“Chic at 60ish” means not only looking great when you go out, but living graciously at home as well. I love to entertain and have people in my home—to me, setting the table is like getting dressed. Dishes. Glasses. Flowers. Each element combines to enhance the beauty of your table and the warmth of your holiday. When guests come to a beautiful table they feel your effort, thinking, “Wow! This is going to be great!
SETTING MY TABLE IS LIKE GETTING DRESSED, WHICH DISHES, WHICH GLASSES: Lighting my candles before guests sit down for dinner; renown hostess Aerin Lauder—I have all of her entertaining books—lighting candles on her holiday table
I am very thankful to be invited to my cousin Cindy’s for Thanksgiving—and though I’m not cooking or setting my own table for the holiday—I thought it would be fun to set my table for a “Fashion Fantasy Thanksgiving Dinner.” My guests comprise my favorite fashion icons; some alive and fabulous, some gone to fashion heaven, but it’s MY fantasy: Oscar de la Renta (enchanting, the meaning of a gentleman), Carolina Herrera (at 80+, eternally the most elegant, the meaning of a lady), Anna Wintour (the ultimate icon), Jackie Kennedy Onassis (still no one like her), Ralph Lauren (still my go-to designer), Donatella Versace (the stories she must have!), Tom Ford (a modern Oscar de la Renta) Joan Rivers (how much do we miss “Fashion Police?”) & Princess Kate (always perfect, even in the most stressful of times).
MY FANTASY THANKSGIVING TABLE, WHO WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOURS? Notice Ralph Lauren’s picture in the napkin ring! Limoges dishes, bought in Paris, soup bowls that look like cabbages, found in a catalogue; different location, different look—for a dinner party in my new apartment—always incorporating old & new, black Lalique dishes that were my mom’s, new candelabra from Home Grown in Haverford
Who would be at your fantasy table? If things get quiet, this is a fun Thanksgiving table conversation—of course, you can also use sports figures, authors, newscasters or movie & TV stars.
ELLYN & OSCAR DE LA RENTA, THE MEANING OF “A GENTLEMAN,” IN EVERY WAY—Look at my face in the bottom photo, soo engaged, having soo much fun with Oscar!
Setting my table, I reflect on how lucky I’ve been to have met and interviewed many of these icons through the years. As is often the case, the bigger they are, the nicer they are. Warm, engaging, and fun—you leave each one beaming, they make you feel like a friend. Also traits of a good host.
SETTING YOUR TABLE SETS THE MOOD: Playing with new chocolate brown faux-alligator charger plates—an early Hanukkah gift from my cousin Cindy—mixing & matching to create a whole new look; another holiday table, candelabra from Home Grown in Haverford; red Venetian goblets that were my mother’s; Minton gold-rimmed china, my original wedding china, flowers from Longstems in Merion
Years ago I was privileged to interview the late great Oscar de la Renta, renown as a phenomenal host in his homes in Manhattan, Connecticut, and the Dominican Republic. He was about to jet off to the Dominican to throw a party for his eldest sister (he had seven) and we talked about making great parties, agreeing that the mix of guests, food & drink, music & décor all combining for a perfect event. Very much a family person, he loved when I told him that for holidays, I try to use something from everyone who is no longer here, so in a way they’re present at my table. Imagine me giving an idea to Oscar!!
NO NEED TO SPEND A FORTUNE: My mother’s tea set used for vases, I love to pick up whimsical items for my table when I spy them; an array of tea sets at Bergdorf Goodman in NYC
I also collect items for my table wherever I go—and they do not need to be expensive. I often fill my mother’s silver tea set with flowers, and have picked up additional pretty teapots, creamers and sugars at flea markets. One day I will take that flower arranging course; until then, I often take my vases to Longstems in Merion, longstems.com, where Keith creates masterpieces worthy of a Renoir painting.
CREATIVE TABLE, COOL CONVERSATION STARTERS: I always keep an eye out for fun tabletop items—like napkin rings that hold photos of my guests, doubling as place cards
I spied my soup bowls—in the shape of a cabbage—in a catalog years ago. My napkin rings—resembling a man’s pocket watch—were spotted in a little gift shop near my home on the Main Line. Always keep your eye open for something whimsical and fun.
GAIL’S GORGEOUS TABLE: My “T” table, I bought fabric & had the store make tablecloths for me; my dear friend Gail & her gorgeous Thanksgiving table—Gail has golden hands & makes her own tablecloths!
Tablecloths and place mats? Linens are extremely costly; years ago I was making a party for my husband’s 50th birthday & needed matching cloths to create a huge “T” with two long banquet tables. A friend and I spent an afternoon in the fabric shops on 4th Street in South Philadelphia, finding exactly what I needed at a very reasonable price. Still a fun project, most shops will make a cloth for you in just a few days—or perhaps you’re talented like my dear friend Gail, who has golden hands, creating not only magnificent tablescapes, but she sews her own cloths too!
CINDY’S THANKSGIVING TABLE: My beautiful cousin Cindy & her beautiful table—she is a much better cook than I am, we are so grateful to be invited every year!
Last, I will end where I began. In this Thanksgiving week, I am very grateful for my family—Lauren & my son-in-law Steve, Jonathan & his girlfriend Ellen, and my precious granddaughter Margot—as well as extended family. I am an only child and my cousins are more like sisters. My cousin Cindy also loves to set a gorgeous table, using beautiful things from her mom as well as her own special pieces —we share this passion!
I thank her for having us every year—Cindy is a much better cook than I am! Wishing each and every one of my readers a Happy Thanksgiving and warmest wishes for the holiday season—enjoy every beautiful moment—Ellyn Golder Saft
ps. I am often inspired by beautiful books on entertaining—Aerin Lauder is one of my favorites, she too loves combining old & new. Her latest is “Living with Flowers” at amazon.com, filled with gorgeous tablescapes & ideas for entertaining. Also a great hostess gift!
Chic at 60ish! 
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