girlworld’s Serena Morris’ Guide to Throwing a Party

Words: Hannah Benson

Make it stand out

Several girls huddled around a mirror, dabbing on various tones of blush and tracing their Cupid’s bows with lip liner, only to stop suddenly as the speaker echoes the first few lines of the That’s So Raven theme song, and dutifully belt the track out, word-perfectly. It’s this type of ‘getting ready’ camaraderie rooted deep in nostalgia that Morris hopes to replicate with girlworld party, ‘girls only’ parties hosted in Los Angeles and New York City, all designed with Morris’s distinct 90s/00s-inclined eye. 

The 31-year-old Los Angeles native started girlworld party last fall, aiming to provide a nightlife space that prioritises women, where they can party safely, in all intents of the word: no fear of getting in, no need to socialise under the metaphorical or physical male gaze, a place to move one’s body freely. A gathering of women, some arriving in groups, some solo, where the all-women DJ lineups embrace Rihanna and TLC, and aren’t afraid to throw in a track from The Cheetah Girls discography. And sometimes pizza is delivered.

If this sounds like an aspirational sleepover, that's because it is – Morris wants to usher the past into the present. But not in the yearning-for-days-gone-by type of way, rather to remind us of our own agency. We can celebrate just like we did at 13, though now backed by our own money, expressing a more established style, and staying up as late as we’d like. 

A concept greatly inspired by the online community the party thrower forged with her social media account, She’s Underrated (@shes__underrated)  her ode to the pop culture of the 90s and 00s that surrounds women, particularly women of colour. The account posts images of Hedkandi CD covers, stills of Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass in the 2002 film, Satin Rouge, and countless videos of Morris herself, providing archival fashion deep dives. The comments sections are supportive, uniting followers through the shared experience of smelling like a vanilla cupcake. girlworld party seemed like a natural next step–bring the girls together in real life. 

Just like any good secret swap, Morris lets us in on her tips for throwing a great party.

Press ‘Next Episode’ for Going-Out Inspiration

The party begins with the outfit: a fact that pertains to the host just as much as the guests. While concocting your look, Morris suggests breaking up outfit changes by urging Carrie to ‘get out of there’ as her Manolo Blahniks click into Mr. Big’s apartment once again. “Put Sex and the City on when you get ready, because I think all the girls really treated going-out like an occasion. Maybe it influences you to think, ‘Let me put on the skirt and the heel.’” 

She praises the specific style of each character and how they translated those distinctions to going-out, which is why she also recommends the early aughts television show, Girlfriends. “Joan would wear a lot of low-rise jeans, backless tops, and a great heel and Toni would wear a really slinky dress. Lynn was very much the grunge girl–there’s something for everyone.”

First Impressions Shouldn’t be Underrated

“The Greet: Who’s there at the door to invite you in,” is often overlooked in party planning. Morris wants to avoid the, “‘Where do I go?’ ‘What do I do?’” confusion. “It’s pulling up to a birthday party and the balloons are outside. When you walk into a nice space and someone has champagne for you. That welcome factor is super important.”

Let the Party Happen

Morris has observed a certain pressure on matriarchs when it comes to hosting; a perfectionism they also place on themselves and she wants to change the narrative for the benefit of everyone. “You should be the archetype guest for your guests to reference. Because if you are frantic and running around, I think that is going to reflect on the energy of the party. Relinquish control, trust your prep, and allow things to happen. Also it’s not linear. There are waves and sometimes you have to be okay with the fact that people aren’t dancing right now, maybe people are going to sit and talk and drink, but there’s always going to be highs and lows throughout the night so you just have to go with it.”

Start the Conversation with a Compliment

Party throwing is not confined to the extroverted. “Shy girls are justified in their shyness,” says Morris, who advises a closet consultation to combat any nervousness. “My number one tip for shy girls is: dress up. Try to wear your best outfit, that will help you feel more confident to step outside your comfort zone. Someone could say, “I love your shoes!” and that’s something you need to hear at that moment. Not looking for validation, but when you feel your best that energy is radiated.”

Theme It

“A theme allows people to be really intentional. The underlying theme of my party being Girls’ Night Out, prompts, ‘I can dress up,’ and you don’t feel a sense of ‘I went too hard,’ because everyone else knows the intent and recognises that same level of effort and energy. It provides a level of understanding of how you’re going to show up and how other people are showing up.”

Remember Why You’re Throwing the Party

“There’s all these factors you can use to isolate yourself, be it social media, or an app to do anything, you don’t even have to go to a store, you can sit in your own home. Community is a lifeline. You have to carve out time, take it upon yourself to create the environment that you wish to see. And if you are online, perceiving other people enjoying themselves, or watching things from the past, and you don’t feel like you’re living it, it is your responsibility to make that happen. 

For years I had been fantasising about the past–nostalgia is my thing–and I was tired of hearing all the stories from my mom and her friends about ‘back in the day.’ If these are the feelings and experiences that people had back in the day and I feel so deeply connected to them and also have this weird sense of envy, well then I have to take it upon myself to create them. I thought, ‘I should just throw a party for the girls who like to get dressed up, who like to go out and love to dance and hear very specific music because I want that too.’”