Fashion - Men's Attire

Guys. You have it so good. Women's fashion is in constant flux - which is probably why we are always a little insane. But men's fashion is constant, reliable and adaptable. You have fundamentals that can be accessorized easily. What you need to know is minimal. It just takes a little practice.

Neckties

(neckties from the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's)

(neckties from the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and 2000's)

These are normally worn as part of regular office wear and formal wear. However, they can be worn as everyday attire. Like practically everything in fashion, styles have varied throughout the years. These days ties are slender with a ride range of colors and designs. There are also clip on ties but they should only be worn by children.


( ... ladies? )

Color:
Ties should always be darker than the dress shirt. The background color of the tie should not match the shirt. The foreground or pattern of the tie may contain the color of the shirt. Simple or subdued patterns are preferred.



Knot:
The most common are Four-in-Hand, Half-Windsor, Windsor (or Full-Windsor) and the Shelby or Pratt. Once properly done, the bottom of the tie can extend from the naval level to slightly below the waistband. The thin end should not extend below the wide end. Ascots are fun but can look a little costume-y and not appropriate for the workplace.


(The Four-in-Hand and Half-Windsor)


(The Windsor Knott and The Shelby Knott)


Shoes
The shoes you wear with a shoot should always be smart; Oxford, Derbies and slip-ons are fine. The slip-on is a modern and informal shoe that is very common these days. Black shoes are always smart for business attire. Lighter browns are fine for less formal and summer attire.


(Oxford, Derby and Slip-ons)


Up Next: Dress shirts!

Fashion - Men's Attire

Guys. You have it so good. Women's fashion is in constant flux - which is probably why we are always a little insane. But men's fashion is constant, reliable and adaptable. You have fundamentals that can be accessorized easily. What you need to know is minimal. It just takes a little practice.

Jackets

Every jacket has a lapel; there are three types of lapels:

Notched (in American English)/Step Lapel or Step Collar (in British English) - this is the standard on Single-breasted suits and is used on nearly all jackets. It's sewn to the collar at an angle, creating a "step" effect. I like it for it's solid, masculine cut.

Peaked Lapel (American English)/Double-breasted style lapel or Pointed Lapel (British English) - the most formal. It's usually featured on Double-breasted jackets. This is not my favorite lapel but it looks good on Double-breasted jackets because it's so stylized. 

Shawl Lapel, Rool Collar, or Shawl Collar - a simple continuous curve and is common on a dinner jacket (also called a tuxedo); they are rarely seen on other jackets. Most modern tuxedos have Peaked collars nowadays but the Shawl Lapel has a real sleek design. 

It's important to take notice of your suit jacket's lining. The lining, or canvas, is a layer of sturdy fabric that prevents the wool of the jacket from stretching out of shape. Floating Canvas is the most expensive; Fused (or glued) Canvas is usually found in cheaply manufactured suits, it's less soft and is less durable. All bespoke suits have Floating Canvas. Most jackets have Canvas in either the same color as the jacket or a slightly lighter shade. You can find many jackets with wildly different colors in the Canvas; the splash of color is fun and can even be sharp looking.

Lapels have buttonholes on the left, intended to hold a boutonniere. The only time you'll need to put something in that buttonhole is when you're getting married or someone you know is getting married. So, don't sweat the small stuff.

The width of the lapel has varied over the years but nowadays fashion leans back to the narrower. (For more details on various lapel widths, see the section below on Trousers.)

 

Buttons of jacket cuffs are normally decorative; bespoke suits have functional buttons. All styles of suits have three to four buttons, though a modern twist is five buttons.

Waistcoats were almost always worn with suits prior to the 1940's. They are not very common now - though they do look pretty slick.

Trousers

Also known as "slacks, they are made from the same fabric as the jacket. Trouser styles have varied over the years:

Throughout the 20's, 30's and 40's the pant leg was pretty wide. 

By the 1950's and 60's the slim leg became popular. 

And besides the slight hiccup that was the 1970's, the slim-legged trouser has remained popular.

Originally, no suit was worn with a belt, but wartime shortages on elastic contributed to their rise in popularity. Braces (or suspenders for all us Yanks!) are worn by attaching them to the outside of the waistband with buttons. Nowadays most braces are affixed by a button on the inside of the trouser. Most trousers are not cut with braces in mind and have to be altered for that.

