If Fall has been about the glamour of the Rat Pack era for us, then Holiday is inspired directly by some of the wonderful places the icons of that time used to visit. The New York dining clubs of the era such as the Stork Club and El Morocco as well as the Sands Casino in Vegas all gave us a great starting point for a collection that was as witty as it was elegant – something guaranteed to inject some fun into your holiday wardrobe, whilst absolutely working with evening wear.

What are some of your favorite pieces?

Our Bacall Stork Club minaudiére definitely deserves a mention. Featuring a motif inspired by the super chic Stork Club itself, it’s art deco fastening and chic black and red coloring make it as timeless as it is slightly tongue in cheek. For the ultimate glamour, our Merrick and Fitzgerald geometric clutches in Perspex evoke the wonderful art deco design of buildings at that time, whilst our Dice Cube clutch reflects some of the fashions. All of these bags were designed to transport one back to a time when going out was a major event, glamour was the order of the day, and it was almost impossible to be overdressed.

How will you wear your Holiday minaudiére?

I love to mix it up a little, so I’ll wear my Three Suits Levin with a silk blouse and sharp trouser suit to work my glamour in a new way. The wonderful thing about these bags is that make enough of a statement to carry a whole outfit. They really do the talking!

Classic Eggnog

Martha Stewart’s Cranberry Cocktails

This cranberry cocktail is a swirl of favorite flavors: maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, and red wine. Serve it with a stirrer beaded with poached cranberries.

 2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries

1 cup pure maple syrup

2 cups dry red wine, such as Pinot Noir

1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped

Thin strips of zest from 1/2 lemon

2 teaspoons pink peppercorns, crushed

Pinch of coarse salt

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 cups seltzer

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put cranberries into a large, high-sided skillet; set aside. Bring syrup, wine, brown sugar, vanilla bean and seeds, lemon zest, peppercorns, and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan, whisking occasionally.

Pour over cranberries. Cover tightly with foil, and bake until cranberries are soft but have not burst, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to a bowl; cover with 1 cup cooking liquid. Let cool completely.

Bring 1/2 cup cooking liquid and the granulated sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, whisking until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat to low; simmer until liquid has reduced and barely coats the back of a spoon, about 6 minutes. Pour through a fine sieve into a medium bowl; let cool completely. Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to use, up to 3 days.

Reserve 40 cranberries. Puree remaining cranberries and liquid in a blender.

To serve, place 10 reserved cranberries on each of 4 decorative skewers. Pour 1/4 cup puree and 1/4 cup syrup into each of four 12-ounce glasses; stir to combine. Add skewers, and fill glasses with ice. Top with seltzer, and serve.

My Celine Trio bag – it’s indispensable on any vacation whether it’s the city or beach. I have it in various colours, but red is my favourite.

Tod’s sandals – Everyone talks about K.Jacques, but Tod’s sandals are durable but also beautifully made and classic. I buy a few pairs every summer.

Tabla cover-ups – Their East-meets-West cover-ups are super chic and feature stunning hand embroideries from India. Plus, they go easily from beach to dinner – pair them with a pair of gold flats and you are good to go!

Tees and cotton dresses from J.Crew and Alexander Wang – I have these in various styles and colours. They work for any destination

Maui Babe Browning Lotion – I discovered this in Hawaii many years ago and always travel with it. It gives you the perfect golden brown tan!

Gold jewellery from Herve Van Der Straeten – His cuffs and earrings are perfect for the summer and are made from hammered gold. The designs are bold but always elegant, people always stop to ask me about them.

KOTUR Glitter Globe Clutch– It’s my current favourite because its playful yet chic. I’m obsessed with the gold glitter!

Holiday Highlights: Watching the sunrise during a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia in Turkey where the unique rock formations look like you’ve stepped off a Star Wars movie set and waking up the view of the bosphorus in Istanbul. And my entire trip in Capri was magical, from dining under the lemon groves at Da Paolino and people watching in the piazzetta to discovering the white and green grottos on a private yacht.

Featuring quotes from Shakespeare, cute illustrations and simple little messages that say it all without saying too much, it’s where we’ll be heading for our cards this year. Should you fancy something a bit more generous, they’ve got a long line in heavenly gifts, too. And, just a small word of advice – you can’t really go wrong with their notebooks. Just saying.

All available from www.smythson.com

Perfect for party season, and yours for $395.

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