Over the weekend, Gwyneth Paltrow opened the doors of her Los Angeles home for a star-studded dinner party in celebration of G. Label, her Goop brand’s apparel arm.
Welcoming the likes of Molly Sims, Laura Harrier, Chelsea Handler, Santigold and Rachel Zoe, to name a few, Paltrow provided guests with a night of good food, drinks and better company. Against a crackling fireplace and soft holiday music, the intimate gathering was the epitome of chic, as to be expected from the Goop queen herself.
As one would imagine, the intimate soirée offered many lessons in the art of hosting. And it just so happens that she revealed the secrets to throwing a top-notch party.
Speaking to W Magazine, the actress and lifestyle entrepreneur shared some of her behind-the-scenes tricks to navigating a successful function. Read on for all her tips to get you through the holiday season.
Food Is Fundamental
“At my house, the food sets the tone for the evening,” Paltrow told the outlet of her party’s refined but hearty menu. “I tasked the chef to create bite-size steak frites; warm, melting caviar baked potatoes; towers of gougères, and a gorgeous mound of butter.”
These were served alongside radishes branded with a ceremonious ‘G’ and martinis.
Conversation Starters
While Paltrow did make a speech to mark the evening, she encouraged conversation among her guests by leaving out “thought-provoking conversation cards to encourage people to dip below the surface,” she revealed.
“If it’s a small group, I love a prompt that starts a single-thread conversation with the whole table,” she said. “But I find this method of conversation-starting to be helpful for cocktail parties as well.”
Distilled Decor
She may be known for her quiet luxury ways, but Paltrow knows that a tasteful setup doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg.
“Décor doesn’t have to be expensive to be chic,” she said. “A black velvet ribbon from Amazon can do the trick—or pick up a few pomegranates from the market, cut them in two, and place them haphazardly around the table.
“One hint: the juiciest ones are actually the palest, but when you use them as décor, make sure to buy the underripe ones for the most vibrant colour.”
Like the event, the new apparel line leans into a warm and timeless aesthetic.
“The latest collection is a little Jane Birkin, a little Carolyn Bessette Kennedy,” she explained. “Classic with an irresistible twist.”
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.