DOGS & WEDDINGS

DWAYNE IS WEARING BLAZER BY REESE OF LONDON PANTS BY CALVIN KLEIN SOCKS BY PIERRE CARDIN

JENNIFER IS WEARING BALL GOWN BY PAMELA ROLAND BRACELET BY HERMES EARRINGS BY VAN CLEEF & ARPELS

JENNIFER IS WEARING BLACK LACE MAXI DRESS BY NINA RICCI DWAYNE IS WEARING BLACK TURTLE NECK BY JOS A. BANK, SLACKS BY KENNETH COLE, OXFORDS BY BRUNO MAGLI

JENNIFER IS WEARING A BLUE DRESS BY JOVANI

GUCCI POUDRE DE BEAUTE

ESCADA SUMMER FESTIVAL

GUCCI STYLO CONTOUR DES YEUX – KOHL EYELINER

WHAT'S in YOUR Beauty BAG

with Kim Spadaro

Image by Franklin Thompson

DAISY MARC JACOBS EAU SO INTENSE

OMHH FABULOUSLY THERAPEUTIC VEGAN CONDITIONER HERBAL SPA COLLECTION GUCCI ROUGE DE BEAUTÉ BRILLANT

Gifts

ALL FOR HER

from bridesmaidgiftsboutique.com

MADDISON MAKEUP BAG

PERFECT PASHMINA

BAG FOR BABES

DEVILISHLY SMOOTH SATIN ROBE

BADGLEY MISCHKA LAILA IS WEARING GOWN BY KOSIBAH , SHOES BY KONE IS WEARING COUTURE TUXEDO DINNER JACKET BY GARCON , TUXEDO SHIRT BY TOM FORD

GUESS WHO'S COMING to DINNER

STORY BY CARI WIRA DINEEN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANKLIN THOMPSON

It’s the big night. Nope, we’re not talking about your wedding night. We’re talking about introducing your parents to your betrothed’s parents. Could there be a more stressful event? How about hosting it during a pandemic? With so many restaurants out of business, or with

COVID restrictions in place, it makes sense to host the “big meeting” at home. And, of course, this would be a night to impress—every detail handled to perfection. The expectations are high, all around, so beware of the tensions.

Remember, there is no valid reason to believe you can’t pull it off. I’m thinking about the classic, 1967 film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” starring Katherine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier, and Spencer Tracey for inspiration. This iconic movie not only takes on racial themes that are still very relevant today, but it does so in an elegant setting.

There’s something about breaking bread with people you don’t know that gives you the desire to take time to discover your common ground. And when the tablescape is beautiful, it’s bound to be a night to remember. Here, we discuss the finer points of entertaining your future in-laws with Doreen Chambers, founder of Doreen Chambers Interiors in Brooklyn, New York.

Why did you use “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” as your inspiration for this photo shoot?

Not only is it my favorite movie of all time, but it’s so interesting that it revolves around a couple who just got engaged. It ends up being such an elegant evening—but it also had a lot of tension. Even though the film is more than 50 years old, it seemed so relevant today. I recently watched the movie again and it was WAY ahead of its time with interracial marriage. Interestingly, the two families were able to come together over a meal and discovered they had more in common than different. It’s such a pivotal film.

Let’s talk about your choices for the table setting. What inspired it?

Chanel de Métiers d’Art had a recent fashion show that featured a floor length dress and it was all-white and gold. This opulent outfit just felt like the perfect intersection of minimalism and glamour. I feel like we are turning a corner on minimalism and mid-century modern.

With the pandemic, people are more interested in being in an environment that is cozy and wanting the home to reflect more color palettes and personality. Before COVID-19, we spent little time at home, and now minimalism makes sense.

We now have a generation of people who grew up with mid-century modern and are more open to antiques and bursts of color. The goal is to layer those two concepts to make it feel authentic and lived-in without feeling fussy or overdone.