Monday 30 June 2014

Divine decadence


My friends Kathryn and Steph had a fancy dress party on Friday, their joint 40th and 50th birthday celebration.

The theme? Anything/anyone beginning with the letter M.


Ever helpful, friends and family were keen to offer their thoughts.
Owen suggested dressing up as a man or the Minotaur.
Other ideas included Mata Hari, Miss Marple, Mr T, Mrs Thatcher, and a malteser.

Thanks for that, everyone.

Margot from The Good Life would have been easy - half my wardrobe qualifies.
Madonna would have been a safe bet.

But at the last minute I discovered other people were using both these ladies as inspiration, which left me with no choice but my old standby...



Liza Minnelli.


 Curtise-with-an-e does Liza-with-a-z.
 

Yeah, yeah - I know I've done it before but needs must, and at least the costume was all in my wardrobe already. It helps to have a bowler hat and fishnets on standby!


If I look miserable, it's because I was in a right bloody rush to get ready and snap a couple of photos before I went out. And it was just as well I did since I don't have any pics of me at the do itself.


Well, just this group shot!



Heidi's Blonde Ambition-era Madonna was inspired, and a worthy fancy dress competition winner.



Clockwise, from top left;

Mona Lisa (Jane), a mermaid (Ruth), Magnum P.I. (Greg), Medusa (Jude), Marge Simpson (Tam), another Madonna (Alison) and Margot (Claire), and Miss Piggy (Sarah). 



 Marilyn Monroe and Freddie Mercury.
(Kath and Steph, the birthday couple.)






Medusa and Madonna, deep in conversation.

I loved the fact that everyone really went for it; Moses, Marcel Marceau, a second Medusa, and Mortitia were also in attendance. 



Then the dry ice and the glow sticks came out...





and after dancing in heels till 2am, Ms Minnelli needed her bed!



Saturday was quiet; I wonder why?

But Sunday saw me up and out again, this time in Derbyshire with my mum and eldest sister Belinda.


 A gorgeous well dressing in Rowsley, commemorating the First World War...



 and more flowers at the pretty little church.

The date on this beautiful building is 1652.


 

And then out for dinner en famille.






You know, I could do with an early night or two, and some downtime - I'm knackered!

But I'm never too tired to join the divine decadence that is Visible Monday over at Patti's. I'll be the one in fishnets and shorts! Oh, and since I'm wearing a bowler hat, I'll pop over to Judith's for Hat Attack too.

xxxx

46 comments:

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Darling Curtise!

You have legs. Great legs. Amazing legs.

Previously covered in full length maxi dresses, we were beginning to think that a cover up was needed. But, not at all. You make a totally fabulous Liza Minelli and could easily have won a part in Cabaret if she had not got there first!

The party looked wild and huge fun. So good that everyone played a part.....and what a cast you all make! No wonder you need a rest, lesser people would not have lasted half the evening let alone a family day out on Sunday and now a blog post. You are Superwoman! With great legs!

Angels have Red Hair said...

Wow ... you make a better Ms Minelli than Ms Minelli does ;0)
xx

Fiona said...

Yes you do, have great legs. The party looks an absolute riot, but why the letter M....maybe their surname? Some great M's in attendance, Madonna could take someone's eye out with those cone tits! Sunday looks like a lovely gentle day, pretty countryside and quietness in the company of your nearest and dearest. Time to put your feet up this week?

Ivy Black said...

I've always said you had fabulous pins. Get 'em out at every opportunity soo you should.
What a fantastic party...love Madonna (not the real one, but yours) 'speshilly with glowing boobies.
Lovely to see you have wonderful times.
Loves yer bits, Liza.
xxxxxxx

at my dressingtable said...

Hello Curtise , great pair of legs there , wonderful pictures , a lovely blog post good week to you x

bahnwärterin said...

sounds like a wonderful weekend!
fabulous L.M. lookalike! this legs - wow! all your friend made a great effort to dress up fancy - love miss piggy!
english landscape and old houses always win my heart - and your adorable family!

Krista said...

You looked fierce as Liza then and now! What a fabulous idea for a party! I loved the group shot and Magnum and Marge and Madonna are my favorites! and then out came the glow sticks and dry ice~ as if it couldn't get any better, if only your kids could see you now!

The family shots at the end are wonderful everyone all smiles and your Mum looking pretty in pink. Life is pretty good when you have people you love to share it with.
Lots of love to you honey!
XXOOOOO

Patti said...

