Planning an '80s Halloween? Fer sure!
This is a question we get asked a lot here at Stuck in the '80s: "I'm planning a costume party with an '80s theme. Can you help with costume and party ideas?"
First reaction: "What?!? You don't still dress in parachute pants and overuse Aqua-Net today?" (I run sobbing away in my Jordache jeans and put my REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity record on the turntable and wail away to the sounds of Kevin Cronin and Take It On the Run. That's right, Kevin. Ease my pain.)
Second reaction: Sure, here are some good costume ideas with some links. (And though Jordache doesn't make my size in jeans, I will indeed listen to some REO during the list-writing. I'm still one of the Tough Guys after all.)
Today we'll tackle costume ideas. I'll get to other party ideas tomorrow.
TV STARS: This is perhaps the easiest route, and shows real devotion to the decade. Sonny Crockett from Miami Vice is easy. A linen jacket, a pastel T-shirt, a two-day beard, loafers. Or just go as Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties with the preppy look, complete with knitted tie. Wanna look a little less lazy? There's always The Greatest American Hero outfit, which can be bought online at sites like 80stees.com. Stuck in the '80s co-host Sean Daly is big on wearing a Hawaiian shirt, Detroit Tigers baseball cap and fake 'stache for the Magnum P.I. look. I'm still waiting for someone to bust out an ALF outfit. Oh wait ... here it is!
SPORTS HEROES: I'm a big fan of the '80s tennis star look, which is easily accomplished with a headband, tight white shirt and shorts, white Adidas or Rod Laver shoes and a wooden racket. Same thing with an '80s basketball player -- just find the tight, short shorts and pull those tube socks WAY up. Bonus points for finding retro-jerseys. 
MOVIE STARS: This is the easiest one. Axel Foley from Beverly Hills Cop is a no-brainer, once you find the Mumford Phys. Ed Department shirt (easily procured at founditemclothing.com, which has a slew of shirts worn by stars in our favorite '80s flicks, including Real Genius, Loverboy, Spinal Tap and Meatballs). With Ghostbusters set for a sequel, it's a good time to bust out the overalls and ghoul-fighting proton-pack look. (Again, 80stees.com has it.) And one of these days, when I regain the proper physique, I'm totally going like a Cobra Kai from Karate Kid. "Sweep the leg! Yeah, send him home in a body bag, Johnny!" Oh god, don't let me drink at that party.
GUITAR HEROES: If you can't come up with an idea here, you're just not trying. Warning: Doing the Madonna thing here is getting a little tiresome, but the Michael Jackson look never gets old. I'm thinking Devo might be a better pick, especially if you can find friends to go as fellow bandmembers. Get really clever and combine movies and music: Olivia Newton-John in Xanadu (rollerskates, legwarmers), Prince in Purple Rain, the guys from Spinal Tap, and -- I can't believe I'm gonna say this but -- the Village People from Can't Stop the Music, which for some reason is playing nonstop lately on pay cable channels.
GO AS A PAIR OR GROUP: Hunter S. Thompson and his lawyer Carl Lazlo from Where the Buffalo Roam was my thing back in 1991 for Tampa's rowdy Guavaween festivities. (We were maced by skinheads shortly after 2 a.m., and they stole my Kennebunkport presidential shot glass -- true story.) There's Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen from Sid & Nancy. Danger Mouse and his loyal sidekick Penfold for you obscure cartoon fans. And if you have a really hot girlfriend you met in Las Vegas, you can always go as Jabba the Hutt and Princess Leia in the metal bikini. Money well, WELL spent.
Feel free to add your costume ideas. And if you have any pics from previous Halloweens, e-mail them to stuckinthe80s@tampabay.com and I'll post them online.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
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Posted by: elen | July 14, 2009 at 03:06 AM
Most of the outfits and ideas i've seen look amazing! However, they'd look amazing on skinny girls... any ideas for a more "curvy" figure? I'm busty and have big hips/thighs. I want to look fab for my 80s themed party but struggling on the actual outfit...
i'd love to be able to do something like she-ra or wonderwoman but the skirts are way too short! lol
xD
Posted by: Kelly | October 25, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Steve and Jeff in Cuba,
Is that American Idol metal Leia bikini wearing guy really Kenny Loggins trying to resuscitate his soundtrack career?
Posted by: billyshakes | October 04, 2008 at 02:11 AM
Sadly, the VGF will not be in St. Pete for the big day.
