Styling your soirée
TIM GUNN is a recent ambassador for the Nespresso brand, and it is not a stretch of the imagination to see why they make such a great pairing. Both are schooled on matters of style. Nespresso is renowned for sleek streamlined coffee makers, and Gunn is the professorial patriarch on the hit television fashion reality show, Project Runway.
Recently, I had a chance to chat with the dapper Mr. Gunn in the Nespresso Boutique Bar Soho in New York for their latest machine, the VertuoLine, and I found the similarities between the two even more evident.
Both are design-savvy – he in his immaculate pinstriped suit matching the sophisticated aura of the Nespresso cafés – there are several in North America – all of which look more like cool art galleries than caffeine watering holes.
Here, Gunn crisply dispenses with some tips on style and entertaining during the holidays.
“Let your guests serve themselves. Set everything up in such a way that you don’t have to be involved in their care and feeding. I find guests enjoy it so much more because they feel independent, no one is watching over to see how much they are drinking or monitoring them.”
“If you live alone, like I do, do something for yourself. On Christmas Eve, I go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and look at all the Renaissance art works. It’s religious in nature, and I feel like I’ve had my time in church in a manner of speaking.”
“Dress up. If you’re a host or hostess, don’t wear an apron. You’re not hired help. I know there are hot dishes to be taken out of the oven. Also, put people to work. Engage them – ‘Here, take these cheese puffs and put them on the table.’ The host sets the tone. So even if you have to be a good actor, act stress-free, act relaxed and have a couple of drinks.”
Maybe a Nespresso martini!