Oh what a fabulous party - you have the very *best* group of friends. Love your Liza look, and your miles-long legs. Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xox.

Sheila said...

Woo, Legs McGee! You look amazing, Curtise! I love how your friends threw themselves into the theme (they remind me of my crew). What a blast! Gorgeous countryside pics too.

Connie said...

Curtise with an e, do you ever slow down? What a weekend! That's a great theme for a party. And your legs are gorgeous! I can't believe you've been hiding them under maxis all this time! You do make a fab Liza. The young high kicking Liza!! We should all have a bowler hat and fishnets as part of our regular wardrobe!

Cristi said...

Well, I can see you have made Miss Sally proud and true to her saying to go out like Elsie, having fun! You all look like you are having such a good time, disco rave party included...to 2am even! Love that you dressed as her, you wear the look so well with those long dancer legs of yours.;) Fun to see all those clever costumes of your friends too.
And, how nice that trip to Derbyshire looks. Love those old buildings/history! What a perfect way to spend your pre B-day. I believe in stretching it out as long as possible any excuse for a party or outing! Wish K and I had such a fun place to visit on my day. Was just trying to decide and nothing seems as fun as that!:)

Melanie said...

Another post that proves it's not the Where, it's the Who that makes everything so grand. You are brilliant at Liza, I always love when the bowler and legs come out to play. Just stunning. Your friends look like such a great group to hang out with. Magnum PI made me laugh. You steal the show in the grand finale!

And your family photos are perfect. You are so fortunate that you can enjoy each other's company and smile like you mean it. You mum looks great in pink.

Jayne H said...

Sounds like a great weekend, you do a great Liza with a z. Lovely to get together with your family for a grand day out. xx

thorne garnet said...

glow sticks and dry ice? Add a mirror ball and I'm there! How fun to see people dressing up for a party! And I love the photos of off the tourist track England

diaryofapennypincher said...

You look so demure most of the time, Curtise, in your pretty vintage maxi dresses, who knew what great legs lurked beneath?! Great photos, love your Liza outfit, and you are so right, maybe we all need a bowler hat and fishnets on standby!

Anonymous said...

Woot woot. Nothing wrong with an old faithful and looking fabulous. Sounds like a wonderfully night.

Suzanne said...

What a fun party! That one that did Madonna was brilliant. She could take out an eye with those things!

Look at your long legs! You look great.

bisous
Suzanne

Kezzie said...

What super costumes!!!! You and all the other M's look marvellous!!! I especially loved Margot! She's such a style icon! X

Kylie said...

You have SENSATIONAL legs Curtise!

Pull Your Socks Up! said...

Hooray for gorgeous gams!!!!!! Stunning Curtise-with-an-e, simply stunning! Jane's Mona Lisa costume reminds me of the time I went to a "P" party as a portrait, very similar to her frame. Yay for the Madonna costume, yes indeed, that's an award-winning little number, I LOVE the cones. Gosh, Rowley looks utterly stunning, I want to go there! Is it me or is Nina outgrowing Owen? Or maybe it's because she's at the front of the last pic. Bloody gorgeous lot you are! xoxoxoxoxoxox

Anonymous said...

so good to see Liza once again. I remember the first time she appeared on your blog, I was captivated and hooked! What a fun party it must have been.

Sue said...

I do love a fancy dress party and have been to a few over the years. You looked fabulous!! Looks like a good night out. Recovery takes longer as we get older, it is so unfare. Your kids are sweeties. More gorgeous photos of your outings, I love those.

Sue @ A Colourful Canvas said...

Curtise...you sure got the gams! And! You've got the best friends! Everyone looks like such great, enthusiastic party animals! Perfect!!!

Miss Magpie said...

You look fab as ever and that well dressing is just beautiful.

I'm glad to see you are celebrating in abundance and style. x

Beth Waltz said...

Curtise! Don't waste those legs on Liza. For their next public performance, seek inspiration in the real deal from 30s Berlin, "The Blue Angel". Do Dietrich!

Kudos to Tam as Marge.

Vix said...

Phwoar! You can dress like Liza all the time as far as I'm concerned, just look at those legs!!!
Great theme and some incredible outfits, everyone is winner.
Love the calm of the following day after the madness of the night before. Lovely bit of well dressing and the Peacock is gorgeous.
Don't you all look a beautiful family waiting for dinner?
Go and have a rest love, you've partied like a pro!
Love you! xxxxxx

Peaches McGinty said...

