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.

Video: Espadrilles, Every Which Way

By definition, espadrilles are a simple combination of woven jute sole and cotton-canvas upper. But we played with that easy-to-wear classic — a stripe here, a wedge there — and created a variety of styles that are flattering no matter your look, whether dressed up or down. Trust us, you’ll live in these all season long. And beyond.

Shop the Looks or Shop All Espadrilles

Spotlight On: Tory On Morning Joe

Yesterday morning, Tory appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe with Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, Arianna Huffington and Malene Barnett of Malene B custom carpets to talk to host Mika Brzezinski about entrepreneurship — more specifically, the 18 early stage women entrepreneurs who just graduated from a customized MBA-like course the Tory Burch Foundation did in collaboration with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Babson College and LaGuardia Community College. Malene, one of our new alums, shared her experience about the lessons learned while Valerie, who spoke at the graduation on Monday night, told her own personal tale about the switch to public service — and why.

Watch the full video from Morning Joe above and read Valerie’s essay on The Huffington Post about the course and entrepreneurial spirit here. For more information about the Tory Burch Foundation and this pilot program, email info@toryburchfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter @toryburchfdn or visit the site.

Tory On: Business Class ’13

We’re celebrating graduation a little early this year. Tonight, 18 women entrepreneurs are donning the proverbial cap and gown after participating in a customized MBA-like course, a collaboration among the Tory Burch Foundation, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Babson College and LaGuardia Community College. This inaugural class includes everyone from a wine label owner to a lighting designer. Get the full story in Tory’s piece on The Huffington Post today, and watch Tory and Arianna Huffington discuss small business and mentorship with host Mika Brzezinski on MSNBC’s Morning Joe Tuesday. For more information about the Tory Burch Foundation and this pilot program, email info@toryburchfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter @toryburchfdn or visit the site here.

Book of the Week: ITF’s 100 Years of Tennis

Tory and tennis? Nothing but love. She loves trivia, too. So when we came across A Century of Contributions to Tennis, celebrating the International Tennis Federation’s centenary, we couldn’t help but pull together a list of fun nuggets about the history of the sport. Here, discover the game’s Golden Slams, conga lines and beach-based matches.

Tory Entertains: White Blooms

Too busy to tackle that list of spring-cleaning to-dos? Here’s our tip for the quickest (and easiest) way to freshen up a room: Opt for a bouquet of big white blooms, like these beautifully petaled anemones. They feel fresh and bright while the touches of green offer a nice color contrast that’s perfect for the season.

Most Wanted: Crystal Cat-Eye Sunglasses

Even when you are your most casual and laid-back this summer, you can still inject a little glamour to your look with these crystal-studded sunglasses. The subtle cat-eye silhouette evokes the retro allure of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor; the crystals add some jet-set sparkle, while the slightly oversized frames point to L.A.’s chic Hollywood set. So you can pack a stylish punch — and still be incognito.

Recipe: Miami Vice Smoothie

Don’t let the name fool you. There’s nothing debauched about this Miami Vice drink; it’s actually good for you and is the perfect beverage to get you in the spring mood, no matter what the thermometer says. The recipe comes courtesy of New York juice bar and cafe The Butcher’s Daughter, which, also contrary to its moniker, is 100% vegetarian — even the bangers and mash and charcuterie board. The brains behind the business? Apothéke and Pulqueria’s Heather Tierney who has traded mind-melding cocktails for freshly-pressed elixirs, smoothies and immune-boosting shots at her new NoLIta spot.

Ask Tory: Wearing White

Q: How do I wear white without looking too plain?

A: White is a perennial classic. For spring it feels fresh in interesting textures, like an open-work knit sweater, lightweight crochet jacket or fringed skirt. And it makes a great canvas for embellishments, too — sequins, embroideries and appliqués, which add a touch of glamour for day or evening. Or try sun-bleached accessories, whether simple smoking slippers or a perforated handbag. I love how they can both pull together a pale monochromatic look and pop against bright colors.

Video: Dress the Shirtdress

There’s something about a shirtdress. It’s the perfect blend of utility and femininity. It goes from work to weekend. It’s so timeless that it never looks dated — was that picture of you wearing a shirtdress snapped in the Seventies… or yesterday?

To maximize its versatility, we took our Brigitte Dress (the sister to our classic Brigitte Blouse) and showed some easy ways to accessorize this no-fail basic. To get all the looks and see more shirtdresses: Shop now.

Trey Laird On: Marfa, Marfa, Marfa

All eyes and ears were focused on Austin last week and since it’s a relatively short swing over to Marfa, Texas, why not close SXSW’s cultural tour of all things film, music and tech by soaking up some of the best art in the South? We spoke to Trey Laird — head of fashion advertising and branding firm Laird + Partners — who gave us his guide to that intriguing little desert town.

Spotlight On: RJ Shaughnessy

While flipping through Milk and Honey, Ammo’s coffee-table tome spotlighting contemporary artists in California, we stumbled on RJ Shaughnessy’s sun-kissed shots of a couple perched on a traffic light, kids breezily jumping into flower beds and (above) a skateboarder coolly breezing down an L.A. freeway. We had to learn more. Here, we chatted with RJ, a Florida native turned full-blooded Angeleno.