It's easier to find a belt and most belts are sleek and fashionable. Braces are a nice, eccentric touch. You don't have to go super goofy and wear rainbow-smiley face suspenders. Plain black or darker colors are just fine.

 

Next Up: Neckties and Shoes

Fashion - Men's Attire

Guys. You have it so good. Women's fashion is always in flux - which is probably why we are always a little insane. But men's fashion is constant, reliable and adaptable. You have fundamentals that can be accessorized easily. What you need to know is minimal. It just takes a little practice.


The Suit - Man's Best Friend  

The suit is a very versatile part of a man's wardrobe; Western dress code doesn't insist on a suit for every day activity anymore but at one point in time men wore them practically each day of the week. For the most part, dress code is a fairly loose term used for workplace or special events. "Back in the day" there were varying levels of dress code, including, by rank: Court Dress, Formal, Semi-formal, and Informal. As for casual codes: Smart casual, Business casual, Leisure attire, Active attire.  

Today we will look more at casual codes, specifically Smart casual. A loose definition goes something like: Used for business purposes, church events, "night on the town" and everyday wear. When picturing a suit that falls under "smart casual", think of a blazer or sports jacket, collard shirt and dress trousers. Footwear includes loafers and dress shoes but never "sneakers" or men's sandals. Please don't wear sandals - men's toes should never be seen.

Smart casual is kind of interchangeable with Business casual since both incorporate similar articles of clothing.  An important note: both Smart and Business casual do not allow jeans. Only Dr. House can get away with that. Neither requires neckties or cuff links, but are acceptable. Hell, more than acceptable! 

It's very important to look put together; keep all your clothing clean and rumple-free and dry clean when possible.

The Suit

The simplest definition of a suit: a garment made from the same cloth, consisting of at least a coat and trouser. For the most part, you will put together trousers, jacket, dress shirt and a necktie when you wear a suit; but these items are not always sold together. When you purchase a two-piece suit you get the trousers and jacket; when you purchase a three-piece suit you get a waistcoat (or vest) included.

Three common forms of suits are:

Bespoke - a garment made by a tailor ("tailor made") out of cloth chosen by the client. The tailor will make the garment to the measurements, taste and style of the wearer. This isn't really common practice anymore since it's pretty expensive and most suits are mass produced. But if you can splurge on one really good suit, you might as well; a Bespoke can be used for most formal occasions and special situations.

 

(these images illustrate the suit as it's being made by a professional tailor)

Made to Measure - a pre-made pattern is altered to fit the client, though options and fabric are limited. While these aren't as expensive as a Bespoke, they are a little on the pricey side. However, having one or two in your closet will help boost your wardrobe considerably. 

(this image illustrates the suit being tailored by a professional)

Ready to Wear - the least expensive and most common suit. They are not of the highest quality but can be altered by a tailor to fit the wearer; alterations are always suggested if you are purchasing a Ready to Wear suit.

(this is an image of a Ready to Wear, which, as you can see is totally inferior)

No suit should be skin-tight. Instead, it should hang from the body in a flattering way. You will achieve this by choosing a flattering cut; there are a few variations (all of these are acceptable in current fashion):

Double-breasted - a conservative design with two vertical rows of buttons. Though not really considered "fussy", this is not as common among modern suit-wearers. But a Double-breasted jacket always looks sharp and impressive.

(behold!)

Single-breasted - has a single row of buttons. This is a classic design and will fit right in to any work environment. 

(a classic)

British suit - tapered sides, minimal shoulder padding and two vents (a vent is a slit in the bottom rear of the jacket; originally designed for sporting jackets, they were kept for practical reasons: they made it easier to sit down and often improve the hang of the jacket). British suits are slightly boxy and tend to look very formal.

 

(Prince Charles, remembering he's never going to be King and a few selections of British suits)

Italian suit - strongly padded shoulders, minimally tapered and no vents. These suits are usually very slender and look "modern." The trousers are slim and, occasionally, tapered. 

