Weather Vain: Williamsburg, Brooklyn - 77 With a Chance of T-Storms
Today is totally one of those what-do-I-wear?! days for the L train contingent. It’s warm but not hot. And how much is it going to rain? Here, our prescription. —erica
Clockwise from top left:
+ A lightweight, breathable Raquel Allegra tee that won’t get too sweaty on the Lorimer platform.
+ A kick-ass Mociun ring—the jewelry phenom’s store is one of the best in the ‘hood!
+ A borderline-genius short-sleeve rain jacket from Boy by Band of Outsiders.
+ K/LLER earrings—ready for a night on the Wythe Hotel roof should the clouds part.
+ A super-hard-working clutch made by equally industrious local designer Collina Strada.
+ Some of the sleekest rain boots around, by Loeffler Randall.
+ A Christopher Kon wallet, to match the BBQ at BrisketTown.
+ Mother jeans that will hold up JUST FINE if they get splashed by a black car on Bedford.
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Katie Kime’s Grand Tour of the Coolest Spots in Austin
The North Carolina native takes over the Live Music Capital of the World. That is, Austin, Texas.
The sweet-as-pie furniture and accessories designer Katie Kime lists “doing Austin” as one of her main interests. Here she gives us a run-down of the city’s six best spots. —olivia seely
“The Austin City Limits music festival has always done tapings of artists and bands in Austin at a place called ACL Live. Recently, when the W Hotel was built in downtown Austin, they built an extension, which is the ACL Live Moody Theater. So literally, where I’m sitting in this photo next to the Willie Nelson statue is where they hold unbelievable tapings and performances.”
“Clark’s is an oyster bar. Down to the smallest details, they’ve done the most amazing job of giving it this Southern, prepster flair. Everything from the busboys in rugby shirts to the waiters in boat shoes with handkerchiefs coming out of their back pockets is an ode to where I grew up in North Carolina.”
“Hijo is there newest venture from the people behind a really cool store in Austin is called JM Dry Goods. It’s built in a greenhouse, and the owners are a married couple with amazing taste. The guy makes hand-made leather bags stamped with anchors—an icon I love so much I have one tattooed on my wrist—that are to die for. They curate amazing collections, and I’m always inspired in any of their spaces.”
“So basically every cool thing in Austin has hotelier Liz Lambert’s signature on it. Jo’s is where I go to do work about three days a week just to get out of my office.”
“Hotel San Jose is my go-to place for drinks and my first recommendation for where to stay if you’re an out-of-towner. This is also one of Liz Lambert’s many gifts to Austin. There’s nothing she does that I’m not crazy about. She’s a bit of a legend in my mind, and I have more than a bit of a crush on her.”
“I love Moscow Mules, and the best one in Austin is at Contigo. It’s also the best outdoor-eating space you can find!”
Photographs by Kelsey Shaw.
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Weather Vain: Detroit, Michigan - 72 and Partly Cloudy
There’s some coolness happening in Detroit right now, and a downright lovely day like this one is the perfect time to explore it. Here’s what to wear to get down with The D. —erica
Clockwise from top left:
+ An M.Patmos silk tee cool enough for Corktown.
+ A warm-hued Annie Costello Brown cuff that will look appropriate next to a scotch Crimson Dynamo cocktail at Sugar House.
+ The sort of jumbo Steven Alan tote ready for a camera and some time at the Motown Museum.
+ Elizabeth and James flats—kick ‘em off and tuck into bed at the way-cool inn Honor & Folly.
+ Tiny studded Tom Binns hoops that feel very Rock City.
+ A Haute Hippie blazer that dresses things right up for dinner at John D.
+ White MiH jeans—because the weather’s totally asking for ‘em.
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Weather Vain: Miami, Florida - 84 With a Chance of Thunderstorms
Party in the city where the heat is on…or where it’s pouring down rain. EITHER WAY. Here’s what to wear in Mee-ah-mee on a day like today. (Keely! We miss you! Come back!) —erica
Clockwise from top left:
+ A Loeffler Randall clutch, as fun as drinks at The Freehand.
+ The sort of so-easy Raquel Allegra dress that’s happy to live in a suitcase.
+ A Rag & Bone hat, protecting your hair from any T-storming—or, if the clouds part, the sun along the Wynwood Art Walk.
+ Rain sandals! Brought to you by Melissa.
