- How lucky you are!
Are you addicted to retro parties?
- As I understand you !
Are you going to organize such an event for the first time?
- Your guests will love it!
The sunny days are here and they are flowering here and there along the banks of the waterways. The taverns have been making a comeback in recent years after a long slump. Many establishments of this type are created each year and more and more private parties take up the theme to have a good time with friends.
With my passion for vintage style and my pronounced taste for partying, I have had the chance to participate in many Guinguette evenings. Believe me, you will have fun! But before the festivities you will wonder which dress to wear on the big day.
So read on. You will know all the codes of tavern evenings, get great advice and lots of dress ideas to make sure you look your best!
What is a Guinguette?
Guinguettes are unique entertainment establishments in the world and have been part of French cultural and social heritage since the end of the 19th century. Originally, these were both bistros and cabarets which hosted popular balls, most often outdoors. They were born on the outskirts of Paris to avoid taxes and settled on the banks of the Seine or the Marne so that city dwellers could use canoeing and join them by boat. We spend our day off there, we eat, drink and dance there.
Guinguettes developed throughout France and reached their peak between the 1920s and 1960s, but they evolved a lot over time. The constant is undoubtedly the Guinguette Spirit : people come there to have a good time in an atmosphere that is at once friendly , unpretentious and festive .
Even if I haven't found any statistics on the subject, I am convinced that a large number of our ancestors met in Guinguettes!
The key points of a Guinguette Party
Back in the 2020s and for some time now taverns have come back into favor. I wanted to discuss with you some key points of the collective imagination of Guinguette evenings, this will be useful to you if you have to organize one but also, and you will see, that some will have consequences on the choice of your dress .
When do we go to a Guinguette?
Over time, the days have transformed into evenings, the tavern becomes more chic but retains its good franquette spirit . A large number of evenings take place outdoors, so the perfect time will be summer or spring .
The decoration
No accessories reminiscent of social cocktails here. The great classic are garlands of lanterns and other hanging multicolored bulbs. With the transition from celebrations to evenings, they replace the arbors which we still find from time to time. Tables can be pushed together to encourage discussion . They are dressed in red and white checkered tablecloths and you can sit on benches. When it comes to tableware, the essential is the balloon glass! Finally, more and more you will find candles and wild flowers to complete the decoration. Our favorite is the repurposing of vintage suitcases to use as pretty accessories.
We eat, we drink...
The typical catering also reflects the Guinguette spirit. Meals are rustic , especially if they are taken outdoors. Country breads, buffets which include cold meats and fresh water fish are often out. In recent years, barbecue has widely appeared. Even if it deviates a little from retro codes, we will agree that it is perfectly in line with the spirit of conviviality.
As for drinks, you won't find great wines or sophisticated mixology but cold beer and local wine. You will perhaps make discoveries because we enjoy drinking wines like kir, cardinal or even garnished with lemonade. If you are in the south of France you will surely be entitled to a little marquisette (in moderation of course!)
We Dance !
No good evening without good music! In the taverns, the music is danceable , festive and popular . The enormous cliché attached to tavern music is naturally the accordion . In practice, dance music has evolved a lot and we find in the archives that all popular musical styles were played in taverns. So, during the 1920s, the Charleston was all the rage. Jazz from the 20s to the 40s, Rockabilly and Swing from the 50s and then Rock'n'roll from the 60s were widely played.
Nowadays, we find a bit of all that…it even happens that in some cases we hear less vintage music. One trend to note is the return of musical groups playing retro music live. And we're not going to complain! As you will have understood, before going to a Guinguette evening, it is worth finding out a little about the music that will be played.
Guinguette Dress: The outfit for popular balls
Now that you know more, it's time to take a look at your evening outfit . Together we will see some tips for finding the perfect outfit to attend a Guinguette evening.
Disclaimer! It is perfectly possible to go to such an event with clothes other than a dress but just as feminine. So a combination of skirt and top or even pants could do the trick perfectly. Some of the advice remains just as valid regardless of the outfit chosen. On the other hand, honestly, a retro party is a golden opportunity to wear a pretty glamorous dress. Do not deprive yourself ! The options are numerous and you will find something for all body types and all desires to express your femininity.
The ultimate Guinguette Dress does not exist! This is mainly explained by the great diversity of the eras that the Guinguettes have gone through. So the fashionable cuts and colors in the 1920s and those in the 1960s are not the same. However, this is really not a problem, I would even say that it is a great opportunity because you will have the choice between many possibilities of cuts, styles, colors, prints...
