Stela Batochio On: Trancoso & Beachside Entertaining
With its perfect cocktail of sun, breeze and white sand beach, Trancoso is one of those getaway gems on the coast of Brazil. Not only did Georgina Brandolini d’Adda build a vacation home there, it’s where Bossa Nova royalty Bebel Gilberto chose to tie the knot back in 2010. We got the insider scoop on that slice of paradise from Stela Batochio, co-owner of the oceanfront and cliffside Jacaré do Brasil Casas hotel. Plus, she gave her tips to throwing the perfect beachside bash.
Street Style: Boho Bound
Spotted on the sunny streets of Mexico City during the Zona Maco art festival: Helsinki-born publicist Jenni Ingman wearing a bohemian-beautiful white dress accented with our Katie Fishmerman bag. Crisp white is a great canvas for showing off the tribal-like bits and baubles of the bag, inspired by Tory’s trips around the world — pom poms from Morocco, mirror-work from India….
Tory Entertains: The Bohemian Table
Short of lighting patchouli (which would compete with the food) or sitting on the floor (uncomfortable for the long, conversational haul), you can add hints of hippie to a casual brunch or lunch. The vibe is strictly laid-back, as Tory did, using hand-painted blue and white clay cups and plates she found in Tulum, and minimal, earthy linens. The focal point, as ever, is a beautiful in-season arrangement that plays into the table’s colors.
Spotlight On: Filipa De Abreu
For Filipa De Abreu, free-spirited bohemia is more than just a way of life; it’s her business. Not only has she criss-crossed the globe as a fashion and travel writer, but she also co-founded the Christophe Sauvat collection (with Christophe himself), which hinges on a romantic gypsy lifestyle. Picture Sixties Marisa Berenson…pulled into 2013. Here, wearing Tory’s Daria tunic, the Lisbon-based Filipa shares her bohemian essentials and dishes about a little-known insider getaway.
Abbey Drucker On: Zona Maco
Last week, the art set converged on Mexico City for its annual Zona Maco contemporary art festival, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Not in town? No worries. Photographer Abbey Drucker, wearing Tory’s Lilian cuff here, sent us her travel diary from the fair. She hit up a few additional scenic spots, too, including one very cool trip to the blue-walled Frida Kahlo Museum. Here, your front-row seat to it all.
Spotlight On: Motown’s Valisia LeKae
Motown Records is having its moment, and we happily jump on that bandwagon being fans of Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and the like. As Motown: The Musical opens this week, written by Motown founder himself Berry Gordy, we caught up with star Valisia Lekae (a.k.a Diana Ross), here wearing the Tory Tunic. She tells us about her Supreme inspiration and how Dolly Parton and Audrey Hepburn played their part, too.
10 Minutes with an Entrepreneur: Edwina de Charette
Remember that old adage, necessity is the mother of invention? That’s how Parisian Edwina de Charette went from music and television production to handbag designer — she couldn’t find a bag she liked, so she went ahead and made her own. She even trained alongside a leather artisan. Now she owns LaContrie, a line of bespoke leather goods, crafted straight from her atelier in Paris’ first arrondissement. Here, we get a few start-up tips from Edwina, photographed here at her studio, wearing Tory’s Marlow loafers.
Melissa Perlman On: Zen Getaways & Beach Fitness
The fashion tribe has a few fitness gurus it swears by, names like David Kirsch, Tracy Anderson and Gunnar Peterson. But if you’re in search of some zen with your workout, Melissa Perlman, who runs Tulum’s Amansala Resort and Bikini Boot Camp, is your girl. Here, she talks about her yoga- and mango-filled days and shares her tips for staying fit at the beach — and staying centered at home.
Spotlight On: There Is No Limit Foundation
There’s an incredible back story to all the beautiful woven tie-dyes in our Spring 2013 show — they’re done in collaboration with There Is No Limit Foundation, a non-profit organization that empowers and helps to bring economic independence to communities in African countries. We spoke to co-founders and sisters Mariama Mounir Camara-Petrolawicz and Aissata Mounir Belgrade Camara on the partnership and giving back.
Tory’s Playlist: Bootleg
The first concert Tory ever saw was the Grateful Dead, back in 9th grade, at The Mann Center in Philadelphia. So in the spirit of bohemian week on The Tory Blog, we couldn’t help but pull together our list of favorite live songs from the band. So go ahead; channel your inner Deadhead with us here…
Mya Henry On: Hartwood, Tulum & Bohemian Cocktails
In 2010, Mya Henry traded New York’s concrete jungle, where she had jobs at The Standard and Soho Grand Hotel, for the beachy environs of Tulum, Mexico. We can’t say we blame her — just wait till you read about her typical day there. In addition to her insider’s guide to the vacation spot, the expat — who opened its hot-spot restaurant Hartwood with chef (and partner) Eric Werner — also gave us a special recipe for her favorite bohemian cocktail.
Bohemian Tastemaker: Coco Brandolini
True, Coco Brandolini shares a name with a certain couture designer. And, yes, her mother is one of Valentino’s great muses. But take a peek into this stylist and fashion consultant’s wardrobe and you’ll see it’s all about the hippie-luxe look. Here, Coco tells us what she loves about the style and shares her own bohemian icon.
Dear Webbys: Thank You!
