How to Be the Best Guest at the Party from Candice Bergen, Liz Smith and More Grande Socialites

by Randi Bernfeld (RSS feed)
Dec 16th 2009 at 8:01AM

The well known women at wowOwow.com are stopping by Luxist on a frequent basis to answer your savvy shopping and spending questions. This week we asked them: What's your favorite hostess gift to give? And to receive?

Candice Bergen: I was very proud of myself when a dear friend whose ranch we get to go to every year loved the hand-tooled leather songbooks I had made for future sing-alongs for his guests. It's lovely when people bring little things but our own Mary Wells is the MOST extravagant gift giver ever, so it's really fun to have her over. But I do have a drawer of gloves, scarves and bracelets that are up for grabs if anyone's interested? Oh, and I like giving hand-painted mugs I make at Color Me Mine because it's fun and personal.

Liz Smith: My favorite hostess gift is still wine or flowers – to give or to get. Most people are appalled when you give them a lot of crap they just have to get rid of.

Joan Ganz Cooney: If it's a special occasion or an especially good party, I send flowers. I'd rather receive flowers or wine than anything else but I'd prefer guests - including houseguests - just provide their presence.

Mary Wells: I like the affectionate cards that come with hostess gifts most of all. If the gift is from someone I care a lot about, I usually have it around me for a long time. I love to hunt for cards that tickle me to give with gifts. I am afraid I give gifts that I like a lot and probably should think more about the hostess.

wowOwow.com is a website aimed at influential women over 40, much like its distinguished founders and contributors, which include Marlo Thomas, Lesley Stahl, Candice Bergen, Liz Smith, Joni Evans, Mary Wells and Whoopi Goldberg.

Tags: candice bergen, CandiceBergen, entertainment, gifts, hostess gifts, HostessGifts, joan ganz cooney, JoanGanzCooney, liz smith, LizSmith, mary wells, MaryWells, wowowow.com