The ’80s were all about excess, so make your decorations dramatic and colorful. Use neon colors, animal prints or black-and-white geometric patterns. Plaster the walls with posters of quintessential ’80s pop stars like Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Prince and Madonna. To really get in the spirit, pop in a DVD of an ’80s band’s video collection or favorite 80’s movie and have it playing, on mute, during the event.
Or maybe set up an 80’s nightclub– dark rooms with uv lighting and blue neon, decorate and serve neon coloured drinks.
Food / Drinks: Yuppies made sushi big in the ’80s, artichoke dip served in a bread bowl. Kid-friendly treats like Rice Krispies treats, frozen yogurt, Pringles, Twisties, garlic toasts, antipasto, Lollies such as Redskins, Red and Green frogs, Milk bottles andTeeth Drinks: West Coast Coolers, Daiquiris, Blue Lagoon, Black Russians, Long Island Iced Tea, Sex on the Rocks, Screwdriver, anything with Galliano or Sambuca. Remember to serve with umbrellas!
Music: Kylie Minogue, INXS, Duran Duran, Men At Work, Adam and the Ants, George Michael, Prince, Queen, UB40, ZZtop, 1985 Live Aid Concert, episodes of Countdown on the TV – you get the idea.
Fun & Games: Countdown Karaoke, recreate the dance moves from Thriller, ‘Who Can It Be Now’ – guess the 80’s band from their photo. Make yourself and your guests part of the decor! Before the party, ask your guests to lend you a photo of themselves in their wildest ’80s outfit. Make enlarged copies of these photos and hang them up around the party area. During the party, your guests can guess who’s who and laugh at all the bi-level haircuts and pegged pants.
Costume Ideas: AC/DC, Adam Ant, Beetlejuice, Billy Idol, Bon Jovi, Crocodile Dundee, Cyndi Lauper, Fame, Guns N Roses, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Miami Vice, Prince, Punk, Tina Turner, Top Gun, Karate Kid, Dynasty, Elton John, Spice girls, Michael Jackson, Wham, Prom Queen More ideas…
Meet Dale Pruser, our fabulous blogger who lives and breathes costumes! With boundless enthusiasm and a knack for turning heads, she’s the perfect guide to unleash your inner alter ego. Dale’s 30+ years experience in the costume and cosplay industry, make her the go-to source for finding the perfect costume. Her passion and knowledge shine through her blog posts, where she shares helpful tips on finding the perfect costume, DIY hacks to make your outfit stand out, and even delves into the fascinating history behind some of the most iconic characters. Her writing is as vibrant and colorful as the costumes she adores. With a twinkle in her eye and a wardrobe bursting with creativity, Dale dives headfirst into the realm of costumes. She lives for those magical moments when you put on a costume and become someone entirely different—whether it’s a mighty superhero, a swashbuckling pirate, or a glamorous 1920s flapper.