Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2015 i Town & Country

ALL GOOD THINGS Thank you for the radiant pictures of and delightful article about Kirsten Dunst in your September issue [“Queen of Surprises”]. Is there a more luminous and stunning presence in front of a camera lens today? Her superbly committed and layered performance in Melancholia demonstrates a dramatic range that so far her films have only scratched the surface of. Dale Winogura, LOS ANGELES OVERHEARD ON SOCIAL MEDIA @1QUALTHEFINEST: Read about style icon Olivier Saillard in @TANDCMAG. Why was “style icon” never an option during career day? @BOOKBEAGLEBENZ: “A special pullout guide to Switzerland.” That’s rich. @TANDCMAG @SUMMERWIND41490: The styling by @MRWILLKAHN on p. 246 of @TANDCMAG’s #SEPTEMBERISSUE is CHANGING LANES A while back I wrote you criticizing your magazine for losing its informative style of keeping us abreast…

Here’s an enigma wrapped in a conundrum tucked into an intrecciato leather bag: When a thing’s greatest virtue is discretion, how do you publicize it? In the 1970s, Bottega Veneta capsulized that principle with an anti-slogan: “When your own initials are enough…” The company lost track of that mission in the ’90s, however, so in 2001, when designer Tomas Maier took over as creative director, his first step was to swear off advertising for a year. Instead he concentrated on the basics: getting to know the leather artisans at the atelier and steering the latest acquisition of the Gucci Group (now Kering) back to the Venetian shop’s foundations. Still, it wasn’t long before Maier emerged from his selfimposed silence with a manifesto of his own design, the Cabat bag, a…

Paternal GUIDANCE THE GLORY OF A DOUBLEBREASTED SUIT, PASSED DOWN THREE GENERATIONS. Technical ADVANTAGE Campaigning enters the digital age. If presidential history provides any indication, a sports watch may be what you need to guide you to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Jogger Bill Clinton wore his trusted Timex Ironman, basketball player Barack Obama has his Fitbit Surge, and Gerald Ford had the distinction of wearing the first digital watch in the White House: a Hamilton Pulsar. The digital timepieces in famed adventure watchmaker Suunto’s new Essential Collection can be programmed to be anything from a barometer to a storm alarm—perfect insurance against any unexpected bumps on the campaign trail.…

There is no mistaking a Buccellati gem. One can be immediately identified by the house’s signature techniques, like the rigato engraving, in which fine lines are handcut into the metal, or the lace method, which gives a bracelet a sinuous, weblike movement. One other unique trait: Actual Buccellatis are still designing. The company, founded in 1919 by Mario Buccellati (above), is now in the hands of his grandchildren, with Andrea and Maria Cristina focused on jewelry. Andrea’s daughter Lucrezia became the brand’s first female designer last year. She and her father often work on pieces together, bridging age-old craftsmanship and the tastes of a new generation. Their collaboration is clearly visible in the new Opera collection, which has Buccellati’s singular imprint but is more varied than previous collections, with skinny…

FOR ADDITIONAL READINGS BY KATHARINE MERLIN, GO TO TOWNANDCOUNTRYMAG.COM SCORPIO OCTOBER 24–NOVEMBER 22 John Cleese The new Moon of the 11th is all about stating your purpose and reaching out to those who can help you further your aims. Personally, though, you’re going to crave some private time to sort out hidden issues in your closest relationships. The freedom to be yourself is something you seek, but developments near the 22nd are telling you to be a diplomat and not to force sensitive issues. Financially, your impulse to be cautious is spot-on. SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23–DECEMBER 21 Taylor Swift Your social circles can widen this month if you refuse to be a hermit and get out and about. The Sun in Scorpio prompts you to do some serious soul searching, though,…

