How to Dress for a 1980s Prom – a Duct Tape HairBow and More…

I already told you about this crazy 80s prom held at SNAP – again, where am I gonna find plus size stuffs from the 1980s? Here's some more fun 80s accessories that you can make – over the top and one-size-fits-all. Yeah, baby, like, gag me with a spoon!

I made a giant duct tape bow to go on this headband but you can make a pretty flower or some other focal item for it. I picked up sequin headbands from the $1 spot at Jo-Ann's – they were kinda small for an adult head so I sewed two of them together. Then I added my bow with hot glue. To make it even more “dayglo”, I added glow in dark Tulip Fabric Paint to the duct tape pattern. After letting it dry overnight, it completed my totally ridiculous 1980s flashback look. Disclosure: Like, there are totally affiliate links in this post. Like, for real, just click and buy some stuff and I'll make some killer dough, man. Thanks peeps!

Check out how I made this FAB hairbow headband:

That blue eyeshadow I got on clearance was so handy! I kinda look like Mimi from the Drew Carey Show…

At least my marginally 80s and seriously questionable clothing choices were in good company:

Katie made the duct tape belt for me – but I couldn't figure out how to hook it together so I just wrapped it around my neck. She'll post a tutorial for that soon – she used Marisa Pawelko's Crazy-Cool Duct Tape Projects Book to get the basic idea down and then she went to town. You can get the book here on Amazon:

Crazy-Cool Duct Tape Projects: Fun and Funky Projects for Fashion and Flair

Yeah, I did the side pony.

So about that shirt – Katie did several stints in the Westcott booth at CHA and learned how to make a rocker t-shirt armed only with a pair of scissors. We figured I needed some studs so she used Tulip's Beads in a Bottle Multi-Pack Paints – 4pk to add faux studs to the shoulders to look like shoulder pads. It was pretty radical, dude. And it all worked out since I wear a 3x and Jo-Ann only had XLs – that's one way to skin a sausage! She also used some excess t-shirt material to make a neon yellow bracelet for me. And then I topped it all off with my ICE Resin 80s neon necklace. I wore black jeans from my stash and just some mary jane shoes – once we're below the knee, I am all about comfort. Nothing to see there …  though Alexa had some fabulous Flashdance-style kicks — vintage Reebok high tops! You can find a similar pair here at Cents of Style: Afton Gold Muted Sneakers

So there you have it. How to dress for a 1980s prom, especially if you are plus size. It's a bonus that this entire outfit cost me under $20!!! Wanna get retro? Check out these supplies on Amazon:

Author: Jennifer Priest

It started with jewelry, beading, sewing, home decor, painting, basket weaving, pottery, and cross-stitch. Marry that to an entrepreneurial spirit & at 9 years old a girl is selling her wares at craft fairs as far as her parents and grandparents would drive her. These days, Jennifer enjoys crafts of all genres from sewing to scrapbooking to jewelry with a little dabbling in the mixed media world. Her style is approachable and she wants everyone who sees her work to feel that they too can embrace creativity and make their home and life beautiful.