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??

People the party is tonight! She needs to work with what she's got!

MsMarvel what does the tshirt look like not tucked in, with a belt on top?

This picture is very 80s!

Do you have black leggings?

Black leggings (or 60 denier tights +), black lycra mini skirt, Black vest (or body if you have one), black high heels (higher the better).
BIG jewelry, BIG hair (or slicked back), bright red or pink lippy and lots of eye makeup.

THAT is legit 80s stylee. Makes me chuckle when I see people kitted out in fluro and leg warmers. That does not say 80s to me.

I like the bananarama idea.
Dexys Midnight runners would be easy too. Dungarees, boots, head scarf, sorted.

Or a wide belt maybe

Makes me chuckle when I see people kitted out in fluro and leg warmers. That does not say 80s to me.

Totally! A lovely student who used to stay with us had her mates over to get ready for an 80s night. They were all wearing fluro, it was like some weird re-invented version of the 80s that didn't ever exist in reality!

They said everyone at their 80s night dressed like that. Bizarre!

There were different styles to different eras of the 80s weren't there? The sloany Lady Di look was early 80s, the ra ra skirts/fame/madonna look mid-eighties and the power dressing dynasty look was late 80s.

I think some of the styles around today are reminiscent of the 80s - the paper bag/ peg trousers and the baggy off shoulder T shirts.

Your first outfit would work with high waisted trousers with pleat at the waist and rolled up at the bottom.

You also showed a blazer and some shorts? I recall going out with my friend circa 1984 and wearing shorts (pleated waist but fairly short) with a loose vest top tucked in and a cotton blazer rolled up at the sleeve. Finish with brightly coloured or white stilettos , curled and scrunched hair and big plastic jewellery. We also had blue mascara and heather coloured lips, lots of blusher.

The problem here is that the OP wants an 80's outfit that "looks nice" today.

This is an oxymoron, the reason that 80's themes are so prevalent are because the fashions were so that our kids can't believe we left the house looking like that, and we all squirm uncomfortably when the photos re-appear (no matter how confident you are that you destroyed them all)

Oh Clockhouse! I loved their stuff!

I like the second pic OP its a big improvement on the first in terms of 80s I think.

If you backcombed your hair, blow dried it upside down and set with Elnett hairspray then you will complete the look. Also some plastic bright beads and hoop or large button earrings and shoulder pads would do it.

I don't think you need blue eyeshadow, as PP said that is more 70s than 80s. As long as your nail polish is pearlescent and your lipstick is frosted that will suit your outfit.

It is so true that there were many different styles around and many people throw them all on at once in a desperate effort to look 80s style.

There was a trend for fluorescent accessories but not in the tacky fancy dress way that you see, well saying that yes it was tacky but it was usually a fluorescent plastic bag or jelly shoes, socks and fingerless gloves but not all worn at the same time. Enjoy the party!

If you want something that looks good today you could go 'Addicted to Love'. Those women looked awesome.

Rest assured though after a drink no-one at the party will be scrutinizing for authenticity like some of this thread.

I think you'd get away with the first outfit just fine. If you feel good (and you looked good)abd thats what you,want to wear, wear that!

Of course she doesn't have to wear a rara, but it's something she could easily put with the outfit she's already got to make it look ultra 80s.

I wore one when I was 12 and then never again, after that it was pencil skirts.

I started the decade as a New Romantic, segued into being a Banana, flirted with being a Mod, then went Whamtastic, then turned into Princess Di by day and a Robert Palmer girl by night.

The last one is easiest: gel hair back, tightest shortest LBD you can find, red lipstick, fuck off patent heels and an electric guitar.

Apuski - I used to go out every weekend dressed as one of the women I the 'Addicted to Love' video. Black Lycra dress, red lipstick and dark eyes.

Then I would have had a massive crush on you Riding

Exciting! I'd love to go to an 80s party

I was a teenager in the 80s. We wore things like:

Baggy long t-shirts with a big belt
Suede pixie boots with ankle-warmers
About 10 slim metallic bangles on the same wrist
Highlights or Sun-In with dark roots showing
Short layered hair, shaved at the sides, longer at the back, with a thin plait ("tail") at the back longer than the rest of your hair
Dallas-style long big hair, layered and scrunch-dried upside down with mousse, or back-combed (no hair straighteners!)
Perms or demi-waves
Big Diana-style flicks at the side of your head, hairsprayed into place
Sleek or curly bob haircuts, not much shorter at the back than the front
Tapered trousers (fitted waist, looser down to the knees, then tapered in)
Batwing sweatshirts
Hoop earrings
Denim jacket with tapered denim jeans and a white shirt
Wide brown "cowboy" belts
Black or shiny pale pink lipstick
Blue under-eye liner
Electric blue mascara
"Frankie Says Relax" t-shirts
Layered necklaces
Strings of plastic beads
Split skirts
Whole outfits in black and white
Eyebrows relatively natural compared to now (thicker like Brooke Shields, or sometimes thin-ish, but no tadpoles!)
Long skirts gathered at the waist with a belt
Scarves tying your hair back made into a bow on top
Ra-ra skirts with fishnet black tights
Glasses with big round-ish plastic frames in light colours
Ripped jeans
Shoulder pads
String vest of one colour worn over a t-shirt of a different colour
Flat pointy "winkle picker" shoes
Donkey jackets
Mohair jumpers
Stonewashed denim
"Paint-splash" primary colour pattern on a white background

You might like this gallery from Harper's Bazaar

I had very, very big hair.

Permed mullet. Huge ginger helmet of hair that was sprayed, moussed and gelled to a crunchy finish which was almost completely undone by the afro comb.

The one time I left the hairdressers with a wet look finish was the last.

My hair was almost solid with gel.

I doubt it Apuski I was an annoying 15 year old.

Right so my final outfit.....

I'm wearing the blue skirt, t shirt and blazer from the second picture, with the red shoes. I've padded the shoulders of the blazer a bit more.

I have a big plastic red love heart necklace, along with big red hoop earrings.

For my hair I have a black and white knotted headband/scarf tie thingy. I'm going to dry my hair with a diffuser, add shit loads of hairspray, and wear the scarf tie as a hair band style.

Makeup I have blue eyeshadow to match my skirt, blue mascara and eyeliner, and red lipstick.

Now everyone needs to tell me that the above is spot on, I have no more energy to shop...😂

Have you got any styling mousse? That's the best product for scrunch drying.

Only message now is have fun!!!

(and so report back)

I think it sounds great! Makes sure you also have heavy brows

That sounds fantastic OP! Hope you enjoy the evening

Sounds great. Have a good night

Awesome :)

Let us know how it went!