The Roaring 20s was exemplified by use of black and white, and short "flapper" dresses.
The "Roaring Twenties" was exemplified by optimism sometimes bordering on excess and a renewal of interest in the arts -- most notably, art deco style. Borrowed from other designs, art deco style consisted of bright colors, fabrics that had a "painterly" quality and a focus on modern interests of the time, including a burgeoning jazz music craze and interest in Asian art. Focusing on these elements will help you create a dazzling and fun table decoration to reflect that era.
Champagne Punch and Bathtub Gin
A classic art deco punch bowl makes a beautiful table decoration.
Because of prohibition, homemade alcohols and ways to mask the usually awful flavors of them were rampant at parties and speakeasies during the 20s. Decorate your table with elements of those alcohols -- fill a sparkling punch bowl with a champagne and fruit punch, and have plenty of mismatched, but shiny, glasses surrounding the bowl for guests to serve themselves. For contrast, fill a silver bucket or small tub with gin martini mix and a silver scoop, for the more masculine drink at the party.
Calla Lilies and Fedoras
Calla Lilies are showy but simply lined flowers that can help decorate any Roaring 20s table.
Place several long-stemmed white calla lilies in a tall, slender vase. The vase can be black, silver or clear glass to exemplify the art deco look of the 20s. Drape a beautiful batik or painterly tasseled shawl around the base of the vase, letting it trail down the center of the table. For an added touch, place a fedora on the shawl, casually leaning it against the vase of flowers.
Jazz it Up
Add a little jazz to your table decorations with a few instruments.
For a decidedly jazzy feel, purchase a few toy saxophones, trumpets and clarinets from your local party store along with some clear fishing line. Bind the instruments together to create a musical centerpiece. Incorporate a feather boa into the design to create a fun and very 20s look. Find and print a picture of a Victrola or a speakeasy piano player and put it in a table frame to add to your centerpiece. Or, print small cards with the same type of picture as place cards to further decorate the table.
Flappers, Molls and Gangsters
Fedoras and Zoot suits as part of table decor will give your party a 20s feel.
The 20s nearly always brings to mind gangsters like Al Capone or Bugsy Siegel, or an Agatha Christie murder mystery or two. Create the feel of the gangster's moll, flappers and Tommy guns for your table decoration. Cover the entire table with brightly colored shawls or materials that mimic a flapper's dress and shawls. Scatter printouts of Tommy guns -- or get a few fake ones to place here and there among the diners -- and photos of gangster "celebrities" of the time, such as Bonny and Clyde. Use a few oriental lanterns of varying sizes as the centerpiece to top off your over-the-top Roaring 20s look.
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