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.”

Quote of the Day: Warhol on Denim

Street Style: Ashley Avignone

Denim done right can make an outfit. Here, wearing Tory’s Cropped jeans in Rinse, L.A.-based stylist Ashley Avignone shows us how it’s done (and shares her best jeans-wearing tips, to boot).

Tory’s Playlist: Blue Jean Baby

Just like Joey Ramone and Debbie Harry, blue jeans never go out of style. Here, a few of Tory’s favorite denim-themed tunes.

Listen now on Spotify.

Trend: Denim-on-Denim

Why not extend the tone-on-tone mentality to a great pair of jeans? There’s a cool factor to the head-to-toe denim look — if you wear it right. Here, stylist Nina Sterghiou (right, wearing Tory’s Super Skinny jeans in black) and DJ and entrepreneur Brendan Fallis show us how they rock the trend.

Recipe: John Derian’s Blueberry Smash

A beautiful blue and a snap to make, designer John Derian’s refreshing cocktail will be a guaranteed summer smash hit. (Try it with other ripe berries for a twist on the original.)

The Tory Denim Guide

Are you a sexy rocker, Seventies lover or a chic sophisticate? Or perhaps all of the above? We’ve created a range of denim fits and washes for every style and body type — just let our experts guide you to the right pair. Here, our breakdown of the five flattering shapes, from skinny to bootcut, plus style tips.

Shop the Tory Denim Guide.

Tory On: Great Jeans

Jeans — they’re an all-American staple you can spin off into a myriad looks, from coolly casual to office-appropriate chic and polished. What’s Tory’s favorite style? Keep reading to find out, and get her denim style tips too.

Video: Jeans Addiction

Few all-American staples are as endlessly versatile and beloved as a pair of jeans. But a great pair of jeans? Not only are they cut to perfection and done in the best washes, but they’re sexy, sleek and decidedly cool — and carry serious attitude, too. Don’t just take our word for it. Just watch models Cora Emmanuel, Tilda Lindstam and Laura Kampman take our new denim collection for a chic spin in this video, shot by Maciek Kobielski and set to The Stereotypes’ Perfect Girl.

For style tips and to shop the collection, click here.

Book of the Week: Paris Street Style

There’s no denying a certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to French style. A little effortless, a lot of chic, it’s hard to parse and pin down — or is it? In the book Paris Street Style, Isabelle Thomas and Frederique Veysset do exactly that. They break down the staples (e.g. thin-soled Tropézienne sandals), offer up bon-chic dos and don’ts — say yes to the V-neck cashmere pullover; no to the velvet hair grip — and even give tips on how to properly raid your grandmother’s/boyfriend’s/teenage niece’s closet. Here, a few select quotes from the tastemakers they interviewed.

Word of Mouth: Happy Bastille Day

It’s Bastille Day! How better to celebrate the French national holiday than with a French national pastime? So turn up the Edith Piaf, grab a glass of pastis (or rosé, if you prefer) and pick up a game of pétanque, the 100-year-old lawn bowling game. German actress Elke Sommer, snapped during the Cannes Film Festival in 1962, makes it look good, doesn’t she?