You Are What You Give... with Gabby Deeming of Daydress
We are delighted to introduce Gabby Deeming, previously Decoration Editor of House & Garden magazine and now owner of celebrated British brand Daydress, as the latest guest in our You Are What You Give series. Her coveted pieces are skilfully block-printed and constructed by her partner workshops in Jaipur, and this month marks the launch of a new collaborative collection of dresses and homewares with Scribble & Daub. To celebrate, we have invited Gabby to talk about what makes for a great party...
Obviously you’ll be wearing a beautiful dress from our new collection, but tell us a little more about your entertaining life...
I would say mostly it errs on the more relaxed side, lots of dinners at home with friends but I always make the table look lovely and light lots of candles. I remember parties my parents had where the dining room would be littered with half-empty wine glasses and a shrivelling cheese-board until well into the next day. I’m afraid I always put away the cheese before bed which probably makes me a big square…
You've been invited to dinner with friends, tell us what you might take with you as a thank you gift.
Well, without a doubt it will be a set of our delightful Daydress x Scribble & Daub cocktail napkins
When you host a party at your beautiful flat, how do you make it feel fun and festive?
I have to say, despite its diminutive size, my flat works really well for parties. I have lots of wall-sconces with twinkling candles for a cosy atmosphere (no overhead lights please!), a big table to dress and a lot of chairs (I don’t know why I have so many chairs but they really come into their own when friends are around) I also have a lot of fabrics, many gathered from Indian travels, so I can dress the table in a myriad of ways.
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever brought as a gift for you when you’ve thrown a party?
My friend William recently set the bar very high by giving me a fancy Moro Dabron x Jamb candle. I have lots of maker-friends which is nice because you’ll often get something crafted with their own fair hands.
Well, the biggest and best would have to be my 40th. I went all out and found a beautiful venue - the Elms Lester Painting rooms. It was built in the late 19th.c in the heart of Covent Garden as a place for artists to paint scenic backdrops for all the theatres. It’s a tall, thin building and the walls are still covered in layers and layers of paint, it’s a really quirky, fun space. Aforementioned friend William and I strung up garlands of lights, the girls from Aesme designed some beautiful flower arrangements and we had delicious cocktails, food and lots of dancing!! I wish I could also share the weirdest party, but I signed an NDA….
You can invite 6 fantasy guests to dinner, and eat anything your heart desires, who is around the table and what’s on the menu?
Well, these days, because I’m away a lot in India, I really only want to see my good pals so yes - 6 of my best girls probably! My taste in food is not very sophisticated I’m afraid… I usually want what the children are having, so I would probably make a very good roast chicken with a delicious sauce (I’ve been trying to crack the one they make at ‘Le Vin Perdu’ in Ashburton… Perfect roasties and a very delicious Spring Greens side - followed by a massive Pavlova which I’ll wheel in on a trolley wearing my Cherries dress.
If you could choose just one thing from the Scribble & Daub x Daydress collection, what would it be and why?
It has to be the Cherries dress! It was love at first sight. I just love the fruity sophistication of Caroline’s print and it’s a bit of a bombshell silhouette.
Read on for Gabby's wish list of things to make a party go with a swing, or to thank your hosts with...
"The only sardine for me is a chocolate sardine! A great little gift". Chocolate Sardines, £10.95
"I think our collaboration with Scribble & Daub has party written all over it, but these guys probably shout it the loudest… " Cocktail napkins, Daydress x Scribble & Daub, £80
‘Dear Caroline, these are not as nice as yours, but a close second’. Letter-writing set, £25, Choosing Keeping
"I will never not be happy with the gift of a (fancy) soap and Bridie’s classical creations will get you in a right lovely lather!" Set of soaps, £30, Pentreath & Hall
"Very pretty, though I might have to charge for breakages…" Set of 4 hand-painted glasses, £235 at Abask
"Much sexier than booze in the bathtub" Vintage Bricout Champagne Vasque
"Boring but functional; These big cubes are perfect for a tumbler". Silicone ice cube tray, £6.95 at Muji
"Use one to carry the wine and then leave it behind as a gift! (Better buy yourself a second or you won’t be able to part with it)" Woven Basket, £21.50 Re-Found
"I’ve tried many, these Cire Trudon tapered candles burn very well and the colour choice is great." Six candles, £24 at Cire Trudon
"A place close to my heart and where I swot-up on delicious ideas…" Towpath Recipes & Stories Book, £30 Daunt Books
"Guests won’t want to leave, basking under the glow of candlelight on pewter thanks to clever Charlie Porter’s wall sconce for TAT London." Pewter Sconce, £195, Tat London
"Giving these will secure you future invitations, so save them for people you really want to impress / see again!" Plaster Leaves, £35 each by Jess Wheeler
"It’s always more fun striking a match from a pretty box" Matches, £8.95, at Aime London
"A beautifully made brooch for every mood / occasion" Coffee & Croissant brooch, 45 Euros, Macon et Lesquoy
Thank you so much Gabby!
