- Theme parties
February 20, 2021 406
A mafia-style party is always very bright and stylish. It was in the 30s of the twentieth century that real mafia clans arose in America, which were distinguished by wealth, power, love for beautiful clothes and luxurious parties. We will consider the option of how you can replicate the atmosphere of that time at home by inviting friends and having a great time. And most importantly, the whole holiday will be affordable in terms of finances and time. So, let's go!
Mafia themed party invitations
Any holiday begins with invitations. Guests will immediately see your invitations and will already be able to appreciate the scale of the event and get a feel for the idea. Therefore, the stage of preparing invitations should be treated very carefully and with a creative approach.
Design cards for invitations, similar to cards in the game "Mafia". Assign roles in advance: one will be a mafia, another a policeman, the third a civilian, etc. Guests will know in advance how to dress: in the style of a mafioso or a civilian from the 30s. By doing this you will simplify their choice and make the costumes more original and unique.
Another good option is to organize invitations in the style of the Italian mafia and come up with nicknames and images for the guests, for example, from the movie “The Godfather”. This is a more complex option, but if there are not too many guests (up to 20 people), then you will have a bright event with chic costumes
Scenery
Under the wing of corrupt police officers, the gangsters were having fun to the fullest - loudly, violently and not at all afraid of being heard. Gatherings in a dark basement are for small fry, which your guests, of course, are not. Therefore, the theme party should take place in a luxurious hall, richly decorated:
- expensive textiles (heavy curtains with tassels, floor-length tablecloths, furniture drapery);
- fresh flowers (roses, orchids, lilies, hydrangeas to choose from);
- “antiques” (antique watches, gramophone and records, vintage dishes and figurines, cigarette holders and stone ashtrays).
The lighting is soft, but there is a lot of light. Modern light sources can be covered with homemade lampshades or translucent screens. Hide the plasma behind a picture or turn on an old gangster movie without sound. Scatter banknotes around the hall - full bags or suitcases, garlands, compositions of fake dollars.
Primary colors – black, red, white. The theme of the evening is weapons, cartridges and grenades everywhere, sparkling strings of beads and crystal, roulette and dice, cards, models of retro cars. On the walls are photos of real gangsters or actors from films about that dashing era, night views of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago. “Wanted,” “Wanted,” and “Bootlegger of the Year” posters with photos of friends are sure to make guests smile. To stay on topic, age the images – b/w or sepia, scuff marks. Set up a photo booth to commemorate the party - a stadiometer, a shiny vintage car, a still from The Godfather.
Invitations:
- text on thick brown paper. Roll the sheet into a tube, seal it across - the cigar is ready;
- the invitation on the back of a photograph of a couple from that time or a frame from a themed film hints at the dress code of the evening;
- a postcard in the shape of a grenade, revolver, machine gun, on the back of a playing card or banknote.
Roles at the holiday
You may have come up with a mafia party, but a more interesting plot will turn out if everyone gets their own role. It is necessary to think through the scenario of the evening and the roles: let there be police officers, civilians, artists, and carpenters (for example).
This way the event will be more dynamic, and the heroes themselves will be able to interact at different levels. To do this, after sending the invitations, contact each guest and find out what costume he wants to choose and what role he can play at the themed party. This way you can prepare an event based on your capabilities and the capabilities of your guests.
Design and decor of the room
The ideal option is a large apartment or loft, where you can hold a large party, and there will definitely be enough space for everyone. However, most often people are limited in space and square meters. In this case, the main thing is to correctly calculate your strength and decorate the room beautifully.
An option with dark red walls or wall decoration will suit the theme. Hang thick, plain curtains on the windows. Turn on dim lights and place candles to create a mysterious twilight. You can hang posters of movie stars, cityscapes, or photos from mafia movies.
As attributes, buy chests, empty bottles (after all, prohibition was introduced in America in the 1930s), as well as toy weapons, glitter and printed bills. Another bold decision is to install a billiard or gaming table. Tall flowers in a vase will look elegant and expensive: white or red roses, orchids, chrysanthemums.