Posted by: Spears | October 03, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Steve, if VGF is going to wear the Leia metal bikini, I'd recommend staying in.
Posted by: Lori | October 03, 2008 at 10:32 PM
I haven't done Halloween myself in about 8 years or so. Maybe I'll catch wind of a good costume party this year.
Posted by: Spears | October 03, 2008 at 10:19 PM
i dont have any kids, so i guess thats my reason for never getting into halloween. ive never been to a costume party or anything like that. i did dress up as paul stanley once for halloween, but that was yearsssss ago.
Posted by: CHAD | October 03, 2008 at 06:51 PM
Dear Danger Mouse and Penfold:
I'm going to assume your comments were directed at me. I'm not a fan of Halloween. Sue me.
I'm sorry you don't find my comments amusing or interesting. Steve once told me to say whatever I want because that's what the blog is for. Silly me. I'll consider your need for entertainment the next time I drop a comment.
Posted by: Marissa | October 03, 2008 at 05:43 PM
You can go as Bono from U2 circa the 1983. Get a good mullet wig, and a leather vest. Be sure the front of the mullet is dyed blonde.
Posted by: Bassnote | October 03, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Steve,
I was about to post the same link (I'm glad I "previewed" before I hit "post").
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | October 03, 2008 at 04:44 PM
No way, Chase.
It's been done...
http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2008/01/american-idol-s.html
Posted by: Spears | October 03, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Hey, Spearsy, you ever think of going as the Princes Leia in that sexy getup?
Posted by: chase | October 03, 2008 at 04:03 PM
I did the Hunter S. Thompson and lawyer thing with a buddy at Guavaween in the late 90s. We didn't get maced, but a half-naked she-devil did knock my buddy's beer off a balcony and onto the street, so someone got drenched.
And, rather than replace the beer, the she-devil flashed us as consolation.
Posted by: Brett | October 03, 2008 at 12:49 PM
It is a great time to use The Ghostbusters costume.If i celebrated Halloween (we have Carnival here,but in February) i would probably pick that one this year.
I`m surprised nobody mentioned Maverick`s costume!
Posted by: Miguel | October 03, 2008 at 12:08 PM
wow, Danger Mouse, that was really...interesting.
Quite frankly, as long as we are airing niggling annoyances, I just want to say I am annoyed at folks who post under fictitious names and rip others. I am who I say I am and I stand by my words, and if you aren't man enough to do that yourself, I suggest you post your mean comments elsewhere.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | October 03, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Wow, I was just looking up that Great American Hero costume last night! If it were a bit cheaper I'd be really tempted!
I still love the Mainway Halloween costumes from the old SNL days:
"Yeah, that's your Johnny Human Torch"
"Sir, it's a bag of oily rags and a lighter!"
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/77/77dconsumerprobe.phtml
Posted by: John Hays | October 03, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Sean Daly rocks the Hawaiian shirt/Magnum look on a weekend basis. I've observed him in the Play Area of Tyrone Square Mall on Saturdays with his darling daughters, and I've noticed many Hot Moms sneaking looks his way. Whatever he's doing, it's working for him.
Posted by: Orange Julius | October 03, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Hello Chase, fellow proof reader!
Posted by: Lori | October 03, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Oh, crumbs, DM! That's awfully mean. But still rather on point. Cheerio!
Posted by: Penfold | October 03, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Is it just me or if you have nothing interesting to say, then shaddupa your face.
Posted by: Danger Mouse | October 03, 2008 at 09:51 AM
*yawn* Halloween shmalloween.
Posted by: Marissa | October 03, 2008 at 09:41 AM
You'd get a better deal on the Devo costume by ordering straight from Devo themselves. They have the radiation suits and the "energy domes" for sale on their site for a lot less than quoted on the link you provided...plus a lot of other cool Devo related stuff. Point your browser over to http://www.clubdevo.com for more info!
Duty now, spuds!
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | October 03, 2008 at 09:37 AM
If it's any consolation, I do indeed still hate the Tigers. Though I love it when residents of towns up North burn down the neighborhoods after winning any sports title.
Oh wait, those fires were already burning? Nevermind.
Posted by: Spears | October 03, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Wow, that was a quick fix on the typo! I'd still rather have a Hate than a Ball Cap
Posted by: chase | October 03, 2008 at 09:29 AM
Not sure what it looks like, but I'll take a Detroit Tigers Hate ...
Posted by: chase | October 03, 2008 at 09:28 AM