03.03.2025

From Guest List to Dress Code: How to Throw the Ultimate Party

Journal Talk got on a call with Olivia and Samuel, the hosts behind the recent Vanilla Veil after-work, to get their insider tips on curating the perfect mix of people, atmosphere, and those unexpected moments that make a party unforgettable.

JT: Olivia & Samuel! We wanted to share your brilliant party-planning advice with our community, so we have a few questions for you.

Bringing a New Date to a Party: Power Move or Complete Disaster?

Olivia & Samuel: It depends on who is coming to the to the party! We’re lucky to have friends who get along with almost anyone, so we actually see it as a good test. It’s always best if the person meets the friends first, but no, we wouldn’t call it a disaster.

Samuel: If it doesn’t work out, maybe it was for the best, someone else might step in for them, hehe.

Olivia: Yeah, I think so! Worst case, it just becomes a funny story.

If You Could Crash Any Iconic Party in History, Where Would You Go and What Would You Wear?

Samuel: I’d definitely go to a time before social media. My first thought was a Marie Antoinette-era costume party, back when it wasn’t costumey but real, in the 1700s. But then I realized, wait… social media only started in the 2000s, so that doesn’t really narrow it down.

Olivia: The best part about crashing a Grammy after-party in 2002 is that we wouldn’t even have to change our outfits, we could just go as we are.

Samuel: Exactly! I’d just keep this Alexander McQueen scarf on and blend right in. But yeah, either a 1700s party or a chaotic early-2000s fashion moment.

Olivia: As long as we’re having fun, that’s what matters.

Do You Coordinate Outfits for a Party?

Samuel: We have some kind of weird telepathy. Since the beginning, we’ve always had the same references, the same taste, it’s like we instinctively follow the same route when we put together outfits.

We’ve even worked as assistants for the same stylists at different times, and later, they’d tell us we both pulled the exact same three items from a rack of hundreds. We’re just naturally aligned.

Olivia: When we FaceTime to show each other our looks, the best compliment is when the other one starts laughing. That’s when we know, okay, this is something else. Like, it’s on the edge, even for us. That’s how you keep evolving.

Glamour or Trashy Chic? What’s Your Favorite Look?

Olivia: Last night, I had the Prada tassel hair, it was everywhere. I love contrast. I invest in my hair, it’s blonde and expensive, but I don’t really style it to hold down the costs. It’s the same with clothes, I love looking polished, but you have to choose your moments.

Samuel: You have to tell them what your hairdresser at Björn Axén said about your hair.

Olivia: Oh, yeah! I once asked my hairdresser if my hair was too damaged from bleaching, and she said, “Blonde hair is like a Ferrari, it just needs a little more care.” I think about that every day.

Trashy outfit, sleek hair. Sleek hair, trashy outfit. That’s the balance. You can’t go all trashy. Rock star girlfriend.

If You Could Wear Any Designer Look, What Would It Be? Vintage or Straight of the Runway?

Olivia: I’d go for 2010 Balmain. That’s the ultimate party look, glitter, silver, shiny, chic. As a kid, when I imagined the perfect party outfit, that was it.

Samuel: For me, it has to be John Galliano. His aesthetic is just magical. My first fashion awakening was the newspaper dress Carrie Bradshaw wore in Sex and the City. When I got my first salary at 17, I bought a Galliano newspaper-print shirt. It was hideous, didn’t fit at all, but I still loved it.
Today I´d rather wear on of his last couture looks for Margiela, the ones under the bridge.

Olivia: What about skinny jeans?

Samuel: Not with Galliano! But I do love skinny jeans. It’s fun to push.

How Do You Curate the Perfect Party Guest List?

Olivia: It’s so important to be grateful for your community. We didn’t invite people based on who looked the best or who was the coolest, we thought about who we’d actually be excited to see, who we’d want to stand around and talk to all night. When you do that, the right people connect, and it grows naturally.

Samuel: We’ve known each other since confirmation camp when we were 14. Even the band we booked for this event came from that connection!

Olivia: Also, I have to say, social media is incredible for meeting people. I’ve met so many amazing friends in Stockholm and beyond just by reaching out.

Champagne & Caviar or Pizza & Canned Beer?

Samuel: Champagne, definitely!

Olivia: Champagne! I think we might look like beer-and-pizza people, but that’s the contrast. That’s the line. Trashy chic! But taste-wise? Nothing is better than champagne.

JT: I remember when we were planning the party, you insisted that good red wine was essential.

Samuel: Of course! Even the champagne candies were important.

You Broke the Golden Rule of Hosting a Friday Night Event, And It Was Packed!

Olivia: We didn’t want people holding back because they had work the next day. The idea was to create a space where guests could start their night, meet new people, and then head out to dinner or keep the party going.

Samuel: We never go to events on Fridays, which is why it worked. If you have the right guest list, people will come. Not just for the product launch, but because they genuinely want to be there.

Olivia: And everyone left smelling like vanilla! It’s an amazing perfume.

Ok to wrap it up: Which Quote Are You?

“There’s no such thing as a good party without a little scandal.” – Elsa Schiaparelli


“To me, a party is people sitting around, talking nonsense and drinking alcohol.” – Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“I am a golden god!” – Almost Famous

“Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse.” – Knock on Any Door 


“There’s a 30% chance that it’s already raining.” – Mean Girls

Samuel: I mean, we’re Gen Z, so obviously “There’s a 30% chance that it’s already raining.” Karen from Mean Girls is iconic. She’s just so unbothered. She's so unhinged, she just doesn’t care about what people think of her. Also, I think this is a fun quote “To live fast die young and live a good-looking corpse.” That's fucking iconic.

Olivia: I have to go with “There’s no such thing as a good party without a little scandal.” Schiaparelli.

Samuel: What was the scandal last night?
Olivia: Maybe later, hihi.

JT: Thank you so much, you’re both amazing hosts! And thanks for this beautiful little call.

Olivia & Samuel: Thank you Björk & Berries, for having us!