A martini party should be a swanky affair, so jazz the place up with decorations like retro-cool bar signs and cocktail-themed napkins and paper plates.

Mention martini’s icons and one name comes to mind: Bond. James Bond. Movie posters from some of the super spy’s classic films—like Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved Me and Live and Let Die—will help get your guests in the party mood.

As for a colour scheme, stick with colours that match the style and look of the classic cocktail: silver, black and maybe a splash of green, as an homage to the martini olive. Since the martini is your guest of honour, you’ll also want to incorporate the elements of the cocktail into your décor. Use martini glasses for serving party snacks like nuts and chocolate raisins, and use cocktail shakers instead of vases for your flowers.

What should you wear to a cocktail party? Why, cocktail attire, of course! Suits for the men and cocktail dresses for the women are appropriate outfits for enjoying this classy drink. Like your decorations, martini party ideas for outfits involve going retro.

And if you’re going with the James Bond theme, men should upgrade from suits to tuxedos while women should wear as little as possible with slinky, Bond-babe dresses and big hair. Think Ursula Andress, Honor Blackman, even Denise Richards, who bonded with Pierce Brosnan in The World Is Not Enough.

Martini’s vibe is loungey and hip, so your activities should reflect that. Letting your guests mingle and chill out while listening to cool jazz may be enough of an activity after the cocktails start flowing. To make the party more interactive, set up stations where guests can mix their own martinis.

Be sure to put out chilled glasses, gin, vodka, vermouth and traditional accoutrements (like assorted stuffed olives, cocktail onions and twists of lemon) as well as ingredients and recipes for the hundreds of new-fangled martinis out there. You can even create a contest where guests whip up and name their own creation. Want to start some drama? Ask guests to debate which are better: gin or vodka martinis.

Let the martini's classic garnishes be your guide for party food. Bread spread with olive tapenade makes a nice accompaniment, as does lemony hummus with pita bread, and crisps with onion dip.

Sharp cheeses like blue cheese complement the flavours of traditional martinis, so be sure to include them on your cheese tray. And to keep with the bar theme, put out bowls assorted salted nuts for guests to nibble on.

Dirty Martini (serves 1) • 2 oz. gin • 1 Tbs dry vermouth • 2 Tbs olive juice • 2 olives Pour gin, vermouth and olive juice into a cocktail shaker. Add olives. Shake or stir, depending on your preference. Strain contents into a well-chilled martini glass and garnish with one of the olives.

Non-Alcoholic – Mix fruit juices, iced tea and seltzer to make sophisticated non-alcoholic martinis.

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