Wanderlista

The Rise of the Caftan

If anyone has seen my summer beach wardrobe, then they know I love to rock the caftan. The perfect staple from beach to street in an instant, (and easy to pack), caftans should be an effortless part of your summer wardrobe. However, I’ve noticed many women ask how to buy the right ones. Which work well and which don’t? And, as a slim, 38-year-old woman, why do I feel the need to cover? Step into my closet…

In a recent interview, I was asked how I describe my personal style. I answered, “a bohemian Audrey Hepburn.” I certainly have my share of fitted sheath dresses perfect for work or a Milanese aperitivo, but even Holly Golightly is quick to grab that super dreamy drape of fabric that ever so perfectly wafts around her lithe figure on a sultry summer evening. While a caftan might not work for a New York power lunch, it works rooftop at Soho House, and, most importantly, works in all of your summer hot spots.

Now I’ll share all my faves and why. Each shot in gorgeous locales by the fabulous Peter Wesley Brown.

I’ve long been a fan of Missoni Mare, the famed Italian fashion house’s beachwear line. I would typically skip using the seaside cover-up in the day and transform it to dress at night with flat sandals. I have this gorgeous webbed silver one that I practically lived in two summers ago. The sash added a bit of definition and I wore it with and without a slip underneath, depending where I was. We also featured it with the Dea Rosa SS12 evening bag in lizard and satin.

Last year, I met designer, Miguelina Gambaccini at a party in New York and we were fast friends. Her white, Rachel Caftan led me all the way through my Grecian odyssey last summer (and was the centerpiece for the Dea Rosa Spring/Summer Collection). Daytime over a bikini, the Rachel worked as well as when paired with a slip underneath at night. Sometimes I’d add a skinny python belt to cinch it up a bit. Flat sandals or wedges complimented it perfectly. Now, I’m so obsessed with Miguelina’s entire line, that my suitcase is usually filled with her caftans and airy dresses; peppered with my Missoni staples I’m ready to tackle any resort location.

My other caftan go-to is Vicente Ganesha’s line in Ibiza. Made in India, the prints stand apart and the light cotton works absolutely everywhere. They typically run about 150 Euro or so, so if you’re not heading to Ibiza this summer, but know someone that is, tell them to snatch-up a few for you. Last summer, I actually flew to Ibiza from Athens for just under 40 hours of caftan shopping and some beach time with friends. Trust me, they are well worth it.

So how do you know what’s right for you?

*Choose fabric that breathes since you’re going to be wearing a lot of it; skip the polyester or blends. Silk works, but at night only as you don’t want suntan lotions to stain.

*Buy a size down. Most women don’t buy clothes that fit them. Trust me on this: you’re smaller than you think.

*Pick one that has a slit up the front to show your bronzed gams – just a hint of skin is enough.

*Invest in a great skinny belt and leave it in your suitcase – it skinnies you up in no time!

*Channel Jade Jagger…pile on the bracelets, big rings, chunky necklaces. I love vintage jewelry from House of Lavande.

*Pack two pairs of flat sandals. One super simple in a solid metallic and then something with a bit of bling. I’m loving the Flat Slingback Thong Sandal from K Jacques and the Lanvin Toe-Ring Wedge Sandal.

Email me for more tips on how to embrace your inner caftan!

Water water everywhere

I don’t usually post about my PR clients unless they’re part of my round-ups that focus on various trend and style, but I was SO excited about this property re-opening in San Juan, that I had to share it with all of you who didn’t just get the normal press release.

I stayed here once back in 2003 and hosted a party on the hotel’s rooftop for a client launching a new travel company. We all love a good rooftop and The Water Club had it - super great music (I still have the playlist in my iTunes and gave the CD to everyone I know…it was called Water Down tempo) amazing views and gorgeous food.

Now, that rooftop could tell some stories. And finally, once again (thanks to new ownership and management), it’s the hottest address with the coolest look: with a $2.5M renovation well underway, the San Juan Water and Beach Club Hotel is ready to take its rightful place as the local Mecca of hip, with music designed by international DJs, lively parties and celebrity stopovers (I am personally looking forward to the new playlist!)

Located on the  corner of famous Isla Verde beach, the hotel takes its cues from the sapphire-blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and incorporates them into its chic décor. Mist, the rooftop bar and resto boasts ‘socializers’—small plates you can share—prepared with fresh, locally grown ingredients. And the hotel even has this cool new “Tu Deseo” (My Wish List) wish board mounted in each guest room. From extra towels, a sunrise aqua yoga session, to local fruit with their room service breakfast, “Tu Deseo” allows you to have just about anything you want.

San Juan is less than four hours from NY - daily flights on JetBlue make it fun too. Go now!

