the party! The same thing applies to the guys as well, so why not think about something you normally wouldn’t wear, such as a uniform based on the military or the police? Whatever you are looking for when it comes to fancy dress, you are sure to find it on the website, and once you’ve made your choice , your costumes can be delivered to you as early as the following day.

Fancy dress has been around for a long time. After all, people enjoy getting the chance to masquerade as someone else for a bit of fun!

In the past, this may have involved considerable effort. Because there were not many products available to buy in shops, it was often necessary for people to make their own fancy dress costumes, which could take a long time and also required creative flare.

So, those people who lacked the necessary know-how, materials, time and skills found achieving the look they required tricky.

However, these days there are so many readymade products to choose from that there is no need to stress about the process. It is not only shops on the high street that have offerings galore, but also firms that operate online, such as us here at Fancy Dress Ball.

Whether it is super hero attire, historical ensembles, 80s outfits or anything else you desire, we may well have what you are after. And, because we take orders and arrange deliveries over the web, you do not even have to leave the comfort of your home or office in order to source the items.

The convenience afforded to you by engaging in shopping of this kind may be particularly keenly felt at present given the cold and often unpleasant weather conditions that affect us over the winter months. By going online, you can ensure you stay warm and cosy.

So, getting your perfect costume has never been easier! To find out more, simply have a look at the rest of our website.

So you’ve decided to throw a fancy dress party – great! Now comes the most vital and exciting decision of them all… what’s the theme for the fancy dress party? One of our absolute favourite ideas is birth year parties (which can easily be amended to birth decade parties if you were born in a historically slow year!)

1950’s

You lucky folks can get out your glad rags and go for a real Hollywood heyday fancy dress outfit! Ladies it’s time to channel your inner Marilyn Monroe, and gents… it’s got to be James Dean or early Elvis.

1960’s

Hippies! Remember flower power? Our women’s fancy dress hippy range is totally psychedelic! And our men’s fancy dress hippy collection… far out!

1970’s

1970’s fancy dress! There are few fancy dress themes we love to hear uttered more than this. Time to let yourself be gripped by a little Saturday night fever! And if that’s not your cup of tea, why not opt for the punk look and bring a little anarchy in the UK to the party!

1980’s

So maybe we love 1980’s fancy dress too – who doesn’t love leg warmers! The choice for men, women and kids is nuts when it comes to eighties fancy dress – early Madonna? Freddie Mercury? Top gun? We reckon even your straight-laced mum might have a few eighties shockers in the wardrobe.

Whatever theme you opt for (we’re well stocked to cater for 1990’s and 2000’s too you know!), direct your guests to us and we’ll have them kitted-out in no time.

The 1980′s was a time when graphic design was really taking off, and therefore 80′s logos and brands had a certain je ne sais quoi that arguably hasn’t been seen before or since. For the 1980′s fancy dress partygoer therefore, there is plenty of inspiration out there so why not do something unique for a change – and fancy dress as one of those famous 1980′s brands.

Food Brands

It might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of 80′s fancy dress, but the 1980′s truly was a decade remembered for its food brands! For example, why not take an inspiration  from food brands such as Pot Noodle – or even Spam?

Clothes Brands

Of course dressing like your favourite snack might be a little unwieldy – and perhaps not the stylish look you’re going for. With this in mind, if your want a 1980′s fancy dress costume that you can be proud to wear outdoors then why not dig out those old eighties designer clothes? With this in mind, old Adidas tracksuits can be a great template on which to build some truly great eighties fancy dress.

Other Ideas

One of the most exciting things about fancy dress – and 1980′s fancy dress in particular – is that the possibilities are immense, and therefore there really is no excuse for not getting creative with your costume.

Men love to be competitive, and never more so than at a fancy dress party. No-one wants to be branded as having the worst costume there, so if you want to impress it’s essential that you choose wisely. Luckily there are plenty of mens 80′s fancy dress costumes that you could choose, and any one of them will go down well.

Men are incredibly lucky in that the 80′s was full to bursting with iconic music, TV and film stars, so if you’re looking for inspiration you’re certainly not short of choice. Michael Jackson has got to be one of the front runners, and with so many videos and looks to choose from you’re bound to find something that works for you.

Or, to please the ladies, why not go for Top Gun inspired 80′s costume a la Tom Cruise? TV shows would be another great source of ideas, with things like The A-Team and Miami Vice dominating the scene. There are plenty of styles you could take from any one of these shows, and you’ll certainly go down well.

Of course, there’s always the option of simply stealing some styles of the decade, so try leafing back through your old photo albums and see if you can recreate any looks. Make sure to go all out to really hit the right notes, and don’t be afraid to experiment to see what works.

As you can see, men really are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing 80′s fancy dress costumes. If you’re in need of the ultimate outfit, make sure to come to us here at Fancy Dress Ball as with so many 80′s costumes to choose from we’re sure we’ll have what you need.

Fancy dress parties are the perfect excuse to let your hair down and wear the kind of outrageous outfits that you wouldn’t even consider on a daily basis. 80′s costumes can be even more fun, and if you spend the time to plan your outfit you really can go all out.

There are a number of routes you could go down when choosing your 80′s costumes. You could take your inspiration from TV, film or music stars of the era or you could simply take some of the styles of the decade and make them your own. The choice really is yours, and there are plenty of 80′s outfits you could go for that are guaranteed to create an impression.

But, don’t be afraid to go a little wilder than you normally would. The 80′s was the decade of partying and having fun, so let that shine through in your outfit. Go for outrageous wigs, far-out makeup, and skirts that are just that bit shorter than you’d normally dare – anything that can take your 80′s outfit to the next level should definitely be considered.

But, the only way you can really go all out is if you know where you can find plenty of 1980′s fancy dress costumes to suit. That’s why you need to come to us here at Fancy Dress Ball, because with so many outrageous options to choose from you’ll be well and truly spoilt for choice. Come to us today, and get ready to stand out from the crowd.

Madonna’s success straddles a few decades, and she is perhaps one of the most versatile artists that have ever graced the airwaves, which makes her arguably one the best templates for a musical fancy dress theme.

Why? Well probably the main reason why Madonna lends herself so perfectly to fancy dress is because of the wealth of looks she has sported; from the eighties right through to today. So, what are the options for an aspiring Madonna costume?

Well such is the diversity of Madonna looks that are available, that there are loads of ways to give an outfit that Madonna edge. For example Madonna has sported some of the most  recognisable 80s outfits of any 80s icon – perhaps apart from Jacko – and to achieve that 80s Madonna costume look, you don’t have to break the bank.

Madonna’s 80s outfits in particular were often fairly simple, and were characterised by basic accessories such as earrings and bangles, as well as easily achieved hairstyles such as teaselled hair – which means that achieving that Madonna costume look is a great affordable fancy dress solution.

Of course by going down the Madonna route, you immediately solve the problem of choosing fancy dress party anthems, as Madonna as had enough hits to keep a party going long into the night!

So, rather than overcomplicate your fancy dress theme, by choosing Madonna as your template you not only get access to a whole pantheon of great looks, but you also get the music too.

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.

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.