Glamorous

The term glamorous can be interpreted loosely, ranging from understated cool á la George Clooney to gold-flecked cocktails and sequined everything.

But one thing that can be defined is the vibe of glamour: smooth yet vibrant, rife with clinking glasses and breathless conversation. Wearing edgy fashions or retro sportcoats, glamour’s denizens delight in low lighting, velvet couches, inventive martinis, and the lounge life kicked to a higher level.

“Glamour is very eclectic, blending sleek design with antique touches, for example,” says Russell Toscano, owner of Wisteria Design Studio in Minneapolis. “There’s more design flair, more energy. When you walk into a glamorous party, the whole place is buzzing.”

At Café & Bar Lurçat in Minneapolis, where many a glamorous event is held, the restaurant increases the glam groove in a number of ways. Its space alone feels martini-worthy, with curved ceilings and decorative touches like modern and funky chandeliers, large bright paintings, and warm tones.

Guests at elegant events are encouraged to move, dance, and mingle. “When guests feel glamorous, they love to make the space feel like their own, and it’s great to give them the room to do that,” says general manager Ann Grant.

As with real estate, also important is location, location, location. Lurçat is across from Loring Park, which gives the spot an urban, hip feel as the streetlights play off the pond.

Much like other types of parties, a sense of cohesion is vital for pulling off a successful event, says Brent Foerster, director of operations and marketing at another glam spot, the Hilton in downtown Minneapolis. “At parties like this, appearance and presentation come first,” he says. “The colors should blend well, from the tablecloths and plates to the food. A base plate can change the whole tenor of the room, as can a single bright red beet in the middle of a white dish.”

Often, details like table linens and chargers don’t have to be completely distinctive, since the venue will already have a unique feel. Don’t work against the space, just highlight its already fabulous attributes, Grant says.

At another standout in the glamorous category, the Graves 601 Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, two back-lit blue glass walls are the focal point at each end of the ballroom, and the wood-wrapped room is complimented by multi-level light boxes. Because the design is so striking, throwing a wealth of color or patterns into the mix might clash. Instead, the hotel opts to set off the space with simple white tablecloths, crystal charger plates, and crystal stemware, making the tables seem to gleam amid the illuminated walls.

Similarly, flowers for a glam event should match the venue, Toscano says. Party planners should opt for making a statement, choosing a container that gets people talking, and grouping flowers tightly. A small collection of orange-tinged roses, for example, could be set atop a creative element, like a large, swirled leaf around a rectangle vase. “This is the place to accommodate the space,” Toscano says. “Keep the flowers simple and dramatic, and they’ll have more impact.”

Although the flower arrangements should be small, the music will be just the opposite. Fat, rich jazz is a favorite pick at Café Lurçat, and for good reason—at a glamorous event, energy is key, and jazz can fill the space and keep the cocktails clinking well into the evening.

“You want to build the energy level,” says local musician George Faber. “Start low-key, and then as the evening goes on, start bringing that level up. Jazz is an excellent fit for doing that. And if you’re in a place like Lurçat, where that’s the signature style, it really works.”

As important as flowers, décor, and music might be, let’s not forget the most divine of all glamorous elements: the food. Much like the tabletop bouquets, glamorous dishes should be kept simple but inventive, with much of their impact coming from presentation.

For example, if oysters and crab are on the menu, simply plunking them onto a few small plates won’t have as much sparkle as creating a seafood tower that leaves guests amazed. Drizzled sauces, unexpected combinations of tastes, and bright spots of color integrate the amuse bouche tastes with what guests are hearing and seeing. “Every morsel of food should be artfully presented,” Grant says. “It should be memorable.”

With a high-energy, dazzling array of twirled leaves, saxophone riffs, and sky-high oysters, any party can go from everyday to glam shindig, darling.

The Favors
Bibelot is the perfect one-stop shopping spot for all your glitz and glam party favor needs. Check out:
• Four bubbled recycled glass napkin rings  in greens and blues. $14.95.
•  Red, green, yellow, and blue glass coasters with floral designs are sure to give a lively flair to any tabletop. $10.
• A set of four colorfully contemporary Pop Art Flower Plates by Andy Warhol is perfect for appetizers and comes with a storage box. $16.50. Bibelot, several locations, including 4315 Upton Ave., Minneapolis, 612-925-3175

The Jewels
The newest way to dress up any occasion is a glamorous riff on a standard piece of jewelry. Multi-colored pearl strands are showing up more and more. One example is Schoeffel pearls in various colors including grey and cream. J.B. Hudson has this and similar looks in many different colors.  J.B. Hudson, 770 Nicollet mall, Minneapolis, 612-338-5950; 12637 Wayzata Blvd., Ridgedale Shopping Center, 952-591-0737