Our go-to Master of the Dark Arts when it comes to Halloween" That would be Claudia Schwartz?proprietor of San Francisco’s Bell’occhio?a sought-after SF stylist and shop owner who counts Martha Stewart among her fans. Claudia is a lover of the offbeat, and her last-century style (the way she spells Hallowe’en, for instance) has us inspired. Read on for her advice on creating a spooky yet soulful Halloween party; mastermix included.
Photography by Tom Kubik for Remodelista.

Above: Claudia in a dress and a shrug from Pip-Squeak Chapeau, in Brooklyn. Her usual daily uniform is a vintage hemp work dress, but here she is dressed as a Halloween hostess. Her pearl earrings are by her husband, Tom, who designs and makes the jewelry the couple sells at Bell’occhio. Remodelista: Do you have any cardinal rules for a good theme party"
Claudia Schwartz: Create an atmosphere in which all the carefully edited elements support one another, from food and decor to music and scent. But exercise restraint; using every good idea that comes along can result in a mess.
RM: What are some Halloween decor ideas our readers can re-create at home"
CS: Start with a black table covering?whether it’s blackboard oilcloth or black linen?it makes a nice backdrop. For arrangements, I like oak leaves and acorns; if they are not available, seasonal leaves and herbs from a farmer’s market are nice. You could also do an all-orange theme, contrasted with dar...