 

(some variations on the Italian suit - both very sexy)

American suit - much more casual. They have moderate shoulder padding, moderately tapered sides and a single vent. This is a very masculine suit; it hangs from the body in a slightly looser way than the British, which is why it's considered "casual."

 

(sort of like Wall Street, but less douche-y)

The most common fabric used in suits is wool, which can be made into a variety of yarns. Wool is often associated with bulky, warm-weather clothing but many advances have been made in making a finer fiber from wool. Traditionally, linen is used in hot weather; North American fashion is fond of seersucker. Cashmere is popular but expensive - as is silk or silk blended with wool. There is the option of synthetic materials but they are cheap and very rarely recommended - they don't feel very nice, either.

When it comes to color, conservative is always a good bet. Look to black, light grey, dark grey and navy; brown and olive are also acceptable, as are lighter shades, in summer, such as tan and cream. Black isn't recommended for day-to-day wear, but for more formal occasions and funerals.

Patterns are a great way to express yourself. Solid colors are traditional, but pin stripes are classic. Plaid is a fun pattern and herringbone is pretty slick looking.

A good rule of thumb is to try to look like Don Draper any chance you get.

 

Up next: The Jacket and Trousers

Parties - Tiki Party (food)

Mad About ... Parties

(This is a continuation of the Tiki Party post. I decided to break it up into several posts to make it a little more manageable. The original post was dated December 14 and can, quickly, be found in Labels under "Parties.")


Nuts and Bolts
(Pile this up in some of your little bowls and let people munch as they mingle)

1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c bacon fat
1/2 c. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. garlic salt
2 tsp. celery salt
4 c. mixed nuts
4 c. wheat Chex
4 c. rice Chex
2 c. (plain) Cheerios
2 c. thin pretzels
1 8-10 oz. package of Cheeze-its or other cheese cracker snack

Preheat oven to 200F.
Melt butter and combine, in pan, with oil and bacon fat. Stir in Worcestershire sauce. Add salts. Remove from heat and let stand for a few minutes. In a large roasting pan combine buts, cereals, pretzels and cheese snacks. Pour sauce over and toss. Bake, uncovered, for 2 hours. Turn every 30 minutes.
This recipe makes 5 quarts, so you can send some home with people in bags.

Salmon Mousse with crackers
(Serving suggestion: lay some banana leaves on a white platter or large plate; in the middle of the mold, arrange tropical flowers; around the mold arrange crackers.)
Recipe by Martha Stewart

1 tsp. unflavored gelatin (from a 1/4 ounce packet)
4 ounces smoked salmon, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 c. sour cream
1 to 2 Tbsp lemon juice
coarse salt

Place 3 Tbsp. cold water in a small saucepan, and sprinkle with gelatin; let soften, 5 minutes. Gently heat over low, stirring, just until gelatin dissolves; set aside.
In the bowl of a food processor, combine salmon, sour cream and lemon juice. Puree until smooth; season with salt. With motor running, add slightly cooled gelatin mixture, and blend until combined.
Pour into large ring mold or ramekins; I recommend a ring mold for this situation. Without touching the surface, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 2 hours or overnight.

Shrimp Cocktail
(If you buy frozen shrimp, look for "flash-frozen", this means it's frozen at sea. You can thaw a day ahead. If you are buying fresh, get it the day of your party and follow the directions bellow. I'm providing three cocktail sauce recipes - you can pick one or try all three! Look up more of the recipes at shrimpcocktailrecipes.com)
Shrimp recipe by Martha Stewart, Cocktail Sauces by shrimpcocktailrecieps.com

2 pounds large shrimp ((16 to 18 count)
4 quarts water
1 halved lemon
2 dried bay leaves
1 Tbsp. salt

Prepare shrimp: Hold each shrimp, leg side up, and peel shell from inside curve, leaving tail intact. To devein, gently run a pairing knife along center of outside curve from head to tail, exposing vein. Remove vein, wash shrimp.
Fill a large pot with 4 quarts water; add lemon, bay leaves, and salt. Cover; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Return to a boil. Add shrimp. Cook until bright pink and opaque, about 1 minute 5 seconds.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer shrimp to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet; cover with ice, and let cool, about 5 minutes. (To store, fill a bowl 3/4 full with ice. Put shrimp in reusable plastic bags. Place atop ice; cover with more ice. Refrigerate up to one day, replenish ice as needed.)
Arrange shrimp along the rim of an ice-filled bowl; set smaller bowl of cocktail sauce in the middle of the bowl and surround with tropical flowers.