RECEIVING AN HONOR FROM THE QUEEN CAN MAKE KNIGHTS AND LADIES OUT OF HOLLYWOOD REBELS AND ROCK STARS. BUT AS SHE MULLS HER NEW YEAR’S LIST, THERE IS A RUMBLING IN HER COURT. HAS THE AWARDING OF MEDALS OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE TURNED INTO A ROYAL CIRCUS? CHRISTOPHER MASON DECIPHERS ALL THE MONARCHICAL HIEROGLYPHICS. Ardent fans of Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch may still be reeling from his defeat in the high-stakes competition of this year’s Oscars, when fellow Brit Eddie Redmayne won for his compelling portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. The announcement of the Queen’s Birthday Honors in June, however, provided a curious twist: The 38-yearold, Harrow-educated Cumberbatch—an unlikely Hollywood heartthrob—was appointed a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), one rung below a…

THE JETSETTING SOCIETY DARLING FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE “PUNK PRINCESS” HAS GONE DOMESTIC. CAN YOU BLAME HER? Excerpted from House of Thurn und Taxis Interview by John Richardson Photographs by Todd Eberle Gloria von Thurn und Taxis first visited the Palace of St. Emmeram in Regensburg, Germany, as the 19-year-old date of its owner, Johannes, 11th Prince of Thurn und Taxis, a descendant of the first postmaster of the Holy Roman Empire. Her own parents, both titled Europeans, fled to Africa just after the Second World War to escape the advancing Soviet armies, leaving everything behind. She met the 53-year-old Johannes in 1979, and the pair were soon married. Princess Gloria “TNT” cut a striking figure—mixing formal eveningwear with new wave hairdos—and a wide swath through 1980s society, making friends…

CUSTOM ENGAGEMENTS Roger Vivier's new bridal shoe collection can accommodate a bride's color and heel height preferences—an the insole can be monogrammed. This season, at select Stuart Weitzman stores, the brand's beloved Nudist sandals can be customized with 64 shades of Swarovski crystal. Class PASS Five dance studios that will have you keeping time in no time. CHEVY CHASE BALLROOM WASHINGTON, DC Specializing in the Lindy Hop and the jitterbug, this inside-the-Beltway favorite is known for its swingers— the dancing kind. FROM $135, CHEVYCHASEBALLROOM.COM ELMAYER DANCE SCHOOL VIENNA The Viennese waltz is the specialty of this century-old dance and etiquette school located on the grounds of the Pallavicini Palace. Plan for at least three sessions to master the waltz’s tricky three-four timing. FROM $70, ELMAYER.AT MILLENNIUM DANCE COMPLEX LOS ANGELES…

Mr. and Mrs. Clooney went back to the country where they first met for their nuptials in September 2014, choosing its most romantic city: Venice. Other brides would be wise to follow suit. The Aman Canal Grande, host to the couple’s ceremony and reception, is the unrivaled choice, with its Rococo details, frescoed ballroom, and Michelin-starred chef. There’s also a garden (a rarity in Venice) for those who don’t have to worry about prying paparazzi.…

Welcome to T&C TIME & JEWELS, your annual guide to our favorite pieces for every occasion in life. From dazzling statement jewelry to iconic new timepieces, you’ll discover the latest creations from today’s leading designers, luxury brands, and watchmakers. Whether you’re looking for a sophisticated piece for everyday wear or something more spectacular for a black-tie event, your imagination will be captivated. You’ll find stunning jewelry crafted in gold and precious metals, diamonds, pearls, and colored gemstones, plus striking timepieces that artfully demonstrate innovation and craftsmanship. We invite you to explore this magnificent array of fine jewelry and watches, where you’ll find just the right piece to bring new sparkle to life’s most memorable moments.…

Established in 1789, Backes & Strauss, the oldest diamond dealer in the world, launched their exclusive diamond watch brand in 2006. These masterpieces are created in partnership with the esteemed workshops of Franck Muller Watchland. Marriage with such an expert watchmaker produces elegant timepieces featuring diamonds of the finest quality custom-cut into unique shapes, polished, and then hand set to perfection. Drawing on their history, heritage, and the outstanding skill of their craftsmen, Backes & Strauss is able to offer endless possibilities in creating the ultimate diamond watch. Backes & Strauss watches combine a genius for horology with a passion for diamonds. The two go hand in hand, as the diamonds are not mere added sparkle, but are fundamental to the watch designs. The brilliance of the diamonds draws attention…

