Michael Kors S14

"I got intrigued by the idea of convergence," Michael said. "Forties and Seventies. Romantic but tailored. Casual but polished. All that ying and yang."

Ying and yang me please, because this collection is just flirting with cheeky charm. I've always been mad for Michael Kors ready-to-wear, but this collection just sends me over the edge. Structured, yet clean wispy lines, carefree classic pieces with plenty of python, Michael Kors just keeps reinventing the wheel of classic tailoring for the All-American gal. Below, a brief snippet from a review by WWD to keep you gushing:

"It was with his dresses and jackets with manageably strong shoulders that Kors referenced the Forties most clearly. But he offered alternatives to tailoring in the form of spectacular knits, including a dreamy hand-crocheted cardigan and matching dress, and a slouchy cardigan worn over a tank and skirt — as unassuming as it was divine. And for the girl who prefers to wear her casual mien with a little sass: a white fox ring over a cotton boy shirt and shorts."

All images above courtesy of VOGUE. Click here to see images of the fun backstage at the Lincoln Center runway show.

Sugar Magnolias

Recently, my best friend and I hosted a cocktail party which was great fun thanks to proper planning and the perfect guest list. As I flitted about during our fête humming along to "Bennie and the Jets", I made several satisfying observations: cocktails were being habitually refreshed, laughter effortlessly flooded the living room and patio, the charcuterie platter was (as expected) a total hit, and the punch bowl I inherited finally made its debut since its journey out to San Francisco. Life was grand.

The silver punch bowl, now providing our guests with a lethal dose of "Pink Panty Punch" (thank you, Camilla!) had at one time aided my Grandmother and Great Grandmother while entertaining at their plantation home just seventy miles west of New Orleans. Glenwood Plantation (pictured above), was a large Queen-Anne-style house just off Highway 29 that functioned as a sugar cane plantation my Great Grandfather Edward Preston Munson owned and operated. The home, described as "an atmosphere of romantic charm and beauty" on a vintage postcard, was surrounded by magnolia trees and mossy oaks. After the war, the cane-growing business took a hit and the mosaic disease destroyed many of the crops. Slowly, many of the grand plantations fell in ruin. Being the "betwitching" and "tiny heroic woman" (as described below) that was my Great Grandmother Gertrude, she essentially saved the plantation by taking in guests at Glenwood. She was a true southern bell who was known by all for her entertaining. Among the many tales, it is said that she baked 300 angel-food cakes for one party at Glenwood and would lure her guests into the drawing room for her infamous café brûlot after a southern meal around her carved walnut table.

My Great Grandmother Gertrude was profiled in the May 1955 installment of Reader's Digest's "The Most Unforgettable Character I've Ever Met" series. For those that know me well, I too, love entertaining. I never had the pleasure of meeting my Great Grandmother, however I can only surmise that she would truly be one of "the most unforgettable characters I've met". Time to plan my next gathering.

Read on below.

Take Me To Tennessee

I first read about Blackberry Farm last year in an issue of Forbes and instantly became intrigued by this gem in the Smoky Mountains. The 4,200-acre resort defies the conventional concept of a "luxury resort" and boy, do I like that. Think mounted fox-hunting, sporting clays or perhaps their upcoming 'Wine on the Fly' event.

In 1939, while selecting the perfect parcel of land with her husband, Mrs. Florida Lasier of Chicago snagged her silk stockings on a thicket of blackberry bushes, and thus, the name Blackberry Farm was born. Since its inception, the farm has remained family owned and today, is run by proprietor Sam Bealle. Sam grew up on the farm and after an array of impressive culinary experiences and between marrying his wife Mary Celeste and having four beautiful children, took on the task of holding the business. What a business it has become. Blackberry Farm has received a bounty of accolades throughout the years, including "#1 Hotel for Food Lovers in America" by Bon Appetit, "#1 Service in the U.S." by Travel and Leisure and the Wine Spectator Grand Award, just to name a few.

