Thanksgiving ’25 with Audrey Gruss
1. This is your favorite time of the year, is it not? What do you have prepared for this upcoming Thanksgiving.
Yes indeed! Thanksgiving is a very special time for us to reflect with our loved ones on our many blessings during this holiday and year-round. Thanksgiving is not only about giving, but about sharing and being grateful, while sharing each other’s company, reflecting on what we have and who we love. It’s a time to watch the children play while pondering how fast they have grown. The entire aesthetic of the moment gives us warmth, intimacy, and cheerfulness.
2. What are you going to have on the menu?
The typical and traditional Thanksgiving menu cannot be improved. We always have the main courses, such as roast turkey or baked ham; traditional sides, such as a family recipe for stuffing, vegetables, and green bean casserole, are a must. And not to be forgotten is the family version of sweet potatoes or yams. Marshmallows on top or not? Family and guests often look forward to the special desserts of the house – pumpkin pie is the most popular and it is often accompanied by regional specialties wherever you’re having Thanksgiving. Having your own stamp on a Thanksgiving dinner makes it truly stand out and memorable.
3. In terms of decor, what will your home look like while you welcome guests?
Audrey Gruss in front of her house in New York.
Audrey Gruss in front of her house in New York.I particularly like interior design and home decorating, so every holiday brings out the creativity in me! I could decorate starting at the front door with a dried leaf and floral wreath, and I could decorate every corner with autumn leaves, decorative turkeys, miniature pilgrims, multi-colored corn bunches, multi-colored gourdes, the arrangements of multi-sized and multi-colored pumpkins. From the moment you see the wreath and step into our front entrance, a full display of all the above sets the tone for the rest of the house!
4. What are your special touches for the dinner table?
Audrey Gruss’ table settings for the holidays.
The hostess gift is a wonderful tradition!
I like to offer my guests some of my favorite products from Hope Fragrances. This year I will share the incredible aroma of Hope Night by wrapping a beautiful jar of Hope Night Body Butter and placing it at everyone’s seat.
The box will be wrapped in a beautiful shade of burgundy and tied with an orange silk ribbon – orange or red decorative berries tucked into the bow will complete the look! Hostess gifts are a terrific way of getting conversation started; they add to the color and design of the table setting, and every guest leaves with a little gift that will remind them of this year’s Thanksgiving.
5. Is there any special fashion look for Thanksgiving?
The clothing you wear on Thanksgiving depends on the time of day you’re having Thanksgiving lunch or dinner and the weather where you are. Lunch fashion should consist of a day dress or elevated sportswear. For the most popular 4 pm dinner time, I like to dress up a bit more, but I find that achieving that balance of day into night is often not easy. I turn to the most current fashion trends for ideas. This season, a beautiful, most fashionable look is wearing wide-legged pants. These are available in all those warm and welcome autumn colors and lovely jewel tones.
Audrey Gruss at home
A feminine silk blouse or special sweater finishes the look, and you can adjust the fabric weight and colors by the temperature where you are having Thanksgiving this year. Perfect to wear while watching football games after dinner. It’s a non-negotiable tradition!
