Rebecca Gardner, A SCREAMING BLAST: Exceptional Entertaining

Summary

Totally Booked with Zibby: Rebecca Gardner, A SCREAMING BLAST: Exceptional Entertaining

Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Rebecca Gardner
Episode Date: September 4, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this vibrant episode, Zibby Owens interviews Rebecca Gardner—event designer, creative director, and author of A Screaming Blast: Exceptional Entertaining. They dive into Rebecca’s maximalist philosophy on parties, the meaningful roots of her career, lessons from her Texas upbringing, and the joyful chaos of her Houses and Parties brand. Rebecca shares behind-the-scenes stories about her book (including a fortuitous connection with Sofia Coppola), the ethos of true hospitality, and party-planning wisdom for any scale.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rebecca’s Backstory: Roots of a Party Thrower

• Growing up in a quirky small town in South Texas, Rebecca learned early to “make your own fun,” laying the foundation for her creative approach to events.
  • “I have been planning parties with gusto, excitement and tenacity…since I was a little girl, planning ridiculous birthday parties, you know, for myself.” (05:36, Rebecca)
• Her company, Houses and Parties (based in Savannah, GA, and NYC), is a multipart “three-ring circus”: event design, interior design, and online retail of “unnecessaries for memorable occasions.”

The Sofia Coppola Connection: A New York Story

• Rebecca recounts meeting Sofia Coppola, who wrote the foreword for her book:
  • A chance encounter in a West Village restaurant, after a prior (thrilling) phone interaction with Francis Ford Coppola’s office for a holiday shopping request.
  • Despite initial embarrassment at her fangirl approach, Rebecca’s Texan boldness led to collaborating on Coppola’s birthday party and, eventually, the book foreword.
    • “Before I said a word to my table, everyone leaned forward and said, 'Don’t do it.' ...And I thought, well, to hell with all of you!” (08:13, Rebecca)

Influences: The Grandmother Legacy

• Rebecca attributes her entertaining philosophy to her grandmother, Nini, and a lineage of strong women who created joy through hospitality and resourcefulness.
  • “I come from a line of women that can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.” (10:46, Rebecca)
• The story of discovering massive cake pans led her to appreciate the scale and business innovation of her great-grandmother, a caterer during a challenging era.

Turning Passion into Business

• Transitioning from party planning for fun to a scalable, multi-layered business was “a no-brainer”—Rebecca has always believed in the necessity of celebrating, at every level.
  • “I think that celebrating is really, really important in life. I think life could be a bowl of oatmeal if it weren’t punctuated with celebrations.” (12:43, Rebecca)
• Her time at the Savannah College of Art and Design helped develop her collaborative skills and broaden her creative vision.

Adapting for the Pandemic: Retail Joy

• During COVID, with events paused, Rebecca launched the Houses and Parties online shop, selling everything from Hermes china to playful party accessories.
  • Her favorite items “are the silly things that I think can really make a party fun—party crackers with giant paste jewelry, press-on nails, crazy hats, or senior superlative ribbons.” (15:25, Rebecca)

Party Philosophies: Lunch vs. Cocktail

• Zibby prefers hosting lunches: “I'm not stressed, I'm like, at my best. And I know they're not gonna go forever because everybody likes to move on with their day.” (17:10, Zibby)
• Rebecca thrives on big, free-flowing cocktail buffets: “I like a cocktail buffet where you can invite tons of people and you don’t have to be so strategic…Strong drinks and easy one-fork sort of supper.” (21:54, Rebecca)

Maximalist Aesthetic and Design Process

• Rebecca’s visual signature is about immersive, layered, and surprise-filled environments.
  • “Parties are not a time to be edited. They should feel generous and unabashed and comfortable…weird, twisted surprises and unabashed generosity should be reflected in the environment.” (24:43, Rebecca)
• She values guest experience above ostentation:
  • “I want guests to walk in and squeeze someone’s hand and say, ‘Damn, I’m going to have a great time. This is so creative,’ as opposed to, ‘I wonder what they spent on flowers.’” (24:58, Rebecca)

Creating the Book: Visuals and Stories

• The book features double-page spreads of vibrant events, paired with vintage fabric prints curated from Kravit archives.
• Collaboration with book designer Celia Fuller elevated the aesthetic.