With a ring currently on display at the Carnegie Museum and a proclamation from the Pittsburgh City Council recognizing her “outstanding career in combining poetry, history, and literature with her commitment to socially and environmentally responsible jewelry making,” expert goldsmith and award-winning jeweler Donna Distefano is celebrating 21 years of business in New York City. Established in 1994 in New York City, the eponymous atelier of Donna Distefano, open by appointment only, is an intimate haven of inspiration located high above the street in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. Here her clients enjoy personal attention, meeting one-on-one with Donna in the same space where museum-quality heirloom jewels are made by hand. Using techniques that have endured for centuries, Donna creates jewelry in 22 and 18-karat gold and platinum with rare precious gems,…

In less than 20 years, the Franck Muller brand has become one of the most reputable names in the world of fine watchmaking. Established in 1991 by the talented young watchmaker Franck Muller and Vartan Sirmakes, a specialist in haute horlogerie, the brand’s success is founded on its technical expertise and innovative design. Franck Muller is proud to present the new 7 Days Power Reserve Skeleton collection. The uniqueness of this skeletonized collection lies in the caliber, which features a seven-day power reserve. Powered by two barrels, the mechanical movement is precisely designed, manufactured, and decorated in-house. This housecrafted treasure is adorned by 21 jewels and is available in an 18-karat gold or stainless steel version in a round or cintrée curvex case. The new Franck Muller Vanguard collection ensures…

Over the past 30 years, JYE Luxury Collection (Jye’s International Inc.) has evolved from a major provider of fine South Sea and cultured pearls to a high-end designer/manufacturer of classic and contemporary diamond and precious gemstone jewelry in 950 platinum and 18-karat gold. Since their humble beginnings, their services have expanded internationally, reaching across the globe. They now prevail as one of the best manufacturers in the high-end fine jewelry industry. JYE Luxury Collection has been an award winner for five consecutive years at the JCK Jewelers’ Choice Awards. JYE takes pride in selecting only the finest diamonds and gemstones and crafting beautiful pieces of artwork with exceptional quality. Their signature style is inspired by natural scenery, art, and casual elegance. Designer Jennifer Chang creates pieces that remain timeless when…

An avid admirer of local rocks and fossils from an early age, “rock hound” Pamela Huizenga evolved from childhood collector to trained lapidary by the age of sixteen. In the mountains of North Carolina, under the tutelage of renowned lapidary Jerry Call, Pamela’s love and fascination with nature transformed into a deep appreciation for the art of stone faceting. Her inevitable foray into jewelry as a profession opened up a lifetime of opportunity for Pamela. Over the span of 14 years, she created custom pieces, important statement stones, and uniquely elegant engagement rings for private clients. However, the sales focus left a void in her creative soul, and, with mixed feelings, she stepped away from jewelry to raise a family and pursue other artistic endeavors. It was through this hiatus…

Developing at least one new piece of jewelry every day, fine jewelry designer Sylva Yepremian creates stunning, one-of-a-kind designs, wherein each piece starts as a simple rough sketch. No two pieces are alike, as every style is completely and meticulously hand wrought with the utmost care and attention to detail. Sylva’s passion for jewelry began at a young age, eventually evolving into the prestigious fine jewelry collection Sylva & Cie. Born in Lebanon and raised in Paris, at age 16 Sylva moved to Los Angeles with her family to run their jewelry business. While Sylva always had an interest in the fine arts, she completed her baccalaureate studies in languages. Sylva’s father Jirair worked in production for various prominent jewelry houses in Europe, including Cartier Paris, and it was he…

TAMARA COMOLLI Tamara Comolli’s endless curiosity, passion for color, and love of gemstones began during her childhood—when she created modern jewelry from family heirlooms—and eventually shaped her vision for the Tamara Comolli Fine Jewelry Collection. Playful, inventive, and casually elegant, all of the Tamara Comolli collections are beautifully handcrafted in 18-karat gold, with only the finest hand selected, quality stones. Comolli is known for using colorful gemstones that are seldom found in fine jewelry, including ocean jasper from Madagascar, green turquoise from Turkmenistan and Tibet, and white cacholong from Australia. “From the very start, my intention was to create a brand, an expression of everyday luxury, that combines a sense of understatement and playfulness, handmade in Italy, with the highest possible standards,” says Comolli. Born in Munich, she spent her…

