Themed party in the style of "Hipsters": ideas for decoration, entertainment and outfits

Fashion of the USSR: dudes September 23, 2021, 10:00 | Rita Zheleznyakova

7 chosen

Hipsters loved jazz and boogie-woogie, the movie “Sun Valley Serenade” and bright things. This youth subculture has become a whole phenomenon that we still remember today...

Hipsters existed from the mid-40s to the 60s. After the war, information about Western life poured into the Soviet Union, which, however, quickly turned into a small trickle. People dreaming of a beautiful life caught Western “beauty” bit by bit. The first Soviet fashionistas were children, relatives and friends of diplomatic workers. Records, magazines, films, and, of course, clothes and shoes were brought from abroad.

Soviet society did not approve of young people dressed in a foreign style. The magazine "Crocodile" continually published caricatures of shaggy-haired young men in ridiculous trousers and garishly dressed girls. In fact, dudes expressed themselves through their appearance and protested against stereotypes, as do millions of young men and women. Only in the middle of the last century did this also sound like an anti-Soviet statement, although the dudes declared their apoliticality...

Drawing by D. Belyaev, “Crocodile” magazine, 1949.

Along with the photo, a feuilleton was also published. Here is an excerpt from it: “He had an amazingly ridiculous appearance: the back of the jacket was bright orange, and the sleeves and hems were green; I have never seen such wide canary-pea-colored pants even in the years of the famous bell-bottoms; his boots were a clever combination of black patent leather and red suede. The young man leaned against the door frame and, with some unusually cheeky movement, crossed his right leg over his left. Socks were discovered that blinded my eyes, they were so bright..."

Pipe trousers, bright jackets, skinny ties, Hawaiian shirts, semolina boots (on a high rubber platform), whipped coq on their heads... The dudes were extravagant, bright, funny. They had their favorite films, favorite music (jazz and rock and roll “on the bones”), favorite places (“Broadway” - Gorky Street in Moscow) and favorite words “heal” - walk, “shoes” - boots, “oldovy” - old, “sovparshiv” - from SovPoshiv).

Many stylish looks were borrowed from trophy films. For example, the sweater with deer, beloved by dudes, is from the painting “Sun Valley Serenade.”

The basis of the dresses is, of course, the New Look silhouette, introduced by Christian Dior in 1947.

The fate of the dudes who looked up to the West is essentially sad, as Valery Todorovsky reminded us of this in the film “Hipsters.” Many who visited America returned disappointed, because there were no dudes there... Hipsters are a subculture of dreamers...

By the way, about the film “Hipsters”. The costumes in it are exaggerated. Real dudes did not dress so flamboyantly.

By the way…

To keep the hairstyle in place, many dudes used beaten egg whites, sugar water and even glue. Nowadays, it is much easier to model and secure a hairstyle...

Rita Zheleznyakova , iledebeaute.ru

Photo: https://www.kulturologia.ru, youstyles.ru, www.pinterest.com

Peculiarities

Hipsters are a popular subculture in the 60s of the last century on the territory of the USSR. She was distinguished by her love of rock and roll, freedom of expression, emphatic individuality and a somewhat romanticized view of American culture as a multi-colored fairy tale consisting of continuous parties.
Your own slang, recognizable clothes, overflowing enthusiasm are not bad decorations for the birthday of a new family. Organizing a themed celebration is extremely simple - a wedding in the dude style does not require huge financial investments and it is quite possible to organize the celebration on your own , especially if you are familiar with that period from films or history.
Important! Finding a suitable toastmaster is not a problem, because such a topic opens up limitless scope for creativity for a professional, and Soviet motifs are very popular among event agencies.
Such a wedding is very different from a classic ceremony, and older relatives may not understand you. But if you are confident in their loyalty and your own ability to rock, then why not try? After all, even the most skeptical guests will ultimately enjoy sincere fun. So, if you are young, energetic, love rock and roll and dancing of that period, hate frames, boring standard ceremonies and officialdom, then a dudes wedding is created for you.

