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.
Emily Satloff On: Gifts & Tips for the Jewelry Lover
A former curator of the decorative arts at the New-York Historical Society, Emily Satloff set her sights on the jewelry world and never looked back. First she became an antique jewelry dealer. Then, in 2008, launched Larkspur & Hawk, a collection inspired by the Georgian era — right down to its centuries-old art of foiling gemstones to up the sparkle factor. So if you’re looking for some tips on shining this holiday season, she’s your girl. Here, wearing Tory’s Reese tunic, Emily shares her advice.
Expert Guide: The Perfect Holiday Party
What’s the secret to making a holiday party truly memorable? It’s all in the details. Here, we spoke with event planners Meredith Waltzer Falk and Ashley Wendell Reece of The Great Party Box to get their insider tips and tricks. From make-your-own-cookie bars to cocktails complete with frozen herbs in ice (recipes included!), here’s their handy guide to throwing the best (and most creative) bash ever.
Zani Gugelmann On: Tuxedo Pants, Two Ways
As good as tuxedo pants look dressed-up, they also lend themselves well to more relaxed style. Here wearing Tory’s Geoff pant, jewelry designer Zani Gugelmann gives us her take on both approaches.
Word of Mouth: TBF & Women Rule
Women rule. It’s a simple truth — and the name of the Tory Burch Foundation’s latest initiative, which, in partnership with Politico and Google, celebrates women driving change in business, advocacy and politics. Just this week the trio co-sponsored a special summit, Women Rule: Marks of Leadership, featuring a number of such leaders: Google’s Susan Molinari, Good360’s Carly Fiorina, The Case Foundation’s Jean Case, The Muse’s Kathryn Minshew and Beverly Bond of Black Girls Rock, among many others. To further support the cause TBF teamed up with the cause-centric — and female-run — design company Prinkshop on cool graphic t-shirts, notebooks and totes (above). A portion of the proceeds from each go to the Tory Burch Foundation… ensuring that even more women rule.
Tastemakers: The de Purys on Art Basel & Gifts for the Art Lover
As the art world gathers in Miami this weekend for Art Basel, we spoke to industry vets Simon and Michaela de Pury, who gave us their guide to navigating the festival scene. The couple — who recently launched their own art firm de Pury de Pury — shared their expert tips on gift-giving for the art lover in your life, too.
Editors’ Wish List: Top 10 Gifts
We’ve given you Tory’s gift guide. Now, it’s the editors’ turn. Here, our personal wish list of everything we want and why, from the best stocking stuffers to statement sparklers. Shop for yourself or shop for a friend — either way, these are guaranteed crowd pleasers, straight from The Tory Blog crew.
Click on each image to shop the Wish List.
Camila Alves On: Brazil’s Holiday Traditions
There are a lot of holiday traditions in Brazil — colored rice for Christmas; silk for Santa — but perhaps the most famous is wearing white on New Year’s Eve. Which is why we’ve launched a special all-white collection for our customers in Brazil. To get the inside track on more of the night’s festivities, we chat with Camila Alves, who hails from Itambacuri in Southeast Brazil. Here, she’s wearing the collection’s Venus tunic paired with Tory’s Vanessa jacket and Connor bangles.
P.S.: For Stateside fans interested in this special holiday lineup, it’s available at our Bal Harbour store, too.
Book of the Week: Jane & Serge. A Family Album
The scene? 1968 France. The mission? To photograph potential locations for an upcoming Stanley Kubrick movie. But while carrying out the assignment, Andrew Birkin’s lens found an unexpected pair of subjects: his sister, Jane Birkin, and her new beau, Serge Gainsbourg. Over the following 12 years, Andrew captured the magnetic couple in thousands of candid, intimate moments: at home in Paris, vacationing on the Isle of Wight in England…. The mostly black-and-white shots — which date through 1979, the year before the two broke up — have been compiled in Jane and Serge, A Family Album, offering a rare view of their daily lives.
Expert Guide: Maria Teresa Kumar’s D.C.
We’ve just opened a brand-new store in Washington D.C., in the heart of Georgetown, and tonight we’re celebrating with a special reception there to benefit the Tory Burch Foundation. To help us learn the ins and outs of the capital city, we spoke with Maria Teresa Kumar, the CEO and President of voter mobilization group Voto Latino and MSNBC Contributor. Here, she shares her secrets to D.C.
Trend: The Statement Sweatshirt
Everyone loves a good sweatshirt. But lately, that cozy college classic has been gaining traction everywhere from the runways to the fashion glossies. We take it one step further — here, the sweatshirt gets dressed. Our lace Dina and textured floral Devon sweaters offer a chic and sophisticated take on the silhouette, making it as ladylike and feminine as it is comfortable. Consider it day-to-night-to-weekend dressing in one easy step.
Word of Mouth: Tory’s GIF Guide
First came the gift guide. Now? Welcome to Tory’s GIF Guide: our six steps to a happier holiday, which we’re kicking off today with a little toe tapping, courtesy of the Aria bow and crystal bow pumps above. Follow along on Tumblr and keep checking back — we’ll be unveiling the rest of the GIF Guide steps throughout the holiday season.
