If the 1950s was the decade when rock and roll was born, then the 1980s can be said to be the era when rock truly came of age! And with the advent of the music video, walkmen and cds rock truly began to take over the world. Of course all this is a boon for 1980s fancy dress, and with some of truly recognizable 80s rock and roll looks – why not rock out?

The 80s was known for all kind of rock music, each with their own distinct styles – it really is true to say that the 80s was a decade where style became as important to rock and roll as the music.

For example, the Gothic style with its truly unique fashions first appeared on the scene in the 80s, and it is a great template for a really individual kind of 1980s fancy dress. Unlike many other kinds of 1980s fancy dress outfits, the Gothic look can be fairly easily replicated, with, for example, the use of black eyeliner and leggings.

Whilst the Gothic look was a look for the introverted, the 80s was also a decade for the rock extrovert. If you really want to make an impact at a 1980s fancy dress parties then some choice mullet wigs and ripped jeans are a fabulous way to create truly edgy fancy dress costumes.

At Fancy Dress Ball we’ve got loads of eighties outfits and accessories which make achieving that 80s rock look a breeze.

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.

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.

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.

The Fancy Dress Ball website is the place to find all types of fancy dress, Halloween and Christmas costumes, wigs, shoes, and accesories. Whatever it is you need for your fancy dress party, they will be able to supply it as they stock a wide range of fancy dress for men, women and children to suit just about every fancy dress theme.

One of the most popular parts of their website is the eighties fancy dress section, thanks to a renewed interest in that decade. Nobody is quite sure why the eighties are back in vogue, but does it really matter? The eighties gives you plenty of scope for putting loads of fun into your outfit.

You only have to think of the kind of costume worn by MC Hammer to see just how much fun you could have in your harem pants. There is a wide range of looks for men and women, and one of the most popular is the Madonna costume, so why not have a look in the 80’s outfits section of the website and see if that is what you are looking for?

Fancy Dress Ball don’t just concentrate on 80’s fancy dress, as you will see when you look at their website. They are constantly  searching for the latest and best fancy dress ideas right across the range. And when it comes to looking after their customers, they like to keep things simple, and that means a great choice of costumes and accessories at competitive prices, all backed up by their ‘No Quibble Money Back Guarantee’.

An ideal place to start thinking about 80s fancy dress outfits is the music you used to listen to way back then. Remember when you really wanted to look like Simon Le Bon, or the redhead from Eurythmics? Don’t worry, you’re in good company. We all had some very strange ideas about fashion back then, and that’s one of the best reasons to host your very own 80s party!

But let’s concentrate on finding the perfect 80s fancy dress costume. Think back to your favourite bands. For men, were you a fan of the beret-wearing Simon Trent D’Arby, or the famous Adam Ant? Were you the ripped muscle top type or more inclined towards suits with big shoulder pads and a thin white tie? For women, did you wear the dark eye makeup and black clothes of a fan of The Smiths, or wish you did? Or would an 80’s Madonna outfit with a big-haired, blonde perm wig be more ideal for you?

Whatever 80s fad you were into back then, there is an 80s fancy dress outfit to make your youth come full circle. It was the great age of different youth movements – goth, punk, new wave, mod – whatever floated your boat. Clothes and music were the most important thing in the world and outrageous statements of fashion were commonplace.

No matter how embarrassing it is, nobody need know which bands used to make you dance around your bedroom and sing into your hairbrush – unless you want them to, of course. That’s the beauty of 80s fancy dress.

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.