Retro costume party: how to pull it off depending on the era?

If you have a special event to celebrate like a birthday or New Year, why not organize a fancy dress party?

Many people are fond of this type of event, and what could be better for lovers of retro fashion and decor than to have a vintage themed evening!

Many variations exist depending on the decades, from the 20s to the 60s , each with its own dress codes and atmospheres. In this article, we explain how to make this old school evening a success whatever era you choose.

Good reading !

1920s theme evening

If you want to organize an evening dedicated to the Roaring Twenties, you will make a lot of happy guests among your guests!

Indeed, many people love the atmosphere of the 1920s , with its sparkling outfits, its extravagant side, the "Great Gatsby" side...

In short, this period inspires and stimulates our imagination. To have an evening in this theme, dress in a beautiful straight dress with fringe, large pearl necklaces and opt for a cloche hat , a clothing emblem of this era.

For men, the jacket, suspenders, beret or hat, in brown or khaki tones , will be perfectly appropriate.

In addition, you can provide your guests with accessories such as cigarette holders and feathered scarves.

As for decoration, opt for accessories in an art deco style. Vases with geometric patterns, gramophones found in flea markets, old suitcases , retro posters , large feathers …

Don't hesitate to overdo it, if there is one theme where extravagance is permitted, it's the Roaring Twenties!

40s themed evening

There are several ways to organize an evening with a 1940s theme. You can of course take inspiration from the Second World War.

You can create a return from war or leave atmosphere, with the men dressed as soldiers and the women as nurses or cabaret singers. Gentlemen can grow a mustache and brush their hair back. Ladies, for their part, can wear the trendy hairstyle of the time, namely the notched bob.

But the 1940s can also be approached through the prism of jazz , very popular at that time. Indeed, it is the advent of a whole new subgenre of this style of music: bebop.

You can therefore, if your budget allows it, call on jazz musicians for your evening.

In terms of outfits, men can wear a jacket over a shirt, pleated pants and a beret or hat. Black and white derbies are also a safe bet for this theme.

As for women, you can take inspiration from Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday, with a retro hairstyle, a flower in your hair and wear a floral wrap dress.

50s themed evening

Like the 20s theme, the 50s theme is also very popular. Indeed, you can organize a very rockabilly evening, in a room decorated in an American dinner style for example.

Women can come dressed in flared and twirling polka dot or checked dresses , men, for their part, can take out their most beautiful leather jacket, and match it with jeans and black boots .

As for hairstyle, you can try the James Dean cut, slicked back and combed back. For women, we remain, as in the 1940s, with a curly effect, which you can achieve using curlers, as women did at that time.

For the more eccentric, it is also possible to come dressed as Elvis Presley or Marilyn Monroe for example! Either way, you can't go wrong with a pin-up look.

If you want something more chic, take inspiration from Audrey Hepburn , the queen of glamour, still known today for her great refinement.

60s theme evening

So many emblematic events in recent history occurred during the 1960s! The first steps on the Moon, May 68, Woodstock… This decade was also marked, particularly in England, by Beatlesmania, the peak of the Beatles' career.

The range of possibilities offered by this decade is very wide, and you are bound to find something that inspires you! For women, you can wear a mini skirt, an iconic piece of this era, with strappy pumps or boots.

You can also do a Brigitte Bardot hairstyle, a smooth bob cut or wear a headband. Make sure to add volume to your hair, because blow-drying is in fashion! For men, you can be tempted by a very popular Beatles style cut and match it with a colorful suit.

Indeed, the costumes of this era are starting to become rather original, and it is not uncommon to see suits with brown, red, blue or green stripes for example.

Finally, in terms of decoration, don’t hesitate to add color! Whether on the furniture, or with accessories like a rotary telephone or a brightly colored record player , you can absolutely afford a decor where many shades come together.

Finally, remember that:

• For a 1920s-themed evening, opt for long straight dresses, cloche hats, pearls and “The Great Gatsby” decor.
• For a 40s theme, you can focus on anything to do with war , or on anything that revolves around the world of jazz.
• The 50s theme can be done in a rockabilly atmosphere , with clothes inspired by pin-ups, leather jackets, a retro American dinner atmosphere, pastel colors...
• Finally, the 60s themed evening can be held in a colorful decor , with many geometric patterns. Add to that the hairstyles of stars of the time, brightly colored suits for the men and mini-skirts for the women and voila!

IF you enjoyed this article, don't hesitate to see the dresses classified by decade on the site!