Weekend Checklist: December To-Do's

1. What's a holiday dinner without pecan pie? As soon as we tasted this Drunken Nut from Bishop Art's Emporium Pies, there was no competition. Free of syrup and made with Texas pecans and shortbread crust - need we say more? Order it at Emporium Pies.
2. Rosenthal and Versace provide a holiday china collector's plate annually. It's a priceless addition to your personal collection. Read more here. 
3. The weather outside (in Texas at least) has finally turned cold. Our fingers are crossed that it stays chilly through through the holidays, but what we really wish for is a white Christmas. Images via Pinterest. 
4. Vogue: The Editor's Eye is already on our coffee table. (You can pick one up at Forty Five Ten.) However, it's the documentary by the same name on HBO that has our DVR working overtime. We can't get enough of Polly, Grace, and the rest of inimitable fashion editors that have made Vogue more than just a fashion magazine. Learn more here. 
5. The window displays at Neiman Marcus are have the fun of shopping, especially during Christmas hours when Santa shows up. 
6. We love the Dallas Theater Center, and who can pass up the Charles Dickens classic? 
7. The Trains at NorthPark exhibition is a whimsical, educational, and traditional part of Dallas' holiday celebrations. Presented by the Bank of Texas and benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, this is the perfect family excursion while shopping 'til you drop at NorthPark. More info here.  
 

POSH 101: Setting the Table for the Holidays

You have the menu, the playlist, and even the outfit, so what's left on your list? Setting the table, of course. The holidays call for a well-adorned tabletop, and we have a quick cheat sheet on how to make your formal dinner place setting shine. How are you setting the table this year? Send us your pictures at showroom@poshcouturerentals.com.

Tabletop: Gold Florentine Charger / Gold Scroll Dinner and B&B Plates / Gold Leaf Salad Plate, Compote, Tea Cup and Saucer / Gold Lyons Flatware / Gold Scroll Goblet / Gold Lace Champagne Flute / Amber Goblet, all P.O.S.H. Couture Rentals // Linen: Gold Beaded Tulle with Gold Nu Silk from Resource One, exclusively at P.O.S.H. Couture Rentals.

The number one rule of holiday tabletops? Use the good china - that is what it's there for after all. Use heirloom pieces and wedding or holiday china and supplement our personal collections with our couture pieces for a shimmering tabletop guests will not soon forget. 

Most of us don't use a formal place setting on a daily basis, so these tips should have you feeling confident that your tabletop looks perfectly posh. Brush up on these essentials and then apply or break them as needed for your event or dinner.

1. Flatware begins with forks on the left and knives and spoons on the right, starting with the smaller utensil and working towards the plate. The easiest way to remember? Your ABC's. Forks (F) on the left, then knifes (K) and spoons (S) on the right.
2. For a less formal dinner, the dessert spoon and fork may be placed above the dinner plate. The spoon above the fork lined up with opposite ends - fork pointing right, spoon left.
3. The napkin is placed on the dinner plate. There are several ways to fold or gather the napkin, so be creative.
4. Glassware always goes on the right. This is easy to remember if you have a bread plate with the same ABC's game. Bread (B) is on the left; glassware (G) on the right. Line up the water goblet with the knife with the white wine glass or goblet on the right. A red wine glass would go right above both to form a triangle.
5. The tea cup and saucer are placed slightly below and to the right of the glassware.
6. The china is the fun part! Begin the foundation with a couture charger and layer dinner, salad, bread plate and their chargers. A demitasse, amuse bouche, or compote dish can also be placed on top.

What's Haute: The Hostess with the Mostess

With only two weeks until Christmas, there will be parties for hosting and happy meetings when friends come to call. Which begs the question, what to wear? Cue our dear friend Katherine Heidt, personal shopper extraordinaire at the Neiman Marcus flagship store downtown. With her brilliant sense of humor and style, it will take two minutes tops before you love her as much as we do. Plus, she has her pulse set on Dallas style. You can go in and say, "Well, I want something glamorous but not over-the-top...maybe lace...or how about leather?" or some kind of sputtering nonsense, and she will pull out the perfect dress in no time. Give her a season or a brand and she'll give you the best look; text her an image of the blouse you saw yesterday and she'll have one waiting for you that no one has seen; show her what purse you want and she'll let you know if it's timeless or a trend. Really, people. Katherine is a wealth of information. Whether you want to stand out or beautifully blend into the stealthy smart dressers of stylish Dallas, Katherine is your gal. Herewith, her picks for smart hostess and guest attire for the holidays.

1. A more casual approach to the holidays... Milly sheer-lace blouse
2. A clutch to get you through New Year's... Alexander McQueen Crystal Britannia Box Clutch Bag
3. Every lady needs a beautiful evening shoe in which to shine...Valentino Jewelry-Box Couture d'Orsay / 4. Oscar de la Renta Jewel-Toe d'Orsay / 5. Jimmy Choo Diva Crystal Cutout Sandal
6. A divine look for holiday glitz...Diane von Furstenberg Delian Clean Jacquard Dress
7. If all else fails, the LBD is always an elegant choice...Diane von Furstenberg Sahib Mixed-Media Long-Sleeve Dress
8. Reds and berries are always seasonal, as is this texture...Black Halo Jackie Velvet Dress
9. A little sparkle and shine...Diane von Furstenberg Menaro Sequined Long-Sleeve Dress
10. A lovely lace to spice up the traditional LBD...Pierre Balmain Fitted Lace Dress
11. Perfect for any holiday event...Marni Bejeweled Clutch Bag

Contact Info: 

Katherine Heidt 

Personal shopper

Neiman Marcus downtown dallas

iPhone: 214-801-7497

Email:    katherine_heidt@neimanmarcusstores.com.

 

Tabletop Tuesday: Texas Tea

We had a great time yesterday morning on Texas Living TV with our gracious hosts Kimberly Schlegel Whitman and Hilary Kennedy. We were given the task of hosting a holiday tea party on a budget.  Watch the segment and read our tips below on setting a table for your tea party.

For your service: Silver Tea pot, milk and creamer, tray, three-tier serving dishes, Christofle small silver three-tier bon bon serving dish, mint julep cups. For the place setting: Silver Bead B&B charger, Christofle flatware, Sophia bread plate, tea cup and saucer, Silver rimmed water goblet.

Tips for a Tea:
1. Three important things to remember for any tea: Good china, good manners, and good conversation. It's time to break out the heirloom and wedding china. Supplement your personal collection with rentals or add couture pieces from P.O.S.H. collections to create an unforgettable tabletop.
2. Serve at least one caffeine free tea; we like Peppermint for the holidays (chamomile and mint are other great options). Also, keep a pot of boiling water on hand for guests who prefer weaker tea. The aroma of the teas should great guest with their warm scent upon entering your home. 
3. Tea menus include an assortment of bite-size sandwiches, savory scones, and sweets. 
4. The perfect way to toast your guests with a favor is by sending warm wishes with an organza satchel filled with your favorite loose tea or Twinings Christmas Blend. 
5. For the segment, we needed to keep our tea cost effective. Besides the hours (3 - 5 PM automatically calls for lighter fare), we choose to decorate the table with holiday tree clippings and cloches filled with Christmas ornaments. With your home likely already decorate for the holiday, you can let the china take center stage. 

Tea Talk: Texas Living

We're getting ready for a spot on Texas Living this morning. Be sure to check us out on KTXD-TV this morning at 11AM. More to come!

Image via here.