Today we’re going to travel through bygone eras and pay homage to the traditions of the cocktail hour, inspiring you to bring the glamour of yesteryear into your modern world.

Our journey begins in the 1920s, when women rebelled against corsets, cut their hair, raised their hemlines and swarmed to underground drinking establishments called speakeasies. But prohibition meant that the liquor was of such poor quality, it had to be disguised with the taste of fruit – and so the cocktail was born, as was the stylish and sophisticated affair known as the cocktail hour.

First stop, Paris…

1920s Parisian Soiree
Recreate the hedonistic excess of Paris in the roaring ’20s, when artists were flocking to the city, flappers were revelling in their new found freedom and the Fitzgerald’s were hosting flamboyant parties against a backdrop of art nouveau and art deco elegance.

• Set the mood with a space lit with large candles on tall candelabras and tea lights burning in damask-patterned candles
• Create a fabulous impression by hiring a gramophone to play old records, or shuffle jazz and the Charleston on your iPod
• Form the centrepiece of your table with a decadent vase of oriental lilies, which have a heady, alluring and exotic fragrance that will permeate throughout the space
• Line martini glasses up in rows on one side of the table and your canapés on the other side on three-tiered Parisian-style stands
• Use damask or plain white napkins and tie them with velvet ribbon and black feathers

1940s Cabaret Lounge
Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald were singing the blues, while the Andrew Sisters were cheering up the troops. Other women sang in husky tones while draping themselves across pianos in smoke-filled cabaret lounges.

• Think big band, swing and jazz to instantly transport your guests to the glamour of the 1940s
• Bring ambiance to your space with low-lit lamps to create a smoky cabaret lounge feel
• Scour second-hand furniture stores for small round tables to add authenticity. Drape with white tablecloths and place a single tea light in a red candle holder on each
• Create a separate round table for your glasses and a vase of white orchids
• Tie napkins with silk ribbon and slip a single purple orchid underneath the tie

1950s Pool Party
The post war ’50s heralded a welcome return of abundance. Screen sirens Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly were gracing the silver screen with glamour and timeless elegance, and women were entertaining their friends at home with the utmost of style.

• Place your cocktail glasses and ice buckets on a white cocktail trolley
• String round paper lanterns in varying sizes throughout your backyard
• Light votives around the pool as the sultry summer evening eases into night
• Frank Sinatra is a must, as is lounge music and the album Tourist by St Germain
• Remember your manners and personally serve your guests their canapés on platters

1960s Manhattan Nights
The real Betty Drapers of the world were still keeping impeccable homes, while other women were hanging up their aprons to tap away at the typewriter in city offices. Style and sophistication were as paramount as ever.

• Style your finger food on platters and place on your coffee table so your guests can mingle freely
• Decorate your coffee table with a vase of peony roses and a Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia candle
• Turn your dining table into a bar complete with silver ice buckets, cocktail glasses, alcohol and mixers
• Decorate this pseudo bar with a large clear glass votive with a white candle and a vase of flowers
• The Mad Men CD with music from the hit series is the perfect accompaniment for the evening

I hope this has given you some ideas for your cocktail soiree.

Gaynor.

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Images sourced with thanks to:
1920s – Record: Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair | Martini: Citified | Candles: Gaynor Alder | Trolley: Papier et | Paris Book: Simply Seductive | Parisian Lady: Google. 1940s – Orchids: flickr.com| Billie Holliday: LastFM | Jazz Poster: ffffound | Cocktail: Cointreau Australia, Photo by Jill Chen | Candles: Cointreau Australia, Photo by Lauri Wiberg | Jazz Club: tumblr.com. 1950s – Frank Sinatra: Google | Raspberry Cocktail: Cointreau Australia| Lanterns: Gaynor Alder | Flowers: Google | Grace Kelly: Cosmogirl| Tiered Tray: Wedding Chicks . 1960s – Cocktail: Erin Lassahan | Betty Draper: Wonderwall | Candle: Jo Malone | Poster: Google | Canape: The Passionate Cook | Trolley: Going to Make It Mine.
We have made every effort to credit image sources accurately however please contact us here should you need to.