Gail Simmons On: Sweets, Stews and Slow-Smoked Brisket

Talking with your mouth full is A-ok in Gail Simmons’ book — actually, that’s the name of her memoir Talking With My Mouth Full, which charts her culinary-curious childhood and career. We spent some time with the author and Top Chef judge at her favorite neighborhood haunt Haven’s Kitchen to chat BBQ, Last Suppers and daily hot chocolate cravings. (Her recipe for Spiked Hot Chocolate is perfectly timed with a recent cold spell here in the Northeast.)

Spotlight On: Fortuny and Venice

The name Fortuny is practically synonymous with Venice, gorgeous pleats and sumptuous fabrics — but how about boat propellers and floor lamps? There’s more to this century-old house, as we learned from co-owners Mickey and Maury Riad. Here, we talked to the brothers about pushing the company forward (while honoring its legacy) — and got their insider travel tips to La Venezia.

Just One Thing: Straw Struck

Straw = beach. Clutch = night? Not so. We love the idea of taking something you wouldn’t expect to see, and putting it into a new context. Why not swap out your day bag with a hand-held clutch, bursting with personality? This pint-sized style transforms even the most basic look: its cheerful pom-poms (which remind us of marigolds) break up an otherwise monochromatic, double-denim outfit — channeling a bohemian, vacation vibe.

Shop the Beachy Norah Flat Clutch now.

To Do: Qui Êtes-Vous, Norma Jean?

If you think you’ve seen every Marilyn Monroe photo available, think again. New York’s Danziger Gallery is holding a special exhibit of never-before-seen stills of the bombshell: Marilyn Monroe (New York, 1955), which comes with an accompanying book. The back story here is as engaging as the images — they were taken by 14-year-old Peter Mangone, who, on a cloudy March day in 1955, played hooky to stalk the actress outside her hotel, with his cardboard Revere movie camera. She invited him along for her afternoon stroll and the resulting five-and-a-half-minute film, which was lost until 2002, depicts Marilyn charmingly au naturale. She’s at ease, unguarded, completely herself and still absolutely hypnotic.

Spotlight On: Gucci Westman on the Go

We recently caught up with beauty guru Gucci Westman to find out where she’s been, what she’s up to and what’s inspiring her. Here’s a teaser: Sleepytime tea, TLC with her children Dash and Gray and husband David Neville of Rag & Bone, playing cards in Antigua and loving Caribbean colors for spring.

Spotlight On: Muscle Shoals at Sundance

Nashville, New York, Austin and…Muscle Shoals? Any music buff will tell you that, when it comes to music capitals, the small Alabama town turns out big sound. The film set is discovering just that at Sundance right now with the documentary Muscle Shoals, which features Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Etta James and Aretha Franklin, among many others, talking firsthand about this magic locale. Here, filmmaker Greg “Freddy” Camalier tells us about its legendary recording studios. Imagine if those walls could talk….

Spring 2013: As Seen in Vogue

Good things come in threes. Get a head start on spring and shop the Tory Burch trio seen in the February issue of Vogue: our wheat-print Ninian Skirt, hourglass Emilie Dress and striped iPhone Case.

Look We Love: Slim Shadies

There’s no quicker way to up the fashion ante than with a pair of chic frames. Channel everyone from the Hollywood set to vintage vamps and the ever-elegant Jackie O — or, oh, just your everyday leisure-loving beach babe, 365 days a year.

Shop All Sunglasses

Recipe: Sundance’s Truffle Pizza

When in Sundance, do as the festival goers do — eat at Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s J&G Grill, just off the scenic slopes at the St. Regis Deer Crest resort. Here, the chef shares his menu of the week and even gave us the recipe for the restaurant’s famous Black Truffle Pizza.

Book of the Week: The Book of Happiness

For The Book of Happiness, photographer Joseph Peter visited 50 African countries and took 150,000 pictures of people laughing and smiling. It is a singular message of hope. Peter presented Nelson Mandela with a special edition. “His voice was grand,” recalls Peter of meeting the iconic statesman. “And when he smiled the room lit up!”

Editors’ Wish List: Valentine’s Day Gifts

Cupid, step aside. When it comes to matchmaking, we’ve got it down pat — at least when it comes to the gift-giving part. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we’ve put together our special picks guaranteed to delight and surprise…and then some.

Shop the Valentine’s Day Wish List

Book of the Week: 75 Parisiennes

If you ever doubted that the French owned je-ne-sais-quoi chic, then check out the new book 75 Parisiennes by lensman Baudouin (yes, one word, like Madonna). A freelancer for Elle, Grazia and Le Monde, the Frenchman shot a crew of Parisians in their own environs over a six-year span. And these aren’t your usual oft-photographed It girls; every turn of the page brings a new discovery — not to mention an impressive peek into the City of Light’s kaleidoscopic culture and style. In a world of ubiquitous street-style photography, where every pose melts into the next, Baudouin’s artfully arranged compositions are a breath of fresh air — witty, visually stunning and each one utterly unique.

