During a re-energizing visit to Isabelle de Borchgrave’s “Prêt-à-Papier” exhibit at the Hillwood Estate, Dr. Samantha Boardman was reminded of how powerful plain old paper can be — whether written on or used to create the most unbelievable dresses, as de Borchgrave does. Here, she her written thanks to an artist who got the good doctor to set aside her smartphone, text and Twitter for a moment to just enjoy the…moment.
Citing Billy Baldwin and David Hicks as his greatest inspirations, interior and architectural designer Tom Scheerer has mastered the balance between refinement and all-American ease. Scheerer, who is regularly named as one of America’s Top 100 designers, splits his time between New York and the Bahamas, where he has recently updated the beautiful Lyford Cay Club. In between trips, he talked about where he shops, dream clients and easy ways to update a room.
We’re thrilled to announce the relaunch of the Tory Burch Foundation web site. We’re committed to empowering women and their families through microfinance and mentorship. The new site offers a single destination for women entrepreneurs and small business owners who need information about applying for loans, getting advice and inspiration. We will regularly highlight women entrepreneurs with great ideas around the world, as well as feature invaluable advice from experts in various fields. The site will also spotlight the great work and companies of women who have received a loan through the Tory Burch Foundation.
On her way to buy in-season squash blossoms for a late summer dinner with friends, singer Eleanor Friedberger stopped for some questions about new music discoveries, style and cooking at home. One half of The Fiery Furnaces, she’s currently recording demos at home for her next solo album (stay tuned in 2013).
Describe your sound…
Deeply rooted in 1970s rock ‘n roll, with a voice that, I’ve been told, sounds like someone arguing over the phone — not a cell phone of course, but a black rotary phone, like the one that sits beside my bed.
Ariel Foxman, Managing Editor of InStyle, sent us his travel dispatch from the quiet town of Bellport, New York, which has long been a haven for creative and fashion types — from S.I. Newhouse and Bruce Weber to Angela Westwater. In fact, when Foxman first started renting a cottage there, his landlord was none other than Isabella Rossellini. Here’s how the editor and judge of Lifetime’s Project Accessory passes the time there.
Summer’s not over yet! Close out the season with the perfect in-season tomato salad, courtesy of chef Dana Minuta. It’s great as a first course — “with good crusty bread to mop up the juices,” she says — as well as a side dish for simple grilled fish, meats or mozzarella. Get the recipe here.
Fall is moody…in a good way. It’s all about the lady. She’s pulled-together and sophisticated in car coats, smoky jewel tones (especially green) and dresses that skim and move in flattering ways. There’s an undercurrent of something cool in the way all the dressed-up looks can be worn day to evening or with tomboy staples, like leather pants and skinny jeans. The swing of a frame bag or statement earring and the staccato accent of a pointy-toe only add to the look we love.
Shop the looks: Soft Rock and Must-Have Malachite.
We’re not quite ready to say so long to summer. To that end, we asked The Darby for a cocktail that would keep us thinking warm thoughts. Try this recipe for Labor Day….
Music supervisor Randall Poster learned as much from his intern Georgie Koepke as the Johns Hopkins student did from Poster. “My interns always give me a window into the emerging world and help me un-set my ways,” says Poster.
John Robshaw sent us a love letter to Martha’s Vineyard and the cast of friends, farmers markets and shops he visits. It’s a trip that the textile designer, who’s famous for his journeys to India, makes every summer.
Behold the leather pant: a staple of rock stars since, well, forever; an upgrade to the everyday skinny jean, and a perfect foil for the season’s polished and proper looks. Whether you go ladylike with bow-tied blouses, peplums and heels or tomboy with a striped t-shirt and combat boots, it’s always effortlessly, timelessly cool: Shop the looks.
Green, glorious green — it’s the color of fall, winter and beyond. Call it malachite, emerald or just green. Whichever way, it plays into fall’s ladylike mood beautifully. We are inspired by its ability to be both sexy and sophisticated…and incredibly versatile — wear it all over in a classic cocktail ensemble or use it as an accent bag or shoe. And the best part is that it will look on point year-round; it’s a hue associated with fall, the holidays, spring and summer.
Malachite, a deep jeweled shade of green, is on our must list for Fall 2012. Here, Tory extolls the virtues of this rich hue: sophisticated yet cool, flattering, season-less, versatile…. See why Tory loves deep green this season.
