7 Stylish Entertaining Lessons From Lela Rose

Updated on 2/10/2015 at 9:05 AM

When celebrity-favorite designer Lela Rose isn't busy prepping for Fashion Week, she can be found in her loft in the Lower Manhattan neighborhood of TriBeCa, letting down her chignon and hosting a fun-filled dinner party. Like her red carpet looks, her bashes are elegant yet unstuffy. She even admits to throwing an entire dinner party around a fabulous dress she was dying to wear. How much do you want to be her friend right now?!

We're not the only ones charmed by Lela; the home flash-sale site Joss & Main teamed up with the designer on a curated collection of dining and entertaining products available now until March 10.

In preparation for the collection, Joss & Main visited the designer before one of her epic dinner parties. Check out the enviable spread and read the designer's seven entertaining tips ahead.

Invite as Many People as You Can

The more the merrier when it comes to throwing a dinner party. Lela regularly hosts parties for between 16 and 68 guests in her spacious TriBeCa apartment. To accommodate everyone, she has not one, but two dining room tables that join together to form one extralong table. One comes down from the ceiling on cables (no joke!) and another comes up out of the floor.

Let Fashion Inspire Your Decor

"I've always said dress yourself and dress your table, and I think that there's nothing more chic than matching your saucer to your skirt," said Lela, who loves to mix print, pattern, and texture all on one tabletop. The stunning tablescape seen here was inspired by the 2015 Lela Rose fashion collection, which was based off of traditional kimonos.

Move On From Disasters Quickly

One thing this seasoned entertainer has learned is to speed quietly past any party snafu. "You just cover it up as much as you can and move on and still have a good time." The lesson: if you don't dwell on it, neither will your guests.

Create a Specialty Cocktail

Lela's key to successful entertaining? A specialty cocktail. "I think that it's something that people often overlook. But as your guest comes in your home, they can understand immediately that it is something special, that they're in for a good time, and that you really thought about details. And I think that that always puts everyone at ease."

Cook Tried-and-True Dishes

A dinner party is not the place to experiment with a new entree. Avoid unwanted party stress and culinary missteps by sticking with dishes you've made before. "I always say do not try new dishes at a dinner party," said Lela, though she admits to breaking her own rule to disastrous effect. See tip three for what to do in this situation.

Don't Be Afraid to Let Loose

You might be surprised to hear that this designer of ladylike frocks is not afraid of getting down and dirty when it comes to partying. Of her enviable double-table setup, she said, "You can swing on the table that comes out of the ceiling, you can dance on the tables that come out of the floor — there is just an endless amount of ridiculous opportunity to make a fool of yourself."

Have the Most Fun

If there's one end-all piece of advice Lela has to impart, it's to always be having fun. "If you're not having a good time, what was the point of doing it? You've made everyone else feel a little on edge because you're not having a great time." To calm preparty nerves, she suggests you start sipping one of your signature cocktails an hour before guests arrive.