Mentors & Inspirations

• Rebecca draws inspiration from fashion photographer Tim Walker (“constant source of inspiration”) and Sofia Coppola (“a master of environment and emotion”).
  • She also celebrates a resource list in her book, calling out the artisans behind memorable moments: “That brings me great joy and makes me feel good to, you know, scream their name from the top of the mountain.” (30:49, Rebecca)

New Launches & Party “Unnecessaries”

• Rebecca will debut a new collection for the book launch: wild party hats by Tel Aviv milliner Mayor Zabar, and the “Screaming Blast collection” featuring playful party favors like “Buttons of Truth” and engraved “Would You Rather” cards.
  • “Buttons of truth...giant pink buttons that...immediately give you a silly thing to say...Some are outrageous and positive and some are provocative. So things like that. I’m really excited to see how people respond.” (28:13, Rebecca)

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Rebecca (on her grandmother): “My grandmother entertained beautifully and she kept a really elegant but mostly comforting house that was always orderly and stocked and ready to open its doors to friends and family and all sorts of black sheep that trickled in over the years.” (11:20)
• Rebecca (on maximalism): “That’s sort of the hairspray Texan in me. But I don’t think parties are a time to be edited.” (24:34)
• Rebecca (on celebration): “Anytime you gather, it’s a party. And I feel really, really strongly about that…that effort is really necessary to punctuate life with memorable occasions.” (13:15)
• Zibby (on her party style): “I prefer a lunch. I love lunches…I like to eat dinner at 6. So anyway, lunches. I’m not stressed, I’m like, at my best.” (17:07)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Rebecca’s background, family influences: 05:19–12:01
• From idea to business: 12:01–15:04
• Pandemic pivot, launching e-comm: 15:07–16:47
• Party philosophies: lunch vs. cocktail: 17:05–22:53
• Design aesthetic, table settings: 22:53–25:13
• Book creation and visuals: 25:13–26:24
• Party “unnecessaries” and new collection: 27:40–29:05
• Mentors and inspirations, resource list: 29:36–30:57

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is witty, sincere, and infused with Southern warmth. Rebecca’s maximalist, delight-first party philosophy resonates with Zibby’s curiosity and relatability, making the episode a masterclass in turning personal delight into creative and commercial success. Listeners are left with an invitation to celebrate with intention, welcome serendipity, and never underestimate the power of a good party hat—or a well-timed, screaming blast.

Endnote:
Rebecca’s book, her signature colorful style, and her Texan “all in” spirit offer inspiration for seasoned hosts and the entertaining-curious alike.

Resource List: For more, check Rebecca’s full resource section at the back of her book for the behind-the-scenes magicians.

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(This summary omits advertisements and standard intros/outros. All quotes and segment times are from the episode transcript.)

Transcript

[A]

Hi listeners. We have totally booked live coming up this fall and I hope you'll be a part of it. We have three events in New York City, September 19th, 25th and 30th in New York where I'll be doing six interviews live each day. We also have a petite retreat in Greenwich on October 4th. Go to zibbemedia.com and event or and or eventbrite and search the events and please come. I can't wait to meet you in person.

[B]

Hey, I'm Paige desorbo and I'm always thinking about underwear.

[C]

I'm Hannah Berner and I'm also thinking about underwear, but I prefer full coverage. I like to call them my granny panties.

[B]

Actually, I never think about underwear. That's the magic of Tommy John.

[C]

Same. They're so light and so comfy and if it's not comfortable I'm not wearing it.

