About '80s Parties
When entertaining, choosing a theme for a party can give the host a focus on how to plan the event. Planning an era party, where a specific decade is the event's theme, provides ideas for costumes and music. In order to plan or attend an '80s party, the host and guests must revisit the past and bring back the music and clothing of that time. Does this Spark an idea?
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Time Frame
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The intention of an '80s party is to relive the decade, bringing back the styles, music and memories. Those who were born after the 1980s or were infants during that period rely on television, movies, music, books and the Internet to provide information on how to accurately depict the era.
History
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Before getting into the spirit of a decade, it is important to have an understanding of the world events that took place during that time. The 1980s are remembered as being the "me generation." The decade embraced a "got it, flaunt it" attitude, where buying was a trend and having it all was the sign of the times. Ronald Reagan was the U.S. president for much of the decade, and the Berlin Wall came down.
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Significance
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Authentic era music is essential for the success of an '80s party. Some hit songs from that era include; "Just Called To Say I Love You," "Freeway Of Love," "Uptown Girl," "Ebony & Ivory," "I Want To Know What Love Is," "Blue Moon With Heartache," "Hard To Say I'm Sorry," "Hurt So Bad," "A Groovy Kind Of Love," "Lean On Me," "Cherish," "Abracadabra," "Candle In The Wind," "That's What Friends Are For," and "If I Could Turn Back Time."
Identification
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Knowing how people dressed during the 1980s is necessary for those attending the party. Loud colors were popular, including turquoise, fluorescent yellow, pink and electric blue. Patterns were bold with geometric shapes. Costume jewelry, including oversized, brightly colored earrings were popular. Women often sported large baggie tops over tight, tapered slacks. Leggings were popular, as was spandex and Lycra fabrics. A visit to the thrift store is a good place to shop for suitable clothing and accessories.
Features
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One way to make dressing the part more fun is to choose a character from that era. Ronald and Nancy Reagan would be two ideas, or look to popular movies or television series from that time for inspiration. "Flashdance" was a popular 80s movie, as was "Karate Kid," and "Miami Vice" was a popular television show. Dressing up as a popular rock or pop star is another idea. This would include colorful characters such as Madonna and Boy George.
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