Think late-'80s evening wear, not fancy dress: strong shoulders, one bold color or a touch of shine, serious jewelry, and hair with volume. Start with a blazer, a dark suit or a cocktail dress you already own, then add one period piece from a secondhand market. In Medellín, the Plaza Minorista's secondhand stalls, the El Hueco shopping district and resale apps are good places to look.
Medellín Mystery's invitation has a short dress code: as if your life depended on it. It's dramatic on purpose. The setting is Medellín in 1989, so the question most guests ask next is what people actually wore to a serious dinner at the end of the 1980s.
The good news is that late-'80s evening wear is easy to build. You don't need a wig or a costume shop. You need structure, a little shine and some confidence. Here's the period, the looks, and where to find the pieces in Medellín.
What evening wear looked like in the late '80s
By 1989 the decade's big ideas were fully grown and starting to soften. The main elements to borrow:
- Shoulders. Shoulder pads were everywhere from the mid-'80s into the early '90s, helped along by TV dramas like Dynasty. Fashion histories note that they began shrinking from about 1987, so a strong but not cartoonish shoulder is right for 1989.
- The power suit. Designers including Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren brought back double-breasted, 1940s-inspired suits, usually in navy, charcoal or grey, often with wider pinstripes and wider, bolder ties. The film Wall Street (December 1987) turned the high-roller version into a uniform.
- The Miami Vice effect. The mid-'80s show made a T-shirt under a broad, padded jacket acceptable evening wear for men, in light colors such as grey, tan, rust and white.
- Taffeta, pouf and mini. Late-'80s party dresses leaned on taffeta and puffed skirts, and from 1987 hemlines went short. Sheer or colored hosiery and a prominent belt finished the look.
- Color with nerve. Black stayed the go-to neutral, but plum, gold, pinks, blues and bright wine reds were all in rotation, along with the occasional neon.
- Jewelry that announces itself. Pearls and diamonds (or very good fakes) signaled money, and dressy outfits came with large statement earrings.
- Big hair, bold face. Teased, mousse-styled volume; strong lipstick; black eyeliner.
There's also a regional option. In Colombia, as in Mexico and Cuba, the guayabera, the pleated, pocketed shirt, has long been accepted semi-formal wear for men, and a crisp one with tailored trousers reads as both local and timeless.
Five looks for five personalities
The Power Suit
Double-breasted jacket, high-waisted pleated trousers, a striped shirt and a wide silk tie. Slick the hair back. Add suspenders if you own them.
The Cocktail Dress
Taffeta, satin or sequins with a defined waist. Pair it with sheer hosiery, a statement earring and a red lip, and you're done.
The Tropical Night
A light-colored unstructured jacket over a plain tee or a pressed guayabera, with loafers and no socks if you're feeling brave.
The All-Black Operator
Black head to toe with one sharp shoulder, gold jewelry and dark lipstick or a dark tie. It's understated and still looks expensive.
The Wild Card
An oversized blazer worn as a dress or over wide trousers, chunky earrings or a brooch, and a single neon or metallic accent. It works for anyone.
Building it from a Medellín closet
You probably own half of this already. A blazer with a strong shoulder, dark tailored trousers, a slip dress or a plain white tee can all be pushed toward 1989 with styling:
- Roll or push up jacket sleeves for the late-'80s silhouette.
- Size up on blazers and shirts. The cut was roomy.
- Belt over a blazer or dress to bring in the waist.
- Swap modern minimal jewelry for one big piece. Restraint wasn't the point.
- Bring a layer. Evenings on any rooftop can turn breezy, and a good jacket finishes the look anyway.
If something fits almost right, Medellín has plenty of small clothing alteration shops (look for signs reading arreglos de ropa) that can take in a waist or shorten a sleeve.
Where to hunt secondhand in Medellín
Secondhand clothing has a long history in the city, and resale has grown in recent years. A few places to start:
- Plaza Minorista. The city's big central market has a secondhand clothing section known as El Balcón. The merchants' association Fenalco has described it as the city's largest concentration of secondhand clothing sellers. Expect volume and patience rather than curated racks. It's good ground for blazers and men's suits.
- El Hueco. This dense shopping district in the Guayaquil area downtown covers roughly twenty blocks of shops, passages and malls. It sells mostly new, inexpensive goods, which makes it useful for costume jewelry, belts, hosiery, clutch bags and hair accessories that finish an '80s look.
- Resale apps. GoTrendier, a used-clothing resale platform, operates in Colombia and is a low-effort way to search for sequins, taffeta or double-breasted jackets from your phone.
- Pop-up vintage markets. Independent vintage sellers hold fairs from time to time. One example is the Mercado Vintage fair, which has run at Comfama's warehouse space. Follow local vintage sellers on social media for upcoming dates.
- Mercado Artesanal Sanalejo. This long-running artisan market in Parque Bolívar has been held on the first Saturday of the month. It's a good source of handmade earrings and accessories. Check the city's events calendar for current dates.
Downtown shopping tip: go in daylight, keep your phone in a front pocket or bag, carry small bills, and leave flashy jewelry at home. You can wear it later.
A few things to avoid
- Obvious anachronisms. Skinny jeans, visible modern logos and a smartwatch on display break the spell fastest.
- Pure costume. A neon headband and leg warmers say aerobics class, not dinner. Aim for what a well-dressed adult wore to an important evening.
- Shoes you can't stand in. Choose the heel or loafer you can actually wear all night.
Not sure what to bring? Pick one strong element (the shoulder, the shine or the jewelry) and let the rest stay simple. For the soundtrack to get dressed to, see our guide to the sound of 1989. For what to do in the neighborhood before and after a night out, see El Poblado before and after.
Frequently asked
Do I have to dress in 1989 style?
The only dress code the invitation states is "as if your life depended on it." The story is set in Medellín in 1989, so period touches fit naturally, but the main request is to dress with intent.
What's the easiest 1989 look to put together?
A dark blazer with a strong shoulder, worn with tailored trousers or a cocktail dress, one statement piece of jewelry and some volume in the hair. Most people can build it from their own closet.
Where can I buy secondhand clothes in Medellín?
Good starting points are the secondhand section of Plaza Minorista known as El Balcón, the El Hueco shopping district downtown for inexpensive accessories, resale apps like GoTrendier, and occasional vintage pop-up markets. Check current hours and dates before you go.
What did men wear to formal dinners in the late '80s?
Double-breasted or broad-shouldered suits in navy, charcoal or grey, with wider ties, high-waisted pleated trousers and sometimes suspenders. A lighter jacket over a T-shirt was the more relaxed alternative. In Colombia, a pressed guayabera is also a classic semi-formal choice.