Creating a retro look for parties is fun.
"Retro" is a word that defines culturally outdated fashions, products and music. The retro look can include things from as far back as the 1930s, and as recent as 20 years ago. If you're throwing a retro birthday party for a friend, husband or wife, the party should reflect a significant time in the life of the honoree, typically the high school years.
Fifties
Rock and roll exploded in the 1950s, launching the ultimate rock and roll hero, Elvis Presley. For this '50s-themed birthday party, put up a few Elvis posters and place a poster of Jimmy Dean on your door. Visit Retroplanet.com for more '50s poster ideas. Make a personalized '50s-style banner with a long roll of paper, markers and paint. Draw images of pompadours, poodle skirts, pink Cadillacs and, of course, a birthday cake. Decorate the room like a '50s diner with chairs and tables as mock booths, and encourage party-goers to dress in '50s fashions. Rent a jukebox, and dance the night away to oldies from the '50s. Make a birthday cake in the shape of a jukebox, and decorate in jewel-tone frosting.
The Sixties
Set up a few black lights with neon posters nearby for this 1960s birthday party. Light some incense, and put up posters of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Jefferson Airplane and Bob Dylan. Put pillows all over the floor, and have a bowl full of hippie beads and peace symbol stickers at the door so party-goers can get in the mood right off the bat. Have a tie-dye T-shirt-making event. See Resources for tie-dye instructions. Make a birthday cake, and write "Feelin' Groovy" in fat, colorful letters with frosting. To write with colored frosting, mix food coloring with frosting and squeeze the mixture through a small opening in a zipper-close plastic bag.
Seventies
Discos were unique to the 1970s, so rent or buy a disco ball and hang it from the ceiling. Play a lot of Donna Summer and Bee Gees music at this birthday party. Purchase a retro, 1970s theme kit from shindigz.com. The kits have '70s-style flower-power arch entrances in bright tie-dye colors, balloon columns, and a giant, back-lit peace sign. The site includes other '70s items to choose from including disco ball key chains and mood rings. For the birthday cake, continue the disco theme. Create the mirrored disco-ball look by sprinkling silver glitter on the frosting.
Eighties
For this eighties birthday party, line the walls of your party room with 1980s movie posters and pictures of rock stars from the era, such as Blondie, Tom Petty and Michael Jackson. Have a collection of glow-bracelets, popular at rock concerts in the '80s, available for your guests. During the '80s, arcade games were extremely popular, so rent one for your party. See what arcade games are available in your area by visiting the Arcade Game Rental Association website. Try your hand at a birthday cake with a Mario Brothers or Donkey Kong decoration on top.
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