My dad's birthday is coming soon. Yesterday we were thinking about what to do with the festive table , I asked my father what he would like my mother and I to cook for him. And he sighed and said with nostalgia in his voice: “I want, as before, that the festive birthday table was bursting with dishes, and the guests sat until the morning and sang songs. And so that meat, fish and poultry. And salads with mayonnaise! And not these ones of yours - shrimp and avocado on toast.”
There were glorious times before, there’s nothing to say! Then they knew how to have fun, they did it with pleasure - they received guests and went to visit. It was these Soviet holiday tables that amazed foreigners with their abundance and a certain stiffness.
80s style invitations
A 1980s themed party starts with the invitations. Yes, you can always send a message or call, but a postcard with a personal invitation will set the right atmosphere in advance and will be a good souvenir.
The ideal option is invitations designed in accordance with the concept of the 80s. Remember or find on the Internet what movie or dance tickets, travel cards, concert posters, etc. looked like in those days. You can download a template for a suitable invitation on the Internet, or you can make it yourself and fill it out with a ballpoint pen.
It is better to send out invitations to guests in advance so that all guests have time to prepare their outfit. Be sure to indicate that a costume party is planned so that no one is caught off guard.
An invitation to a party with an 80s vibe can be the ticket of entry for guests. If they forget it, they will dance, sing, drink the penalty, etc. The main thing is that all the actions of the guests also correspond to the desired style and general atmosphere.
Gangster nicknames
Many mafiosi had real nicknames, and this point can be used in entertainment. Guests are given cards on which everyone will write their real name and a nickname invented for themselves. For everyone else, he keeps this information secret. Then the host collects the cards and reads out the invented name - Big Joe, Red Beast, Little Carlito, Rusty, Jane - Golden Pen, and the guests must figure out who is behind the nickname. At a party, you need to call guests by invented names.
Decor
A retro party in the style of the 80s can take place at home, in a country house, in a cafe or club, or in a loft. The main thing is that there is no overabundance of modern things and details in the interior - it is necessary to hide them all, and the abundance will complicate this task.
For the evening, hide all modern interior details. Hang posters and photos of 80s stars on your walls. Cabinets and window: Place bright colored lamps, or better yet, lava lamps. Additional touches to maintain the atmosphere - large speakers, cassette recorder, streamers, garlands. But with political paraphernalia in the style of the 80s: portraits of Soviet leaders, banners, etc. - it’s easy to overdo it and you need to be careful.
Don't be afraid to make the atmosphere of the room too bright and flashy - this is exactly what you need. Sparkles, rain, sequins - everything will come in handy.
If you are planning not just a party, but a disco, then you cannot do without a spinning glass ball and light music. You can buy it, rent it, or make it yourself. It is enough to cover the globe with pieces of a mirror or CDs.
If you want to create a more homely atmosphere, find an old TV and cover it with a white tablecloth. Place a vase with dried flowers. An old radio, wall hanging, crystal glassware, and cuckoo clock will complete the ambiance.
Another idea for organizing a party in the style of the desired era is to invite friends to a “buffet”. The decor should be minimalistic: a table - a kind of counter and posters. The most important thing is to print out Soviet labels and stick them on modern products.
Musical accompaniment in retro style
In addition to interior decoration, an important part of a retro party in the style of the desired era is music. Familiar motifs will help you quickly remember the past years and remind you of that atmosphere. And even if the songs are unfamiliar, the fiery rhythms of the 80s will instantly put guests in a cheerful mood.
For the evening, prepare one or more playlists. They may differ from each other depending on the pastime: one is for dancing, another is for a feast, the third is for competitions, etc. Both foreign and domestic performers are suitable. At the peak of their popularity were
- "ABBA"
- "Modern Talking"
- "Bad Boys Blue", CC Catch, etc.
You can ask guests in advance to send their favorite hits of the era. If everyone participates in compiling the playlist, everyone will definitely like this music.
Apricot scrambled eggs
25 years later, the famous hits of Yuri Antonov evoke a nostalgic smile even among skeptical people. This is not surprising, because in our age of high speeds, few people can afford to stroll imposingly along Apricotovaya, turn onto Vinogradnaya and stand for a while on Tenistaya Street... You cannot change the rhythm of modern life, but you can offer your friends a dessert for a given fruity meal. - walking theme. To do this, pour 120 g of milk into a saucepan, add 1 teaspoon of gelatin into it and let it swell. Then heat until completely dissolved, remove from heat and add 2 teaspoons of regular sugar and a pinch of vanilla sugar. After mixing thoroughly, pour the jelly onto a flat dish so that the layer is no more than 5 mm, and let it harden. From the hardened substance, cut out 4 ovals of the correct shape - they will represent the white part of the scrambled eggs, and do the “yolks” yourself. To do this, wash 2 apricots, divide them into halves and remove the pits. Then boil them for 2-3 minutes in sweet boiling water and place on the jelly. You will get a very unusual dessert - a delicately sweet and very juicy fried egg.
80s style in clothes
Interesting and bright images of guests are what they love about themed parties. And in the case of the 80s concept, choosing an image is very simple. Everyone has a sweater, pants or shirt that turned out to be too bright, old jeans or sweatpants - now is their time.
In that era, clothes were bright and catchy. The cut was either too wide or too narrow. Length – short. An abundance of shiny elements, evoking prints. There were bright, shocking elements in the shoes, hairstyles, and makeup. When choosing an image, guests should not be afraid to surprise; this is exactly what is required. For inspiration, you can look at images of musicians, actors of that era, and leaf through old magazines.
