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Whether you’re throwing a low-key dinner party or a celebratory feast for family and friends, hosting alfresco is an opportunity to get creative with everything from the tablescape to your outfit. Ultimately, whatever approach you take, the overall mood should always feel relaxed and inviting – think ambient lighting, seasonal flower arrangements and colors that capture the spirit of summers spent outdoors.

“Alfresco hosting is truly a highlight of the summer months and at the heart of so many core memories,” says NET-A-PORTER’s junior buyer, Ella Hoyle. “I love to dress the table with a mix of textures and Murano glass accents alongside silver centerpieces (Christofle’s exquisite vases are a current favorite) to catch the light against a crisp white canvas. Floral displays are the cherry on top,” she adds.

If you’re hosting a more intimate gathering, embrace a rustic farmhouse feel with mismatched table linens and dinner plates (La DoubleJ’s set of two will work beautifully with other botanical styles in your collection), candles and a few sprigs of freshly picked wildflowers. Mirror the theme with your outfit too by opting for softer, more romantic pieces, like Chloé’s ruffled silk-charmeuse top and delicate vintage-inspired slips. “When it comes to dressing as a host, I typically steer away from florals, but I can make an exception for this new floral-jacquard cloqué skirt from Dries Van Noten, which I’d style with Colleen Allen’s tulle bralette and Gianvito Rossi’s platform thong sandals,” says Hoyle.

For extra-special occasions like weddings, garden parties or a milestone birthday, pull out all the stops with a dress from Alaïa. Cut from close-fitting jersey, this maxi style is dappled with vibrant yellow anemones and looks beautiful paired with Judith Leiber Couture’s crystal-embellished ‘Citron’ clutch. Alternatively, embrace trending butter-yellow with Matteau’s strapless dress, available exclusively at NET-A-PORTER. Whichever style you choose, be sure to finish with a wedge heel or Aquazzura’s raffia-trimmed ‘Luna’ slides – another NET-A-PORTER exclusive – while entertaining your guests, kicking them off at the end of the night for coffee and conversation beneath the stars.

Browse more in this week’s New In.

The New Theater of Alfresco Entertaining

How To Wear Linen Like A Fashion Insider