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"  1. &amp;quot;I will first ask them to explain to me their work. People usually have a way they explain their job, or how they spend their day, so they can feel comfortable.&amp;quot; - Alexa Hampton, interior designer and author 2.  &amp;quot;My favorite icebreaker is to find something to compliment them on \u2013 their outfit, hairstyle, handbag, shoes\u2026something. I ask them to tell me about it, so the person can&amp;#039;t just respond with a simple thank you. Then I jump in with follow-up questions and that usually gets them going.&amp;quot; - Teri Agins, Fashion Writer and Wall Street Journal columnist  3.  &amp;quot;If the person is attending with his or her significant other, I like to ask, &amp;quot;How did you two meet?&amp;quot; This always puts the person at ease since it&amp;#039;s a happy story and they&amp;#039;ve told it many times before. Also, it usually reveals enough common ground to keep the conversation rolling along.&amp;quot; Carla McDonald, founder, The Salonniere  4. &amp;quot;I like to ask, &amp;quot;When and where were you happiest in your life?&amp;quot; Ashley McDermott, Writer and Philanthropist  5. &amp;quot;I find everyone loves to eat and talk about eating and share what and where they&amp;#039;ve been eating! So I ask, &amp;quot;Have you been to any great new restaurants lately?&amp;quot; Debi Lilly, event designer and author of A Perfect Event: Inspired, Easy Elegance for Every Occasion   6. &amp;quot;I ask, &amp;quot;If you had the opportunity to meet one person you haven&amp;#039;t met who would it be, why and what would you talk about?&amp;quot; Fred Anderson, president of soon to be launched lifestyle brand Hanley Mellon 7.  &amp;quot;My favorites are, &amp;quot;If you could have an alternate career, what would it be?&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;What was your most embarrassing moment?&amp;quot; The answers always spark a lively conversation.&amp;quot; Angella Nazaria, best-selling author and philanthropist 8.  &amp;quot;I can&amp;#039;t stand small talk, so I&amp;#039;ll turn to the table and say, &amp;quot;Let&amp;#039;s talk about something that we can all learn about from one another. What do you think is the driving force in your life?&amp;quot; Kathy Freston, New York Times best-selling author    9. &amp;quot;Compliments are nice as are open-ended questions like, &amp;quot;How do you spend your day?&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;What&amp;#039;s new in your world?&amp;quot; Daniel Menaker, author of A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Conversation   10. &amp;quot; I always lean on books or travel. They are my go-to topics. So I&amp;#039;ll say, &amp;quot;I&amp;#039;m looking for a good summer read. Have you read anything good lately?&amp;quot; Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Lifestyle and Entertaining expert "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.townandcountrymag.com/the-scene/parties/a1676/10-conversation-starters/>