E.B. White once quipped, “Advertisers are the interpreters of our dreams.” In the era of helicopter parents and the Tiger Mom, those dreams must involve family, as even the most avant-garde campaigns are pushing the establishment. It turns out the trendiest thing in fashion may be the most traditional unit of them all. The power of the power clan is nothing new in Hollywood (or here at T&C). Witness the Ewings, the Carringtons, and the multiple Kennedy miniseries. Watchmaker Patek Philippe understood the tribal pull early, launching its Generations campaign in 1996. The ads depict a handsome mother and daughter or father and son. “You never actually own a Patek,” the tagline goes. “You merely look after it for the next generation.” In 2012, Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz made headlines…

Even though the company is about selling the new, Restoration Hardware values the old. Its latest store, RH Chicago: The Gallery at the Historic Three Arts Club, in the city’s elegant Gold Coast neighborhood, is the third historic building the California-based retailer has repurposed; this one is a graceful 1914 brick structure by the renowned turn-of-the-last-century firm Holabird and Roche. (It follows transformations of a 19th-century museum in Boston and a neoclassical post office in Greenwich, Connecticut.) Renovated by James Gillam, of Backen, Gillam & Kroeger Architects, the Chicago space is also the backdrop for what RH chairman and CEO Gary Friedman calls a “disruptive, game-changing” approach to selling high-end home furnishings, by steadily replacing the brand’s existing smaller locations with much larger, next-generation “galleries.” Here customers can find everything…

Less than a year after opening the $143 million Louis Vuitton Foundation, designed by Frank Gehry, in Paris, the French house unveiled a smaller museum in Asnières-sur-Seine, on the outskirts of the city, during couture fashion week. La Galerie, a 6,500-square-foot space open to the public by appointment, is on the grounds of a 19th-century Vuitton family home and atelier. For the project, curator Judith Clark edited the property’s vast archives down to 400 objects. One curiosity was “Malle Fleurs,” a tiny trunk made from a Lebanese cedar that grew in the garden, found atop a desk. In the early 1900s Georges Vuitton filled similar trunks with fresh flowers to thank top clients. Inspired by this gesture, the company is reissuing the collectible, still crafted at Asnières, at select LV…

Legend has it that a Burmese ruby laid beneath the foundations of a building brings good fortune. If one happens to be tucked beneath the floors of the new jewelry salon at Bergdorf Goodman, however, it will be of a variety found in a recently discovered mine in Mozambique. The same geographic provenance that granted the Burmese gem its status as mythical talisman and “stone of kings” proved a curse when imports from Burma to the U.S. were banned, most recently—and forcefully— with the 2008 JADE Act. The law required jewelers to either use antique material imported before it took hold or look to other scarlet stones, such as red garnet, spinel, or tourmaline. Which is why the jewelry universe, strained for high-quality rubies, rejoiced when Gemfields, a company that…

THE IDEA Olivier Reza, who took over his father’s Paris atelier in 2008, conceived of the Dune cuff, which began as a wax mold. THE METAL The mold was used to create a cuff in rose gold, one half at a time. The pieces were then brushed and shined. THE STONES Brilliant-cut diamonds were meticulously set into rows on the cuff to determine their final placement. THE FINAL TOUCHES The two halves were connected, the diamonds ready to be secured in their carefully chosen settings. THE FINISHED PIECE Eighteen months after the sketch, the cuff is complete; it features two pearshaped diamonds and 152 brilliant-cut diamonds.…

