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Kate Spade

Ruth A. Peltason

Occasions Hardcover – 31 August 2004

by Kate Spade (Author)

72 ratings

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Every occasion calls out for something extra, whether it's flowers you set on the table, foods to honor a special gathering, or the selection of music. For both hostess and guest, consideration of those around you is among the most important qualities for any enjoyable occasion. A smile and sense of humor are also essential, and before the canapés and night lighting a good hostess is ultimately defined by a welcoming and gracious demeanor.
In Occasions, designer Kate Spade invites you into her world of easy, festive entertaining, where the emphasis is not on "the perfect meal" but on having "the perfect time." It's a world where laughter and conversation at dinner parties are encouraged and where spilled red wine on the couch is no reason to stop the music. As Kate says, "Making your guests feel at home is truly an art and it's one worth cultivating."
Any occasion begins with preparation, and at the outset Kate describes such basic components as lighting (votive candles are a must); table linens, flatware, and glassware; flowers (trimmed short and tightly massed); even bedding for overnight or weekend guests. Party shopping lists, hors d'oeuvres and cocktail favorites, and dinner party menus are all included. An "Alphabet of Special Events," from baby showers to tailgate picnics, is both anecdotal and useful for would-be hostesses everywhere.
Whether you entertain a lot or a little, and whether your style is casual or formal, Occasions, with more than 230 charming watercolor illustrations, is a handy and fresh approach to the subject, a book to be treasured today and over the years. Above all, at any gathering "hospitality makes for infectious fun."

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Product details

Publisher : Simon & Schuster (31 August 2004)
Language : English
Hardcover : 112 pages
ISBN-10 : 0743250656
ISBN-13 : 978-0743250658
Dimensions : 15.24 x 1.27 x 20.32 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 320,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 117 in Tablesetting & Cooking
- 140 in Manner Guides
- 1,437 in Party Cooking

Customer Reviews:
72 ratings

Product description

About the Author

Kate Spade grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduation she went to Mademoiselle magazine and became senior fashion editor/head of accessories before leaving in 1991. In 1993 she and her boyfriend, now husband, Andy Spade launched kate spade handbags, which has grown exponentially over the past decade and has established Kate Spade as a style icon.

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2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Ms E. Exintaris

Cute, personal, but lacking in content

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 November 2011

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I could summarise this book into: use music, buy real napkins, and hire caterers and florists.

Honestly. Come on, kate! I paid £10 for this, and now I regret it. And the illustrations are from someone else? I'm just really disappointed. I expected a lot more. I only picked up a couple of cocktail recipes. That's it.

Definitely NOT worth the money. At least not on kindle. Maybe the real one is at least prettily bound?

mrs D I Harris

Wow...... a book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2014

Verified Purchase

A book. Good quality. The title matched the pages inside. The pages didn't hang over the edge. It's a book ...it had paper in it with letters on.

"kuhia"

Kate Spade流　洗練されたパーティー提案

Reviewed in Japan on 19 June 2004

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日本人にまだまだ馴染みのないホームパーティー。そんな私たちにも分かりやすく｢ステキなパーティーの提案」を教えてくれる本です。
パーティーのホスト、ゲスト両方の立場からあらゆるアイデア与えてくれるKate。彼女が提案するパーティーは格式高いフォーマルなものではなく、ゲストにリラックスしてもらえるアットホームな雰囲気のもの。
どうすればホストがそのような雰囲気のパーティーを作り出せるかの秘訣と、ゲスト自身も楽しめる秘訣がたっぷり詰まっています。
カジュアルでアットホームな中にも｢品｣があるのがKate流のパーティーなのです。

2 people found this helpful

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Denise A. Sorensen

Style over substance

Reviewed in the United States on 14 June 2018

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I love the Kate Spade brand, but I was a little disappointed in this book. The illustrations are cute but were just so much filler. The actual info in the book probably would've fit in a pamphlet. Also, it is heavily geared towards catered events. I was looking for more information on throwing informal parties in my home, and this just isn't it. I'll probably keep this book because it's cute, but it;s not something that I'll use as a reference.

2 people found this helpful

Lisa Plancich

Occasions Give Everyone the Opportunity to be the Hostess with the Utmost Style

Reviewed in the United States on 4 March 2009

Verified Purchase

The cover and design are bright red. It's a perfect color for all occasions with a white paint brush look depicting a woman sitting among boxes. The cover opens to this quote, "Occasions always gracious, sometimes irreverent". Well stated.

The book opens with little nagging questions a host, hostess or guest may wonder but seldom ask. Kate Spade tackles the questions and addresses the answer before you are saddled with dilemmas like a non-alcoholic drink at a cocktail party or what to put into a well-stocked bar.

The topics include three main chapters titled, Setting the scene, Party standards and Specific events. The book helps you along, in little pieces, to consider details like lighting, flowers and music. It then moves forward to setting the table and how/what to serve. Finally Spade closes in on the specific event and how to differentiate the occasion by making it extra special.

In setting the scene, Ms. Spade discusses décor such as linens, stocking the cupboard with basics like flatware, dinnerware, glassware etc. She also graciously supplies shopping lists for the newbie entertainer. Music and lights, such as votives vs. tapers, invitations and even being a good guest is addressed.

In the party standards chapter Ms. Spade discusses the mixed drink, wine and beer. She helps the host along by deciding on hors d'oevores and then assists with a shopping list and timeline. Aside from food hints and helps, she discusses the guest room and how to entertain beyond just a few hours in your home.

"Occasions" fills itself out in the closing chapter with special events. Brunch and birthdays and how to make them special are contrasted with picnic and even the "un-occasion". What Kate Spade seems to want her reader to know is that any occasion is doable. Certainly there is the possibility of challenges but the payoff is so much greater. Life is more interesting when you look past what might go wrong and go for it.

A lot is covered in this little book. Detail is sparse yet to the point. Ms. Spade omits fluff and details. Entire books could be devoted to many of these topics. Kate Spades pared down style, much like her accessory designs, makes her reader aware of considering these details. If you need more information you are now armed with your topic and the internet will allow you, the reader, to zero in on specifics.

This would be a great book for a bride to be or a new homeowner. Kate Spade encourages someone to open their home and embrace the ease that comes with having people over. She implies that anyone can be a great hostess and put on a great party. It isn't difficult. It just takes a smile and consideration for the guests. Unlike many "experts" who leave their viewers/readers questioning if they can do it, Kate Spate let's us know that with just a little planning we can pull it off.

4 people found this helpful

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Occasions Hardcover – 31 August 2004

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