Oscar Madness

 “Who are you wearing?” will be the question of the hour on February 25 ^th, soon to be followed by “and the winner is.”  I always love the day after the Oscars when the chatter transitions from the pre-Oscar excitement to what all of our favorite actors and actresses wore as they sauntered and posed down that famous red carpet.  The conversation is usually focused on who was the best dressed in the crowd.  Although it is one of the most elegant evenings of the year, it can also be an opportunity to gather your friends for an evening of laughter.  Instead of throwing a glamorous soiree dripping in crystal and candlelight, challenge your friends to dress prepared to don the pages as one of the worst dressed at the Oscars.  Have no fear, there may only be 48 hours left before Ryan Seacrest asks that famous question, but here are some easy ideas to get you started in your planning process:

You’re Invited

May I have the envelope please…is the perfect lead in to this invite.  With only a few days remaining prior to the Oscar kick off, sending a hand written invitation would be difficult.  Instead scan your favorite picture of the worst dressed celebrity (Check out the last few pages of US Magazine) and on the inside of the invitation include the details for the evening, encouraging your guests to come to the party in an outfit that would be sure to make the worst dressed pages.  If an email invitation is not your style hand deliver the invite and you will be sure to get an accurate head count.  Remember to seal it with a wax seal for authenticity.

Setting the Environment

Signage:

It’s all about the bad fashion at this bash, so be sure to scour every fashion magazine and cut out pictures of your favorite bad fashion.  Trim the picture and on a color copier print the photo on an 11 x 17 sheet of paper.  With spray mount, adhere the copy on to a sheet of heavy card stock.  Trim the picture with pinking shears for a finished look and display in various frames, or on an easel to place around the house for people to view.

Dripping in gold: 

When I design a space, or an event, there is always a key element and focal point and the remainder of the décor doesn’t take away from that key element.  In this case the enlarged pictures and the theme are the focal point for the evening.  Including other elements is great, however, be sure to keep them in an earth tone or a monotone palette so that the pictures of the bad fashion are not overpowered but other décor.  Spray paint a bouquet of flowers and the container gold, and nestle them in to various locations throughout the house.   

Play the part: 

Search your favorite celebrity magazine, find the largest photograph of your favorite celebrities and enlarge their photograph, trimming out their eyes attaching each copy to card stock.  Secure a large craft stick to the back making a mask for your guests to wear as they pose in their worst dressed attire on the red carpet.

 Be charming:

Wine charms are so yesterday, but if they engage your guests they can be useful.  Create a wine charm with a small plain white gift tag (found at Packaging Specialties – 515 S. Michigan Street, Seattle). For famous movie quotes, visit Oscar.com (listed under Oscar Night) writing the quote on one side of the tag and the movie that it is related to on the other.  Tie the tag with a narrow double faced satin ribbon around the base of each wine glass.

 Alternative to Trivia 

Movie trivia games are a common activity you may find at any Oscar bash.  Instead set up your laptop for your friends to peruse the Oscar.com site and be entertained at the same time.  Pull the game page up and they will discover a series of questions that once answered not only selects the perfect Oscar date (http://www.oscar.com/games/page?pn=yourperfectoscardate) but also cast them in a film that is sure to be the perfect casting opportunity for their personality type (http://www.oscar.com/games/page?pn=whichcharacterareyou).   

 Giveaway

Face it you can’t give each of your guests a goody bag that is equal to those the celebs receive on Oscar night.  In lieu of those goody bags, ensure that they will take home a gift that is something they can share with others and is easy on your pocket book.  Ask each guest to bring their favorite Oscar nominated or Oscar winning DVD.  As they arrive display each movie on a nearby table.  Later in the evening place the movie in a bag and as each guests leaves allow them to draw a movie out of the bag for them to take home.  Who doesn’t love a surprise?

 Sweet Endings

What is charming, delicious, and easy to eat?  A cupcake of course!  My favorite place for cupcakes is Trophy Cupcakes in Wallingford (Trophy Cupcakes, 1815 N. 45^th St., Suite 209, Seattle, 206.632.7020, www.trophycupcakes.com), and they have the perfect cupcake for your Oscar soiree.  Their Red Velvet cupcake is red carpet worthy, with a luscious red cake on the inside, and a luxurious butter cream on the top.  Ask them to adorn it with golden stars made of fondant and your guests will be sure to have sweet dreams.

 And the Winner Is

This party is definitely prize worthy, especially if your friends are vulnerable enough to attend in their worst attire.  Be sure to offer a prize for the absolute worst dressed guest.  In this case I think a subscription to In Style magazine is in order to ensure they are prepared for next years bash where they have to fight for the title of best dressed guest.

 Whether you are in your pajamas with girlfriends, at a black tie affair, or are brave enough to fight for the title of the worst dressed guest remember to use Oscar night as another opportunity to gather with those you care about and share in an evening of the arts and fashion.