With the fall season in full swing and the holidays just around the corner, there are endless opportunities to infuse the hottest trends into your party planning process. Celebrity stylist and entertaining expert, Robert Verdi share’s his tips for setting the scene at a stylish soiree.

Every Fashionista Should Plan Ahead
When estimating the amount of wine you’ll need for a party, there’s a rule to remember: 50 percent white, and 50 percent red. Individual bottles typically serve five glasses of wine, and guests will usually drink two glasses each. Save money with purchasing by the case (12 bottles) and choose a wine that not only tastes great, but looks good on your shelf. Ecco Domani Wines offer flavorful varietals, eye-catching labels, and premium quality taste at a savvy price.

Customize Your Table
Impress your guests with chic and easy touches that add a personal dimension of style to your tabletop without busting your budget. Save ribbons from holiday gifts and reuse them to accessorize your table as napkin rings. Think outside of the box when creating place cards, and use items that are also great take-home gifts. For example, emphasize your flair for fashion by placing vintage brooches from your favorite local vintage shop on each plate with each guest’s name attached. Or for a sweet holiday treat, use gingerbread cookies instead of place cards with each guests name written in icing.

It’s All About Accessories
This season is all about purple so add a splash of color. Try draping a vibrant purple scarf over a plain table linen and – voila – you’ll have bragging rights to the best dressed table.

Serve a Signature Sip
Fashionistas everywhere know that the season is all about gaining inspiration from one signature piece and building your look around it. Stylish hostesses can do the same by choosing one staple wine varietal and using it as the centerpieces for a chic gathering. Ecco Domani Wine of Italy has introduced the perfect addition to its premium wine portfolio: The 2008 Pinot Noir. With its sleek black bottle, purple-and-silver label, and bold new taste, not only will it please the most discerning palate, but it will also add a fashion-forward accent to your décor.

Sophisticated Bites
Save the time and money by skipping the formal sit-down dinner in favor of an easy, affordable, and trendy alternative: a small plates party. Items can range from carefully selected meats and cheeses to bite-sized finger foods. Continue your color scheme by incorporating bright foods that compliment your event in taste and look.

Get Personal
Reflect your guests’ individual style by involving them in the party-planning process. Ask fellow party-goers to send their favorite song of the season in advance and then create a “Friends and Family Greats Hits” playlist. You can also suggest an event theme or ask people to dress in their favorite fashion era – providing suggestions for party attire takes the guesswork out of figuring out what to wear. And the theme allows guests to show off their stylish side.

Go Retro
From the hottest shows on TV to the trendiest looks on the runway, ’60s style is back in a big way. Put your own spin on that stylish era by treating guests to a modern version of the classic cocktail party punchbowl. Need a recipe? Try the Canella Domani. Made with Ecco Domani Merlot, orange peel, clove, and cinnamon, this creative cocktail adds a vintage vibe to any festivity.

Put Your Own Twist on the Traditional
A great way to get an original look is to take inspiration from the traditional elements around you and use them in unexpected ways. For example, oversized harvest vegetables like gourds and pumpkins from your local grocery store can be hollowed out and used as vases to turn even a simple floral arrangement into a dramatic centerpiece.

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