Basic Cocktail Sauce
1 c. tomato ketchup
1/2 tsp. chili powder
dash of cayenne powder
1 tsp. prepared horseradish
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 large minced garlic clove

In a small mixing bowl, add all ingredients. Mix until even and consistent. Transfer to a serving dish. You can make this a day ahead to let the flavors mingle.

Wasabi Cocktail Sauce 
4 c. tomato ketchup
4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/8 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp. wasabi paste
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt

In a medium size mixing bowl, add all ingredients. Mix until even and consistent. Transfer to a serving dish. You can make this a day ahead to let the flavors mingle.

Japanese Cocktail Sauce
2 c. mayonnaise
4 slices of canned peaches
3/4 c. mineral water
1 1/2 Tbsp. tomato ketchup
2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. turmeric
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
pinch of salt

Add all ingredients to a blender. Pulse until you have a smooth and even texture. Transfer to a serving dish. You can make this a day ahead to let the flavors mingle.

Cocktail Sausages with Roasted Pineapple
(Serve in a shallow bowl with a few toothpicks stuck in some of the sausages, and more in a serving dish on the side. Cocktail sausages (or "weenies") have been around for awhile and are super kitschy.)

2 (15 oz) packages cocktail sausages
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple (un-drained)
1 c. apricot preserves
1 c. brown sugar

In a skillet, lightly brown sausages. In a large bowl, mix pineapple, apricot preserves and brown sugar. Add to the sausages; simmer for 30 minutes.

Polynesian-style Ham with brown-mustard and blackberry jelly
To make life easier, buy a pre-cooked ham. Slice into thick slices and then dice into medium squares - big enough to spear with a toothpick.
In a medium saucepan, mix 1 c. brown mustard and 1 c. blackberry jelly. Simmer over low heat, until it's a little runny.
Place ham in a large baking dish. Pour sauce over and toss, making sure every piece is coated.
Bake until caramelized in a 350F oven.
It's not rocket science!

Hawaiian Coleslaw
(In the spirit of finger foods, consider serving in lettuce cups)

4 c. shredded cabbage
1 (11 ounce) can of mandarin oranges, drained and liquid reserved
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1 c. crushed pineapple, drained
1/3 c. mayonnaise

In a large bowl, toss together cabbage, 1 Tbsp. reserved orange juice, salt, ginger, nutmeg and pepper. Toss pineapple and orange into the mixture. Stir in mayonnaise until evenly coated. Chill before serving.
As I noted above, you an serve this in lettuce cups to make it a little more handy. If you do go down that route, make the cups and arrange on a large platter that has been lined with banana leaves and strewn with chunks of fruit. If you prefer to leave in a bowl and let people serve themselves, put out with tongs and tuck a large tropical flower in the middle or off to the side.

Ambrosia Fruit Salad
(Perfectly old school!)

1/2 c. heavy cream
1 Tbsp. sugar
4 ounces sour cream
3 c. (approx.) mini marshmallows
1 c. Clementine orange segments (approx. 6 Clementine)
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple (canned is fine, just make sure to drain well)
1 c. freshly grated coconut (bagged coconut is fine, make sure it's unsweetened)
1 c. toasted, chopped pecans
1/2 c. drained maraschino cherries

Place the cream and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment and whip until stiff peaks are formed. Add the sour cream and whisk to combine. You can use a hand-held mixer, or, even do it by hand. Add the marshmallows, oranges, pineapple, coconut, pecans and cherries and stir to combine. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours.
I recommend serving this in you most elaborate looking bowl and embellishing with lots of tropical flowers.

Rum-Soaked Grilled Fruit Skewers
(Make sure to soak your wooden skewers in cold water over night. This prevents any flair ups or burning when you grill.)

Marinade
1/2 c. fresh orange juice
1/4 c. jelly made from tropical fruits - your choice
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. minced fresh ginger
1/2 tsp. curry powder
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. dark rum

Fruit
40 1-inch chunks of assorted tropical fruit: mango, papaya, pineapple, kiwi fruit, and star fruit.