You are a damn fine Liza! and you do have hot legs, especially encased in fishnets! the fancy dress looked like a hoot, I love it when everyone get's involved, Madonna's glowing boobs are a triumph and the dry-ice, I miss dry-ice! you have been busy though and with family days out, which are knackering too, now, put your feet up and have a large G&T, or a coffee (depending on what time you read this!) x x x

Forest City Fashionista said...

So happy to see the Sally Bowles costume got another outing - it suits your sassy personality and shows off those great gams. The party looks like a hoot; theme parties are a lot of fun if everyone embraces the theme and doesn't worry about looking silly.

Looks like you had a lovely weekend, now put your feet up and rest ;)

Mother of Reinvention said...

You make a perfect Miss Bowles with those gams. They are great you should get them out more often. Looks like a fabulous party and the scenery from you jaunt on Sunday is beautiful. xxxx

Shawna McComber said...

You do Liza better than Liza! We all need to see those legs of yours more often! What a great idea for a party and what fun it looks. My friends are all quiet types-there is no way I'd ever get them do to this. How sad.
That is the best cone bra ever! And how lovely is that war memorial in flower petals? Wow!
I always enjoy my little tours of England via Curtise. Thanks for the lovely photos.
xoxoxo

Mrs Bertimus said...

Wowzers! Divine darling! Simply divine! And to get the whole cast of Cabaret to come along, I'm impressed! X

Melanie said...

Oh that looks fun, I used to go to fancy dress parties a lot but then the host came over all grumpy and stopped having them - boooo!
The Derbyshire pictures are very pretty. I love the memorial xxx

mispapelicos said...

I love fancy dress parties.
You have killer legs, yeahhhhhhhhhhh
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The Style Crone said...

Your energy never ceases to amaze me. I have been known to dance until 2am, but far and few between at this point. You absolutely have the outfit, the legs, the arms and the beauty of Liza!

Love the bowler! Thank you for sharing it and your creativity with Hat Attack.

Unknown said...

Well there's an outfit for the weekly shop if ever I've seen one! Looks like a great party. The last fancy dress I went to had a Pirate theme so I went as Wendy from Peter Pan, in a green granny nighty and slippers... ribbon in the hair... Was a wild and crazy night! x

Diane said...

You do pull off that look so well - its those fabulous legs! I was just around the corner from you on Sunday - at Beeley near Chatsworth. xxx

Angie said...

You and your friends look adorable and who says that grown ups can't have a good time? ( my teenage sons)
Lisa was such a stylish woman and you showed us your great legs! You can use some rest now!

Angie said...

You and your friends look adorable and who says that grown ups can't have a good time? ( my teenage sons)
Lisa was such a stylish woman and you showed us your great legs! You can use some rest now!

Melancholy and Menace said...

Ha! I love your Liza Minelli costume, you have a great set of pins so why not flaunt them I say!

The party looks like it was so much fun, and your family outing looks lovely.

Such great photos as always xx

Natalia Lialina said...

I really like seeing you in such playful outfit, Curtise! My god you've got legs, and waist, and everything else!! :) Just beautiful! It's fun to see your friends dressed up... and then, so contrasting, a quiet time with family. It's so very you! :)

Love all the photos. Happy birthday again! xxxx

Jean at www.drossintogold.com said...

You'd be foolish not to show off those legs when you can, that's all I can say. Looks like it was a fabulously fun party.

I'm always madly in love with your images of the countryside, buildings, etc. The well dressing tradition is fascinating and so beautiful. I've never heard of it, and I'm enamoured.

The children are amazing!! Growing and adorable, and I'm so glad you had some lovely family time. Your life looks rich in the best sense. :-)

XXXOOO

Vintage Bird Girl said...

I know I'm rather late in commenting here but I had to say how wonderful the celebrations looked. You were born to be Liza's (younger days) double. No wonder you were knackered! Xx

Pauliina/PauMau said...

Wow, you girls really rock! And you have gorgeous legs :-) xx

Becky said...

Your legzzzzzz are amazing in those fishnets! I really need to be at that party!!!!

Trees said...

That is such a fun idea for a party - I love how everyone was so into the costumes! You costume rocks :)

Rachel said...

Looking good in the fishnets Curtise. You have a great pair of pins! It looks like you all had a good night. There was so many great outfits. xx