Beth Aschenbach and Danielle Norcross, the sister duo behind the lifestyle brand Palm Beach Lately, love the beach, their children, and the holidays. So when Rebecca Hessel Cohen, the founder and creative director of the boutique LoveShackFancy, opened their doors at The Royal Poinciana Plaza in sunny Florida just a few weeks before Christmas, the sisters welcomed them to their hometown by co-hosting a holiday party brimming with all things Palm Beach.
“LoveShackFancy is an adult version of a little girl’s childhood fantasy,” says Beth of the brand’s clothing and tabletop designs. Walking into one of the boutiques is a bit like stepping into the pages of a Jane Austen novel thanks to its Victorian appointments, garden lattice, and swaths of floral fabric tied up in great-big bows. Working with her go-to event planner based in New York, Rebecca asked Anne Ligeard Murat of Clafoutis to enhance the new storefront with the magic of Christmas for a mother-daughter gingerbread-house party. “It was fun to reimagine the Land of Sweets scene from The Nutcracker,” says Anne.
Each child received a gingerbread house (designed by Earth & Sugar) set upon a fondant-covered tray, with plenty of icing and sweet adornments. In addition to traditional gumdrops, Anne also included exotic candies such as French strawberries, chocolate nonpariels, and sour belts. “We wanted this to be a beautiful party and give the children something beautiful to take home,” says Anne.
More Scenes from the Party
(Clockwise from above left) The store window at LoveShackFancy was decorated by Flower Love Palm Beach. • Rebecca Cohen of LoveShackFancy and her children smile for the camera with a pastel-clad Santa. • Anne Liegeard Murat of Clafoutis customized a herd of tiny reindeer with ribbon, bells, and glitter. • Guest Christin Carron watches her daughter, Coco, put the finishing touches on her gingerbread house.
By Cathy Still McGowin | Photography by Shea Christine Photography
Sources
- Event design, Anne Ligeard Murat of Clafoutis, clafoutis-creations.com
- Shop, LoveShackFancy Palm Beach, loveshackfancy.com
- Gingerbread houses and desserts, Earth & Sugar, earthandsugar.com
- Floral design, Flower Love Palm Beach, Instagram @flowerlovepalmbeach
This story appears in Flower magazine’s Nov/Dec 2020 issue. Subscribe to the magazine or sign up for our free e-newsletter.
