Below, Curtis and Bolden share more of their tips on enjoying the holidays this season.
Dress the Part
For Zoom meetings and parties, Bolden says, “I always encourage my clients to do a special touch to their look, be it statement jewelry or a pop of color.” Case in point: When he dressed Taraji P. Henson for the 2020 Billboard Awards, Bolden advised she rock a shimmery moss green one-shouldered Alexandre Vauthier dress to complement her fiery red bob.
Find Your Go-To Holiday Scent
Even when you’re keeping festivities small, a good candle can help set the festive mood and have a soothing effect. Bolden recommends anything with notes of amber in it. (Try Le Labo’s Santal 26.) Curtis is partial to “the cozy smell of violet and patchouli. It somehow makes your space smell really intimate.” (This Kachina candle, in a glazed ceramic jar, will hit the patchouli note.)
Pull Out the Decor
It’s still worth putting up lights and ornaments, even if you’re the only one benefitting from the mood boost. “Our go-to holiday decorations always include classic white lights on a vibrant green tree,” Bolden shares. “If we are feeling super fancy we normally have wreaths all around the house.” Curtis browses Etsy “for handmade pieces,” as well as the holiday decor selections at CB2, One Kings Lane, and 1stDibs.
Find the Right Music
Bolden’s go-to soundtracks are anything by Cynthia Erivo or Alicia Smith, while Curtis opts for Anita Baker’s Christmas Fantasy, Toni Braxton’s Snowflakes, and Whitney Houston’s One Wish.
Make a Toast-Worthy Drink
Bolden and Curtis have been making Grand Marnier’s Grand 75 cocktail: “[The recipe] is easy to follow, and everyone who tastes it loves it!”
Grand Marnier’s Grand 75 Cocktail:
Ingredients
1.5 oz Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
1 bar spoon full of simple syrup
2 oz of dry champagne
Garnish: Orange Twirl
Recipe
Combine Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice in a shaker tin.
Add ice and shake.
Fine strain into a chilled flute or coupe glass.
Top with dry champagne.
Garnish with an orange twirl.