80s Costume Ideas

80s

The decade that spawned "The Me Generation", Care Bears, and day-glo wardrobes. has now found itself the subject of a glorious wave of nostalgia. Leggings are back in fashion and such acts that gained prominence in the {'80s} like Motley Crue are once again playing to packed arenas. Game consoles like Atari that debuted during the decade have licensed such popular games like Pacman and {Ms. Pac Man} for replay on newer, more hi-fi consoles. Make your own totally rad 80s costume with: * legwarmers

• Miami Vice suits

• Madonna wig

Dressing up 80s

If you can't get enough of the decadent decade, then dress up as your favorite 80s icon. Relive the posters on your walls again dressing up with a gender-bending Boy George costume or the Boy Toy, Madonna. For a more rock edge, dress up as his royal Purpleness, Prince with a Purple Rain costume... Or put your fist in the air and proudly declare you're not gonna take it with a Twisted Sister costume!

If films of the 80s are your thing, dress up in a Top Gun costume or create your own Flashdance outfit. Grab a trench coat and a boom box and become Lloyd Dobbler of "Say Anything," the film that put John Cusack on the map.

The possibilities are endless!

80s - How To Ideas

What makes a good 80s costume? Add your idea »
	SMURFSContest Entry   5 up, 0 down  Every couple wants themed Halloween costumes. So this year my boyfriend and I decided to be smurfs. We were determined to be something original and not buy from a store. Plus it was going to be a great way to pay tribute to a show we grew up watching. I was smurfette and he was grouchy smurf, to go along with the TV show. We handmade our hats with white felt. The hats were not easy to make. We ... read more »
	How to make a Smurfette costume   5 up, 0 down  With the Smurfs on course for a 2011 animated/live action film, nostalgia will be rampant for these adorable blue critters. In what was essentially, a big, blue sausage fest, Smurfette stood out as the lone blue female (at least until Sassette and Grandma Smurf showed up in later seasons) in Smurf Village. Check out how to make a Smurfette costume with this simple tutorial. ##Things ... read more »
	Long Live the '80'sContest Entry   4 up, 1 down  Valley Girls with Marty McFly comment »
	How to make a Flashdance costume   3 up, 1 down  One of the most iconic films of the '80s, Flashdance is known as much for its stellar soundtrack as it is for the fashion statement it provided. The story of a welder-by-day, stripper-by-night, "Flashdance" featured a breakthrough performance by Jennifer Beals and a soundtrack with the songs "Maniac" and "What a Feeling." Bring a touch of '80s nostalgia to your Halloween party with an easy, ... read more »
	How to make a Robert Palmer Girl costume   3 up, 1 down  For a look that screams "Simply Irresistable" for a fun, retro 80s costume, put together an easy, DIY look based on the girls from Robert Palmer's classic videos for "Simply Irresistable" and "Addicted to Love." Great as a solo costume, with a suit-wearing male companion, or a bunch of female friends in matching costumes, this is a versatile look that's "simple" to put together. ##Things ... read more »
	How to make a Prince (Purple Rain) costume   3 up, 1 down  It may be 2009, but you can party like it's 1999 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "Purple Rain." The classic, 1984 film made Prince a household name and mixed MTV-style music video editing with music. The soundtrack to the film was equally as popular and influential as the film. Prince's look provided one of the most iconic images of the '80s and is a great costume with a nostalgic ... read more »
	How to make an Andy Warhol costume   2 up, 1 down  The man who coined the phrase, "Everybody gets their 15 minutes of fame," exceeded his even long after his untimely death. Andy Warhol was a performance artist, painter, and film director who was also a fixture on the Studio 54 club scene in the 70s and 80s. Pay homage to this quirky character with an easy-to-make Andy Warhol costume! ##Things You'll Need## * Platinum Unisex 80s wig * ... read more »
	How to make a Punky Brewster costume   3 up, 2 down  The 80s are cool again! And so are obscure characters from sitcoms from the decade! Still obscure enough to be cool and recognizable enough to make a great costume, you can put together a simple and fun Punky Brewster costume for your next 80s-themed party! Dress up as the colorful abandoned kid ##Things You'll Need## * Blue sweatshirt * Bright colored longsleeve t-shirt to wear under ... read more »
	How to make a 80's rock costume   2 up, 2 down  80’s Rock costumes will take you back to the Heavy Metal Bands with electric guitars, wild hair styles and torn jeans. Instead of buying a costume this year for the 80’s Rock theme see what you might have in your closet. Chances are your closet has enough of the right clothing style to make the 80’s Rock come alive. ##Things You’ll Need:## * - Fake or real Guitar * - Punk Rock ... read more »
	How to make a Nancy Spungen costume   7 up, 7 down  Perfect for a couple's look with a Sid Vicious costume, Nancy Spungen was Sid's notorious girlfriend. The punk couple of the Sex Pistol's bassist and Spungen was a tumultuous and highly dysfunctional one. It's rumored that Sid may have killed Nancy with a stab wound. It was never proven and Sid died shortly thereafter... Possibly of a broken heart? Recreate the look of one of punk's most ... read more »
	How to make a Bill S. Preston, Esq. (Bill and Ted) costume   3 up, 3 down  Everyone's nostalgic for the '80s! Since everything old is new again, pick an unexpected, yet well-known costume for your next decade party: One half of the illustrious, time traveling duo of dudes, Bill and Ted. These two teens from San Dimas, CA traveled back in time and hung with the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as the philosopher Socrates (prounced: "So-Crates"), and a "righteous ... read more »
	How to make a Pee Wee Herman costume   4 up, 5 down  The Captain Kangaroo of the '80s, Pee Wee Herman took children's programming by storm with his show "Pee Wee's Playhouse" which followed on the heels of a stand-up comedy routine and feature film director Tim Burton, the classic "Pee Wee's Big Adventure." After time out of the limelight, Pee Wee is making a comeback! Get on the bandwagon early with a DIY Pee Wee Herman costume! ##Things ... read more »

Recent Discussions about 80s costumes

• bronze

  Madonna... posted by seacheylle

  I need some DIY Madonna costume ideas, not so much the modern 'Hung Up' Madonna but from the 80's. Can anyone help? Its for a high school girl who wants to look cute but not ...
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80s Blog Posts

Read our latest blog posts to find costume ideas you might not have thought of!

• The Smurfs are making a comeback in 2011!

  Remember the Smurfs? They stood no more than three apples high and were tiny blue critters that lived in mushroom shaped houses in the forrest.... more

• Get ready for the new "A-Team"!

  Remakes of all things '80s have reached a fever pitch. The latest on the block is a movie redux of the television show that brought Mr. T to... more

• Let's Go Crazy with Prince costumes! Purple Rain turns 25

  Although Michael Jackson has passed on to that great concert hall in the sky, fortunately, another multi-talented musician/singer/performer... more

• '80s Theme Party and Costume Ideas

  Everything old is new again and a lot of trends from the '80s are finding themselves firmly entrenched in pop culture today. From leggings,... more

Read the costume idea blog.

80s News Feed

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