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Since party season is officially upon us, we took a deep dive into photo archives from the decade, and we're happy to report that we found a trove of cool '80s holiday party outfits to inspire your next look

Not only does it make the colors pop, but it also allows you to see every detail of the design

Refrigerate any unused portion in a small airtight container (the less air inside, the better) up to 3 days

What follows is a foolproof guide covering length, fabric, silhouette, color, venue, timing, accessories, and everything else that determines whether your outfit reads formal or trying too hard. Specific looks are woven throughout so you can see each principle in action, not just read about it in the abstract