Martinis at The Plaza x Melissa Smrekar | The Dinner Party Set (Everything you need for a party of 8!)

The Dinner Party Set

Everything you need to host a party of eight.  Eight fill-in invitations (inspired by C.Z. Guest's fabulous fill-in cards).  Eight menus.  Eight superlative place cards.  Eight "Regrets her behavior" cards to act as a cheeky thank you note (featuring a smoking swan and bunny).  All wrapped in a collectable box which mimics the 10-cent composition notebook Truman Capote ruthlessly crafted his 540-person guest list.  The entire suite is rooted in history through the use of the original color palette and fonts.  And all the illustrations are based on actual masks worn by guests at the 1966 party. 

About the "Martinis at the Plaza" Collection

On November 28, 1966, Truman Capote hosted arguably the most iconic party of the century– his Black & White Ball at The Plaza Hotel in New York. You’ve seen the iconic images. Mia Farrow, in a butterfly mask, arriving on the arm of a cat-masked Frank Sinatra. Black tuxedos & white ball gowns. Rhinestones and plumes. Whether you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party for 100 at the country club or a dinner party for eight in your home, the Martinis at The Plaza party suite sets the foundation for a cheeky and glamorous evening that feels like it’s from a time that no longer exists.

The Box

Capote drafted his 540-person guest list in a 10-cent, black-and-white composition notebook that he carried everywhere, adding and ruthlessly striking names at his whim. The register, which now resides in the New York Public Library, inspired the collectible box for this party suite. Laura and Melissa share a longing for a bygone era when a product’s packaging felt like an experience, and this box sets the scene for the cheeky glamor you’ll find within.

The Invitation

Because of their shared love of history, Laura and Melissa paid careful attention to the details of the party’s ephemera. The stationery suite honors Capote’s vision by using the original color palette and original fonts from the party’s paper goods. 

The Place Cards

As Vanity Fair detailed, what gave the party “its intoxicating piquancy” was that Capote “flung together, in a gilt-edged melting pot, the most alluring power brokers in the worlds of high society, politics, the arts, and Hollywood—disconnected universes that collided, if not for the first time that evening, then at least with unprecedented force.”

The wildly different social spheres that collided at the party inspired this set of place cards. As you curate your invitation list, consider your guests and the roles that they play! Like Capote, don’t shy away from assembling a wild group from different pockets of your life. Keep everyone on their toes with lively conversation!

The Menu

Whether you’re serving pizza on your wedding China or The Plaza’s Chicken Hash, elevate your table with a set of coordinating menus for each place setting. (We find handwritten menus particularly chic!)

The Thank You Notes

The only thing better than an epic dinner party is reminiscing on the party the morning after. The stories. The laughs. The one-champagne-too-many. Thank your guests for being a part of your orbit with these irreverent thank-you notes. Whether you regret your behavior or regret nothing, follow-up up with a handwritten note that includes at least one inside joke from the party. Enclose a Polaroid from the party. It can double as blackmail if needed.

The smoking bunny is a nod to Candice Bergen’s long-eared white mink bunny mask by Halston, and the smoking swan references the name Capote coined for his muses – or “swans” – including Lee Radziwill and Babe Paley. 

The Illustrations 

Modernizing it for 2022 and beyond, the suite introduces a charming print inspired by iconic photographs from the party. The smoking bunny is a nod to Candice Bergen’s long-eared white mink bunny mask by Halston, and the smoking swan references the name Capote coined for his muses– or “swans”-- including Lee Radziwill and Babe Paley. All the mask illustrations found in the print draw inspiration from actual masks worn by guests on that drizzly night in 1966.

The Collaboration (a.k.a. The Friendship!)

A friendship born from the sunny-side of social media.  Melissa and Laura quickly bonded over a long list of similarities – historic home-ownership, dog and Maine Coon cat motherhood, snail mail, vintage packaging, thrifting, and a love for history (particularly the 1960s).  Classic with a touch cheeky is their modus operandi.

Melissa Smrekar is a creative girl from Dallas, Texas. She fundraises for a presenting Broadway theater and writes and performs nonfiction comedic essays. In addition to working with Laura Vogel Design, Melissa has collaborated creatively with Barrington Gifts, Willa Heart, SUITE by Jennifer Diederich, and Lycette, where she has a collection of 10 cheeky needlepoint canvases. She has been featured in Southern Living, The Huffington Post, and The Dallas Morning News.

Details

Everything you need for a party of 8 !!

Fill-In Invitations | Set of Eight

• Size:  7 x 5 inches (A7).
• Paper:  130# linen in natural white. 
• Envelopes:  Linen Euro flap in natural white.
• Quantity:  8 invitations and 8 envelopes.
• Customization:  Not available. 

Fill-In Menus | Set of Eight

• Size:  5 x 7 inches (A7).
• Paper:  130# linen in natural white. 
• Quantity:  8 menus.
• Customization:  Not available. 

Fill-in Superlative Place Cards | Set of Eight

• Size:  4 x 2 inches (folded) 
• Paper:  130# linen in natural white. 
• Quantity:  8 place cards (The Hostess, The Artist, The Swan, The Style Icon, The Socialite, The Entertainer, The Scholar, and The Politician)
• Customization:  Not available. 

"Regrets Her Behavior" Thank You Notes | Set of Eight

• Size:  5 x 3.5 inches (A1 folded) 
• Paper:  130# linen in natural white. 
• Envelopes:   Linen Euro flap in natural white.
• Quantity:  8 thank you notes (Smoking Swan x 4; Smoking Bunny x 4) and 8 euro-flap linen envelopes in natural white. 
• Customization:  Not available. 

The Box 

• Packaging features a collectable stationery box mimics original composition notebook Truman Capote used to plan the Black and White Ball in 1966, heavy-weight tissue paper featuring a black-and-white mask pattern inspired by iconic masks from Capote's 1966 Black and White Dance, and a double faced satin bow. 

Designed by Melissa Smrekar and Laura Vogel Design 

Questions?  Email laura@lauravogeldesign.com