80s Party Outfit for Men: Six Looks From Preppy to Rocker

If you need an 80s party outfit male guests will recognize instantly, you are in luck: men's fashion of the 1980s had several distinct looks, and most of them can be built from a thrift store and your own closet. The mid-80s in particular brought an explosion of color into menswear. Here are six looks, from easiest to most committed, plus hair and accessory tips.

1. Pastel jacket over a T-shirt

Crime dramas on mid-80s TV made a very specific look famous: a T-shirt worn under a suit jacket with broad, padded shoulders, often in a pale color such as white, gray, tan or pastel, with the sleeves pushed up. Add loose trousers, loafers without socks and dark sunglasses. It is the signature men's 80s outfit and needs only a light blazer and a plain T-shirt.

2. Hawaiian shirt

Bright Hawaiian shirts were another mid-decade favorite, sometimes worn under a sport coat. Pair one with shorts or khakis, a baseball cap and a mustache for a TV private-eye feel. This is the most comfortable option for a summer party.

3. Preppy

The early 80s saw a revival of Ivy League style: polo shirts with popped collars, sweaters tied over the shoulders, oxford shirts, khaki trousers, argyle socks and boat shoes. Wear a pastel polo with the collar up, a sweater knotted around your shoulders and neatly combed hair. It works well next to louder costumes in a group.

4. Tracksuit

Tracksuits, sports jerseys, hoodies and velour were common casual wear for men in the early 80s, and shell suits appeared later. A bright two-tone tracksuit with high-top sneakers, a chain and a cassette player prop is instantly recognizable and easy to dance in.

5. New wave

Post-punk and new wave bands influenced mainstream fashion in the early and mid-80s: slim-fitting suits, thin ties in leather or bold patterns, striped T-shirts, metallic shirts, brightly colored glasses and pristine leather jackets. Try a black skinny tie over a white shirt, a slim blazer, colored sunglasses and a short quiff.

6. Rocker or metal fan

Long hair, leather or cut-off denim jackets, tight worn jeans and white high-top sneakers were common among metal fans in the early 80s, and acid-wash jeans and jackets became popular with everyone late in the decade. Add pins and patches to a denim vest, wear a band-style T-shirt and tease your hair or use a long wig.

Bonus: parachute pants

Parachute pants were made of synthetic nylon and, in the early style, covered in zippers; by the late 80s the name was also used for extremely baggy trousers. Pair them with a cropped jacket and sneakers if your party includes a dance-off.

Quick reference

Look	Key piece	Accessories
Pastel jacket	Light blazer over a T-shirt	Loafers, sunglasses
Hawaiian	Bright floral shirt	Cap, mustache
Preppy	Popped-collar polo	Sweater over shoulders, boat shoes
Tracksuit	Two-tone tracksuit	High-tops, chain
New wave	Skinny tie, slim blazer	Colored glasses
Rocker	Acid-wash or denim jacket	Pins, patches, long hair

Hair and grooming

Short hair made a comeback for men early in the decade, and many wore a neat regular cut or a quiff. Mustaches stayed common. From the mid-80s, the mullet was a popular style, and glam-rock fans used hairspray in large quantities. For a party, a mullet wig is the quickest way to make any outfit unmistakably 80s; a stick-on mustache is the second quickest. Designer stubble is a late-80s option that needs no props at all.

Accessories that help

• Large plastic-framed glasses or classic dark sunglasses
• A digital watch with a metal band
• Sweatbands on the wrists or forehead
• A toy cassette player or a cardboard boombox prop
• Jelly bracelets or a single earring stud (clip-on is fine)

Going as a group

Pair any of these with the women's looks in our 80s party outfit ideas. If the theme covers several eras, see the decades party guide, and for the decade before, our 70s outfits for men.