15 Swanky Swizzle Sticks for Your Oscar Dranks

Themed parties are where it’s at. Whether you fancy a Mad Men dinner party, a ‘90s get-together or a welcome-to-summer-fog bash (so it goes in San Francisco), adding a theme to your soiree will not only help you narrow down decor and food ideas, but it will also give your guests a chance to be creative with their attire selections. One of our favorite summer themes is fiesta. It means party, after all! To help you prep your own fiesta, we’ve teamed up with SKYY® Vodka to get your cocktail needs in order. Along with a tasty bevvie, we’ve got a few tips and tricks for you to DIY the ultimate summer fiesta.

SKYY® Vodka’s new line of premium cocktail-flavored vodka, SKYY Barcraft, makes it ridiculously easy to moonlight as a mixologist. All you need is your favorite bottle of Barcraft and a blast of soda!

Here’s our list of must-haves for your next fiesta.

Such a colorful garland! We think these tissue paper flags are a must for your party. Make small ones for your tabletop or large ones to hang above your bar. There are endless uses for these vibrant garlands.

Fold a small rectangle of tissue paper in half and scallop the edges. Then make small cuts in the centerfold much like you would for a paper snowflake. Fold the paper again, this time at an angle, and continue to make triangular or circular sections. You can unfold the paper to see how the design is turing out, and add more cuts until you are satisfied with your flag. Open it up and tape it to a length of string.

Flags

Each one can be a little bit different. Using multiple colors will make your party so vivid.

Stir sticks are a great way to add color to your drinks and a creative touch to your fiesta. You’ve already got tissue paper from your flags, so use what’s left to make these festive sticks.

Cut a small rectangle of tissue paper and fold it in half. Make fringe by cutting slices in the unfolded edge about halfway up the paper. Add a pearl-sized squeeze of glue to the tissue paper and then wind it around your wooden skewer. Repeat this using two other colors, moving down the skewer as you add them..

Stir Sticks

Chile Pepper Fruit

Add a dash of chile pepper to sweet fruit like mangos and papayas to give it a hint of spice.

We promise it’s delicious!

SKYY® Barcraft has come out with a pre-mixed margarita that will keep you coming back for more.

Add one part SKYY® Barcraft Margarita Lime and two parts soda water to a glass of ice, but first, dip your rim in chile salt. Much like a classic margarita, the addition of chile salt not only adds that delicious salty touch but it also adds a kick. Plant a spicy kiss on your boo after a sip for a little surprise :)

Bottoms Up

Get some carnations or make some paper flowers if you have leftover tissue paper. Slice some limes and you’re ready for a zesty shindig.

You guys, it’s almost time to kiss an Irish person, wear green, drink green beer from a boot or just get lucky ;) With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, we want to help you prepare to go full on this March 17. If you’re hosting a party and want to provide an elixir other than an emerald-tinted Coors, look no further. We’re making tequila cocktails with a kick + glittery stir sticks that add a little flair.

Materials:

– sticky-back glitter foam sheet

– wooden stir sticks

Tools:

– scissors

– pen

– knife

– cutting board

– Mason jar with lid

– measuring cup

Ingredients:

– tequila

– jalapeño

– cucumber

– bunch of mint

– lime

– ginger beer

Stir Sticks

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and our love for gold glitter, we’re making gold shamrock stir sticks.

First, draw a shamrock on the back of your sticky-back glitter foam sheet. Cut it out and then trace it onto another section of the foam sheet. Cut your second shamrock.

Peel off the backs and then stick them to your stir stick, making sure to line them up.

How easy was that?!

We’re putting jalapeño and cucumber-infused tequila in this zingy cocktail. It’s the perfect combo of sweet, sour and spicy.

Spicy Leprechaun (aka Leprechaun Tears) (yes, we made that up.)

Cut one jalapeño and six or seven slices of cucumber, and add them to your Mason jar.

Pour one cup of tequila in the jar and secure the lid. Let the mixture infuse overnight so it gets nice and spicy (yet strangely spa-like!) from the cucumber.

Now for the cocktail. Cut your lime in half and chop up a few mint leaves.

