How we holiday: The art of holiday entertaining, according to this season’s tastemakers

As the holidays approach and calendars begin to fill up with festive plans, hosting season is just around the corner. Nothing captures the spirit of the holiday season quite like timeless traditions, nostalgic décor, and delicious meals shared with the people who matter most. It’s also the perfect time to consider hosting a holiday party (or two!) of your own.

Since no single celebration is ever the same, we chatted with three seasonal tastemakers—Maria de la Orden, Aurora James, and Nell Diamond—who share how they make their holiday and Christmas party ideas come to life in warm, festive, and unique ways. For womenswear co-founder Maria de la Orden, it’s all about blending traditional Christmas elements with unexpected personal touches inspired by her Spanish roots and Parisian home base. LA-based fashion designer and author Aurora James leans into the season’s offerings: bountiful tablescapes topped with piles of harvest fare and décor made from natural materials. As for Nell Diamond, the founder and CEO of Hill House Home, she centers her holiday season around preppy feminine touches paired with classic prints, bow-adorned gifts, and rooms drenched in warm candlelight.

For more on how Maria, Aurora, and Nell make their holiday gatherings merry, read our full conversations diving into hosting tips, décor inspiration, and everything in between.

Setting the festive tone

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

 

Maria de la Orden

Excitement! I want them to look forward to spending a lovely evening together right away. For me, the holidays are really about being with friends and family, having a cozy atmosphere, a beautiful setting, and, of course, very good food. Nothing should feel too formal—I want everyone to feel at home and enjoy themselves.

Aurora James

Hopefully anticipation of a multi-sensory experience: warmth, friendship, togetherness—delicious food, candlelight, joyous holiday music, and that person you haven’t seen in a little bit but are DYING to catch up with. Also, I never want a guest to come to my house and start wondering what the dress code is. The answer should always be ‘come as you are.’ Favorite sweater, jeans, a dress, anything you are most comfortable in. 

Nell Diamond

Excitement, joy, and anticipation! 

 

Describe your dream holiday event or reason for bringing people together.

Maria

A beautiful, intimate Christmas dinner at home with family and my closest friends. A tablecloth with lots of character is always the starting point. Then, I set the table with silverware, antique plates, vintage napkins, and lots of candles. I’d decorate with flowers, Christmas tree branches, grapes, artichokes, or seasonal fruits and vegetables. The menu would have oysters, foie gras, smoked salmon with crème fraîche, blinis, and a chapon with roasted potatoes for the main. A warm bouillon is always wonderful in winter too. For me, it’s really about bringing everyone together around a beautiful table and enjoying a long, cozy dinner.

Aurora

At home, with people I love and a few I want to know better. Too much food, lots of candles, great music, kids running around, and people staying much later than they planned.

Nell

Dinner at home in New York City with my college best friends. The overhead lights are off—lamps and candles only—and the space is decorated with lots of fresh flowers. Everyone dresses up. We have spicy tuna on crispy rice and sip drinks in pretty glasses, and afterwards, we play the best party game: Salad Bowl!

 

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

Maria

Of course, a big Christmas tree—for me, it’s the most important part! Every year I try to decorate it a little differently. Some years I’m more minimalist, and other years we just put absolutely everything on it! I also love adding Christmas tree branches along the staircase and over the fireplace; it immediately makes the house feel warm and festive. And being Spanish, we always have a Belén, our traditional nativity scene, so of course I’ve brought that tradition with me to our home in Paris.

Aurora

I incorporate greenery, candlelight, ribbons, collected ornaments, and put up a very big tree. I like my home festive and layered, but still personal—not overly themed or perfect.

 

Nell

I dress my home in lots of green, garlands especially. I love festive trinkets like nutcrackers and reindeer, and my friend Mrs. Alice has the best selection.

 

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

Maria

Last year, I celebrated my birthday at home with one of my best friends, as our birthdays are both around December 18th. We invited just our girlfriends and created a beautiful buffet in the dining room. It was intimate and cozy, with the fire lit, lots of candles, good food, and everyone gathered together. Sometimes the simplest evenings with your closest friends are the most special.