[B]

And the bras? Soft, supportive and actually breathable.

[C]

Yes. Lord knows the girls need to breathe all. Also, I need my PJs to breathe and be buttery, soft and stretchy enough for my dramatic tossing and turning at night. That's why I live in my Tommy John pajamas.

[B]

Plus they're so cute because they fit perfectly.

[C]

Put yourself on to Tommy John.

[B]

Upgrade your drawer with Tommy John. Save 25% for a limited time at tommyjohn.com comfort See site for details.

[A]

Today's episode has been sponsored by Digipod. As someone who's passionate about books and authors, I'm always excited to share resources that can help bring your stories to life. That's why I am thrilled to tell you about Digipod, a print on demand company that truly understands what authors need to make that happen. Here's what I love about Digipod. They don't just print your books and send you on your way. Their team holds your hand throughout the entire process with incredible customer service. They deliver professional grade printing quality, consistently beat their competitors turnaround times and they can handle rush orders. They simplify the whole printing process process and make it incredibly easy. To achieve your vision for your books, head over to digipod Zibby that's dash I g g y p o d dot com Zibby set up a free 15 minute printing consultation and get 10% off your first print order. You'll talk with their experts who will walk you through exactly how to set up your print job and answer all your questions. And by the way, I've seen the books and they are amazing looking. If you've been thinking about printing your book this is the support you want. Again, that's digipod.com zibby for your free consultation. Today's episode is sponsored by the Foxed Page, a podcast and YouTube channel that dives deep into the very best books. It's basically your favorite college English class, but very relaxed and way more fun. No exams, no participation, and only books you really want to read. Kimberly Ford, best selling author, one time professor and PhD in literature, offers up entertaining, often funny talks that will leave you feeling inspired and a little smarter. She digs right into everything from J.D. salinger to Miranda July, from Demon Copperhead to Madame Bovary, from Pride and Prejudice to Lessons in Chemistry. The talks on individual books are the heart of the podcast, but enriched read segments tackle ideas like unreliable narrators, while old favorite talks treat you to a fresh adult look at childhood gems like Harriet the Spy and Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. Want to get the most out of what you read and be entertained along the way? The Foxed Page is for you. Hi, this is Zibby Owens and you're listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have time to read books. In my daily show I interview today's latest best selling, buzziest or underrated authors and story creators whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author and obviously podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that's coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don't have to stay in the know. Get insider insights and connect with guests like I do every single day. For more information, go to zibbymedia.com and follow me on Instagram ibbeowensk. Rebecca Gardner is the author of A Screaming Exceptional Entertaining. Rebecca Gardner is the founder and Creative Director of Houses and Parties, a full service events, interior design and retail collective based in Savannah, Georgia and New York City. She has been named a top event Designer by Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Her design work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Tea Magazine, Elle Decor, Town and Country, and the Financial Times. Her online shop Houses and Parties offers unnecessaries for devotees of the elegant and unusual and shoppable collections that feature the same style, wit and treasure that defines her client work. Welcome Rebecca. Thank you so much for coming on Totally Booked to talk about a Screaming Blast exceptional entertaining which is not only fun and beautiful and immersive to read and devour these pictures but also just as an art object itself. Coffee table wherever this book multifaceted. So there you go I'm so glad to be here.

[D]

Thank you.

[A]

Okay, tell listeners I already read your bio, but tell listeners a little more about you. I know you included a lot in the book about your Texas upbringing and how you fell into this line of work and all of it, but just give a little backstory as to how you got here and then why the book.

[D]

Sure. I am from South Texas, which is a really quirky place to grow up. And part of being from a small town in South Texas is making your own fun. So I have been planning parties with gusto, excitement and tenacity, I guess since I was a little girl, planning ridiculous birthday parties, you know, for myself. I live between Savannah, Georgia and New York City and I have a company called Houses and Parties, which is like, it's a three ring circus. We do interior design, event design, and then I have an E commerce shop which sells things, we call it unnecessaries for memorable occasions. So things like happies, you know. And so I'm thrilled to be on here and to talk about my book. This is the first anything that I've done for this book. So.

