Flapper dresses were all the rage in the Roaring 20s.
When we think of the Roaring 20s many iconic images come to mind, from machine gun-totting gangsters and their molls to vaudeville and flappers to speakeasies and bathtub gin. If you are throwing a party with a 20's theme, consider those concepts when shopping for supplies. Consider creating a speakeasy nightclub look, replete with dance floor and Roaring 20s era music.
Costumes
If you are going to celebrate the 1920s with a party, you have to dress the part. The decade was renowned for its groundbreaking fashion. Many of the looks have come in and out of style since then, and can be found at vintage clothing shops. Some can be created at home with items from the local crafts store. For the women, flapper dresses and evening dresses were the order of the day. Buy some beaded fringe and attach it to dresses you may already have that fit the theme. Tassels were also in vogue, as were shawls and bedazzled hats. Women also wore boas and long pearl necklaces (you can use the faux kind), as well as hand fans. Men wore zoot suits, black or white ties and spats. Don't forget the gangster style hats and fedoras.
Booze
The 20s were the age of prohibition, but people still drank thanks to the speakeasy. Buy the alcohol and ancillary ingredients you'll need to make the popular cocktails of the day. For starters, you'll need plenty of gin and bourbon. Also, consider making a batch of champagne punch and present it an art deco style punchbowl. The classic martini cocktail was a standard drink of the decade, so stock up on vermouth and olives. The 20s also saw the advent of the mint julep, so you'll need some spearmint and sugar to add to the bourbon. You'll also find recipes online for bathtub gin if you want to go all out. Beer was certainly popular, so make sure to have a few cases on hand. Add to the atmosphere with some metal tubs to which you'll add some ice and display your booze.
Food
The idea of fine dining came to the fore in the Roaring 20s. Look for authentic recipes from the era and buy the necessary ingredients. Ideas include cabbage rolls and rice pudding. Consider recreating the dinner the Waldorf Astoria hotel created for President Calvin Coolidge in 1924. It included celery olives, breast of chicken a la rose (made with rose petals), asparagus tips au gratin and medallions of spring lamb. The menu can be found online.
Decorations
Set the ambiance of the party with a cool speakeasy theme. For the secretive nightclub atmosphere, stock up on white linen tablecloths, hanging lights and lots of candles. If you have wine bottles, especially Chianti, put the candles in the Chianti bottles and let the wax drip down the sides. Add to your tables some napkin rings made from strands of pearls (again, the faux kind) or red bows and use goldfish in goldfish bowls as centerpieces. Use simple glassware - stemmed wine glasses, bourbon glasses, and martini glasses. Some artificial palm trees set around the perimeter will complete the effect.
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