Editorial Image
On growing up on the West Coast...

I’m 5th generation Angeleno. I grew up in a more formal family and my parents entertained a lot. They were in the newspaper business originally, the Los Angeles Times. So they had some fun, interesting parties and I absorbed all of that, watching my mom arrange flowers in the garden, set the table, mix and match. We always had seated dinners, always in coat and tie for the holidays.. I remember my dad’s 60th birthday, they brought in Bobby Short from New York who played the piano at The Carlyle.
  
On her personal hosting style, mixing things up, and why she loves tulips...

It’s a mixture between traditional and modern—and often colorful. For example, I love putting dark pink tulips—I see tulips as a more modern, streamlined flower—in silver vases inherited from my mother and pair with different colored chargers on the table. But I won't do a big mix of china and flowers and silverware...it’s about balance, you want a kind of ying-yang effect. I don’t mix linens, as I don’t like the table to look busy or distracted. I like consistency, detail, a little restraint. It should look pretty and natural.
  
When it comes to flowers specifically, I do love abundance and repetition—and I like to keep them low. They shouldn’t take up too much attention, they just have to complement everything else going on. I also let the space dictate how I’m going to set the table or what the event is going to be like. If I do it outside, I'll enhance upon the greens of the garden; if I do it inside, I'll enhance the colors of our dining room.
 
Editorial Image
On how she’s finding the silver lining to canceled holiday plans...

Normally, every year we have a big party in Sun Valley, Idaho: cocktails and seated dinner for about 130 people. It takes place in a historic building on the mountain; you take a gondola up to the restaurant. It’s so fun. Sadly, all Christmas parties are canceled, so it’s really about being more intimate and enjoying your family. This year we will be celebrating with all our seven adult kids, it’s the first Christmas with our new granddaughter, so that is exciting. We’re really enjoying being home more...and I’m getting more creative with dinners.
  
On her (highly recommended) holiday signature: the Bloody Mary bar...

As the kids have gotten older, it’s been really fun to graduate from hot chocolate on super early mornings to lazy mornings and a Bloody Mary bar. You have the Bloody Mary mix, the vodka, the celery, olives, pretzels, pickles...I do all the condiments, and I love arranging them in fun glassware. I do little sandwiches and chips in the living room, and you can go back to make your Bloody Marys throughout the day because everything’s set up. I’m constantly thinking of how to do things ahead of time so you can spend more time with your family. Get it all done the day before and put it in the refrigerator—I put the celery, olives, and pickles in Ziploc baggies so it’s all ready to go, then you just have to put it on the tray.
 
Editorial Image
On finding her own sense of style & embracing her bohemian side...

My style has evolved so much over the years. I think as you get more comfortable with yourself, you experiment more. I like to have fun with fashion now; I feel more confident being more creative and trying new things. I always used to be in solids—blacks, ivories, navys—and now I wear a lot of print. I like femininity, clothes that are flattering, and I like to look a little more bohemian now. It’s so important to stay true to who you are. I love Oscar de la Renta, Zimmermann, Giambattista Valli, and Etro. I grew up with more rules, it was more formal. Now the world is so much more open and diverse and it’s wonderful to embrace different aesthetics.
  
On why she’s still dressing up this year...

My wardrobe has definitely become more relaxed during COVID, but I also think it’s more important than ever to get dressed up and feel good—especially during the holidays. If the hostess is going to make an effort to set the table, you should make an effort to get dressed!