Help with outfit for 80s night please

[whowasi]

I'm going to an 80s event on Saturday. I was a teen in the 80s but can't decide what to wear! Limited wardrobe available as haven't been going out much recently!

I have skinny jeans, straight jeans, black vest tops, oversized sheer blouse, a rara skirt bought especially for the occasion but now I'm doubting myself!

Shoes, I have flat black pumps, converse, brown docs.

I'm size 16, hence feeling reluctant about the rara skirt!

I've limited budget available.

Any suggestions?

Could you make some huge shoulder pads out of old socks or something and put them in your blouse ?

Shoulder pads if you can get some, the bigger the better. Blouses were huge (very loose fitting)
I'd go skinny jeans, oversized blouse with shoulder pads in and black pumps. Try and find some chunky 80s style costume jewellery (?charity shop) and you'll look the part.

I'm not sure I could make shoulder pads. The blouse is oversized and loose though, would that be wearing it tucked in, tied at the waist or down over the skirt?

I've no costume jewellery but can go to the charity shop on Thursday.

Channel Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan, and wear your black vest top, sheer, blouse, straight jeans and ballet flats with ALL YOUR JEWELLERY, an oversized hair bow, oversized earrings and sheer lace gloves? If you wanted you could put the rara on over the jeans?

Blue jeans or black? I remember having skinny jeans in the 80s?

Love this! Not sure if I can pull it off 😬 I have long curly hair, never worn a bow in it in my life 😂

Ok found this pic ..

I have a black leather jacket, black skinny jeans, black vest top, will look for cheap jewellery, leather jacket check.

Blouse should be belted outside jeans with very thin belt.

Or tucked into trousers but add braces

Not sure where I'd get lace gloves at short notice and cheap though.

Thanks. I don't possess a belt 😂 but charity shop again ..

This website might be helpful.

www.80sfashion.org/80s-costumes-women/

Thank you

Amazon, for buttons. Also leg warmers.

Just don't hold your wrists or ankles over a naked flame...

For future ref, my 80s go to is a 'choose life' T-shirt. I bought one for DS and DH too at the last party we went to. DS16 was not impressed.

There are loads of fingerless, lace gloves on Amazon, if you or anyone you know has Prime.

Choose Life Tshirt is a great idea!

Or....

White skirt or cropped trousers with this to shirt (Amazon) and a dirty great bow. I've worn this for at least two 80s parties.

Ok, so straight jeans 1978-2000, skinny jeans were called stretch jeans in the 80s. Worn very tight with a plain fitted round neck (never scoop neck) t shirt or a Breton top.

Vest tops - so if authentically 80s you would only wear them without a jacket (we now call them blazers) or cardigan if it was high summer. They often get this wrong in costume dramas.

Try wearing the oversized sheer blouse over the vest top with the skinny jeans that would look good, although I was wearing that look in 1990s.

I actually never bothered with the ra ra look. Did a lot of pie crust collars and pin tucked skirts in the early 80s and then power dressing skirt suits - lots of houndstooth

I really, really loathe fancy dress so it's very much the easy option for me!

I've just bought a Choose Life tshirt on Amazon! Thanks for that idea!

Thinking that with either black skinnies or blue straight jeans, could roll up if necessary?

I'll look for a bow of some sort.

Blue jeans white T-shirt ballet pumps and big bow and lots of hairspray - just for the smell!

Beads and bangles.

I'm not sure what to do about a bow. I've no black material, only socks 😬

I have the bangles though! Bought not long ago on eBay. I'll try the charity shop for costume jewellery.

Don’t forget the blue/purple/hot pink eyeshadow!

I wore mine with leggings but straight jeans would do just as well. My thinking was 'may as well be comfy AND in period'. I got a bow on a headband from Amazon.