My husband is a child of the 80s and since he is turning 40 this year, I need to start planning the best 80s party.
I’ve put together the ultimate 80s party guide – everything you need is here in this post. You will find 80s party decor, including sub-themes, 80s party food, 80s party songs, 80s party games, and 80s party fashion!
Image via Cottonbro Studios
So grab your Aquanet, we’ve got a 80s party to plan!
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80s Party Theme Food
80s Mall Food Court Inspired Recipes
Image via Jupiter Images
If you were relatively young in the 80s, you likely found yourself at the mall. Therefore, I think we should start off this 80s party food list with some mall-inspired recipes.
The Country Cook has an amazing copycat Orange Julius smoothie that will be perfect to serve your party guests. You can serve them in little paper cups too just like the taste test cups.
Real quick, while on the subject of cups, remember that bottled water was pretty rare/luxurious in the 80s. If you really want to bring it back to the 80s, make sure to serve water in cups!
Panda Express opened in the early 80s and this Panda Express orange chicken copycat recipe by Cuisine and Travel is sure to be a favorite among the party guests.
Image via Cuisine and Travel
Moving a bit later into the 80s, another great mall dish to serve at a party is Sarku Japan chicken teriyaki. This highly rated copycat recipe by Alena’s Home Cooking is perfect.
We absolutely cannot forget a mall pretzel. This soft pretzel recipe by Modern Honey is the perfect pretzel to bring you right back to the 80s.
Image via Modern Honey
Popular 80s Dinner Party Recipes
Much of the 80s consisted of homemade meals for many households. If you are having a dinner party, any of these meals would be a fantastic option.
First up, we have the classic meat, starch, and veggie plate. Many households served some sort of meat, potatoes or pasta, and a side salad or veggies. Dinner rolls and cornbread were also common, too.
Another common dish in the 80s was pork chops, served with applesauce as a bonus. This oven baked pork chop recipe by Carmy is an easy dinner party dish – it tells you how to make your “side of starch,” too!
Image via Carmy
Chicken alfredo was a popular dish as well and it would be easy to whip up a large dish of pasta for an 80s party. The Slow Roasted Italian has an amazing chicken alfredo fettuccine recipe you need to check out!
Image via The Slow Roasted Italian
Now, we cannot forget a classic meatloaf when we think of the 80s! The Cookin’ Chicks have the best meatloaf recipe, just the way mom made it.
Image via The Cookin’ Chicks
I’m not sure what decade started sloppy joes, but they were definitely popular in the 80s. This old fashioned sloppy joes recipe by Quiche My Grits is sure to hit the spot at an 80s party.
Image via Quiche My Grits
If your guests love seafood, this blackened red snapper recipe by Ask Chef Dennis is perfect. Blacked fish was a popular meal in the 80s, in case you didn’t know.
Image via Ask Chef Dennis
Lastly, we have a very popular dish, beef stroganoff. To make the most delicious beef stroganoff for your 80s dinner party, make sure to follow The Forked Spoon’s easy beef stroganoff recipe.
Image via The Forked Spoon
80s Party Theme Desserts & Snacks
Sticking to the mall theme real quick, imagine serving your party guests these amazing cinnamon rolls, another recipe by The Cookin’ Chicks.
Image via The Cookin’ Chicks
Do you remember the baked Alaska dessert trend? You can make a baked Alaska at home with this easy to follow recipe by Spend With Pennies.
Image via Spend With Pennies
Popular Snacks of the 80s
80s Party Songs
Here are some popular songs from the decade, broken down by genre.
What would you add to these lists? Let me know in the comments. There were so many to choose!
