Dressing up for the 70′s and 80′s
October 27th, 2011 Becky Hartson
Every decade has its own style and way of doing things and approaching fashion. We particularly remember the 70s for flares and hippy chick and the 80s for power suits and ra ra skirts. Fashion has a way of recreating styles and certain items but with a new angle. The same is true with 80s costumes as it is just as popular now as it was back then.
Most styles and trends do not come from the catwalk but from the stars of the time and what you see on the TV. What girl did not want to look like Sandy, played by Olivia Newton John, from Grease in the tight leather trousers and skimpy top? And how about John Travolta as Danny with his dimpled chin and cool hair? This is what sexy fancy dress is all about – to look and feel great from the particular era you are trying to create.
The decade of the 60s had shown people that being more free and easy was the way to go so as the nation entered the 70s that feel good factor continued until a change with the Thatcher government when money became the prime concern.
There was an explosion of knowledge around this time but 70′s fancy dress, though exciting and new, still had a long way to go. Sexy fancy dress back then consisted of the French Maid costume complete with the tiniest skirts you can imagine, killer stiletto heels, normally black, plus a saucy cap perched precariously on top of your head. You could also have gone for the nurse’s outfit, which to be fair was much like the French Maid only white!
The liberation of the psyche and the population in general meant women felt able to dress how they liked, choosing their own styles and trends rather than being dictated to. The 70s gave us the flare, the kipper tie, the huge shirt collars and the flower power prints. The 80s gave way to power dressing where women really had the upper hand…and huge shoulders.
With disco really coming into fashion during the 70s fancy dress was on to a winner as any glittering costume with tight tops and flared trousers would show. It was also the time for hippies to come into their own so a great look was hair bands around your forehead, plaits in your hair, flowery printed wide legged trousers and sheer see through tops that showed off a hint of flesh. It is sexy fancy dress as you would want it.
Moving on a decade and the change was to pop that mainly came out of a machine. Think Howard Jones, Nick Kershaw and Haircut 100. And if you were not wearing a tartan shawl over one shoulder, it was clear you were not a fan of Spandau Ballet.
It was also the turn of the New Romantics where boy meets girl meets boy as it was often difficult to tell which was which. Men wore make up as much as the women. Influences came through the music again with bands like Japan, Ultravox and Spandau Ballet breaking the mould and creating a new vibe about the place. It was a time in the 80s fancy dress could almost have been the normal dress code as dressing up was the way to go whatever time of day or night it was.
Looking for fancy dress and costumes visit Fancy Dress Ball, you may be surprised by what you find!
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