How we holiday: Tastemaker tips for hosting the perfect seasonal fête

No two holiday celebrations look quite the same. Whether your festivities center on timeless traditions, inventive menus, or sentimental décor, hosting a holiday party that feels uniquely “you” might be easier than you think. We turned to three tastemakers to see how they bring their individual warmth and style to seasonal gatherings. 

For UK-based stylist, author, and TV presenter Paula Sutton, Christmas at her historic Norfolk home means candlelight, greenery, and a touch of old-world glamour. In Paris, private chef Laszlo Marie Badet’s holiday style is rooted in family tradition and memory, with sensory gatherings made for savoring. And from her New York home, Kate Berry, US editor for Cabana Magazine, prioritizes sharing meals with family and friends. 

From vintage charm to effortlessly stylish gatherings, their holiday party ideas prove there’s no single way to make the season bright. Read on for our full conversations with Paula, Laszlo, and Kate.

Meet the tastemakers 

How would you describe your design style? 

Paula Sutton

My style is an eclectic mix of vintage, antique, and modern, with a huge amount of inspiration taken from traditional English country house style. My home, Hill House, is a Georgian house built in 1822, so this mixture suits it well, always with a whimsical hint of a past era.

Laszlo Marie Badet 

I would describe my style as classic, elegant, and creative. I like to integrate secondhand tableware pieces, sober and elegant silverware, or exceptional secondhand clothing pieces into my style. These elements are important to me because they are tied to memory, and I like to bring them back into the present, to continue their story and weave them into new narratives.

Kate Berry

I would describe my design style as classic, layered, and relaxed. 

Who or what inspires you? 

 

Paula

I am inspired by nature, art, literature, and of course, the things I see in films and television. I grew up watching old Hollywood musicals, which have inspired the way that I dress, on occasion. I am constantly watching, observing, and taking inspiration from my surroundings.

Laszlo 

I am deeply inspired by the landscapes of my Swiss childhood: the lakes, the vineyards, and the colors of nature. But also the birds, the view of Paris from my terrace, and the faces and presences around me. And most of all, my companion inspires me. He brings me another way of seeing the world, filled with wisdom and gentleness, and gives me so much of his knowledge.

Kate

Travel, art, books, theatre, dance—anything cultural will always inspire. My friends and colleagues inspire me the most. 

How they holiday

What feeling do you hope guests will have when receiving a holiday invitation from you?

Paula

I hope that they will be excited to enter into a visual wonderland of vintage beauty! I love creating tablescapes, and I always go all out on a theme, so guests love the whole spectacle of turning up and wondering how I’ve decorated this time.

Laszlo 

I hope they immediately feel the warmth of the celebration awaiting them and the care I’ve put into making sure they will enjoy a delicious moment of elegance and human kindness. My invitations are simply a way of saying, “We love you, and this dinner is our way of showing it.” 

Kate

I hope my guests feel pleasure, excitement, and anticipate a cozy night with a delicious family-style meal, fun conversations, and a lot of laughing.

What is your dream holiday event? 

 

Paula

My dream event would be a long dining table set with candles and bud vases down the centre, with vintage brass candlesticks and silverware, French linen monogrammed napkins, and a vintage dinner service. On the menu: individual Beef Wellingtons, potatoes dauphinoise, and winter greens in garlic butter. There would be a jazz band, so everyone would be foxtrotting their way around the dancefloor or tapping their toes whilst they sip their cocktails! 

Laszlo

The setting would be a long table covered with an old white cotton sheet, perhaps one of the antique linens I used for my wedding, embroidered with our initials. Around it, my family, my friends, and their children. I’d create the perfect mood by playing vintage Christmas songs and lighting beautiful candles—long tapers casting a soft and gentle glow. The delicate ting-ting of a Christmas carillon completes the atmosphere. 

Kate

My dream holiday would include eating, drinking, games, and hanging by the fireplace or fire pit, surrounded by nature. There would be candlelight to create the perfect mood, and my family and friends would enjoy Vietnamese or Italian cuisine together. 

How do you like to decorate your home for the holidays? 

Paula

One of my favourite ways to decorate is to imagine a Dickensian Christmas—all bows, greenery, and boughs from the garden—and candlelight.

Laszlo

With white fabrics, a Christmas tree, and vintage ornaments collected year after year by loved ones who know how much I treasure them.

Kate

I always have a tree packed with ornaments, fruit on the table, and Swedish gummies in the dishes. 

What was the best holiday party you’ve either hosted or attended?

