Sexy Soiree - Four Seasons Baltimore

This past weekend I had the pleasure of styling a holiday party (for one of my very favorite clients) 

at the beautiful, new Four Seasons Baltimore.  They requested an "intimate, sexy, holiday vibe" and it was so much fun pulling this event together.  Here's what our client had to say about the experience:

"In one word--'perfection' Stephanie Bradshaw.  A fantastic time was had by all!  You are definitely an artist!  With my request of a holiday party that would be warm, sexy, upscale and festive, you surpassed my every expectation.  Every detail was amazing, well thought and worked beautifully together.  You coordinated the evening flawlessly and the event went off without a hitch--for the second year in a row!  Well done to you and your team!  Love ya girlie! ~ Wendy"

Take a peek at the behind the scenes.  It was indeed a transformation...

We started prepping the ballroom in the AM with furniture and floral deliveries all before noon.

My creative team ready to get started on our ceiling treatment.

There are a total of eight gorgeous chandeliers in the hotel's "Cobalt Ballroom" that we dressed with traditional holiday wreaths that had the entire room smelling like the season.  

Hmmm, I love the smell of fresh pine and seeded eucalyptus. 

After the wreaths were hung (all "eight of eight") our second shipment of florals arrived.  

We used a mix of festive linen to help bring the room to life.  

Bar, furniture and lighting, check.

Signature drinks are prepped and ready to go...

Welcome to the Four Seasons Baltimore...and MANY THANKS to their entire team! 

Thanks also to our vendor partners at AFR Furniture Rental, Entertainment Exchange 

and New Legacy, Fleur de Lis Florist, Swank Audio Visuals, and Table Toppers.  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Charm City Style - All that Glitters

Starting the week off with a Monday full of meetings, a visit with my friends at Fleur de Lis Florist, followed by the first of five holiday parties this week.  This glittery shift took me from day to night with ease and is tres chic to boot. Gotta dash...Looking forward to seeing industry friends in an hour!

Tahari shift dress and tights, gold starburst necklace (found at Marshall's), MRKT suede booties (Italy), 

Stella & Dot bangles, Essie's "Fishnet Stockings" on nails

Style Guide: Holiday Dressing for Every Occasion

'Tis the season for an endless calendar of events and parties and figuring out what to wear for each occasion can be a challenge.  Never fear, I've taken the guess work out of holiday dressing with three perfect party looks in a fun, classic palette of black and gold. 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4 5 6

With a holiday event every night of the week next week, I'll be ready for each. What will you be wearing?

xo, 

stephanie

Stephanie Entertains - Floral Centerpiece How To

With Thanksgiving now just days away, I am sure you are beginning to get out your grandmother's china, make a last minute shopping list and prep the table for the big meal.  Stuck on what to put in the center of your spread? Try this...

Step 1:  Select a decorative container and a color palette.  I chose this footed, turquoise piece because I thought it would contrast our color trio of oranges, golds and reds quite nicely...A perfect fit for our Thanksgiving scene. 

Step 2:  Gather your supplies and prep your container. You will need: a piece floral oasis (found at your local craft supplier), floral tape, garden snips and/or a knife, greens, filler flowers and some pretty accent blooms. I suggest placing an inexpensive, plastic container inside the decorative one to protect it from any water damage.  Soak the oasis in water, place the saturated oasis in the disposable container and secure with floral tape.

Step 3:  Fill around the outside of the container with foliage to create a base layer and cover the plastic container. Keep in mind, using a mix of seasonal greens is an inexpensive way to fill your base and you can even gather these goodies in your own back yard.  Here I used oak leaf hydrangea.  It has great color and big leaves.

Step 4:  Place less expensive "filler" flowers (sedum, football mums and abelia shown above) around your container to begin filling in some of the holes.  Don't forget to turn your container around when you are working so you can fill it in from all angles.

Step 5:  Gather pricier blooms (mini calla lilies, mokara orchids, roses and tulips shown here) and continue filling in the holes.  Keep in mind that these are your focal flowers so placing them in clusters throughout the arrangement gives you a great punch of color all over.

Step 6: Now it is time to add your final touches.  Here we added hypericum berries and these gorgeous guinea feathers.  I love their texture and the white polka dots are just so fun!

Step 7:  Step back and E.N.J.O.Y!  Don't forget to continue to hydrate your oasis every day or so to keep your blooms fresh and longer lasting.

On a personal note, a very Happy Thanksgiving to each of you.  Know I am thankful for all of my readers and so grateful to continue to do what I love every day of the year.

xo,

stephanie

Visit our friends locally at: Crimson and Clover Floral Design, Inc., 733 Deepdene Road, Baltimore

There is still time to sign up for their centerpiece class to be held TOMORROW at 6:30 PM.  

Or, REGISTER NOW for their "Holiday Wreath" making classes in early December. 

For more information, visit them online at: crimsonandcloverdesigns.com.

Stephanie Entertains - Perfect Party Place Settings

The holidays are a great time of joy to be shared with friends and family alike.  That being said, I am often asked how to set the "perfect" place setting.  So, here you go...Five simple steps to creating a warm and inviting tablescape that packs some serious style punch with less stress and more time to enjoy the party. 

