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A Sneak Peek Inside Bette Midler’s Hulaween Gala — It’s Pure Magic

Before the witches and wizards poured in, we spoke with designer Douglas Little who is the creative mastermind behind this legendary event. (Just wait until you see the witchy centerpieces.)

THIS YEAR’S GALA THEME IS THE WITCHES, WIZARDS & WARLOCKS BALL. WHAT WAS YOUR CREATIVE VISION FOR BRINGING THIS THEME TO LIFE, AND WHERE DID YOU FIND INSPIRATION?

The theme was inspired by a nod to vintage Halloween. Specifically, the Halloween that emerged in the 1920s through the 1950s.

During this time period, paper and party decor companies like Dennison and Beistle were introducing fun and easy ways to decorate for Halloween with their paper decorations. The decorations were built around the classic Halloween iconography of witches, pumpkins, ghosts, black cats and spiders. I have always loved the decorations that came out of this period as they have a charm and magic all of their own. I loved the idea of creating a unified theme with a classic Halloween icon “the witch” and allow the guests to interpret it in their own unique way. The “Divine Miss M” likes to see wit and whimsy in the party décor, so it was my job to take the witches idea and shake it up and give it the Bette Midler magic.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: SHANNA SULLIVAN

Article By Alexandra Churchill of Martha Stewart Living