The 80s were a time of neon colors, big hair, and iconic music that teens and parents both still love today. The iconic decade of the 1980s make it a great theme for a birthday party or even a sleepover. Having a themed party isn’t always easy when you have to plan for everything from decor to food and drink, plus come up with an awesome 80s costume. This guide offers the perfect ideas for each category, helping you quickly make plans and start executing.
Here are some epic ideas to make your 80s party an unforgettably fun event.
What is an 80s Theme Party?
An 80s-themed party is a fun, nostalgic celebration of the fashion, music, movies, and pop culture of the 1980s. Everyone dresses in 80s styles, with neon colors, big hair, leg warmers, acid-washed jeans, and bold accessories. These parties are fun for parents and teens to plan together and often feature decorations with an 80s vibe, games from the decade, and throwback food and drinks.
80s Party Outfit Ideas
From bright neon and bold fashion trends to scrunchies, mullets, and high-waisted jeans, there are plenty of outfit choices to choose from. When it comes to 80s party outfits, the bolder, the better, and don’t be afraid to keep adding more layers and colors.
80s outfit ideas for girls
Iconic female looks from the 80s could include dressing as a celebrity or choosing from everyday trends.
- Neon leggings or biker shorts
- Off-the-shoulder shirts
- Madonna – think lace gloves, layered necklaces, and tutus
- Jane Fonda, fitness guru – leotards, leg warmers, and headbands
- Jelly shoes
- Shoulder pads on tops or dresses
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80s outfit ideas for boys
80s fashion for guys could include preppy, casual, or rock star vibes. Outfits could include a mix of denim, bolt prints, and sneakers.
- Graphic tees
- Converse or high-top sneakers
- Marty McFly from Back to the Future – a denim jacket, puffer vest, and jeans
- Ferris Bueller from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- Parachute pants
- 80s rock star – think leather, eyeliner, and teased hair
80s themes for everyone
Some 80s trends work for everyone and can make for a fun, unique outfit. Outfits based on movies or characters are a great fit for this.
- Leather jackets
- High-waisted jeans
- The Ghostbusters
- Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street
- 80s fitness gear
- Acid-washed jeans
- Oversized t-shirts
- Video game character
- Combat boots
80s accessories
Accessories in the 80s often made the outfit, and layering pieces made for bold looks that stand out. Here are some of the most popular choices.
- Bold, chunky jewelry
- Fingerless gloves
- Fanny packs
- Fishnet stockings or gloves
- Slap bracelets
- Lapel pins
- Leg warmers
- Scrunchies
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Hair and Makeup for an 80s Party
Hair and makeup in the 80s were like everything else – big and bold. Girls aimed for styling their hair with height, texture, and lots of hairspray. They often crimped it for a wavy look, teased it to make it bigger, and wore side ponytails with scrunchies. If they had bangs, they were often fluffy or curled. For the finishing touch on their hair, they’d add bright bows, clips, and headbands.
Boys in the 80s often had a mullet, so their hair was short in the front and long in the back. Some had feathered hair inspired by celebrities, and others went for slicked-back styles. Don’t forget to use mousse or gel for the perfect 80s look.
Makeup in the 80s included blue, pink, or purple eyeshadow, heavy blush, and bold eyeliner and mascara. The look was completed with glossy or bright lipstick and some added glitter.
80s Party Decorations
It’s not an 80s party without bright, bold, retro-inspired decorations. Here are some of the ways you can decorate your party like the 1980s:
- Rubik’s cubes on the tables
- Decorate with cassette tapes
- Brightly colored shapes – triangles, circles, squiggles, and zig zags
- Boom boxes or cardboard cutouts
- MTV logos
- Album covers and movie posters
- Disco balls
- Glow sticks and glow-in-the-dark decorations
- Pac-Man or other video game characters
80s Party Music Playlist
When planning music for an 80s-themed party, you can create a custom playlist or use Spotify or YouTube to find pre-created options. The perfect 80s party music would include music from movies like Footloose or The Breakfast Club, along with songs like:
- Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
- Like a Virgin by Madonna
- Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
- Sweet Child o’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
80s Themed Food and Drinks
One of the best ways to celebrate your theme is to serve food and drinks from the 80s.
80s party food
- Pizza bagels
- Cheese, crackers, and grapes platter, with the cheese shaped like Pac-Man
- Cool Ranch Doritos
- Cheddar Cheese Combos
- Spray cheese in a can with crackers
- Cocktail meatballs
- Hot pockets
- Bagel Bites
- Pigs in a blanket
80s sweet treats
- Pop rocks
- Ring pops
- Fun dip
- Cosmic brownies
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Drinks for an 80s theme party
- Soda in glass bottles
- Squeezits
- Kool-aid
80s Themed Games and Activities
You can’t have an 80s-themed party without games and activities from the decade.
80s party games
- Old-school arcade games, like Pac-Man or Tetris
- Retro video game consoles like the NES or the Sega Genesis
- Croquet
- Operation
- Uno
- Pictionary
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80s party activities
- DIY photo booth with a Polaroid camera
- 80s trivia
- Costume contest
- Stream 80s movies and TV shows in a quiet space at the party
Party Favors for an 80s Theme Party
Sending guests home with fun 80s-themed party favors helps make your celebration memorable. Some ideas for an 80s theme gift bag include:
- Glow sticks
- Mini Rubik’s cubes
- Retro candy
- Slinkies
- Big League Chew Gum
Conclusion
The 80s were a fun, bold, bright time, so don’t be afraid to go over the top. Each detail is a chance to bring your theme to life, so embrace the nostalgia and have fun planning your decade party. If you’re not sure about having an 80s theme party, consider having a 90s theme party or Y2K theme party instead!