[A]

Oh yay.

[D]

This is the first sort of start star or a piece of glitter falling out of the box that I sent.

[A]

To you have a foreword by Sofia Coppola. And then you tell us how you ended up meeting and how you're walking over and being like, oh, it's me, you know, Got you. I know.

[D]

Only in New York City, right? Yeah, I just always, like so many women in particular, am such a fan of everything that she creates. She really is sort of a inspiration for beauty and femininity and creativity and also tenacity, you know, in her work. And a couple of months, maybe it was December, I got a call from her father's office and he wanted to buy Christmas gifts for his daughter. And that was its own sort of story and experience which, you know, kind of made me grow 12 inches taller. I was excited just to get a phone call from Francis Ford Coppola that made me feel really good about myself. And then a couple of months later, like not at the height of COVID but you know, it was winter, so maybe it was a year, but everyone was still very much masked and careful. And I went to Via Carota near my apartment in the West Village, and she has a house nearby. And it was towards the end of our meal and I had like purple wine teeth and I was buzzing with the excitement of the new season. And I looked over and sort of, you know, in New York, you Don't really think so much about seeing a celebrity, but, God, Sophia Coppola. I mean, my toes were curled with excitement. I could barely walk. And before I said a word to my table, everyone leaned forward and said, don't do it. Don't do it, Rebecca. Don't do it. You know, And I thought, well, to hell with all of you. And I was sort of encouraged by all this delicious red wine I had been drinking for probably three hours at this point. And I went up to her table and. And said, sophia, it's me, you know, And I had a full Covid era mask, and her handsome, equally talented husband stood up sort of like with chivalry but also concern. And I kept going like, it's me, Rebecca. And she kind of smiled and said, oh, how was your dinner? You know, something very perfunctory. And I kept going and going and going. And finally I pulled my mask off and said, you know me, Rebecca. And she still had no idea who I was, of course, why that would make any difference. And anyway, she did. We did finally get to the part that I owned houses and parties where she shops. And it wasn't a week later that Tomo called me to do her birthday party. So, you know, that's the text that in me, and it doesn't always translate to New York City, but I did get what I wanted, you know, so.

[A]

Maybe it's translated just fine.

[D]

I won't ever do it again. I mean, I Woke up at 3am Just hating myself, you know, what. What have I done? I've humiliated myself. But she is so gracious. And, yeah, I was so honored to do that party for her. And even more so that she wrote this forward for my book. I kind of feel like Mary Tyler Moore in Times Square with her beret. Like, that was my Mary Taylor Moore moment.

[A]

It's amazing. I love that story.

[D]

Only in this crazy city.

[A]

That's right. Tell me more about your grandmother, Nini and her influence on you.

[D]

Oh, that's so sweet. Makes me kind of teary. She was very hardworking and very thoughtful and very sweet. She also was a force, you know, and it was not until way after she had passed away that I learned that her mother had been in. Had started a catering business, like, out of. Out of sort of traumatic events that had happened in her family. And so I didn't realize that. And it's something that I'm very proud of to come from, you know, a line of women, women that can make a silk purse out of a sow's Ear. And I find it very interesting that no one really ever talked too much about that. But when I was cleaning out, you know, storage units after. Really after my father died, I was cleaning out storage units of my grandmother's and I found these huge cake pans, like, you know, for Paul Bunyan. I can't even imagine how big the cake would be. And I thought, what in the hell are all these giant cake pans? And I really learned the scope of what my great grandmother had accomplished. You know, really at a time where women, particularly in South Texas, weren't doing things like that, or a lot of them weren't. So I'm really proud of that. And my grandmother. My grandmother entertained beautifully and she kept a really elegant but mostly comforting house that was always orderly and stocked and ready to open its doors to friends and family and all sorts of black sheep that trickled in over the years. My grandfather was a doctor, and there were people coming in and out of South Texas all the time just because of its bizarre location, sort of at the bottom of the boot. And because her house was always ready. I experienced a childhood where like Sunday suppers could include people from really all over. And that was a really nice lesson. She made a lot of effort, and not just for people that she was trying to impress, but really for family. And it made an impression. I'm grateful for it. Probably more as an adult than I was as a young girl.

