There is an intangible magic in evenings when the air turns crisp, candlelight begins to flicker and rich wine tones dance against soft, shadowy textures. Yet, when autumn arrives the days get shorter and outdoor activities become limited, so we often starts looking for indoor entertainment. If you are thinking of having a mini gathering, a little potluck party or something lavish but intimate, an autumn dinner party draped in cashmere, candlelight and cabernet could be just the inspiration you need. Think soft textures, moody light, rich cabernet, artisanal cheeses served with figs and roasted nuts.
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Cashmere and Cabernet is more than a palette, it is a feeling, luxurious warmth, enveloping softness and a depth of colour that draws people in. Use the layers of cashmere wraps, shawls and throws as part of your dinner-party grammar. With Signature Cashmere’s pieces as your toolkit, you can create an environment that feels intimate and truly elevated.
Here’s our essential guide to hosting the ultimate dinner party this season.
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1) Start with Mood + Palette
Color story:
Keep to fall colours of deep cabernet, burgundy, oxblood as these are the anchor tones for a luxe evening dinner party. But to provide breathing space rope in some warm neutrals like taupe, cream, soft greys and mushroom Finish with accents of aged brass, burnished copper and amber to catch glints of light.
Texture palette:
Cashmere is your hero, consider mixing weaves (plain, cable, cut-fringe) to vary the touch. Balance cashmere with linen, raw-edge ceramics, unglazed stoneware, matte glass and untreated wood. The goal is an interplay between softness and structure.
Lighting and ambiance cues:
Use low, warm lighting. Think votives, candles, dimmed string lights or wall-wash amber uplighting. Don't forget, shadow and contrast matter. Let the folds of the cashmere blankets and cashmere throws catch light and shadow to amplify texture. Use moody videography or still to retain the intimate but elegant theme of the dinner party. Close-up shots of drape, edges, light glinting off cashmere, wine splashes, these build the trending aesthetic of fall dinner parties.
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2) Styling Wraps, Shawls and Pashminas (for Guests and Décor)
Your guests and yours (host's) outfits should feel like both luxury and comfort. They are functional and decorative.
Here’s some of our popular cashmere pieces and styles to include in your autumn winter dinner parties looks. Our classic pashmina is a plain weave shawl arriving in a wide range of autumn winter-inspired colours. From deep reds, burgundy and plum shades to match your cabernet, dark chocolate brown hued cashmere pashmina to elegant olive green cashmere pashminas to wrap yourself and sip martinis.
Our range of cut-fringe pashminas and shaded ombré cashmere wraps gives movement and gradient interest to the décor. Opt for our Burgundy Cut Fringe Cashmere Pashmina or our Chocolate Brown Shaded Cashmere Pashmina to blend in with the autumn winter dinner parity themes. You can also have a few wraps folded or draped elegantly on a console or tray. Guests may pick one to wear. Encourage guests to drape the wrap over shoulders or let it fall gracefully so it becomes part of the evening’s visual rhythm.
If you are looking for something to add depth, shadow lines, tactile interest, try our cable-knit pashminas. Go for complementary neutral cashmere wraps and let the cabernet-toned decor serve as accent pops across the room. These are the micro-moments that communicate mood at the party and on social media. Keep the aesthetic going both on and off the grid.
3) Table Décor as a Cashmere Canvas
If you are wondering how to style cashmere for dinner parties, imagine layering rich textures and seasonal hues to create warmth and elegance that your guests can see and feel. Think of your table as a canvas for drapery, colour and texture, not just a space to place plates.
Table runner / underlayer:
Use neutral-toned cashmere throws (taupe, cream, warm grey) lengthwise under your centrepieces. This gives a plush foundation. Over that, place a narrow linen or raw-edge runner in cabernet or deep burgundy to echo your anchor tones.
Chair styling:
Drape a cashmere throw or a cashmere blanket over the back of each chair. You can fold one side over or hang loosely so it looks inviting. If chairs have arms, let one end of a cashmere throw hang casually over an armrest for softness. Alternate tones with some chairs in soft neutrals, others in deeper hues to create a subtle rhythm around the table.
Napkin and place details:
Use linen or soft cotton napkins in neutral or muted tones. Tie them with a slim strip of linen (a leftover from tablescape). Slide in a small sprig of dried foliage (broom, eucalypt, dried berry branch) tucked into that cashmere tie for a hint of nature
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Centerpieces + lighting:
Use low, loose botanical arrangements: dried grasses, preserved leaves, muted florals in shades of russet, blush, deep plum. Intermix candles, votives, low pillars in aged brass, matte black, or tinted glass. You can also scatter a few cabernet-toned glass votive holders or small wine-red tinted vessels to reflect warm light across the table. Keep height minimal in all these pieces so the eye glides freely over the table’s textures.
Finishing touch:
For final finishing touches place a folded cashmere pashmina (in a coordinating tone) beneath or adjacent to the charger plate. Or cut some leftover linen into fringes or tassels as decorative “tails” spilling off the table’s edge, giving a sense of “movement.”
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4) Care, Practical Tips and Considerations
Keep coasters, trays, serviettes and strategic placement to avoid direct spills on cashmere and other decor, this ensures your textiles are protected and can be reused again. If you are wondering how to take care of cashmere, specially after a dinner party, here are few tips. Shake out the throws, air them and brush lightly (or follow cashmere care instructions from our website) before folding. Don’t forget that cashmere is insulating, so keep your indoor ambient temperature comfortable, avoid over-heating the room, so guests remain cosy with wraps rather than sweating them off.
5) Bringing It All Together
Now that you are equipped with bringing it all together off the grid, here’s how you can unwrap the night on the grid. Capture the moment a guest unfurls their wrap and drapes it on their shoulders. Take macro texture shots, close-ups of cashmere folds, fringe edges, interplay of light and shadow. Film tiny panning shots of cabernet hues contrasting with cream layers, flickering candlelight across cashmere to create a sort of vintage-inspired colour stories but in motion
We hope our “Cashmere & Cabernet” has given you a framework for an autumn dinner party that feels both refined and sensuous. The softness of cashmere invites touch, the richness of deep wine tones invites warmth and depth. By treating wraps, throws and shawls not just as garments but as integral décor elements layering them with intention, letting them fall and fold naturally you build a space that is experiential and immersive.
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