Once upon a time, someone in our life took the time and effort to make our holidays feel magical. Today, that gift belongs to you. We’re drawing back the curtains and offering tips on how to make unforgettable moments for others—whether it’s finding the perfect platters to serve decadent hors d’oeuvres, creating ambiance with soft lighting, or discovering the best glasses for making thoughtful toasts.
L’OBJET
Add interest and luxury to your tablescape with the organic swirls and 24-karat-gold accents of L’Objet’s Malachite dinnerware collection. Complete the look with hand-cut glassware that playfully reflects the light.
Caviar & Champagne
Entertaining is the art of delighting all senses—it’s the pop of a cork, the heady scent of pine, the cool touch of an ice bucket, the salty bump of a rich roe, or the vintage look of a sparkling William Yeoward Crystal glass. Great pairings, like caviar and Champagne, welcome guests past the threshold into an evening of splendor.
BUBBLING WITH JOY
Think of flutes as the carbon keeper—a vessel for Champagne bubbles to thrive before every perfect sip. If a Pét-nat is more your style, enjoy the aroma of an old-world wine the old-world way in a short-stemmed coupe.
Romanticize Your Lighting
The warm incandescence of a gentle flame innately gathers family and friends near. Its glow adds warmth to a room by illuminating special objects or spaces, and most importantly it creates a sense of intimacy for quiet evenings and large-scale celebrations.
BACCARAT
The geometric-cut crystal of Baccarat’s finest creations helps catch and reflect the flame of a single candle, enabling light to dance around the room. For a romantic evening, a small trio of Baccarat candle votives adds a delicious scent and an air of passion into the late hours. Enhance a long dinner table with beveled candleholders in a variety of heights to cast brighter light while maintaining a cozy ambiance.
’Tis the Season For
Very Merry Parties
WORDS BY DEREK C. BLASBERG
The best part of the holidays is celebrating with your loved ones. Whether you’re planning to host a fabulous fête or prefer to party hop, these tips from our friend—writer and New York Times best-selling author Derek C. Blasberg—will help you create magical, memorable moments all season long.
1. Never forget: A good time is a gift you give your friends.
2. Dress up! I’ve always said if you feel good, you’ll look good. And that goes the other way around, too.
3. When it comes to decor, nothing beats fresh flowers and soft candlelight.
4. There’s a time and a place to be practical. This isn’t it.
Derek C. Blasberg is a writer and New York Times best–selling author. Photograph by PierGuido Grassano.
5. Music sets the vibe and can’t be an afterthought. Check those speakers in advance! You don’t need to hire a DJ, but if you’re insecure about your music taste, ask your coolest friend to make a playlist. (It can be their present.)
6. Dance like no one’s watching. Because they’re probably not.
7. Say hi to strangers, especially if they’re cute. We’ve been behind our screens for so long, some of us may have forgotten how to socialize. Make the first move.
8. Put your phone down… after you get good pics and before you get sweaty, obviously.
9. Arrive early, stay late. That’s my motto, and I keep getting invited back.
10. Bring something! Any host gift will do: a bottle of wine, flowers from the corner deli, chocolate, even a scented candle if you’re desperate. Extra credit for the personal or unexpected.
“Remember: the hardest part is MAKING IT LOOK EASY”
11. Never run out of sparkles. By that, I mean ice and liquor. Sequins never hurt either, but a party can never run out of drinks.
12. Post less, party more. The golden age of live streaming your social life is over. We’re physically together again, let’s enjoy it! (You can retouch, filter, and tag the next day.)
SHOTS TO POUR OVER
Capture the essence of the drink and the evening with a glass to match. An elegant night of hors d’oeuvres best pairs with a long, strikingly simple specialty cocktail glass and your favorite liquor. For a more uproarious affair, pick from a vibrant set like Waterford’s aptly named New Year Firework collection.
INTRODUCING
NEIMAN MARCUS’ 1907 COCKTAIL
The name draws inspiration from the year of our founding and celebrates the art of aperitivo, combining Italian bitters with the sweetness of strawberries, Champagne, and refreshing citrus. Available now at Neiman Marcus restaurants.
1⁄2 oz. Campari or Lyre’s Italian Spritz
1⁄2 oz. Joto Yuzu sake
1⁄2 oz. strawberry rose syrup
3 oz. Champagne
1 tbsp. dried edible flowers
Coupe glass
In a cocktail shaker, add ice and first three ingredients. Shake for ten seconds. Strain into coupe and top with Champagne. Sprinkle dried edible flowers on the side of the drink for garnish.
CAUSE A STIR
Cocktail glasses are more than just vessels—they’re an essential part of the drinking experience. The right glass can enhance the taste of your drink and provide a sense of fun formality. Choose from a range of bright, jubilant glasses to sleek clear silhouettes.
A Story On Every Plate
There’s something magical about the dinner table during the holidays. Its enchanting nature collects one and all, from great-grandparents orating their greatest elven lore for children to hear to the tall tales shared amongst friends—even the mercurial teenager lends an eager ear. Inspire your guests to deliver their best, most magical, “Once Upon a Time” with dinner table settings that spark stories of wonder.
FESTIVE FABLES
Set the scene and add a little personality to the table with colorful porcelain tableware and gilded glassware with a vibrant Italian flair.
TALES OF TRADITION
Share a sense of comfort, love, and cheer with timeless holiday dinnerware to bring out year after year.
SPARKLING DETAILS
Enchant guests with bedazzled placemats, table runners, napkin rings, and more that inspire dreams and New Year’s resolutions at your dining table.
LALIQUE
In 1926, Rene Lalique began manufacturing satin-finished vases, bowls, and statuettes—becoming a renowned name in the Art Deco movement. Today, his fine tradition endures with themes ranging from classical forms to ultramodern designs.
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