Many of us learn how to set a table as children. The task of silverware placement and napkin arranging begins as a relatively simple one, taught through phonetic devices like B-M-W (bread, meal, water) or various colorful stories that involve the knife protecting the spoon. (A knight guarding a princess, a shepherd watching his sheep.) Yet, for some, setting a table transcends from a childhood chore into a fully-fledged art form.
This November, Vogue asked five cultural figures known for their eye-catching aesthetics—from James Beard Award-winning chefs, to fashion designers, to society grande dames—to create an inspirational tablescape for Vogue. The only directive was that it needed to be a holiday table. Some promptly ignored it: “I’m not a holiday person,” Warhol muse and philanthropist Deeda Blair tells me, while others embraced it wholeheartedly. Indeed, CFDA-nominated designer Tanner Fletcher has even set up a whole holiday decor shop on their website featuring vintage and antique tableware.
Below, find five distinct festive tablescapes to inspire your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hannukah decor—and one (courtesy of Mrs. Blair) to inspire you all year round.
