First of all, how does one create an "80ish" look? Well, it takes some imagination, an eye for bright colors, splicing authentic retro 80s pieces together with stuff currently in style. You must have a willingness to be bold, daring, and ready to set new trends! Luckily, I'm here to help.
Material Girls
Now ladies, you must crimp that hair and style it! No more baby barrettes, pig-tails, and anything else "kiddish". Bright neon colors in your wardrobe are a must. Steer clear of dressing completely in browns, navy, and all black. Head over to your local thrift shop or www.niftythreads.com for some brightly colored sweatshirts, take some scissors to the collar and sleeves, and you've created the perfect "Flashdance"-inspired look.
Now, wear them with regular tapered blue jeans. Flares are an 80s no-no. Also, be sure to stock up on blazers (preferably with shoulder pads), spiky stiletto heels (in assorted colors), mini skirts (denim is best), skinny belts, and junky jewelry such as jelly bracelets, plastic hoop earrings, etc. Most of these items can be found at garage sales, thrift stores, or even your local Wal-Mart and K-Mart stores.
If your want to be even more daring, go for the whole early Madonna "Boy-Toy" look, complete with lace gloves, big oversized hairbows, multiple strands of faux pearls, and messy permed hair. Blue eye shadow is a MUST! Also, the next time you're watching re-runs of your favorite 80s sitcoms (and who isn't?), take special note of what the female characters are wearing. One of the best 80s trendoids was Mallory Keaton on "Family Ties". Other honorable mentions are the Huxtable girls on the "Cosby Show" and those yuppy moms "Kate and Allie". These ladies wore the epitome of 1980s fashions for women.
80s Men
Speaking of television shows, gentlemen, one of the first images that pops into my mind when I think of 80s fashions for guys is Don Johnson on "Miami Vice". The blazers, shades, loafers without socks, and 5 o'clock shadows are some of the best examples of men's fashions from the 1980s. Make sure you have at least one skinny tie in your wardrobe (preferably a black leather one). These can be found at the internets' largest auction www.ebay.com, where a friend of mine recently picked up one for only $3.00! Try to re-create the classic 80s "boyband" look, with black suits, a colored tie, and vintage "New Romantic" hairstyles; long in the back and sort of hanging over in the face. Check out Kyle Maclachlan in the movie "Blue Velvet". He pulls off this look PERFECTLY!
No man of the 80s would be complete without the holy grail of 80s men's clothing: PARACHUTE PANTS! An awesome assortment of these can be found at www.parachutepants.com or you can check out www.oldnavy.com where they are reissuing new styles under the name "Para-pants"(but us 80s fans know better!) If you just want to dress way down however, an 80s concert T-shirt with a pair of holey jeans are a winner! Black Converse All-Stars and Vans sneakers are the shoes of choice. Try to avoid baggy jeans, flannel, and anything else associated with the "grunge" look. Remember to mix and match different pieces to create your own personal identity ala "The Duckman" from "Pretty In Pink".
Now and Then
Mixing and matching 80s pieces with 2000 fashions is what will give you that "edgy" look. Start out slowly. Look for a vintage t-shirt that has an 80s cartoon character (Rainbow Brite or the Smurfs) or an old t-shirt advertising an 80s movie (I found an old "Mac and Me" t-shirt for 50 cents at a thrift shop once) and wear it with an ordinary pair of jeans. Then, you can slowly build your awesome 80s look from there! For instance, ladies, you can take a plain black dress and give it a new-wave flare by wearing with it a pair of hot pink tights with black bobby socks and a pair of black high heels. Multitudes of colorful, glittery jelly bracelets on both your wrists will give any plain baby T-shirt and jeans a zany attitude. All of these can usually be found at trendy accessory shops at your local mall such as Claire's or The Icing.
Guys, mix Ocean Pacific with Old Navy or wear a vintage 80s concert t-shirt with a pair of trendy cargo pants. Try to even things out at first, then when you get more comfortable and confident with your look, go full blown 80s. Believe me, you will have more and more people compliment you on your style when you try unusual and far-out trends as opposed to the same old bare midriff and hip-huggers look. Most importantly, be creative and have fun! You are creating your own personal look so make sure you choose styles and trends that work for you.
The 1980s were a fun, zany, colorful, and original time for fashion. Why not try and revive them? Have fun with crimped hair. Splash on those wonderful neon colors. Rent tons of classic 80s flicks or go to the periodical section of your local library to thumb through old 80s fashion magazines to get ideas for your new look. Thrift stores are a goldmine for 80s fashions, as well as the internet (www.niftythreads.com, www.ebay.com ). As you walk down the street, at school, or at the grocery store, you will have everyone wondering, "where DID they get that?" That's when you know you've gone "Back to the Future" - to the Awesome 80s!