Ooh La La! The Secret to the Chicest Birthday Parties in Town

Murat herself is far too refined (and polite) to say it, but we aren't: parties plastered with licensed character products are kind of tacky. That doesn't mean Clafoutis is anti-characters; in fact, many of Murat's designs are inspired by creations for the page, stage and screen. But Murat's work manages to capture the spirit or essence of these fictional beings and narratives, instead of hitting her audience over the head with a theme. (She actually has tremendous faith in the power of children's imaginations, and believes that a well-executed suggestion of a character — such as a cookie of Elsa's dress in that particular Frozen blue — is just as, if not more effective than having Elsa's face everywhere. "It's all about the power of make believe," she says.