Remembering Julia Reed through her Perfect Party Planning Tips

By: The Local Palate

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It’s with a sad heart that we fondly remember the life and works of Julia Reed. Over the years, made a career of her dry humor and sharp Southern wit, covering everything from politics to party etiquette in Newsweek, Vogue, the Wall Street Journal, and Garden and Gun—and throwing many a soirée along the way. Her philosophy we’ll hold onto can be summed up in a few truisms: Don’t sweat the small stuff, be generous, and enjoy the ride. Here we offer just a small snippet of her expert advice.

For journalist and author Julia Reed, entertaining has always been a way of life. Growing up in Greenville, Mississippi, she watched her mom and her friends play host to a crowd at the drop of a hat. Over the years, Reed has carried that torch as she’s made a career of her dry humor and sharp Southern wit, covering everything from politics to party etiquette in Newsweek, Vogue, the Wall Street Journal, and Garden and Gun—and throwing many a soirée along the way. Her latest of several books, Julia Reed’s New Orleans (Rizzoli), stars her flamboyant home city. We asked the party pro to share some of her best hosting advice. Spanning decor tips to when to give up and buy a bucket of fried chicken, her philosophy can be summed up in a few truisms: Don’t sweat the small stuff, be generous, and enjoy the ride.