THERE are always women in our lives who try to make special occasions truly memorable. Meticulous and thoughtful, they are always in search for dainty tea cups and the right centerpiece; preparing sumptuous meals or baking delectable pastries; and lastly, dressing up for the occasion to always look beautiful.

As another year begins, these women probably have elaborate plans in mind for the upcoming occasions, the problem is how to make each celebration stand out and be unique.

Jenni Epperson, celebrity stylist, fashion writer and blogger, comes to rescue and shares her knowledge to organizing parties and events with her new book called Fashion + Food: Celebrating Special Occasions in Style.

Her first advice is to let fashion and food come together as one.

Launched early in December at the National Book store in Glorietta 5, Makati City, Fashion + Food proves how the right combination of fashion and food can turn simple occasions to excellent.

Fashion + Food contains useful and creative ideas for 12 special occasions including tea party, Sunday brunch, Valentine’s, Mother’s and Father’s days, a birthday, a date night, an indoor picnic, Halloween, a slumber party, Christmas and New Year.

In each chapter, Epperson begins by suggesting stylish and trendy décors that will transform one’s home into an amazing event venue, from the utensils, kitchenware, accessories and even the whole table setting. She also gives tips on how to create the perfect ambience.

As for the delicious meals, Epperson shares her own home-cooked recipes like the Coconut Biscuits for a tea party, the Pork Tenderloin with Pink Peppercorn sauce for Mother’s Day, Chunky-style Roasted Squash Soup for Halloween, or Crackling Pork Belly Roast and Lemon Spinach Couscous for New Year.

She then shows illustrated stylish outfits for every happening or party that a hostess can pull off. Each ensemble is simply yet will still catch the eyes of everyone, loved ones, friends and guests. Epperson ends each chapter by sharing her own inspirational and motivational quotes.

“The book is really about celebrating life,” sums up Epperson during the Fashion + Food launch.

National Book Store’s Mer-chandising Director for Books Xandra Ramos-Padilla notes “Being the epitome of the modern day woman, Jenni is really the ideal person to guide the reader through the concocting of events and affairs that will always be remembered. Thanks to this book, women now have a reliable source to turn to when pre-paring for that much awaited gathering.”

Fashion + Food: Celebrating Special Occasions in Style features photography by Tom Ep-person, book design and layout by Dix Perez, and illustrations by Soleil Ignacio and Kris Abrigo. It is exclusively available at National Book Store and Powerbooks.