The tear-drop motif that originated in Persia has had quite the fashion journey. Many people have an old paisley shirt or something in the back of their wardrobe that they can’t bear to part with but have no reason to wear. Give it it’s moment. A paisley party full of color will bring so much joy.
Invitations
There are some moments when paisley, sometimes known as Turkish cucumber, made its mark.
The psychedelic movement
the iconic free-wheelin’ bandana
or a traditional Indian wedding.
Party attire
Paisley is rich in fashion history. It’s exoticism and flamboyance attracted many people and there are plenty of looks to go for.
Snappy dressers such as Oscar Wilde, well known for his silk smoker’s jackets and cravats.
Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Beatles and many others revelled in color in the 60s psychedelic movement.
If you want to dance the night away in comfort, get yourself some leggings.
or wear a neutral shirt and pants and let the tie do the talking.
Drape yourself in a festival pashmina which you’ll have plenty of opportunity to wear again after the party.
Add a finishing touch to your nails.
Paisley bandanas are symbolic of bikers. Have some extras ready to hand out to those guests who didn’t quite paisley it up enough.
Decorations
Add removable wallpaper panels to brighten a wall. If you find a pattern you love, you may want to keep it there for a while.
Add washi tape to anything you can think of. Table edges, bookshelves, lamp bases, chairs….
Fill a few balloons with helium at your local party shop.
Hang paisley star lanterns in your dancing area.
Arrange vibrant drink coasters on surfaces so guests have somewhere to put their drink.
If you think you might use them for a while after the party, splash out on a lampshade or two.
Food
There’s not much in the way of paisley shaped food so if you decide on a certain style of invitation or costume, you could follow through with food themes that match.
See Jiving 70s for appetizer ideas when the psychedelic era was hitting its peak. Or try these for splashes of color on the table.
Then there’s Persian fare
or Indian
or even food found at biker bars.
To add a touch of class, Oscar Wilde (a foodie who loved duck), well and truly immortalised the cucumber sandwich through The Importance of Being Ernest.
Some of these recipes could use a paisley cookie cutter, if you are so inclined.
Mold your own chocolate a few days before and keep in the fridge.
Beverages
If you’ve decided to supply wine, choose anything and add personalised paisley labels.
Cover soda and beer cans in paisley paper. Use industrial strength craft glue which should hold while they’re sitting in ice.
Tableware
A bold tablecloth is a good starting point.
Compliment with monochrome large plates to serve appetizers
next to embossed napkins at the ready.
Put cups near water jugs for people who need a quick thirst quencher, or for those drinking wine.
Icebreaker
Pick up some old white sheets from your local second hand store and stick them to a wall with masking tape. Lay out some paisley stencils, fabric paints and brushes for guests to create a mural. They may stray from the paisley theme but it’s bound to be colorful and fun.
Protect your floor with something that doesn’t move around so people are less likely to trip.
Music
Play all your favourite tunes to get people frolicking on the dance floor in a mash of color. Sprinkle your playlist with a few of Prince’s best from Paisley Park, a bunch of obscurities from albums that had paisley on their covers, the best dance hits from the summer of love in 1967 when paisley fashion was at its peak, and possibly even a few Persian dance tracks to spice things up a bit.
Send them off with a smile
Give your guests an energy boost for the journey home. Grab easy cup cake mixes from your local store and have a bake off a couple of days before. Keep them in a sealed container to stay fresh until the party.
Add a little icing and edible paisley lace on top.
Or if it’s that kind of party, equip guests with a mini care kit to cope with the morning after. Fill these bags with paracetamol, chewable vitamin tablets, antacid, Ginseng, or other hangover cures.
