Forget office parties and backyard barbecues – Sydney‘s social elite are playing an entirely different game this Christmas.
The question isn’t who can deck the halls – it’s who can throw the soirée that will have everyone talking well into the new year.
Luxury venues, designer decorations and carefully choreographed guest lists are just the tip of the iceberg in this high-stakes battle for festive supremacy.
”Tis the season of showing off – and there’s a group of Sydney socialites who have it down to an art,’ says a society insider.
‘These women like to outdo each other, and hosting an insanely lavish Christmas party is the ultimate status symbol this time of year.’
The so-called ‘silent war’ kicked off with Deborah Symond O’Neil’s Christmas luncheon in early December, which sparked chatter among eastern suburbs snobs thanks to the guests’ outrageously priced Secret Santa gifts.
Sydney’s social elites are waging a ‘silent war’ this silly season – who can throw the best Christmas do? Deborah Symond O’Neil kicked off the competition with her early December luncheon, which sparked chatter among society snobs due to the pricey Secret Santa gifts
Deborah shared a glimpse of the Secret Santa gifts lined up on the table – including purchases from Cartier, Miu Miu, Tiffany & Co. and Rationale. Two of the guests also made sure to document their Christmas-themed Hermès Kelly bags – one in red and the other in green
As for what was on the menu, the ladies dined on freshly shucked oysters and $60-a-pop potato scallops with caviar
Deb, the owner of Double Bay designer boutique Mode Sportif, hosted the girls’ lunch at Coogee hotspot Mimi’s, which has been the destination du jour for the society set of late – being the venue for interiors stylist Steve Cordony‘s recent birthday party and popular couple Ruby Rose Schofield and Jack Joseph‘s wedding reception.
In an Instagram post that has since been widely shared among society watchers, Deborah offered a glimpse of their Secret Santa gifts aesthetically arranged on the table – including items from Cartier, Miu Miu, Tiffany & Co. and Rationale.
Two of the guests also made sure to document their Christmas-themed Hermès Kelly bags – one in red and the other in green.
As for what was on the menu, the ladies dined on freshly shucked oysters and $60-a-pop potato scallops with caviar, while toasting with glasses of Aperol spritz.
In attendance was Pilates queen Bernadette Sukkar (née Fahey), whose North Bondi studio is a Mecca for Sydney’s most sculpted housewives; Montarna McDonald, mother of two and owner of public relations firm The Audience Agency; entrepreneur Alyce Tran, co-founder of personalised leather goods brand The Daily Edited; and prominent socialites Hannah Gold and Kristina Macourt.
There were some notable absences, however – namely racing royalty Kate Waterhouse, who just days later threw her own lavish soirée… and tellingly invited not one guest from Deborah’s party.
Kate’s party – sponsored by Adairs and doubling as the launch of the brand’s 2025 homewares collection – took place at the Waterhouse family’s sprawling Mosman mansion.
Days later, racing royalty Kate Waterhouse threw her own lavish soirée – and tellingly invited not one guest from Deborah’s party. (Kate is seen with party guest Lisa Wipfli)
Kate’s party – sponsored by Adairs and doubling as the launch of the brand’s 2025 homewares collection – took place at the Waterhouse family’s sprawling Mosman mansion
The tables were decorated with Adairs crockery, including kitsch plates printed with crustacean designs, while waiters dressed in matching striped aprons attended to guests
Among the exclusive guest list was Lisa Wipfli, wife of radio presenter Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli; models Laura Dundovic and Jayde Heiser; celebrity fashionista Brooke Testoni; and Four Seasons condom heir Michael Porter and his Giorgio Armani publicist husband Billy Mitchell
Hoda Waterhouse – Kate’s sister-in-law – was also in tow, as well as Adairs CEO Elle Roseby
The event was nothing short of extravagant, with guests treated to canapés on the lawn before sitting down to a sumptuous meal by the pool.
The tables were decorated with Adairs crockery, including kitsch plates printed with crustacean designs, while waiters dressed in matching striped aprons attended to guests.
White florals and greenery were meanwhile draped across Kate’s breathtaking lobby staircase, serving as the perfect backdrop for guests to snap a photo.
Kate even had a cellist and violinist on deck to serenade her guests as they dined.
Among the exclusive guest list was Lisa Wipfli, the wife of radio presenter and triumphant teen social media ban lobbyist Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli; models Laura Dundovic and Jayde Heiser; celebrity fashionista Brooke Testoni; and Four Seasons condom heir Michael Porter and his Giorgio Armani publicist husband Billy Mitchell.
Hoda Waterhouse – Kate’s sister-in-law – was also in tow, alongside Adairs CEO Elle Roseby, blogger Sara Crampton, model Francesca Hung and fashion entrepreneur Tash Sefton.
Elsewhere, former public relations powerhouse Roxy Jacenko threw her own extravagant Christmas bash to rival all others this week.
In an experience that would have cost upward of $20,000, the businesswoman treated 16 guests to a four-course meal at the Chianti private dining room at Grill Americano Sydney.
Elsewhere, former public relations powerhouse Roxy Jacenko threw her own extravagant Christmas bash to rival all others this week
Ensuring that her guests truly felt like royalty, the PR queen created custom place settings for everyone and left large gift boxes containing over $1,000 worth of skincare and candles
The guest list included Sarah Lucas (left), arguably the queen bee of Melbourne socialites
The guest list included Roxy’s mother Doreen Davis; Chris Lucas, the Melbourne restaurateur who owns the venue; and his socialite wife Sarah, who was previously married to the son of retail billionaire Solomon Lew.
Roxy hired an interior stylist to decorate the long banquet table with an explosion of white, green and blue flowers, accented with mounds of silver baubles.
Ensuring that her guests truly felt like royalty, the PR queen created custom place settings for everyone and left large gift boxes containing over $1,000 worth of La Prairie Skincare and Trudon festive candles on each guest’s chair.
The four-course meal included caviar with potato crisps and crème fraîche, a salad with iceberg lettuce and gorgonzola, a wagyu beef dish worth $110, and traditional tiramisu for dessert.