There are times that call for drastic athletic interventions. Take, for instance, last summer, which I spent in East Hampton subsisting on Round Swamp Farm’s triberry pie and Aperol spritzes. My waistline doubled and my SoulCycle classes went by the wayside. When I met my friend Jana Pasquel de Shapiro, president of the Jaipur and New York jeweler Munnu the Gem Palace, for the kale salad at the Mark Hotel in September, she suggested I see Dennis Remorca, the trainer who had seen her (and husband Adam) through three pregnancies. Initially I balked. For one thing, trainers can be expensive. For another, I travel a lot, so it’s hard to commit to a long-term schedule. “He changed the way I think about exercise,” Jana declared. “I was seven months pregnant,…

I had a boyfriend once whose mother, when she was charmed by his bad behavior, would roll her eyes and say to me, in her languid English accent, “You’re a verrry patient person, Maile.” But he was not my boyfriend for very long, because that was not true. Patience is a virtue, but it’s not one of mine. I aspire to be more patient. I try to remember the line attributed to Napoleon going into battle: “Dress me slowly, for I am in a hurry.” I try to listen to the voice, hard to hear, that reminds you that a speeding ticket will make you even later. When you’re in a hurry is exactly when you need to slow down. I graduated from college in a rush to figure out…

“POWER IS NOT A MEANS; IT IS AN END.” —George Orwell, from the novel 1984 “Some days the first coffee just laughs at you,” Katherine Waterston is saying wearily to the cup in front of her. “It says, ‘Oh, you think I’m going to wake you up? Sucker.’” If Waterston is having a hard time rising and shining, there’s no evidence of it on her applecheeked face, framed charmingly with frizz protruding from a careless bun. We’ve settled in at New York’s the Smile, in Noho, not far from her apartment, and in her white T-shirt and jeans, with a silver dog tag hanging from her neck, Waterston looks like a tomboyish NYU student, not a 35-yearold actress who has been at it for nearly 10 years. “My agents call…

Thanksgiving tables often tend toward the rustic and the robust, worthy celebrations of the bounties of the fall harvest. But when an occasion calls for the family china—updated here with malachite-printed plates, eggplant-hued champagne coupes, and artfully mismatched flatware—we’re in favor of swapping out a reclining horn of plenty for an elegant—and upright—row of epergnes. The sterling silver antique pieces consist of lacy, ornate baskets hung gingerly from a central vessel. They’re lovely when filled with fresh fruit (figs, grapes, oranges with their leaves) but also when stuffed with flowers and vines. And though they look terribly formal, epergnes encourage a casual gesture from guests—to share what is plentiful and all that is sweet. Thanksgiving tables often tend toward the rustic and the robust, worthy celebrations of the bounties of…

Undeniably rare, colorfully bright, and durable enough to last a lifetime, gemstones are nature’s luxury. When hand selected by Alberto and incorporated into designs of beauty, the colored gems are worthy of their reputation. The company specializes in tanzanite and other exotic gemstones of unsurpassed quality. Every piece of their handcrafted jewelry is manufactured in limited quantity in the United States and comes with a lifetime warranty. Romantic yet alluring, tanzanite is one of Earth’s treasures and has been the cornerstone of Alberto’s collection since 1985. Fittingly named House of Tanzanite, the line features standalone pieces available throughout the United States. Alberto has the most extensive tanzanite jewelry selection available anywhere, with hues ranging from cobalt blue to stunning violet. Tanzanite is just one of the many exclusive stones that…

For Baume & Mercier, time is far more than a succession of seconds, minutes, and hours: time is marked by rare moments that are like a living witness. Life is made of these special, solemn, exceptional moments filled with emotion, which we enjoy celebrating and remember forever. In this way, Baume & Mercier watches are gifts that contain feelings. In 1869, Louis-Victor Baume, cofounder of the Maison Baume in 1830, thus gave a richly decorated gold pocket watch to his daughter Mélina for her first communion. The words “to our beloved child” were engraved on it. The symbolism of the gift transcends its material reality. This is how the bond that unites a person to those he loves is sealed, through the promise of an eternal union, the birth of…