The most important features of the style include:

• music and dance of the 60s - rock and roll, boogie-woogie, twist and, of course, melodies performed by Elvis Presley;
• bright flashy colors and their unexpected combinations : both in the design and in the appearance of the participants;
• pipe trousers and herring ties for men , best in orange, scarlet, lemon colors;
• for women - fitted dresses of the most non-standard colors with a fluffy short skirt;
• Soviet aesthetics and the struggle against it (for example, bride price from a critical party meeting);
• reckless drive combined with a romantic personality;
• dancing, dancing and more dancing!

Ideas for a photo shoot in retro style: 50s

The ideal of the 50s is radically different from the image of the 20s. Now the model of beauty is a blonde with scarlet lips, big eyes, fluffy eyelashes and measurements 90-60-90. We bet you immediately remembered Marilyn Monroe, didn't you? Girls of the 50s are characterized by sophistication, sexuality, femininity and a kind of naivety.

To create an image for a photo shoot in retro style, fitted dresses with wide belts, godet skirts, wide-brimmed hats, gloves, small bags, scarves, glasses, etc. are suitable. The designs of the clothes are in bright sunny colors with simple designs like polka dots, squares, flowers etc.

The image of girls at this time was actively used on the covers of magazines and posters. It was this era (although the phenomenon itself appeared much earlier) that gave us such a trend as Pin up (from English to pin up - to pin, that is, a poster pinned to the wall).

Place

It is best to move the celebration indoors, and quite spacious , because there should be enough space for fiery dancing. Don’t choose overly decorated venues; you will most likely have to remove the old decoration and make your own. If you want to create the exact atmosphere, then try to negotiate the rental of a palace of culture, an ordinary dining room or other room with a recognizable flavor preserved from Soviet times - square plates on the ceiling, wide stairs, long tables. All of this can be a great canvas for your creativity.

If your soul asks for space and freedom, then a rented house or an ordinary dacha will do. It would be great if there was a large veranda where you can continue the fun even if the weather turns bad. The main thing is that the setting has a minimum of modern attributes and decor.

Outfit ideas

It is clear that a classic suit and white dress of the newlywed will destroy the lovingly created atmosphere in a second. Therefore, if you decide to celebrate like dudes, then you should carefully select your appearance.

Bride's image

The dress must be short and bright - red, light green, lemon. Don't be afraid of rich and flashy shades! An outfit with then fashionable polka dots looks wonderful; other large, contrasting prints are also acceptable.

If you still want a white dress, then be sure to add a bright, eye-catching accessory - a belt, shoes, a ribbon along the hem. A colored underskirt peeking out from under the upper will fit perfectly into the style.

The more pomp there is in the lower part of the dress, the better , and it should be achieved not with crinolines, but with a large amount of fabric. Don't skimp on petticoats!

It is important to highlight the waistline with a fitted silhouette. This will make the overall look especially feminine. A distinctive detail of that time is a bright belt, which is tied with a flat bow on the back.

Choose bright, patent leather, high-heeled shoes. Don't forget to complement your outfit with nylon stockings with a seam - in the days of dudes, they were at the height of fashion. Brave brides will love a solution such as colored thick tights or stockings. For the theme of dudes, this will be quite organic even with a bright dress, although you should choose the shades carefully.

Advice! The hairstyle should not be too complex and high, but it is worth achieving smooth hair. Let the strands lie hair to hair. A bun, babette, or bouffant are perfect.

For decorations, use large jewelry, artificial bright flowers and satin ribbons , and they should be worn not on the forehead, but on the top of the head. If you want to keep the curls, be sure to curl them with large curlers.

A veil is usually not used in the style of dudes , but if desired, you can unobtrusively attach the accessory to the hairstyle from below, under a bun or babette. A colorful, fluffy, short veil will perfectly suit the overall mood.

Don't forget about spectacular makeup. You should look distinctly bright, youthful and feminine. Black or colored eyeliner, bright shadows (it’s okay to play with contrasts), mascara, red lipstick, blush - no nude, it’s completely inappropriate here.

The bouquet for all this splendor should also be chosen bright, but from simple flowers that grew on the private plots of Soviet citizens - asters, dahlias, phlox.

Groom image

You should definitely put tuxedos and formal business suits aside. The stylish groom simply must choose an outfit in bright, unexpected colors - orange, lemon, light green, raspberry! You can use plaid and polka dots.

