The Top Floor Flat

If I had been unsure of the time warp I was about to experience when some friends and I were preparing for the event by listening to 30’s jazz and modeling our hair after pictures of 30s icons, or if I wasn’t clear on what I was getting myself into when we later met up with more party-goers in a house that leaked early 20th century opulence like a sieve then walking into No. 5 Cavendish Square last night would have been a bit of a shock. But in fact the 1930s swingers party – which could hardly be described as a costume party but more of an attempt at an authentic recreation of a 1930s event – had been the talk of the girls in the office for nearly a week and even I was breaking my self-imposed work night curfew to check out the scene.

A friend knew the organizers (who had pitched their party proposal and won 10,000 pounds from Smirnoff vodka to host the bash) so after being checked off the guest list, we entered a world of pinup hair, cummerbunds and big band swing. The venue was perfect – various rooms wound up and down stairs leading to, among others a whiskey parlour and a private library. And the outfits! I was sorely out of place in what was probably a more accurate recreation of 1930s outside on a sunny afternoon compared to the evening gowns, gloves and pearls that all made their appearance on the women at the event but I didn’t notice a hair out of place thoughout the night. Instead, nearly everyone in attendence had tried their absolute hardest to come dressed for the era.

By 2am, I was beginning to feel the hour and so made my way back to 21st century London but I am so glad I went along and hope next time my wardrobe can be a bit more accommodating – amazingly the same friend knows another group who won another 10k for another 30s theme party – the next one out in a country house for a weekend of 30s frivolity. What a lark!