The ravenous twenties were indeed hands down the bee’s knees of all decades. Molls and dolls, flappers and dappers, Real McCoys and good old flyboys were at the heart of what was deemed the Jazz Age - the era of the juice joint, a boozin’ and schmoozin’ Gin Mill of hooch-induced capers and fringe clad hoofers. Nestled in a chronological niche like no other, the twenties teemed with sexy liberties and booming prosperity. So if you’re keen on a hotsy totsy medley of a wedding, kick start that jalopy and roll down those stockings – the groom won’t know what hit him.
attaboy, art deco
Skirt the nasty establishment of the prig and prim Prohibition by providing guests with a password to your very own Speak Easy hootenanny. Offer up enough ciggies to light up a swinging June evening, but if puffin’s not an option, offer up peppermint stick falsies instead. Clearing the smoke and harkening back, archeologists had just stumbled upon King Tut’s tomb, encouraging Egyptomania just a hop, skip, and a jump over the pond – exotic appliqués were all the rage.
As the saucy dame in question, pull up in a classic Ford Model A, whisper It’s My Party to the bouncer, and enter a world of sharp-shooting white linen, flouncy black skirting, and paunch-red napkins. Burgundy roses in slender silver vases make sensational centerpieces, alongside Great Gatsby touches of Chinese lanterns, dusty victrolas, and ice milk pails nursing Bombay bottles in the bathtub.
charleston garbs
1920’s style was known for the rebuking of the corset curse - intriguingly androgynous, (known as la garconne), and an altogether forget-me-naughty, affair of trend alert frisk appeal. The skin-colored stocking had just been introduced, suggesting bare-it-all gams and a joie-de-vivre to match, while below-the-knee, drop waist, bandeau typified duds were fun, flirty, and assembled for peak mobility come dance hall hour. Haute-couturiere, Poiret, fashioned the draping cocoon dress and overwhelmed-with-lux opera coat while beaded appliqués, strappy wing-tipped shoes, rippling fringe, and geometic cubistic patterns adorned every maiden chic.
Marriage, or what the youngsters monikered, “Middle Aisle,” meant a sinfully sweet gown of starched and pleated silk tulle, embellished with Brussels lace, metallic smatterings, sharp crown trim, elbow opera length gloves, quirky headbands, classic cloche chapeaus, and last, (but,oh, what a feast!) - ropes and ropes of oyster bred, satin down pearls. Style icon Coco Chanel burgeoned on the horizon as her future fashionistas dolled themselves up with rouged cheeks, cupid bow’s lips, and hot-off-the presses, artificial silk a.k.a hello rayon.
just ducky eats
The flappers carried a torch for disguising their hair of the dog in glitzy ritzy cocktails and waved them around as bawdy convo accessories, not to mention sippings on-the-sly of extra dry champagne was a pitch-perfect pairing with peach pie a la mode. For snazzy appies, serve such rib-tickling nibbles as fried ravioli, piping-hot stuffed mushrooms, salmon mousse, and deviled quail’s eggs. For more party-hearty fare – think Waldorf salad, Beef Wellington, chicken a la rose on dirty rice, and cucumber-watercress sandwiches. All protein and no play? Think lemon-buttermilk tartlets, dark chocolate torte, and Venetian ice cream scoops in spit ‘n’ polished saucers.
down the tin pan alley
Keep the lighting über-low, set the tube to a black and white silent, art house flick, and crank up the Louis Armstong and Bessie Smith to high water. Boas, goldfish bowls, and plenty of elbow room for the Lindy Hop and Shimmy will maintain a snazzy razzy entourage up until dawn, thanks to the zoot suit haze of sugared and bourboned out stage antics and the glimmering ghosts of ivory tinkler Fats Waller and banan-a-rama gal Josephine Baker. For brides everywhere who just want to dance - there’s just no time like the past.