Although I have yet to go, it seems the farm inherently commands romance. I have a vision of taking in the early morning mist from a rocking chair with a loved one, while admiring the Black Walnut and Persimmon trees, or enjoying a quiet soak in the oversized soaking tub in one of their Hill Cottages. It is a place that has had me dreaming for quite some time and I suspect, one that will keep my dreams alive long after my prospective visit.

Photos above are via Town & Country.

About Town: Bulgari at the de Young

The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950–1990

Wednesday evening marked the opening party at the de Young celebrating their new exhibit "The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950–1990". The whos-who of San Francisco and beyond gussied up to toast to the Bulgari archives that will make their official debut this Saturday, September 21 with final display on February 17, 2014. The collection will feature "150 showstopping pieces" along with several breathtaking pieces from the Elizabeth Taylor collection. We all know too well that iconic photograph of Elizabeth dripping in emeralds courtesy of her lover Richard Burton. Her marriage to Richard was one of the grandest romances in history, while also a legacy of her passion for the world's finest jewels.

For the visual scoop on the evening's happenings as well as other parties about town, be sure to follow the fantastical freelancer @missbigelow on Instagram and check out SFGate.

Latest Love Affair

With my Father in town, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to check out the Dawydiak Showroom I've been dying to visit for some time. In the 4th grade, I used to sit on our stone wall with my childhood friend guessing what kind of car was barreling around the corner, based on its unique purr and design I'd sense in my peripheral. Like a top shelf glass of brandy and a cigar, encountering a beautiful car equates to savoring that perfect nightcap. The classics? Those gals just do it for me every time.

My Father and two of his friends accompanied me to the showroom to acquire intel on the inventory. The specialists at Dawydiak are one of the few that offer a vehicle consignment program in the area, in addition to collision care and service for Porsche, Spyker and Vintage imports. Their mantra is "obsessed and proud if it". You bet they are. Having just moved to a new location, the showroom was absolutely flawless, the light filtering in through the garage doors so peaceful it was as if I were floating on a Jaguar XK-E Roadster in heaven. Sam Cameron, the lovely sales gentleman who greeted us, gave us a special tour of the new collision care/service department on the third level - so new, concrete was still drying. Here, the fun continued as we meandered through a sea of imports getting dressed up with new coats of paint, racing tires, custom-made bucket seats in luscious red leather... the list goes on.

Below are the highlights from our visit including the subject of my new love affair, a 1957 Jaguar XK140 in an elegant pearly white (just look at her backside!). For those of you that need to see this baby in action, perhaps this throwback will help (fast-forward to 2:26). Also worth noting, the 1965 Porsche 356 in a custom baby blue with navy interior (also featured above), rumored to be the proud possession of the showroom's owner. Still drooling along with me? Not to worry, the WSJ's article this month can help make all your automotive dreams a reality. Steve McQueen, get back here! Oooooga!

The Deep

Responsible for arguably one of the most seductive water scenes in film, Jacqueline Bisset stuns in a soaking wet t-shirt in the 1977 film The Deep. Although the film isn't considered to be a total blockbuster, I do love watching the makeup kiss scene featuring the English bombshell and her lover David Sanders (played by Nick Nolte). That's right, mustache et all.

Emerald Sea & an Il Pellicano Day

I don't know if I'm more in love with the story about the hotel's evolution or the tales of bronzed jet-setters drinking limonata by the saltwater pool, but I do know, I am going.Known for luring those who love "barefoot luxury", Il Pellicano has been a sought out destination in Porto Ercole since the early 60's.

The hotel's founders, American glass heiress Patricia and handsome British aviator Michael Graham (above), met by fate at a Beverly Hills soirée one evening in 1952. Just a few years prior, Michael earned the nickame "Crash" after miraculously surviving the crash of a Pan Am Clipper in the Syrian desert. (The crash killed 14 people, many burned beyond recognition). Taken by this heroic gent, Patricia, (who was married at the time to a WWII pilot), tore the New York Times article out of the newspaper for safe keeping. Fast-forward two years after the fabled crash and Patricia (now a widow), and her heroic Michael become mutually enchanted with each other and marry. Fairytale? I think so.

