80s outfit help!!

[MsMarvel]

Going to an 80s themed party next weekend, and have been shopping today to try and find something.

I don't want to look too 'costume-y' and want to look nice, but still be in keeping with the theme.

I'm really struggling! I'm blaming not being alive in the 80s...

I have bought a black and white polka dot top, which I can wear with high waisted wide leg white trousers that I already own. I have got bright red heels and massive red hoop earrings.

But I have no idea if this is actually 80s??

80's cocktail dress - oh yes, it was a classy era!

Unfortunately online won't work, party is tomorrow! Serves me right for leaving things till the last minute...

oh poo! Then I'd have a quick look at a couple of charity shops if you do want to dress up (The Madonna in DSS stage is probably the best to aim for, do you have a leather biker jacket or pale blue denim one? Or get a calf length skirt - not tight - combine with a boyfriend style cardie and flouncy blouse for the Lady Di Sloan Ranger look), otherwise don't do the theme.

Not the best picture but this is my second attempt at an 80s style outfit... But imagine with big hair, big red earrings, bright blue eye makeup and big red necklace.

Get a wide elastic belt maybe?

Short skirts in the 1980s were puffy/ra-ra. Not slim asymmetric. The shorts are better. You would then be channelling Miami Vice (roll up the jacket sleeve)

A red/black/white palette is very 1980s. You need heavily contoured smoky eyes and red glossy lips (google 'Addicted to Love' video, but don't copy the hair - scrunch up your natural curves)

Bottle green, purple, black, mustard and cerise were big colours.

When I think 80s. I think like this...

Those shoes are spot on.

Black tights or stockings. Make the top tighter, big contrasting or black belt.

Big hair and jewellery.

As OP has red shoes, black jacket and black shorts, I'm really not sure that adding more colours wouid work (it's not the explosion of colours look)

Tops wouid not be tight, they were baggy and cinched in.

True enough

Use an ankle sock rolled up and then flattened and pinned in as a shoulder pad. You must have shoulder pads!

I'm really struggling! I'm blaming not being alive in the 80s...

I lost all sympathy when I read this.....

Dont go for Madonna, everyone does that!

On iplayer there are loads of 1984 TOPT to watch to get inspiration from. Bad fluffy perm with high heels that dont match your outfit are a must
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/group/b00704hg

or even TOTP

Thinking back...what we used to wear a lot was a black "pencil" skirt (so slim you needed the slit up the back to be able to walk), a bright coloured overshirt in either royal blue, cerise pink or emerald green that was belted on the hips with a wide black belt and a big blingy broach at the neck of the buttoned up blouse. High heels in a conrasting colour to the shirt and loads of plastic beads and bangles.

Hell yeah, we knew how to dress in the 80's! :o

Any tops that had batwing sleeves
Bahamas blue mascara
Very baggy blouseswith shoulder pads tucked in at the waist
Pencil skirts with a split up the back
White stilettos
Stone washed denim jeans and a denim jacket (like acid wash today)
Extra long skinny belts with studs
Plastic hoop earrings
Big hair or a side ponytail

That's what I wore
And yes to PyongyangKipperbang's cerise knee length over shirt with a 3 inch wide patent leather belt loose on the hips and the shirt pulled up so it's a bit baggy on top
Oh and stilettos and long socks with the tops pushed down to the ankles

Don't like the second outfit, nor is it particularly 80s.

The first polka dot top is fine, and the red shoes, you just need to team it with a black rara skirt or black leggings (or both). You could also wear it with a black pencil skirt and fishnets.

Maybe easiest would be bananarama-esque, with baggy waisted jeans if you have, crop top, leather jacket, scarf round hair, lots of eyeliner?

Good pic. To the poster who said that no-one showed midriffs in the 80s I had a Lycra crop top just like the one in the photo above. I also had a polka dot one. And some polka dot shorts!

Do you have or could you borrow braces? A straw hat or plain black hat?

A baggy T shirt?

A studded black leather belt?

You could combine 2 or 3 of the above with the shorts or the slightly rolled up white trews maybe.

Otherwise you do look very nice in your first pic and I'm sure that would be fine [does remember 80s]

Riding
That was me
In my defence. I lived in Norfolk
I probably had a different version of the 80s to everyone else 😜

Stripy tights or leggings (striped or black)? (under the shorts?)
big earrings?
big lace up boots (alternative to stilettos)

[reminiscing]

Watch this

www.channel4.com/programmes/the-goldbergs

MsMarvel the colours in your outfit are spot on and the shoes aee great

Ignore the people saying you have to wear a ra-ra skirt. Not everyone wore one all the time! I wanted on but managed to live the 80s as a kid / teen without ever actually owning one!

People did wear miniskirts.

You could accessorize your outfit to make it look more 80s. You definitely need shoulder pads. Make some out of sponges maybe. They are 100% essential!

Also large belt to pull t-shirt in is a good idea.

Red hoop earrings sound great.

Massive hair!