Photozone
Any holiday should be bright and interesting, but it’s also nice to remember everything that happens. To do this, organize a photo zone.
In the photo zone area, be sure to place the maximum number of attributes of gangsters and mafiosi, such as: toy weapons, cards, money, bottles. It will be interesting to look at the front part or a photo of a vintage car from the 30s, so that you can put your foot on the bumper.
It is this side that will become one of the most popular places at your party, because they will take pictures together, take selfies, laugh, rejoice and try to convey everything to their colleagues and friends on Instagram.
Duration of the event
Any party should not be too short, but not too long, so that people can enjoy the evening without getting too tired. Therefore, plan the evening from 20.00 - 21.00 to 12.00-01.00, so that the duration of the evening is around 3-4 hours, no more.
With longer timings, it’s more difficult to plan an evening: more competitions are required, more joint activities - they can also get boring. The time of 20.00 or 21.00 is a good compromise, when people have already finished their work day or done household chores, but still have the energy to have fun.
The correct time and correct presentation of the event in terms of duration are as important as the party itself. When preparing, roughly calculate the timing: meeting guests, dinner, entertainment part.
Gangster clothing style
Gangster style comes from the first decades of the last century. The very word “gangsters” is associated with a specific historical reality. In 1919, the ban on the production and distribution of alcohol began the world of underground industry.
Representatives of the US criminal elite have become trendsetters in high fashion. People who walked on the razor's edge tried to be sophisticated and noticeable. A gangster is not just a bandit - he is a representative of the era, an enterprising and cunning businessman who knows his worth.
Gangsters created for themselves a certain code of honor, canons of behavior and, of course, a dress code. The gangster style is businesslike, laconic, expensive.
Men began to wear tailored, tailored suits in blue, gray and black, made of shiny, thick material. Vertical stripes have become very popular.
Essential attributes are patent leather shoes with perforations, a brand new shirt, a silk scarf in your pocket. Dark ties interspersed with shiny details, cufflinks and expensive watches gave the look chic and impeccability.
The gangsters' companions had to match the atmosphere of the beau monde. Women dressed up in elegant, laconic dresses with a straight silhouette. Favorite jewelry is a string of pearls or rock crystal.
The era of emancipation allowed people to demonstrate their sexuality. It was then that the image of the “femme fatale” appeared - with red nail polish, a long cigarette holder in her hand and a short skirt.
The gangsters' girlfriends wore furs and feathers, trying to look like their men.
Women's and men's outfits for a mafia-style party
So, the roles will be for your guests and you have been assigned. Now you need to choose the right outfit that will match the spirit of the time.
For men (for any role) classic suits are suitable: trousers, jacket, vest. The difference between the mafia and an ordinary citizen will be in the sophistication and brightness of things.
The mafia of the 1930s loved bright suits, stylish hairstyles, and shiny shoes. The men looked expensive, glossy and chic. You can complement the look with a hat with a ribbon, a gold chain or a cane. It is mandatory for the mafia to have a weapon hidden in a belt or under a jacket. Don’t forget about your hairstyle: it should be done with gel or hairspray so that the hairs lie “one to one”.
For an ordinary citizen, a more discreet suit in gray or brown colors, not flashy, with a simple shirt and shoes, is suitable. If you are playing the role of a reporter, trousers with suspenders and a white shirt are enough. For the role of a policeman or detective - a strict, discreet suit in neutral colors. A simple city dweller can come in a gray canvas shirt and a baggy jacket, but you should be careful with this - there must be features that indicate belonging to the era.
Aristocrats and simple townswomen will differ in the complexity of the dress and the number of accessories. Choose long skirts or dresses with a slit that will allow lace stockings to peek out. Colors – black, dark blue, brown, gray. Drape a fur boa or coat over your shoulders. You can complement the look with velvet gloves and a small hat with a dark veil.
