Woman's Murder-Mystery Costume Goes Viral: 'You Didn't Get the Memo'

A Chicago woman's 1930s flair has stolen the show at a themed murder-mystery party where all the other guests arrived in modern-day clothing.

The 25-year-old Lauren Elam (@larslavishlife) had expected a night of mystery and silver-screen glamor when she turned up to the event at her friend's house. What she couldn't have anticipated was turning heads for all the right reasons, and becoming a viral sensation on TikTok.

Elam had rocked up to the party fully decked out in 1930s-period attire, only to find that her friends had opted for modern eveningwear better suited to a nightclub in 2024 than a soirée nearly 100 years prior.

Elam decided to share a video to TikTok, documenting the mix-up and the differences in their outfits. The hilarious clip has since amassed over 4.4 million views since it was posted on February 11, delighting viewers with its lighthearted take on a common social faux pas.

"I'm someone who's always been deeply fascinated by the evolution of social-media landscapes," Elam told Newsweek, reflecting on her unexpected viral moment.

"Through it all, I've come to appreciate the immense potential of social media not just as a tool for entertainment, but as a force for positive change and connection in our increasingly interconnected world," Elam added.

Her passion for connecting with others through platforms like TikTok is evident in her content, which typically revolves around lifestyle, travel and beauty insights.

The mix-up occurred when Elam's friends decided to ditch the 1930s dress theme at the last minute, preferring outfits that would seamlessly transition to a night out post-party.

Unaware of the change, Elam embraced the original theme. "The video I created was mostly for the humor of not knowing my friends decided to not dress the theme," she said.

"I am a very light-hearted person so I was not upset by this at all, and my friends loved my outfit, so I thought it would be funny to share the experience."

Elam's followers were quick to express their amusement and admiration for her commitment to the theme that her friends had ditched.

"How do you have a time era themed murder mystery party and NOT dress up? You were absolutely correct," one user, @cathycool2, wrote.

Another, @priscilla_l21, added: "But half the fun is in dressing up as if you were in 1930s."

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