[A]

Well, it's so wonderful to have uncovered this treasure trove. So it was wonderful to read about. When you talk a little bit about how you went from idea to building your business, I realize that could be like a five hour long conversation, but just how did you take something that you were good at and turn it into something sustainable and impactful with multiple layers? Because it's one thing to plan a beautiful party and it's another to know and scale that. Tell me about that.

[D]

Well, I think with parties in particular, it is so much a part of my personality and my passion. And it's my love language and it's my gift, it's my excitement. And people that know me really well would tell you that even on a rainy day or on vacation or in a normal conversation on a Wednesday night, I always have an idea for a party. And to me it's about. I think that celebrating is really, really important in life. I think that life could be a bowl of oatmeal if it weren't punctuated with celebrations. And I think that the necessary effort, no matter how much you actually do yourself, I Mean, I have a whole chapter called you don't have to make it to make it happen. So they're all different, they're all different levels. But, but I think that gathering people that you love or you want to love or that you know really well or you want to know or you want to introduce to someone else is so, so important at any level. And I think anytime you gather, it's a party. And I feel really, really strongly about that, that that effort is really necessary to punctuate life with memorable occasions. And I have done that my entire life. Like, even in college, I would have parties in my nasty dorm room with solo cups full of cheap champagne. And so it was a no brainer. I worked at this wonderful art school called the Savannah College of Art and Design, or SCAD, for almost 10 years. And I met all these incredible artists and really learned how to collaborate and commission and work with artists, which is a very specific set of negotiation skills, you know, especially young student artists, you know, and it was a natural step for me to do interiors and events when I started my own business. And it was really, it was really the events that took off. And I had sort of a glamorous, smart and glamorous client that said, enough with the interior design. Especially if you're going to be working in New York City. There are so many fabulous interior designers, but there are not a lot of great party planners. And I listened to that advice and there's so many talents in New York, like there were at this art school where I worked, that it's, it's kind of a magic wand, bippity boppity boo experience to create an environment and an experience in New York City with all these incredible artisans.

[A]

Amazing. And what about the shopping piece of it?

[D]

Housesandparties.com which is the E comm site, was my Covid baby. So when all of the interior projects were put on hold and no one was planning parties for a really long time. And a lot of the parties that I do are for, like, luxury brands, you know, who are going to be particularly careful years and years into the pandemic, rightfully so. And so it was either like I was going to work at J. Crew or I was going to start this, you know, online shop. And we sell beautiful things, everything from Hermes china to pui for cot silver, Beautiful vintage things. But what brings me the most joy are the silly things that I think can really make a party fun. I mean, I could go on and on with flowers and decor and candlelight and beautiful champagne, but ultimately if it's not fun, you've failed. So the things that I am proudest of are like the party crackers that have crazy giant paste jewelry inside or long red press on fingernails or silly things. With this book, we launched a Screaming Blast collection. Or we will in September, which will have awards ribbons like senior superlatives. So if there's a lull in the party, you can, you know, award someone best dressed or most likely to go home early or, you know, whatever. So we sell everything from crazy party hats to beautiful sterling silver.

[A]

I love that. So fun.

[D]

That was a long answer. I'm sorry.

[A]

I love the long answers. I'm just.

[D]

Yeah, it's fun.