The L’Amour Crisscut® diamond is a design masterpiece to behold in its beauty and simplicity. This distinctive new design features 50 facets and two straight sides with subtle curvatures at the top and bottom that create a brilliant reflection unlike any other. Making a powerful and luxurious statement, the L’Amour Crisscut® is available in a range of customized styles with sizing 40 to 50 percent larger than a comparable emerald-cut diamond. It is the ideal choice for today’s woman seeking a bold yet romantic piece of jewelry that’s both modern and classic. Plus, L’Amour Crisscut® offers the unique benefit of significant value for its size. Christopher Slowinski, the founder and designer of New York’s Christopher Designs, is excited to introduce L’Amour Crisscut® to the world. “It’s such a wonderful addition…

For 50 years, quintessential British goldsmith Elizabeth Gage has shaped the landscape and language of contemporary jewelry with her much acclaimed and instantly recognizable creativity and craftsmanship. Elizabeth is an artist who uses jewels as her medium, bringing the past into the present and telling a story with each exquisite, timeless design. Elizabeth gathers inspiration from her fascination with different cultures and histories, the natural world, and the animal kingdom. However, the starting point for her work is always the stone or centerpiece object. Whether it is a precious jewel, rare fossil, or historical treasure, Elizabeth allows it to dictate her creativity. Her work is diverse, yet it is all characterized by a bold combination of materials, most in a foundation of 18 or 22-karat gold. Growing up in a…

Jaquet Droz’s lucky number, the figure eight, has been regarded as the cornerstone of the Swiss watchmaker’s style since the Age of Enlightenment. A symbol of balance and perfection, it features prominently on the dial of the iconic Grande Seconde, the most emblematic Jaquet Droz timepiece design. The classic Lady 8 style also showcases two overlapping circles to create a figure eight: an uncluttered dial is crowned with a round pearl or precious stone. The newest model, introduced this year, the Lady 8 Flower, boasts a mechanical animation of a blossoming lotus flower. The lower circle of the figure eight features a delicate butterfly with spread wings, while the upper circle reveals a lotus flower beneath a sapphire crystal dome. The flower, known as a symbol of serenity and poetry…

There is a name from centuries past that speaks of pure beauty. It is said to be a beauty from within, a rare and enchanting allure that endures forever. The name is Lafonn, the Gaelic word for everlasting desire. Lafonn’s meteoric rise onto the jewelry scene didn’t occur by happenstance. The brand, celebrated for its luxury within reach philosophy, was privy to a secret. “I’ve always believed that jewelry brings flawless beauty to women, and that jewelry shopping should be fun and affordable,” says Molly Wang, founder of Lafonn. And so the vision for Lafonn—a collection of beautiful, well-made jewelry at a price within reach—was born. To offer the luxury experience that every woman deserves, no detail has been overlooked by Lafonn. Their collections use only precious metals, including sterling…

Michael Aram is an American-born artist who works primarily in metal. After studying fine art and living in New York as an artist in the late 1980s, Michael took what would become a life-altering trip to India where he discovered rich metalworking traditions. Inspired to work with craftsmen whose skills he felt were greatly untapped, he turned his creative energies toward craft-based design, setting up a home and workshop in New Delhi. Michael’s work reflects humanity through the directness of the handmade process, as each piece is lovingly crafted using age-old traditional techniques. The artisan nature of the work imbues it with a soulful quality and energy, which Michael feels is only possible with work that reflects the hand of the maker. This energy is further enhanced by the tension…

TAKAT Celebrating 60 years, Takat Gems is internationally renowned for the rarest gemstones and the most unique jewelry of the highest quality. The family owned and operated company has locations throughout Asia and the United States, and is a member of prestigious jewelry associations dedicated to fair practices and exceptional ethics. Long favored by European and Asian royalty, Takat jewelry is also frequently seen on American celebrities. Memorably, Joan Rivers chose to wear exquisite Takat pieces, a refined necklace and bold statement ring sparkling with emeralds and diamonds, for her return to The Tonight Show after an absence of 30 years. Takat is also well known for creating magnificent oneof-a-kind pieces for individuals wishing to commemorate special occasions, such as engagements, weddings, the birth of a child, and anniversaries. With…

