1. A feminine summer dress - I like to wear block colours as they're a great canvas to make our jewellery pop! I also like to go for a fabric that feels lovely to wear. The way a garment hangs and feels is more important than a trend or current look.
2. A new lipstick. A bright colour can add instant change to mood and style.
3. Great Champagne: G H Mumm Rose please, or Veuve Clicquot.
4. A party is not a party without a great sound system and DJ.
5. Who enjoys the festive season without family and friends? Hands down, the most important festive ingredients.
Entertaining style
Personally, I like to entertain with home-cooked dinners. Special occasion breakfasts are a family favourite, too.
Not many birthdays or events worth celebrating manage to slip by us without a lil' gathering to mark the occasion. I like to involve our children in parties at home, too.
Sometimes simple is best; nothing easier than a pizza party in the garden, especially when the hubby is on the job!
Best parties
There are two parties that have been the most memorable for me so far. One was a secret location - which, when the sun came up, turned out to be on a floating pontoon off the coast of a small island in Bali.
It was put on by a brand called Buddhist Punk, and had international DJs and a group of tanned, free-spirited fashion designers twirling around the pontoon.
Morgan Ruth and I were in Bali designing our second ever collection, and ended up staying on this little island for a week snorkelling and having extreme fun.
Another party that will always stay with me was an event in Paris that my husband and I attended. It had all the cool French and German DJs of the time, and it was in a massive aquatic park - with all sorts of levels of swimming pools, bridges, giant whale sculptures, and crazy Frenchie dancers!
My husband was playing in an electro band at the time and we were connected to the event through music friends.
Party playlist
• I am currently really enjoying Magic by Swedes Do It Better
• So Good Being In Trouble by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
• There are mixes available to download on iCloud that I really like by Grizzley Mix
Party Tips
• Invite close friends. Have great food and cocktails, play good music, wear a sassy outfit ... nothing can go wrong.
• The flowers - Decorate the house with flowers - arrangements, fresh wild flowers, anything from Nina and Co in Ponsonby. This time of year is great for peonies and hydrangeas. Miniature and oversized arrangements captivate me.
• The table - I like to use a long roll of brown paper as a tablecloth - it means you can personalise table settings with hand drawing, and kids can entertain themselves while parents chat. It's creative fun.
• The location - Try recreating a dinner setting in a different location. Why eat at the kitchen table? Move the lot on to the deck or into a local park or beach and decorate the surrounding area with lighting and blankets and comfy chill out areas!
• The food - Home-cooked and full of fresh in-season ingredients. It's nice to host a soiree with real food, grown locally and preferably organic. You want people to leave feeling happy so it's important to make food that is easy to eat and leaves you feeling good.
- VIVA
