Word of Mouth: Dover Street Market New York

What does Rei Kawakubo’s Empire State of mind look like? Coolly eclectic, breathtaking and surreal, if her much-anticipated Dover Street Market, opening tomorrow in New York’s Kips Bay neighborhood, is any indication. The third outpost of her multi-brand store — there’s one in London and another in Tokyo — features a cocktail of artist installations mixed in with the fashion: a super-sized pillar knit cozy, Styrofoam trees, lighting displays and a staircase with purple undulating walls dubbed the Biotopological Scale-Juggling Escalator. “I want to create a kind of market,” says the Comme des Garçons designer, “where various creators from various fields gather together and encounter each other in an ongoing atmosphere of beautiful chaos.” And DSM New York does stir the senses — all of them. Also among the discoveries: experimental sound sculptures and a branch of Paris’ cult Rose Bakery.

Tory’s Most Wanted: Shine for Her Friends

For the sparkling personalities in Tory’s life — her closest friends — a little glimmer and glamour.

Clockwise, from top right: Tory’s Robinson nutcracker; metallic zip coin case; Maja and Sylbie necklaces; fragrance; Zander earrings, all resting on Tory’s Rae tray

Tastemaker: Carlos Mota on Holiday Home Decor

Have friends and family over this weekend for the holidays? Carlos Mota, Architectural Digest International Style Editor and stylist extraordinaire, gives us a few chic pointers on seasonal décor — one that steers clear of the traditional Christmas kitsch. Instead of multicolored lights, elves on shelves and an overdressed tree, his take is a more grown-up approach that’s elegant, glamorous and even a little sexy. Here, with a little help from Tory’s Home collection, Carlos shows us why it’s all about the unexpected, from flowers to wrapping paper. Plus, watch his video and get a first-hand look at his insider tricks — like how he transforms Tory’s Henry & Nick frame to a stylish dinner-party place-card holder.

Tastemaker: Meghan Markle on the Holidays

She stars as an ambitious paralegal on Suits, but in her downtime, actress Megan Markle also enjoys playing chef. Here, she shares her favorite holiday treats (with a few home décor pointers thrown in for good measure).

Street Style: Preetma Singh

Style and practicality? Lawyer-turned-fashion editor Preetma Singh knows a thing or two about both. Here, the WSJ. Magazine Market Editor and The Working Girl, Esq. blogger shows us how to turn a warm-weather piece, Tory’s Paulina polo, into a cold-weather hero.

Look We Love: White, White, White

Step into the white. Its crisp, clean canvas clears the way for a riot of texture — whether the floral lace guipere of our Merida dress or the mixed fabrications of our Isabel top and Murphy shirt, layered together. The bleached-out hue is always chic… and anything but vanilla.

Shop the trend.

Expert Guide: Gingerbread House Design

Gingerbread-house decorating gets upgraded from kitchen-table art to fine art this holiday season, thanks to Eleni Gianopulos of New York cookie institution Eleni’s. She tapped five design influencers, including artist Will Cotton and Darcy Miller, Editorial Director of Martha Stewart Weddings, to create their take on the holiday treat. The one-of-a-kind sweets shacks — like Will’s above, next to his Cotton Candy Sky (Mona) painting — are available online and at the Eleni’s store in New York’s Chelsea Market, and all proceeds benefit art nonprofit RxArt. To help us get into the gingerbread spirit, Eleni shares her decorating tips here.

Tastemaker: Randall Poster on Gifts for the Music Lover

Whether you’re on a budget or going for broke, music supervisor Randall Poster of Search Party Music has the best gift ideas for the music lover in your life.