Make the marinade: blend orange juice, jelly, mustard, ginger and curry powder in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a small saucepan, cover, and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Add lime juice and rum.
Assemble skewers: thread four pieces of fruit onto skewer. Arrange in a shallow container. Pour marinade over, cover, refrigerate. Turn the skewers every so often. You can marinate for 3 hours or even overnight.
To grill: if you are using a multi-level grill, place the skewers on the upper rack. Cook until heated and slightly browned in some places. If you are using a single-level grill, keep the heat low and to one side, if you can. Cook to the same consistency.
Serve on a platter, lined with banana leaves. Pile the skewers as high as you can and tuck a few tropical flowers in there.

There you have it! Give yourself two weeks to get yourself together. Go through the check list, send out your invitations, time the cooking/serving, time the prep/serving of the drinks, buy all the decorations and supplies. In the days leading up to the party, try to get any food prep out of the way. The night before, decorate and set out all of your serving dishes so you have optimal space. The day of? Relax! Don't stress. As I said before, something is bound to go wrong and if it all goes belly up - have the number for pizza delivery near by. At least the drinks taste great, right?

Parties - Tiki Party (drinks)

Mad About ... Parties

(This is a continuation of the Tiki Party post. I decided to break it up into several posts to make it a little more manageable. The original post was dated December 14 and can, quickly, be found in Labels under "Parties.")


Drinks
When it comes to drinks, mix them up ahead of time and store in pitchers. You're already familiar with the Mai Tai and the Zombie - find recipes for both in the Cocktail section. Let's try out two new ("new") drinks:


Pina Colada
one part white rum
one part cream of coconut
three parts pineapple juice

Shake with crushed ice until smooth. In this case you might want to blend them in a blender just before everyone arrives and stash in a large pitcher in the fridge. Serve in a coconut shell, if you dare.
(What's this "one part" business? Just gives you the freedom to make the drink as fun as you like.)

Tiki Punch
8 ounces triple sec
8 ounces gin
3 ounces fresh lime juice
1 1/2 liters chilled champagne

Mix triple sec, gin and lime. Pour over large chunk of ice in a punch bowl. Stir and chill for half an hour. At serving time add the champagne. A fun idea is to freeze chunks of exotic fruits and float them in the punch. They act as ice cubes and impart a little flavor to the drink.

Parties - Tiki Party (run through)

Mad About ... Parties

(This is a continuation of the Tiki Party post. I decided to break it up into several posts to make it a little more manageable. The original post was dated December 14 and can, quickly, be found in Labels under "Parties.") 


Tiki Party
It only makes sense that my sample party be centered around Tiki culture! This is a template for a party. Obviously, you might want to do something different.

Date/Time: About two weeks before Christmas/4 pm - 9 pm (let's people mingle outside while the sun is still out and wraps things up early enough so you can clean up and relax).
Location: Home, in the backyard and living room/dining room.
Theme: Tiki Christmas party.
Number of Guests: Approximately 20 people - keeping it a small gathering.
Menu: See post.


Plates: Smaller cocktail plates - paper - in tropical designs and brightly colored plates. Shuffle them before setting out, so there is a selection.
Napkins: Plain white cocktail napkins with a small Christmas detail.
Cups: Clear plastic tumblers and champagne flutes. Since the gathering is pretty small, bust out some Tiki glasses.
Cutlery: Multi-color toothpicks and clear plastic forks.
Tablecloth: Plain white plastic table covering, tapped down. Over that, a plain white tablecloth.
Tableskirting: Grass skirt! Even though table skirts tend to be fancy, doesn't mean you can't get creative with it!
Serving Accessories: Plain white is always a good call because it can be embellished with decorations. Here it could also be fun to use retro-looking bowls or even natural bowls, made from hollowed out melons of coconuts.

Candy/Nut Cups: As mentioned above, little bowls are the best. For a Tiki party, kitschy is better.
Place Cards: Always stick with plain white cards, for the reasons I listed above, but embellish with one or two stickers in your tropical theme.


