Lifestyle guru Peter Som is becoming the Queer Eye cast all wrapped up in one! Well-known for his celebrity fashion designs, he has become very popular for his dinner parties, and this Pride season, to mix everything together, he has released his debut cookbook, Family Style. With artistic flair, family-infused style, and near-perfect aesthetic, what can’t Som do?
Som was born and raised in the rich food and art culture of the San Francisco Bay Area. His architect parents encouraged him to start sketching at an early age, and his journey into a life of creativity began. He headed east to get his art history degree from Connecticut College and went on to apprentice for designers Michael Kors and Calvin Klein while studying at Parsons School of Design. While at Parsons, he also accumulated a long list of accolades, hinting at his bright and successful future. After Parsons, Som went to work for Bill Blass as Assistant Designer while creating his own designs from his apartment. Cathy Horyn, the resident fashion critic at the New York Times, called Peter “one of the best young designers working today.” He would go on to collaborate and consult with Tommy Hilfiger, Lancôme cosmetics, Anthropologie, and Monolo Blahnik, expanding to shoes, purses, and lipstick.
His self-named label has been seen in Vogue, W, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and InStyle, just to name a few, and his list of celebrities is a veritable who’s who for women. Michelle Obama, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Rachel McAdams, and Claire Danes represent just a small list of his famous clients. His ability to transform feminine energy into wearable art comes naturally to Som.
I’ve always been drawn to the power of feminine energy — it’s this incredible balance of energy and the way a perfectly cut dress or a swipe of lipstick can become armor, celebration, or rebellion all at once is awe-inspiring.
For me, designing for women has always been about honoring that complexity. It’s not about dictating how someone should look — it’s about helping her in some small way express exactly who she is. There’s a magic in creating pieces that make someone feel strong, and yes, fabulous.
His cookbook, Family Style, is also a celebration of his feminine inspiration as it serves as a love letter to the two most important women in Som’s early life, his mother and his grandmother. What did they teach him most about life?
Honestly — everything. That a perfectly steamed fish can fix just about anything. That there’s power in quiet confidence — especially when wielding a cleaver. And that cooking for people is one of the most wonderful forms of love.
They taught me that food is never just food — it’s storytelling, it’s tradition, it’s a little bit of theater. Family Style is my ode to them — to the flavors they passed down, the lessons learned between bites, and the belief that no matter what’s going on in the world, there’s always room at the table… preferably with seconds!
Family Style represents Som’s Cantonese background, farm-to-table methods from his Northern California upbringing, the wines of Napa Valley, his New York sensibility, and a dash of queer aesthetic. For Som, his move from fashion to cookbook is just a natural progression in his creative path.
I don’t consider it a pivot—more like an expansion of focus—as I still have a few toes in the fashion arena, like my ongoing collaboration with Rent the Runway. Cooking has always been a part of my life. Even while I was in the throes of my fashion career, I always found peace in cooking – it kept me grounded among the craziness of the fashion world!
My last runway show was 10 years ago, and once I took a step back, I was able to see and understand cooking more clearly. It’s something I am passionate about and brings me joy, but it’s also a gateway to understanding other cultures, speaking to identity, memories, and heritage. I’ve learned that you can approach cooking in the same way you approach your everyday life – like choosing what you wear in the morning, you also have to choose what you eat, so why not make it great?
The kitchen has been a constant source of comfort for Som, it is only fitting that he pay homage to the skill that got him through many points in his life.
In the throes of my fashion days, cooking was a way I found my peace and quiet among the hectic days, so now, my more formal foray into cooking has helped steady me every day. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than being in my kitchen – whether I’m cooking for myself, sitting down for a cozy night in with my cheesy crab fried rice and a class of Chardonnay, or bringing a crowd of friends and family together around the table with good food and wine.
His two loves, food and fashion, even share his same creative outlook and process.
