Behind Design: L’ArcoBaleno’s Ambra Medda
Ambra Medda’s already created one design destination — she’s founder of the popular fair Design Miami/ — and is now hitting the digital space with another. L’ArcoBaleno is her new e-commerce site dedicated to all things design, and we mean all things. You’ll find everything from the coolest chairs and electric bikes to Maria Callas-themed plates and kachina dolls. We got some one-on-one time with Ambra here.
Video: Tory On Fall 2013
Ready to fall in love with our Fall 2013 collection? Here, Tory takes us through some of her favorite highlights — and reveals the place that inspired it all.
Video: Fall 2013 Backstage Beauty
This fall, we’re putting forward a fresh, confident face. See how makeup artist Diane Kendal highlighted natural beauty backstage before our Fall 2013 runway show.
Fall 2013: Looks, Decoded
A great structured sheath, check. Leather-trim pants, check. Cozy turtleneck and romantic blouse, check and check. But what happens when you layer these looks, all chic on their own, in completely unexpected ways? Well, the whole really is greater — and so much cooler — than the sum of its parts. We break down five of Fall’s best outfits and teach you how to rethink the layered look. A leather jacket under a cardigan? Why not?
Click images to shop each look — or shop the complete lookbook here.
Fall 2013: Lookbook
A little Gustav Klimt, a soupçon of René Lalique and a whole lot of beautiful textures and rich embellishments — that’s the crux of our Fall 2013 inspiration, which plays out in subtle leopard prints, velvet florals, glazed tweed coats and fil coupé dresses. Here, photographer Norman Jean Roy and models Caroline Brasch Nielsen, Tilda Lindstam and Liu Wen helped us capture that mood, which reads equal parts romantic and free-spirited, against the expansive backdrop of New York’s historic Woolworth Estate.
Tory On: Fall 2013
What began with a few trips to the Neue Galerie in New York ended with a Fall story filled with intricate details, beautiful berry shades and subtle romance. Here, Tory tells us all about the collection’s inspirations and trends.
Color Trend: Berry
In the spectrum between red and purple, there are myriad bewitching shades, from rich violets and wines to gorgeous saturated berries — all striking and perfect for fall. And whether you go bold with a head-to-toe look or opt for a subtle pop of color with accessories, the mood you’ll exude remains the same: confident and refined romance.
Video: Fall 2013
Rich jewel tones. Beautiful, intricate detailing. An opulent, iconic estate. All three come together in our Fall 2013 video, by filmmaker Matt Baron. Models Liu Wen, Caroline Brasch Nielsen and Tilda Lindstam explore the storied Woolworth Mansion in Glen Cove, Long Island, their easy chic and sophisticated romance complemented perfectly by Lower Dens’s evocative track Blue & Silver. Take a peek for yourself and see if you don’t agree.
What’s Your Sign? Leo
What’s ahead, now that we’re in the fire sign of Leo (July 22nd – August 22nd)? Astrology expert Susie Cox tells us.
Meet the Band: The Girls of Boy
Forget another boy band: Boy is comprised of two super-stylish girls, Swiss singer Valeska Steiner, left, and German bassist Sonja Glass. Here, the pop duo — who are gearing up for a U.S. tour this fall — talk about their song of summer and desert island mixtapes.
Best Dressed: Singer-Songwriter Yuna
Already a hit in her native Malaysia, Yuna — yes, one word, like Madonna — has been making a splash on Stateside shores, with appearances on Conan and Jay Leno and a lead single produced by Pharrell Williams. Expect to hear more about the artist, who also has her own boutique dubbed IAMJETFUEL, once her second record debuts this fall. We chatted with Yuna — here wearing Tory’s Wren sweater, Ivy Super Skinny jeans, Grayson coat, Halland silk scarf — about that retail gig and…her music, of course.
Guest Playlist: ELLE’s Summer 2013
Windows down, hair whipping in the wind…it’s that time of year: road-trip-to-the-beach time. ELLE guest-curated the perfect soundtrack for that quintessential summer moment, so crank up these tunes and head for the waves.
Hear it now on Spotify.
Music Tastemaker: Amanda Brooks
What songs does the chic author and brains behind the I Love Your Style blog have on repeat right now? Find out.