For the most daring women, the costumes of an adventurer or courtesan are suitable. In the world of the mafia there was nowhere without them, and they often accompanied men. Choose short, sparkly dresses, but not vulgar - even courtesans in the 1930s appreciated style. Another bold image is a mafia girl. A formal suit will look elegant and luxurious.
Fashionable spring trend - Chicago style of the 30s
If you think that the romantic style is childish, the sporty style is too flat, and the gothic style is too far-fetched, but at the same time you respect classics, retro and a little glam rock, then most likely you are a sophisticated and rare connoisseur of gangster style.
Every now and then you hear about corporate events or gangster-style weddings. Pretending to be the Chicago mafia is now very fashionable - it is always provocative, bright and does not fit in with the style of an innocent bride in a fluffy dress. But we don’t want to talk about this “fashion” at all. Is it difficult to match the gangster style in everyday life? This is not about walking around the office in a hat or ostrich boa, puffing on a cigarette in the holder. And about how to create an image with a gangster air, light, like the smell of gunpowder after a shot from a Colt.
The era glorified by Coppola
First of all, let's think about why we like to feel like bandits so much. Psychologists would immediately begin to dig deep and discover a diagnosis such as “unsatisfied bad girl syndrome.” Let's not discount him. But let’s take a closer look at the external reasons.
The first reason is retro. The gangster style came to us from the 20s, from the era of jazz, casinos, parties, feathers and red lipstick. And also - the ban on the sale of alcohol in the United States, which gave rise to such phenomena as underground production, crime of law and gangster groups.
So, gangster style is the same style of the 20s and 30s, only in profile. More precisely, in a more expressive embodiment. Therefore, if you like low waists, cylindrical dresses, fringes, hairstyles a la Isadora Duncan, consider yourself almost a gangster. Well, or the wife of a gangster.
The second reason is luxury. Gangsters are rich. They organized expensive parties, which attracted the entire elite in the most expensive cars and in the most expensive, brand new outfits. It is quite logical that gangsters became trendsetters and founders of the style of their era.
So, keeping up with the style of post-war Chicago is not only exciting and fun, but also quite expensive.
The city falls asleep - the mafia wakes up
The easiest way to transform into the American gangster elite is in an evening look. And together with your partner - for completeness of sensations. In an evening outfit, neither a hat, nor a boa, nor a headdress with feathers will look pretentious and far-fetched.
First, let's deal with the satellite. Everything is simple there: a perfectly fitting three-piece suit, preferably dark blue or black with thin white stripes. White shirt and bow tie. And most importantly, what would you think? No, not a Thompson submachine gun. Boots polished to a dazzling shine!
And now the female image. A classic and more modern option is a floor-length red dress with open shoulders and back. And if you choose retro, then you need a cocktail dress in the style of the 20s with a low waist or no waist at all, long white beads tied in a knot, black tights, a fur coat and a veil.
By the way, if you are an ardent opponent of any imitation and you are invited to a gangster party, you can simply wear a short black leather dress - you will be within the dress code. Although in the classic gangster style of the 20s there was no trace of leather or short dresses.
In the bag
You think that all you have to do is put on a hat and you are already a gangster. In some ways, you are right, because the hat is the most striking attribute of this style. If you look at the latest collections from Armani and Holly Ghost, it becomes obvious that once we take the hats off the models, we get a completely ordinary look.
So the hat is the strongest detail. Well, what if you want to be a gangster at work? You can’t sit around wearing a hat all day – they won’t understand.
What do modern casual gangsters look like? First of all, severity and elegance should dominate the image. For this purpose you will need only two classic colors: black and white. The most win-win option is a trouser suit with a white shirt and a fitted jacket. Or a white suit with a black shirt and white tie. In this case, you can do without a jacket, but then suspenders beg to be worn.
If you use a skirt instead of trousers, it should be a perfectly fitting pencil skirt - plain or striped.
A little black dress in all its manifestations is also one of the options. Leather inserts and high heels are welcome.
