Blog for Fancy Dress Costumes

Fancy dress isn’t all about looking good, but that doesn’t mean that your sense of style has to completely fall by the wayside. Whilst the 1980’s has given us some truly ridiculous looks, it also gave us some really great fashions. Therefore, by choosing 80’s fancy dress costumes it really is possible to have fun – and look good doing it!

First things first, your eighties costumes aren’t going to cut the mustard if your hair and makeup isn’t up to scratch, and with this in mind you should take your inspiration from some of the most stylish people of the decade. For example, if you are planning on donning a Madonna costume then you owe it to the queen of pop to get the hair right – whether your going for that “Holiday” Madonna look with some teaseled hair, or your going for a sleeker look based on a later period.

Whilst by getting your eighties hair right you’re well on the way to great 80’s fancy dress costumes, achieving an 80’s look that you’ll actually look good in can be a real challenge - or so you’d think. In fact, there are plenty of ways to make an eighties outfit look great.

For example, rather than going completely 80’s why not incorporate some 80’s features into a contemporary outfit. For example, some leg warmers can be enough to create some great 80’s fancy dress costumes without making you look too ridiculous!

People often think that to get the perfect 80’s fancy dress outfit you have to base it on a style icon of the decade, but that isn’t always the case. You don’t always have to copy film, TV or music stars - simply channelling some of the trends of the 80’s could be all you need to create the perfect 80’s fancy dress costume.

The 80’s gave birth to numerous new styles, from the preppy look to the wild child era and even power dressing. Any one of these looks can be emulated to give you the ultimate 80’s fancy dress outfit, and if you do it right you’ll be the hit of the whole party.

Better yet, a lot of these looks have come back into fashion so all you’ll have to do is hit the high street. The iconic Fame certainly has a lot to answer for, especially since its latest revival, and leg warmers (and even tutus) are all available for girls wanting to get the neon-inspired 80’s look.

Or, simply head to a fancy dress shop and see what you can find. For a lot of people this will seem like the easiest option, and if you go to the right one you’ll be presented with countless options of 80’s fancy dress outfits to choose from. At least, you will if you come to us here at Fancy Dress Ball. We have all the costumes and accessories you could need to perfectly emulate the 80’s look, so come to us and put together the ultimate outfit.

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!

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!

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!

You’ve had the invitation to the fancy dress party, and, let’s be honest, you’re dreading it. This is not because you don’t like the idea of dressing up and having fun with you friends, but because you are stuck for ideas of what to wear at the party. You’re not alone, and this is why the people at Fancy Dress Ball have built up a great reputation for coming up with new and exciting ideas for fancy dress costumes to suit whatever kind of party you are going to.

Over the last couple of years 80’s fancy dress parties have grown in popularity as the people who were teenagers during that decade have looked back at their young years and decided to celebrate with an eighties fancy dress party. If you are thinking of organising an 80’s fancy dress party, or you’ve been invited to one and you’re stuck for ideas on what to wear, you’ll be amazed at the wide range of ideas on the Fancy Dress Ball website and you’ll love the fantastic prices of the 1980s fancy dress range.

Whether you are a man or a woman, or you want an outfit for your children, you will find exactly what you are looking for on the website. Fancy Dress Ball don’t hire out their 80’s costumes or other fancy dress wear. They sell it to you, so whichever outfit you decide to wear for the party is brand new and in the right size for you, which isn’t always the case when you hire an outfit.

Isn’t it cool to let your hair down - so to speak - once in a while? The best place to do just that is at a fancy dress party, especially a 1980s fancy dress themed party; a decade which seems to grow by the day in popularity.

1980s fancy dress party theme just blows the doors wide open on choice with the wonderful array of celebrities, movie stars and TV characters which came to the fore in the 80s decade.

A 1980s fancy dress party guarantees that your party will not flop, simply because there will be too many characters which will spark conversation and keep your party spinning.

When it comes to 80s costumes, Fancy Dress Ball has tons of fun 1980’s costumes to inspire you. At Fancy Dress Ball we know that men’s fancy dress costumes are often looked down upon, or not considered much at all because fancy dress is considered by many as something ‘feminine’. However, we’ve some great 80s costumes to help any man stand out from the crowd.

The 1980s was a great time and has so much to offer and draw inspiration from. Look back in history and you’ll find 1980s characters you’d probably forgotten about. Maybe one of them will inspire you!

A 1980s fancy dress theme also has such a diverse array of styles and characters that there’s always something you’ll feel comfortable in.

With any of the 80s costumes from Fancy Dress Ball you’ll be bound to keep tongues wagging about how great you look.