The ultimate guide to old money style garden parties and outdoor entertaining
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
Release Date: 03/24/2025
From Faux Pas to Fabulous: Social Skills for Mortifying Moments
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
In this episode of the Awkward Etiquette podcast, novelist, hostess, old money and etiquette expert and recovering debutante Kiki Astor unpacks the awkward etiquette mistakes, social faux pas, and embarrassing moments that happen to everyone — whether you’re navigating high society, old money circles, or just a tricky cocktail party. From using the wrong fork at a formal dinner, spilling champagne at a gala, or being snubbed by a shop assistant, to passing gas in public, stopping up a toilet, or being pooped on by a bird, Kiki reveals how to recover with impeccable manners, polished social...
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Montecito Confidential: A Travel Guide for the Budget-Conscious and Status-Curious
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
Planning a visit to Montecito—or just dying to know what really goes on behind those wrought-iron gates and hedges? In this week’s episode, etiquette maven and nouveau pauvre insider Kiki Astor shares the ultimate Montecito travel guide: one part luxury lifestyle handbook, one part whispered society scandal sheet. This week, Kiki Astor is celebrating the publication of her steamy romance novel, Service Entrance, ste in Montecito, and believe us when we say she has done her research. From where old money and new money brunch, to the best ocean views and cultural landmarks, to secret...
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So close you can smell the wealth: when you're wealth adjacent but far from rich
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
In this episode of Awkward Etiquette, host Kiki Astor—former Greenwich golden girl turned Montecito-adjacent observer—dives into the psychology, etiquette, and everyday acrobatics of living near the ultra-wealthy without actually being one of them. Whether you're sipping $7 cold brew in the shadow of a $70M estate or attending a fundraiser where your thrifted Loro Piana blazer is one dry-cleaning away from falling apart, this episode is for you. Inspired by her deliciously sharp new novel Service Entrance, Kiki dissects the invisible rules of old-money enclaves, from how to dress when...
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Behind the Service Entrance: Household staff- the invisible support of the 1%
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
In this episode of Awkward Etiquette, host Kiki Astor explores the world of modern household staff in wealthy homes. The world of Downton Abbey is a bit antiquated- how do today's wealthy people run their homes? With sophisticated household staff. Discover how today's private service professionals differ from traditional butlers and maids, with many trained in luxury hospitality or even military service. Learn about the complex dynamics between staff and employers, including the differences between old money and new money attitudes. Get insider tips on hiring and managing household employees,...
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Ghosted by the Group Chat: The Etiquette of Social Rejection
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
Have you been ghosted by your friend group without a clue why? Welcome to Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, your cheeky guide to modern manners and social survival. In this episode, Kiki tackles the concept of the real-life shadowban—when you’re not blocked or unfollowed, but subtly iced out of social events, text threads, and brunch invites. Learn how to spot the signs of a social shadowban, what accidental faux pas might’ve triggered it (yes, even your thirsty Instagram stories count), and how to gracefully re-enter the scene with charm, class, and a soft-launch-worthy glow-up....
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Curated, Not Cosplay: Finding your authentic style
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
In this episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, yes, we’re breaking down the myths behind the old money aesthetic- but we're sharing the secrets of all effortlessly stylish people. Think you can buy the uniform and waltz into the club? Think again. Kiki explores the difference between curating and cosplaying, and why real style can’t (always) be Amazon-Primed. We dive into the psychology behind inherited clothes and inherited neuroses, and how to decode your upbringing to find your true personal style. Why does new money often look so...tacky? Why do old money wardrobes (and homes)...
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Awkward Etiquette Season 4 ep 3
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
Looking to marry up, move up, or simply mix with high society—without getting laughed out of the room? In this episode of Awkward Etiquette, Kiki Astor pulls back the velvet curtain on modern social climbing and how to do it with grace, discretion, and strategic charm. Whether you're angling for a seat at the boardroom table, a place in the Hamptons, or just a better table at Cipriani, this is your cheat sheet to elegant upward mobility. We’ll cover: The unspoken rules of old money circles, new money power networks, and the high-level corporate elite How to cultivate access and influence...
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Summer Entertaining Secrets: The Old Money Style on a Budget Guide
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
In this episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, your Auntie Kiki spills a whole chilled bottle of rosé worth of her best secrets on how to entertain with true old money elegance—no villa or vintage yacht required. From Newport-style lawn luncheons to boho-glam back garden soirées, learn the etiquette commandments of summer hosting: think linen chic dress codes, room-temp bites, and shady seats (always!). Listen in as Kiki dishes on everything from Dalí’s surrealist dinners and the mythic Riviera summers of the Murphys, to mosquito repellents that double as accessories and the art...
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Old Money, Open Doors: The Glamour and Guilt of Hosting & Houseguests
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
This week on Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, we’re diving into the enduring—and often awkward—tradition of the summer houseguest. From the Gilded Age to the Hamptons, summer hosting has long been a cornerstone of old money etiquette and upper-class rituals. But why did houseguests used to stay for weeks (or even months)? And how can you survive it today—whether you’re the host or the one unpacking in someone else’s guest room? Kiki shares the surprisingly elegant history behind long-term summer guests, the unspoken codes of how to be a good houseguest (and host), and what to do...
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How to Disaster-Proof "I Do": Kiki Astor's Best Wedding Etiquette Tips
Awkward Etiquette With Kiki Astor
Planning a wedding? Attending one? Praying your drunk uncle doesn’t grab the mic during the toasts? You’ve come to the right place. In this episode of Awkward Etiquette with Kiki Astor, we unpack the unspoken rules and social slip-ups that can turn a dream wedding into a diamond-studded disaster. Whether you’re the blushing bride, the groom with opinions, the mother-in-law with a seating chart grudge, or just a guest determined not to wear white (again), this guide to modern wedding etiquette will help you glide through the season with grace, style, and minimal scandal. From guest list...
info_outlineIs there anything more elegant and romantic than a garden party? In this episode of Awkward Etiquette, Kiki Astor dishes on the secrets of hosting the perfect old money garden party, because it takes a bit of behind the scenes preparation to exude effortless charm. From phrasing the invitations, to selecting the right garden party dress code to mastering high society entertaining, Kiki breaks down the essential elements of gracious outdoor hosting. She explores the proper etiquette for garden parties, including how to handle uninvited guests, seating arrangements, and social faux pas that could turn an aristocratic affair into a social disaster.
Expect witty insights on classic garden party menus, champagne and other beverages, dos and don’ts, and the subtle art of appearing effortlessly chic while secretly micromanaging everything. Whether you’re planning a formal English garden tea or a laid-back estate luncheon, Kiki reveals how the truly elite entertain outdoors—without breaking a sweat (or letting anyone see them sweat).
Tune in for humorous social commentary, historical high-society anecdotes, and Kiki’s signature nouveau pauvre take on timeless etiquette.