Martha Stewart Reveals Her Secret to Taking the Perfect Holiday Thirst Trap

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It’s not the holiday season without Martha Stewart’s blessing. Last night, the cookbook author, TV personality, home decor maven, and Instagram thirst trap queen hosted the unveiling of Bergdorf Goodman’s iconic holiday windows alongside the luxury department store’s Linda Fargo. The theme of this year’s windows—“Isn’t It Brilliant?”—revealed seven maximalist masterpieces in glamorous whites and electric silvers and golds. Stewart embraced the festivities in a dazzling silver embossed top-and-skirt set, strands of white and gold pearls, and a white puffer jacket.

In the spirit of the holidays, Bazaar.com sat down with Stewart for a chat about her favorite holiday things—from her go-to cocktail to her tips for looking great at any party.

Best tips for throwing a holiday party

Well, you have to decorate; a theme always helps.

I'm not having it this year, because my family's going away for Christmas, but generally we have a very large open house and everybody gets invited. I have several little houses on my property and we decorate all of them and have food in one, desserts in another, that kind of thing. And of course we have a Santa Claus.

Your go-to holiday cocktail.

Eggnog. Martha's Eggnog, [a recipe] which I published in my first book, Entertaining, is so delicious.

Favorite home-cooked meal for the holidays.

All the meals are home cooked. If it's Christmas Eve, it's sometimes baby lamb chops with mashed potatoes and lots of green vegetables, and a croquembouche maybe for dessert, which is, you know, a pile of cream puffs. That kind of food: simple but delicious.

The best party outfit in your closet right now.

Oh, I just got a really nice Dries Van Noten silvery and white kind of brocade two-piece set with a long skirt and a top. It's really pretty and I think I'll wear that for Christmas. (Stewart wore the ensemble to unveil Bergdorf’s windows.)

Favorite holiday accessories.

All my little silver minaudières from Sabyasachi. Those are very beautiful, and also from another store called Jade, in Mumbai. Their little silver boxes are beautiful.

Your beauty tips for the ultimate holiday thirst trap.

Well, good skin. You have to take care of your skin.

I will certainly have a before-Christmas facial at Mario Badescu; I go there at least once a month. And I will have my hair colored by Parvin, who's now at Julien Farel in the Regency Hotel. And then I will have my makeup done by Nicole Daisy Toye. And then I'll be put together for the holidays.

Best holiday gift you've ever received.

I don’t have a best holiday gift. The best gift I ever got were two grandchildren—but they came a little late to be considered Christmas present.

Gifts you’ll be giving this holiday season.

I saved up some really good books for people that I like. And I've saved up a few trinkets from India and from Iceland; I got some great stuff in Iceland. And… what else would I be giving? I always make homemade things for the holidays. I haven't started baking yet, but I do a lot of baking around Christmas too.

Favorite holiday music.

Oh, well, you know, I love “I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.” I love that tune. And I love Kiri Te Kanawa, she's a New Zealand opera singer. She sings Christmas music beautifully operatically. She's also a dame, like, royalty. (Kanawa holds the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to opera.)

Most iconic thing about a Bergdorf’s holiday.

I just love the location of Bergdorf’s. It's right at the base of Central Park, which is the best location of any store in New York City. And the entire store is just decorated so gorgeously and the windows are so sophisticated and so beautiful, and there's all these little details that you must take in.

Favorite floor to shop at Bergdorf’s.

I like the seventh floor a lot because it's where the homeware is. And the third floor has my kind of clothes, and, you know, the second floor is good too. There's stuff on every floor, all floors are great.

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