Bright images for the evening for girls
A typical look in the style of the 80s - everything is bright, catchy, everything that looks out of place in everyday life. Wear a loose dress or tunic with bright tights or colored leggings - once the most popular look at the disco. A more conservative version of the past era is a short skirt and a jacket with bat sleeves. A bold and bright look - a leather skirt and a T-shirt with the logo of a rock band. It will be interesting to look at the image with a jacket with shoulder pads and a skirt. Another classic option from a bygone era is a sports jacket and leggings.
Outfits with lycra and lurex, acid colors, sparkles, sequins are appropriate - don’t be shy about it, in the 80s almost all girls wore this. Shoes should be comfortable, but match the look. Wear sneakers or shoes, ballet flats, sandals in silver or gold, red, orange or yellow. The main thing is that such shoes are comfortable to dance in, and if the party drags on, you don’t feel tired.
When preparing an image in the style of the 80s, the rule of jewelry is never too much. Massive hoop earrings, bright beads, plastic bracelets - and all this is colorful and shiny.
On your head, make a voluminous hairstyle with a backcomb, a ponytail or large curls. Makeup should also be bright and expressive. Draw arrows, apply pearlescent shadows, highlight your cheekbones with blush. Definitely bright lipstick. It is better to do all makeup in green, blue or pink-lilac colors. Apply special glitter to the body.
Outfits for men for the evening
For men, there are also several interesting looks on how to dress and in what style:
- Plain turtleneck, contrasting jacket and jeans.
- Shirt and pistachio, peach, lemon or black sweater.
- Sports suit.
- Jeans and a plaid shirt.
- Flared trousers or banana jeans and a tucked-in shirt.
Choose shoes that are comfortable but in keeping with the spirit of the era: for example, moccasins with bright laces, colored shoes, sneakers or large white sneakers. It may not even be combined with the overall style and image and may be accentuated.
Disco cocktail
The drink of the disco era is a cocktail that glows in the rays of a mirror ball rotating under the ceiling. Moreover, it should look bright, like the provocative costumes of the legendary Bonnie M. And their songs “Oh, mammy blue” and the Russian cover version “Blue-blue frost” that conquered the whole world suggest by their very names - let the contents of the glass be bright blue! First, make colored ice by adding blue food coloring to the water. Throw the finished cubes into a tall glass and fill them with 30 g of blue curacao liqueur. Then add 25 g of white rum and 50 g of Cointreau. Fill the remaining space with tonic, insert the blue straw and serve to your guests.
80's style drinks and snacks
Preparing the treat is the easiest part, as food in the 1980s is characterized by a lack of frills. There is no need to try to come up with something special. On the contrary, at a party, the dishes should be simple and well known.
- Appetizers include sandwiches with doctor's sausage or sprats, pickled cucumbers, pickled mushrooms, and pickled tomatoes.
- For salads - Olivier, mimosa, vinaigrette or herring under a fur coat.
- Hot dishes include dumplings with sour cream, fried chicken with potatoes, homemade cutlets with pasta.
- As a dessert - Napoleon, honey cake, potatoes or anthill. Waffles, candies and cookies are suitable.
- Drinks include Soviet champagne, Zhiguli beer and Stolichnaya vodka.
In the invitation, you can mention that everyone should bring their favorite dish. This way the table will be more varied, but economical.
To maintain the atmosphere, don't forget to decorate the table too. Lay out a beautiful tablecloth “for guests”, put bright napkins, insert colored straws into drinks. The most reliable image will be obtained if you find all the elements:
- Glass decanter.
- Faceted glasses.
- Oilcloth.
- Steel trays.
Race
You can remember the game “third wheel”, beloved by children, in which you need to find a place on a chair in time, but it is also possible to offer equally exciting games for adults. So, choose five participants, pour champagne into their glasses, which they hold with their teeth. Participants run around the table, while trying to spill as little champagne as possible.
Spend a bright evening in the style of the 80s
The 80's era party scenario must be spot on. You can’t leave guests to their own devices so that they don’t get bored and lose the atmosphere. Select competitions and games according to the criteria of ease and ease. They should be simple and fun.
Don't forget about the prizes for the winners. Prepare calendars, certificates, orders, chewing gum, toffees, chocolates, etc. - everything that was typical for discos in the 80s.
- Quiz “Guess the melody” or “Guess the movie.” Play music from a bygone era for a few seconds or show a still from a movie, and guests must guess where they were taken from.
- Quiz “Experts Speak.” Test guests' knowledge of the history of the 1980s, famous figures of the era, culture, sports, etc.
- Olympics 1980. Hold a competition among the guests to see who can do the most push-ups, squats, spin the hula hoop the longest, etc.
- Everybody dance. Make a selection with dance hits of the era: lambada, macarena, etc. Guests must remember the movements and show them as best as possible.
- The star is visiting. If the guests came dressed as one of the celebrities of the era, you can hold a competition among them for the similarity of the image, vocals, and dance.
- "What am I doing?". The host shows the guests cards depicting two or three objects, and the participants guess what connects them. For example, perfume and a felt-tip pen, a pencil and a cassette tape.
You can also request an invitation from guests at the beginning of the 80s-style evening. You can hide a secret word on it, and when you say it, guests will receive a small gift. Or the lack of an invitation will serve as a reason to ask tricky questions about the era, force them to dance or sing, etc.
All activities for guests at the party can be combined into one quest. Guests will receive a hint for participating or winning. Having collected them all, they will find a “time capsule” - a cache of things from the era. If everyone can take one item, they will have a souvenir of the evening. At the end of the evening, the organizer can collect invitations from the guests and leave a small wish or parting message on them as a keepsake.
Plan the approximate timing of the party in advance. Make sure your guests don't get bored or overtired. It is convenient if you write in advance the approximate time of the meeting in the invitation so that the guests can calculate their strength.