On paper, Finnish-born Tiina Laakkonen’s resume is impressive: Chanel, Bottega Veneta, T, an assortment of international Vogues…. In person, she’s equally cool and so is her new boutique Tiina the Store. Thanks to the former model and fashion stylist, there’s now a little slice of Finland in the middle of Amagansett, where she has pulled together her favorite things, like vintage Marimekko quilts and Iittala glass. Here, she talks about her backstory, city vs. country style and entertaining at home.
Favorite new home find…
Wool rugs by Dosa, dyed in natural indigo.
Picture it: You’re traveling the world with what seems like a closetful of bags — a different one for every outfit — but it’s really just one. With Eponymous, that idyllic picture of travel isn’t just a daydream. Founded by Claudia Overstrom and Betsy Pitts, the luxe line features interchangeable panels that you wrap around a foundation bag. Go for snakeskin one day, cheetah print another…. Here, the ladies talk accessories and mood-swings-made-easy.
Today’s freshmen are tomorrow’s leaders. We can learn as much from them as they did from their mentors. So for our second annual Internship issue, we asked everyone from Tory and NYC Digital’s Rachel Haot to music supervisor Randall Poster and Departure’s Editor-in-Chief Richard David Story — and their interns — and got their best advice. See the feature here…
Chances are, you’ve read a book whose cover has been designed by Chip Kidd. From David Sedaris’ Naked to Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park to Haruki Murakami’s IQ84, he has created some of the most memorable covers as an associate art director at Knopf.. His work reels readers in at a glance — no small feat, in an age of e-readers. And he’s also a bit of a cult figure in the comic world; his versions of classic heroes like Batman are fan favorites. Here, Kidd discusses the art of the book cover, the follow up to his own novel The Learners and how a spider named Charlotte changed his life.
Hardcover, paperback or e-reader?
Hardcover and paperback, I don’t have an e-reader. Honest! There’s nothing like a hardcopy for taking off and landing.
Rachel Haot keeps New York City connected. Mayor Bloomberg named her Gotham’s first ever Chief Digital Officer and, as such, Haot — née Sterne, and recently back from her Italian honeymoon — promotes Twitter, Facebook and other social medias as a way for citizens to get and give info about what’s going on in the city. Together, she and her intern Luis Palacios are helping technology transform the city. Last week, the mayor, the Department of Small Business Services and Haot’s team announced a partnership with Google, Mashable and Tumblr, introducing the Small Business Digital Toolkit, helping entrepreneurs leverage social media.
When your boss describes his dream intern as part James Bond, part Boy Scout, you know you’ve got it good. And when said boss happens to be Richard David Story, the Editor-in-Chief of Departures magazine), even better. Read his advice and find out what he and his intern Max Angeloni (son of Umberto Angeloni, founder of Uman) have learned this summer.
Add to your reading list with a few good reads recommended by our tastemakers. Here, Aerin Lauder and Nathan Turner, Suzy Menkes and Alex Kuczynski named the books they can’t put down.
We asked everyone from Lauren Bush to Dree Hemingway about the one book that changed their lives. And just wait till you read their answers — Jackie Collins, Bret Easton Ellis and an Indian yogi all made appearances. Did Hemingway name her Nobel Prize-winning kin? Keep reading to find out.
Whether it’s the Badlands in the Dakotas or a classic tale of teen-angst literature, sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy find inspiration in less-than-conventional places. And most of it informs their celebrated Rodarte collection. For our third annual Book Issue, the sisters — both avid readers — talk about text.
Q: Hi Tory, what’s on your coffee table? And what are you reading right now? — Mimi, NYC
A: On my coffee table, I like to stack groups of books that are beautiful and diverse…the kind guests would want to flip through and ask me about (the right book can spark a great conversation). On my table right now: Perry Guillot’s Privet Lives, Francois Halard’s Visite Privée, Our Universe by Neil Degrasse Tyson and a book about John Fowler’s work.
Light switch dimmers can mean the difference between a good dinner party and a great one. So says Danielle Rollins in her new book Soirée: Entertaining With Style. The hostess extraordinaire is known for her parties — The Great Gatsby-inspired fete, complete with a croquet instructor; the Bollywood bash in her own tented theater room, and the dinner she pulled together for Oscar de la Renta that featured the house-cured bacon and soft-poached egg farm salad seen here. In addition to recipes, Rollins includes how-tos for the creative hostess.