10 Minutes with an Entrepreneur: Steve Stoute
Steve Stoute is a legend in the music industry. He managed Mary J. Blige and Nas, was a top executive at Interscope and Sony Music and now heads up his own ad agency Translation, linking brands and pop culture, with business partner Jay-Z. Need further proof of his impressive exploits? Earlier this year Ad Age named Steve its Executive of the Year. We got his entrepreneurial advice here.
New on the Scene: Charlie Bird Restaurant
Though its name might call to mind jazz icon Charlie Parker (whose nickname was “Bird”), it’s just as likely that you’ll hear hip hop lowly thumping from the speakers at Charlie Bird. The Italian-accented restaurant, housed in New York’s South Village, boasts a mean roasted chicken and a vast 100-bottle wine list. Above, chef and co-owner Ryan Hardy shares the perfect summer dinner menu — buon appetito!
Video: Washed Out’s It All Feels Right
In the midst of this summer heat, nothing sounds better than a low-key moment. Washed Out, a.k.a Southern-bred electronic musician Ernest Greene, to the rescue — we can’t stop watching his kaleidoscopic lyric video for It All Feels Right, off his upcoming album Paracosm and directed by musician, illustrator and filmmaker Ferry Gouw. With animated florals from the album’s cover, this video’s only a promise of things to come — Washed Out is taking his dreamy, ambient tunes on the road next month for a North American tour while Paracosm drops August 13.
Behind the Music: Boardwalk Empire’s Meghan Currier
Meghan Currier has helped music supervisor Randall Poster set the soundtrack for Skyfall, Spring Breakers and, most recently, Boardwalk Empire. We caught up with her mid-studio break recording the next season’s soundtrack of Boardwalk with Randall and veteran band leader Vince Giordano. Here, wearing Tory’s Marlon skirt and Screw Rivet Rope necklace, she breaks down the songs she can’t stop listening to and her favorite cinematic music moments.
Music Tastemaker: Bryan Rabin
Bryan Rabin’s latest late-night masterpiece is Giorgio’s at The Standard, Sunset Strip’s celeb- and fashion set-filled dance party. Here, the L.A.-based event producer details his go-to summer soundtrack.
Tory’s Playlist: Summer Fling
Laying by the pool. Thinking: This is a great song. Thinking: This is a great summer. Thinking: Oh, stop thinking. Just dance….
Hear it now on Spotify.
Tory On: Philadelphia, the Music Capital
Philadelphia…music capital? You bet. Here, Tory — who grew up in nearby Valley Forge — talks to us about the sounds of the city and what makes that historic locale an iconic one for music, too.
Must Hear: Say Lou Lou, the New Sister Act
There’s just something good and right about the way siblings sing together — it’s got to do with genetics and harmonies. Add to the list of sibling acts we love, Say Lou Lou’s Elektra and Miranda Kilbey, who are making waves for their sexy, synthy, dreamy sounds — a perfect reflection of their hybrid laid-back Aussie and pop Swedish roots. The twins, who named their band after a great-aunt, released two singles this summer, the catchy Julian and coolly serene Fool of Me, and are working on their debut album. They have their own record label, too — it’s appropriately named à Deux.
All week long, we’ll be highlighting our favorite musicians, albums and songs in our second annual Music Issue. Check back daily for more.
Best Dressed: Harper’s Bazaar’s Duang Poshyanonda
Known for her signature scarlet lip and striking style, Duang Poshyanonda is Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar Thailand. In honor of our new store in Bangkok, we chatted with Duang — here wearing Tory’s Hattie jacket, Liam hinge cuff and Stencil Logo cuff — about surrealist glamour and the city’s highlights.
Did You Know? Hemingway Habits
In honor of Ernest Hemingway’s birthday today, here’s a fun fact for you: Did you know that the author preferred to write standing up? He would write on a chest-high bookcase in his bedroom in Havana, while wearing loafers and leaning down on the top shelf. Nearby on the wall, meanwhile, he had a large chart, which logged his daily word count (the average: 500 per day). According to Thornton Wilder, Hemingway also had another quirk — he would always start the day by sharpening 20 pencils. As Celia Blue Johnson writes in Odd Type Writers — which traces the unusual habits of the literary set — Hemingway would later deny that bit, but he did offer this advice for writer’s block: “First,” he said, “you have to defrost the refrigerator.”
