How to Host the Perfect Holiday PartyCreated with Tiffany & Co.
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It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it also tends to be the busiest. And while coming together to celebrate with friends and loved ones is one of the things that makes this season special, it can also—let's face it—be a lot of work. To make things easy, we've put together a simple but foolproof playbook for hosting. So that you can spend your time actually enjoying the evening.
THE OUTFIT
The brief: easy, elegant. A drapey chiffon top over a pair of statement pants. Slingbacks you can slip off under the table. A matte red lip. And to make it all feel appropriately festive: a healthy dose of diamonds, courtesy of NYC's most iconic jeweler. You don’t need the coat and bag, per se, but it's nice to have them at the ready should the firepit—or a round of caroling—beckon.
THE TABLESCAPE
We love the mix of textures here, and the way the simpler, more streamlined pieces (like the plates and the wine glasses) elevate the intricate ones (like the placemat). The palette feels holiday-appropriate but not too on-the-nose, and the palm-tree-adorned placecards are a playful touch.
THE SCENE-SETTERS
Good music, a great cocktail, and caviar—it's hard to argue with that lineup.
The Row November Playlist
If you're not familiar with The Row's monthly playlist: Prepare to be obsessed.
goop 75 Cocktail
Our riff on the French 75 uses apricot purée in place of simple syrup.
THE MENU
You want to choose dishes that you can, for the most part, prep beforehand so that by the time the first guest rings your doorbell, you are free to mingle with them and don't have to keep running back to the stove.
Bibb Lettuce Salad
Thomas Keller’s simple salad makes the ideal accompaniment to the rich, savory potpie.
Lobster Potpie
You can make these mini potpies ahead of time and freeze them—then all you have to do the day of is pop them in the oven.
Olive Oil Cake
Elia's bake-at-home olive oil cake has a delicate crumb and a subtle almond-citrus flavor. Serve it alone or with a dollop of crème fraîche.