Parties Past Perfect is a Science
Her parties past perfect were like no other.
Let me tell you, did she ever had an effect on my sense of taste and style! I recently spoke with her about her sense of style, and the influence she's had on me. Her mantra: Never follow what's fashionable (which is probably where I get my "dance to your own beat of the drum" thing from) - and always wear "classics".
"I've never been a brand buyer, per say", she said. "Why should I advertise for somebody else?", she added.
Smart.
I should've thought more like my aunt. Think of the money I could have saved - starting with that large Prada backpack that I bought. Love the bag... So, oh well.
When it comes to Aunt Margarets' sense of style, she's the first to admit that she was born at exactly the right time. She loves the glamour of 1930's Hollywood. Her own wardrobe translates to beautiful, quality-made, fitted, feminine everything, for any woman any age.
Much of her wardrobe consisted of hostess-wear, otherwise known as "clothes for entertaining". People don't dress like that anymore. This is a style from days and times gone by. Still living in southern California, Aunt Margaret is in her 80's now - and she's still "got it". She doesn't have much need for hostess-wear anymore. But boy, does she still ever look good!
The year that I entered the 7th grade, she made all of my back-to-school clothes. I was assured my own sense of style then, for sure. We choose the patterns and the fabric, she sewed the clothes. And just like her, I had that "pulled together, stylish look". To this day, I thank my Aunt Margaret for her appreciation of finery and for always having a polished look. I don't know what I would have done without her.
You should have seen her wedding portrait. She was a vision! Poised and posed in a beautifully crafted, white wedding gown - her look is timeless. Fashion runs in my family. Besides my aunt being a clotheshorse, my Uncle Clarence (who was such a dapper dresser!) owned a cutting business (mass-cutting fabric from patterns for clothing manufacturers) and worked in the "rag business" (clothing) for years.
Parties past perfect were largely about fashion.
A few years ago Aunt Margaret sent me a very stylized and classy, jacquard-print, "yellow number" that is out of this world. It's the ultimate in "classic hostess-wear for entertaining 101", and completely gorgeous. Getting it sparked questions. I had to know what her younger life was like - what her times of entertaining and parties was like. getting it made me wonder and research where this party-thing (inside of me) comes from; what my influences are, how they're derived.
Aunt Margaret and her core group of friends organized their own private social clubs and held them often. They loved to play cards, so card games were the primary focus of their parties and gatherings - after having fun, of course.
She did things in great style.
The level of their entertaining had to match the garb that they wore, and vice versa. The parties were beautifully attended to and lovely. But mostly they were elegant. You know like, the party was stylized and everything had to match. Think of Truman Capote's annual Black & White Ball, but on a smaller scale.
These were great times of true entertaining; cabarets, and dances featuring big bands. And Aunt Margaret's parties were first-class. They always served food - always offered fancy bowls of nuts as hors d'oeuvres, and always served dinner at some point afterward. They had a full bar. She drank margarita's or Jack Daniels on the rocks. After dinner she'd have her standard snifter of cognac, Courvoisier. They would sing and dance, and have the best time, Aunt Margaret recounted.
Those were the days... of parties past perfect.
Now I get it. Now I know where I got it from.
Those were definitely parties past perfect.
There had no special occasions - they had them just because.
Image source: tiny banquet committee
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