Archive for January, 2008

80′s Costume Ideas, Part 2

Monday, January 14th, 2008

If you were a teen in the 80′s, you probably remember all too well what outrageous fashions and hairstyles were popular. For those of us too young (or too old) to remember, take a look at these iconic movies for inspiration for your 80′s costume:

Heathers, 1989. Teen fashion is especially important in this flick to differentiate the Heathers from the not-Heathers. Shannon Doherty’s outfits are particularly heinous.

Can’t Buy Me Love, 1987. A pre-McDreamy Patrick Dempsey gets a gloriously 80s makeover.

Sixteen Candles, 1984. Check out the clothes these people wore to the big dance. The popular girl’s lavendar taffeta dress is so Miss Piggy.

Teen Witch, 1989. Dorky teen discovers she’s a witch and casts a spell to become popular. The makeover ones are the best because they really show you what was considered the height of cool in the 80s.

Teen Wolf, 1985. Not only does Teen Wolf himself make a great costume, there are plenty of 80s fashions on display.

Back to the Future, 1985. That Michael J. Fox just screams 80s, huh? This movie is great for inspiration because of how it contrasts the fashions of the 50s and the oh-so-modern 80s. And check out our new Doc Brown wig!

Some Kind of Wonderful, 1987. Poor kid gets a date with the most popular girl in school. Check out what the cool kids wore vs. the not-so-cool kids in the 80s.

Check out our 80s Costumes Ideas, Part 3!

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80′s Costume Ideas, Part 1

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

I was a kid in the 80s, so I feel a lot of nostalgia for the time of big shoulder pads and bigger hair. It makes perfect sense to me that the 80s are becoming a popular party theme – even if the fashions of today are leaning toward the 80s, it’s fun at a party to take it all the way to crazytown. Think neon colors, leg warmers, mullet wigs, and gigantic earrings. Or emulate one of the characters we remember fondly from the era.

Here are some of my favorite suggestions for a totally rad 80′s costume:

1. Smurf. This one’s easy to make on your own - Wear a long-sleeved blue shirt and cover your face (and hands if you’re feeling ambitious) with blue costume makeup. Or go shirtless and cover your whole torso with blue makeup. It will take a lot for the makeup to look solid and not streaky, so buy plenty. Wear white pants (or white tights, if you’re really brave), white shoes, and a white hat. If you have even basic sewing skills, it would be easy to make a smurf’s hooked hat out of white felt. To be a specific smurf, carry the tools of his particular trade – for example, to be Baker Smurf, wear a white chef hat. Papa Smurf needs red pants, shoes and hat instead of white. (Read all about the different smurfs and their attributes at Blue Buddies, a site dedicated to the love of smurfs.) 

This makes a great couple costume, too. Smurfette will need a white dress, white pumps, royal blue tights, and a blonde wig – the yellower the better! If you want to create a sexier version of Smurfette, you could repurpose this two-piece Wilma Flintstone costume.

2. 80′s Hair Band Rock Star. What you’ll need: skin-tight pants, denim or black – leather if you’ve got ‘em; ankle boots or motorcycle boots; crazy-big 80′s wig; biker-esque studded accessories; fake tattoos; and a T-shirt with the sleeves cut off. Oh yeah. That’s sexy. Or Google your favorite rock star and model yourself after him or her.

3. Ghostbuster. This one’s easy – just buy it! Seriously, I loved Ghostbusters – I still love Ghostbusters, and the fact that this costume exists and includes an inflatable ghost-zapper-thingy (what were those things called?) is my idea of tubular to the max.

Okay, that’s all for now. More 80′s costume ideas to come …

 

Check out 80′s Costume Ideas, Part 2!

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Prepare Early for Mardi Gras

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

I just got back from New Orleans (spent New Year’s Eve there), and the fun time I had in the Big Easy has me thinking about the next big holiday coming up - Mardi Gras! 

It’s true New Year’s Eve only passed by a few days ago, but it’s already time to start thinking about Mardi Gras. This year Mardi Gras starts early – on February 5.

Are you planning to attend a Mardi Gras parade or party, or throw one of your own? You’ll need some stuff to help you get in the spirit:

In our Mardi Gras section, we have feather masks (including my favorite mask), sequin masks, jester costumes, green tights, purple tights, feather boas, tiaras, hats, capes, wigs, robes and more to make your Mardi Gras celebration extra special. Or search our whole site for unique hats, sexy costumes, novelty glasses and more.

Don’t wait till you get to Bourbon Street to buy your masks and beads – they’ll be way cheaper (and require less nudity) if you buy in advance. :) 

We’ll be adding more Mardi Gras items in the next few days, so check back or drop us a line if you need something specific. See our contact page for ways to get in touch.

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