Top Tips for Planning a 1960s Theme Party

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Recently I undertook the task of planning a surprise party for a friend, and I must admit, found the entire process rather fun and rewarding too.  When it comes to party themes, my personal favourite has always been mods and rockers. Partly due to my love for Brighton and the direct associations it has with the mods and rockers’ conflicts back in the 60’s, but also the fashion and music of the era was rather special too.

If you’re planning a shindig this summer, why not make it a party to remember with a 1960s theme.  In order to make your party a little more diverse, a 1960s theme allows you to also incorporate another intriguing youth movement commonly known as hippies.  The 60s were very much a transitional decade, full of changes and excitement with an array of subcultures emerging from the shadows of the 50s, lending itself as the perfect party theme.

From hippies to mods and everything in between, the 1960s was an exciting time to live and express yourself through many different mediums, in particular the bold fashion statements accompanied by the music that took the world by storm during this era. Britain has always been known for the strength of its youth cults and some of the most famous examples came to light in the 60s such as the mods and rockers. So if 1960s as a theme is a bit ambiguous, why not narrow it down and throw a mods and rockers party or another great option would be a Woodstock (hippie) theme too.

60s Theme Decorations

Step one is making your venue look the part, this is where you can get really creative depending on the budget available. If you opt for the hippie-style theme, then an obvious starting point is tie-dye! You can decorate your venue with lots of tie-dye wall decals and tablecloths, then you can start getting creative with peace signs, lava lamps, incense sticks and any other bright and vibrant colours to create the perfect hippie atmosphere. Photos and posters of hippie legends and icons such as Jimi Hendrix or the Beatles will also help provide the perfect hippie vibe.

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If you decide to throw the ultimate mods and rockers party, then some great decoration ideas include hanging bunches of red, white and blue balloons in the style of the Royal Air Force roundel (a symbol commonly associated with mods). The Who and The Jam were extremely popular amongst mods so any posters or photos of these bands would be perfect. Andy Warhol was also very popular so any pop art posters will create the perfect mod atmosphere. British Flags are also a very good shout as mods were very proud of their heritage, and finally, if any of your friends happen to own a Vespa or Lambretta that you can borrow and get into your home, you’re onto a winner.

Don’t forget to prepare a party playlist consisting of all the best songs that were popular back in the 60s, whether you opt for a rocker, mod or hippie party there are some absolute classics that will be sure to get the party going.

60s Party Costumes

When it comes to planning your costume, pulling out all the stops is essential.  Whether you're going as a hippie, mod, rocker or whatever 60s style you have in mind, putting together a costume that will go down in history is definitely the most important aspect to the whole party planning process.

Mods

Significant elements within the mod subculture included fashion, grooming, music and probably most famously, the motor scooters, usually Lambretta’s or Vespa’s decorated with a large selection of mirrors placed on the front of the bike. To really capture the mod look, retro Italian designers such as Gabicci Vintage were a classic amongst mods back in the 60s and can still be purchased today. If you plan on going all out on your costume, then this would provide the perfect authentic look. 

Alternatively, you could opt for the suited and booted look and invest in a classic 60s style 2-piece tonic suit, topped off with a pair of Chelsea boots. To Complete the look, a Paul Weller square cut wig will make you feel like the ultimate mod.

Rockers

The rocker image was pretty much centred on motorcycling and music, so their general appearance essentially reflected that. If you can get your hands on an old leather biker jacket and some beaten up levis you’re already half way there. Finish off the look with a pair of old motorcycle boots and a greased up pompadour hairstyle.