Pull out any and all leggings you might have, in any color. These could be worked in to almost any 80s style outfit you can come up with. Get an oversized t-shirt, preferably in a neon color. Roll the sleeves up and cut the neck out so that it hangs off your shoulder. Wear a brightly-colored tank top under it.
Pair bright leggings with an oversized t-shirt in a contrasting color. Add one or two more colorful accessories, such as a belts or a pair of leg warmers. Add some lace! Wear lacy black tights under a brightly-colored miniskirt, or a loose, black lace top over a bright miniskirt and neon tights. Raid your parents’ closet for anything with shoulder pads. If you can’t find anything, create your own shoulder pads by stuffing socks into the shoulders of your top.
Buy a denim jacket from a thrift shop, then cut the sleeves off and wash it so that the shoulders fray a little. Acid-wash an old pair of jeans to give them an authentic 80s feel. All you need is bleach, rubber bands, and your chosen jeans.
Costume jewelry was also very popular. The chunkier, gaudier, and brighter, the better. The 80s celebrated excess!
Style your hair with a curling iron or a hair crimper, then tease it to your desired size and shape. Hairspray your hair and then tease it a little more. Flip your head upside down and tease the underside of your hair to get even more volume. Finish it off with a healthy blast of hairspray. Try a side ponytail. Curl, tease and hairspray your ponytail and secure it with several scrunchies in different colors. If you have bangs, tease them as high as you can get them and secure with hairspray.
Apply eyeshadow with a heavy hand. Bright, neon colors work just as well as dark, gothic colors. Line your top and bottom eyelids with thick black eyeliner, along with your water line. Finish it off with several coats of mascara and a light, frosty shade of lipstick or lip gloss. For real life makeup and hairstyle references, look up pictures of icons like Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Molly Ringwald and Siouxsie Sioux.
For something more subtle, try a tight-fitting concert t-shirt and hip hugger jeans with canvas sneakers or tennis shoes. For a boho look, pair a flowing, gauzy top with a long maxi skirt. Mix-and-match earthy tones with ethnic prints. [4] X Research source Add a headband and delicate scarf for an instant 70s hippie look.
Jeans in the 70s often came decorated with embroidery, embellishments, and studs, so keep an eye out for those details.
Moccasin boots and Birkenstocks were the most popular shoes for the bohemian look. You could also try leather sandals or clogs. Fringe adorned everything – incorporate it in any way that you can.
Go for anything sequined, bedazzled, gemmed, tight-fitting and outrageously accentuated. Glittery items and otherworldly costumes are also ways to look glam. Accessorize with feather boas, giant sunglasses, and anything with leather and studs. Leather jackets, ascots, velvet coats and silk scarves all work great here. [5] X Research source Wear shiny, glittery, sequined or neon-colored tights with your ensemble.
Wear a sequined tube top with tight pants or short shorts. Spandex pieces in neon colors and anything that would glitter under dance floor lights work perfectly. Pair a colorful leotard with a wrap-around skirt from a dancewear shop. Add anything else that is eye-catching and sparkly. Accessorize with huge, glittery costume jewelry pieces and knee high boots or very high heeled shoes (platforms if you can find them). It’s a good idea to pair the boots with a skirt just above the knee, so you don’t have to do much skin showing, but not so that you’re like you’re drowning in it either.
If you have layers in your hair, spray it with dry shampoo to get volume and texture, then add a texturizing pomade to define your layers. Keep it a little messy. For those with long hair, simply part it down the middle and let it hang loose and free. Add a little product to make it shine.
Apply eyeshadow that is heavy, frosted, shimmery or glittery. Use plenty of black eyeliner and black mascara. If you want to go all-out, wear long false lashes. For the bohemian look, wear pale peach or pink lipstick, as they preferred a natural look. For real life 70s hair and makeup references, look up pictures of icons like Farrah Fawcett, Debbie Harry, Cher, Stevie Nicks, Bebe Buell, Shelley Duvall, David Bowie and Joni Mitchell.
To get the look that the hippies created, start thinking about theatrical costumes, recycled clothing, ethnic fashions, Indian prints, bright colors and mismatched patterns. Check out your nearest resale shop to look for vintage clothes and other items that you can repurpose, just like hippies did.
Jeans came in all colors of the rainbow and often featured embroidery or appliqued designs. Keep an eye out for those details or add them yourself. [8] X Research source Look for blouses with long and flowy “bubble” sleeves. Gauzy fabrics work great, too. Wear a simple chiffon baby-doll dress with spaghetti-straps for a feminine look.
Thrift stores will be gold mines for these items.
If you don’t have long hair, check out wigs at your local costume shop. The beehive hairstyle was also very stylish.
For those that did wear makeup, it was variable. However a pale mouth, large false eye lashes and exaggerated eye makeup will be instantly recognizable. For real life references of 60s makeup and hairstyles, look up pictures of icons like Twiggy, Brigitte Bardot, Janis Joplin, Edie Sedgewick, Jane Birkin and Marianne Faithfull.
A big emphasis was placed on looking glamorous, well-dressed and perfectly groomed every day.
Halter sundresses, full skirts, and Peter Pan collars (flat collars that feature rounded ends that meet in the middle) are variations on the simple dress theme. Poodle skirts were a fleeting fad at the time, but now are iconic for many people when thinking of 50s fashion. Check your local costume shop for a big fluffy one. The pencil skirt was a fitted skirt that fell just below the knee. Pair one with a collared, button down dress shirt or a fitted sweater for another iconic 50s look.
Wear saddle shoes with socks for the poodle style. Otherwise, pair your dress with simple, tasteful heels.
Regardless of the hairstyle you choose, definitely make sure you set it with plenty of hairspray before heading out.
Cherry red nail polish was the most fashionable nail color at that time. [13] X Research source For real life 50s makeup and hairstyle references, look up pictures of icons like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Donna Reed, Elizabeth Taylor and Betty Page.
