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Sally Horchow: Lifestyle Expert + Founder, VeryGoodLooking.com

Haute Hostess Opens Her Little, Black Party Book

ELAINE SAYS: When I decided to put my career on "pause," I had an undeniably burning desire to take charge of where my paper towels were kept and to have a well-stocked gift-wrapping supply cabinet....I had herb garden fantasies and intended to entertain often, with style and grace. And I wanted it as much as I'd wanted to climb the corporate ladder in the years prior. Well, Martha may be the reason we began to rediscover our inner homemaker but "Type-A-ing" our nests the way we've all "Type A'd" our careers, has since become a Lovely fact of Lifestyle....and if you're on that train, then Sally Horchow is a name you've come to know. Daughter to catalog inventor, Roger Horchow, Sally has become a celebrated hostess, and lifestyle expert in her own right, as well as author, TV expert and lifestyle contributor to publications from the New York Times and LA Times to Vanity Fair, O Magazine and Town and Country. Now, with the launch of her new website, Very Good Looking, she even has her own hub for tips and tricks, via her fun and clever, video format. The name, "Very Good Looking," is a nod to her late and beloved mother, who used the tag as a term of endearment for those things she found sharp and stylish. It's by her side that Sally learned to entertain, wrap, cook and curate. One thing she learned for certain, is that to throw a memorable and stress-free soiree, you need to have a few tricks up your sleeve. Today, the sacred, "black book" is opened as the hostess with the mostess-tips, reveals some of her favorite, signature secrets to party-throwing with style and ease. [Not in LA? Source these categories in your town and send us your favorites!]

Posted on December 12th, 2011

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Premiere Valet Services VISIT WEBSITE | LOCATION: Premiere Valet Services 3349 West Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles [Hollywood]If parking is inconvenient or hard to find near your house, it’s well worth the investment to hire a good valet parking company. Guests arriving in a festive mood -- having been taken care of (rather than having schlepped too far!) -- can make your party atmosphere. I’ve priced them out, and Premiere always under-bids and out-serves the others.
McCall's Meat & Fish Co. VISIT WEBSITE | LOCATION: McCall's Meat & Fish Co. 2117 Hilhurst Avenue, Los Angeles [Los Feliz]McCall’s is the old fashioned mom-and-pop kind of butcher that makes L.A. feel like a small town: the owners are friendly, they know their stuff (and their vendors, personally), and everything is delicious. Try their legendary hamburger blend for your next party!
Gofer Girls WEBSITE If you ever had a day when you wished you had five hands, more hours, or an assistant, then you could have used a Gofer Girl. Lisa, the owner, will consult with you about your needs (Errand-running? Envelope-stuffing? Grocery-shopping?) and provide a qualified helper. It’s a godsend, I tell ya.
Flowers Wholesale LOCATION: Flowers Wholesale 8032 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood [WeHo]I love making my own flower arrangements, but when I can’t get downtown to the Flower Mart, it pains me to spend the money most florists charge for cut flowers, so Flowers Wholesale is a great, inexpensive mini-Flower Mart-ish option-- right in the middle of WeHo! Love that.
Aardvark Letterpress WEBSITE| LOCATION: Aardvark Letterpress 2500 West 7th Street, Los Angeles [Downtown]In this day of Paperless Post and Cocodot, a handmade invitation, holiday card, or stationery is hard to come by. But letterpress makes an impression – literally (into the paper!) and figuratively – and when I want to do so, I entrust only the Ocon family at Aardvark with my printing projects.
Hand Prop Room VISIT WEBSITE | LOCATION: 5700 Venice Boulevard, Los AngelesWhen I needed some old wagon wheels, hay bales, and horseshoes to round out my Black Tie BBQ, or a disco ball and neon sign for my Studio 54 Soiree, I took advantage of living in Tinsel Town and headed to HPR. It was an exciting day when I learned that many Hollywood prop houses are open to the public!
Margarita Man VISIT WEBSITE | LOCATION: Margarita Man 8479 Steller Drive Unit C, Culver City [Culver City]I’m from Texas, so having margarita machine at many parties is de riguer, y’all! The Margarita Man is a great service – providing the easy-to-use machine, ice, and mix; pick-up & delivery, and helping you estimate how much you’ll need. They rent sno-cone, popcorn, and cotton candy machines, too!
Art Gallery Services VISIT WEBSITE | LOCATION: Art Gallery Services 12405 Venice Boulevard, #353, Los AngelesWell-hung art and photos change the way people – especially YOU - experience your living space. I like to have David or Luke from Art Gallery Services – specialists in art installation - come over once or twice a year to move things around and freshen things up.
Domaine LA VISIT WEBSITE | LOCATION: 6801 Melrose Avenue, Los Angleles [Melrose, Mid City]Jill Bernheimer’s knowledgeable but down-to-earth approach to wine makes visiting DomaineLA a total treat. She is so passionate about wine – and so cool, friendly, and helpful about buying it, you’ll want to just hang out there for a while and learn from her. (But you won’t be able to resist taking home at least one bottle.)
Vine American Party Store VISIT WEBSITE | LOCATION: Vine American Party Store 5969 Melrose Avenue [Hancock Park]If you’re having a theme party, or want to be inspired to have one, visit the many aisles of the Vine American Party store. They have paper plates & cutlery, streamers, and wrap in every color, decor for NYE and V-Day, and they’ll even blow-up balloon bouquets while you wait.