If such multi-colors are still too bold for you, then wear neutral-colored trousers and a bright jacket. The shirt should be a single color, but the tie should be colored, preferably in the “herring” style. Be sure to choose patent leather, pointed shoes, preferably with thick white soles. If the length of the hair allows, and the groom is not afraid to go beyond the limits, then a “cock” can be an excellent finishing touch - a recognizable hairstyle a la Elvis Presley.

Add a bold touch to the look with contrasting colored socks peeking out from under cropped trousers.

Dress code for witnesses and guests

To maintain the unity of style, guests should also dress brightly, boldly, and extravagantly. Not everyone has similar things in their wardrobe, so it is better to leave a table with accessories at the entrance - dark glasses, satin ribbons, ties in flashy colors.

Idea! It is better not to put accessories on the table for free access, but to give them to the toastmaster or animator, who during the evening will play the role of a black marketeer and offer “shortages” under the counter. A sea of ​​emotions on this occasion is guaranteed!

Even the most ordinary suit, decorated with such details, will fit perfectly into the style and will not allow the guest to feel like a black sheep. Bridesmaids must wear dresses of a similar style - fitted and with a fluffy short skirt. The colors can be either different for each girl or similar in shades to the bride’s outfit. For example, if the bride chose a lemon dress with a purple belt, then the bridesmaids will look wonderful in purple dresses with yellow polka dots.

The outfits of the groom's friends should also echo the attire of the hero of the occasion. For example, their ties may match the color of his jacket.

Classic images of dudes

Both men and women who decided to dress in stylish fashion had distinctive features. Well, if for the former a sophisticated suit and colorful tie were mandatory, then for the fair sex everything became a little more complicated.

A distinctive feature of this colorful style for them was the presence of a rather immodest dress, for those times. It had to be bright, always with a cheerful pattern that would attract attention. In addition, the girls chose dresses with open tops and short sleeves. As for the styles, two were preferred:

• "hourglass";
• "flower".

These styles of dresses got their names from the shapes they created when worn. Dresses of the first style hugged the hips of their owner and also tapered towards the knees. The second type was characterized by the presence of a full skirt that came out from under a thin waist. They tried to visually reduce the thin figure with the help of a wide belt. It was he who had to highlight the graceful curves. Soviet-era hipsters also added a large bow to it.

Invitations

Invitations recorded on vinyl records will fit most harmoniously into the style. Another option is a pin-up style card with your photos.

You can go further and design the cards as Soviet notices about a party meeting regarding a groom who has lost his head in love. Don't be afraid to experiment; style involves uniqueness and self-expression. Handwritten postcards, newspaper clippings, images of a saxophone or record player - all this will fit wonderfully into the overall picture and put guests in the right mood.

A good idea is to use special dude slang in the invitation , for example, “dude” and “dude”. However, for serious or elderly guests, such immersion in the era is only possible if you are one hundred percent sure of their sense of humor. Don't forget to write on the invitations that there will be a dress code at the wedding.

Hair and makeup will support the dude's style

It is impossible to imagine a truly stylish woman without a fashionable haircut and elegant hairstyle. A delicate look is created by large curls, whisk strands or high styling. For a 50s themed party, it is better to make a babette secured with varnish. According to the advice of stylists, the hairstyle should be decorated with ribbons, headbands, and hairpins.

This year, bright make-up, characteristic of the dude style, is very popular. Catchy makeup is quite appropriate this summer and at parties: rich shades are used. Blue, blue, violet, carrot, yellow, lilac, and green eye shadows are in favor.

The eyes are emphasized with ultra black eyeliner and voluminous mascara. The style allows for very thick graphic arrows. Thus, a doll-like image is obtained. A must-have feature for a dude woman is bright lips: scarlet, burgundy, cherry.

Cortege

It is best to get old Soviet cars for a style wedding cortege - Pobeda, Volga, even a Zaporozhets will do.

The ideal option is to paint the car in catchy colors: lemon, acid green, orange, but if this is not possible, then standard colors will do. Just add more decor - tinsel, balls, ribbons. Place dolls symbolizing the newlyweds on the hood. In the 60s, dolls, along with balloons, were almost the only element of car decor.

If possible, rent a real Soviet tram for your guests. A walk around the city in it will definitely be unforgettable.

