2 minute read
HOST WITH THE MOST
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Summer entertaining is back and better than ever! Indulge in these top tips and gifts for your favorite host.
BY STEPHANIE NASS
For any occasion—dinner, cocktails, or a swim—guests should bring a gift for their host. On the most basic level, a gift acknowledges the privilege of being invited. Moreover, it’s a token of appreciation for all the energy that goes into creating a welcoming environment. The best gifts are thoughtful, funny, and interesting. Any products with a local tie to the Hamptons are extra endearing. And a strong choice can help you secure a return invite.
To avoid a dud, start planning your present as soon as you receive the invitation, putting a focus on your host. A good gift giver is a great listener! If you don’t know your host well, use your imagination. Do a little digging: What color wine does her Instagram tell you she prefers? Remove all price tags, and don’t forget to add a card. Pretty wrapping sets the first impression, so make it strong.
I love to bring two gifts— one that can be consumed immediately and another that can be enjoyed forever. Two classic pairs are a cake with a cake cutter or a bottle of wine with an opener. Shown here are my top picks for the Hamptons host this summer. T
Stephanie Nass Table linens are a timeless luxury that any host would appreciate. Complement the trousseau with elegant or humorous linens. If you’re bringing cocktail napkins, bring the libation, too. VEyelet Dinner Napkins in
White, set of 4, $108 VHydrangea Cocktail
Napkins in Blue, set of 4, $48
Both available at chefanie.com
Bring flowers arranged in a lovely vase; the host has enough to worry about without the task of arranging stems. VFresh flowers from a local farmstand, arranged in a Calinda Moon Vase in Forest Green, $295, aerin.com
If you don’t know your host’s tastes, these classics are sure to please. VWhite Feather Candles, set of 2, $36, chefanie.com VThe Big Book of the
Hamptons, $95, modaoperandi.com Ask your host whether she needs anything. If she requests dessert, thank goodness for clarity and pick up this stainless-steel cutter to serve it. VBamboo Cake Cutter, $55, chefanie.com
