How to Dress Like a Modern Material Girl without Looking Like Madonna

So you’re nostalgic for the ‘80s. You’ve watched “Desperately Seeking Susan” and love “Thriller.” In fact, you’re so wild about the decade that you want to copy some of the fashion. You want to be a Material Girl. But how do you dress like that on a normal basis without looking like you just stepped out of a costume party? Here are some tips on how to dress like an ‘80s streetwise chick without getting mistaken for a Madonna double:

*Wear the right jewelry: Religious jewelry, especially silver crosses with Gothic details à la George Michael, makes a statement without being overtly ‘80s. Try cross earrings, necklaces, rings---really any piece with a cross will do. Jelly bracelets---in purple, red, and black---are Material Girl staples, but keep the look subtle by wearing no more than five or six on each arm. Extreme stacks are best left to the past. Also search for big, funky earrings. If you go for big hoops, tacky plastic, or eye-catching faux gems, downplay the rest of your jewelry or, probably better, don’t wear any other pieces period. The rest of the outfit will pump up your ‘80s glam, so there’s no need to go overboard with the jewelry. 

*Sport stellar hosiery: Stock up on fishnets (best with finer holes), colorful tights, and leggings. For a neat contrast, layer your fishnets over a pair of bright tights to instantly punch up a plain skirt, especially shorter cuts. Leggings can function as regular pants or you can put denim cut-offs over them. Aim for chic layers whenever possible. Sliding on a pair of legwarmers adds interest to solid-colored leggings. For “off-to-aerobics-class” flair, put on some cute ballet flats and really finish the look.

*Do your hair: The ‘80s embraced curly hair with a passion, but for a modern twist, go for bigger corkscrew or banana curls instead of a frizzy mass. Use hair curlers or a curling iron, but avoid getting a professional perm because if you don’t like the job, you’ll probably have to wait several weeks for your hair to grow out. In terms of accessories, look for headbands and anything with sequins. Barrettes with dark-colored beads or somewhat Gothic details are great additions, too.

*Love leopard spots: ‘80s pop stars loved animal print, especially leopard spots and zebra stripes. Pick out any such printed item----from purses to scrunchies---but avoid anything too loud. Never combine leopard spots and zebra stripes in a single outfit or go head-to-toe in either pattern because your outfit will end up looking too busy. Instead, pair leopard spots with black, chocolate, or burgundy and zebra stripes with black or white for foolproof color schemes.

*Think black: Black is an ‘80s must, but try not to overdo it, either, or you’ll end up looking like you’re in mourning. If you’re not used to wearing black, start off slowly by picking out black accessories, like dog collars or wristbands. Tight black jeans are always an easy staple to pull off. Head-to-toe black can look morbid, so try throwing in some color to add excitement. Red, purple, and white always match black perfectly. You can also pair neons with black, but wear them sparingly with black as a base.

*Don cut-off tops: Very few of a Material Girl’s tops fully cover the neck, arms, and midriff. Search for tops with short sleeves or that are completely sleeveless. Over-sized, shoulderless shirts or sweatshirts are also popular ‘80s picks that you can chicly layer over a camisole or tank top. If you choose a shirt with an extremely unorthodox cut (zig-zags slashes across the front and back, for example), make it the focus of your outfit by keeping everything else simpler.

Thankfully dressing like a Material Girl doesn’t mean reliving the ‘80s! Avoid over-done perms and garish purple eye shadow and stick to the styles that are meant to be admired. Mixing in modern trends keeps your wardrobe from looking seriously dated. Now go out and “Get into the Groove.”