80’s Fancy Dress Costumes Are Still Hot With Retro Fans
80’s Party Girl Adult Costume If you were fashion conscious during the 1980’s, you can’t help but remember these ultra flamboyant 80’s costumes which drove the disco scene. These costumes were definitely not for the shrinking violet type! Wearing one of the typical 80’s costumes required that you be willing to be noticed, wherever you might go. Fashionistas attending a disco vied with every other dancer to be the most outrageously dressed at the party.
While these elaborately concocted costumes did not survive beyond the disco days, they are enjoying an encore with retro fashion fans everywhere. If you’re unfamiliar with the style, let’s take a look at the quintessential 80’s costume. It does make a statement at a party!
Michael Jackson (Bad) Adult Costume
First, the hair. The obviously bleached blond look was one of the most desirable. Long was good, as were big and abundant curls. If you’re not into bleaching, you’ll need a wig to pull this look off with the proper panache. Other popular looks included color mixes, such as your regular brown hair on one side, with a shocking bright red on the other.
Michael Jackson (Billie Jean Costume) Adult
Large hats, decorated with feathers, large and brightly colored plastic flowers were also cool for some 80’s costume devotees.
Michael Jackson – Beat It Jacket Adult Costume
As for footwear, boots were large and in charge. Most often, knee highs were the boot of choice. The favored material was shiny, in-your-face patent leather. As with every other component of the 80’s costume, colors ranged from bright to brighter to day-glo. There was no subtly in these colors. Primary colors were essential to the right look. Think canary yellow, hot pink and fire engine red.
To showcase the boots, contrasting colors of opaque stockings were a necessity. You’ve probably got a handle on the 80’s look by now.
Now for the dress. The colors were still brilliant, but this is where the costume acquired variety. This garment is where the costume became individualized. Rock star looks featured everything from Marilyn Monroe glamor to slinky fake lizard fabrics interspersed with a little metallic threading. Outrageous ballerina-styled costumes, featuring a brilliantly colored bodice and nylon net mid-thigh – not mini – skirt also found favor with the 80’s costume crowd. Bell-bottom pants were also in vogue, with the bell being highly exaggerated. Mini dresses, with long bell bottom sleeves and gigantically patterned fabrics were yet another variation.
80’s Video Super Star Adult Costume Men’s wear was sometimes a tad less outrageous. The dude who wanted to look cool might show up in a black dress shirt, sans tie and an over-sized sport jacket and slacks, in a neutral color. This guy let the woman grab all the attention. Other men tried to out-do his woman’s costume, sporting a brilliant yellow, patent leather, zip-up suit with perhaps a bright red trim at neck and pant hem.
Now, if the 80’s costume look sounds like your next party garment, all you need to do is go online. With millions of results, you can surely find your hot retro costume! Wow!
Grease – T-Bird Danny Adult Costume
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the disco craze swept the nation. Popularized by John Travolta in “Grease”, it spread like a fever. Youth could not resist the lighted dance floors, many-faceted mirrored disco balls, and the flashy outfits with massive lapels and ridiculously pointed
The disco craze became a national sport of sorts. Dances became duels, to see who could out-perform their opponent. Fans even used empty delivery vans and truck trailers for their dance-fests. It’s contagious, and once you have it, that’s it. You’re done for, or so they say.
70’s Disco Mama Adult Costume The disco costume is easily recognized. Some dead giveaways are greased hair, muttonchops, giant sideburns, polyester outfits, bell bottom suit pants, Afro’s, glitter eyeshadow, body glitter, and a ton of makeup. The dance clubs, studios, and trucks features see-through floors in which multi-colored lights flashed erratic, fast-paced strobe effects, quick enough to give a person a seizure. There were usually reflectors all over walls and ceilings to further add to the frenetic lighting, warming the already overheated dance palaces.
70’s Disco Gold Dress Adult Costume
To replicate a good disco costume, get a copy of “Grease”, the classic Disco Fever movie of the time. Take a few notes and sketch out the look you want. Just remember, polyester is the quintessential fabric of the authentic Disco costume.
Disco Fever Adult Costume If you’re an aspiring groovy guy, here are some guidelines. You need a suit with matching pants and jacket, in a solid color. Jackets require the giant, extra-pointy lapels, and are no longer than hip length. Oh yes, it’s imperative that the pants be wide bell bottoms. Shirts should contrast loudly with the suit color, with a greatly over sized collar which protrudes considerably over the jacket lapel. A vest under the jacket adds to the authentic Disco costume look. Wow! Unless you’re an able seamstress, both suits and shirts must be ferreted out in Retro shops, as you won’t find anything suitable at the Mall.
Greased hair, along with Afros were the best hair choices. If you’re not black, forget the Afro. Go for the grease. If your hair’s thin and not highly “greaseable”, purchase a wig in the Travolta style.
Now some tips for you hopeful foxy chickies.
70’s Disco Queen Metallic Adult Costume A tube top with lots of belly showing is the real thing. Tank tops will not do, a mortal sin of Disco costume fashion. Hip-hugger bell-bottom pants are de rigeur.
Lots of large, colorful and admittedly gaudy jewelry, along with a lot of makeup is a must. Body glitter, anywhere and everywhere, brightly colored eyeshadow, thick fake eyelashes and shiny lip gloss are all necessary to your authentic Disco costume.
As for hair, chicks should choose either an Afro or a waist length pin straight wig. Oddly enough, women not of color look better in Afros than men, so take your pick.
Before you walk out the door, both groovy guys and foxy chickies must complete their Disco costume with platform shoes. Go get ‘em!
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Tagged with: Adult Costume • Brown Hair • Contrasting Colors • Costume Colors • Curls • Devotees • Disco Costumes • Disco Days • Disco Scene • Fancy Dress Costumes • Fashion Fans • Fire Engine • Girl Adult • Glamor • Knee Highs • Large And In Charge • Michael Jackson Beat It Jacket • Michael Jackson Billie Jean • Opaque Stockings • Patent Leather • Plastic Flowers • Primary Colors • Shrinking Violet • Violet Type
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