All-American Summer Entertaining with Aerin Lauder

As the granddaughter of Estée Lauder, Aerin Lauder has mastered the art of hosting, or as her grandmother called it, "giving a wonderful party as a gift to friends”. The style icon and tastemaker welcomes Cabana into her family's historic summer kitchen in The Hamptons, where she shares her approach to rustic all-American summer entertaining, and reveals her Fourth of July table styling.

INTERVIEW BY TEAM CABANA | ROOMS & GARDENS | 15 JUNE 2025

All Image credits © Mason Lane

How do you create atmosphere and mood when hosting at home? 

The first thing I do when I am hosting is think about the flowers and the season. From there, I curate a tablescape that is completely inspired by nature, my surroundings and the destination. I love welcoming guests into an atmosphere that is beautiful, inviting and effortless, completed with fresh flowers and my favorite entertaining essentials.

How do you make your tables stand out? 

Entertaining should be fun. I create beautiful tablescapes with a layered approach; I love mixing and matching all different pieces whether they are family heirlooms, unique finds that I have discovered during my travels, vintage pieces that I have collected through the years or newer items that I have designed for the AERIN brand. I always incorporate different colors, textures and unexpected touches of surprise for my tablescapes to feel complete like a beautiful vintage breadbasket, unusual objects such as silver birds or small individually wrapped presents at each place setting during the holidays.

Do you have any favorite color and pattern combinations? 

Blue and white or green and white are two of my most favorite color combinations. These combinations offer a timeless palette that works well all year round.

Are there any personal touches you rely on?

Especially for larger dinner parties, I love doing place cards and menu cards at every place setting. Depending on the location and occasion, I like to change the design and the calligraphy to fit the mood.

Your go-to recipe when hosting at home? 

I like to serve classic, comfort food such as chicken curry, roasted chicken and potatoes or a delicious pasta.

A seated dinner or pre-dinner drinks party, what's your preference? 

I always love a seated dinner.  

Your favorite seasonal flowers to style your table with? 

In the spring, lilacs are my favorite. I love filling the table with mixed lavenders and whites. During the summer, I love colorful cosmos, dahlias in the fall and deep red peonies in the winter.   

Do you create a playlist? If so, can you share one song that's always on there? 

I have a few playlists that my sons have made for me through the years that I always rotate between, depending on the occasion. 

Any failsafe tips for the nervous or reluctant host? 

Always have fun, relax and enjoy. My grandmother, Estée, used to say “… having a wonderful party is a gift you give to friends,” and I believe that is so true.   

Three words you would use to describe your hosting style?  

Effortless, feminine and inviting.

How do you celebrate the Fourth of July? 

To me, it's all about rustic American summer entertaining with family and close friends. I love a red and white color palette with touches of blue throughout. The tablescape usually includes AERIN tabletop, mixed with my favorite pieces from Cabana, along with vintage accents that I have collected over the years.

No matter the occasion, flowers are always my favorite finishing touch and at this time of year, geraniums are perfect both potted and cut.   

Editor's Circle LIVE Talk with Aerin Lauder and Martina Mondadori

Join Martina Mondadori in conversation with American tastemaker and lifestyle icon, Aerin Lauder. From her signature approach to summer entertaining to her personal traditions around the Fourth of July, Aerin shares her philosophy on effortless hosting, timeless design, and creating moments that linger. A spirited exchange between two women who share a deep appreciation for beauty, heritage, and the art of gathering.