Throwing an 80's party -- how to keep it cheap

[mom of 3G's]

My b-day is in Feb. and I am going to throw myself an 80's party. Tell me some of your ideas. I am going to scrounge the thrift stores for some wide belts, big shirts and stirrup pants but would like some other ideas. I also am going to look for albums from the 80's to hang on the walls.

I can't wait to hear your suggestions. This is going to be so much fun.

 

[X and G's mom]

Leg warmers! Especially the striped ones (Like Rainbow Bright )
Lots and lots and lots of Aqua Net.
Very Blue eyeshadow.
Long dangly earrings like Madonna used to wear.
Jelly Bracelets, lots of them.

ETA: For music, check out Amazon MP3 downloads. They are usually pretty cheap.

 

[mjkacmom]

Don't know if they still make it, but we used to buy Boons Farm apple and strawberry wine a lot for $2 a bottle (and yes, I was still in HS ).

 

[mom of 3G's]

Don't know if they still make it, but we used to buy Boons Farm apple and strawberry wine a lot for $2 a bottle (and yes, I was still in HS ).

This is the only wine I drink as anything with a cork is just too fine of a wine for me !!!

 

[StephMK]

Are ya going more early or late 80s???

My first thought was BIG HAIR. Seriously, the bigger the better. Tall bangs, big curls, sprayed out over the ears, etc. I'm giggling just thinking about it!

Neon colors, stand up collars, rolled jeans - tight at the ankle & rolled as tight as you can get, acid washed, huge hoop earrings, big geometric prints, def. legwarmers, leggings...

Have a blast!! THere was some great 80s music out there - don't forget the hair bands!

 

[X and G's mom]

Maybe get some paper and make a big MTV sign. That will get anyone who comes talking about how awesome MTV was when they only had videos!

 

[rantnnravin]

Make-up! - a LOT of it - Straight edged blush, heavy eyeshadow - purple more than blue and heavy, heavy eyeliner.
High heels with bobby socks.
Rubber bracelets
Can't empahsize Aquanet enough

 

[Graciesmom77]

There are directions online of how to take an old record, put it over a glass bowl, put it in the oven and melt it so it forms a bowl and you could put chips and the like into it.

Bright electric blue! I remember that everywhere. I know all neon colors were big, but blue seemed to be everywhere.

 

[Clemson Cruiser]

Mini skirts, jelly shoes, headbands, Duran Duran and California wine coolers, lol.

but the wine coolers have to be in a 2 liter bottle!

 

[Forevryoung]

We got 80's Scene It for the holidays- a definite must for this party!

Amazon still has it for $18 although you might find it cheaper elsewhere

 

[irish_trip_mom]

I had an 80s party for DH's bday. We had a great time.

Of course, the 80s music. Make a playlist....it's fun!

I had some Rubik's cubes, and one of the plug & play games with the old Atari hits (Pac Man, Asteriods, etc.) plugged into a tv. We also had a contest for best dressed and the prizes were wine coolers! We actually had one couple dress as Papa Smurf and Smurfette! It was 90 degrees out and they were in full face paint!

For my husband and myself, we had a party store going out of business, so I shopped their costume aisle. I found a poofy neon pink witch costume, so I cut off the top and used the skirt with some layered tank tops, did the Madonna look. My husbands was a bit more creative....I found a zebra body suit. So I cut off the top, put a waistband in and those were his pants. He wore a long wig and cut his sleeves off and was an 80s rocker. We had fun....and he now can appreciate what women with long hair go through!

 

[defendthehill]

This is the only wine I drink as anything with a cork is just too fine of a wine for me !!!

Bartles and James wine coolers would be a great addition. I think it would be appropriate to put them in the trunk of your car.....drive around......let them warm up a little.....before you park on a country road....drink them.....with a few friends.....lose your car keys.......start to panic because you may have to call your dad....and you know he will kill you! Was that a dream or did it really happen to me

 

[dizneechic]

Another drink to look for is Purple Passion

80's music is a must, think Duran Duran, Prince, Go Go's, Pat Benetar, Thompson Twins, Flock of Seagulls, Tommy Tutone (8675309 - an you KNOW you dialed it at least once!!), Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Dexties Midnight Runners, EARLY U2, Soft Cell, John Cougar, Culture Club, J.Geils, Michael Jackson (the good years), Safety Dance, Wham... oh man, I love 80's music!!

