pls suggest an outfit with a nod to the 80's for a smart dinner?

[titferbrains]

I want to just do a nod to the 80s rather than full on i've been to the party shop and this is what I found naffness.

I was thinking a bright pink or orange dress and a cheap leather or denim jacket.

But haven't found a good dress. I am a size 16 (had a baby 8 months ago so still pretty self conscious about podge). I wandered thru debenhams today and tried on a dress and a bright orange top and of those drapey jackets but nothing looked great.

I have got a load of 80s neon gloves/legwarmers etc from a NYE party so could wear a black silky loose top, black legginggs and maybe removable 80s naff bits? Like a necklace, big earrings, or lace gloves or soemthing?

Ugh really can't be assed. Am very curvy in shape so need to buy something that fits well. Any suggestions of other shops to try? Am in London.

Have you thought about seeing if charity shops have any jackets with shoulder pads? Or that you could add shoulder pads to? (I think you can get them in sewing shops and just attach them with a few stitches). Thinking of smart dinner like Gold Blend/the Volkswagen advert - suit with smart blouse and jacket with big shoulders - ideally match your tights to your shoes and skirt or buy patterned or even better lacy tights (Primark often have these). Make your hair as big as poss - mousse and scrunching if long enough, big fake pearl earrings and beads (Primark again!!). Over-make-up - "shape" your cheeks with blusher, dusky blue/pink eyeshadow together, strong lipstick. See if they have any samples of Opium or Poison perfume in Debenhams.

Pretty much what I used to wear to work in an office in the 80s really

look at the icons in the 80's and go from there...

alexis from dynasty

adam from the ants

madonna

et al

have you got a really nice fitted dress. Team it with lacey gloves and fishnets for a new romantic look. Add loads of geometic make up (think of magenta in Rocky Horror) and there you are

I was thinking of a fitted dress but haven't found anything I liked AND felt I could get away with wearing. I guess I will have to try H&M tmw and hope they come up trumps... they usually do.

Not sure I will manage the geometric make up but will go for the massive hair.

Buy some 'tastefull' brooches and pin em on a top. What about an 80's colour palette such as grey and yellow- leggings and belt over t shirt.

Well bit boring but have gone for a black fitted dress and light blue denim jacket.

Fluoro pink press on nails, pink crocodile clip for hair maybe, and some big earrings. Could not bring myself to buy cheap eighties style shoes so prob some black strappy shoes, I don't have any pointy toed white stilettos, funny enough...

Now if I only I had a bottle of charlie perfume to top it all off....

Hope it is eighties enough, I just am not feeling brave or thin enough to make myself look truly hideous....