Vogue Book of Etiquette, Vogue Sun’s out, school’s out—’tis the season of the summer house! Those lucky enough to have the extra room might be welcoming guests for weekend stays by the beach, while the even luckier are the recipients of such invitations. But assuming either role—of the inviter or the invited—with grace isn’t so straightforward. There are many opinions on what it means to be the ideal host and houseguest, and here to weigh in on the matter are two individuals with strong feelings on both.
In this edition of Oh, Behave! we have Fran Lebowitz, who spoke to about the very same issue back in 1991. It turns out, the author and sought-after orator remains unchanged in her beliefs on what makes for a great host. Joining her is much-celebrated hostess Lauren Santo Domingo, who, in addition to being the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Moda Operandi and artistic director of Tiffany Home, is a domestic doyenne.
Their thoughts on the art of hosting and being a house guest are below. On Being a House Guest Well, it has to, of course, be a place better than my apartment. Because otherwise, why am I getting in the car? I have to say, I hate to be a house guest.
I absolutely hate it. Unless there is not a single hotel within a 45-minute drive, I am not staying at someone's house. There is absolutely nothing that could compel me, whether it's an air mattress on the floor or the five-star beach house of a hedge-fund mom—unless it is someone that I know.