Clothing, baggie pants, pegged legs, acid wash, leggings, leg warmers, tanks under cut up t shirts (hanging off one shoulder and belted), neon, concert T's, accessories - lots an dlots of accessories, scarves ties into big hair (ala Molly Ringwald / breakfast club), funky hats

BIG BIG hair

Nike and Converse high top sneakers

Domino's Pizza (back then they delivered in 30 mins or less or it was free!)

 

[StephMK]

Bartles and James wine coolers would be a great addition. I think it would be appropriate to put them in the trunk of your car.....drive around......let them warm up a little.....before you park on a country road....drink them.....with a few friends.....lose your car keys.......start to panic because you may have to call your dad....and you know he will kill you! Was that a dream or did it really happen to me

Don't forget walking off that country road to the "bonfire" party - a poorly lit fire w/leery teen boys waiting for the girls to show up! And you have to top it off w/someone puking in the bushes or maybe a friend kissing that guy you always teased her about.


Not that I'm familiar with that odd dream or anything...

 

[StephMK]

Ohh, love the MTV & melted records ideas! Also, Van Halen, Def Leopard, Guns & Roses, Skid Row, the Cure if you want to go a little different direction, Modern English, Yaz, Madonna, etc. Soundtracks from Flash Dance, St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, etc.

Can you still find any Teen Beat posters? Any 80s posters would probably work. It's hard to think of actual decorations, it was all about the people & the HAIR.

 

[mom of 3G's]

Mini skirts, jelly shoes, headbands, Duran Duran and California wine coolers, lol.

but the wine coolers have to be in a 2 liter bottle!

Bartles and James wine coolers would be a great addition. I think it would be appropriate to put them in the trunk of your car.....drive around......let them warm up a little.....before you park on a country road....drink them.....with a few friends.....lose your car keys.......start to panic because you may have to call your dad....and you know he will kill you! Was that a dream or did it really happen to me

Another drink to look for is Purple Passion

Oh the memories... were we really this desperate for a drink??? Yep, I was.

I am laughing my butt off reading all the suggestions. It seems like this was just yesterday...or the year before yesterday...but definitely not 20 years ago. The 80s were a fun decade. I don't remember the stuff from the 90s as well as the music from the 80s.

And yes, I have the Scene It 80s game!!!!!! I sit by myself and see if I know all the answers.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

We just bought "21 Jump Street" seasons 1 and 2 on DVD at Target. It was $15 for the pair and they were back in their "warehouse stuff" section. We have only watched the pilot, but it's a total 80's flashback. It has a "play all" option, so you could keep it running in the background if you want. Johnny Depp with big hair is pretty funny

 

[madcat]

in the summer we went to an 80's party found a really great tiger striped hot pink t-shirt from k-mart (if you have one in your area check the 50-75 off rack I think that they actually still had a few in ours recently) and a denim mini from good will (which I "acid washed" myself with bleach. My husband got some short shorts (red with the white edges) from target and tall tube socks with the stripes on them along with a sweat band. Target also had some leg warmers and in the girls jewlery section they had gummy bracelets and the ones with the glitter and water in them. I also found some neon colored head bands (the thick elastic ones). I actually still had my swatch watch from when I was a kid so I wore that as well.

we had a lot of fun

Target was very good for the 80's party

 

[dfchelbay]

My b-day is in Feb. and I am going to throw myself an 80's party. Tell me some of your ideas. I am going to scrounge the thrift stores for some wide belts, big shirts and stirrup pants but would like some other ideas. I also am going to look for albums from the 80's to hang on the walls.

I can't wait to hear your suggestions. This is going to be so much fun.

Don't forget the gloves all the girls wore. They went midway up the forearm, usually made of lace...see Madonna videos.

 

[britfish]

Bartles and James wine coolers would be a great addition. I think it would be appropriate to put them in the trunk of your car.....drive around......let them warm up a little.....before you park on a country road....drink them.....with a few friends.....lose your car keys.......start to panic because you may have to call your dad....and you know he will kill you! Was that a dream or did it really happen to me