What makes a really good host? The food, the ambience, the outfit? This festive season we’ve invited some of our favorite women – and notoriously expert hosts – to share their insight on the key elements to pay attention to.
Taking the reins for our final instalment is Hikari Yokoyama, founder of design studio Naum House and florist Naum Flower. The Tokyo-born, Chicago-raised, London dweller is known for her unique approach to event curation, focussed on vintage pieces and sustainable ingredients. We spent the afternoon at her Marylebone home, as she put the finishing touches to the evening’s table, to talk multitasking, making things and the power of good music.
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What’s your preferred role when it comes to hosting?
“Usually for the holidays we’re hosting a lot and it's kind of non-stop! The part I get into is the creative side of things, which makes it more fun and not feel like so much work. I like making things with my own two hands, it's fun to get into that spirit but you do have to set aside time for it. I made a wreath this year for the first time, and my daughter and I always make Christmas ornaments together. A lot of the holidays can be focused on shopping, but it's actually really fun and more meaningful to indulge in the headspace of haptic activities like baking, cooking, making a gift or decorations.
It depends on your family and how you like to do things, but my family loves helping out. If you’re doing one major meal, then it can be fun to pre-plan and source everything and then set it all out, and each person takes on a job. This can end up creating a bonding experience. Sometimes my favourite part can be doing the washing up together. Nowadays, we're always on computers and phones so it’s an opportunity to do things with your hands and get into the smells and the textures and the chat.”
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What’s your welcome drink of choice to serve?
“I really get into different kinds of drinks, now I'm into bergamot, which is a really lovely citrusy taste, slightly bitter, a little step above lime but makes a great cocktail. That's also something people love to participate in, cocktail making. I find also people appreciate the final result more if they are helping along the way.”
What’s your go-to hosting outfit?
“When you’re home, it's great because you don't have to go out in the cold and battle the weather, but I know that inevitably I am going to be sitting on the floor or crouching down to talk to my daughter so don't want to wear anything too fussy or stiff. With clothes, you want to be able to move and feel natural in them. If you don’t, you behave in a different way. I don’t want to be restricted and uncomfortable or overly precious.”
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What advice would you give to someone looking for tablescape inspiration?
“I love working with what's in season because I love nature. Given where we are planetarily, I think it’s imperative that we shift our notion of beauty. I also think that when you live in the city, it's really wonderful to bring what's happening outside indoors. So in winter this can be branches, evergreen foliage, rose hips, pine cones, dried flowers, ribbon… for pops of color one can lean on fruit and veggies rather than cut flowers, Natoora’s produce is all local and seasonal and looks as good as it tastes. I avoid all single-use plastic so everything should be something you will use again and again or something compostable. Tabletop objects and candles go a long way in the winter months when there are no flowers in season.”
What kind of elements did you use in today's table dressing?
“I used a vintage footed bowl that I bought on Etsy. And then styled it with radicchio, muscat grapes, some divine deep red tomatoes, and a sliced pomegranate. On each plate, I put a paperwhite that we (Naum Flower) grew ourselves by forcing the bulbs. Forcing bulbs is also something I do each winter which is taking plants that, outdoors, would be blossoming in early spring and tricking them that it is already spring by giving them heat, light and water indoors.”
What are your top tips for an effortless experience?
“I would say don't multitask, clear your day. You can’t get into the process if other things are tugging at your attention. Make it easy [for yourself] as much as you can – during the holidays, a lot of the extra work that is incurred to make it all special and lovely for everyone else falls on the shoulders of women and a lot of women put a lot of pressure on themselves for all to be perfect. You can order in elements and just do the part that you love, do a gift bag rather than wrap, take shortcuts wherever necessary, ask for help from others and keep it simple, as much as you can.
I think how you are on the day affects everyone else. If you’re stressed and running around, everyone else will struggle to relax. Over the years, I’ve realised, people don't really care if the food isn’t perfect or the gifts are a bit light, it’s all about the overall vibe. For a one-off hosting event, I think music and lighting is really important and sets the scene from the moment each person arrives. When your guests arrive, ideally you are ready to be in a state of presence.”
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What’s your favorite part of the festive season?
“I think the festive season is really about family. I live abroad so I don't get to see my family that much, and sadly this year I’m not going to see them for Christmas or Thanksgiving. I love this time of no distractions, hanging out together, not feeling like you're running in a million different directions. It’s one period of the year that everyone, simultaneously, can slow down together.”