Cocktail dresses! Canapés! Camaraderie! Cannons? 

This year’s celebration issue comes courtesy of The King’s Troop. A horse-mounted military unit that was founded by King George VI in 1946, these chaps (and chappesses) typically perform the salutes and parades that form the backbone of the ceremonial calendar.

Despite the Troop being one of the more visible units of the army, much used in state visits and grand occasions, its purpose is often misunderstood. Its 168 members may provide the pomp of military shindigs, but they are fully trained and fit for battle; as one tells us, “we’re all gunners at the end of the day”. Though it represents some of the most arcane features of battle (horsepower and 13-pounder field guns), the Troop’s make-up is unusually progressive for the army – certainly when it comes to gender parity. Rosanna Dodds spoke to its members in a rare opportunity to get behind the golden frogging; Tom Craig took the shots.

The King’s Troop sounds the bugle on our festive celebrations (and, no, I’m not sure if they do actually play the bugle, but you get the gist). It sets us marching into a party season of fine wines, fine clothes and fine food. I’m particularly excited to read of a new collaboration between the high priest of ’70s party dressing, Antony Price, and 16Arlington’s Marco Capaldo on a range of made-to-order eveningwear. Alexander Fury, who did the interview, describes Price as “the greatest fashion designer you’ve never heard of”. His work is synonymous with molten lamé, velvet and Elnett-coiffured glamour; he dressed Duran Duran and Roxy Music, famously outfitting Jerry Hall for the Siren album cover in 1975. His “result-wear” has inspired dozens of subsequent designers and this has been a great opportunity to further champion his name. Capaldo, meanwhile, has quietly built a fashion powerhouse, dressing Amal Clooney, Hailey Bieber and Miley Cyrus. As Fury observes, 16Arlington’s clients “feel like a contemporary echo of the women Price dressed some 40 years ago”. We’re enormously grateful to Adwoa Aboah, who agreed to be their fit model for the shoot. Aboah, our cover star in September, consistently nails evening style. She completely outclassed the other attendees at the British Museum’s fundraiser, the Pink Ball last month, in a stunning magenta-coloured dress by Saint Laurent. 

I’m quite terrified of colour, but party dressing does sometimes call for something other than traditional black. Jeremy Everett, Isabelle Kountoure and model Jessica Miller have served up a gentler proposition with a fashion shoot of sherbet shades. Miller is married to Lars Ulrich of Metallica, so we were intrigued to ask about the party preparations undertaken by a self-described “metalhead”. In fact, Miller is a long-time vegan and rarely touches alcohol. She’s still a rock chick, she tells Sara Semic, albeit one armed with B12 and vitamin C supplements, Vega protein powder and portable cryo sticks.

Mimi Thorisson is surely everybody’s vision of the dream host. The French-Chinese food writer has finessed a brand of fruity generosity that is too seductive to resist. Now settled in Turin with her photographer husband and numerous children, she serves up a feast of pata negra, roast duck, pasta cake and roasted persimmon. Our own Mimi (Maria Shollenbarger) joined the party, was handed an apron and found out very quickly that the most successful hosts are those who get everyone to help.

Finally: one of the big agonies of any party is what drinks to serve. Alice Lascelles has canvassed the experts to provide a foolproof guide. Among my favourite suggestions? Try to freeze your cocktail glasses (sure, I’ll get right on that refrigeration situation). Or Alex Young’s advice to serve your party drinks with “a platter of cigarettes”.

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THREE MORE STORIES TO READ THIS WEEK

The obsessive fascinations of Alec Cobbe At home with the master of country-house style – and his many pianos The best florists in the world A global guide to the finest blooms Singer-songwriter Laufey shares her favourite things The Icelandic-Chinese artist loves Alexa Chung, her bunny and The Sound of Music

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