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"  Carolyne Roehm, fashion designer turned lifestyle expert, is famous among her friends for staging magical parties for all occasions. Her first couture creations were her own childhood Halloween costumes, and she still gets into the spirit of the holiday. &amp;quot;We all like to be kids,&amp;quot; she says. For Roehm, the best way to celebrate Halloween is to embrace its whimsical side with a mature bash that doesn&amp;#039;t take itself too seriously. Here, she shares her tips for adults who want to play the night away\u2014with no kids around. Make it easy on guests Adults can be more inhibited than their younger counterparts when it comes to dressing up. &amp;quot;They&amp;#039;re often very reluctant to wear a costume,&amp;quot; says Roehm. She suggests helping your guests get in the spirit by providing a few fun props. Handing out feather boas for women and monocles for men as they enter the party could be a fun option; political masks might also be apropos this year. &amp;quot;People don&amp;#039;t want to have to work to go to a party. You should make it easy for them.&amp;quot; Set the mood Atmosphere makes a gathering memorable. Think about all the details that give a party a spooky look and feel. Set the tone outside by lining your walkway with luminaries and perching black ravens and owls in your trees. Indoors, lights should be low, and according to Roehm, so should the music. &amp;quot;Loud music interferes with conversation. Play something instrumental, like Mussorgsky&amp;#039;s Night on Bald Mountain.&amp;quot; Even your bar can be an opportunity for drama: Roehm suggests stashing your wine and beer in big tubs stocked with dry ice to create creepy, ambient fog. Choose a motif A clever theme can tie your whole party together. Roehm suggests finding a great fortune teller to help get guests in the mood. From there, you could use astrological signs and tarot cards to inspire your d\u00E9cor. If your budget doesn&amp;#039;t have room for hired entertainment, try a few Ouija boards instead. They&amp;#039;ll help carry out your theme, take your guests back to their slumber-party days, and perhaps make contact with the spirit world. Keep it fun and informal Forget a dinner party. Halloween is not the time to serve a three-course feast to a dozen close friends. Roehm thinks a sit-down affair could stifle such a festive holiday. &amp;quot;People don&amp;#039;t get to mingle.&amp;quot; Instead, serve low-maintenance canap\u00E9s and hors d&amp;#039;oeuvres so you can spend time with your friends and enjoy your own party.  Chill Out Devilicious Frosted Double Old Fashioned Glasses. $10 each; 800-896-7266, TwosCompany.com  Nothing but Net Spiderweb light string. Spider Web Electric Light Set, $29.99;  HalloweenEffects.us  Night Light Did Someone Say Drama? Iron Candleholder, $66.75;  Wisteria.com  Web Host Haunt Cocktail Napkins. Set of 4, $15. Design Ideas, 800-426-6394 for stores.  Bone Meal Skull cake pan, $4.99;  FrightCatalog.com "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/a111/entertaining-with-carolyne-roehm/>