THE SUNDAY TIMES STYLE MAGAZINE .. NOVEMBER 23RD 2014..

Joan features in today's issue of Style magazine with The Sunday Times..

Miss Collins invites

From Liz Taylor to Andy Warhol, Joan Collins has partied with the best of them. The ultimate hostess shares her tips on how to throw the soiree of the season

Joan Collins Published: 23 November 2014

First-night party at the Waldorf, London, 2001 (Richard Young)

I have thrown dozens of parties in my life: children’s birthday parties, Christmas parties, beach parties, pool parties, barbecues, cocktail parties, seated dinners for 10, kitchen suppers for four, buffet dinners for 50, and weddings, at which, of course, I’m an expert.

The guest list
The first and most crucial element of a great party is the guest list. I invite a core group of my closest friends and family along with a sprinkling of new friends, as one doesn’t want to see the same faces every year. Boring or dull people can cast a bad vibe over any gathering, so I’m ruthless about whom I invite.
The food
I make sure I have the most delicious food possible, and I’m lucky enough to know a terrific chef who comes in to cook mouthwatering fare. For buffets I like to have three or four simple things so that everyone has a choice. I want everyone to be able to sit down comfortably, even if they are balancing their plates on their laps, so I always have food that doesn't require a knife, such as salmon en croute, shepherd's pie or beef stroganoff.

Drink is a big part of a festive gathering, so I bring in well trained waiting staff with instructions not to let anyone's glass stay empty for too long and keep the finger food circulating. Of course, we have the de rigueur champagne and white wine, but I discourage red wine, as just a tiny spill can result in disaster for any soft furnishings. Regarding staff, unless it's a kitchen supper, when we do everything ourselves, even the washing up. Well, we do have a dishwasher. I've never relished spending the entire party worrying about anything but my guests and I've noticed it can make the guests feel uncomfortable if you're trying to do everything yourself. It needn't be expensive if you're resourceful.
The Décor And Ambience
This is terribly important to me, especially at Christmas, when I spend days dressing the flat in festive mode. The tree is a focal point. Ideally it should be a real fir about 14ft high, though I confess when I've had a family Christmas in Florida or California, I substitute it with a fake one. People often can't tell the difference as long as the tree is loaded with all the baubles and ornaments I've been collecting and making since my children were little. I decorate the flat to the hilt with white or red plants, but never mix the two - that's bad luck.

For my Christmas soiree I encourage all the women to dress up, since I love the 'dressing up box' anyway, and at Christmas time I feel it's particularly appropriate. It's a big effort to give a really great party, so why not persuade everyone to look gorgeous in celebration of the festivities? No jeans or trainers, please and besides, the men like it too.
Timings
Most people at my Christmas party know each other, so the atmosphere is convivial (and crowded). If the invitation says 8pm, I try to have the buffet on the table by 9.15pm, although some of my friends are notoriously tardy. For a seated dinner, I don't believe in waiting longer than an hour for latecomers.
Elizabeth Taylor was so late one evening, that when she arrived we had finished dinner. In came the fabled star, abjectly apologetic and insisting she wasn't going to eat.

'I'll just have a cigarette', she said, trembling slightly as she lit it. We stood in the entrance hall and she looked nervously into the living room where everyone was pretending not to notice. Hollywood people are just as star-struck as ordinary mortals and Elizabeth was the last of the glamorous superstars. That night she was wearing very long acrylic nails and as the match flared so did her nails!. 'Oh my God! My nail's on fire!', she shrieked. George Hamilton gallantly threw his drink over her hand and Elizabeth stared at the dripping mess with dismay, but in true Hollywood style she recovered immediately and then asked. 'Do you have an emery board?'
Music
I love all types of music, so Percy and I carefully choose what we are going to play for the cocktail hour. I like nostalgia , 1940's classics like Frank Sinatra and the old standards, which are all mellow and romantic and don't distract from the conversation.
After dinner, some people love to dance, so we amp up the mood with contemporary tunes. I'm besotted with Pharrell William's 'Happy', which is guaranteed to get people up and giggling away. This summer I was at a party in St Tropez and as soon as that song started, I stood up and gave it my all. A photographer snapped me dancing and the picture ended up everywhere. A cautionary word in this world of YouTube and Instagram ... Iphones are everywhere!

The Postmortem
Last of all, don't worry. If you've made sure you have enough food and drink, and that your staff or servers have been properly instructed, just relax and enjoy the show.
My final word on entertaining comes from my dear, departed friend Sue Mengers. She believed that if they don't invite you back, after you've invited them, don't ask them again - a school of thought I wholly embrace. However, there are certain allowances I make for friends who perhaps can't afford to entertain, but who at least make the effort to keep in touch.