FROM FANTASY TO FÊTE: INDIAN FEAST

Happy fall, c+k readers! Camille Styles here, excited to be back after a little hiatus from our Fantasy to Fête series...

I just got home from a whirlwind trip to Buenos Aires, and I must say: all this travel has left me a bit obsessed with inspiration gathered from exotic locales. For today's fantasy, we're crossing the Pacific for an Indian-inspired feast, perfect for an outdoor get-together embracing the turning of the seasons. It's the perfect party to incorporate my current favorite orange-and-pink color palette, adding exotic details and Bangladeshi-inspired fabrics to the mix. So how to turn this taste of India into a chic celebration?

There's nothing like swaths of exotic fabric to transport guests to distant lands. For a big group, pop up a bright tent that transforms the backyard into an outdoor dining room. If you're hosting a more intimate gathering, try hanging yards of sheer fabric as curtains or room dividers...add pillows and poufs on the floor for the coziest souk-inspired setup.

Hot pink trays bearing coconut shrimp with mango chutney are a delicious accompaniment to Indian beer and fizzy punch. For a casual approach to the menu, you've got to try these curried chicken sandwiches that I blogged about last year. The addictive flavors put them on constant rotation at our house.

Mounds of oranges in metallic bowls are a chic (and cost effective) way to incorporate our citrus-y color palette into the table design. Add vibrant napkins, handwritten place cards, a sari-inspired runner and gold votives to warm up the entire table.

For a final touch, adorn the living room with a couple of earthen bowls filled with water and floating gardenias & orchids. It creates a truly transporting focal point and fills the room with a heavenly perfume. Oh, and a couple of Bollywood films playing on silent can't hurt either!

*images: {row 1} vogue india, champagne cocktails, invitation {row 2} vessels, orange tart {row 3} ikat, cocktail bar, place setting, tissue flowers {row 4} kumquats, taffeta linen, girl in tunic. party images: eddie ross and party confidential.