Dinner parties are always the most fun when you attach a theme, dress up in costume and have music and food that match the affair. My most notorious was the Italian Gothic Dinner Party. Everyone had to wear fancy black attire, wear bright red lipstick, listen to Madame Butterfly and eat squid ink risotto by candlelight.

After the party boys, keep the coon hat on in bed.

A crisp collar on a swimsuit keeps it from being slutty.

People in the fifties were really nuts about Hawaii and pineapples.

The hostess with the mostess theme I propose today is the 1950’s retro dinner party. So be a Betty, put your hair in some curlers, turn on some Peggy Lee and get with the program.

THE OUTFIT

Girls
Pearls
Pony tail with pink chiffon scarf
Poodle Skirt OR Pencil Skirt
Stiletto heel
Gloves – come on, don’t you know how to be ladylike?

Feel free to give yourself a temporary new name or role for the evening:
– Betty Ann, I sniff the PAM
– Linda “I’m actually a lesbian but stuck in this marriage” Looselips
– Mary Mary Quite Contrary, I’m going to slam my head in the fridge and hang myself with an apron if I don’t get out of this house

Boys
Either go as Davy Crockett and wear a raccoon on your head or don’t wash your hair for a week, stick a pack of smokes in your shirt and be a greaser

Need help?
http://www.costumegallery.com/1950.htm

THE PLAYLIST

Maybelline – Chuck Berry
All Shook Up – Elvis
Mr. Sandman – The Chordettes
Good Golly Miss Molly – Little Richard
Fever – Peggy Lee
Only You – The Platters
All I have to do is Dream – Everly Brothers
Be Bop A Lula – Gene Vincent
Yakety Yak – The Coasters
There Goes My Baby – The Drifters
That’ll Be The Day – Buddy Holly
Come Go With Me – The Del-Vikings


Polygamy utopia or lesbian orgy cuisine?

THE FOOD

APPETIZERS AND SIDES
Shrimp Cocktail
Potato Cakes – that doesn’t sound fattening at all
Mayo Anything
Piggies in a blankie
Club Sandwiches
Cobb Salad
Meatballs

MAIN
Fried Chicken
Tuna Casserole
Shepherds Pie
Baked Mac and Cheese
Raw Oysters

DESSERT
JELLO ANYTHING
Baked Alaska
Cupcakes
Chocolate Fondue with Marshmallow

SETTING HINT – use records as place mats, have some Coke on hand in original bottles

Tie on your frilly apron and visit Retro Recipe Bloggers for inspiration
culinarycuriosity.blogspot.com
thepielady-brittany.blogspot.com
vintagerecipe.blogspot.com
www.retro-housewife.com/recipes.php

The Party Favours

– Cut out of James Dean to sexually pose with, or just pose beside – whatever.
– Hula Hoop Contest – it feels somewhat perverse to gyrate back and forth in front of people over and over but is very fun, and will help get the dance floor going.
– Have Silly Puddy on hand so that everyone can talk about how they love and miss Silly Puddy and roll it around and blow bubbles with it

INVITES

Ahem, if you are going to do this proper, get out your pen and write the invites. No genuine 50’s theme party should be done over an e-vite.

Grandma told me that the most favourite time in her life was when she was married in the fifties, having dinner parties with all the other married couples. She said it was so much fun for a few years, and then everyone started fooling around with everyone else’s spouse. That’s when the good times ended – and that’s the word from the bird!

Xo
Jen

FAST FACT: Craziest 1950’s restaurant in Toronto – THE STEAK PITT, 1666 Avenue Road – North of Lawrence. Total time warp.

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