[This insanely wonderful post is written by the uber-talented and creative Marian. Reading this will make you want to have FIVE parties come Valentine's day, trust me]

It is a yummy pleasure for my fashion, beauty and culture site www.mariankihogo.com to guest post for All Women Stalk. All Women Stalk is such a delish site so this guest post is a total honour.

Darlings Valentine’s Day is up ahead, here are 5 fab party ideas to make sure you have a great time. I do so love a yummy party/celebration and think a fab do does not have to take a lot of effort. For each party idea, there is a suggested outfit to suit that theme.

I hope these ideas will get you to put together Ideas…” href=”http://allwomenstalk.com/5-awesome-black-inspired-outfit-ideas/”>inspired outfits and dos for your Valentine’s Day! The objective is to have fun doing something different.
Glam Kisses,
Marian. X

1. A Romeo + Juliet party

Above Collage: Romeo + Juliet images from www.img.listal.com . Outfit images from www.net-a-porter.com

Many say Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is the greatest love story ever told. Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 Romeo + Juliet movie (starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes) is such a beautiful adaption of this tale! The stunning movie sees the tragic love story set in present day Suburbia, with a modern soundtrack. The wardrobe is a mix of the slightly medieval and modern day (think Hawaiian floral print shirts, armour, ethereal gowns etc). For Valentine’s Day why don’t you, have a party inspired Baz Lurhman’s beautiful Romeo + Juliet?
The Invite - Send a star crossed lovers invite to all your friends. This Valentine’s party is perfect for both your coupled up and single friends. The singles never know, they just might meet someone at the do over a cocktail or a canapé.
The Decor – Create an enchanting lovers world. String amber lights up around your room, you can get these for cheap at your local home depot store. Also light a multitude of candles(varying sizes work best for effect, right from cathedral large to small) both on candelabras and in clusters all over the room to create a drama and an intimate feel.
The Dress Code – Set a ‘Medieval Meets Modern Romantic’ outfit code. Have fun with this! Wear a romantic ethereal floaty dress like the Notte by Marchesa’s above. Pair with chain mail and metal amour inspired pieces. Falconiere’s silver, gold and brass-tone chain-link epaulets worn over the shoulders would be perfect! Throw on some ethereal accessories like the feathered Jimmy Choos and Giles & Brother wing earrings. Bedeck your head with a decadent piece (wear jewels or brooches in your hair, metal headbands, crowns or tiaras) like this Oscar de la Renta twisted metal head band. To finish, make like Juliet (as played by Claire Danes) in the above image and wear an ethereal pair of wings.
Have the guys do like Romeo and his Montague crew by wearing a mix of anything from Hawaiian prints, armour inspired pieces, suits, relaxed shirts worn with no ties etc

2. A Fairytale Party

Above Collage: Vogue Espana editorial, photography by Eugenio Recueno and images from www.galadarling.com . Outfit images from www.net-a-porter.com

We all love a great fairytales with a happy love filled ending! This Valentine’s day why not have a pretty fairytale party? Let tales like Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, The Princess and the pea, Sleeping Beauty etc be your inspiration. Draw ideas from photographer, Eugenio Recuenco’s fairytale Vogue Espana editorial as above.
The Invite – Send a charming invitation to your friends. Make it pretty, something a Princess would be proud of. A sweet castle pop up invite with fairytale characters would work just a treat.
The Decor – Turn your place into a fairytale wonderland. Fairytales always have starry skies, so hang glittery over size stars from the ceiling. Add gold foil painted apples ala Snow white. Buy cheap mirrors and decorate with well known lines such as “mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” You can also create small displays as odes to different tales; for example a cluster made of a pumpkin, broom, clear slipper, fake mice would be a lovely Cinderella display!
The Dress Code – You and your guests can have fun with this! Tell them come dressed as a fairytale character. From charming princes, to pretty princesses, dwarves, evil stepmothers and so much more! Why not be the belle of the ball and be Cinderella for the night? This beautiful Marchesa dress is fit for a modern princess and there are many vintage or high street designs that will work just as well. Wear with an endearing tiara or other head ornament. The Louis Mariette’s’ Eternal Love’ head piece equals love. Do shimmy your feet into yummy girly heels like the above Lanvin ones. Marie-Hélène de Taillac’s rose quartz earrings and Oscar bib necklace are delightful; let them inspire your outfit.

