Halloween may be synonymous with costumes, creepy decorations, and black-and-orange color schemes, but a growing appreciation for sophisticated entertaining is giving the holiday a more elegant makeover. With the right lighting, imaginative styling, seasonal menus, and carefully chosen music, October 31 can become an occasion for glamour as much as fright.
In a feature published by Vogue on October 26, 2026, fashion writer Lilah Ramzi consults six tastemakers from the worlds of fashion, interior design, art, and gastronomy to explore whether Halloween celebrations can be both spooky and chic.
The lineup includes Zoë de Givenchy, whose tableware collection reflects the refined sensibilities associated with her great-uncle-in-law Hubert de Givenchy; Romilly Newman, dubbed Gen Z’s Martha Stewart; event designer Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties; interior designer Kelly Wearstler; British artist and designer Luke Edward Hall; and Jon Gray, cofounder of Ghetto Gastro, the Bronx-born culinary collective that brings food, fashion, art, and music together.
Their advice demonstrates that the secret to a memorable Halloween party lies in balancing theatrical details with thoughtful design.
Create an Atmosphere of Dark Glamour
For Zoë de Givenchy, the formula for a sophisticated Halloween gathering begins with low lighting, beautiful silverware, and exceptional cocktails. The atmosphere should feel dark, sensual, and glamorous rather than overwhelmed by conventional spooky decorations.
Wearstler recommends experimenting with unusual color combinations and dramatic tablescapes. Combining different heights, textures, and proportions can make a dining table a striking centerpiece.
Newman favors dripping candles, lace, moody lighting, and flowers in deep shades. She also encourages hosts to build their celebrations around a distinct theme, whether inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, surrealism, or witchcraft.
Gardner believes elegance should never come at the expense of fun. A stylish witch costume paired with a pink satin hat or a spiderweb fascinator inspired by fashion icon Isabella Blow can bring humor and personality to the evening.
Hall approaches Halloween through its historical and cultural associations, pointing to Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival marking the beginning of winter. For him, the holiday offers an opportunity to honor tradition while embracing its theatrical, camp sensibility.
Gray keeps his approach simple: establish a clear theme, invite interesting guests, and let the evening develop naturally.
Avoid Cheap Decorations and Disposable Tableware
According to the experts, a stylish Halloween party does not require a shopping spree for mass-produced decorations. Personal touches and carefully selected objects can create a more distinctive environment.
De Givenchy dismisses themed paper napkins and plastic decorations, while Wearstler recommends making decorations and costumes by hand rather than buying everything ready-made.
Gardner also advises against disposable plates, cups, and napkins, favoring proper tableware for an adult gathering. Hall’s decorating rule is even more direct: no plastic.
Newman, however, argues that Halloween should retain its element of unpredictability. Unusual combinations, imperfect details, and unexpected objects can make a celebration more interesting.
Gray has one additional item on his blacklist: candy corn.
Make Costumes Stylish and Personal
Halloween is an opportunity to experiment with fashion, but the experts disagree on whether dressing up should be compulsory.
De Givenchy favors elaborate, high-fashion interpretations of familiar Halloween characters. Her idea of a nightmare bride involves vintage Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy in gothic black lace, while a mummy-inspired outfit would take the form of a full-length Hervé Léger bandage dress.
Wearstler sees costumes as an opportunity to showcase personal interests and creativity. Newman agrees but emphasizes that guests should feel comfortable. For those reluctant to commit to a complete costume, a mask can provide an easy way to participate.
Gardner advises hosts not to label costumes as mandatory on invitations. Instead, a simple note encouraging guests to dress up can inspire participation without making the evening feel like an obligation.
Hall believes people should seize every opportunity to wear a costume, while Gray recommends choosing one clear direction: either make costumes central to the party or allow guests to attend in their regular clothes.
The common thread is individuality. Whether the look is elaborate or understated, it should feel intentional.
Choose Confidence Over Convention
For guests who prefer not to wear costumes, Halloween can still provide an excuse to experiment with personal style.
De Givenchy recommends glamorous, sensual, darker looks for anyone seeking a more daring appearance. Newman suggests using the occasion to wear a fabric, color, or silhouette that has long appealed to you but felt too adventurous for everyday life.
Gardner welcomes costumes of every kind, from nostalgic characters to imaginative, icy-themed creations. Gray offers a practical reminder for outdoor celebrations: check the weather before choosing an outfit, particularly in places where late-October temperatures can fluctuate dramatically.
Showing more skin is optional. Confidence and creativity matter far more than following a particular dress code.
Serve a Menu That Balances Luxury and Comfort
Food should be delicious, easy to enjoy throughout the evening, and visually appealing enough to complement the setting.
De Givenchy recommends a lavish buffet of devils on horseback, pigs in blankets, caviar-topped potatoes, and smoked salmon with rye bread. Served on silver platters beneath candlelight, these party staples take on a more luxurious character.
