Over at my house we might be the only people thinking about elaborate 80’s character costumes in the springtime. As you [should] know, a birthday party isn’t complete without a theme, and a theme isn’t complete without a full fledged costume. So for Megan’s 25th, our decades party tradition was continued as we headed back to the 80’s. And with that, I got to have another dream come true: become a rock star with pink hair. The outrageous Jem!

I remember asking my parents when I was six if I could dye my hair pink after seeing Barbie’s streaky, fuchsia locks at the FAO Schwartz toy store in Chicago. They quickly pointed out a lady on the street with a horrible haircut dyed the worst peptol bismol pink, and told me I would end up looking like that. Touche, parents, touche.

But I’m an adult now and can make my own decisions! I did not dye my hair pink, since I wanted to keep my day job, but went online and ordered an incredible pink wig. Once I put it on, I highly considered just committing to it full time. There’s just something really empowering about wearing pounds of pink locks on your head and flipping it over your shoulder like it’s an everyday thing. Paired with my pink v-neck swing dress, a DIY Jem belt (see below), DIY Jem starburst earrings (see below), a glitter microphone, and pink eye makeup, a star was reborn, straight out of the 80’s cartoon.

Follow my full tutorial below to recreate my look! Scroll below to see the full tutorial.

80’s Jem and the Holograms Costume Tutorial

1. Pink dress
I wore the pink dress that I made a few months back, but any pink dress will do (especially if you have a wrap dress like Jem’s)

2. Microphone
This glitter one is perfect.

3. Pink Wig
The color of this wig is just right to match Jem’s blush locks, and $16 is a steal for a decent wig. The quality is impeccable (a few people thought it was my actual hair), and it can be curled, straightened, or crimped since it’s heat resistant.

4. Pink Lipstick 
I used this bright fuchsia hue from Sephora that I plan to wear again!

5. Pink Eye Makeup
Pink face paint/makeup + white glitter eye shadow + shimmery pink eye shadow (I generally used this tutorial with fewer products)
NOTE: I used cheap pink face paint from Party City that clearly stated on the back not to use on your eyes… turns out I can’t read and this resulted in pink eyelids all of the day after the party. Thankfully it washed off fully by Monday, but do not make my same mistake.

6. Fuchsia Belt (see DIY below)

7. Starburst Earrings (see DIY below)

Fuchsia Jem Belt DIY

Supplies:
1 yard Fuchsia fabric
Fuchsia thread
4″ Sew on velcro

1. Take your fabric and fold it over so that about 8″ are folded over with the length being about 50″. Measure your waist and add 3″. Mark and cut your fabric to match the shape shown below with the longest edge matching your waist plus 3″ on the fold. Also cut out the fringe as shown below.

2. With the belt piece still folded over, sew along all of the open edges except for the short side on the end. Turn the belt right side out at the short end and sew about 2mm away from all of the edges to give them a finished look.

3. Pull your velcro pieces apart and sew one side to the tip of the belt along the diagonal, and the other to the other end of the belt in the same orientation. You will want to try on the belt and mark where the second velcro piece should lie before sewing it to make sure it matches up perfectly and fits your waist exactly.

4. To cover up the seams from the velcro, fold your fringe piece over once at the non-fringed end and sew it on top of the diagonal edge of the belt so it hangs down.

Starburst Jem Earrings DIY

Supplies:
4 2″ x 2″ Pieces of pink glitter paper
2 Earring hooks
Hot glue and gun

1. Take 2 of the pieces of pink glitter paper and draw a starburst on the back of each. Cut around this pattern and then trace them on to the other two pieces of pink glitter paper so you have two matching sets. Cut out the matching starbursts and line them up with the back sides touching.

2. Take your hot glue and apply glue to the back side of one of the starbursts. Quickly press the earring hook base into one of the starburst points and stick the other matching starburst on top. Add a little more glue around the earring hook base if it does not seem sturdy enough. Repeat on the other earring.

3. To wear your earrings, bend the hooks sideways a little so that the hook is perpendicular to the paper. This way the starburst pattern always faces front.