For both food and fashion, presentation is everything. I use ingredients that work well together to create a final product that’s both fun to make and look at. Just like you want an outfit to look and feel good when you put it on, you want a dish to look fantastic upon completion but then taste delicious at every bite! You could choose the perfect outfit, but if you don’t think about accessories or how you style the whole ensemble, you’re still missing something. So when I pull together a dish, I always ask what, beyond the recipe, will really make it complete?
Ultimately, I want the process to convey the same joy I experience when I cook a meal for family and friends. Family Style is filled with what I call “happy recipes,” just like my runway collections were filled with “happy pieces.” The process should be fun and joyful. In Family Style, every word is my own, every recipe comes from my family and me, to share that piece of joy.
He has been engaging in hosting epic dinner parties for some time now, sharing his skills in all aspects of his presentation and food. He is eager to share his stellar tips on hosting a dinner party. We are jealous we haven’t been invited to one. And, again, Queer Eye, he is coming for your jobs!
For me, it’s all about the vibe, so the little things matter! Dim the lights, light some candles, and find the perfect playlist.
To have a great dinner party, the main dish has to be great, so that’s my primary focus. This includes the preparation, presentation, and what you’re serving with it. I love to find the wine that perfectly complements my main dish. Wine is all about taste – in both senses of the word. Just like a little black dress is timeless, goes with everything and makes a statement, so can your choice of wine. It sets the tone of what people can expect. For me, that’s Rombauer Vineyards’ Chardonnay. It’s a huge crowd pleaser and gets my dinner parties off on the right note!
After the main dish, I’ll prep a side or a starter that’s quick and easy to throw together. Then, and most importantly: if your guests offer to help, let them! More is more, and it’s always great to have an extra dessert, side dish, anything!
In consideration of Pride season, Som pays homage to his queerness and to the aesthetic it has added to everything he does. It is part of his core, his foundation, and his outlook on life.
Being queer has always been central to how I see the world — it’s like having this built-in lens for nuance, for remixing the expected, for finding beauty in the in-between. Whether I’m sketching a dress or developing a recipe, I’m always thinking about contrast, balance, and surprise — mixing high with low, classic with bold, savory with sweet.
There’s also this deep appreciation for storytelling and chosen family that comes with being queer — and that shows up in my food, especially in Family Style. It’s about bringing people together, celebrating individuality, and turning the everyday into something a little more fabulous. Honestly, being gay gives everything I do a little extra oomph — and probably a better playlist too.
With everything that he has accomplished in so many areas of fashion and lifestyle, what has been a crowning moment for Som?
Dressing Michelle Obama was my greatest moment — not just because of who she is (though iconic is an understatement), but because it was a moment where everything I cared about — design, meaning, representation, strength, and kindness — came together. And of course, writing Family Style has been a different kind of milestone. Knowing that people are actually cooking the recipes, sharing the meals, and connecting with the stories — that’s deeply personal. It’s one thing to make a great dress, but it’s another to be part of someone’s dinner table. Both took a lot of heart — and both felt like big, beautiful challenges worth taking on.
Who knows what direction Som will go next? With so many talents under his belt and with such a positive, artful outlook, no doubt any project he embarks on will add some flair and goodness to the world.
I want my legacy to be about joy, connection, and self-expression — whether it’s through a beautifully draped dress or a bowl of noodles shared with friends. Style and flavor may evolve, but the feeling they create should always be timeless.
This Pride season, he reflects on how his queerness has added to his life, and his message to the community during these trying times.
I’m most proud of living authentically — in my work, my life, and my voice. Now more than ever, we have to stand up, be strong, and show the world that queerness is powerful, joyful, and here to stay. Pride isn’t just a celebration — it’s a about who WE are, and I’m proud to be part of that every day.
Be bold, be kind, take up space — now more than ever, our voices, our joy, and our stories matter.
Family Style: Elegant Everyday Recipes Inspired by Home and Heritage is available at all major booksellers.
Last modified: June 10, 2025
