Wednesday 30 March 2011

Party Ideas - Groovy Food And Retro 70s Fancy Dress

Remember 70s food? Maybe prawn cocktail, steak sandwiches and black forest gateaux will ring a few bells. We used to love it, and I’m happy to say this style of food is slowly making a comeback. Good food lovingly prepared. Perfect to serve at a 1970's fancy dress party.



Groovy food deserves groovy seventies clothes


70s fancy dress costumes hold nothing back. They are silky, frilled, patterned and sexy. Hippies, flower power, rockers and groovy disco dancers will be prolific at any 1970s party.

Abba's Dancing Queen influenced many fashion styles of the 1970’s. Figure hugging flared catsuits and halter neck all in ones were loved by all. Figure hugging Lycra suits and flares were made even more popular with the launch of the hit movie Mamma Mia. Already a hit in the theatres, the film brought a renewed interest in the 70 s fancy dress culture.

Now, with the revival of the seventies fashion, the shape and style is back, but in a more sophisticated way.


One Christmas we attended a 70s fancy dress where they served hot beef barm cakes and plenty of hot spiced wine. It still makes me hungry thinking about it.  

One of our favourites was the steak sandwich. It was delicious, and in the 70s the local pubs would serve it with a good helping of chips and peas. Delicious! We still serve this at many family parties and it goes down a treat and it's easy to serve a veggie meat equivalent.

It doesn’t need to be expensive; a thin sliver of good steak is all you need. We used to go to the butcher and ask for a “butty” steak (It was also called a minute steak. because it literally took a minute to cook), and they would cut them into 2 centimetre thick pieces. 

If you are health conscious, as most of us are these days, you can serve a healthier option by adding a good portion of salad. It still tastes great, but I do admit I often revert back to the naughty but nice original. 
 






Mens Denim Look Flares

Denim flares are a good option for the men. Team them with T-shirts or 70s floral or check shirts.  We think these denim look flares will go with anything. The afro wig is pretty cool too.



A great idea for a party theme is a flared trouser party

Get everyone to dress up in a pair of flares. Sounds bizarre I know, but people will love it. 




There are plenty of retro clothes to choose from including catsuits, flared trousers,denims and styled suits. Check out this Saturday Night Fever style 70s disco suit. White, slinky and sure to raise a smile. This also looks good with the 70 s retro borwn shag wig.

 
Organise a 70s quiz and karaoke. Include songs from Abba and glam rock groups such as T Rex, David Bowie, Sweet and Slade.


And this is how to make a steak sandwich

  1. Chop a few onions and fry them, in a pan in a little oil, until they begin to soften and turn brown. Take them out and keep them warm while you cook the steaks. Add the minute steaks to the frying pan and cook for 30 seconds each side, adding more oil if necessary. 
  2. Slice your burger baps in half and butter lavishly. Put a generous helping of onions on the bread roll and top with a large minute steak. 
  3. Serve with plenty of mustard and tomato ketchup. 
    Your guests will love them. 

Fun and laughter always!


written by Lucille Bond

Tuesday 22 March 2011

The perfect fancy dress for the seventies man


Okay,  I admit it, this isn’t fancy dress, but it it's a perfect example of how we used to look in the 70s. Well not me personally!


The hair do is straight out of the original 1970’s Starsky and Hutch series, starring David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser. To recreate this look is easy with a few items. You'll need a pair of sunglasses, check shirt and 70's wig.





And this is the fancy dress 70s cop kit...

Pretty good look alike? 

 
This kit includes a curly black wig, holster gun, specs, tash and sideburns. 







Wear a plain T shirt with a pair of jeans and you've got yourself a great outfit. If you want to take it a step further, team it with a pair of men’s denim flares.



Flared denims with check shirts, or plain T shirts were all the rage.


Silk shirts had large collars worn open, sometimes to show off a hairy chest!




...and the latest news is telling us this season's fashion takes its inspiration from the seventies, so for a relaxed 70s look, include a pair of flares in your wardrobe.







Just for fun 

Cop shows always had a star car, and Starsky’s two door Ford Gran Torino (nicknamed the “striped tomato”) was one of them.




We found this photo of a seventies two door Datsun Cherry, complete with white stripes. 
We give it a 5 ot of 10 for trying.

Have fun!


written by Lucille Bond


Friday 4 March 2011

Why a 70s Fancy Dress Theme?

So why pick the seventies? This glittering decade conjures up images of glam rock, big hair dos, shiny fabrics and glitzy make up.



A 70s Fancy Dress is bold, colourful and loud. You can disco and party to Pop music, Glam Rock, Motown and Punk, or slow the pace down with a smooch to a Rod Stewart or one of the later Elvis tracks.

For most guests the main concern is what to wear, but currently there is a huge seventies influence running through fashion clothing, so it is easy pickings.

You don’t even have to buy fancy dress. The latest retro inspired separates or dresses are perfect for party wear and will fit nicely into your summer wardrobe afterwards.

Trousers and dresses may not be as flared or gaudy as the originals, but the psychedelic colours and shiny fabrics are evident.

I haven’t seen anyone wearing John Travolta’s white flared trousers, silky shirt and waistcoat as evening wear, but it is worth a mention that the whole outfit was worn by a couple of men at the last party I went to. The dancing wasn’t up to Travolta’s level, but was much more fun to watch.

The ladies came back with a fantastic rendition of Dancing Queen and looked so “Abba” in their white silk suits. They got a little wobbly as the night progressed, could the wine and platform shoes have been the culprits! I suspect so.


You can check out some cool and groovy 70s costumes on our website.  We have a good selection of kids, women’s and men’s outfits.

Have a great party!


written by Lucille Bond