“The imperfection in nature is exactly what perfection is all about,” says Isaac Levy, founder and owner of Yvel. It is nature’s irregularities—inconsistencies in size, shape, and color—that make nature so appealing, unique, and captivating, and which inspire Yvel’s magnificent jewelry designs. Nothing in nature is more imperfectly perfect than a baroque pearl, whose beauty lies in the natural variances in its shape and size. Since the 1990s, Isaac and Orna Levy have been leaders in the pearl fashion industry, and their distinctive jewelry designs using baroque pearls have become legendary. While these asymmetrical gems used to be discarded because they were perceived as flawed, Yvel’s nature-inspired philosophy has reversed this sentiment. Today, baroque pearls are just as desirable and expensive, or even more so, than the perfectly round gems…

TERRY RICHARDSON “Katherine Waterston was such a great sport,” says the photographer of his subject, who had to endure the unpredictable waters of New York Harbor for our cover story, “The Late Show” (page 200). “She still looked effortlessly beautiful despite the queasiness.” Richardson has shot campaigns for Valentino and Gucci and contributed to Harper’s Bazaar, French Vogue, and Vanity Fair. His first full-career monograph, Portraits and Fashion (Rizzoli), was published this year. DAVID SALLE “Frank Stella’s aggressive visual style more or less dominated the art world for decades,” says Salle, who reviews the Stella retrospective at New York’s Whitney Museum in “Modern Geometry” (page 112). A regular contributor to T&C, he has also written for Artforum and the Paris Review; his collected essays will be published by W.W. Norton…

Emma Hearst and John Barker met as students at the Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, New York, in 2006, but romance wasn’t on the menu initially. Two years later, when Emma opened her (now closed) Manhattan restaurant, Sorella, with John as sous chef, they bonded in the kitchen’s close confines, laughing over past romantic missteps. Defeat was also shared: Assisted by John, Emma, the youngest Iron Chef America competitor ever, lost “Battle Mozzarella.” Romance bloomed in 2012, after Emma moved to Oahu and invited John to visit. “It finally hit me,” she says. “Through our entire friendship the love of my life was standing right in front of me.” Two years later the couple were engaged. Their April 2015 wedding took place on the historic Hearst Ranch, developed…

Until June 2000, photographer Jerry Spagnoli’s understanding of produce was limited to what he saw at the supermarket. “I mean, I’m from New York City,” he says. Then he met gardener Amy Goldman, who came to his Chelsea studio with the idea of photographing the immense variety of heirloom produce grown on her 210-acre farm in Rhinebeck, New York. She came to Spagnoli because of his mastery of daguerreotype, a process in which an image is chemically developed on a mirrorlike silver plate, giving it a high level of optical acuity and the illusion of floating in space. “To use the most heirloom of photography for heirloom vegetables—it was just a winning combination,” Goldman says. Indeed. Heirloom Harvest: Modern Daguerreotypes of Historic Garden Treasures (Bloomsbury, $85), the result of their…

This is the time of year when a cashmere knit’s powers of seduction are at their greatest. Resist not warmth and comfort. Fall 2015’s interpretation of sweater dressing included a strong sense of silhouette and subtle—if any—pattern, making for pieces that looked and functioned more like tailored separates. And though they might feel pretty casual, do not fall prey to that illusion: Jewelry and accessories are required.…

Who on earth made these? was Ward Landrigan’s first thought when he spotted the tribal-style carved gold cuffs and chestplate. He was then chairman of the jewelry department at Sotheby’s, and the suite was part of the 1971 sale of the Extraordinary Jewels of Ganna Walksa, the six-times-married (four times well) Polish opera singer whose Fabergé egg eventually went to Malcolm Forbes. Jewelry cataloging was still an imprecise art in the 1970s, but Landrigan detected a “sculptural integrity” in the bracelets that reminded him of other unsigned French pieces that had crossed his desk. All clues led to a designer who worked in Paris between 1920 and 1974 and refused to sign her work, saying, “My style is my signature.” She dared to mix precious stones with wood and rock…

