Shopping with your girlfriends on a sunny day is a great way to spend any Hamptons afternoon. Especially at home. KDHamptons recently hosted a trunk show for caftan designer Genie Nuttall at my Water Mill home, under our 200-year old Maple trees.  We brought the white wicker porch furniture down on to the grass so guests could lounge, sip a signature Casamigos cocktails, and shop the caftans which we hung from the towering trees on white boating rope.

KDHamptons founder Kelli Delaney

Genie Nuttall is a new friend of KDHamptons from Lyford Cay, Bahamas. Genie’s brand is called Jeannie McQueeny, and she offers incredibly chic caftans that are hand-made in Nepal. Her designs are inspired by the beautiful colors of Nassau where she grew up, and are the perfect mix between relaxed and luxurious.  Genie shares, “My design style is very resort-oriented. The emphasis is on luxurious fabrics with exquisite craftsmanship and clothes that translate easily from one resort to another. The aim is to create clothes that are easy to wear and always flattering.”

Giving back is a big part of the Jeannie McQueeny mission. She is a big supporter of the Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation BREEF, which was founded by her late husband Nicholas Nuttall in 1993. The foundation addresses the growing concerns on the state of The Bahamas’ marine environment, focusing on research efforts to ensure  healthy coral reefs and other marine resources for generations to come. BREEF’s newest project is the Nicholas Nuttall Undersea Sculpture Garden, the first project of its kind in the Bahamas to be sponsored by the United Nations. It is the brain child of Willicey Tynes, who won BREEF’s first art competition after being encouraged by Nicholas to follow his passion.

Genie takes a break in KDHamptons garden

Growing up, Genie was a tomboy, who was much happier climbing a tree or sneaking into town. She says, “It’s ironic how much emphasis I put on the embroidery and craftsmanship of my Jeannie Mcqueeny line because growing up there was nothing more painful to me than an hour spent over an embroidery hoop.”

My glamorous neighbor Jennifer Ringelstein and friend

Jessica Garza-Bueron

The decor theme for the party was beachy blue and white hues. The tables were covered with John Robshaw linens, hydrangea bouquets, an antique Tunisian birdcage, and a collection of vintage porcelain servers that I have collected over the years. Little bites are always best when you are entertaining in a casual way. Round Swamp Farm in Bridgehampton is my favorite place to pick up delicious farm-to-table prepared foods that guests always can’t get enough of, especially the crispy chicken wontons. I usually make a few appetizers as well including delicious turkey, goat cheese & dill triangle tea sandwiches. For sweet treats, we served Tate’s cookies, miniature cupcakes, and pretty pastel petit-fours.

Rita Schrager

Here’s the Casamigos Mi Casa Signature Cocktail recipe we served at the party. Make it ahead of time, put it in a great looking pitcher, chill and serve.

Mi Casa Margarita
1 ½ oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila
1 oz. Fresh lime juice
¼ oz. Fresh Lemonade
½ oz. Agave nectar
Method: Shake ingredients with ice then strain and serve on the rocks.
Garnish: Lemon or Lime wedge

KDHamptons parterre rose garden

The party was from 1-4 PM. Some guests popped in for a power shop, and some friends stayed all day. Everyone had fun trying on caftans, making Origami Owl lockets and getting their hair and makeup done on the porch. Like any party, you want to offer other stuff for the guests. My new favorite creative thing to offer at parties is Origami Owl “living locket” making, who sent a team that set up a long table covered with charms, chains, bracelets and more for guests to make their own jewelry. Everybody loved creating something so personal and pretty in between shopping and trying on all the caftans.

The Origami Owl team

Origami Owl is a jewelry company launched in 2010 by fourteen year old Isabella Weems. Bella started brainstorming ways to earn money and decided to make and sell jewelry. Her parents matched the $350 she had earned for babysitting and she enlisted her friends as buyers. She began selling her signature jewelry items – which she now calls ‘Living Lockets’ – at every opportunity including house parties, boutiques and local jewelry shows. Origami Owl’s mission is to be a ‘Force For Good.’ In January 2014, Origami Owl partnered with Childhelp®, a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to meet the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children.

Fern Mallis

Cricket Burns

Carolyn Levinbrook

Lucas Bacardi Shriftman gives the other kids a lesson in locket making

Guests included: Genie Nuttall, who flew in from Lyford Cay, Maria Bachman, Jamee Gregory, Ann Barish, Gigi Howard, Fern Mallis, Jennifer Ringelstein, Linda Wells, Rita Schrager, Sofia Schrager, Elana Nathan, Melanie Brandman, Kimberly Light, Dini von Mueffling, Charlotte Blechman, Carolyn Levinbrook, Jessica Garza-Bueron, Stephanie Hirsch, Cricket Burns, Elizabeth Harrison, with her two daughters, Kathy Reilly, Chris Burch, and Genifer Lancaster.

Dini von Mueffling

Everyone loves to feel pretty when they’re trying on beautiful clothes, so we also had a GLAMSQUAD hair and makeup team on hand to create mini-makeovers for our guests. GLAMSQUAD brings professionals in the beauty industry to you, offering the full salon experience in the comfort of your own Hamptons home.  GLAMSQUAD is founded on the concept that getting ready should be a lot easier, and when you are dealing with Hamptons traffic it’s a great relief to get ready at home instead of the salon, and walk out the door camera ready.  With personalized, one-on-one consultations and a signature range of inspirational looks, GLAMSQUAD offers clients the full celebrity-experience.  Hair and Makeup services are done in tandem and take only an hour.

** Book your Glamsquad appointment via their mobile app, or on Glamsquad.com

The Glamsquad gives Lily Kot a great blowout

* To learn more about the companies mentioned, please visit their websites or follow them on their social media pages.

www.JeannieMcQueeny.com
www.OrigamiOwl.com
www.Glamsquad.com

* Photos in this feature by Lily Kot