Word of Mouth: The Chateau Marmont

In a town where the most wanted stars and hardest-to-get tables shift from week to week, there has long been one steadfast epicenter of cool: the Chateau Marmont. Nestled high in the West Hollywood hills along L.A.’s famed Sunset Boulevard, it’s hotel to some, home to a few (Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes and Humphrey Bogart have been among the residents), clubhouse to others. There’s an eclectic mix of fashion folk, celebrities, artists and musicians who gather there on any given night — no doubt attracted, in part, by the lore of the place. It’s where James Dean and Natalie Wood first met for a Rebel Without a Cause script rehearsal, F. Scott Fitzgerald hung his writer’s hat and Jim Morrison swung on a drain pipe — in an effort to reach the window of his hotel room from the roof. It’s no wonder the hotel has a strict no-photos policy. Fortunately, an exception was made for our Resort 2014 lookbook shoot. So, even if a fireside cocktail at the bar isn’t in your future, you can catch a glimpse of the action here….

Resort 2014: Lookbook

One polished, one relaxed. Whether classic stripes and painterly florals, white-on-white, or Morocco and Manet, our Resort 2014 inspirations play off each other in an all-time favorite combination: tomboy meets feminine. We cast the models to show the best of both styles.

Shop the Lookbook.

Tory On: Resort 2014

Discover the inspirations behind the Resort 2014 collection. Plus, here wearing the Callie tee, Tessa shorts and Squared Cat-Eye sunglasses, Tory talks to us about her packing essentials for a warm-weather getaway.

Resort 2014: Video

Mid-winter wanderlust? Here comes the sun, courtesy of our Resort 2014 collection — crisp whites, chic stripes and painterly florals — and accompanying video, shot at the storied Chateau Marmont. Among the pool and the palms, filmmaker Shane Sigler captures models Laura Kampman and Mirte Maas lounging and exploring to Au Revoir Simone’s upbeat track Tell Me (Clock Opera Remix). They set the mood for the perfect escape.

Shop the collection.

Book of the Week: Alexander Liberman’s It’s Modern.

It’s Modern. is the sort of visually arresting book you can’t digest in one sitting. A terrific celebration of the life of Alexander Liberman, Condé Nast’s storied Editorial Director — who oversaw everything from Vogue and Glamour to House & Garden and Self — it features all the indelible images of his career. Deborah Turbeville’s bathing beauties in white. A cigarette-smoking Marlene Dietrich. Dewy tulip close-ups by Irving Penn. Few have impacted — and redefined — magazine culture like he did. But the book, by former Vogue Design Director (and Liberman protégé) Charles Churchward, highlights his personal artwork as well, uncovering the story behind his numerous abstract paintings, massive metal sculptures and intimate photographs of Picasso, Matisse and Giacometti in their own studios. The resulting oeuvre, which spans much of the 20th century, is impressively vast and just plain impressive.

From left: Cover of the first edition of Liberman’s book, The Artist in his Studio, 1960, from Viking Press; the cover of It’s Modern.: The Eye and Visual Influence of Alexander Liberman by Charles Churchward, Rizzoli New York, 2013

Tory’s Most Wanted: Brights for Her Girls

‘Tis the season for making spirits bright and, this year, Tory’s presents for her three girls are bursting with vivid hues. Something sweet, something sporty, plus a perfect pop of accessories to start the new year right.

Clockwise from top right: Tory’s Robinson lipstick case, Pentier drop earring and Robinson agenda; Haribo gummy bears; Tory’s double wrap logo stud bracelet; SoulCycle gift card

10 Minutes with an Entrepreneur: Trevor Traina

What to give the person who has everything? IfOnly has a few slam-dunk ideas. The members-only website offers truly unique experiences — fantasies, really — just a click away: Think a private coaching session with Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana or a weekend getaway in Vegas that includes time on the tennis court with Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi. And the best part about it? All proceeds go straight to the charity of the celebrity’s choice. Here, IfOnly founder Trevor Traina tells us a little bit about what inspired him to start the company, as well as how he relaxes over the holidays now that he’s made creative gifting so much easier…

Jodi Guber Brufsky On: The Holidays in Malibu

Not everyone’s bracing for a snow-filled weekend. For Malibu resident Jodi Guber Brufsky, Founder of lifestyle and activewear line Beyond Yoga, this time of year includes sunny temps — 70° by Sunday — and the occasional beach excursion. Here, we spoke to Jodi, who gave us her insider guide to Malibu and her secrets to staying healthy and zen this busy holiday season.

