Guests can also wear military or 1940s-era nurse uniforms. You could even send out tutorials for how to do victory rolls, a popular hairstyle for women in the 1940s. You might also include links to 1940s-themed makeup tutorials—red lipstick was especially popular. To really get everyone in the spirit, hold a costume contest once all of your guests arrive!
Daiquiris were especially popular because rum was able to be freely imported from Cuba, Latin America, and the Caribbean. No need to break out the blender—in the 1940s, daiquiris weren’t served frozen. Instead, they were simply made by mixing 1 1⁄2 fl oz (44 ml) of light rum, 3⁄4 fl oz (22 ml) of lime juice, and 1⁄2 fl oz (15 ml) of simple syrup. [4] X Research source
If you’d rather serve finger foods, opt for things like assorted sandwiches, scones or spiced biscuits with jam, cheese and potato dumplings, vegetable turnovers, sausage rolls, and potato cakes. [6] X Research source Include a few sweets, as well—boxed cake mixes were popular, as were Jell-O salads, applesauce, coconut cream pie, and molasses cookies. You could even include candies like Mike & Ikes, M&Ms, and York Peppermint Patties. [7] X Research source
You could also use other war-themed imagery, like Rosie the Riveter, the iconic photo of a soldier kissing a nurse as he returned home, or even a modified version of the ration cards that were used during the time. You might also design your invitations to look like an old newspaper, complete with a historical headline! Feel free to get creative with other popular images from the time, like private eye movies or pin-up girls—look up photographs and ads from the time for even more ideas! Consider picking a party date with historical significance, like the end of the war in Europe (May 8) or the premiere of the film Casablanca (November 26).
If you don’t want to rent a venue, it’s perfectly fine to have your party at home or at a friend’s house, as long as you have space for all of your guests!
Wartime propaganda posters, photos of bomber planes, bugles, and vintage radios will all add to the look of your party, as well. When you’re budgeting for decorations, it’s a good idea to plan your most expensive costs first, like your food and drinks. Then, look at what you have left over to make sure your design plan is really feasible. [11] X Expert Source Natasha MillerProfessional Event Planner Expert Interview. 29 January 2020. Hawaiian and tiki-themed parties and decorations became popular during this time, so consider including a few tropical flowers in your decor, or give guests leis or flowers for their hair.
Consider movie posters from 1940s films like: Casablanca, Citizen Kane, or Yankee Doodle Dandy. You can also print posters of iconic musicians like Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra. Consider surrounding these posters with old records or musical instruments like horns.
Latin musicians like Carmen Miranda and Tito Puente began rising in popularity during this time. Country and Western was also popular—consider mixing in a couple of songs from Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and Tex Williams. If you have the budget, hire a band to play Big Band music for a really authentic feel!
Try hosting Bingo for another fun, historically accurate party game. You could also set up games like bowling or marbles, which were popular at the time. [15] X Research source
Swing dances like the Jitterbug and Lindy Hop were popular at the time, as were Latin- and African-influenced dances like the rumba and samba. [16] X Research source Make sure to play a few songs that are compatible with the Jitterbug after your guests have learned it, so they can have fun with their new dance skills.
Include 1940s-era purses, hats, and gloves, along with things like military caps, nurse’s hats, draft cards, vintage newspapers, and any other props you can dream up!
If you need help editing the film, search for online tutorials or check out the media help desk at your nearest public library. On the day of your party, project the footage onto a wall or white sheet. Alternatively, you can use a large screen or television, but a projected video will appear grainier, so it’ll have a more historic look. You probably want to set the footage on silent, so guests can converse with one another and enjoy other music or entertainment.
