Reclaiming the Holidays
An Interview with Carolyne Roehm
Mention Carolyne Roehm and immediately one thinks of impeccable taste and style and the epitome of elegance. Since arriving in New York City from Kirksville, Missouri, with $600- and five suitcases of clothes -- she has excelled at everything she has tried.
After a stint with Oscar De La Renta, Roehm opened her own clothing line of elegant clothes for elegant women. She went on to develop a line of tabletop designs and nurtured her love of flowers by learning al about them at the feet of a famous French florist. That inspired her to write her first book A Passion for Flowers. (Full Disclosure: I had the privilege of being Carolyne’s editor on that book and four subsequent ones.) Along with tips on how to grow and appreciate flowers, Roehm included ideas on decorating, design, and entertaining. She went on to establish herself as an expert of how to do things just right.
“I love holidays and have always gone to the extreme to decorate my home, find the perfect presents for everyone on my list and to wrap the most beautiful packages, which is one of my favorite things to do.” Roehm said. It was that love of gift-wrapping that led her to write another best-selling book called Presentations, in which she shared the secrets of wrapping the perfect package.
She has been known for entertaining in the most elegant manner and for celebrating every holiday – from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day to Christmas in the most unique way. Her skill and talent at creating the most beautiful holiday rooms are legendary. But much of that will change this year.
“I’m at a turning point in my life,” Roehm explained. “Of course, I will continue to celebrate and get excited over holidays. But I don’t want to do those elaborate things anymore. I would much rather have small dinner parties than gather huge crowds to celebrate with me.
“I have always had a theme for Christmas – an all green, or all red, or gold. Something to unify everything I did for that particular year. I think a holiday needs a focus. But my Christmas this year is all going to be pared down, pretty simply, pretty organic. It’s probably not going to be so decorated. Mostly evergreens and pinecones – natural things, that are beautiful in their own right.
“I have a wonderful collection of decorations I have had for a long time and used them every year. Now I think it’s time to retire them or pass them on to someone else to enjoy”.
Roehm will still wrap her beautiful packages, invite friends over and serve wonderful meals from beautifully appointed tables. But the focus will be on the people and not the objects. As a gifted photographer, she will take pictures of these various events and file them away. Perhaps they will at some point be the inspiration for another glorious book.
Photographs ©Carolyne Roehm