non-fiction: Bright Young Parties

I just finished reading D.J. Taylor's 'Bright Young People', which (as a self proclaimed 1920s/30s geek) I adored. Aside from documenting the wayward antics of some of the most eminent people of the 20th century, 'Bright Young People' had me thinking about the bright young things of today. If we think that our shenanigans are anything new then we have a lot to learn from a generation who made party-going and celebrity scandal and art.

I was thoroughly inspired by all the themed parties of 1920s society, look at the Impersonation party and Cecil Beaton's zealous fancy-dress in the second picture. The generation even had their own Amy Winehouse in the mould of a good girl corrupted, Brenda Dean Paul. Unfortunately I couldn't find any pictures, but Brenda was a you

ng party girl who descended into drug addiction and emaciation.

Today, we don't seem to be living up to the originality and innovation of the circus party, the mozart party, the hermaphrodite party or the bath and bottle party, so I've come up with a few fancy dress ideas I want to try, in the hope that someone will invite me to their Cinema party!