Fill a cup with ice and add one shot of your newly infused tequila. Add a few leaves of mint and squeeze half of the lime into your cocktail. We also cut a slice of lime to garnish the edge of our glass. Keepin’ it classy :) Fill the rest of the cup with ginger beer. Give it a swirl with your swizzle stick and then take a gulp.

Perfection!

Your guests will love this fresh, zippy libation. And especially their adorable stirring device. Who needs green beer when you can drink a cocktail filled with green goodies?

1. 'Mocha Mousse' Kitten Heel Boots

Don't fight it — this style is back and better than ever. "We have all seen that Pantone has named 'Mocha Mousse' [color of the year], cementing that brown has surpassed black as the go-to neutral," Brandt muses. As for why she believes kitten heels boots will be a popular style in 2025, she believes it's a "super wearable" choice "for the colder weather months."

Check 'em out:Steve Madden Stasia Taupe Suade Kitten Heel Boots

2. Elevated loafers and flats on par with 'Quiet Luxury'

Did you really think we were done with quiet luxury? This is a trend that "focuses on classic design and high quality materials," according to Hall. After the success of, well, Succession, people aren't ready to let this trend go — and I don't blame them! Hall says, "We’re seeing a movement away from runway and status brands of the past several years, and instead, consumers have been drawn toward the echo of vintage style."

Hall also feels like people are looking to add comfort instead of "overabundance" to their wardrobes. He explained that after the pandemic, "comfort has prevailed as a predominant factor in shopping for footwear." You'll want to steer clear of gaudy designs with this shoe trend, instead reaching for "shoes with premium construction and materials" that don't have "noisy logos."

If you want a little bit of height, Sockel says "chunky loafers became a go-to for achieving the 'Prep School' aesthetic." She also saw that "ballet flats were a top request, with 38% of shoppers seeking ways to style them."

Check 'em out:Thursday Boots Penny Loafers

3. Low profile sneakers

This year saw the rise of the 'errand' or everyday sneaker. Hall says, "In contrast to the chunky sneaker silhouette, low-profile sneakers have been trending in 2024, and expect to see that trend continue in 2025."He adds that they're "defined by the upper confirming closely to the foot and lack of support around the ankle" making them "exceptionally versatile".

Both he and Brandt agree that the "iconic Adidas Sambas" are the driving force behind this with the latter adding, "But as they can be hard to come by, I’m seeing some alternate sneakers take the stage — particularly the Adidas SL72, and Onitsuka Tigers, especially the Mexico 66s."

If you need inspo for how to style them! Hall has a couple of tips because "the timeless low-profile look isn't going anywhere." He feels pairing them with "bell bottoms or flare-legged jeans" because they "create a long, clean line."

Check 'em out:Dolce Vita Notice Stitch Sneakers

4. Colorful shoes

The world already feels like a mess sometimes — why not be bold and have fun with your outfits?! While you continue leaning into the red and burgundy shades that continued to trend this year, Hall feels that "turquoise, fuchsia, and yellow tones will brighten up this spring from the past couple of seasons of neutrals."

Another outfit tip he has is to "opt for white and soft ecru shades in the rest of the outfit" as this will "help these bold colors speak for themselves."

Check 'em out:Dolce Vita Kanika Mid Heels

5. T-Strap Shoes

If you're still watching The Great Gatsby, you may be familiar with what Gillette Sowislo calls the "new shoe profile." In other words, she feels they're "an update on the Mary Jane trend we've been seeing for a few seasons."

We couldn't get enough of the revival of this that trend so it's going to be exciting to see you and other shoppers rock them with your 2025 outfits. Honestly, Sowislo is sure that "this versatile design can be found in flats, heels, and wedges."

Check 'em out:Manolo Blahnik Assala 105 Leather Point-Toe Pumps

6. Wooden Platform Shoes

Wooden platform shoes are having their comeback moment; more notably clogs. Sowislo says, "Since Chloe designer Chemena Kamali decked out the front row of her show in matching wood-bottomed platform sandals, the trend for boho-inspired shoes has risen. These can look like the playful platforms she debuted or be a more practical pair of everyday clogs."

Sockel added, "Looking ahead, we [Stitch Fix] predict a shift toward heeled shoes—think chic booties, clogs, and sandals—that pair seamlessly with oversized jeans and a simple tee for an effortlessly polished “Easy Street” look."

Check 'em out:Dansko Professional Clogs