Hostess Edit: Spring Brunch

looks to take you from oui chef to hostess

Bode Dress | Amanu Rainbow Sandals | Sidney Garber Gold Earrings
J.Crew Jeans | J.Crew Cashmere Tee | SeeVee Clogs | Table Settings

What I Wear to Host (And Why It Matters)

There’s a rule I stick to whether I’m hosting at home or producing an event: dress for the occasion. You won’t catch me—or my team—in “production black” at one of our vibrant client gatherings. It’s too stark, too obvious. My goal is always to create an experience that feels seamless. Watching a crew dressed in head-to-toe black darting around in the background? Not exactly subtle.

Instead, we blend in. We dress like the guests, move through the crowd, and do our thing—quietly. The same applies when I’m hosting at home. Black just feels too serious. Too safe. If you’re the hostess, you should feel like the best version of yourself.

My daytime uniform—whether I’m loading in onsite or prepping in my kitchen—is pared back and functional: jeans, a lightweight sweater, and cool clogs or trainers. Something I can cook, carry, and move in comfortably. If I’m on location, there’s always a Clark Kent–style quick change in the car before guests arrive. At home, I have the luxury of a quick refresh, a swipe of lip color, and slipping into something a little more festive.

Lately, I’ve been wearing this brushed cashmere sweater from J.Crew in a shade that can only be described as celery—fresh and unexpected. My SeeVee clogs go everywhere with me. They’re perfect for spring showers and standing in the kitchen all day.

My formula for a hostess look is something feminine and a little eccentric—something that says, I have style, but I’m not trying too hard. A flowy dress, hair tied back after a day of cooking, minimal makeup, and a bit of statement jewelry. There’s something effortlessly chic about being barefoot in a dress, moving through your home with ease. I just picked up a Bode dress that strikes that balance perfectly. I also have the Amanu rainbow sandals sitting in my cart—I already own a few pairs and they’re my go-tos. For jewelry, I always reach for chunky gold earrings and big bangles, a little nod to my mom who always wore them.

Now, let’s talk tables. I believe in dressing them up—even for the most casual gathering. There’s no time in this life to be precious about tableware. Use it, make memories. Think lived-in linens, fresh garden clippings, and your everyday dishes. No paper napkins. Ever. It’s the little touches that make it feel considered: a ceramic dish with flaky salt, vintage silver, a funky pitcher. For brunch, I’ll pour water into a wine decanter simply because its shape and hue bring something beautiful to the table.

Most of us have one, maybe two sets of dishes. I invested first in the dinner plates from the Il Buco Montegranaro collection five years ago and have slowly this, and this, and this over time. It walks that perfect line—casual enough for a garden lunch, bold enough for a holiday table. It’s a true entertaining hero.

For serving, I love the color and texture of Sabre—but I skip the flatware sets (the resin handles feel a little too campy for everyday). Their serving pieces, and this, though, are perfection. If you’re looking for something timeless and versatile, Fable flatware is a favorite—understated and accessible. I use their serving set too. (You can use the code OliviaMuniak for a little something off.)

The beauty of all of this—what you wear, how you set your table—isn’t about perfection. It’s about personal style and making people feel welcome. When you feel good, your guests do too. And that, to me, is the magic of hosting.

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