70's Party

Boogie on down for a 70’s Disco Party or bump hips with a funky
Abba Party! Here’s some advice and tips for holding a party that
your guests will surely love.

The 70’s are renowned for being everything from fun and wild to
tacky and hilariously tragic. The Seventies have a great deal of
nostalgic value and are perfect for a costume themed party.

Abba was one of the great icons of the 70’s so you could have an
Abba themed party. Abba inspires not only great costumes but also
great music that everyone loves – even if they deny it!


Costume Suggestions

Costumes for the 70’s can be fun, colourful and not to mention
Daggy!

An Abba look is as simple as wearing a white suit or dress and
finding the appropriate wig – for both the guys and the girls!
Find as many Abba film clips as you can to get inspiration for you
costume.

A long wig would be perfect for a Seventies party. Moustaches and
beards were also popular during this decade. Grow one out for the
party or find a fake one from a costume store.

For clothes, use familiar favourites like Safari Suits, Bellbottom
Flares, and jackets with tassels on the sleeves, suede and crushed
velvet.

A 70’s style costume can be as simple as wearing a tracksuit and a
headband. You could wear a Caftan or a Muumuu dress for a casual
but daggy look. Clogs, platform shoes and Converse sneakers are
perfect footwear for the night.


Decorations

Make your own Disco floor by taking large sheets of cardboard and
taping them together. Try to use as many bright colours as you
can, setting them out in squares.

Try a party supplies shop to see if you can find a disco Mirror
Ball to hang from the ceiling.

Give the house a 70’s feel by using large colourful rugs and
draping them over the couches and furniture. Add to the look with
bold vases and bowls. For a tacky Seventies look, you could even
cover the couch in plastic sheeting.

You could try an opportunity or thrift shop to find old framed
prints. See if you can get hold of classic pictures like J.
Bragolin’s infamous "Crying Boy" paintings or even an old crushed
velvet black light picture.

Use bold clashing colours that were favourites of the 70’s, such
as orange and lime-green, yellow and brown, and other mismatched
colours.

For a fun, cheeky touch, leave a bowl on a coffee table and fill
it with plastic keys bought at a toy store. Make it reminiscent of
the infamous Key Parties of the 70’s.


Food Suggestions

Fondue was all the rage during the 70’s. Try to find a fondue set
and serve a cheese fondue or melted chocolate for the guests.

Cooking was at the height of its popularity in the 70’s. Find an
old cookbook and follow the recipes. Many of them might seem dated
but they’ll also bring back memories for a lot of guests.

Serve food that was popular in this decade like quiche, meatballs,
casseroles, skewers and other classic meals.

Bean Bag Gummies
Take marshmallows and flatten them a little before cutting a small
groove from the top of each one.

Using a small drop of icing, fix a Gummie Bear on top so it looks
like it’s sitting on a beanbag.

Lava Lamp jelly
Make Lava Lamp Jelly for the party by setting it in long tall
glasses. Set the jelly in the glasses in stages – fill it a third
of the way for example and add marshmallows.

When the jelly has set, fill it another third of the way, adding
more marshmallows, and so on.

When the glass is full and the jelly is set, it will look like a
Lava Lamp, full of marshmallow bubbles.


Games & Activities

Have a disco style dance-off and play some of the great favourites
from the 70’s.

Play cheeky games that were favourites of this era like Twister,
Spin the Bottle and other popular party games. 

 

For inspiration try using the following films and themes:

Abba
Muriel’s Wedding
Kool & The Gang
Bee Gees
Daddy Cool
George Clinton & Parliament
Bootsy Collins
Saturday Night Fever
Staying Alive
Xanadu
Boogie Nights
Easy Rider
Studio 54
Disco
Key Parties
The Ice Storm
The Big Chill
That 70’s Show
Welcome Back Kotter
Robin’s Nest
Bless This House