80’s Costumes
80s costumes arrived after the 1980’s popularity of 80s fashion, bright colors, crazy clothes designs and wild patterns. The diverse music from European countries made popular in America was a huge factor in creating the 80s costumes phenomenon.
The keys to making a great 80s costume is making everything you wear in excess. Although the 1980’s were filled with bright colors, it revealed the individuality of those that were trying to find themselves in a rapidly changing world. The bright colors were also emphasized in video games, Rubik’s cubes, and décor. The crazy fashion of 80s costumes also extenuated bright colors in nail polish and florescent eye shadows.
The most influential people in creating the 80s costume movement were the 80s rock stars such as Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Boy George, Adam Ant, Billy Idol, and Michael Jackson, just to name a few.
Adding layers of clothing along with mesh, lace, and leg warmers created Madonna look a like costumes. That look became more popular after everyone saw all of her music videos on MTV. Similar 80s fashion fads were also created by the music videos of numerous pop stars and rock stars, such as the Go Go’s, Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, and Boy George.
The 80s costumes and fashion fads were also very influential in the clothing styles they wore in movies. The famous 80s movies like Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Risky Business, Pretty In Pink, Valley Girl, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It also had a huge effect on television entertainment. Some of the television shows that were affected were the A-Team, Punky Brewster, Growing Pains, Square Pegs, and Miami Vice.
The biggest 80s costume fashion fads were, leg warmers, skinny ties, Acid washed jeans, jumpsuits, parachute pants, members only jackets, lace gloves, ankle socks, jellie bracelets, stirrup pants, wayfarer sunglasses, Mc Hammer pants, shoulder pads, leggings, and big off the shoulder sweatshirts.
The 80s costumes full of zebra patterns, neon colors, and baggy pants, are all still being used today in 80s costume parties and even in regular fashion. The 80s costume fashion fads are here to stay.