Camille Styles Entertaining

February 15, 2015

Those familiar with Styles's artfully staged lifestyle blog, camillestyles.com, will revel in her ideas and evocative writing, framed by Buff Strickland's lush photographs. Organized by fall, winter, summer, and spring, this work celebrates the flavors, colors, and scents of the different seasons and provides suggestions for party themes, including invitations, recipes, wine, and flowers. "Bits of Brilliance" are highlighted every few pages, and jewel tones throughout give the book a fresh, natural charm. While Styles encourages readers to consider branches from the yard in a tablescape and bales of hay for seating at a Farm Party, the "effortless style" also includes color themes, elaborate printed invitations, matching linens, place cards, and thematic music playlists, depending on the party. Carrying out most of the suggestions would require significant money, time, or both, but readers can enjoy Styles's parties vicariously and adapt as much or as little to their personal taste as budget and schedule allow. VERDICT This beautiful book, rich with ideas for browsing, is suitable for large public libraries.--Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley Sch., Fort Worth, TX

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.