Merryn Corcoran. Photo / Babiche Martens.
Flitting between New Zealand and the South of France keeps novelist Merryn Corcoran's social calendar packed. The honorary Unicef fellow and ex-model has just released her first novel The Silent Village, a family saga set in the French and Italian Rivieras.
"My favourite way of celebrating is around a dinner table with good food and great friends. Ideally, no more than eight people seated around the table so you can all share the conversation and the humour. I least like a really noisy room where everyone has to shout to be heard."
My party essentials for the festive season
1. Little black dress from Paula Ryan. She consistently creates clothes that flatter and travel well, which is essential for my lifestyle.
2. New Issey Miyake trousers and jacket.
3. Chanel body cream.
4. Zara summer ankle boots.
5. My well turned out husband, Tim, who never lets me down.
I'm an extreme glamour girl, so I like to have at least two "current" party dresses in my wardrobe for each season. I love high heels but, sadly, my feet have aged faster than the rest of me so I'm restricted with these and I can only do "car to bar" with really high, otherwise it's a kitten heel but something pointy as they always look elegant.
As I live between two countries, it depends where I am as to what I wear. On the French Riviera you can be as glam and bling as you like, which suits me, but you must back it up with good grooming.
France is very inexpensive for manicures and pedicures, so a comprehensive maintenance programme is affordable. In New Zealand, I feel I have to tone it down a bit, but I'm always pleasantly surprised how fabulous New Zealand women look.
Best parties
There have been many, but post-earthquake in Christchurch we had 14 friends of around 30 years standing. I sourced photos of everybody from 30 years ago, photocopied them and placed them at the table settings (covered).
Guests were invited to move around the table and peep under the covers until they found their place. It was great hearing the laughs when they discovered their long forgotten bad photos.
Halfway through the meal goodie bags were given out and guests were requested to "wear" or "act out" whatever was in their bag.
I had filled them from the two dollar shop with fake moustaches, fake tattoos, silly eye glasses, etc. For me, entertaining is about taking people out of the serious side of their lives and creating laughter.
At my dear friend Richard O'Brien's (of The Rocky Horror Show fame) 65th birthday in the Groucho club in London, there was little old me from New Zealand circulating with a Rolling Stone, Barry Humphries and Jennifer Saunders, to mention a few, and best of all Richard stealing the show dressed in the most divine confection.
Much to the embarrassment of my husband and daughter, I managed a "selfie" on my primitive camera with nearly all the guests.
Party tips
• I always check if anybody has dietary constraints in advance. We never ask or expect the guests to contribute to the food or the wine. If they bring a bottle of wine it's graciously appreciated.
• My husband and I work as a team. We jointly plan the menu and always try for fresh and seasonal foods. My husband is an excellent cook so we never fill people up with substantial nibbles or cheese before a dinner party as I believe it spoils the palate for the meal.
• The table - I love to set a beautiful table, perhaps with a colour theme. I have a selection of damask tablecloths and cloth napkins. All white crockery and always fresh flowers.
• The ambience - Lighting and fragrance are key components to enhance the ambience of a dining room; low lighting combined with candles works well.
• The music - A diverse selection of jazz and soul, also Buddha Bar and Asian funk for background.
The food
• Italian or Mediterranean always present with visual delight. Always fresh and predominantly vegetarian and local fish, which encompasses most people's tastes.
• Party dos - Plenty of eats, good wine, good manners.
• Party don'ts - Avoid talking politics and religion or getting too drunk.
- VIVA