I’m still writing my perfect Oscar speech, and no, I don’t consider myself an actress. Whatever, it could happen. Although I might not actually find myself accepting an Academy Award of my own, there’s no reason I can’t throw a party to watch those who do… and much more specifically, scrutinize the celebrities in their glamorous red carpet fashion show. Here are my tips for throwing the perfect Oscar-watching fete:

The Invitations

The first step is always simple: invite your friends! I’m kinda sorta addicted to photo invites, in addition to metallic balloons, among many other shiny things. But seriously, who doesn’t love balloons? Dollar Tree, Publix, and Wal-Mart are gold mines for finding cheap and fabulous decorations, such as these perfect gold star balloons, which create the perfect amount of flair for a fabulous and unforgettable party invitation. Their purpose is actually three-fold: they spice up an ordinary invitation, decorate your party venue space, and provide adorable props for stellar photo ops.

The Dress Code

As is the case with any party, fashion is number one–au moins pour moi.  For a Night at the Oscars party, I see no need to go full black tie, although that’s your prerogative if you so choose. I prefer sweet and sophisticated cocktail attire, and nobody has mastered that combination better than Lilly Pulitzer. Her dresses are chic, well made, and versatile enough to attend a beach party by day and evening soirée at night.

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer  // Shoes: Gianni Bini // Watch: Michael Kors // Bracelet: J.Crew Factory // Earrings: Ralph Lauren

Of course, a party isn’t a party without your BFF. In my case, she’s fabulous fellow blogger Ashley Brooke.Invite all your favorite girlfriends and be prepared to have 6 or 7 mini photoshoots scattered intermittently throughout the evening. Seriously, though… acceptance speeches are so short and commercials are so long. Aside from raiding the snack bar and popping open more and more bottles of Baileys, there’s no better way to spend the down time.

The Cocktails

Fabulous seasonal cocktails are obviously essential for any successful soirée, and for classy events such as The Academy Awards, I always go with Baileys Irish Cream. I’m a big proponent of eating dessert sporadically throughout the day (society can’t tell me what to do), and their unique chocolate blend of Irish whiskey goodness is the perfect supplement to any girl’s insatiable sweet tooth.