To see Tory’s GIF Guide, click here.
Tory Entertains: Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving classics — stuffing, cranberries and, of course, turkey — intermingle with newfound additions on Tory’s holiday dinner table. A spiced celery root soup kicks off the festive menu, while gingerbread brownies and cinnamon ice cream offer a sweet finale. And if you’re looking for more than just inspiration, we’ve put together the recipes for both desserts here, courtesy of Chef Adam Ben’Ous. Just click through the slideshow and… have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Tory Entertains: A Thanksgiving Arrangement
Think outside of the floral bouquet this Thanksgiving. This bold persimmon arrangement is equally lush, striking and festive, with its warm pops of color and berry branches. Just place into a low bowl, like Tory does here — it makes for a great standalone piece or as a tabletop highlight surrounded by tealight candles.
To Watch: Tory & Business of Fashion’s Imran Amed
It was a conversation not to be missed. Today, Tory chatted with Business of Fashion Founder Imran Amed in London. Relive the moment — and catch every word of wisdom here.
Join the conversation using the hashtag #BoFLive.
Kevin West On: Pumpkin Butter & Thanksgiving Prep
The ultimate Thanksgiving meal may include essential elements like roast sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and freshly carved turkey, but for Kevin West, the journalist behind food and canning blog Saving The Season — and author of the recent book of the same name — it’s all about the pumpkin. Here, he shares a recipe for a seasonal pumpkin butter that promises to spice up everything from a dinner roll to a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich… and lets us in on his family secret to the best pumpkin pie.
Word of Mouth: A Generation Born Free
Did you know that more than 90 percent of HIV infections result from mother-to-child transmission? Or that last year, 260,000 babies were affected? Here’s an even more alarming stat for you: All it takes to prevent it is one pill a day.
Now, there’s a new initiative to help the cause, Bornfree, which, with the support of the CFDA, Vogue and Amazon Fashion, is teaming up with 23 designers — all mothers — on a special collection, available at Shopbop next spring. Tory’s participating, along with Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg, Miuccia Prada, Donna Karan and others. To learn more about the campaign, watch the video above.
Meet the Artist: Hanuk
If you’re in New York, swing by The Line at 76 Greene Street to see a one-night-only exhibit tonight by designer and photographer Hanuk. While his trademark nighttime snapshots feature a series of kisses from lensman to subject, here Hanuk explores ideas of symmetry and loneliness; each abstract painting comes with a twin, cut from the same canvas. We chatted with the artist about these self-described “proto-forms” and their relation to love and… martinis.
To Do: JAR at The Met
You know you’ve made it when you’re known by a single-name moniker — Madonna, Halston, Iman. And jewelry designer JAR, a.k.a. Joel Arthur Rosenthal, has certainly made it. Ever since the Bronx native decamped to Paris in the Sixties, he’s catapulted himself into that rarified world of Place Vendôme jewelers, not the easiest of cliques to crack. His clients have included Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Firyal of Jordan, Ellen Barkin and Francois Pinault. Meanwhile, his jewelry — breathtakingly crafted and seemingly painted with pavé stones — simply mesmerizes. Check it out for yourself at the impressive Jewels by JAR show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, its first-ever exhibit dedicated to a contemporary jeweler — or as the museum dubs him, an “artist of gems.”
Jessica Seinfeld On: Cooking for Non-Cooks
We close out our Food Issue with a spotlight on Jessica Seinfeld and her new book, The Can’t Cook Book: Recipes for the Absolutely Terrified! Because even if you don’t know your bouillon from your bouillabaisse doesn’t mean the kitchen can’t be your comfort zone. Here, Jessica breaks down the basics for the cooking fearful and reveals her own Thanksgiving plans.
To See: Cherry Bombe’s Foodie Feast
One of our favorite food magazines is back and just in time for Thanksgiving. This baking-themed issue of Cherry Bombe is filled with festive recipes, from a “blushing apple pie” by Brooklyn pie shop Four & Twenty Blackbirds to perfectly mashed sweet potatoes from a dinner party, above, hosted by Gagosian Gallery’s Sarah Hoover (a.k.a. Mrs. Tom Sachs). The biannual magazine — devoted to women, style and sustenance — also features a charming interview with the legendary Alice Waters and shares the recipe for the madeleines served at Hermès’ headquarters. If that’s not enough to sate your appetite for all things Cherry Bombe, take note: co-founders Kerry Diamond and Claudia Wu just announced their first-ever food conference, taking place in New York City on March 9th, 2014.
10 Minutes with an Entrepreneur: Danielle Chang
In 2009, New York-based Danielle Chang founded the popular Asian food festival LuckyRice, whose culinary council includes chef superstars Masaharu Morimoto, José Andrés, Anita Lo, Eric Ripert, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and David Chang. She’s since expanded nationwide, with the most recent event in Miami last week. Not bad for someone who’s worked pretty much everywhere — publishing, banking, fashion — except in the food industry. Here, wearing Tory’s Lainey dress, Danielle shares her advice on building a business and talks holidays in Taiwan.