In Style Parties (The Complete Guide to Easy, Elegant Entertaining) - Books

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Want to throw an A-list party without spending heaps of time and money? In Style Parties: The Complete Guide to Easy, Elegant Entertaining is the one-stop guide to making every event stylish and personal, and it proves once and for all that entertaining at home can be easy, fabulous, and fun. Organized in three sections, the book includes:The basics of party preparation, including what to serve and how to create the perfect atmosphere.Complete party guides for every occasion, from dinner parties for 8 to cocktail parties for 30.A listing of the country+s top resources for food, drink, and dcor, from artisanal cheeses and exotic chocolates to flowers and flatwear. The book begins with the Basics section, which arms readers with the essentials of party planning. In thorough yet accessible detail, this section provides tips on how to plan a menu, stock a bar, set a table, serve cocktails, and feed a crowd, efficiently and with finesse. Also covered are tips on invitations, decorations, and music, which set the tone for a special occasion.The heart of the book is twenty of the most popular party guides published in In Style magazine over the last five years. Playful themes, fresh and simple recipes, sexy drinks, elegant dcor, handy timetables, and a non-stuffy approach make it easy to stay on top of all the little details. Readers can follow the guides closely, mix up elements from different guides to suit their unique vision, or simply use them as inspiration. The festivities, dreamed up by top celebrity party planners on both coasts, include:Dinner Parties: Everything from a simple Saturday night supper to a Tuscan feast and a Mexican fiesta. Holiday Parties: Thanksgiving, holiday cocktails, and a New Year+s Eve celebration. Theme Parties: Halloween cocktails; viewing parties to enjoy at-home entertainment, from the Oscars and the Super Bowl to favorite television programs; game night; and girls+ night in. Showers: Bridal and baby showers.Summer Parties: Outdoor cocktails, backyard barbeque, and luau.Birthday Parties: Dinner at home, cocktails, surprise parties, theme parties, restaurant dinners, and milestone birthdays. With its elegant illustrations and vibrant images of celebrity-studded events, colorful drinks, luscious foods, and sophisticated dcor, In Style Parties puts the fun of parties first. This beautifully designed, all-purpose, indispensable guide shows readers how to think like a movie star while organizing like a caterer. The reward is in enjoying your own party as much as your guests. And In Style Parties makes that a reality.

Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

A Must-Have! November 4, 2008
As a professional event planner, I completely support the motto embraced in "InStyle Parties" that "entertaining should be, simply put, entertaining."

True to form, this well written book provides engaging and simple instructions on key entertaining elements including how to stock your bar (complete with cocktail recipes and money-saving tips), how to set your table, decor, music, flowers etc.

Furthermore, the events spotlighted in the book run the gamut from seasonal dinner parties, to holiday fetes, to special occasion nights and summer parties.

Last but certainly not least, "InStyle Parties" is rife with gorgeous photos, full recipes and a huge resource directory.

I highly recommend "InStyle Parties".

4 out of 5 stars

Beautifully photographed, fun party themes October 18, 2008
Beautiful color photos and brightly colored text immediately caught my eye. I was pleased that the vast majority of photos are of the food and the decor. There are only a handful of photos of celebrities at parties. I'd rather see what the food and centerpiece should look like than a photo of another celebrity in a black dress.

The chapter on the basics includes many helpful lists (suggested kitchen equipment, standard bar utensils, wine descriptions, table settings, lighting, furniture arrangement and more).

Chapters on parties are divided into Dinner Parties (spring dinner, early autumn supper, and Mediterrannean dinner); Holiday Parties (Thanksgiving dinner, holiday cocktail party, New Year Eve's supper and Halloween cocktail buffet); Occasions and Theme Parties (Super Bowl party, Oscar party, game night, afternoon spa party, baby shower and birthday dinner party); and Summer Parties (backyard luau, backyard barbeque and tuscan dinner). There is also an extensive resource list for invitations; barware; hors d'oeuvres; pantry items such as spices; cheese; fresh and prepared meats; seafood; specialty foods; desserts; tabletop; decor; theme elements; etc.).

Each party is photographed beautifully. There is a menu, a suggestion for setting the scene (from the invitation to room decor to music), a countdown (what to do three weeks, two weeks, one week, two days, day before, morning of, etc.), wine pairing suggestions, recipes and a section on how to make it all "even easier" (such as buying rather than making dessert, paring down the centerpiece, etc.).

I like many of the themes and the choice of a signature beverage for each one. The music suggestions are varied and perfectly fit each theme. The centerpieces are also gorgeous.

I would have preferred more recipes for each theme (to allow the reader to easily choose 3 out of 4 possible appetizers, for instance). The Thanksgiving menu was particularly disappointing - so many books do it better so they should have just left it out.

The bottom line is that I won't be replicating any party in its entirety. I won't special order film canisters to use to mail invitations to an Oscar party, and I'll skip ordering wheat grass from a florist for the centerpiece for a Super Bowl party. I will use this book to get an idea for a party theme, and I'll look at the signature drink and music suggestions. I'll look at the decorating ideas and figure out how to make them my own (with what I have on hand or can pick up at the grocery store).

If you want a party guide and you're on a modest budget, I suggest checking out Real Simple: Celebrations. That book also has fun themes and beautiful photos, and you may have less trouble translating those ideas into an affordable soiree.

As the book points out, what your guests will remember is good conversations, laughter, and maybe some dancing - not the specific flowers in your centerpiece or what the invitation looked like.

5 out of 5 stars

Great idea book October 12, 2008
Planning for a shower? We found this a great resource for any event. The book visually expresses itself with colorful pages of table presentations and recipe ideas. Recipe for BLT tomatoes was simple and presented well with many comments from the guests about what's in the tomatoes? Delish! Recipes are easy to follow and look tantalizing.

Great book to spring ideas from and brainstorm with. Every party has a what-to-pour idea that includes punches, wines and/or mixed drinks. There are timesaving ideas as well as a schedule for getting ready and prepping. Mostly, this book kicks up your old party ideas with new tricks and trends that work for the casual party or a storied event.

It's now my 1st book to grab and plan with.

5 out of 5 stars

Sure-Fire July 18, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This great recipe book does it all for you--gives you the recipes built for 10 or more, which is invaluable; the timetable for planning the meal starting, sometimes, as far back as three weeks; helps you with decor, color scheme, and centerpieces; and pulls it all together for you.

Parties are organized by seasons (several summer outdoor parties along with comfortable autumn dinners); holidays (includes traditional halloween and Thanksgiving but also a contemporary Christmas and New YEars party) and Themes (Oscar party, game night).

I have had great success with just about everything I've pulled from this book in terms of recipes. They are road-tested and inventive, so that even the Backyard Luau (not the most original theme) has twists on the main dishes and appetizers that are creative enough for the most seasoned Hawaiian diner.

My particular favorite was the Girlfriend's Birthday Party which I threw for my mother-in-law's most recent birthday; the pink peonies, rose-scented votives, and be-ribboned chair backs were simple but together made a beautiful backdrop for the light and delicious fare. The flavorful spinach-bacon-herb salad was such a hit I now make it every time I get the chance and always to rave reviews.

Highly Recommended

5 out of 5 stars

A Variety of Party Ideas!!! January 9, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I read Instyle Magazine, and always would look in the Party/Host section. How great to have a book dedicated to them. Detailed great ideas, colorful pictures for inspiration. I always lend it to any friend that is getting ready to host a party or just for fun.

Good Grape Wine Company