Laszlo

My family once surprised me by coming to Paris for Christmas while I was working long hours in the couture workshops. They all arrived unexpectedly in my tiny apartment, and we gathered around a little branch of fir I had hung on the wall. It was one of the most magical Christmases.

Kate

My sister and I hosted a gathering for 30 of my cousins and their kids. The last time we all saw each other was for a funeral, and we promised to get together, so to be able to cook a Vietnamese meal for all of them and be together for the holidays was pretty special.

Trends and traditions

 

What trends are you predicting for the 2025 holiday season?

Paula

I think that the timelessness of nature’s beauty always wins—I predict a continuation of natural foliage and earthy elements, such as ivy twined around a staircase and pinecones in bowls. However, this year I also want to bring out my playful, more colourful, vintage-loving side with a nod to the retro aesthetic of the 1950s. 

Laszlo

I believe the holidays will be thought of with greater simplicity and reflection, in harmony with nature and the seasons. I always encourage my clients to choose seasonal flowers or dried foliage when fresh ones are not available, and to present tables that are respectful of context and place. For me, it is far more inspiring to create with what we already have around us than to build a theme artificially from standardized objects.

What’s your favorite holiday food or beverage? 

Paula

To serve: Snowballs are always a novel cocktail to offer—everyone remembers them from their childhood!

To consume: I love traditional steamed Christmas pudding with brandy butter or cream. It’s my favourite part of Christmas dinner.

Laszlo

To serve: Without hesitation, mulled wine.

To consume: It’s essential that I include the flavors of my childhood. Potatoes, perhaps mashed or pan-fried with butter, chestnuts to stuff the turkey, served alongside cranberries, walnuts, and marzipan, and star-shaped cookies dusted with icing sugar. 

Kate

To serve: Caviar with brioche and butter.

To consume: Caviar with brioche and butter.

 

Do you have any go-to holiday traditions? 

Paula

We always have a real tree and have collected it from the same place since the children were little. Most years, we all go to pick the tree together, even though the children are grown up now.  They also open their Christmas stockings on Christmas morning on our bed, just like when they were little! 

Kate

We’ve been going to the New York City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at Lincoln Center for almost 20 years. The sets and costumes have always been the same, and it’s really the best production. It’s pretty special, as our group has grown every year, and even though the kids are older now, they still love the tradition so much. 

What are you looking forward to this holiday season?

Paula

For me, I always enjoy decorating and family coming together. I love hosting and feeding people. I don’t want anyone to feel alone or forgotten at Christmas, so there is often an extra seat or two ready just in case. That is, after all, the true spirit of Christmas—togetherness. 

Laszlo

Resting with my husband after a magnificent and intense year marked by our wedding. We want to celebrate Christmas with our families in Switzerland and Brittany before traveling again, as we do each year—probably to Japan, or perhaps to India this time.

Kate

I’m most looking forward to cooking for friends and family this holiday.

Holiday hosting tips

What advice do you have for hosts who want to throw a holiday event? 

Paula 

Prepare way in advance: both with setting the table and with your choice of dishes. I set the table first thing in the morning so that it’s all sorted before I start cooking. Always make sure that at least two courses don’t require attention whilst you’re enjoying the party. Have some atmospheric music playing in the background and a pre-organised cocktail waiting for your guests as they arrive. 

Laszlo

Make sure every object—plates, cutlery, napkins—shines in its best light. This might mean ironing napkins or oiling the wooden table before guests arrive. Create an atmosphere that reflects who you are: music always plays before guests arrive, glasses are already ready on the table for a welcome toast, candles are lit, and a subtle scent of incense fills the air. 

Kate

Holiday or not, keep the drinks flowing, and depending on how long the party goes, keep having food and snacks coming out. If you can, splurge and hire someone to help serve and clean up, so you can enjoy your party.

Any other hosting tips and tricks?

Paula

Mix vintage with new—it adds a personal touch that can’t be replicated.

Laszlo

Let the best of yourself shine, and be generous with love and care.

Kate

Try to do as much as possible beforehand, so you can enjoy being with your guests.

Thank you, Paula, Laszlo, and Kate! Ready to host your own holiday party full of thoughtful details? Find your perfect holiday invitation, then customize it to match your style. 

For more Christmas party ideas and hosting tips from the “How I Holiday” series, read our interviews with interior stylist Colin King, artist and Gohar World co-founder Laila Gohar, and Stissing House’s chef-owner Clare de Boer.