How To Throw The Ultimate House Party By Beyoncé And Taylor Swift’s Go-To Jeweller | InStyle.couk

Published on InStyle.co.uk, 19th December 2017

After stints as a jewellery accessories design consultant at fashion houses including Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Lanvin, Ranjana Khan launched her own eponymous label in 2008. Inspired by both travel and her Indian heritage, Khan's collections feature semi-precious stones, silk petals, pearls, leather and tulle. Her earring designs are bold and over-sized, adding instant va-va voom and guaranteeing all eyes will be on you. Best of all they're clip-on meaning, anyone can wear them, plus at the end of the night you don't end up with that dreaded burning ear lobe sensation. Her fans are as brilliantly eclectic as her creations, think Taylor Swift, Michelle Obama, Iris Apfel and Beyoncé. Glamorous, her designs are an instant mood booster, putting even the most self-confessed of wallflowers in a party mood. So who better than to quiz on how to throw a fabulous soirée. Here Ranjana talks seating plans, silverware and sending neighbours conciliatory bottles of champagne...

'My outfit depends on the group and type of party I’m hosting. I have wild and eclectic clothes in my closet I love to wear.  Sometimes we throw themed parties, so naturally my outfit will fit the occasion.  However, if it’s a formal dinner we’re hosting, I may tone down the flair a bit, so as to blend in with the crowd.  Lately, I’ve taken to putting on a dressy kimono over my outfit since it's winter—I’m really feeling the kimono vibe!'

'I have a fringe dress that  instantly puts me in the party mood. Earrings wise, I have so much to choose from in that direction, I enjoy showing off what’s coming in the new collections. If my guests are excited by what I’m wearing, I’ll bring pairs out for them to wear. Some nights all the women at the table end up in RK earrings!'

'Every outfit looks better with heels of course, but the great thing about hosting is that you can always change into flats whenever you need to.'

'I always have seating plans to make sure there is a good mix of personalities. My husband and I sit across from each other at the centre of the table — and the guests of honor are usually seated on either side of my husband and me. On my guest list you'll always find Linda Fargo, Robert Burke, Shannon Hoey and George Sotello.'

'For my playlist I like to start with something that is relaxed during the cocktail hour and move to jazz during dinner. Things heat up after dinner, and that's when the real party music comes on.'

'I don't usually serve a special drink on arrival as I don’t want my guests to feel obligated to drink what is handed to them. Instead, I want my guests to be able to have their favorite drinks—a full bar never disappoints.'

'Flowers are a must, and I do them myself. On the day of the party I always go to the flower market to see what inspires—this is actually my favorite part of party prep.  I like to keep the floral arrangements consistent throughout the different spaces in the house — if the theme is tropical, there will be tropical arrangements by the entrance, in the cocktail space, and in the dining area.'

'Before my guests arrive, I burn palosantos through the house and even in the lift to cleanse the space and refresh the energy. I light the candles on the dining table when the first guests arrive.'

'For the tabletop I prefer matching sets. The setting will depend on the kind of party, time of year, and flower arrangements. I like everything from modern asymmetrical, to vintage sets.  My guests can always find Elsa Peretti silverware from Tiffany’s on the table. In addition, I use hand-embroidered placemats and napkins — I have 25 sets of table linens that I have designed myself.'

'For canapes, I love to serve traditional Indian-spiced kabobs, and samosas with mint and coriander chutney. Kabobs are easy for me to make and easy for the guests to eat. My guests tend to expect a taste of India when coming to one of my parties. One of my signature dishes is lentils served in hollowed out acorn squash.  The flavors are amazing, and the presentation is stunning.'

'I’m never stuck in the kitchen. I believe you should get everything set up before your guests arrive. I like to usually hire wait staff I can rely on, and make sure they know the drill for the evening. The party is always better when the host is having a good time!'

'I let the party run its course even if it's into the wee hours of the morning. I would never shut a party down!

'We almost always end up dancing at our parties and even sometimes end up dancing on the tables! There have been a few parties where I’ve had to send my neighbours a bottle of conciliatory champagne the next day.'