What makes a dinner party super stylish? How do you create an elegant table setting with minimal effort? And how do the truly chic pick out the perfect finishing touches? For some tastemakers, all of these things are second nature. These are the women whom fashion labels, celebrities and designers use to dream up their events. So we asked three of these influential experts to share their know-how and give us the low-down on the easy ways we can all sprinkle some of their stardust over our lives...
TABLES & FLOWERS Tastemaker: Fiona Leahy
Creative director and event designer Fiona Leahy originally worked in fashion before she decided to venture into events, dreaming up some of the most beautiful parties for international brands that include Estée Lauder, Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, as well as for private clients.
It all began when she was commissioned to design the wedding of the burlesque entertainer Dita Von Teese and, not surprisingly, her calling card remains her opulent blend of old-school glamour and romance.
A recent dinner in Vienna’s gilded Palais Liechtenstein, for Italian shoe label Aquazzura, was typical of Fiona’s rich style, with ornate tables laden with delicate floral centrepieces, little lamps with pleated shades, and beautiful place settings finished with crisp linens.
However, every one of Fiona’s events boasts immaculate attention to detail, complete with monogrammed napkins, velvet ribbons, colourful candles and extraordinarily stunning flowers, which all come together beautifully in her idiosyncratic style.
FIONA’S TIPS: FLOWERS DON’T NEED TO COST A FORTUNE
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Esta historia es de la edición September 2019 de woman & home South Africa.
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