It’s hard to believe how much everything has changed in just over 10 weeks. It’s hard to remember what “normal” is when I look back at what we were doing just a few months ago, let alone a year ago.
Although certainly not as life changing as the current state of things, K and I had reason to celebrate in 2019 - I was turning 30 and he was turning 29, and we wanted to do something special to commemorate the event. If you know me, you know I like any excuse to dress up in costume… so what better way to usher in the end of the 20s than a Roaring 20’s themed party?! Like they say, I little party never hurt nobody! (This year, K’s 30th was a much more subdued quarantine celebration at home and quite the tragedy given that it fell on both Taco Tuesday AND Cinco de Mayo this year.) So here are my tips on how to throw a GREAT Gatsby-esque soiree and put a little happy flare on 2020!
The Basics: The Color Scheme & Décor
The foundation to any good 1920’s party is the atmosphere – the booze, the décor, the music, the costumes. And there are so many good ideas on Pinterest these days, how could you not throw an amazing party with your friends decked out in your best flapper dress and pearls? There seems to be some unspoken rule that a Prohibition era shindig should be black and silver, or black and gold, or both – thank you Leonardo DiCaprio for having the color scheme picked out for us. Luckily, black and anything sparkly is glamorous, so pick your preferred metallic accent and just start looking for all the easy décor you can find in the desired color scheme… grab some garland, poms, balloons, feathers, fairy lights, confetti, photo booth props, and you’ll be set!
For our party, we went with the classic black & gold (with a hint of champagne for good measure). I found some gold foil backdrops to hang across our windows, and made several strings of black and gold circle garland to drape in various places around the house. We spray painted wine bottles, dressed them up with ostrich feathers and fake pearls, and strategically placed some empty bottles in a box to give the look of stolen, bootlegged booze.
The Food & Drink
Appetizers and h’or doeurves were a popular speakeasy staple in the 1920s, so “small bites” is a less stressful way to keep your guests fed. Our food spread was easy to execute: black olive tamponade, meatballs, fruit & cheese + veggies & dip plates, and brownies. Throw in some mixed nuts and crackers and voila! Party snacking made simple. Now, there will be no shortage of drink choices for all the guys and dolls to indulge. Your giggle water choice could be as simple as bottles of champagne and call it a day, or you could get more creative with signature cocktails like Mint juleps, gin fizz, and bathtub punch. We kept it simple; we got a few bottles of champagne plus some liquor to add to mixers. I am no expert of mixed drinks, and I was not about to pretend I was an experienced bartender for my friends. And honestly, once the drinks start pouring, your guests won’t mind what’s in their cups when the company is good!
The Look
1920s attire has to be one of my most favorite things. Flapper dresses, bobs (which I could never truly pull off with the curly hair), glamorous accessories, and a smoky eye. For the guys, anything from a casual vest and fedora to a Gatsby-style tux will be the cat’s pajamas and period appropriate.
I found my dress online at Retro Stage – good fit and very reasonably priced! I made my pearl necklace from leftover peal strands I’d used as décor, and tried my best to pull-off a faux-bob via YouTube tutorials. It took a million bobby pins, but it totally worked! And trust me, if I can do it, anyone can!
The Music
I love creating playlists – whether it’s for exercising, driving in the summer with the windows down, belting out show tunes. You name it. So I was jazzed about the opportunity to set the mood for the party - big bands, 20s jazz, and even the Great Gatsby movie soundtrack. There was so much to choose from; I even discovered a new genre (well, new to me) – Electro swing – that combines the vintage sounds of the jazz age and combines it with EDM, effectively bringing it to the modern ‘20s. Check out our Spotify playlist here for some musical inspiration: Roaring 20's Playlist
Party Time
Hopefully this quick quarantine post has given you some good ideas for your own party, and shown just how easy it is to throw a themed Roaring ‘20s party. When it comes time to actually let loose, remember to be safe and have some fun! It really doesn’t take much to make your party the bee’s knees!
