Why theme parties?
On the Riviera, I started giving theme parties every year on my birthday. They were never costume parties, because I think giving a costume party makes people anxious. It was never a thing where someone would say, “Oh, my gosh, where am I going to go and get a costume for this event?” However, having a theme makes everyone become more of a participant of the party itself. One year the theme was Hollywood, and I gave out instant cameras to all the guests. With the flashbulbs popping, everybody looking drop-dead glamorous, the atmosphere was “red carpet” personified, except here were celebrities taking photos of each other. Another year the theme was Red, Red, Red. Everyone—the men, the women—wore red. It was such a dramatic look. Even Prince Rainier wore red suspenders and red socks. The then—West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt was on the coast, and I had invited him. When he actually appeared, I was so flattered and honored, but then I told him that he had to wear red. “Otherwise,” I