Aurora

The best ones are when dinner is over, and nobody wants to leave. All the shoes come off, people move from the table to the couch to the floor, another bottle gets opened, and everyone forgets what time it is.

 

Holiday trends and traditions

What trends are you predicting for the 2026 holiday season?

Maria

I don’t really try to predict trends. I prefer to follow what I love and what feels authentic to me. For the holidays, I often look back rather than forward. I love finding vintage images of beautiful Christmas tables, interiors, and celebrations and taking inspiration from them. There’s something about those timeless settings that always feel special.

Aurora

More warmth, personality, and nostalgia. Less perfection, more vintage pieces, natural materials, texture, candlelight, and things that actually mean something to you.

 

What’s your favorite holiday food or beverage?

Maria

It’s difficult to choose! I love vol-au-vent and chapon; both feel very festive and nostalgic to me.

Aurora

Anything comforting and abundant that everyone can pass around the table. And always a great holiday cocktail, good wine, and Champagne.

Nell

To serve, a decorate-your-own sugar cookie bar with plenty of Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines frosting and toppings galore. To consume, Diet Coke in the fanciest cocktail glass, over ice with extra lime and maybe a cherry if I’m feeling crazy.

 

Do you have any go-to holiday traditions?

Maria

I love mixing my Spanish Christmas traditions with the ones we have created as a family in Paris. 

Aurora

I start decorating immediately after Thanksgiving and commit. Holiday music inside and outside, tree up, candles everywhere. I’m that neighbor.

Nell

A cozy bagel brunch with the cousins at home.

 

What are you looking forward to most about the holiday season this year?

Maria

Definitely experiencing the magic of Christmas through my children. They’re at an age where everything feels exciting and magical, and I find myself rediscovering that feeling through them. Seeing their excitement about the tree, the decorations, the presents, and all our little traditions makes Christmas even more special for me.

 

Aurora

With smartphones and social media becoming so common in the last 10 years, in-person moments are more important than ever. Sometimes we forget what it’s like to just hang out on a pillow on the floor and chat with friends. I have always LOVED the holiday season.

Nell

Living in New York with young children during the holiday season is truly magical. We have an exhaustive list of cultural activities we do every year—my favorite last year was the New York Philharmonic’s “Home Alone” performance at Lincoln Center. The Orchestra plays the score live while you watch the film on a massive screen, and it’s so fun for all ages! We also pick a new Broadway show to see as a family every year. Last year, we chose “Operation Mincemeat,” and we all loved it. 

 

Holiday party hosting tips

If you were to give three pieces of advice to a host who wants to throw a holiday event, what would they be?

Maria

1. Create a cozy atmosphere: lots of candles, warm lighting, and music make such a difference.
2. Really think about the table—it’s one of the most important parts. Decorate with a beautiful tablecloth, antique plates, nice napkins, and pieces that don’t necessarily match.
3. Have fun with the flowers. I love an arrangement that feels a little unexpected—not too perfect or traditional. The whole setting should feel beautiful but also relaxed and personal.

Aurora

1. Curate the guest list.
2. Keep the food and setting unfussy.
3. Get the lighting right—turn off the overhead lights, light the candles, cue the music, and let people settle in.

Nell

1. Turn off the overhead lights: lamps and candles only.
2. Dress up—the host sets the tone. 
3. Double the dessert. Everyone likes options!

 

Any other hosting tips or tricks?

Maria

I love adding one small personal surprise for each guest. In Paris, Poilâne makes individual little breads with your guests’ names on them, which I love leaving at each place setting. It’s such a charming detail, and everyone loves discovering their name at the table.

Aurora

Your guest list is super important, whether it’s a dinner for five or 50. Curating a group of familiar faces, sprinkled in with some new ones, is always really nice. For a larger dinner, I always advise assigned seating. It’s a great opportunity to introduce certain friends to one another and connect dots on why you chose them as seatmates. Keep the seating and the food fuss-free. I don’t think things need to be perfect; I like a bit of feral mess and energy-abundant consumption.

 

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