Creating A Sophisticated Monochrome And Gold Event Theme

The elegant sophistication of the monochrome theme has been a sought after party decor scheme ever since The Black and White Ball in New York.

This high society masquerade ball, held on 28 November 1966 at the luxurious Plaza Hotel, was thrown by author Truman Capote in honour of The Washington Post publisher, Katherine Graham.

Capote was inspired by the famous Ascot racing scene from the 1964 film, My Fair Lady where the women were dressed in black and white.

His black and white party theme required that his 500 guests wore monochromatic coloured clothes and masks. He used gold candelabras with dinner candles  on the tables, and red tablecloths - but in a first for a high society ball, these were the only splashes of decor colour. 

Host your own decadent monochrome and gold party

If you want to host a black, white and gold event theme party, the guest dress code is easy: monochromatic!

But what about the venue? Too many bright colours in the venue decor won't reflect appropriately for your strictly monochrome and gold party.

For example, the wildly exuberant colours of The Carlton Club probably takes it off your list.

Do you want the venue itself to be (largely) black-and-white themed, such as Carousel with its glossy white terrazzo dancefloor, Aerial  with its clean white decor (pictured), or Peninsula's dramatic cavernous black interior?

Are you willing to add vibrant colour from the outside only, such as the blue waterscape vista of Melbourne Aquarium or the lush greenery landscape of Melbourne Zoo?

Perhaps you might prefer to book a massive white marquee tent with black and white chequerboard flooring?

Food

 

For the record, the colour scheme in Capote's Black and White Ball event theme didn't extend to his midnight supper dishes, which included scrambled eggs, sausages, biscuits, pastries, spaghetti and meatballs and chicken hash.

Gold, black and white party decorations
Clearly, you need to order gold, black and white party decorations for your sophisticated monochrome and gold event theme.

But the different style of decor you choose will evoke different atmosphere at the party. Just because they're the right colour doesn't mean they'll be right for your party.

Gold, black and white event seating

White rattan peacock chairs ARE white, but unless you're having a daytime monochromatic party, they're better suited to a garden boho theme while the more glamorous Chippendale sofa and its matching armchairs and chairs evokes a Palm Beach vibe, not a New York state of mind.

Are guests perched on bar stools?

Order white wire bar stools (or black), and add flashes of white to your event theme with tall cocktail tables covered in stretchy white lycra.

If your guests are sitting down to dine, you can't go past sophisticated white Tiffany chairs, dramatic black Tiffany chairs or gold Tiffany chairs if you want to add that Midas touch.

 

Gold, black and white event decor
Roll out the black (not red) carpet at your entrance. (White carpet is inadvisable to hire as it gets dirty so quickly.)

Line the aisle with glossy black plinths or white perspex columns and hire our gold shimmer wall for photo opportunities.

Since anything transparent fits in so well with a monochromatic colour scheme, why not consider hiring our stunning clear acrylic LED-battery powered table lampsto create fantastic prismatic patterns on your dining tables. No electrical cord necessary!

Decorate your tables with black cutlery, and contemporary gold striped vases or add towering centrepieces of 100cm-high gold metal floral stands.

Welcome your guests with a custom white neon sign message (suspend it in front of a foliage wall) and order white hand-lettered calligraphy table numbers on clear perspex or glittering gold rhinestone table numbers.

 

Contact us if you need to source something special for your next event.