Ten years ago, entertaining doyenne and Vogue contributor Alice Naylor-Leyland, aka Mrs. Alice, threw a 30th birthday party for the ages: one that was immortalized in the pages of this magazine’s September 2016 issue and minted her Instagram star status. A decade later, it was time for another monumental milestone—with a bash to match. Here, her friend, writer and editor Gianluca Longo, recaps the fantastical Italian festa.
When you receive an invitation to spend a birthday weekend in the Tuscan countryside—you know you’re in for a jolly good time. And if the invite is from Mrs. Alice, then you really know you’ve been invited to something extra memorable.
To celebrate her 40th birthday, Alice chose Villa Cetinale, one of the most beautiful houses in the rolling hills of Siena. Between the charming setting and superbly proportioned architecture and woodland gardens, it seemed the consummate place for gathering some 90 close friends, old and new. Then there was the familiarity of it: Villa Cetinale, initially built in 1680 by the Chigis, the aristocratic Roman family, has in fact been in the family of Alice’s husband, Tom, since 1978, when his grandfather, Lord Lambton, bought it as an abandoned property and gave it a new lease of life.
The front of the villa was the perfect frame for Friday’s dinner party. “I wanted the first night to feel more low-key and relaxed, almost like a picnic—albeit a glamorous one—on the grounds of the house. I decided to go for brown, mustard, and earthy tones for the decor,” Alice said. Ginori Oriente Italiano plates had been placed over the long toile de jouy tablecloth, styled alongside bamboo chairs, cutlery, and table lamps. In a Mrs. Alice signature, mustard velvet bows featured guest names embroidered on each.
To match, Alice chose a yellow Monique L’Huillier dress for the occasion, with no other jewelry but a bracelet borrowed from her mother, Serena. “I have always wanted to wear yellow, and I think this time it fit with the tones of the soirée whilst still standing out,” she said.
As the sun set, Billy, Alice’s 14-year-old son, gave a touching and heart-warming speech. The whole evening continued to unfold into something magical. The atmosphere was so beautiful—nobody wanted to leave the table.
The following evening, the vibe was sparkly and fun as guests were welcomed back to Villa Cetinale at dusk. Upon arrival, they were greeted by a pony standing at the entrance with baskets containing fans and flowers—I had heard Alice initially wanted a giraffe. Attendees paused to take in the sounds of a 1920s Italian jazz band and posed in front of the baroque staircase—and a gigantic striped bow—for group photos.
Under arched crystal chandeliers, two long tables were laden with leaves on a table dressed in a 32-meter long Jean Monro chintz tablecloth. “I wanted to add a bit of English eccentricity to the dinner,” Alice explained. For her next outfit of the birthday weekend, Alice and her stylist, Olivia, tapped Lebanese designer Elio Abou Fayssal to create a romantic embroidered frock with an impressive nine kilograms of silk and taffeta.