Banqueting hall

Remember that you need a lot of space. Most of the time you will be dancing and participating in active competitions , so it is better to move the tables towards the walls so that they do not block the passage.

Use the attributes of Soviet discos - a large ball sparkling with mirrored edges above the ceiling, vinyl players and records, a saxophone, or symbols of that time - posters, scarlet banners, faceted glasses. Confetti, balloons, and paper garlands will fit perfectly. Be sure to hang a large Elvis Presley poster or some old vinyl records in a prominent place. It is better not to use a plain white tablecloth. Red, orange, blue, checkered or polka dot – the colors should fit into the overall design.

Idea! You can add ambiance to the vending machine with soda, Olivier, jellied fish and other dishes on the table that were popular in the Soviet era.

Party music

The group “Bravo”, Zhanna Aguzarova, “Secret”, “Zero” and “Zoo” - all this music is suitable for such an incendiary party.

Maybe someone still has vinyl records and a record player?

It's okay that the records are a little scratched, and the player was released in the 70s, not the 40s.

The spirit of the twentieth century, so special, so refined, “different,” will still penetrate into the apartment or cafe where the party is being held.

Of course, at such an evening the music of Glenn Miller and Elvis Presley will sound great.

In addition, one of the guests can dress up in an Elvis costume. By the way, about outfits. The “dudes” show up in a colored jacket, chic trousers, bright socks, and a herring tie. You can do a hairstyle “a la Presley” on your head. And if young people can get by with ordinary jackets, stylish shirts and ties, then girls definitely need to choose a beautiful dress.

Accessories

The decor is made up of details, which means that the closest attention must be paid to wedding accessories. Replace the glasses with cut glasses or buy colored glasses with a laconic design , preferably red ones. Large bows look perfect on the legs of crystal wine glasses, repeating the same accessory on the bride's dress. The cushion for the rings must certainly be bright. Any colors and patterns are acceptable - polka dots, checks, bows. Sprinkle the pillow with confetti or hide the rings in bright glitter.

A book of wishes can stand out with a flashy cover of red, orange, purple, or look like a Soviet barn book or an old notebook. But in the second case, be sure to place colored pens or markers nearby so that the brightness of the colors is preserved in the notes that guests make.

Cake

The main delicacy of the holiday simply must be bright and unusual. The more colors of glaze it contains, the better. Use polka dot decoration, contrasting combinations of layers, figures of the newlyweds - always dancing and in dude costumes.

A more discreet option is a dessert in the form of a vinyl record, saxophone, tape recorder, but in this case be sure to add bright details.

Since the dudes were focused on an idealized American culture, you can make a wedding cake in the shape of a giant hamburger. Taste is your choice.

For women

Girls dressed up exclusively in fluffy dresses or skirts, emphasizing their femininity and playfulness at the same time. Countless shades, details, petticoats that swirled, riding up while dancing. Insanely bright colors accompanied them throughout. You could wear a set of a skirt and blouse, but it is very important that they fit together and look like a single whole with a belt. Despite all the absurdity of colors and styles, the dudes dressed very stylishly (it’s not for nothing that they were called that). The sleeves of blouses or dresses could be completely different, most often ¾, 2/3 or wings were used, but they also wore long, puffed sleeves, or they could not be there at all; there were no restrictions in this aspect.

Dresses were decorated with circle, stripe, checkered or floral prints. The more prints, the brighter the image and the better it looks. A narrow waist, often cinched with a wide patent belt, a tight-fitting bodice - the maximum sexuality of forms, challenging Soviet foundations. Spaghetti straps, revealing stockings, daring behavior, bold makeup, lined eyes and brightly painted lips. The difference was striking between Soviet girls in shapeless, dull clothes and bright feminine forms, which were emphasized by the contrast between a full skirt with a narrow cinched waist. Very often, such dresses were complemented with round beads, bracelets and other jewelry.

Hipsters were divided into castes: flashy cheap looks or laconic fashionable looks straight out of American magazines. Color variety was not always a significant criterion, but an outlandish pattern, expensive earrings, a confident gait and the ability to dance decided everything. Girls of the second type could afford to wear a laconic black dress or a tight-fitting narrow skirt, without losing a bit of the polish of the dudes.

