The Fashion Issue

Out My Passenger Window

Fashion Issue

Issue 9, Volume 1

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

How To Have A Successful Martini Party

In these days of electro-disco-punk, and retro-mod chic, we've found an emerging new trend that has picked up quite a bit of steam in the last few years. The postwar era, call it what you may, be it the 'mad-men' era, or 'rockabilly' or what have you, the era from 1945 to 1970 was extremely influential in fashion and lifestyle. We've found through throwing the perfect martini party, that celebrating economic and fashionable good times is a few simple steps away. So forget the credit-card financing blinged out and musically confused times of now. Step back into the good times of yore.

Nothing like a dance to some Bing Crosby or some Johnny and June Carter.

A good martini parti must have good martini mix-ins. Cups: Dollar Store. Martini Shakers: original vintage. Colored bowls: Ikea.

Cars were a big part of the era. Muscle became more and more important up to the 60's with the invention of the muscle/pony car. Now the big sedan is gone, but the muscle is still present. Seen here; 2011 Mustang GT, and 2010 Camaro LT as owned by the proprietors. In the rockabilly era; it was hot rods and customs that ruled the streets. Now, cruising in these machines is back.

With the party in full force. Seen here Jeremy, in mad men style, wearing a simple white shirt, his own glasses, and slacks. The skinny tie was something he 'dug through the closet to find.' In the back, note Lizzy, who actually made the hat herself.

It's unlikely you will find an original old steel table set that hasn't rusted through, but that doesn't mean you have to be all original out back. Mixing styles is okay. The patio set and gas grill are not period appropriate, but serve to make a very comfortable party. Note the carriage style painting on the 1952 garage.

Bow ties and old style fedoras and hats are easy to find; seen here in a blur of explanation is Ben; hat by H&M. The bowls on the table are original vintage.

Decorating your house with memorabilia is part of the look. If you can't be IN the era, you can pay tribute to it. Seen: Steve McQueen and The Beetles paying homage to the 1960's, while the Fender classic design stool and neon sign say 50's. Many replica classic vehicles take up the book shelf.

Food for your party? Keep it simple. Hot dogs and hamburgers (whether they are vegetarian or not) is simple, and just about everyone loves them.

An inviting living room will help keep your party from gravitating in the kitchen as they usually tend to do.

Although the couches have a retro look and pattern, they are totally new and from the brick. You can go for older luxury furniture of the original vintage style; but it will set you back (unless inherited) quite a bit for so-so quality.

Little touches like the phone seen in these last two photos really make the retro feel. This one is a working original vintage rotary; but you can always pick up a Stanley built retro (this or a pay phone) for a reasonable price. They look rotary, but are actually touch-tone.

Party going full bore; note the mad-men style, which works about as well at a martini party as a rockabilly style. Note: ask your guests to dress up. A lot of people are just waiting for something like this to escape.

It's not hard to go new-retro. Large Amsterdam photo: Ikea; Coffee Table: Stockholm: Ikea; 'martini olive' chair: Pier One. The magazines were vintage originals picked up from a retro store. Curtains were hand sewn.

Going Mad-Men with retro shirts isn't difficult (white shirts, grey slacks). Going rockabilly is equally as easy. Ryan pictured here with shirt by Piston, shorts are Circa and shoes are Chuck Taylor style UGP shoes - vintage made. Sunglasses are Mercury Sun.

Good housekeeping meets pin-up Vixen. Sarah with Dress by Lip Service.

Martini parties are best experienced in the summer, where the mad-men can step outside to smoke a cigar with their drinks.

You need not set up a giant table to feed everyone. Allow the food to take up the table, and use paper plates, or the plastic hot-dog holders (think ball-park style) we found at the dollar store to allow people to roam with their food. A good hostess at work (above).

Presentation is important; even the table set up is vintage style, with chip and punch bowls actually retro.

The living room; comfortable for you and your guests. Have people bring their vintage music or search for some at thrift stores. The case is a Billy from Ikea, the turn table is new from Sony, and can convert your LP's to MP3's if you wish. The vintage-style Epiphone EJ is a great accessory.

Unless you have little kids running around; or your friends are huge liabilities, don't be afraid to show some of the things like your collection of musical instruments to create the appropriate atmosphere.

Letters To The Editor

rbw2@ualberta.ca

We will be back next week with regular social commentary.