Chicago style party: how to dress, script, photo

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Theme parties that require a certain outfit and allow guests to appear in any way are always extremely popular. But even among them, some of the most popular themes stand out - "The Addams Family", "90s", "Rock and Roll", "Harry Potter" and, of course, a Chicago-style party.

America of the 30s excites the imagination of guests and provides a lot of opportunities for organizers. Such an evening can be successfully held at home in close company and gather a record number of guests in the largest and most expensive nightclub.

It is the venue that dictates the limits on what exactly a 1930s Chicago party will be and what it will require.

Can I organize at home and how?

You can plunge into the world of gangsters and prohibition everywhere, a city apartment is no exception. However, before you start organizing, you need to objectively evaluate your own home. If this is a two-story country mansion with a driveway for cars, then the possibilities for keeping the evening,the requirements for the entourage and other moments will be the same, but when holding an event in a one-room "Khrushchev" - completely different.

First of all, you need to decide not on the number of guests or decor, but on whether the existing room will be divided into zones, or the event will be held in a “single” large room. All subsequent ones depend on this moment.

When dividing the party space, you need to arrange each corner according to its purpose. If not one person organizes a home event, but spouses or friends, then this should be used. One can become a “bartender” and sell alcohol “from under the floor”, the other can “work” as a croupier. If you have karaoke, you can arrange a club stage area and give someone the role of "singer". Of course, you will need to learn the repertoire. In general, each corner, implying a specific purpose, should be designed in accordance with it, so that it is immediately clear what it is.

You can decorate a single room with a few strokes, turning it into something specific, for example, into the same casino or stage with a hall.

After the design issues, you need to think about the number of guests and the availability of the necessary dishes. The tableware is determined by the design of the area where the Chicago-style party will take place. If this is an Italian mafia family dinner, you will need a large pot filled with pasta and rough plates. If this is a casino, you will need conical glasses and goblets with thick legs.

After solving this issue, you need to issue invitations for guests. invitationscan prescribe to a person any image and style of behavior, for example:

“Olga, we invite you to a party in the style of Chicago. Your image is a cabaret singer in love with a bank robber. Start at 18:00. Do not be late, otherwise your robber will clean our cash register out of boredom.”

However, prescribing the style of behavior and image to the guests of such an event, one must proceed from their capabilities and desires. You should not turn a shy and uncommunicative friend into a croupier. He would be better suited as an undercover FBI agent.

Or you can send invitations without prescribing images, and at the entrance ask each guest to draw lots. In this case, you can make badges with the name of the role and a brief essence.

After the questions regarding the guests, the choice of decoration and the main core of the evening are over, you need to think about the music. If the design is poor, and there are not enough entourage items, then it is quite possible to turn on the video selection of “gangster chronicles” or films on this topic without sound.

To make a 1930s Chicago-style house party a success, photos from which can then be printed, placed in albums in the appropriate style and presented to each guest, one must not forget about the little things.

In the hallway there should be enough space for guests to change their shoes, for example, in winter this is relevant, and undress calmly. That is, there should be enough hangers, it makes sense to purchase an inexpensive shoe rack so that shoes and boots do not take up all the space on the floor. And so that people do not interfere with each other, in invitations you need to indicate their waiting time with an interval of10-15 minutes.

In the rooms reserved for the event, the windows must be tightly curtained. Excessive details of modern life can spoil the atmosphere, and besides, everything that is not required in a room where a 1930s Chicago party is taking place can be put on the windowsills.

The event should be emphasized based on what it is timed to. For example, on New Year's Eve, you can announce the abolition of Prohibition along with the chimes, and if it's someone's birthday, then announce a lottery win and present this "winning".

It is quite interesting if guests have printed "toy dollars" with them, which they pay, give bribes and, in principle, dispose of according to the content of the evening.

Also, when planning to have a house party, you need to choose a day and time suitable for fun, for example, Friday evening, and warn your neighbors about your plans. This is necessary, as the audibility in most apartment buildings is very high.

How can a room be divided?

You can break down the place where you plan to party in the style of Chicago in the 30s into the following zones:

• Casino.
• Bar.
• Estrada.
• Dressing room, next to which "gangsters solve their problems" or just play billiards.
• Bank, in the presence of such a "corner" it is necessary to organize its robbery.
• FBI office or police station.
• Shopping point, here you should "sell" oranges, flowers, apples, decorative cigarettes or cigarettes, bottles of cider or cola and many other little things.

