Caviar bumps. A Moët & Chandon champagne merchandising machine. Actual Housewives of Beverly Hills stars so far as the attention can see. Welcome to Kathy Hilton’s annual pajama Christmas get together.
I someway scored an invitation to the bash at her Bel Air mansion — a golden ticket I’ve quietly manifested for the reason that first photograph of Kathy along with her daughters, Paris and Nicky, hit social media years in the past. Spoiler: The night time lived as much as each expectation.
Matching pajamas for all, catered bites, a totally stocked bar and a number of flooring of Christmas procuring. The visitor record was as sparkly because the decor, with Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Jennie Garth and Bravo mainstays like Sutton Stracke, Denise Richards and Rachel Zoe all in attendance.
Once I caught Kathy herself amid the festivities, I requested the apparent query: Why open your property — and let’s be trustworthy, a small winter wonderland — to pals, pals of pals and the occasional stranger like me?
“Effectively, we all know one another,” she smiled. Technically true — we did have dinner as soon as years in the past along with her husband and Camille Grammer (that story for an additional day) — however I’m satisfied she was being well mannered. That’s the factor about her — she makes everybody really feel like they belong, which might be why it took me hours to really get to speak one-on-one along with her because the host of the night time.
“I simply find it irresistible,” she mentioned of the custom. “There are not any strangers, actually. Buddies, pals of pals. I like adorning, and it makes me really feel like I get to share it with everybody.”
And share she did. The decor was as jaw-dropping because the rumors promised — the sort of over-the-top vacation glamour that might make even the Grinch consider in Christmas once more.
The arrival: Flooring of Christmas magic (and one very well-known tree)
The festivities formally kicked off at 6 p.m., and strolling into Kathy’s home in December is like stepping right into a snow globe that simply occurs to have movie star friends and handed hors d’oeuvres. The very first thing you see if you stroll in is the tree — sure, the one which followers affiliate with the Hiltons each vacation season. It’s much more dazzling in particular person, towering within the lobby like a division retailer show crossed with a Hallmark film dream sequence.
En path to Kathy Hilton’s Christmas get together. (Taryn Ryder)
Once I posted a photograph, one in all my pals — a Bravo superfan — texted me inside seconds: “I acknowledge these flooring.”
The night was hosted in partnership with Kathy’s daughter, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, and QVC. Their annual pajama get together is for the good thing about the Los Angeles Mission, Yogi’s Home and Camp Crocker Rescue. About 130 friends attended, and all of them introduced toys for donation.
Nicky Hilton Rothschild reveals off a number of the presents at her mother’s pajama get together. (Stefanie Keenan/Getty Pictures for QVC)
Earlier than the get together actually received underway, everybody was ushered into a personal dressing space to alter into their designated PJs from the Printfresh x Kathy Hilton Assortment. Friends received to pick their model when RSVPing final month: Hollywood Vacation, a blue cotton-poplin set lined in festive icons, or Christmas Carousel, a comfy flannel model match for an Aspen lodge. I went with the primary choice — festive however breathable. That turned out to be key as soon as I used to be schlepping across the big Hulken goodie bag, which retails for round $168.
As soon as modified, the gang spilled into the principle rooms — a blur of blue and pink, laughter and clinking glasses — able to eat, store and have a good time for trigger.
Procuring and surprises
The night time reworked right into a multifloor vacation market — equal components glamorous and chaotic in the absolute best method. Housewives, each literal and figurative, juggled procuring luggage in a single hand and cocktails within the different.
The primary cease? A desk stacked with Labubu keychains, the must-have overtaking Christmas want lists this yr. From there, it was sensory overload: a Drybar station for hair extensions (I left with extra hair than I arrived with), jewellery shows that sparkled like snow and wonder cubicles providing every little thing from serums to scented candles.
The Labubu station at Kathy Hilton’s PJ get together. (Taryn Ryder)
One of many greatest crowd magnets was Oh My Mahjong, which arrange store to show friends the tile-based recreation at the moment taking on the nation — and doubtless your group chats. I even noticed Tommy Hilfiger leaning over a board, getting a fast tutorial earlier than grabbing a journey set.
Tommy Hilfiger. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Pictures for QVC)
Then there have been the “caviar bumps.” Staffers from The Caviar Co. floated via the get together sporting stylish little contraptions that regarded like couture fanny packs, serving spoonfuls of caviar instantly onto friends’ palms. The transfer? Lick it off. Bougie doesn’t even start to cowl it.
Downstairs, the bar was the coziest nook of all, decked in winter florals and napkins printed with Kathy’s immortal RHOBH line, “Who’s Hunky Dory?” Friends sipped espresso martinis and no matter else their hearts desired because the music and chatter carried via the home.
The bar at Kathy Hilton’s get together. (Taryn Ryder)
The night time had some additional sparkle because of Bravo timing: the Season 15 trailer of The Actual Housewives of Beverly Hills dropped simply hours earlier than the get together — that includes Kathy’s return alongside her sister, Kyle Richards.
Style icon-turned-new-cast-member Rachel Zoe was there, as was Stracke. Denise Richards, who makes a cameo within the trailer, attended along with her daughter Eloise. Regardless of her latest and contentious cut up from Aaron Phypers, she regarded relaxed and glad, chatting with Kathy in the lounge earlier than leaving as she gave the hostess some sort of Chanel present. RHOBH alums Camille Grammer, Crystal Kung Minkoff and Faye Resnick rounded out the Beverly Hills roll name.
Denise Richards along with her goodie bag. (Stefanie Keenan/Getty Pictures for QVC)
Which Housewives are on the great record?
With so many Actual Housewives of Beverly Hills stars floating via her Bel Air mansion, it felt solely pure to ask Kathy the query on each Bravo fan’s thoughts: What can we anticipate from the brand new season?
“It’s one thing,” she teased with a understanding grin. “It’s brutal. Effectively, lots of the ladies are right here tonight, so…”
Once I joked that possibly her visitor record doubled as a touch for who’s on her good record this yr, Kathy didn’t miss a beat. “I, thank God, love all people. I’m getting together with all people. I’m a fly on the wall.”
She paused, then added — in traditional Kathy trend — “Let’s put it this manner, I’m well-known for a nap every so often. However I used to be on each journeys, to mattress the newest and up the earliest, as a result of I didn’t need to miss any of the news.”
Apparently, Kathy’s function this season isn’t simply comedian aid — she’s additionally the resident therapist. “I used to be like a psychologist or no matter, sitting them down, making an attempt to work via it with them,” she mentioned. “Certainly one of them would say, ‘Does all people hate me?’ I mentioned, ‘No, not all people hates you. I like you.’”
Remedy by Kathy Hilton, coming quickly to Bravo, little doubt.
As I headed out, clutching my present bag and prepared for the coziest drive dwelling in my PJ’s, I spotted Kathy Hilton could be onto one thing. Possibly the key to vacation happiness actually is matching pajamas, some enjoyable dialog and an open door — even for the occasional stranger she’s “fairly certain she is aware of.”
