Gaynor Alder

What keeps you busy during the day? When not worshipping the cosmetics counter with my credit card and gallivanting around the countryside as a travel writer, you’ll find me penning my adventures as editor-in-chief of The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide – a website that encourages women to live with style and substance, follow their hearts and play by their own rules, and, oh, to never leave home without ridiculously sexy underwear.

Describe your personal style?
I adore quality, style and timeless classics.  I take my cues from the minimal elegance of Audry Hepburn, the sophistication of Grace Kelly and the glamour of Ava Gardner.

If you were a cocktail what would you be called?
French Martini.

Who would be your ultimate cocktail hour guest?
Dita Von Teese.

If you could be transported to another era what era would you choose and why?
The 1920s for its art deco style, flamboyance and hedonistic excess.

What’s your top tip for hosting a cocktail hour?
You can never have too many candles and flowers to create a beautiful ambience and never forget your red lipstick, fishnet stockings or heated rollers to create Betty Draper hair.

Pia Andersen

What keeps you busy during the day?
I am a singer, stylist and vintage culture aficionado who is intent on decorating the world with a touch of vintage glamour. I’m also the beauty and brains behind Sydney’s Vintage Allsorts, a performance based events, entertainment and styling agency.

Describe your personal style?
Dior’s new look meets Marilyn Monroe. I love how the sophisticated tailoring of vintage fashion embraces my feminine charms.

If you were a cocktail what would you be called?
The Manhattan: sweet but strong, classic and elegant, the sophisticated life of the party.

Who would be your ultimate cocktail hour guest?
Cary Grant! His impeccably tailored suits, casual charm, dry sense of humour and impossible good looks would perfectly flavour any cocktail hour. He has timeless elegance and is the essence of style.

If you could be transported to another era what era would you choose and why?
The 1950s is my favourite era because it embodies the art, culture and design I love. I have spent my life researching and collecting pieces from this era and would love to experience it firsthand.

What’s your top tip for hosting a cocktail hour?
Choose your guest list carefully. The perfect blend of guests will ensure that the party flows effortlessly. This will allow you to concentrate on the other aspects of the evening so that you can entertain with ease.

Matthew Barnett

What keeps you busy during the day?
I’m a spirit-ualist advisor for Cointreau so I spend my days mixing drinks and advising people on how to enjoy them.

Describe your personal style?
I consider myself a gourmand with an eye for fashion and a good sense of humour.

If you were a cocktail what would you be called?
Not sure about the name but I’d definitely be a drink made with whisky, served on a rock of ice.

Who would be your ultimate cocktail hour guest?
Either Douglas Coughlin from the infamous 1988 film, Cocktail, or Edourd Cointreau who, back in the late 19th century, was experimenting with triple sec for the first time.

If you could be transported to another era what era would you choose and why?
Maybe the ‘80s because everything was colourful and bright, the hair was big and the drinks flowed endlessly.

What’s your top tip for hosting a cocktail hour?
Prepare plenty of ice in advance because there’s nothing worse than warm cocktails. And of course, you’ll need a plethora of good quality alcohol.

Karen Lavecky

What keeps you busy during the day?
I’m the founder and director of Lotus & Ming, a boutique producer of gourmet finger food and speciality products. From sun up to sun down (and maybe just a little more) you will find me living in the delicious land of dim sum and dumplings.

Describe your personal style?
I prefer clothes that are simple, classic and easy to wear. I love fashion and always look for that special piece, but at heart I’m a jeans and flats girl. At home I like to keep things light and neutral.  I mix my love of antiques with a French country style.

If you were a cocktail what would you be called?
Vintage Soiree.

Who would be your ultimate cocktail hour guest?
David Lebovitz – pastry chef, author, blogger and prolific tweeter – I love reading about his culinary discoveries.

If you could be transported to another era what era would you choose and why?
I would love to take a glimpse back at the roaring ‘20s, a time where the art deco movement began, flappers stepped out and the sounds of jazz greats like Louis Armstrong filled the air.

What’s your top tip for hosting a cocktail hour?
Make your entertaining space warm and inviting so people feel relaxed and at ease. Also, have a place for people to sit as well as to mill around.

Zoe Ritch & Billie Shennen

What keeps you busy during the day?
In the rare moments when Zed & Bee aren’t creating one-of-a-kind invitation solutions for our clients, writing our blog or staying on top of global design trends, we are finding excuses to hold business meetings over long lunches across Sydney.

Describe your personal style?
Being endlessly inspired by what we see, read and experience every day our style is constantly evolving.

If you were a cocktail what would you be called?
As we are both partial to a Margarita, traditional or bastardised, our cocktail would be Hermanas Mexicanas.

Who would be your ultimate cocktail hour guest?
Billie Holiday and she would be singing.

If you could be transported to another era what era would you choose and why?
The late 1940s (post WW2), the mixed Margarita cocktail had taken off, parties were a glamorous affair and hugely talented jazz musicians serenaded guests.

What’s your top tip for hosting a cocktail hour?
Generosity of spirit and spirits!