Popular 80s Hair Metal Songs
Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
KISS – Rock And Roll All Nite
Twisted Sister – We’re Not Gonna Take It
Warrant – Cherry Pie
Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar on Me
Quiet Riot – Cum on Feel the Noize
Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane
Ratt – Round and Round
Van Halen – Panama
Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to The Jungle
Motley Crue – Girls, Girls, Girls
Poison – Unskinny Pop
Twisted Sister – I Wanna Rock
Quiet Riot – Bang Your Head
Skid Row – 18 and Life
Van Halen – Jump
Aerosmith – Rag Doll
Motley Crue – Smokin’ in The Boys Room
Slaughter – Up All Night
Winger – Easy Come Easy Go
Popular 80s Dance/Pop Songs
Cindy Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Queen – Radio Ga Ga
Michael Sembello – Maniac
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing in The Dark
Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
Diana Ross – I’m Coming Out
Fleetwood Mac – Everywhere
Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl
The Outfield – Your Love
The Knack – My Sharona
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky
Prince – Kiss
DEVO – Whip It
Men Without Hats – The Safety Dance
Billy Idol -Mony Mony
Pat Benatar – Love is a Battlefield
Michael Jackson – Beat It
Madonna – Material Girl
Popular 80s Ballad Songs
The Police – Every Breath You Take
George Michael – Careless Whisper
Berlin – Take My Breath Away
Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
Kate Bush – Running up That Hill
Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All
REO Speedwagon – Can’t Fight This Feeling
Eric Carmen – Hungry Eyes
Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes – I’ve Had the Time of My Life
Prince – Purple Rain
Guns N’ Roses – November Rain
Foreigner – I Want to Know What Love Is
Stevie Wonder – I Just Called to Say I Love You
Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You
Lionel Richie – All Night Long
Tina Turner – What’s Love Got to Do With It
Bryan Adams – Heaven
Alannah Myles – Black Velvet
Cindy Lauper – Time After Time
Bangles – Eternal Flame
Popular 80s Hip Hop & Punk Songs
Run D.M.C. – Tricky
Salt-N-Pepa – Push It
Public Enemy – Bring the Noise
The Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight
Beastie Boys – Brass Monkey
Tone-Loc – Wild Thing
Young MC – Bust a Move
Run D.M.C. – My Adidas
Newcleus – Jam on It
LL Cool J – Rock the Bells
Dead Kennedys – I Fought the Law
Violent Femmes – Promise
The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go
The Ramones – Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio
Black Flag – Rise Above
The Cramps – Goo Goo Muck
Social Distortion – Mommy’s Little Monster
Fugazi – Waiting Room
Rich Kids on LSD – Senseless Violence
Suicidal Tendencies – Institutionalized
Popular 80s Country Songs
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Fishin’ in The Dark
Dolly Parton – Islands in The Stream
Randy Travis – Forever and Ever, Amen
George Strait – All My Ex’s Live in Texas
Waylon Jennings – Good Ol’ Boys
Alabama – Love in the First Degree
Hank Williams Jr. – Texas Women
Dolly Parton – 9 to 5
Eddie Rabbit – The Best Year of My Life
B.J. Thomas – Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love
Sheena Easton – Almost Over You
The Judds – Why Not Me
T.G. Sheppard – Slow Burn
James Taylor – Everyday
Kenny Rogers – Morning Desire
Billy Vera – At This Moment
Reba McEntire – What Am I Gonna Do About You
Tanya Tucker – Strong Enough to Bend
Shenandoa – Two Dozen Roses
80s Party Outfit Ideas
The fashion was fun in the 80s. Encourage your guests to wear their best 80s attire, grab a camera, some props, and create a glamour photo shoot for your party!
Image via RyanJLane
It’s time to rummage through your closets, hit up the thrift store, or find some look-alikes on Amazon! These 80s party outfits are sure to be a hit!
Popular Clothing Brands From the 80s
Reebok
Converse/Chucks
Adidas
Polo Ralph Lauren
Izod
Levi
Wrangler
Gianni Versace
Jordache
Member’s Only
Popular Clothing Trends & Accessories of the 80s
Image via PeopleImages
Belts (both thin and wide belts were popular)
Shoulder pads
Leotards for activewear
Bright headbands for activewear
Big statement necklaces
Leg warmers
Tube socks
Short shorts for the men
Fishnet tights
Men’s sport jacket
Tracksuits
Acid washed denim
Leather jackets
Cut off denim jackets
Denim on denim
Safety pins and patches on jackets
High waisted loose pants/jeans
Bright pastel colors
Crushed velvet
Corsets
Kitten heels
Laced or fingerless gloves
Muscle tanks for men
Western clothing
Power Suits
Tortoise shell plastic sunglasses
Pack of cigarettes in a pocket (get fake ones please!)
Image via YuriArcurs
80s Hair and Makeup Trends
Image via Mattabbe
Frosted lipstick, typically light pink
Blue eyeliner
Heavy mascara
Pink or red blush
Big curly hair
Crimped hair
Scrunchies
Using half a can of Aquanet on your hair (just kidding, but seriously, set that big hair with hairspray)
Punk/gothic makeup
Red or black nail polish
80s Party Decor
Since this is a decade party, decorations are a must. If you have anything in your storage closet from the 80s, now is the time to bring it out! Here I’ve included some niche 80 party theme decor ideas.
80s Arcade Party Theme
80s Neon Party Theme
80s Bowling Alley Party Theme
80s Rollerblading Party Theme
80s Hair Metal Party Theme
80s Party Games
With the popularity of Stranger Things, we’ve seen just how big Dungeons and Dragons was in the 80s. If you have this popular game already, it is time to bring it out! If not, you may want to buy this fun game for the party!
Popular board games in the 80s included Clue, Trouble, Monopoly (although you’d have to look hard for the older style with the original character pieces), Battleship, Stratego, and Mouse Trap.
If you were a child in the 80s, you likely remember some of these fun recess games:
Tetherball
Four Square
Red Rover
Wall Ball
Tag
Chinese Jump Rope
Red Light Green Light
Kick the Can
If your party guests are more of the active kind, playing some of these games would be a fun way to feel like a kid again!
Save This List for the Best 80s Party Theme
What did I miss? Leave a comment below to let us know how your 80s party theme went!
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