80s Strikes Back

How To Dress Up Like The A-Team

The A-Team

In all honesty you could figure this out by yourself. But if you fancy a laugh with a few mates going to the local 80s bar then here are a few pointers. To start with you need 4 people, preferably male. A foursome of women cross dressing as the A-team would be quite novel and entertaining, but a mix of sexes would probably just be stupid and more importantly, confusing to everyone else. You need to be easily recognisable as being the A-Team. Either way, dressing up as the A-Team works best when the protagonists are as similar to the originals as possible (this applies to all fancy dress). So, 3 white males of average build and a muscular black man would work best. Having two people of colour in your 'team' would just be confusing as to who is BA Baracus, so IMO, this is a no-no. For a twist you could try 3 black men of average build and a muscular white man. Overall though, as an 80s purest, I would stick with team as they are on TV. So on with the disguises.

Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith

Requirements 1) Grey hair spray. 2) A big fuck-off oversized cigar. 3) A lightweight beige/off-white jacket. 4) A pair of black leather gloves. The most important part of this outfit is the jacket. Without it, no-one will recognise you as Hannibal. What you wear from the waist down is fairly flexible as long as it is not something completely out of place. Black jeans or chinos should do the trick. Black/dark coloured trainers or boots for the feet. The hair needs to be short, and sprayed grey. Some of that stuff that easily washes out and is as cheap to buy. Any light coloured cotton shirt or plain t-shirt will suffice under the jacket. A hip belt like in the picture can be added but you will get away without it. Finally black gloves, leather ones will look the most authentic. Always have the cigar handy or hanging from the corner of your mouth. Depending on where you are in the world will dictate on whether you can light it up indoors or not, and to be fair, I'm not sure it was ever lit during the show. Finally answer every question, with "I love it when a plan comes together".

Seargent B.A. Baracus

Requirements 1) Blue Dungarees. 2) Orange/Red T-Shirt 3) Big waist belt 4) 5 metres of garden chain. 5) Mohawk scull cap (optional) 6) Brown body paint (optional) 7) Stick on stubble beard (optional) 8) Additional jewellery (optional) The role of BA Baracus should be reserved for the largest of your group, or someone who is black like Mr.T; Built like a brick shit house and black is the ideal combination. If the person is black but not particularly well built, perhaps use other clothing to pad up the t-shirt to give the effect. If the person is not black then use some body paint that actors sometimes use to colour your skin, people will appreciate this level of effort. You should only have to worry about the exposed parts. If you are incapable of growing a stubbly beard you will have to stick on a fake one, otherwise its best to grow it naturally. If you are feeling daring then shave your head in a Mohawk style like Mr.T else wear a fake Mohawk scull cap. Wear the dungarees over the t-shirt. Dark boots will be best for your feet. Join the ends of the garden chain, available at most DIY stores, with tape or some other means and wrap it as many times a posible around your neck, taking care not to choke yourself. Accessorise as you feel fit but this part is optional. Be belligerent and call everyone else a "crazy foo!" all night.

Captain "Howling Mad" Murdock

Requirements 1) Brown leather jacket 2) Baseball cap 3) Scruffy T-shirt with nonsensical writings on it 4) Light (beige) chinos or jeans. 5) Converse/basketball type shoes. Murdoch is the easiest to dress up as, if you have the right clothes. Without the brown leather jacket and baseball cap, you're not very recognisable. Potentially you could get away with just a brown jacket and you will bet your swollocks off wearing it all night. Light trousers and basketball type trainers complete the look.

You can get away with any t-shirt but one with a random picture or writing on it will be more authentic as long as it doesn't stand out from the rest of the ensemble. If you are daring and can afford to ruin a perfectly good leather jacket, you can paint the tiger logo on the back that is on Murdock's jacket. The writing says 'Da-Nang 1970' Be sure to act ike a loon all night.

Lt. Templeton "The Faceman" Peck Personally, I think the Face Man is the hardest to pull off convincingly. Dirk Benedict was (and still is in his 60s) the archetype of good looking, so the most handsome of your group should be playing Face, and that person needs to have hair that can be styled to resemble his floppy 80s style. There are two ways you can do the Faceman.

Requirements. 1) A full head of hair 2) White, blue or brown blazer. 3) Plain shirt 4) Trousers/chinos that don't match the blazer (black) 5) Shoes Notice how Face's blazers never seem to match his trousers unless he is properly smartly dressed up, black chinos and a plain shirt were often accompannied by a white or brown blazer, in the 80sstrikesback header, he is wearing a blue one. A tie is optional, I think the slightly casual open collar look is more believable and you will look less like someone who has just put on a suit. Shoes are a must. or

1)as above 2)Black leather jacket 3)Dark smart t-shirt/top 4)as above 5)as above I think this route is too similar to Murdoch unless you can get the hair spot on. And that leads us to the most important part of dressing up as Face, getting the hair right. Do that and you're 90% there. Face's mop is Dirk's fame. I can't give you much by the way of tips on how to do this. You have to have 70s/80s length hair and get the parting right. If your colour is completely different you should colour it in much the same way as Hannibal. Be smoothe and have a lady hanging off each arm all night.

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