The gangster style also includes such traits as masculinity and negligence. The first is achieved with the help of strict lines, trousers with arrows, men's cut shirts and ties - all attributes inherent in the "garçon" style. The second is with the help of rolled up sleeves and unbuttoned jacket buttons.
In a word, you must dress in such a way that for filming in a Scorsese film you only need a hat. So that all you have to do is put on your hat, and no one will doubt that you have a revolver in a holster under your jacket.
Photos from the shows: https://globallookpress.com/
Entertainment and program for the party
The program is an important element of any evening. Yes, guests should have time to communicate with each other, eat, and relax, but there should not be too much of it, otherwise the invitees will get bored. Make a program in advance and include different types of leisure activities in it: competitions and games, quizzes, dancing.
Use the following as competitions:
- “The best bartender”: one person is blindfolded, the other helps with his hands to take the bottles and mix the ingredients. The team with the most delicious cocktail wins.
- “Best Clan”: all guests are divided into families, choose a leader and announce their skills and family possessions. After counting all the points, one clan wins, and toy money goes into its “treasury”, which can then be exchanged for prizes.
- “Best Costume”: choose the person with the most colorful costume, who tried the most and helped you make the party bigger.
- "Best Mafia Role": Choose the person who plays the best mafia game throughout the party. The choice can be made based on the most elaborate costume, the most appropriate behavior, etc. Don't forget about a memorable gift for the winner.
Take time for quizzes:
- To know the history of America in the 1930s.
- Famous mafiosi and mafia clans.
- Films and TV series with mafia themes.
However, the main part of the program is the games. You shouldn’t give up on the mafia - this is not a banal option, but the most suitable one for the evening. If a small group has gathered, you can play roulette, cards, or poker. It’s great if one of the guests takes on the role of a croupier and becomes the host, as if you were in a casino - the mafia often whiled away their evenings playing card games.
Images and photos of gangster clothing style
Gangster style
clothing for women cannot be called ordinary. This is, first of all, chic and luxury, some elements of which can be adopted and safely used in everyday looks.
Gangster style
clothing for women can be interpreted in different ways. In the classical sense, it is sexuality, femininity and luxury. What if you try on a men's suit?
Music for a party
Since we are organizing a party in the style of the 30s, we can safely say that jazz was popular then. Take jazz standards. There are both dance compositions and slow ones. It will definitely be possible to put together a musical program so that the guests dance 5 dances quickly, and the 6th song is a white dance.
On the Internet you can find a variety of compositions: both modern performers and those that were really popular in the 1930s. The simplest option is the songs of Frank Sinatra. However, it is better not to overuse one performer. Choose different music so that you want to dance and listen.
Choose compositions according to your pastime. After all, the evening includes discussions with cocktails and getting to know people. Music should be unobtrusive. And at some moments it is better to increase the volume and show that the evening is moving into an active phase, with games, competitions and dancing.
Children's area at the event
Consider a children's room at the event, as some guests may bring with them a little mafioso or a little artist. They should be comfortable in the children's room. To do this, put a TV in the children's room so that little guests can watch cartoons or install a console. As a last resort, you can get by with 2-3 tablets. Then the children will not be bored, they will be able to play games on a console or tablet all evening, or watch cartoons.
There’s no need to get too fancy when decorating a party for children. Better prepare good treats, buy pizza, cola, and the children will really appreciate it. Or better yet, a delicious cake. Then such an event will appeal not only to you, but also to the children. You will return home cheerful, with the whole family. This is cool!
conclusions
If you decide to organize a mafia-themed party, then get ready to take a responsible approach to decorating the event, drawing up invitations and preparing the hall. But when you do all this, together with your guests you will find yourself in that era, as if in a time machine. This is really cool and interesting. It’s interesting not only to spend the evening, but also to prepare for it, because anticipation and preparation for the holiday is an even more exciting event than the holiday itself
You can prepare for the event yourself or seek help from specialists from the agency. We will be happy to prepare your holiday!
