Prepare yourself for lace skirts, off-the-shoulder dolman sleeve tops, leg warmers and, yes, sequined gloves. King of Pop pretenders, Material Girls, "Dynasty" divas and "Flashdance" flashbacks will rule Halloween.

The 1980s are thundering back this year, spurred by the deaths of such major figures of the era as Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Farrah Fawcett and megahit movie director John Hughes.

"For people in their 20s and 30s, the '80s are nostalgic," said Deborah Chausse, owner of Evangeline's Costume Mansion. And Halloween fun particularly appeals to this demographic.

It turns out that Vincent Price was right – no mere mortal can resist the evil of the thriller.

The look favored by '80s pop superstar Michael Jackson reigns in costume popularity. Shops are struggling to keep Jackson-esque items such as sequined gloves and black fedoras in stock.

Chausse was temporarily sold out of gloves in September. Wigs and red "Thriller" jackets also are popular.

"A lot of people are going as a zombie Michael from 'Thriller,' " she said.

At Spirit Halloween on Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights, the staff has been getting "nonstop phone calls" from people seeking Jackson costume paraphernalia, said Erik Siefker, the store's associate manager.

Pop culture has always been highly influential when it comes to Halloween costumes, said Jeffrey Weinstock, professor of American literature and popular culture at Central Michigan University.

"It's a kind of homage to a popular culture figure who's passed on," Weinstock said, "particularly someone like Michael Jackson, who was such a popular figure when he was alive."

Jackson's popularity, which had waned after allegations that he sexually abused children, soared after his June 25 death. More than 31 million U.S. television viewers tuned in to watch his funeral, according to Nielsen ratings figures, and sales of Jackson's albums skyrocketed after his death, breaking Billboard sales chart records.

According to Yahoo! officials, "Michael Jackson costume" was the second-most-popular costume search in the past 30 days that ended Thursday, second only to the perennially popular vampire costume.

Even craft giant Michaels beat it to offer bargain-inclined buyers an alternative to the red, faux-leather Thriller jacket inspired by the one Deborah Landis designed for Jackson's 14-minute music video. Their version uses black T-shirts and red and black duct tape, and requires about $35 and a few hours.

"Shortly after Michael passed away, we thought: 'Everybody's going to jump on the bandwagon,' " said Jo Pearson, manager of creative services for Michaels, based in Irving, Texas.

Bethany Barlew, 29, will do her best impression of young Jacko at a Halloween party in Shingle Springs this year.

The local school district technology director got her M.J. getup from Evangeline's, where she used to work during the Halloween season.

"I was born in 1980, so I grew up on Michael Jackson," she said. "I had 'Thriller' on vinyl."

Other '80s looks are back in a big way, too, this Halloween, including Madonna-esque costumes and the shoulder-padded elegance and big hair made popular by the "Dallas" television series.

Barlew laughed when she spotted an '80s soap opera star costume during a recent photo shoot. A magenta, cinch-waisted, puffed sleeve blouse-jacket and black skirt could make anyone who lived through the fashions of the '80s shudder at the memories.

"It's just terrifically horrible," she said.

Flashback trivia time: Remember Jem, the Hasbro cartoon about a music company owner, Jerrica Benton, whose alter-ego was rock star Jem of Jem and the Holograms? (OK, OK, maybe it's just us.) Anyway, her look also has staged a comeback in Halloween couture.

Sarah Janssen, 21, doesn't exactly remember the cartoon but picked the costume for the vibrant colors and because "it's so extreme."

"It reminds me of 'Saved by the Bell,' " she said. "It's funky."

And fun. The thought of dragging out those balloon pants and Members Only jackets might elicit an internal shudder or two, but the good news is, you won't be alone in your retro regalia.

Call The Bee's Niesha Lofing at (916) 321-1270. Check out her parenting blog at www.sacbee.com/momme.