Of course, this is not a complete list of places that can be in a room where a Chicago-style party is held. The photos posted from such events include “Italian cuisine” as a background, and the hall of the trade union meeting, and even cellars with the production of underground wine, which guests bottle in bottles with the inscription “Olive Oil”. That is, the organizer's imagination is limited only by his knowledge of the subculture of the American 30s, associations, room possibilities and budget.

How to design?

The decoration of the room where the Chicago style party will take place, the clothes for this event, its program and even the dishes used are subject to only one word - vintage. It is this style direction that determines everything - from the interior to the color of the nail polish.

Strange as it may seem, but a large club for the event "Party in the style of Chicago" is much easier to arrange than an ordinary apartment. In a small room where people live, that is, there is furniture, there is a carpet, and so on, there is too much of everything that interferes with creating the right atmosphere.

Moreover, there is such an eternal problem in apartments as lighting. Side lights with subdued light, able to "obscure" unnecessary details, but not immersing in darkness, rarely anyone has.

Of course, this moment is played up, the guests are announced something like: "The unions that advocate for the interests of the workers of the city power plant have decided that they need a day off." After that, candles or imitating them are lit"disposable" fixtures.

All the desired items and decor in apartments usually simply do not fit. The most common mistake in housing design is an excess of entourage. There is no point in putting up a toy roulette if there is nowhere to set up a casino.

For the design of residential premises, you need to choose a few large recognizable details that clearly send you back to Chicago in the 30s. A good option is to decorate the wall with a large photo collage depicting a street in Chicago at the time. In the absence of an empty wall, the collage can be fixed on the curtains.

Images should be chosen the most recognizable, in creating an atmosphere of originality, guests should see where they got. The same applies to clubs. Of course, one should not forget such a classic option as Wanted posters. No Chicago-style party is complete without them. Photos of guests should be placed on posters, pre-processed in the desired style. However, using this technique in the design, you need to show attention and hang up posters made specifically for the 30s, without confusing them with the "cowboy times" of the Wild West.

How to dress?

If there is a Chicago-style party coming up, how to dress is a question that interests everyone who is going to the event. Clothing style, which obeys the external image of those years, is vintage. Accordingly, suitable items can be found in vintage stores or ordered online. However, when choosing, you should not make a mistake. After all, vintage is not only Chicago during Prohibition. This is also the 20s, 40s and even 50s.

In order not to “get lost” in a series of similar-looking photographs from different decades and in numerous tips, it makes sense to watch films about those times. For example, you can very well consider clothes, shoes, hairstyles, makeup, table decorations, other details, and even the behavior of various "thematic characters" in the movie "Johnny D". Looking through documentary chronicles, if there is a party in the style of Chicago, how to dress will not help to decide. In such frames, not a single detail of the costumes is visible, it is impossible to make out the makeup technique, and so on.

Where can I get clothes?

You don't have to buy a Chicago-style party suit. As a rule, in every major city there is a company that provides things for rent.

This agency is definitely worth a visit and see what is on offer. As a rule, only a dress or a men's three-piece is given for rent, accessories for a Chicago-style party will have to be purchased independently, as well as shoes.

What details will create the look?

Even a real 1930s movie star dress or a suit taken from Universal will be completely useless with a ponytail or sneakers on your feet. When attending a Chicago Party event, how to dress is not the most important thing, any thematic look is created by details - hair, makeup, accessories.

The easiest way is to visit a vintage store, 1930s accessories department, real orvirtual. If the prices or the assortment do not suit you, then you should just remember what jewelry, bags, gloves look like, and go in search of analogues.

Accessories that create a feminine look:

• long beads, preferably pearl;
• string bracelet matching beads;
• hoop, not to be confused with a headband, with a lush bird feather on the side;
• cloth gloves to the elbow;
• silk clutch bag with thin hoops;
• hats in the shape of a head made of fabric or crocheted, knitwear is not allowed;
• a small watch on a narrow leather strap;
• mouthpiece;
• boa;
• stockings with obligatory back seam;
• shoes with a stable heel no higher than 7 cm, with a slightly blunt toe or round, with a narrow front closure.

The material of the dress is silk. At that time, other fabrics were also worn, but all evening dresses for ladies were made of silk. The cut of the dress is a rectangle. The emphasis was often placed on the hips with a belt, the waist was absent in this style.