[A]

You know, it's. I'm curious about how it all happened and hearing your story. I find it really interesting, especially as somebody who loves throwing parties. Not. I don't design them. I don't. I'm not like you. I'm like, sometimes like just a couple flowers. It's like, great, I'm done.

[D]

What is your go to party format?

[A]

I prefer a lunch. I love lunches.

[D]

Interesting.

[A]

I get tired. Why? I am an early person. I get up early. I'm like dead by, you know, 10. Like, I like to eat dinner at 6. So anyway, lunches. I'm not stressed. I'm like, at my best. And I know they're not gonna go forever because everybody likes to move on with their day. So that's my problem.

[D]

Do you entertain at a restaurant or at your house? No, at home.

[A]

Usually at home.

[D]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. I love people from like author gatherings where it's just like little bites, to having a group of friends over or whatever. What's your favorite? Today's episode is sponsored by Quints. Fall is in full swing and it is the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe with pieces that feel as good as they look. Luckily, Quince makes it easy to look polished, save warm and save big without compromising on quality. Quince has all the elevated essentials for fall. Think 100% Mongolian cashmere from $50. Washable silk tops and skirts and perfectly tailored denim. All at prices that feel too good to be true. I'm eyeing their wool coats. They look designer level but cost a fraction of the price. And the quality just as good, if not better. By partnering directly with ethical top tier factories and cutting out the middlemen, Quince cuts out the middlemen to deliver luxury quality pieces at half the price of similar brands. It's the kind of wardrobe upgrade that feels smart, stylish and effortless. Quince's sweaters have become staples in my wardrobe. They are reliable and beautiful and I just get excited every time a quince package arrives. Quince has really become a one stop shop so keep it classic and cozy this fall with long lasting staples from quince. Go to quince.comzy for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N C E.com Zivi to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Zibby Today's episode has been sponsored by Live It Up Super Greens Moms. You do everything for everyone else and somehow your own wellness always gets bumped to the bottom of the list. That's where Live It Up Super Greens comes in. It's a daily habit that actually works. No hassle, no fuss, just scoop, mix and go. Whether you're tackling school drop off, conference calls, Zooms or the laundry mountain, this is one easy win that supports digestion, energy and immune health in just 30 seconds. Live it Up Super Greens is an all natural blend of over 20 superfoods formulated with organic vegetables, probiotics, digestive enzymes and naturally derived ingredients. Just one scoop a day can promote gut health, support your immune system and give you the feel good energy you can count on. It's designed by nutritionists, third party, tested for purity and made to be easy on your stomach. No grassy taste or chalky texture. Mix it with water, milk or a smoothie and make it a healthy habit you'll look forward to. You'd never believe a green drink tastes so good if you haven't mixed Super Greens into your routine. Live it up is a must add. It tastes so much better than the others and it's way more affordable. Live It Up Super Greens offers premium quality without the premium price. It's one of the most affordable ways to support your your health daily. And by the way, it is absolutely delicious. I love it. Easy to clean up, easy to use, and amazing. Live it up has become a quick and easy way for me to stay on top of my health. So Live it up is offering you 15% off your first order including subscriptions with code booked. Shipping is always free. Head to letsliveitup.com booked and use code booked for 15% off your first Super Greens order. These statements have not been evaluated by the fda. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[B]

Hey, I'm Paige Desorbo and I'm always thinking about underwear.

[C]

I'm Hannah Berner and I'm also thinking about underwear, but I prefer full coverage. I like to call them my granny panties.

[B]

Actually, I never think about underwear. That's the magic of Tommy John.

[C]

Same. They're so light and so comfy. And if it's not comfortable, I'm not wearing it.

[B]

And the bras, Soft, supportive, and actually breathable.

[C]

Yes. Lord knows the girls need to breathe. Also, I need my PJs to breathe and be buttery, soft and stretchy enough for my dramatic tossing and turning at night. That's why I live in my Tommy John pajamas.

[B]

Plus, they're so cute because they fit perfectly.