Wearstler’s menu leans toward sweets, including cookies decorated with dried edible flowers, chocolate-dipped apricots, pineapple and orange pieces, and black M&M’s.
Newman suggests revisiting vintage issues of Gourmet magazine from the 1970s for recipes that are visually distinctive and different from contemporary party fare.
Gardner prefers a relaxed cocktail buffet featuring chicken pot pie, a large green salad, and roasted vegetables. She also has a playful dessert idea: trade with children for Reese’s peanut butter cups, crush the chocolates, and serve them over scoops of vanilla ice cream for adult guests.
Hall recommends celebrating autumn through seasonal ingredients such as squash, apples, and late blackberries, using them in pies, crumbles, and tarts.
Gray adds a Caribbean influence with patties, sweet potato pie, and plantain chips topped with caviar.
Together, the suggestions show that an elegant Halloween menu need not be complicated. Thoughtful presentation and a mix of familiar favorites and unexpected combinations can make the food part of the evening’s appeal.
Make Cocktails Part of the Entertainment
Drinks can become a centerpiece of the celebration rather than a simple addition to the menu.
De Givenchy recommends Cosmopolitans, Old Fashioneds, and vodka, while Wearstler considers champagne her preferred choice for festive occasions.
Newman advocates preparing a signature cocktail in advance and serving it in a dramatic vessel, allowing guests to help themselves throughout the night.
Gardner takes the theatrical approach with Earl Grey bourbon punch, a drink she compares to a bourbon sour. She serves it from large pitchers over a floating ice ring decorated with orange slices and thyme sprigs, sometimes adding novelty eyeballs for a spooky touch. A silver punch bowl and dry ice complete the effect. For an extra surprise, she might persuade a friend to jump out from behind a curtain wearing a clown mask.
Hall suggests red and purple drinks, including Negronis and Aviations.
Gray recommends espresso cocktails or other caffeinated drinks to keep the party going, alongside sorrel, a vibrant red beverage that brings a distinctive Caribbean touch to the drinks menu.
Rethink Pumpkins, Ghosts, and Traditional Halloween Decor
Classic pumpkins and ghosts are not essential to an elevated Halloween celebration. Instead, the tastemakers recommend natural materials, dramatic floral arrangements, atmospheric lighting, and unexpected decorative elements.
De Givenchy reserves pumpkins for entrances and ghosts for children’s celebrations. Inside, she favors oversized branches, autumn leaves, thorns, ivy, hellebores, cyclamen, mosses, and tiny orchids. Candlelight and lamps should provide the primary illumination, supported by an evocative soundtrack and theatrical touches such as staff in formal livery.
Wearstler suggests replacing conventional orange pumpkins with white and green varieties, painting some black to create a contemporary display.
Newman looks to cinema and art for inspiration, imagining a David Lynch-inspired room in vivid red or a Victorian setting filled with candelabras and dying flowers.
Gardner appreciates traditional hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns with crooked teeth and candles glowing from within. She also enjoys the imaginative decorations that residents create for passersby in New York’s West Village.
For Hall, Halloween calls for full theatricality. Large pewter platters, tall candelabras, witch balls, and a fog machine can transform a room into a mysterious setting.
Gray prefers a more minimalist approach: dispense with conventional decorations, introduce fog, and let the guests’ costumes become the main attraction.
Build a Soundtrack That Keeps the Night Alive
Music helps establish the emotional tone of a Halloween party, moving the atmosphere from mysterious and romantic to playful and energetic.
De Givenchy’s selections include Dusty Springfield’s “Spooky,” Frank Sinatra’s “Witchcraft,” Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’s “I Put a Spell on You,” and “My Family,” featuring Migos, Karol G, and Snoop Dogg. She also maintains her own Halloween playlist on Spotify.
Wearstler suggests Lana Del Rey and Stevie Nicks, while Newman enthusiastically backs Stevie Nicks as a Halloween essential.
Gardner imagines a late-night scene of candle wax dripping onto the dining table as guests sing along to a playful, spooky love song over bourbon.
Hall returns to a personal Halloween playlist each year, combining pagan folk, dungeon synth, and church organ music.
Gray opts for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” followed by Prince and New Jack Swing for a retro-inspired finish.
The Final Word: Make Halloween Your Own
A chic Halloween party is less about expensive decorations and more about creating an experience that feels personal, immersive, and memorable.
The six tastemakers recommend thoughtful lighting, expressive costumes, elegant tableware, seasonal food, inventive cocktails, and music that reinforces the atmosphere. They also agree that hosts should leave room for humor, surprise, and the wonderfully strange elements that make Halloween unique.
Whether the inspiration comes from gothic fashion, vintage entertaining, contemporary interior design, or theatrical set dressing, the goal is to strike a balance between sophistication and fun.
With a clear theme and a few carefully chosen details, Halloween can become more than a night of costumes and candy. It can be a stylish celebration where glamour and spooky-season magic meet.
