Event and Dessert Table Styling by Amy Atlas

Lawyer turned dessert table designer and event planner extraordinaire, Amy Atlas creates stylish and sweet displays that quickly become the highlight to any fete’.  I find these images so inspiring! (photos from Amy Atlas)

This particular display was for a corporate event but I can see it working for a sophisticated birthday party or wedding with a black / white color theme.  Some reasons this display looks so fabulous and some keys to creating an impactful dessert display for yourself are listed below:

  • Keep everything (frosting, vases, flowers and linens for example,) strictly within the selected color theme
  • Consider the background.  Where is the table going to be placed and how will the background coordinate?  Consider adding a strip of wallpaper or painted background to a temporary plywood backdrop or framed art piece for example.  Or try lanterns or an ornate mirror in the background for optimal photo ops.
  • Add dimension and think layers.  Place items behind and in front of each other rather than on one boring line and remember to think 3dimensionally by varying the heights to add interest.
  • Vary texture.  Just like when creating an outfit, mixing textures and patterns, creates visual interest.  Here you see a contrast between smooth frosting with bumpy, rough-edged pretzels and intricately patterned chocolates with dotted dice chocolates.
  • Desserts should be different sizes.  Notice how the large modern patterned cake contrasts with the smaller bite-sized pieces.

Have any other tips to creating a memorable dessert table?  Is anyone else inspired to look for excuses to create their own dessert table?

Style Diary: Zac Posen for Target skirt

Ok, so I’ve given up on my grand idea to make a fortune off eBay re-selling what I thought were irresistible brocade dresses.  I learned in fact that they were resistible at least at my 99.99 starting price so I’m returning them back to Target soon.   I did however end up keeping the back-zip pleated black skirt as it was really well made and a totally different silhouette than my other, ehem, 5 black skirts haha.

Thankfully, the skirts weren’t as short on me as they were on the model in the lookbook.  Here are my latest outfits which all began with the pleated Zac Posen skirt. Other outfit details include a cloister hat by Olive Branch (bought on sale at TJMaxx), Forever 21 tank, studded heels with fuschia lining by Unlisted.com and tote from Juicy Couture.

I love the traveling fashionista print on this Forever 21 sweater tank.  The tank’s racer-back is tied with a ribbon bow too.

I used the same tote and skirt and changed up the top and shoes for the 2nd outfit below.  Can you believe my mom bought me this silly nerd blouse back in high school and I’ve kept it ever since?  I’m actually thinking about tailoring it so that it fits tighter or cutting the sleeves and creating an entirely different look all together.  Have any ideas for me?  I can’t bear to get rid of it since the nerd in me adores the pocket-protector-like notepad and pencil detail.

The white/black platform shoes are by a brand called Vivayou and they’re from Shanghai.

The below outfit features suede shoes by BCBG that I bought on sale as well as a sweater and bow headband from Forever 21.

I bought the flowers at the grocery the other day.  Having them in my bedroom makes me happy 🙂  Does anyone else randomly like to buy flowers for themselves?



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