+ Take this clunky-cool Jennifer Fisher bracelet to Joe’s Stone Crab or Yardbird, and don’t worry about getting messy.
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Weather Vain: Joshua Tree, California - 54 and Partly Cloudy
Take a hike—we wish someone would tell us that today and that we’d get to jet west to chill with some Joshua trees and desert wildlife. Here’s what we’d wear after a morning making our way up Warren Peak. —erica
Clockwise from top left:
+ A Topo Designs bag that can hold things that qualify as gear—and plenty of water.
+ An easy-to-slip-on cuff by Giles & Brother fit for fire-pitting with friends at the Mojave Sands Motel.
+ Theyskens’ Theory boots that are hardly hike-appropriate but can totally handle some bumpy terrain.
+ The sort of leather-accented denim shirt by Iro that will look approp at Crossroads Cafe.
+ A Leigh & Luca scarf—cause you know it’s gonna get cold when the sun goes down.
+ Rag & Bone camo pants that will blend right in with the cacti.
+ A poncho! Feels right, no? This cozy Vince one will make you want to troll the farmers’ market for dates (as in, the kind you eat) all day.
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Kelly Wearstler
How did Kelly Wearstler develop her killer aesthetic sensibility? By auction- and flea-hopping all through the eighties. “In one row, I would see things that were turn-of-the-century, French and Italian pieces, and in the next row, there’d be something completely modern,” Kelly explains. “Educating my eye and seeing these different objects play against each other made me fall in love with art.”
Her next move? Art school, naturally. The South Carolina native packed her bags and headed for Boston where she waited tables by day and spent her nights studying graphic design and architecture at the Massachusetts College of Art. After graduation, she signed up for an apprenticeship with world-renowned graphic designer Milton Glaser (That “I ♥ NY” logo? Yep, that’s him) to put her already-sophisticated design skills to work. By 1998, she was well on her to becoming an interior-designer powerhouse, starting with the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills and moving onto the Viceroy Hotels and Bergdorf Goodman’s BG Restaurant—oh, and her own home line, which oozes her signature raw-meets-refined style.
But Kelly found no need to stop at décor. With a loooong list of happy clients already under her very stylish belt, she decided to bring her skills to, well, belts—and jewelry, jackets, dresses, and bags, taking her namesake label into the apparel-and-accessories realm in 2011. “You just have to be focused,” she explains of her envy-inducing empire. “I’m confident, I know what I want, and I know what I don’t like. There’s no, ‘Let me think about it.’ It’s just, ‘Yes. I like it, let’s move on.’” —monica derevjanik
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Scout & Catalogue Delivers the Ultimate Puerto Vallarta Tour
No, really—just try to top it.
Puerto Vallarta has gone from sleepy fishing town to one of Mexico’s hotspots, and while most guides will tell you to take a walk on the Malecon (you really should) or wander the streets of the picturesque Zona Romantica, Scout & Catalogue’s Breanna Musgrove made PV her home for long enough to learn its secrets. Here, she spills them, along with pics from her time in the country. —jackie varriano
Bonus: Breanna’s edition—a hand-dyed clutch—is perfect for any vacation you might be planning.
Complimentary tequila and a little R&R on the rooftop patio of Hotel Hafa in Sayulita.
SLEEPING
Hacienda San Angel: “This boutique hotel is situated right behind the main church. Get ready for a fantastic dinner on a rooftop terrace with views of the mountains and the sun setting into the Bay of Banderas.”
A Mexican folk art shop in the beautiful colonial town of San Sebastian.
SHOPPING
Fabric Stores: “If you are interested in anything DIY, you will be in heaven in Mexico. Check out Parisina, Moda Telas, and Super Telas, as well as the amazing notion stores that sell every type of ribbon, glitter, or button your heart desires.”
Querubines: “One of my favorite stores! They carry a beautiful selection of folk craft, antiques, and other quirky finds from all over Mexico.”
Tlaquepaque: “My other favorite shop in the city is Tlaquepaque. The shop is filled with pottery, wooden toys, and glassware from the Tlaquepaque region of Guadalajara.”
A typical Mexican market, similar to the one located across the street from the local cemetery.
EATING
Café Oro Verde: “The best coffee in the city comes from Café Oro Verde—the proprietors have been making coffee for the last 19 years from beans harvested in the Sierra Madre.”
