Former singer turned interiors guru, Pearl Lowe, has an aesthetic that combines the vibe of summer, while also taking us back to the Roaring Twenties with her love of vintage pieces.
Her idyllic life in Somerset captures the retro look exactly, while her use of flea market and second-hand bargains means style on a budget.
‘I love things that have a history,’ she says. ‘I love Art Deco mirrored furniture from the 1920s, velvet bedspreads and curtains and chandeliers.’
Pearl’s vintage tea parties and elegant soirées thrill her Instagram (@PearlLowe)followers. Here, she shares her style secrets.
Imagine the walls of your house don’t exist
I love bringing inside stuff outside and setting a ‘room’ scene in my garden.
The bedroom vibe outside instantly makes it feels so homely. I place big, old-fashioned quilts on the ground and layer them with big velvet cushions.
I recently took our sofa outside for a party, and placed Moroccan rugs around. I’ve even been known to put my wardrobe outside!
But this simple trick makes people relax instantly. They feel like they’re in a front room – and your gathering is far more intimate.
Layer your table as you would an outfit
I start with bog-standard white tablecloths, then layer the table with different vintage coverings on top to add colour, style and interest.
I get cut flowers from my garden and put them in jam jars or old pots. Next, add glass tea lights which will dance and flicker.
Diptyque does a candle you can use outside, which smells amazing but also gets rid of mosquitoes.
Think about your lighting
Lights can add to the atmosphere. People forget about lights, yet they’re one of the cheapest things to get.
I buy old Chinese paper lanterns on eBay for £1 each and hang them in the trees.
I find old chandeliers in junk shops, put candles in them and suspend them from branches. They add the light you need, but real interest, too.
Find a colour theme
I love vintage lace and crochet from flea markets and antiques shops.
I put them on my table for tea parties then add fabric once I’ve chosen my theme.
I often stick to one or two shades, such as white and pink, navy and pink or mustard gingham.
There’s lovely striped material from Merchant & Mills, which you can buy per metre.I cut it to fit the table, then cut out little squares as napkins.
Complete your colour scheme with vintage patterned or floral plates.
Go vintage with your accessories
Charity shops and flea markets sell vintage knives and forks, and you can pick up large glass jugs from a market that look perfect on your table with water and slices of cucumber inside.
Serve your food on huge antique plates.
For my husband’s birthday we invited 100 guests, so I bought floral plates in all different colours from charity shops and they looked incredible on the table.
It actually cost pennies, and made everyone feel happy and homely.
Remember the music
When your guests are eating they need to be able to hear each other talk, so choose the vibe carefully.
I played Chet Baker the other day on my Marshall Amp, which sits outside.
It was the perfect mellow music for a tea party – and a sure-fire way to set the right mood.
Discover more vintage tea party inspiration through Pearl Lowe’s vintage home collection.
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