“I don’t understand,” the hairstylist said. “I cannot even see them.” He was talking about my eyebrows. For the last three years I’d been living in Rome, and this man—not even my stylist, mind you, but an employee at the salon—had been waging a campaign against my pale brows. I was in Roberto d’Antonio, a chic hair salon I had been visiting since my arrival. “Please, please,” he begged at every appointment, “just let me make them a little darker.” On this day he couldn’t stand it any longer. As I launched into my usual protest— ho paura, I’m scared—he simply tilted my head back and put the dye on. Then he turned on his heel and went about his business as I sat, cowed, and awaited the results. This…

RICHARD LINKLATER His ambitious 12-year project, Boyhood, won him three Golden Globes and his first best director Oscar nod. He told Ethan Hawke to finish it if he died during production. KATE MIDDLETON Eight years and an unfortunate tabloid nickname (Waity Katie) finally paid off with two heirs in line to the British throne. LEONARDO DICAPRIO Twenty-one years, four nominations, and still no Oscar. But there’s hope: Paul Newman was nominated six times, and Al Pacino seven, before winning. GEORGE CLOONEY After more than two decades of bachelorhood, was it patience that landed him the perfect wife? J.K. ROWLING During the seven years it took to finish and publish the first Harry Potter book, she endured divorce, her mother’s death, depression, and life on welfare.…

In 1980, Giorgio Armani shut down the skating rink at Rockefeller Center for a fashion show. Those in attendance— including the Star Wars–era Carrie Fisher and future RoboCop star Peter Weller—recall it as the fashion party of the year. Lee Radziwill remembers exactly what she wore. “The top was a large black and white stripe with almost pointed shoulders, and it went with a long black velvet skirt. It was extremely original.” It was also Radziwill’s first Armani. There would soon be others. In 1985 she was appointed the designer’s director of special events, and she wore Armani everywhere she went. To her wedding to producer Herbert Ross, in 1988, it was a pale blue Armani suit. To one of the weeklong series of dinners and concerts organized around the…

For brides who are heiresses or aristocrats, one couture dress doesn’t cut it. Italian noblewoman Beatrice Borromeo commenced her gown parade at a civil ceremony at the palace in Monaco, marrying Princess Caroline’s son Pierre Casiraghi in blush pink Valentino. The next weekend, for the religious nuptials, she wore all white: an embroidered dress for the welcome party on an island in Lake Maggiore, a custom Armani Privé gown down the aisle, and a Grecian Armani number for the reception at Borromeo Castle.…

MARGARET BRAUN NEW YORK CITY She’s an artist in residence at the Museum of Arts and Design, but Braun’s medium of choice is sugar. Her opulent cakes, decorated with gold leaf and pearl dust and bearing intricate designs, are edible works of art. MARGARETBRAUN.COM FIONA CAIRNS LEICESTER, ENGLAND First noticed for making Wills and Kate’s wedding cake, Cairns has become a household name in the UK. She also sells her sweets off the shelf at Selfridges and Harrods. As for custom cakes, her team works with couples to create bespoke delicacies. FIONACAIRNS.COM COLETTE’S CAKES MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY Colette Peters has crafted a cake for a Greek royal wedding and built a replica of the White House for an inauguration party. Pastry chefs in training can learn her tiering tricks at…

NEW & NOTABLE J.HILBURN J.Hilburn is the world’s emerging luxury menswear brand. Our personal stylists deliver an unmatched premium apparel experience for men, and each custom piece is made from the fi nest Italian fabrics, hand-constructed for every customer’s personal fi t and taste. For more information, please visit jhilburn.com or email concierge@jhilburn.com. VAHAN Adding to Vahan’s timeless styles, this equestrian inspired 4mm bracelet debuted only a few months ago and is already a best seller. Made of 14k gold, sterling silver, and 8 points of diamonds, it also features Vahan’s trademark Moiré Beaded wristband design. For more information, please visit vahanjewelry.com or call 800.365.6101. DONNA DISTEFANO Known for ethically sourced vivid gemstones, Donna Distefano presents the handcrafted Cordelia ring featuring a fancy yellow cushion cut diamond surrounded by a…