Centerpieces: Since this is a Christmas party, it only seems fitting that the tree be the centerpiece! A fake tree would be super retro, though natural is always nice. Some chunky, colorful lights; tinsel and retro decorations are a nice touch.
Room Decor: More lights, especially those big chunky, colorful lights that your grandparents probably put out, are perfect. Some other nice touches: snowflakes, fir garlands and tropical flowers and fruits.
Outdoor: The Tiki torches I recommended above are perfect for this occasion. Some more lights and paper lanterns keep it festive and shed some light.
Candles: Outside, bug-repellent candles are best. Cluster small groups of tea lights, or slightly bigger candles, on tables tops. Inside, big chunky candles with some banana leaves and holly circling them.
Confetti: Look for some snowflake shapes and tropical shapes; pineapples, palm trees and star fish are fun examples.


Invitations: If you do chose to send out paper invitations, go totally retro. You can make the cards yourself and print off some 1960's Christmas designs and Tiki designs. For a small party, it can go either way. Since the guest list is pretty small, addressing paper invitations isn't that big of a deal. Emailing the RSVP invitation and then sending physical invites to those that have confirmed, is a good compromise.
Thanks You Notes: If you like, you can keep the theme going but plain cards are just fine.


Party Favors: There's a fun British tradition of using "crackers" - they are a little weird to describe, but the basic idea is a tube that is filled with toys and a paper crown. You "crack" them open and fun ensues.
Candy: A couple sampler boxes of See's Candies is easy and always welcomed.
Goodie Bags: Mini-bottles of rum, candy, Christmas card - plain bag with tropical stickers.
Hats: You can check this off your list if you use the crackers. If not, then you can skip it or pick up something to your liking.


Music
A good mix of Christmas songs and Bossa Nova will put everyone in the mood. Make your own play list and press play.

Parties - Tiki Party (miscellaneous)

Mad About ... Parties

(This is a continuation of the Tiki post. I decided to break it up into several posts to make it a little more manageable. The original post was dated December 14 and can, quickly, be found in Labels under "Parties.")


Party Favors
There is nothing kitschy-er than party favors! Noise makers, like horns, kazoos, slide flutes, oh my! These are also available at party supply stores in a variety of colors and designs. You can leave some around your party space, on a coffee table or displayed in bowls and cups so people can grab them at any time.

Disposable Cameras (optional)
Most people don't use these much anymore, what with digital cameras and camera phones being so prevalent. But you can pick them up for cheap and scan whatever you develop onto your computer. If you'd rather not buy them, suggest that your guests bring their own cameras or even use their phones and send you pictures. Just make sure to take some pictures!

Candy
Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker. Meaning: don't sweat it. Keep in mind that you only need to put out one or two things, since there will be other foods to pick at. For Christmas-time, you can set out a selection of chocolates from See's Candy. Hersey Kisses are always nice, same with M&M's. During summer you can put out funky candies, like those sugar coated gummy candies or Laughy Taffy.

Goodie/Loot bags
These are some of my favorite things. I obsess over them whenever I plan a party, devoting much more time to them then I should. I like to get solid bags, not see-through, so when people receive them it's a surprise. You can get bags with designs on them or in solid colors that match your theme. Brown or white paper bags are fun to decorate, too.
What you put in them is up to you. For strictly adult parties I recommend tossing in some mini bottles of booze - highlighting alcohol you used in that evening's drinks. Home made treats are always nice, as are vintage candies. Have fun with it!

Piñata (optional)
Traditional to birthday parties, piñatas are a fun way to get everyone involved. Piñatas come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so there's a good chance you will find one that fits your theme and needs. A small piñata is a good call for whatever the occasion. And, just like with the Goodie Bags, if you are having an adults only party fill the piñata with mini booze bottles.

Hats (optional)
You can keep these optional or just use them on certain occasions - birthday parties, New Year's Eve, etc. I like the traditional cone hats with the elastic band - it's pretty retro. But elaborate crowns and men's hats are a blast. Pick up a selection and let your guests chose.

Those are the basics. Don't think that you have to do everything or buy everything on that list. The main thing to remember is that you want your guests to be comfortable and to have fun. If you really don't have the means to all the extra stuff on the list, don't worry about it! Make sure to check discount warehouses, "99 cent stores" and second-hand shops - they usually have great deals.