[C]

Put yourself on to Tommy John.

[B]

Upgrade your drawer with Tommy John. Save 25% for a limited time at tommyjohn.comfort. see site for details.

[D]

I like a big cocktail. I'm the opposite, in fact. Like, I have a text chain that is titled the Ladies who Don't Lunch. So I'm your party opposite. I like a cocktail buffet where you can invite tons of people and you don't have to be so strategic as far as seating and, you know, strong drinks and easy one fork sort of supper where you can perch and move around and escape if you need to. I like that versatility. It would work for someone like you too, Zibby, if you started early because you can dip.

[A]

Yes. I don't mind a cocktail hour. I don't mind a dinner. I mean, I like all of the things I like. You know, I'll have a dinner party now and again. Not often, but I don't know, there's something. But yes, I've. And yeah, cocktail parties are also really fun. You're right. Very fun.

[D]

Well, in the south, we have a cocktail buffet, which is actually dinner.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

But, you know, serve from the dining room. They don't do that so much in New York. But they should. It does give you versatility and protection.

[A]

Yes. Yes. How did you go about. Wait. Well, let me talk about your design esthetic for a second. Because all of these pictures are so rich in color lighting layers upon layers. Like, the tables are full. Like, tell me how to even articulate the way you design.

[D]

Well, when you're talking about a seated dinner and what people call tablescaping, I do think that that's a special gift to give someone. Like 24 inches with the person chosen across from them to their right and to their left. You know, we were sort of dissing on seated dinners earlier, but it is an incredible gift because it's so much work and thought. It's like an introduction, you know, to New People. And so I like for guests to be totally enchanted when they sit down at their place and for each one to have beautiful candlelight in front of their face and a little surprise, which could be a plastic dinosaur peeking from under a geranium leaf. I like for it to be an immersive environment. So we always think about what's on the floor. Is it piles of sawdust or sod or. I mean, at Carnegie hall, we had, like, landscapers, say, fall leaves for us, and we put them all over the entrance so that when guests were crunching over them with their Manolos, they really felt like they had been dropped into Central Park. But I am definitely a maximalist, and that's sort of the hairspray Texan in me. But I don't think that parties are a time to be edited. They should feel generous and unabashed and comfortable. And, you know, I do tell clients that hire me to. To design parties for them. The first thing that I say is, I am not the monogram on the dance floor. Floral arch, you know, party planner. I want guests to walk in and squeeze someone's hand and say, damn, I'm going to have a great time. This is so creative. As opposed to, I wonder what they spent on flowers. You know, to me, that's a huge fail. So I think weird, twisted surprises and unabashed generosity should be reflected in the environment.

[A]

I love that. And you translated that into a book so well with these just fabulous double page spreads and all the different types of events and little backstories on all of them. How did you pick which parties to include? Is there something that you wish had gotten in or something you threw late that like, oh, if only I could sneak it in now?

[D]

Oh, yeah. I mean, my favorite party is always the most recent one that we've done. I worked with this amazing book designer named Celia Fuller, and she was my number one choice. And I was very, very lucky to get to work with her. I think she did a really good job. And I went to the Kravet, the fabric manufacturer, the Kravit offices, where they have these INS archives, boxes and boxes of fabric memos from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and dug through those with such excitement. I mean, you can't even imagine. So Celia helped me to pair these prints with the images. And I think that, that, I mean, again, more is more, you know, that. That layered on just sort of another excitement in color punctuation.

[A]

Love that. Will there be a screaming blast too?

[D]

Yeah, maybe. Maybe.

[A]

Awesome.

[D]

We'll see. But we have all these great shoots because my shop is, because my shop is online. You don't have that yummy experience of walking into a retail shop. So I was really determined when we launched, which again was during COVID that we had visuals that felt special and exciting and you were excited to scroll and click on photos. So I'd love to do something with all of those, you know, so it's like a old fashioned retail experience, but all visual. I think it's such a shame there aren't as many wonderful, you know, shops anymore.

