Lauren Santo Domingo's trajectory from Vogue’s fashion closet to co-founding the luxury nerve center Moda Operandi is sartorial lore. The entrepreneur and socialite’s influence extends far beyond best-dressed lists and board rooms, however: Her design lens has taken on a domestic bent as she has become synonymous with legendary dinner parties in Manhattan and seasonal bashes out East. (Moda Operandi also expanded to include homewares in 2018.)
This passion for hosting was cemented last year when Tiffany & Co. appointed Santo Domingo as the artistic director of its home category, an occasion to dig into the archives of one of the rare American luxury brands and reimagine them for the 21st century.
Below, the cultural powerhouse and part-time Southampton resident sits down with interior designer Athena Calderone to share her tips and tricks for making the most out of an East End summer.
Athena Calderone: Your Southampton home feels historic with a nod to New England architecture. How did the region inspire your vision and design approach?
Lauren Santo Domingo: I worked with Gil Schafer to create a house that felt native to Southampton. [Long Island] was settled by both the Dutch and the English. While many of the historic Dutch-style houses are the most popular, I was drawn to the New England side of the island and drew my references from there.
Calderone: My Amagansett home has always been a grounding seaside reprieve from our hectic lives in the city. How has this home influenced the way your family connects and unwinds?
Santo Domingo: I had an idyllic childhood in Connecticut, with freedom to roam and test my independence. I’m hoping for my children to feel the same freedom and joy during their summers. Our family has been coming out to the Hamptons since I was in my 20s, and we have had the same friends and traditions here since then.
Calderone: What are your favorite places to visit when you’re in Southampton?
Santo Domingo: To eat, Sip’n Soda in Southampton and the concession stand at Coopers Beach—our favorite beach—are our regular family spots. For a coffee, it’s Sant Ambroeus. I love to visit the studios of Dan Flavin and John Chamberlain for art, and the Peter Marino Art Foundation is a spectacle for design.
Calderone: You are renowned for your legendary outdoor entertaining in Southampton. What do you love most about hosting here and why?
Santo Domingo: I love having people over—mostly so I don’t have to leave the house! My husband enjoys cooking, I enjoy setting the table and doing the flowers, and we both enjoy long nights with friends.
Calderone: What is one hostess gift you are always happy to receive?
Santo Domingo: Fresh, seasonal flowers or produce. Amber Waves is my favorite spot. Anything from L’Épicuriste and its shop, the Bouwerie, which has highly curated vintage finds.
Calderone: There is a distinctive elegance to your tabletop design—do you follow any rules when setting a table?
Santo Domingo: When I eat outdoors, I am happy to use pieces from my ceramic crockery collection. When I eat inside, I insist on porcelain, crystal, and candlelight.
Calderone: Do you see any parallels between how you set a table and how you dress?
Santo Domingo: I suppose I dress myself the same way I dress a table. First, I ask myself, “What is the level of formality of this event?” I try to hit the right notes of polish and sophistication but always have fun. Most of all, I try to be original.
Calderone: What are a few things every host should consider when planning a gathering?
Santo Domingo: I have a vast set of tablecloths that fit my table perfectly. I always get small potted plants in sets of threes. For most meals, I just pop them on the table with two hurricane lamps in-between and a scattering of sparkling silver pieces throughout. It’s the perfect mix.
