Lava lamps, foldout chairs lined against the wall of a dark basement with a disco ball, and several hours of hits from artists ranging from crooner Marvin Gay to the funky Average White Band was all it took to pull off the perfect 70s party.
Of course, a strobe light, cardboard concert posters from an old record shop and extra bush wigs for forgetful guests were an added, but much-needed, touch.
Since I was the DJ spinning the one’s and two’s (okay, it was a CD player; but someone had to press the button), I missed the look on my uncle’s face when he unsuspectingly walked into a room jammed with 40 people donning huge hair and hideous clothes—all in honor of his 50th birthday. I heard he was genuinely, but pleasantly, surprised.
With the right music, props and décor, my aunt re-created the world her husband knew as a young sideburns-sporting, diddy-bopping teen.
Remember, if you’re thinking of hosting a 70s party, you’ve got to have an invitation that will encourage guests to dress the part. Go to QT Creations and see the invitation that had our whole family in afros grooving down a Soul Train line.
