How The Fashion Set Host Alfresco

I’d say my hosting style is pretty relaxed

“The most important thing for me is that people feel like they can really settle in and enjoy themselves. I want it to feel easy to join in, whether that’s chatting, eating or just being around each other. I usually have everything ready ahead of time so people can arrive and feel instantly comfortable, and so I can actually be present too. There’s no point in hosting if you’re too busy to enjoy it. I want it to feel warm and welcoming. Ideally, people leave feeling like they’ve had meaningful conversations, experienced something a little new and genuinely had a really good time!

My go-to outfit when hosting is a skirt and top

“It feels effortless but still quite chic and put together. I’ll add a great pair of slingbacks as we are outside (I’m strictly no shoes indoors), some statement silver earrings and good rings. I’ve also been really into belts lately to bring everything together! With spring and summer on the horizon, I love leaning into color a bit more. A touch of color blocking is so much fun!”

I’m not particularly trend-led when it comes to tablescaping

“I love seeing what others do, but at home I’m more inspired by the dishes I’m cooking, colors I’m drawn to, or combinations I’ve seen while traveling – everything from colors on signboards to tablecloth and napkin color combinations. I love choosing two colors that work beautifully together – sometimes ones you wouldn’t normally pair. It creates a bit of curiosity but still feels natural and cohesive.”

I tend to gravitate towards brands that feel timeless but still have a sense of personality

“For ready-to-wear, I love pieces from Dries Van Noten, St. Agni, Isabel Marant, Khaite and Alaïa. For homeware, I’m drawn to brands that focus on craftsmanship and forever pieces like Louise Roe, Lobmeyr, Yali Glass, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, Sophie Buhai and Gohar World.”

My advice to anyone hosting alfresco for the first time would be…

“Don’t get too caught up in the weather. Especially in the UK, it’s unpredictable, so just go with it and enjoy the moment. Having a simple backup plan indoors always helps. The most important thing is to have fun with it. Alfresco dining feels so relaxed and special. I also love doing lots of sharing plates. There’s something really nice about everyone passing dishes around and trying a bit of everything. It suits that outdoor, laid-back atmosphere perfectly.”

My ideal alfresco dining experience is definitely a long lunch

“There’s something about it, especially in summer, that feels so much more special than dinner. You’re sitting outside with lots of delicious food, really good drinks that pair beautifully and everything just flows from one course to the next, into dessert, then coffee and tea or a digestif. No one is rushing, you’re just lingering at the table, chatting away! Good music in the background always helps, and the best part is that you still have the whole evening ahead of you. It feels slow and really joyful.”

For alfresco hosting, the easiness and feeling of nature is important

“I love to set the table with romantic, antique textiles and mix with more rustic tableware and vases with big flower arrangements, always from the garden.”

My ideal alfresco dining experience is…

“All my family and my closest friends enjoying lunch in our outdoor kitchen for the Swedish holiday Midsommar – my favorite of holidays, celebrating summer. The sun is out and my husband is making fresh prawns on the grill while I prepare a risoni salad with vegetables from my kitchen garden.”

The way I approach food is of course for flavor but not for flavor alone…

“It’s always a balance between how a dish tastes, its tactility and how it makes you feel. Food is nostalgic, multifaceted and holds so much meaning beyond what it looks and smells like – there’s always a dialogue between the person and the experience of eating. Curating food and the experience is something I’m constantly thinking about in both my work and when I host.”

I’m a firm believer in the beauty of negative space…

“I don’t like a table that feels crowded or cluttered. As for trends, I tend to avoid anything too ‘viral’. I’m drawn to classic, timeless tableware and extreme monochromatic tablescapes where the food really shines as the star of the show. I always think about the details, like subtle color variations, fragility, weight, structure and the balance between textures, such as concrete offset by delicate, hand-blown glassware. I use clear geometric forms – a circle of crystallized petals, a grid of glacé cherries – to create moments of stillness and beauty before the table is touched or the food tasted for the first time.”

When hosting, I’m usually wearing…

“Something sleek and black – no matter the time of year. I never host wearing anything puffy or voluminous that might catch on fire or drag through a sauce.”

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