Since launching her designer swimwear brand in 1993, Lenny Niemeyer has become the queen of Brazilian beach fashion, with 16 stores across the country. But she is just as famous for her fabulous parties. Here, with specially translated excerpts from her book ’Lenny Niemeyer: Delícia Receber’ (entertaining is a pleasure), the niece by marriage of Brazil’s most famous architect shares some musings on the art of entertaining and celebrating life.

’Lenny Niemeyer: Delícia Receber’
On her legendary parties
’The biggest of all my parties and the only one really planned in advance is the Fashion Rio. This is when I celebrate the end of four months of hard work preparing my summer collection - I hardly have time to go out and meet friends during this period. I like to ’dress’ the house according to the theme of the collection. You can say it’s a themed party. I bring together eclectic groups: the Friends of Rio and Sao Paulo, models, journalists, producers and all the people who directly or indirectly have a hand in my work, or a stake in my life. This is a great mantra for a party: groups gather different ideas, different conversations and joy. Fashion Rio ends up being a party of big meetings - and sometimes disagreements... But that’s another story.’ Lenny Niemeyer