Jackie Kennedy's Elegant Tea Service is My Inspiration

a split screen with jackie kennedy shot by slim aarons on the left and her tea service on the right — (Image credit: Slim Aarons/Bettmann via Getty Images)

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Recreate The Look

My Instagram and Pinterest feeds are full of beautiful, colorful, and carefully styled tablescapes with one major problem: they all look exactly the same. I love a scalloped plate and ribbon-tied napkin as much as the next person, but even I have to admit, I'm bored with trends.

Vintage and antique pieces have always inspired me, so I decided to turn to historic photos of iconic tastemakers to break the cycle of algorithmically driven table decor trends for 2026. Who better to begin with than 20th-century style icon Jackie Kennedy?

Though I'm not a strict adherent to traditional design styles, in today's age of AI-generated product design, there's something incredibly charming about these older, heritage pieces that were passed down through families. I spent hours browsing antique silver tea sets on 1stDibs, and modern iterations of the silver tea pot at Crate and Barrel to build an edit of the best pieces for recreating Jackie O.'s look at a range of price points. Here are the products you need, and the styling tips I'm using for the most timeless spring tablescape possible.

jackie kennedy pouring a tea service — Jackie Kennedy serving tea to a group of editors at her home in Georgetown, 1960

Recreate The Look

Intricate Pattern

House of Hampton® Graidy 8.45oz. Floral Teapot

This beautifully detailed tea service has everything you need to make drinks for 6. I love the arching elegant shape of the tea pot.

Engravable

Malmaison Silver-Plated Rectangular Tray

This Christofle tray features one of its most historic patterns, Malmaison, with its delicate palm and lots leaf frieze. It's the ideal thing for adding a traditional edge to your entertaining this spring.

Delicate-trim napkins

Delilah Broderie Napkins, Set of 4

Delightfully pared-back and yet gracefully detailed, these broderie napkins will tie together every kind of tablescape. Use ribbons instead of napkin rings for an added flourish.

Classic design

Heirloom Cake Stand

Simple and utterly timeless, this cake stand is the perfect addition to an afternoon tea spread. Pile it with cakes and it becomes a spectacular centerpiece.

Intricate detailing

Embossed Metal Sugar Bowl

Get the vintage look for less with this embossed metal canister. The matching spoon provides a dramatic finishing touch.

Classic

Soleil D'Hermes Cup and Saucer

For a truly timeless tablescape, nothing can beat the ultimate luxury of this beautiful tea set. They have the same traditional feel as Jackie Kennedy's but with added pattern and style.

Though I'll definitely be hosting a few traditional afternoon tea parties this March, what I love most about these elegant silver pieces is that they are versatile enough to work in a range of place settings.

For a fun, modern look, I'm planning to pair a silver teapot with my red checkered tablecloth and red placemats for an elegant spin on the picnic look. I'm also ideating around a simpler look that uses just candles and the silver pieces to really let them shine on their own. Regardless, I will definitely be integrating a lot more antique silver into my entertaining this season.

When you're feeling stuck with the classic sources of inspiration, turning to historic photographs is a great way to find something more unique. If you enjoy our celebrity news and interior design advice, why not sign up to our newsletter so you never miss the latest features?

Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.