A Retro and Chic Dress for a bastringue party
The first criterion for choosing a Guinguette evening dress is to choose it retro. You have to keep in mind that a tavern evening is a vintage evening. Dresses reminiscent of the 1920s to 1960s are perfect. My advice is to play with the retro side depending on the type of party you have to attend. If it's a private party, go completely retro by adding a hairstyle or accessories from the chosen era. The mistake not to make is to choose a dress, although vintage, but which is not in keeping with the period of the taverns. An 80s style piece of clothing may embarrass you.
The second criterion to respect is that your dress must be glamorous ! Indeed, for the women who went to dance halls, it was THE weekend outing in addition to being the favorite meeting place. Traditionally therefore, the dress must be of the most beautiful effect. It is still a weapon of seduction. The downside here is the unpretentious side of the tavern. There are therefore dresses which are not at all suitable for these evenings although retro and very chic. This is for example the case of pencil dresses which will prevent you from dancing and which are not at all suitable for outdoor parties.
To a lesser extent, floral dresses can really be a good option. Indeed, there is a little rural side to the tavern which can be perfectly exploited. However, there is no question of dressing in a floral dress that is neither chic nor retro.
Guinguette evenings often take place in the summer and outdoors. We will therefore favor dresses without sleeves or with short sleeves. Take a small jacket just in case ;-)
Dress ideas for a Guinguette-themed evening
Here is a selection of dresses that will be perfectly in tune with the theme and with which you will cause a sensation. All of these dresses work perfectly and for each of them I give you some advice. It's up to you to choose which one will fit into your wardrobe.
Vintage 20s dresses
I'll tell you straight away, it's my favorite! 20s dresses have been particularly fashionable in recent years and we totally understand why. These are clothes dedicated to the party which reflect the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. Often tight-fitting, they are both very chic and very retro. Dancing Jazz or Charleston with this outfit will look great, especially with the presence of fringes or sequins and sometimes a little lace.
To accentuate the retro side of this dress, you can add accessories like pumps or ankle boots as well as gloves or a pearl necklace.
Vintage dresses from the 1940s
Although the war affected this decade, the 1940s were also and above all the years of liberation. You will find among the forties models a lot of lace, embroidery and long sleeves. These dresses have a very pronounced retro side and will be ideal for mid-season fun evenings. They will be perfect with flat ballerina shoes.
Vintage dresses from the 50s and 60s
These are the clothes of PIN-UPs ! These dresses are by far the most popular for going to tavern parties and it's easy to understand why. These are summer dresses very suitable for outdoor evenings. Here no long trains but a fitted cut with a flared trapeze-shaped skirt suitable for all types of dances. A real skater dress! On the print side, the classics are polka dots and stripes. You will also find many dresses offering plunging necklines and thin straps. These are the sexiest women's dresses, reminiscent of the wardrobes of Brigitte Bardot or Marylin Monroe. The most chic versions are reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn's outfits.
Shock effect guaranteed, especially if you add a petticoat under your dress!
The choice is immense. Sexy, classy, rustic, classic, there really is something for everyone. It should be noted that these dresses are also suitable for the most generous body types since they are widely used in the very pretty burlesque. For an evening with a guinguette theme, you are sure to be right.
The dominant colors in this type of dress are red, blue, black and white, but you will easily find other colors.
As for patterns, the great classic are polka dots but gingham-type checks and even flowers are very present. It's up to you to see what you prefer. Here are some examples of 50s Dresses and 60s Dresses .
Dress suggestion with polka dots
Dress suggestion with Checks
Suggestion of dress with Flowers
You have found the perfect dress for a Guinguette evening. You are going to look great!
Now that you know everything or almost everything about tavern evenings, I hope that I have helped you find your little dress.
So above all, don't forget:
- A Guinguette evening is festive and friendly.
- Your criteria for choosing the dress: 1 Retro, 2 Chic, 3 Country (or not!)
- Choose avintage 20s dress for a chic and dancing effect
- Choose a vintage 40s dress for a retro effect
- Wear a vintage dress from the 50s and 60s for a shock effect
- The petticoat to add volume
- Have fun !!
Louise
PS: This was my first post on the blog, if you liked it, don't hesitate to share.
PSS: You're already very lucky to be going to a party, but what's more, I'm offering you -10% on all dresses to celebrate! Use the code LOUISEGUINGUETTE in the store.