Alison Brie On: Sundance and Toy’s House

Alison Brie can play an uppity housewife to perfection (Mad Men), not to mention a hilariously hyper-driven, beyond-bubbly coed (Community). Now? She’s tackling the coming-of-age, dark comedy genre with Sundance’s Toy’s House, about a trio of adolescent boys escaping to the woods for a little independence. Here, Alison, who plays big sis in the film, talks to us about the festival, her Park City essentials and co-star couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally.

Book of the Week: Sol LeWitt

The Centre Pompidou-Metz in Paris has been holding a major retrospective of Minimal and Conceptual art pioneer Sol LeWitt, complete with 33 of his massive wall drawings. Now Stateside fans can immerse themselves in the artist’s oeuvre with the upcoming U.S. release of Sol LeWitt. An in-depth monograph that covers his career from start to finish, it’s an eye-opener, especially if your LeWitt 411 is limited to those oft-quoted grids and cubes. For instance: Did you know his first gig out of school was manning the photocopy machine at teen glossy Seventeen? Yeah, we didn’t either.

Irregular Grid, 1999, by Sol LeWitt

Tory Entertains: Caviar Blinis

Blinis, blins, blinchikis — whatever you want to call them, these fluffy siblings to the crepe are delicious and a great bite-sized starter to any party. Get Tory’s favorite recipe here, courtesy of Chef Dana Minuta.

10 Minutes with an Entrepreneur: Peek’s Ruzwana Bashir

Impressive doesn’t even begin to describe Ruzwana Bashir’s CV. Not only does the Brit have degrees from Oxford and Harvard Business School — and was a Fulbright Scholar at the latter to boot — but after working at art start-up Artsy, she went on to launch her own travel site: Peek, where you can be inspired by, discover and book awesome vacation plans. Here, Ruzwana shared her advice for the would-be entrepreneur and talked travel with us.

What’s Your Sign? Aquarius

We’re finally in the air sign of Aquarius (January 19th – February 18th), but what does that mean for you? Get the scoop, straight from our astrology expert Susie Cox.

Playlist: May Kwok

New York DJ (and fashion girl about town) May Kwok shares her party playlist for the new year. And from Azealia Banks to a little Angel Haze, it’s pure grab-your-dance-shoes fun.

Word of Mouth: Sundance’s Chick Flicks

Here’s to redefining chick flick. This year at Sundance, for the first time, there are an equal number of women and men directors in the Dramatic Competition. The ladies are having a say in comedy, too. Amid the falling snow and Robert Redford sightings, people are lining up to see films like Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes, Austenland, Concussion, Touchy Feely and In a World. One first-time director in the Dramatic Competition is Lake Bell, a Sundance regular for her acting turns, whose In a World is about a voice coach with dreams of being a voice-over artist. Think Glee meets The Artist.

Tory’s Playlist: Get Ziggy With It

We were all so pleasantly surprised last week when David Bowie (on his birthday, no less) released a new song. Not only did it make our day, but it prompted us to go on a Bowie binge, from which we may not soon emerge.

A new album is coming in March, so in the meantime we salute this dynamic character who has broadened not only our musical palate but also endured as a fashion trendsetter and icon for so long and done it so well. We will have more to say and show before The Next Day comes out, but here is a playlist of some of our favorites, old and new.

Street Style: Boy Meets Girl

Girls can have it all. For resort, they can work the masculin-féminin look in more subtle ways. Keep it clean and simple and find a tailored basic that pops with feminine print and color — like our fuchsia floral Brach Short. Here, art lawyer and Aphra Behn designer Jelena Kristic pairs the style with one of her own crisp button-downs for a vibe that’s fresh and totally tomboy.

Just One Thing: Fresh Flowers

Even in the dead of winter doldrums, you can think spring — no matter your continent or hemisphere. A fresh bunch of buds will brighten a room and your spirits. Here, Tory put white parrot tulips in a vase (leaving a little space between stems), their green and white petals playing against her favorite Yves Klein table.

Video: Zoe Cassavetes’ Resort 2013

There’s a cat-and-mouse game at play in this Resort 2013 video, shot by filmmaker Zoe Cassavetes in Paris at the end of the year. The mood is flirtatious, playful and subtly seductive. There’s something about the thrill of the chase, whether you’re talking about fashion or…another object of desire. As for the chic protagonist, she’s a Cassavetes find — New York actress Caitlin Keats, who’s wearing Tory’s Charlotte Top, Bilson Pant, Madison Pump and Rattan Mini Bag here.

Best Dressed: Zhang Zilin

What does it take to become Miss World? In addition to the usual combo of beauty, grace and poise, 2007 winner Zhang Zilin also happens to be quite the athlete (she was a track-and-field star in college) and a budding singer, with a love of Chinese folk music. Since nabbing the title, the first from China to do so, the model’s added actor to her CV too — check her out in 2013’s The Monkey King with Chow Yun-Fat. We chatted with Zilin, wearing Tory’s Eliza jacket here, about Far East fashion, Bora Bora and Butterfly Lovers.