Word of Mouth: Malala’s Message

Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani education activist and youngest ever nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, is an inspiration. This week, she received the United Nations Human Rights Prize — an award once bestowed upon Nelson Mandela. In tribute, we’re spreading Malala’s message of hope and women’s empowerment, which she recently shared with the students of The Young Women’s Leadership Schools, many of whom come from low-income families and will be the first in their family to attend college; all have faced hardship in their quest for schooling. To help the cause for girls’ education, the Tory Burch Foundation recently donated ballet flats for the TYWLS Stand in Our Shoes initiative. Together with letters of encouragement written by the students, the shoes were shipped across the globe to girls who attend a hidden school in Afghanistan. Watch the shoes’ journey — as well as Malala’s inspiring speech — in the video above.

Tory Entertains: Decorative Birch

A spray of festive color, grounded in the natural texture of birch bark. Unexpected and understated, a simple rustic vase like this is the perfect decorative respite: cool gray in the midst of holiday’s exuberance for red and green.

Kara Ross On: Accessorizing for the Holidays

Accessories designer Kara Ross opened a brand-new flagship on New York’s Madison Avenue, a jewel box of a boutique befitting her gorgeous cabochon rings, split-gemstone pendants and bejeweled exotic clutches. With the holiday season in full swing, we talked to Kara — here wearing Tory’s Shirley jacket — about accessorizing (and gifting!) for the season.

Tory’s Most Wanted: Leopard for Reva

Tory’s mother Reva is wildly chic — and a constant inspiration. Going off Reva’s love of leopard prints — that’s her in the bikini above — Tory’s holiday presents for her mother include items that are a touch exotic but, just like leopard, will never go out of style.

Clockwise from left: Tory’s mother, Reva, in Tory’s 4×6 frame; Peter Beard’s Into the Wild; Mast Brothers chocolate; Tory’s Madura fret cuffs, Lizard envelope cross-body and Luca statement necklace

Tastemaker: Caroline Issa on Holiday Parties & Style

There’s more to a holiday party than just, well, partying. You’ve got to think about your outfit, your hair, your makeup… For expert pointers, we spoke with Caroline Issa, Executive Fashion Director of Tank magazine and Editor-in-Chief of its online publication Because. The London-based style icon gave us tips on all of the above and more — including how she breaks the ice once she arrives.

Meet the Artist: Donald Robertson

You might not recognize the name, but Donald Robertson (a.k.a. Donald Drawbertson) is a bona-fide rock star and celebrity — on Instagram. The Creative Director at Bobbi Brown — who also held high-profile roles at Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, and helped launch MAC Cosmetics — has a steady following on Instagram for his witty mixed-media riffs on fashion and pop culture: French fries in the shape of the Eiffel Tower, editrix illustrations and Hermès-bag recreations using… grocery bags. With a special viewing of his work tonight at Salon John Demsey (above), we chat with Donald about his inspirations and his own Instagram obsessions.

Tastemaker: Alexa Hirschfeld on the Art of the Holiday Card

Whether it comes via mail or e-mail, crafting a memorable holiday card is a true art. Here, Alexa Hirschfeld — who as co-founder of Paperless Post knows a thing or two about the process — brings us up to speed on sending the season’s tidings in style.

Looking Great: Thailand’s Meow Praowphan

A stylish moment in an iconic locale: Meow Praowphan shows us how it’s done. In honor of our new store in Bangkok, the Thai interior designer and founder of Bangkok furniture stores Quattro takes Tory’s Liv dress for a spin, looking simple and elegant with the most minimal of accessories. The beautiful backdrop? Singapore’s storied Raffles Hotel, birthplace of the local Singapore Sling cocktail and a haunt of such writers as Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Hemingway and Joseph Conrad. It’s the best of both worlds.