What they say is true — we’re thrilled and honored just to be nominated. Yesterday, there was a lot of whooping and hollering when we found out that our Tory Daily app was nominated for a Webby People’s Voice Award in the Mobile & App Shopping category.
Please vote for Tory Daily here. We’re grateful for your support. Thank you.
Bohemian Tastemaker: Julie Gilhart
As a fashion consultant and former fashion director at Barneys New York, Julie Gilhart is an industry legend. She’s also become the poster child for living a certain free-spirited life…. Here, the surfer delves into her bohemian state of mind.
Tory Entertains: Indigo Blooms
There’s something unexpected and dramatic about a big bouquet of bright indigo blooms, especially when they skew toward the violet side of the spectrum. The color carries all the regal qualities associated with imperial blues and purples — and it’s coolly romantic, too. Plus, the hue is right in step with the tie-dye trend of the season; the word indigo takes after the Greek word indikon, a blue dye from India.
Inspiration: The Bohemian Life
We’re rhapsodizing about all things bohemian right now, from lazy poolside days to far-flung adventures around the globe. Revel in this laid-back, tie-dyed lifestyle — which comes tinged with one of Tory’s favorite colors, beautiful ocean blues.
Tory On: Bohemian Style
The mercury’s rising. The sun’s coming out. And, around here, we’re revving up for summer by kicking back and indulging our inner bohemian. Wearing the tie-dye Kelby skirt and a pair of Vintage Square sunglasses, Tory gives us her tips for wearing the wanderlust look.
Print Primer: How to Mix Patterns
When mixing prints, the whole is greater than the sum of parts. It’s like The Beatles — each band member is great alone, but the combination is when the magic happens. Whether your style is more graphically modern or bohemian, here are a few how-to’s on combining patterns for the maximum flattering effect.
Tory Daily Exclusive: Bahia String Bikini
La vie bohème is 99% a state of mind. The rest is all style, and for that 1%, may we offer our Bahia String Bikini for sun-soaked days by azure waters and rolling dunes. Available only through the app, it features SPF 50 sun protection and both comfort and security in the right places. Go on, channel the best of Bahia, Brazil, with its sexy cut and hippie-chic ombré hues.
Spotlight On: Patrick Robinson’s Paskho
Patrick Robinson is back — in more ways than one. The longtime fashion veteran, who’s worked at Gap, Paco Rabanne and Perry Ellis, is finally returning to the design scene after two years away from the fashion fray. Not only was he just named creative director of A|X Armani Exchange and is designing the uniforms for New York’s upcoming High Line Hotel, but he also launched his first-ever solo collection on Kickstarter: Paskho, a tight collection of cool and casual basics with an athletic-inspired twist. Here, Patrick dishes design, Greek speak and what he’s been up to since 2011.
In Memoriam: Margaret Thatcher & Lilly Pulitzer
At first glance, Margaret Thatcher and Lilly Pulitzer are worlds apart. One was a grocer’s daughter who became Britain’s first female prime minister and earned herself the nickname the Iron Lady; the other, a Palm Beach doyenne famous for kicky and colorful cotton print shifts worn by Jacqueline Kennedy and C. Z. Guest. Peel away the surface, however, and you realize they’re really cut from the same cloth; both shared a common thread of imagination, determination and drive mixed in with unwavering guts, grit and heart. As leaders, albeit in their own ways, these women embodied true entrepreneurial spirit. Today, we tip our hats off to them and the legacies they leave behind.
Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, 1986, photographed by Jim Hubbard
Book of the Week: M to M of M/M (Paris)
And now for a bit of eye candy. Graphic design duo Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak, a.k.a. M/M (Paris), are known for both their groundbreaking mash-ups of photography, illustration and text, as well as their impressive client roster, from Balenciaga and Yohji Yamamoto to Madonna and Kanye West. A new monograph by Rizzoli shows just how they’ve gone from working for cultural influencers to joining that pantheon themselves. Not only are they featured in countless museum collections around the world and have a Grammy under their belt (Best Recording Package for Björk’s Biophilia), but they’ve even got a heart-shaped burger named after them at Paris’ Café Étienne Marcel — which, by the way, they also designed.
Jennifer Esposito On: Good Gluten-Free Baking
Actress Jennifer Esposito — best known for her turn in the Oscar-winning Crash — is adding a new notch to her Hollywood CV: Last month, she opened her own bakery in New York’s East Village. The shift in gears, however, doesn’t exactly come out of the blue. The Brooklyn native’s long been an ardent champion in spreading awareness about celiac disease, which she was diagnosed with four years ago — after years of being told she had everything from Epstein Bar to chronic fatigue. As Jennifer tells us here, her new bakery is a safe zone for celiac sufferers — the disorder is caused by a reaction to gluten and affects nutrient-absorption in the small intestine — with a delicious menu that manages to be free of gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts and refined sugar. Our recommendation? Try the carrot cake cupcakes, whether you’re gluten intolerant or not, while you snap up a “Celiac can kiss my gluten-free muffin” t-shirt.
Tory’s Playlist: Best Covers
Music, like fashion, pays homage to past masters. Some of our favorite songs are takes that have reworked and redefined others — and become classics themselves. Here, from Rod Stewart to the Ramones, is our list of best covers.
Listen now on Spotify.