Competitions

The chosen style is a paradise for a good toastmaster, since the spirit of general fun will encourage those present to perform the most daring antics. But you can do it on your own, and watch the movie of the same name for inspiration.

Here are a few simple but extremely fun competitions for everyone invited without exception:

• “Find a stash” is a task for the bride or mother-in-law. It is necessary to find a bill hidden in the groom’s suit, while the toastmaster limits the search to more and more new conditions;
• “Compliments” - divide all the guests into two teams, for example, men's and women's. The task is to give the other party as many pleasant definitions as possible, but you need to give compliments exclusively in dude slang;
• “Fashion show along Broadway” - the dudes, even with their gait, demonstrated idleness and readiness for fun , so you can arrange a competition to see who can best repeat the “dudes’ gait.” The winner is determined by a general vote.

The dance of the young people will be a surprise, because a classic waltz will be inappropriate, but a boogie-woogie or other complex composition in the spirit of the era will cause real delight. Most likely, you will have to attend a number of individual lessons in advance, but the result will be worth it. Don’t forget to warn the photographer, as such a moment definitely needs to be captured on video.

After the newlyweds dance, it’s a good idea to invite all the guests to have fun and take part in dance competitions. Representatives of the older generation may not have any difficulties, because they will happily remember how they “had fun” in their youth. But for young guests it is better to invite a teacher who will be able to quickly and enthusiastically explain the simplest but most effective movements. The role of teacher can be the toastmaster or one of the guests. The main thing is that the master class turns out to be fun, and the general dance is sparkling.

Dress in the style of a dude for girls

The main attribute of the wardrobe for women was a fitted dress with a flared bottom. To give his skirt more volume, several tulle petticoats were worn underneath it. At the same time, the top of the clothing could be decorated with a deep open neckline or wide straps. The sleeve could be of any length or absent altogether. Puffed sleeves were very popular. Often the outfit was draped on the bodice.

Decorative elements (ruffles and lace) were generously used as additions. The most chic thing was considered to be a wide bright ribbon tied at the waist under the bodice with a large bow. The length of this item of clothing, as a rule, was medium - to the knees.

Photoshoot

A photo shoot must convey the spirit of the era. If it is possible to hold it separately, then the best option is a studio with Soviet decorations. If you want to combine photography with a banquet, then make sure that there is good light in the area you choose. There will be plenty of colorful details, but bright flashing lights can become a serious opponent even for an experienced photographer. It is best to choose a professional in whose portfolio this is not the first successful wedding of dudes.

Beautiful shots of young people will be obtained on the dance floor, with saxophones in their hands, next to the record player or inside a vintage car. If you wish, you can invite the bridesmaids with the groom’s friends into the frame, and create a voluminous, complex composition based on the poster for the movie “Hipsters.”

Advice! If you want to surprise your guests, ask the photographer to use not only professional equipment, but also a regular Polaroid, or try to take a couple of shots yourself. An instantly developed photograph will cause everyone to delight, and photo cards can become a good souvenir.

Menu and meeting guests

Another important stage of preparation is creating a menu. There are no special restrictions; it is better to be guided by the preferences of the guests. If you invited friends just to have fun, chat and dance, then a regular buffet with cold appetizers and wine will be enough, and if you are inviting to a themed birthday, then the menu should be rich and thoughtful.

Organize the meeting of your guests in an unusual way. Remember that dudes were persecuted, place one person at the entrance who will ask the same question, to which you need to come up with a funny answer. Previously, this served as a check to ensure that strangers did not get into the party.

Next to the inspector, you can put a “dude” in a black raincoat, who will open the hem of your clothes and offer to buy bright ties, ribbons and other accessories.

Photo

If you want your wedding to be not an ordinary celebration, but to become an enchanting, bright, unforgettable event, then you should organize a celebration in the style of a dude. And then you are guaranteed a concentrated drive!

Suit in the style of a dude

A suit in this style is represented by a skirt and blouse.

The classic option was a midi skirt. In some cases, for example, for cocktail parties, it was possible to reduce the length to mini. Initially, they were as fluffy as dresses, but over time they “transformed” and became shorter and narrower.

Blouses are distinguished by a simple, but not classic style. They can be with long or short sleeves or without them at all. Collars range from rounded to sharp-edged models.