Great Gatsby! A Complete Guide To Hosting A Roaring '20s-Themed House Party
At the close of the 18th century the Gilded Age of opulence and economic boom gave way to the Jazz Age in America, a movement intertwining varied musical genres and the flapper culture with the sophistication of high society. This was the Prohibition Era, a period when bootleggers made millions, gangsters crouched in speakeasies and hedonistic parties were the most coveted social invitations.
Today, the Jazz Age is widely celebrated in popular culture, with F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel (and its iconic screen adaptations), The Great Gatsby, becoming a template of all that was grand and ostentatious, yet elusive and mysterious. A Gatsby soiree makes for an extremely alluring party theme — it’s all about flappers and speakeasies, velvet and satin, sequins and shimmer, that pay homage to the roaring 1920s. And who knows, in a dark corner of the speakeasy, you might just run into the thoroughly tempting Daisy Buchanan!
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But how do you host a Gastby/speakeasy party for your friends to enjoy a slice of such magnificent, hidden soirees? Read on for some quick tips!
Exclusive Entry
A speakeasy is a dim-lit, hidden place whose location is always secret. If you are hosting a 1920s party, ask your guests for a password at the door! Such a party is all about a cultural intermingling so a speakeasy theme means you can invite the bibliophile, the cinephile and the mathematician, all to the same party! Send out secret invites and make the run-up to the event that much more intriguing.
Flapper Attire
The 1920s were all about straight style, sleeveless, low-cut dresses, bobbed hair, feather boas and tons of make-up. If you are hosting a speakeasy-style Gatsby soiree, your guests have to look absolutely dapper to create the perfect vibe. Fringe dresses, three-piece suits (though in the Indian heat you’ll be forgiven for taking some creative liberties with this requirement) and fedoras are perfect for Gatsby night!
Dim Decor
You can either opt for a sophisticated, glamorous ambience or a more gangster-style speakeasy vibe for this soiree. Because 1920s speakeasies were dark rooms, light candles or dim yellow bulbs and set up small, intimate tables where guests can converse in low tones. Remember, a speakeasy is not meant to be found, so the decor has to be low-key; here you talk low and trade secrets.
Classic Cocktails
Pay homage to the 1920s era during which barrels of bootlegged spirits flowed over the Prohibition! At a flapper gathering, serve Mint Julep, Gin Rickey, Planter’s Punch and other cocktails reminiscent of this bygone age. Bring home a bottle of Gordon’s Original London Dry Gin and a Captain Morgan Dark Rum to make your cocktails. Also have a bottle of Royal Challenge at hand to serve a round of indulgent whisky.
Hors d’œuvres
A speakeasy served excellent food. In fact, Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway even lunch at a speakeasy in Fitzgerald’s story. For a soiree however, bite-sized food is a perfect fit — so pass around mezze platters, olives or shrimp cocktails and snacks that can be eaten with minimum fuss.
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Celebrate Jazz
Speakeasies were spaces where jazz flourished. Combining African traditions, blues and swing, jazz made the 1920s the most glorious musical age in America. Jazz performers were given a stage and a steady income in speakeasies where customers immersed themselves in music and conversation. So, a speakeasy is incomplete without the music of Louis Armstrong, Bessy Smith or Ted Louis! Play 1920s blues and Dixieland jazz and mix it up with music from classics like The Great Gatsby, Midnight in Paris or Bullets Over Broadway.
Parting Thoughts…
A speakeasy themed soiree is about hosting a secretive and hidden evening with an exclusive guest list. Arrange for warm, yellow dimmers, abundant drinks and soft, mellow jazz to create an ambience of the mystery, hedonism and intrigue synonymous with the parties of Jay Gatsby.