1. Select a color palette and/or theme. Start with a color trio or perhaps simply a specific holiday (birthday, etc). A pretty table linen (you can rent them locally or have one shipped to your home) provides the canvas on which to begin creating your party scene.

                                                        Illustration by Caitlin McGauley - lover her!

2. Gather your goodies. Knowing where to place china, flatware and glassware can be a little challenging (especially with all those forks involved).  Putting pieces in their proper place makes all the difference when styling your table. Don't forget that mixing colors and patterns feels more modern and playful. Here we paired a decorative, gold charger with a simple, turquoise dinner plate and added a patterned salad plate for instant WOW factor.

                                                                               Images by Meghan Elliot Photography

3. Incorporate personal details. Bringing personal touches to your setting is a great way to make guests feel welcome.  Consider making menu cards (like ours above) at home, or have them printed locally.  Looking to go the extra mile?  Place cards and candy wrappers (for yummy favors) are also easy DIY's.

4. Add accent lighting. Aside from setting a soft mood and creating a welcoming atmosphere, everyone looks great by candlelight (especially when capturing photographs). Here, we spread small, gold, beaded votives around our centerpiece to create a soft, simple glow.

5.  Gather from your garden.  Adding flowers or greenery to your tablescape will create the warmth and festivity that every holiday meal needs.  Here we used all while florals, but seasonal blooms, feathers, pine cones, and branches are just a few alternatives.  Your backyard is a great place to find seasonal greenery and foliage. Remember to keep centerpieces low so guests can easily talk across the table. 

Now, it's time to get cookin'!  Be sure to check back later this week for our DIY floral centerpiece tutorial...

Happy hosting! 

xo, stephanie

Stephanie's Party Secrets

With the holidays right around the corner, I am looking forward to cozy nights by the fire, time with friends and family, and of course...holiday entertaining! Below are a few of my PARTY SECRETS to ensure a stylish celebration...
1. Be creative with invites. They help set the mood from the very beginning and are a fun way to get guests excited about the event in advance of your gathering. We especially love paperlesspost.com or our friends (locally) at Carla David Design. And, don't forget to let your guests know the dress code!
2. Set the mood with candles. The more ambient light the better and candles are an inexpensive way to help make your space warm and intimate. 
3. Create a custom playlist. Regardless of the type of gathering you are hosting, the music will help keep the party going. Consider a mix of slow and upbeat tunes to play throughout the evening.  Find the GIRL ABOUT TOWN's personal PARTY PLAYLIST HERE.

4. Move the furniture. Don't be afraid to move things around a bit and create intimate seating groupings in your home and/or make way for dancing!

5. Serve a signature drink. Choose something that is fun and light in color. Stick to white wine or champagne, especially for large gatherings, as red wine will stain.

6. Display fruit, cheeses and desserts artfully. A chalkboard is a fun way to display savory treats and gives you the opportunity to write the names of the items on display. Different size cake plates are perfect for sugary treats and provide visual interest to any tabletop.

7. Have a party activity. Incorporating a game or activity is fun for adult parties too. Turn an empty corner into a photo booth with props for silly poses or make s’mores outside around a toasty fire.
8. Give favors. Choose something small that guests can take home with them to remember the evening. While mints and matches are favor favorites, don’t be afraid to get creative and think outside the box.
9. Invite the neighbors. This will make you feel less self conscious about ending the party early or turning the music down at 9 PM. Keep the “more the merrier” mentality and you can’t go wrong.

10. Dress the part. Don’t forget your party dress, (ladies, something sparkly is always a plus) and remember to HAVE FUN!    


xo, stephanie

Holiday Party Playlist

Click to Stream Playlist via Grooveshark

The holiday season is right around the corner, and that can only mean one thing - its party planning time! Everyone knows just how essential music is to a successful soiree - and what better way to create the perfect setting than with a custom playlist? Here at Bradshaw Styling, we're not content with just any old party mix, and that's why we're sharing with you this Fab collection of songs, hand-picked by one of our favorite local mix masters, DJ Carl:

"For any cool and hip party playlist, I would recommend that the mood be set with some classic tunes early on.  As time progresses, so should the energy and tempo of the music.  This will move the flow of the vibe along and keep your guests interested.  If your revelers feel like they want to dance or just groove to the sounds you should give them the tracks to do so in the later hours of your event. You can oblige the seasonal vibe by adding some feel good holiday remixes without resorting to predictable choices.  To be sure, this is not the typical holiday music playlist, but then again, you are not having the typical holiday party, now are you?"

                                                                                          TRACK LISTINGS

                             Photography by AlexanderMorozov.com

1.   Dave Brubeck - Take Five
2.   Lena Horne - Let It Snow (Psuedojazz Mix)
3.   Tosca - Orozco (Dubphonic Remix)
4.   Telepopmusik - Breath
5.   Annie Lennox & Al Green -
      Put A Little Love In Your Heart
6.   Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up
7.   Simply Red - Sunrise
8.   Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
9.   Madonna - Fever
10. Adele - Set Fire To The Rain
11. Girl Talk - Non-Stop Party Now
12. Helena Beat - Foster The People
13. Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina - Stereo Love
14. Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill 
     (Freemason's Club Mix)

Click HERE to stream playlist

With the Girl About Town's Holiday Party Playlist, you're guaranteed to throw a bash worth remembering.  

Thanks, Carl.
xo, stephanie