Everything old is new again. When you're planning your next party and perusing event rentals Los Angeles, consider throwing a luxurious vintage bash. From an elegant English garden party to an electric '80s hip-hop soiree, the possibilities are virtually endless. Here are four throwback party pairings that don't ask you to sacrifice style as you step back to a simpler time.

Mom and Dad's lives are about to turn into a three-ring circus, so why not celebrate the arrival of the family's new ringmaster with a retro, circus-themed baby shower? It's a great fit for any time of year, indoors or outdoors. Create a rustic "under the big top" vibe with strings of Italian lights and vibrant red fabric panels hung overhead. A diverse yet muted color palette with burlap accents and marquee lettering harnesses all the playfulness of a turn-of-the-century traveling circus without verging on cartoonish. Channel a classic concession stand with the menu, featuring down-to-earth fare such as popcorn in traditional red and white striped bags, beef and chicken sliders, garlic-parmesan frites, gourmet nachos, and soda — in glass bottles, of course.

Tell that 9-to-5 grind to hit the bricks in style by creating your own underground gin joint. Consider a menu full of custom cocktails celebrating the guest of honor and his or her (former) career. Keep the ambience warm, dimly lit, and mysterious, and stick to a deep, romantic color palette of crimson, black, and wine that features old school fabrics such as velvet and satin. Incorporate comfy leather cigar chairs from Archive vintage party rentals and other lounge seating. Provide guests with an assortment of fedoras and flapper-worthy boas, or request that they wear their Roaring '20s finest. Set the tone at the door with a secret password or phrase provided to guests in their invitations. Choose a code word that's personal to the retiree or make it a simple "I quit."

Who says Thanksgiving has to be all about football and sweatpants? This year, whether you're hosting family, friends, or both, bring a little glitz and glam to the buffet table with an art deco approach. Keep your color palette deceptively simple: black, white, and gold. Keep centerpieces short so as not to inhibit conversation, but be sure that what they lack in height they make up for in luxury, with gold crackle glass votives, ostrich feathers, and faux crystals. Jazz up each place setting with black and white tableware and golden goblets, and tie up each linen napkin in a string of pearls. Encourage your guests to look the part, and cue up a soundtrack that fits the flow of dinner and beyond. Start with tunes from the biggest hitters of the '30s, such as Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie and work your way into modern-day bops to stave off your guests' inevitable turkey comas.

You don't have to sacrifice luxury and elegance to kick it old school for a legendary get-together. The next time you're exploring party rentals San Diego and beyond, keep a vintage themed party in mind.