Fashion Designer Lela Rose Knows How to Throw a Dinner Party

1 Invite as Many People as You Can

Image Source: Laura Moss Photography via Joss & Main

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.

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2 Let Fashion Inspire Your Decor

Image Source: Laura Moss Photography via Joss & Main

"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.

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3 Move On From Disasters Quickly

Image Source: Laura Moss Photography via Joss & Main

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.

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4 Create a Specialty Cocktail

Image Source: Laura Moss Photography via Joss & Main

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."

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5 Cook Tried-and-True Dishes

Image Source: Laura Moss Photography via Joss & Main

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.

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6 Don't Be Afraid to Let Loose

Image Source: Laura Moss Photography via Joss & Main

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."

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7 Have the Most Fun

Image Source: Laura Moss Photography via Joss & Main

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.

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