If it seems like the holidays start earlier every year, then imagine shooting a Christmas table setting story in May! That’s exactly what I did with this piece, which was for a fun story that I contributed for a print publication called Sous-Vide Magazine. They asked me to dream up a midcentury-inspired holiday tabletop to complement a retro cocktail party menu that they’d put together. I was only too happy to channel my inner Betty Draper, and now I’m excited to finally share the result!
What I love most about this tabletop is how easy it would be to recreate at home. The actual components on the table are quite sparse: plates, napkins, flatware, a few small vases and bowls, and a couple candle sticks. What makes it feel festive are the carefully placed mercury glass trees, and of course the sophisticated jewel tone palette of amber and brass, ruby and emerald. It’s a nod to midcentury without feeling like a movie set!
Get this vibe yourself by looking for clean-lined pieces with a little Frank Sinatra-approved flash. Think retro glassware; water tumblers in a metallic hues; mix-and-matched patterned salad plates with stars or snowflakes; and add a couple minimalist glass trees for a hint of holiday pizzazz. Then put some Dean Martin on the stereo, place small serving bowls of cocktail nuts and pimento olives amongst the place settings, and kick off your heels to celebrate how quickly and easily the whole thing came together!
Photos: Monica Wang Photography.