Word of Mouth: Munich’s The Charles

Sir Rocco Forte is famous for many things, among them his glamorous globetrotting lifestyle and his ability to compete in Ironman competitions well past the age of most of his fellow competitors. Most importantly, however, he’s renowned for his Midas touch with hotels — if you’ve ever spent a night at Brown’s in London or the Russie in Rome, you know why. So if you’re headed to Munich — where we recently opened a boutique — check out The Charles, an Art Deco beauty right by the city’s famed Old Botanical Gardens. It’s the perfect mix of old-world Bavarian charm and modern European sensibility… with a simply spectacular indoor pool (above).

Tory’s City Guide: Munich

Three hundred miles inland from the German coast, Munich boasts Bavarian delicacies, three century-old fine porcelain… and a thriving surf scene. For more than four decades, surf enthusiasts have been flocking to the Eisbach River at the city’s center to catch waves right under a six-lane highway. What other surprises can you find in this landlocked city, where we’ve just opened a new store? Find out in our travel guide, packed full of must-see, must-visit and must-eat spots.

Go to Tory’s Munich City Guide here.

Video: A Touch of Class

The crisp button-down, the smart trench coat, the tailored little black dress, the chic loafer — they’re wardrobe staples that never go out of style. Now, add another item to that list: the backpack. The carry-all silhouette is back — both on the runways and off — with a sporty touch of tomboy appeal. Here, channeling schoolgirl charm, models Tilda Lindstam, Kremi Otashliyska and Manon Leloup show how it works seamlessly into any closet. Class dismissed.

Shop all backpacks.

Entrepreneurs: ZAOZAO’s Ling Cai & Vicky Wu

Ling Cai, left, and Vicky Wu, wearing Tory’s Trixy dress, are the brains behind ZAOZAO, an online platform that allows you to discover and shop emerging designers coming out of Asia. We talk to the entrepreneurs about the project — plus, they share some business advice for those looking to enter that Far East market.

Recipe: Lesley M. M. Blume’s The Robinson Crusoe

For some of us, it’s spring break. For others, we’re simply dreaming of those warm-weather beach days. But wherever you might find yourself, here’s a cocktail to get you in the perfect sun-kissed, sand-in-my-toes mood: The Robinson Crusoe from Lesley M. M. Blume’s Let’s Bring Back: The Cocktail Edition book. “In this era of over-communication, over-connectedness and over-sharing, who on earth doesn’t occasionally want to get shipwrecked on an uncharted, un-peopled island?” the journalist and author writes, offering her own way “to simulate the castaway experience without the inconvenience.” Just grab the nearest coconut shell and serve. And for more on Lesley’s thoughts on beach life, keep reading.

Oyster Founders On: Travel Reads & The Literary Life

Picture it: You’re on a beach, lying in the sun, with a good book in your hand. Except instead of a book, you’re reading on a mobile device. And instead of having to download (and buy) each book separately, you have an entire library at your disposal — for a flat $9.96 a month, Netflix-style. That’s the idea behind the e-reading startup, Oyster. We talked to Founders Willem Van Lancker, left, and Eric Stromberg about the business and, of course, the best books to bring with you on that vacation escape…

Look We Love: American Idle

Feel the pull of the pool. The call of a sporty bikini. The appeal of a louche tunic — and a lazy game of cards. Go ahead, dip your toes right in…

Shop the Tory Swim Shop.

Swim Guide: The Suits

Sporty or glam? Coverage vs. skin baring? So many factors play into the perfect swimsuit. Based on fittings and fine-tunings, we’ve created a collection that delivers an impeccable fit for every shape and style — and every leisure moment under the sun.

Shop the Beach Getaway Collection and discover your perfect silhouette here.

Video: The White Shirt, 3 Ways

A quick roll of the sleeves, an easy change of shoes and our Murphy shirt is primed for any occasion. A classic white shirt with a special touch — tonal embroidery on the collar and cuffs, inspired by vintage lace from Tory’s home — it’s always at the ready. All you have to do is choose: How will you style it? Above, we show you our favorites.

Getaway: Heather Taylor’s Tulum

Sand, surf, sun… Mexico’s coast is calling us. For direction, we turned to L.A. In Bloom lifestyle blogger and Taylor de Cordoba Art Consulting co-founder Heather Taylor, who sources much of the inspiration for her brightly embroidered Heather Taylor Home collection south of the border. Here, she guides us through the musts of Mexican beach town Tulum — the hotspot which also happens to have been her honeymoon spot.

Word of Mouth: InStyle’s Best of Digi

The World Wide Web turned the big two-five last week and, to mark the occasion, InStyle magazine announced its annual Best of Digi list and… we’re on it! Thank you, InStyle, for naming us one of the top designer sites you’re “swooning for.” To see the rest of the Internet’s Best Of — including entertaining and foodie guides — head on over to the full list of winners here.

Book of the Week: California Surfing & Climbing in the Fifties

Imagine a time when the surfing community was so small, most surfers worldwide knew each other on a first-name basis. Bikinis were high-waisted and swim trunks skimmed the tops of thighs. Riding the California waves was akin to exploring the Wild West. It was the birth of an era — and California Surfing and Climbing in the Fifties, from T. Adler Books, captures the pioneers in action.

Street Style: Blair Eadie’s Tunic Time

Sun and stripes — what better combination is there? Hat tip to Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific, here wearing the Kirsten tunic from Tory’s exclusive Saks Fifth Avenue Tunic Collection while on vacation in warm Winter Park, Florida. Paired together with a classic red lip, beachy chapeau and tortoiseshell shades, the look is laid-back yet refined. In fact, it even channels the tunic’s original inspiration: the relaxed elegance of the French Riviera in the Sixties.

Getaway: Ana Lerario’s Côte d’Azur

Designer Ana Lerario does double duty. Not only is she the creative brains behind the Lerario Beatriz collection, but she’s also the Owner and Founder of New York’s Fiftytwo Showroom, which represents a cool roster of fashion talent, including Richard Chai, Timo Weiland and Jo De Mer’s Amalia Spinardi. So where does this busy Brazilian go when she needs to get away from it all? Ana brings the family — her husband, menswear designer Robert Geller, and their two kids — to the Côte d’Azur. We chat with Ana about that favorite escape.

Pinterest: Tory Tunics

For Tory, it all started with a tunic she found in a Parisian flea market. The silhouette reminded her of something her mother and grandmother had worn in the Sixties and Seventies, and it became the inspiration for one of our first designs. That was 10 years ago and, since then, there have been many more tunic highlights. We compiled them in one place on Pinterest — our tunics, the tastemakers who’ve worn them and, of course, our favorite tunic inspirations.

To see the complete Tory Tunics board, click here.

Getaway: Mimi Xu’s Phuket

Wafts of coconut, daiquiris, boating excursions… sounds like a slice of heaven — and Mimi Xu has found it in Phuket. Here, wearing Tory’s Kirsten tunic from the Saks Fifth Avenue Tunic Collection, the London-based sound designer and DJ gives us her getaway guide to the island.