3. The Black & Ivory Cocktail Party

Above Collage: Images from www.australiaentertains.com.au, www.garyandjuliewedding.wordpress.com , www.crumbsanddoilies.blogspot.com . Outfit images from www.net-a-porter.com

For New Year’s Eve my friend threw a chic ‘black party’. She had chic clusters of black balloons, delish black cupcakes and etc. Ditch the traditional cliché red this Valentine and make like my friend with a black & ivory cocktail party. This colour theme is super elegant and will be the talk of all your friends for a long while after.
The Invite – Make your invite super chic, go for a minimalist sleek feel. A black and white stripe or flocked baroque invite would scream elegant!
The Decor - Hang black and ivory paper lanterns from your ceiling. Alternatively you can tie black balloons in fab bunches with black ribbon. Display an assortment of pretty black cupcakes; these are great for adding to the decor. Burn chic black candles, votives and tea lights.
The Dress Code – Chic cocktail wear is the dress code! Have the gentlemen come looking dapper. The ladies can have fun with the black and ivory theme. This satin D&G cocktail dress is gorgeous! Rupert Sanderson’s heart cut heels are perfect for Valentine’s Day and this theme. The Valentino crystal bracelet, Lanvin glass pearl earrings and necklace are delish final touches.

4. The Winter Wonder Land party

Above collage: Images from www.weddify.com , Outfit images from www.net-a-porter.com

An all white winter wonder land party can be a fab and fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
This party can be thrown inside or out. If you have had snow and have access to external heaters, why not take the party outside? If not bring the party inside and it will be lots of fun decorating!

The Invite - Send guests to be an elegant winter wonder land inspired invitation. Palette wise go for winter whites, icy blues. Let things like snowflakes, ice sculptures, a snowy landscape and so much more inspire you. The invite will set the mood of the do.

The Decor - Hang clusters of willow branches bedecked with snow (get artificial snow from your local hobby & crafts store or party shop). You can also hang clusters of paper snowflakes from your ceiling to create a delightful view for guests. Throw white faux furs over chairs for a chic cosy effect. Embellish your table with mini snowmen, snow bunnies, chic igloos, artificial snow, and icy blue glitter. String up white lights around displays or even mini white Christmas trees. Draw inspiration for the fab winter wonderland party decors in above collage. I would have loved to be a guest at either of those dos! Remember to use an all white and icy blue colour scheme with decorations, food (frosty white cupcakes, egg nog, icy blue cocktails etc) to create a yummy wintry wonder land effect.

The Dress Code - Set an all white dress code. Sean Combs (aka P. Diddy) has a much anticipated white party annually. Most of the fun about this party is the all white dress code. So guests will have a ball with this! From chic white cocktail dresses, to long white glam gowns and even delish white separates. This white sequin long sleeve dress by Ashish paired with Louis Mariette’s crystal head piece and the Camilla Skovgaard heel is perfect for the icy winter theme. The 18K white gold ring bedecked with a stunning diamond by Solange Azagury- Partridge is amazing and works well with the theme. Guys can wear sleek white suits or white slick separates. Have fun by setting a winter inspired prize for best dressed couple and single.

5. The All Dressed Up Inside Dinner party

Above collage: Images from designs4living.blogspot.com and www.ilovelolliblog.com . Outfit images from www.net-a-porter.com

Last year the hubby and I decided to spend Valentine on our lonesome at home. Oh I do hope this is not conjuring images of us in our pj’s on the couch because it was anything but! We wanted to celebrate in style but we wanted to do so both on our own and minus the usual rushed feel at most venues on Val’s day. So we got all glammed up and celebrated with a five course meal at home. The yummy thing about this is if you are single it works too! Get together with a single friend or three that you adore. Get together with your beloved other single friends, dress up and dine like royalty at home.The best part of this party? You won’t have anyone rushing you to wrap up because other guests need your table!

The Invite - Send your partner or friends a yummy invite saying that for this Valentine’s Day you’re are dressing up and dining in!

The Decor - Glam things up! Darlings, just because you are choosing to dine in, does not have to mean you do so with a tray on the sofa! Set your dining table, make it look delish and it will set a yummy mood. Create an eye catching hanging display of clustered red lanterns. Set a mood by lighting candles, set out delish place settings, display gorgeous flowers which smell and look great. Have a ball by leaving a gift at your partner/friends place setting. Turn your dining table into one that would rival a table at your favourite restaurant! When hubby and I had that 5 course delish dinner last year we had it catered. If you feel like cooking, why not? If you don’t, why not have it catered? You will be shocked that it sometimes cost less to do this than to eat out! Do remember to shop around price wise.

The Dress Code – Let your invite say “No pj’s, casual apparel or home lounge wear allowed! Get bedecked in your finery!” Go all out, have fun with it. Wear your feel good favourite frock, those heels you know you adore but don’t wear quite enough. Throw on your favourite accessories, get dressed to the nines and you will have a wonderful time doing so. I love this Catherine Malandrino jewel tone dress! Its body, ruche contouring design is super flattering. How amazing are these multi coloured suede sandals Christian Louboutin heels? They are named the ‘Straratata 140’ sandals and just scream ‘buckle up for good times ahead!’ Do not get me started on the Erickson Beamon ‘Disco Swarovski’ earrings! Wear your glammest outfit, unwind and let the good times roll…