[A]

You must have done pop ups somewhere. Are you doing any upcoming in New York? Where can I come shop?

[D]

Yeah, yeah, we did one last year at Veronica Beard and the year before that we did one at the Carlisle. Well, I'm not doing one this year because I'm just working like a dog on this book tour. I mean, you can't even imagine I'm going to have Vaseline on my teeth like a beauty queen from smiling so much. But probably next year we will track you down for your luncheons.

[A]

Yes, exactly. What is something totally you that you are doing to launch this book?

[D]

Well, I'm very excited that I had a party dress made out of the Bargello fabric that's on the COVID And we are launching a whole bunch of crazy party hats. We work with this amazing milliner, he's in Tel Aviv, his name is Mayor Zabar and he makes incredible hats for us that have been sort of a houses and party statement from the beginning. And this year we really went wild and we will launch this whole collection in September. And then I'm excited about the Screaming blast collection which will have a lot of. We call them Suzies. So they're just little sweet things. So it might be like, have you ever played would you rather. So it's like a printed. Would you rather engraved, you know, place card or another thing that we're selling are these buttons of truth which are ridiculous giant pink buttons that you put sort of at the front of a function where guests can choose their own and they will say things like zaddy or divorced or gracious reader or going home early or whatever. So that when you go, especially for a function where people don't really know each other, it immediately gives you a silly thing to say. And some of them are outrageous and positive and some of them are provocative. So things like that. I'm really excited to see how people, how people respond.

[A]

I love that. By the way, I've been rethinking my answer. I mean, I still hold by my lunch. But I'll explain why more, which is I don't like to leave my kids at night because I'm divorced and remarried. So when I have them, I stay home. So I think on a night, on the majority of nights, when I have my kids, a lunch is my answer. I'm going to just say it like that.

[D]

Okay, good. Good.

[A]

Because now I sound totally unfun. And, I mean, I'm not super fun.

[D]

But I'll be the judge of that, Zibby.

[A]

Okay. Okay.

[D]

I'll be the judge of that.

[A]

Okay. Who is somebody in your line of work that you have thought is like a mentor or somebody that you are like, if only I could be like, blah, blah, blah.

[D]

There's an amazing photographer, primarily a fashion photographer, named Tim Walker. And I follow him like a hawk. I mean, I would love to just be like, honey, I shrunk the kids and live in his brain. He is a constant source of inspiration for me. Sofia Coppola, I think, is a master of environment and emotion. And events are really live theater in a way, especially big ones.

[A]

That's great.

[D]

Yeah, awesome. On a bigger field, I mean, I also work with the most amazing talents every day that only make me look good. But that list is so long. It's in the back of my book. One of the things that I'm really proud of or excited to share, maybe not proud of, is this list of resources in the back of my book were. I mean, some of them, you know, like kravit or whatever. But others are the best place to get a caramel cake, the best person that can embroider linens, the best place to have simple invitations made. And that brings me great joy and makes me feel good to, you know, scream their name like, from the top of the mountain.

[A]

You are a screaming blessing blasting. Okay.

[D]

I'm getting these emails from people that have gotten books that are like, I'll be screaming all fall. And I'm screaming right now. And I thought, oh, God, megaphone.

[A]

You will be intimately acquainted with that word. So there you go. Rekha, it was so lovely to meet you. Thank you so much for coming on. Thank you for the joy of even just escaping into the pictures in this book and the words, of course. So thank you so much.

[D]

Thank you, Zibby. I'm really flattered to be included.

[A]

Oh, it's my pleasure. All right, take care.

[D]

Bye.

[A]

Bye. Bye. Thank you for listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have Time to Read Books. If you loved the show, Tell a friend, leave a review. Follow me on Instagram ibbyowens and Spread the Word. Thanks so much. Oh and buy the books.

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