After they settled down at a large estate on Pelican Point Road in Marin County, the couple started looking for an European escape, ultimately shaking hands with Prince Alessandro Borghese on a plot of land in October of 1962. Initially, they wanted to keep the location private as a celebration of their love and the surrounding Tuscan coast, but later decided to invite their glamorous friends and respective families to relish in its magic. The vintage photos below reflect the hotel in its true glory, a quiet playground by day for those that desired to spend their afternoons engrossed in a game of backgammon adorned in silky kaftans, wet bathing suits and straw hats. In the evening, the hotel glittered with sun-kissed guests recounting tales of their travels over cocktails and music. Today, the hotel is a Relais & Châteaux property continually regarded as one of the most unique, romantic resorts in the world.

...So who is coming with? Just so happens I found an idyllic seafront villa to enjoy after our stint at Il Pellicano. Ciao!

Photographs by Slim Aarons and John Swope from the book, Hotel Il Pellicano.

Hey There, Autumn.

Chunky fisherman sweaters, chaps, garters & full bodied tresses, this is one of my favorite editorials featuring the Seattle born Kendra Spears. Talk about S-E-X-Y. Not to mention, it makes me a tad nostalgic thinking about the turn of the season back east.The classic beauty turned bombshell recently married Prince Rahim Aga Khan – whose grandfather Prince Aly Khan was married from 1947 to 1953 to Hollywood sex goddess Rita Hayworth.

Cedarside

My Grandparents' Adirondack camp is and was a very special place to me and many of my family members. In the summers of my younger years, my family and I would road-trip from salty Newport, Rhode Island "up" to the quiet lakeside town of Essex, New York. Here, was the camp my Grandmother and Grandfather officially winterized in the early 90's so they could call it their home year round. (Although snowdrifts somehow still made their way into the maids' quarters). The property was dusted by tall cedar trees, black-eyed Susans and the incessant chirping of yellow finches and crickets. It was a haven among a landscape already so still and majestic. Before my bedtime, which usually coincided with the commencement of adult happy hour, I'd sit on the covered porch with my Grandparents admiring the mountains through a tattered pair of binoculars. Once, I sat at my Grandmother's side while we were greeted by a family of hummingbirds amidst a raging thunderstorm. By day, I'd help the grown ups clear the rocks by the lake's edge to help keep our "sandy" beach in tact. My Uncle Greg would entertain us with sensational tales of "Champ", the notorious sea monster in our beloved Lake Champlain.

Time spent at Cedarside always evoked a carefree mindset. The only "time" that was monitored was when the local ice cream shop closed. The camp was always abuzz with visitors that would drop by - both human and animal. One morning, we woke to find raccoon prints on the kitchen windowsill from a visitor who helped itself to our flour and sugar, and a serious rescue mission was made when my Mother discovered a poisonous snake lurking under my crib during a mid-day nap.

Adventures at the camp, on the mountains and in the lake were conquered and memories were formulated throughout many decades. Till this day and for always, the Adirondacks will continue to have a piece of my soul. Below, a quote I admire:

Give me the islands of the upper air,

all mountains

and the towering mountain trees.

- Hilda Doolittle

Above: The not so sandy shore of our Lake Champlain. Across the way you can see Vermont.

"Queen of Gamine"

If there is anyone "having a moment" in the fashion world right now, it is definitely the undeniably blasé Parisienne, Isabel Marant. Known for her effortless sheer tees, slim slacks, studded boots and the like, her collections always ooze with that "French cool". Her label was founded in 1994 and despite a consistent 30% rise in sales each year and overwhelming acclaim from it-girls around the globe, she still manages to brush away the jetset-fashionista mentality. On weekends, she retreats to her clapboard cottage in Fontainebleau with her designer hubby Jérôme Dreyfuss. By day, they soak in the pristine air among the quiet sounds of nature and the banks of the Loing River, while tending to garden chores and cooking for dinner guests. When their son Tal enters his 8 year old evening slumber, the duo sip brandy among the stars while fending off nocturnal visitors. In a piece written by the NYTimes, it was revealed that Isabel's husband gifted her with a military sink for her birthday. A woman with smashing taste who embraces life's simple pleasures, now that's my kind of gal! Below are images from Isabel Marant's 2014 Resort Collection.