Sometimes in "Party Chicago Style" events, the script implies a lack of authenticity. In this case, the accessories should be left appropriate for the time, but the dress can be worn from “scales” and according to the silhouette.

Men's accessories:

• flower in buttonhole;
• hat "real gangster";
• dark leather gloves;
• revolver or Thompson submachine gun;
• pocket watch on chain;
• gasoline lighter;
• cigars or cigarillos,black or brown thick cigarettes can be used;
• cufflinks or rolled up sleeves;
• tie;
• comforter;
• classic men's oval toe shoes.

"Chicago Party event, how to dress, make a gangster photo" - this is how men most often turn to sellers in themed costume stores or to consultants in rental stores.

The most photogenic gangster will be a man in a three-piece suit, a dark color - blue or chocolate, but not black. The image should be complemented with a hat and a tie without a pin, and if you have a photo shoot on the street - a cashmere long light coat and muffler.

How to comb your hair?

A Chicago-style gangster party requires not only clothes and accessories, but also appropriate hairstyles for the time.

It's simple with men - a short haircut or "classic", hair combed back, wax or gel that does not create a wet effect is allowed.

But the ladies will have to visit a hairdresser, moreover, find a master who not only remembers what “cold waves” are from the training course, but can also make them. You can try to style your hair yourself by reading all about the cold wave method, but then you should practice beforehand.

You don't need to lay out waves on the whole head, it's enough to make two running away from the parting. In the most extreme case, you can use a headdress.

What's up with the makeup?

Classic look of the time - pale skin, dark eyeliner, winged eyelashes, full lashes and a bright, shiny mouth.

You don't need to draw lips with a "bow" and give them subtlety - this remained in the 20s. In the 30s, the shape of the lips was outlined with a bold line along the natural contour, powdered and lipstick was applied on top. The mouth was the main accent in makeup, and all colors were allowed, except for delicate shades, very dark and pink tones. That is, ruby, cherry, classic red will be ideal. You can use burgundy and brick brown tones.

Eyes should not be overloaded with shadows. Colored shadows do not come in handy at all. The look was distinguished by black shadows and an arrow outline drawn with a soft pencil. Particular attention should be paid to eyelashes, there should be a lot of mascara. Eyebrows did not stand out.

Which music to choose?

The best music for a Chicago-style party is the one that was played in those years in local haunts and entertainment places, but in a modern arrangement. The style is jazz and blues. It was they who were at the peak of popularity in the United States in the 30s of the last century.

You shouldn't look for separate compositions, unless, of course, there is no such desire. You can find ready-made thematic multi-hour collections on any music site. Of course, you should listen to the entire audio track beforehand to avoid embarrassment and unpleasant surprises.

What to think about?

As a rule, when thinking about a Chicago-style house party, at the preliminary stages, the organizers want to afford many times more than is possible inexisting premises. This applies to the content of the evening, and the number of guests, and musical arrangement, and entourage items, and many other points.

Very often people get upset and generally refuse the idea of such a holiday. Meanwhile, there is a fairly good way out of this situation. In every city there are small cafes that, in today's realities, literally “make ends meet”. Cafes that are empty in the evenings are everywhere. It makes sense to find such an institution and talk to the management.

There is no talk of renting an establishment, you can only agree on the fact of bringing guests who will buy drinks and snacks. As a rule, there is always a mutually beneficial solution and the event is no longer held in an apartment, but in a small institution.

Thinking about this way of holding a party is worth it if the number of guests is at least ten. You also need to choose a day when the invitees have the time and availability of funds. Since we are talking about an evening that will have to be spent, the time for receiving an advance or salary should be taken into account by the organizer.

If some of the invitations have already been sent out, then in no case should you say that “plans have changed” and so on. This approach to information will devalue the party in the eyes of the guests.

You should send a beautifully designed alert, something like this:

“Olga, we have learned that the police are preparing a raid. But you can not worry - all the necessary measures have been taken. Your meeting withbank robber will take place at (name of place, description of the way), at 18:00, date and signature.”

That is, a change of venue should be part of the scenario of the evening, it is not necessary to notify the invitees that the organizer doubts the size of their own home and its suitability for the holiday.

There is no need to be too meticulous about the elements of the entourage, the appearance of the guests and other similar moments, full authenticity will still not be achieved.