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Original poster

80s fancy dress for soneone who hates fancy dress

28 replies

Dotandtime · 04/07/2023 17:16

I am going to a whole weekend 80s event. My friends insist "everyone" will dress up, although photos of previous years suggest otherwise Grin I'll certainly be the odd one out in our group if I don't participate.

I don't mind looking ridiculous, but I really hate being uncomfortable. I suspect if I was a child now I'd have "sensory issues". As it was I was always difficult, hated labels, sandy feet, scratchy jumpers, seams in socks etc. I'm a bit better now but the idea of spending a whole weekend in a nylon fancy dress costume from Amazon and face paint (which is what my friends are doing) fills me with dread.

I had thought I'd do a Choose LIfe TShirt and denim shorts but fancy dress lead is horrified and says there'll be loads of those. Any better ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
Dotandtime · 04/07/2023 17:17

Also, I couldn't contemplate wearing a wig!

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 04/07/2023 17:21

Just do whatever you feel comfortable in. A party is supposed to be fun, fgs!

I've no advice, afaik the 80s isn't 'dressing up' anyway.ConfusedGrin

LunaNorth · 04/07/2023 17:22

Dungarees and an inflatable violin. Dexy’s.

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Calloffruity · 04/07/2023 17:22

Normal clothes with big shoulder pad jacket?

LunaNorth · 04/07/2023 17:23

Little black dress, scraped-back hair, red lipstick - Addicted To Love video.

LunaNorth · 04/07/2023 17:24

Stetson, suit from a charity shop with a bullet hole in it - JR.

Cismyfatarse · 04/07/2023 17:24

Leggings and big socks (leg warmers) in bright colours and a big t shirt. Done.

You could add a head band. Think Jane Fonda.

80s fancy dress for soneone who hates fancy dress
ghislaine · 04/07/2023 17:25

Jeans and a red gilet = Michael J Fox in Back to the Future. Skateboard optional.

Oversized shirt and jeans. Gladioli in back pocket = Morrissey.

Whataretheodds · 04/07/2023 17:26

Denim shorts, Frankley Says Relax t-shirt or other recognisably 1980s (support the miners?)

Whichever you can bear of the following
Neon tights

Neon lipstick.

Big hair

Or go in a pussycat bow blouse with skirt suit and handbag, pearls and a Conservative rosette.

LunaNorth · 04/07/2023 17:26

One of the incarnations of Madonna. You could go messy hair with a bit of lace in it, bangles, crucifixes, mini skirt, done.

MrsMoastyToasty · 04/07/2023 17:31

Greenham Common/CND protester - jeans, a baggy jumper and a protest sign.
Yuppie- a suit with big shoulder pads and a pencil skirt.
Sloane Ranger- think early Princess Diana.

OMGitsnotgood · 04/07/2023 17:32

i spent most of the early 80s in drainpipe jeans and a grandad shirt (my Dad's old shirts, with the collar refashioned).

Occasionally with leg warmers, crimped hair & heavy eyeliner,

PrincessHoneysuckle · 04/07/2023 17:52

Minimum effort.job done

80s fancy dress for soneone who hates fancy dress
DoctorFoster · 04/07/2023 18:09

Pick a movie character, the clothes are closer to normal ones. Andy from the goonies was my last one

80s fancy dress for soneone who hates fancy dress
Cherryana · 04/07/2023 18:14

So this story doesn’t help you but I went to a big 80’s event and I properly researched and brought vintage pieces. It was nothing like the neon fancy dress everyone else was wearing. One of the organisers was a snide bitch about my outfit. Then, one of the best dressed women I have ever seen, made a beeline for me and was ‘is that a hand painted denim - wow’. And I was ‘hahahahaha’.

My point is - most people are expecting the generic obvious 80’s look. Don’t do it!!

DownNative · 04/07/2023 18:19

Go as a shower complete with shower curtain.

Straight out of The Karate Kid 1984 and your friends should get it!

thesnailandthewhale · 04/07/2023 18:21

Paint some squares on a cardboard box, cut a hole for your head and go as a Rubix cube

minipie · 04/07/2023 18:26

Completely agree most people were NOT wearing neon in the 80s.

Denim cut offs or rolled up mom jeans, and a loose band T shirt or a batwing top, would do the job nicely and be way more comfortable.

You could also do punk/Madonna - black ripped clothes, a few studs here and tehre, stacks of bracelets & necklaces.

Lots of makeup is kind of non negotiable for the 80s I think, pink lipstick blue eyeshadow etc. If you make an effort with the hair and make up then the clothes matter less.

Antoninus · 04/07/2023 18:29

Boiler suit and hard hat, ‘coal not dole’ sign

Whataretheodds · 04/07/2023 18:33

Completely agree most people were NOT wearing neon in the 80s.

I know, but OP's objectives appear to be

  1. feel comfortable
  2. minimal effort
  3. get the 'fancy dress lead' off her case.
WeegieWan · 04/07/2023 19:06

Early 80s to me is also pale pink and grey stuff, sweatshirt material rara skirts and oversized t-shirts or sweatshirts with the sleeves rolled back, and crimped hair (or fake a big hair perm if you can). Worn with cowboy boots, slouchy pixie boots or white court shoes (judge away, but I still thought I was IT dressed like that!), frosted pink lipstick and blue eyeliner and mascara.

White trousers and tennis shoes a la Wham or dungarees like Banarama are also good. I adored being a New Romantic, but even I didn't go around in the full Adam Ant facepaint as a regular thing.

louderthan · 04/07/2023 19:20

Antoninus · 04/07/2023 18:29

Boiler suit and hard hat, ‘coal not dole’ sign

This is brilliant

louderthan · 04/07/2023 19:24

I love fancy dress but if I didn't I think the easiest option is jeans and an 80s band T-shirt, you could get one on Vinted or ebay pretty easily. I've got a Duran Duran one that I think was about £3 off eBay.

minipie · 04/07/2023 19:32

Whataretheodds · 04/07/2023 18:33

Completely agree most people were NOT wearing neon in the 80s.

I know, but OP's objectives appear to be

  1. feel comfortable
  2. minimal effort
  3. get the 'fancy dress lead' off her case.

I know but it also sounded like she really wouldn’t feel happy in neon ! Or lycra or legwarmers or all the other 80s tropes.

ghislaine · 04/07/2023 20:04

Pink outfit = Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink

Tshirt and shorts, accessorised with a watermelon = Baby from Dirty Dancing