Tortillerias: “I always make sure to drop into a tortilleria and grab a half kilo of fresh tortillas to have in the hotel room. A half kilo will set you back about 5 pesos and should be more than enough. If you don’t speak Spanish, just repeat after me, ‘Medio kilo, porfa.”
A beautiful quiet beach found along the road south of PV heading towards Mismaloya.
SUNNING
Hidden (Public!) Beaches: “A little known fact about Mexico is that no one can lay claim to the beach. Some of the best beaches in Puerto Vallarta lay just south of the city. Check out Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlan, or take a water taxi to Yelapa. In order to dissuade the common man from sharing their beautiful beaches, most property owners try to hide the trails down to the water. How do you find them? Just keep an eye out for large collections of cars parked inconveniently along the side of the road. Where there are cars, there is a beach.”
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Weather Vain: Santa Monica, California - 72 and Partly Cloudy
We’re in L.A. this week! And, to celebrate, I figured I oughta put together an ensemble that would be perfect should we make our way a smidge west today. Ah, ocean breezes. —erica
Clockwise from top left:
+ Sure, they’re glittery, but the shape of these Loeffler Randall sandals have a total walking-the-pier vibe.
+ This Pamela Love ring adds a pop of color to an otherwise neutral outfit—goes well with the lush greenery (and the lobby of the Viceroy), no?
+ A silk Vanessa Bruno jumpsuit with a forgiving waist gives you the option to order the cheese plate and sweet potato fries at Father’s Office.
+ This chunky necklace is by Gabriela Artigas—who lives a quick drive away (well, depending on the traffic) in West Hollywood.
+ With its open weave, this bronze-y Kelly Bergin sweater is just warm enough for a pre-sunset beach stroll.
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To Recap: Guides to 5 Great American Cities—Including Where to Stay
If you’re still looking for a summer vacation, we got you: Book yourself a roundtrip ticket to one of these cities, and let our designers (residents or former-residents, all of them) show you the way. Oh, and: We have some thoughts on where you should crash at night, too, so all you’re left to do is a Kayak search. YOU’RE WELCOME. —erica
1) Sara Dudzinsky’s Belly-Busting Trip Around Portland, Oregon
Clyde Commons for eating.
Where to Stay: We love us some Ace Hotel, but we’re really sweating the idea of heading 90 minutes outside of the city and renting this prefab on the water in Oceanside.
2) Laura Lombardi’s Chicago Hit List
Eskell for shopping.
Where to Stay: It’s all about Longman & Eagle. The Logan Square restaurant is one of the buzziest in the city, and, if you rent one of the six upstairs rooms, you can pass out right after stuffing yourself (isn’t that the dream?).
3) Rachel Albright’s Grand Tour of Richmond, Virginia
VMFA for arting.
Where to Stay: The Jefferson Hotel has been killing it since 1895.
4) Susan Domelsmith’s Austin Agenda
Barton Springs for swimming.
Where to Stay: The so-cool, just-throwback enough Hotel San Jose and its sister spot Hotel Saint Cecilia are both so rad that it’s hard to choose, but the bar at the former serves what might be the best michelada in town—FTW.
5) Elizabeth Knight’s 10-Stop Savannah Itinerary
Tybee Island for laying low.
Where to Stay: The Johnny Mercer room at the Dresser Palmer House has its own private second-floor balcony. Yup, it doesn’t get much better than that.
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Tripping: Lizzie Fortunato Reveals a Still-Secret Uruguay Retreat
‘Tis the season to get your summer vacation on. And in case you’re having a warm-weather mental block, we’re calling in some of the well-traveled designers to share the places they’ve visited and loved. Here, jewelry phenom Lizzie Fortunato reveals a South American find that is getting more and more popular by the minute. (Also, PSA: You can now score some of Lizzie’s rad-as-all-hell travel finds on her brand-new e-commerce site!)
Trip pics!
“My mom, sister, and I visited El Garzon in Garzón, Uruguay a few winters ago, and it was one of the most heavenly spots I’ve ever been—rustic with aesthetic perfection and good food. The chef Francis Mallmann founded the restaurant there, and the living areas were brimming with coffee-table books and international magazines. The area was still pretty undiscovered a few years back, so you could ride horses and walk around the town’s dusty streets without passing more than a handful of people, a vintage car, and buildings with perfect marigold and periwinkle paint jobs.” —lizzie
