Party Time with Evite’s Lindsay Viner
By Denise Tong
If you have an e-mail address, chances are, you’ve received an Evite from someone. Since 1998, Evite.com has enabled millions of people to send free mass electronic invitations for virtually every type of gathering: Birthday parties, baby showers, movie nights, and more.
With over 15 million registered users, the site continually strives to make event planning ever easier. In addition to its extensive gallery of invitation designs, its other features include a party goods store, a budget estimator, and recipes. In August 2007, the site introduced a blog to offer tips on entertaining guests and to answer readers’ questions about party dilemmas.
Associate Editor Lindsay Viner, one of the blog’s contributors, has discussed topics such as party playlists, gift wrapping, festive makeup, and pumpkin cappuccinos. In anticipation of the impending holiday party season, she shared with Glam Hub her tips and current favorite things.
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Q: At this time of year, there are obviously many parties celebrating religious holidays or New Year’s Eve. Do you think there’s such a thing as overdoing a theme?
A: I think overdoing a theme is really in the eye of the beholder. You and your guests may be really into themes and seeing things come together. Evite actually has invitations that coordinate to party supplies you can buy on the site because there’s definitely a market for people who want their party to have that cohesiveness. But others might really cringe at the idea of going matchy-matchy.
The bottom line is that everyone is there to have fun. If you want to have a have a winter wonderland complete with fake snow on the windows, eggnog martinis, and white twinkle lights hanging from everything that will stand still, go for it! But it’s also okay if your idea of a party is having everyone together with a CD of holiday music playing in the background.
Q: Which current fashion and beauty trends would be perfect for a holiday party look?
A: I’m loving shift dresses for this holiday party season. Pretty much anyone can find a shape that works, from A-line to trapeze. I am all about a super-simple shift with a pair of killer heels.
Obviously smoky eyes or—and I emphasize the OR—red lips are holiday party beauty mainstays. I like seeing a non-traditional spin on them: Smoky eyes in a deep plum instead of gray or red lips in a sheer gloss instead of a matte finish. I also think it’s the perfect time of year to do a pop of bright color on the cheeks for that in-from-the-cold glow. My personal fave is Cargo’s blush in Mendocino, which is a plummy-berry shade with a touch of shimmer.
Q: What current music do you think would be great for any party?
A: I want Spoon’s latest album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, playing at my next party. It’s got this light, Beatles-ish quality to it that I think would keep everyone mingling and happy.
Q: What kind of party disasters have you had and how did you salvage those situations?
A: I seem to be a magnet for slight wardrobe malfunctions. Consequently, I have double-stick tape with me at all times—Matchsticks is my favorite brand because the case is so slim that it can fit in the tiniest of clutches. I’ve put pieces on the backs of my heels to keep my shoes from slipping, along the inside of a wrap dress to keep it from opening up, and even along the inside of a strapless dress so that I don’t have to do that oh-so-attractive hike up every five minutes.
Q: Are there any particular questions or issues that your blog readers often write to you about?
A: Our readers have so many great ideas about parties, and we’re thrilled when they take the time to tell us about a particular theme or ask us a question about tying it all together.
We get a lot of etiquette questions as well. Some of them get discussion going among our staffers, and those are the ones that we know are going to be fantastic blog topics that will generate comments. It’s great to see how passionate people are about entertaining.
Q: You and the other bloggers have recommended several entertaining and style sites in your posts and on your sidebar. Which additional reads do you suggest to people?
A: I’ve always been a crazy magazine reader. At Evite, we subscribe to just about every magazine that has at least a section on entertaining. We love seeing what people are doing for everything from huge events with an unlimited budget to creative ways of hosting a game night at home.
I’m also in the middle of planning my wedding and have photocopied dozens of pages out of The Best of Martha Stewart Living Weddings. The photos are gorgeous and perfect for getting inspiration on everything from flowers to lighting.
As far as style goes, I check out Women’s Wear Daily’s site almost every day, especially the Friday beauty edition. Reading it makes me feel like an insider. The Sugar blogs—like FabSugar and BellaSugar—are always great places to get style tips and ideas. And before I buy any beauty product, I always check out its reviews on MakeupAlley. The girls there are product junkies on a whole new level, so I feel a kinship with them.
Q: What piece of party advice have you read or heard that anyone could take to heart?
A: I’m an extroverted person, but it can be tempting to keep to the group of people I know. My sister, on the other hand, is the epitome of a social butterfly. She always told me that she tries to meet and connect with at least one new person at every party she goes to. It can push you out of your comfort zone a little, but I’ve ended up meeting people who’ve become some of my closest friends this way.
