Under the dim lights of Manhattan's elite nightclub, Aspen Social, celebrity event planner and author Jes Gordon invited us to join her table for a late-afternoon chat about planning first class, successful parties and events.  Her recently published, self-described "textbook for party planning," gives readers a step-by-step guide to planning dream parties. Including everything from tight budget management to host and hostess etiquette, Jes illuminates a world that people are often intimidated by, expressing a simplistic approach to throwing a star-studded event for your friends, colleagues and family members.

Not only does Jes explain the decorative aspects of hosting an event, she describes the utmost importance of creating a realistic budget and adhering to it at all costs. While delivering the elements of a party that are important to you such as floral arrangements, cocktail specialties or lighting, Jes believes that none of this will be effective if the budget is not smeared across the spectrum like "smear on a bagel."  She describes this balance as something akin to an "equalizer on a stereo," giving each piece of the party an insistent focus and not skimping on one area.

Along with celebrity parties, Jes hosts a wide array of brand specific events.  One of her most interesting experiences was planning an S&M event for Victoria's Secret in New York.  The crowd, she stated, "was extremely eclectic," spanning a wide array of social classes and ages.  The scene was sexy, to say the least, and while the party was a huge success, Jes noticed the bulging eyes on some faces as they walked in the door.

Jes enjoys planning parties in New York and loves the venues and clients.  She believes that Los Angeles and New York differ in many ways when it relates to event planning and she adjusts her styles on each coast.  Jes is a bi-coastal woman, spending half her time in New York and the other half with her husband in Los Angeles.  Featuring a newly designed Southern Comfort label, Jes adds the new look of the old flavor to her catalog of suggestions for planning the perfect party.