Life of the Party

Maggie Austin of Maggie Austin Cake elevates desserts to high art. In her Maryland studio, she turns sugar, butter, and flour into edible sculptures, like this Confederate jasmine–wreathed and  magnolia-crowned confection she dreamed up exclusively for G&G. Austin welcomes custom commissions; past clients include everyone from politicos to royals.

Tuxedos are always dapper, but in the heat that lingers from May to September, wearing a wool one is akin to wearing a hair shirt. That’s where the seersucker tuxedo by Haspel comes in. The company’s take on the tux features seersucker in formal navy and black. Pair it with a classic tuxedo shirt, a hand-tied bow tie, and a white silk pocket square by Brooks Brothers, and you’re ready for anything.

Eighteen-karat-gold intricately woven knot cuff links by Tiffany & Co. are a fail-safe addition to a gentleman’s black-tie ensemble—and a great gift any time of year.

Don’t get caught in a downpour without an umbrella fit for a dressy night out, like this sharp paisley and stripe design from Georgia’s Bel Tempo Umbrella.

Patent leather lace-ups get a youthful makeover with designer David Hart’s version for Johnston & Murphy. The material is classic; the sleek shape is firmly 2017.

This exquisitely rendered gardenia boutonniere wasn’t plucked from the garden. It was crafted from vintage crepe paper by New Orleans artisan Suzonne Stirling.

Parties are a competitive sport in the South, and so is dressing for one. The winning cocktail dresses and gowns by Elizabeth Kennedy blend a sense of bygone glamour with distinctly modern lines. This gown from Kennedy’s current collection combines the waist-nipping architecture of a silk satin peplum and bustier with a powder-blue tulle skirt that makes a grand entrance—but isn’t afraid to get down on the dance floor. bergdorfgoodman.com

These delicate mother-of-pearl and diamond earrings suspended on eighteen-karat-gold chains by Cartier sway and shimmy with the slightest movement.

Leica’s foray into the instant camera world, the Sofort, allows you to capture the best moments of the night with old-school black- and-white or color prints.

A smattering of pearls set in glamorous brass render these embellished suede heels by Stuart Weitzman stylish from every possible angle.

Flecked with subtle bits of gold, L’Afshar’s marbled resin box clutch conceals lipstick, cards, and cash in beautiful fashion—minimalism done right. plandevillenyc.com

Why dole out the fun drink by drink when you can serve a whole batch of libations premixed to perfection? That’s most likely what Southerners from the 1700s were thinking when they created such classic recipes as Savannah’s Chatham Artillery Punch and Charleston, South Carolina’s Light Dragoon Punch. It’s also why a quintessential crystal punch bowl set easily earns its keep in any host’s cupboard. This heirloom-worthy one by Waterford is a reissue of the 1956 Alana set and includes a bowl, six cups, and a ladle.

Start a conversation with these wittily embroidered cocktail napkins—including the new “Just a Swallow” set—by Austin, Texas–based August Morgan.

Give yourself a good reason to collect even more vintage vinyl: Shinola’s white oak turntable, with a belt-driven pulley and built-in preamplifier. Bonus: It’s a hit at parties.

Keep this porcelain and leather tray by Ralph Lauren Home piled high with cocktail-sized ham biscuits, and your guests are sure to thank you—more than once.

These days, even some reputable champagnes (and not just the champagnes of beer) are topped with bottle caps, so this brass bottle opener by Aerin comes in handy.

Making people laugh with a clever favor at the end of a festive get-together is a tradition in the South. Pull-apart party crackers yield a torrent of tiny prizes, jokes, and paper crowns; surprise balls made of crepe paper unfurl to reveal treats, too. The favors created by Hobnob Entertaining exclusively for G&G contain gifts with a Southern spin, from vintage guitar picks to mini bottles of Tabasco. ggmercantileco.com