Hosting A Stylish Christmas

I’d love to know where this year has disappeared to because there are now just over 6 weeks until Christmas and the summer feels like only 5 minutes ago. Yes, I said the C word. Once the festive adverts have started to appear on TV, it’s officially OK to mention Christmas in my book. I’ve worked on a festive fashion event already, bought one gift so far and at school it’s all hands on deck for the Christmas Fair planning.

So let’s embrace the festive cheer and an excuse to crack open the mince pies with a post dedicated to getting ready to eat, drink and be merry… in style.

Table top

While the tree may be adorned with decorations lovingly – if haphazardly – handmade by little hands at school and nursery, your festive table can be elegantly coordinated with personalised flourishes ready for guests. Red, green and metallic accents will always be a favourite in my book and against white tableware you get a nordic vibe that’s perfect for a family Christmas: stylish yet fun.

Baking with children

Christmas inevitably means good food and plenty of it, not to mention the perfect opportunity to get your bake on with the little ones. For younger ones my best tip is to opt for cookie making and measure out the ingredients into bowls before starting if, like me, you aren’t a fan of flour and sugar everywhere! Of course the measuring out is a maths lesson in itself for older children so I do have to give in and let them take the lead some times. Any recipe which involves minimal ingredients and maximum mixing with hands is always a winner and rolling out dough then using festive cutters keeps the girls happy.

Alpine apron, At Home with Ashley Thomas | Star cookie cutters | Holly leaf cutters, Tala | Alpine oven gloves, At Home with Ashley Thomas | MultiQuick 9 sauce and hand blender, Braun

Grown-up gadgets

When it comes to mixing the christmas cake batter (I make a good one by the way!), whipping cream or making hearty winter soups, I prefer the less messy and less effort option but with a small kitchen and no space for a Kitchenmaid or Kenwood chef (one day, one day!) I rely on my hand blender for everything. I could live without a toaster or a microwave but not without a hand blender. My last one finally packed in through years of heavy use and my latest addition – thanks to Debenhams – is even better; a lot of power, but with a safety lock button because my girls always try to get a little too involved, and a large chopper pot that’s strong enough for nuts too [insert your own jokes here]. I’m fully expecting this year’s christmas cakes to be even better! I just need to stock up on rum to soak them in…

Alpine tea towels, At Home with Ashley Thomas | MultiQuick 9 sauce and hand blender, Braun | Alpine oven gloves, At Home with Ashley Thomas | Laser cut placemats | Loose bottom cake tin, Circulon

Outfit du jour

Of course this wouldn’t be a post about a stylish Christmas without some festive fashion thrown in. With no excuse needed for a whole lot of sparkle at this time of year, twinkling jewels are a given for any outfit, day or night. Holly berry red will always be a winner and as a key trend for the season it would be rude not to succumb to the scarlet side; the difference this time is to clash your bright reds with pinks and berry tones so this combination of a fuchsia dress with mulberry lace overlay worn with bold heels ticks all the boxes for a fun festive outfit.

Lace dress, Warehouse | Filigree earrings, Jon Richard | Stretch bracelet, Jon Richard | Red brooch heels, Dune

Festive favourites

If I only had two things on my Christmas list, it would have to be Champagne and mince pies – I’m fairly easily pleased! – but of course the serving is also important. Tea lights in pretty holders like these Star by Julien Macdonald feather tea light holders set the mood just right, champagne saucers make bubbly feel even more special (these crystalline champagne saucers by Jasper Conran are simple yet stylish) and that flash of red in your table decorations is the finishing touch.

Crystalline champagne saucers, J by Jasper Conran | Alpine tea towels, At Home with Ashley Thomas | Laser cut placemats

And so to bed…

Then at the end of it all, all you want is to cosy up in bed with a thick winter duvet and preferably the promise of a lie in and maybe breakfast in bed the next morning…

Fairisle bedding set

All items chosen by CocoMamaStyle, gifted by Debenhams

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