An Oasis on the Bund

How Style Defines a Sense of Place

“Ah, love your necklace. Sayulita, right?” he said to me, and then lifted the cuff on his shirt to show me what was obviously the brother bracelet to my necklace.  “Yes,” I nodded.  Years later, a woman said, “Oh, look (as she pointed to the Tahitian pearls strung on lithe leather around my neck)…Saint-Barth,” she said fondly.

These exclamations of familiarity might not sound like much, but if you’ve been to Sayulita or Saint-Barth, you know what I’m referring to: the iconic necklace worn by many wanderlistas around the world. A necklace so easily worn surfing in Sayulita and lunching at La Plage.

The idea of “destination-specific” jewelry—a carefully crafted accessory that reflects where you have been— isn’t exactly original. An evil eye from Greece. A jade bracelet from Shanghai. A coral horn from Naples. There are so many. But what it means to you is what really counts. I purchased my Mignot sister pearl necklace from one (of the three) sisters in Sayulita almost 10 years ago. I remember her tanned, surfer physique, her La Perla bikini top (I owned the same one), and her free-spirited aura. We chatted about life and our travels. She showed me an article in Elle that featured her and her sisters and Pachmama, their now famed boutique. I loved my pearls. They reminded me of a very distinct time in my life: when I launched my third (and hopefully final!) PR agency, while living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They symbolized a sense of freedom and a sense of place.

On my recent trip to Trancoso in Bahia, Brazil, I ran across what very much could be the next iconic piece of jewelry: a necklace by Cristina Pessoa. If you’ve read my entries about Trancoso then you’ll understand that it’s a resort town frequented by the Brazilian elite peppered with in-the-know Americans, a handful of supermodels, some film stars, all the while wearing the same Havaianas and mixing just fine with the surfer/cabana set.

I was heading to dinner one night and popping in and out of the shops that lined the perimeter of the town’s Quadraro and  wandered into the atelier of Cristina Pessoa. Pessoa is Brazilian jewelry designer who studied in Paris, Florence and London and splits her time between Barcelona, Brasilia and Trancoso. She even lived in Boston when she was eight years old (so did I!) and she and I immediately took to one another. We started the, “Oh, you’ve lived there! I love it there…” and “Wow, have you been to….” and, “Oh, you should meet my friend…” It went on and on. Like soul sisters, we spoke of art, style, fashion, travel and design jumping easily from one topic to the next. We exchanged information. We vowed to stay in touch.

I was taken to her collection of jewelry because, in addition to the gorgeous rings, bracelets and other creations (all manufactured in Brazil and made with Brazilian stones), she does this amazing line of tiny charms—a church and two little houses, made in gold and silver. The church is a tiny replica of the famed igreja that sits at the end of the Quadraro and the houses represent the many homes that line the grassy square and have become a symbol of Trancoso.

I have a gold chain that belonged to my grandmother, Rose, and on it sits many trinkets from my travels: an evil eye, a Thai Buddha, Rose’s Egyptian Nefertiti. Cristina’s church was a perfect addition to always remind me of my trip to Trancoso.

Ranging in price based on size and metal (small, large, gold, silver), the churches and houses are strung on a colored cotton cord, tucked into darling pouches and tied with a rainbow of ribbon; the perfect gift or keepsake of your time here.

Naturally, I’m adding my igreja charm to my “wanderlista necklace.” I’ll wear it proudly as it mixes well with the other baubles from my global wanderings, each of which transcend me back to the person or place that they represent.

Christina’s atelier in Trancoso…

I added the gold church pendant to my “Wanderlista” necklace that I wear everyday.

One of Pessoa’s rings. She uses all Brazilian gemstones and manufactures in Brazil.

Life in Trancoso: Part 2

“Ohhhh…bad mosquitoes. Fabio will tell them, in your face, just kisses.”

This was a text Fabio sent me after I told him a mosquito had bit my cheek. Priceless really. What makes Trancoso such a special place is not just the serenity, the easy surfer-chic lifestyle, but the people. Fabio lives here with his sister and her daughter. He was also a craftsman, had his own studio and makes everything and anything out of wood or a palm frond. We were at dinner one night at Mariteca (order one of their brick oven pizzas or the grilled octopus) and he pointed to the menu, “Fabio’s creation,” he said proudly.

Back home, at Casa Azul, the staff is divine. Daiane is a certified massage therapist (fabulous!) and the maid. Eliseu is the butler and all around handyman (and makes the best caipririnha ever). Kitiana is the cook (who makes a killer papaya soufflé) and, Alex, well, he does a bit of everything, always with a smile.

As I mentioned in a previous entry, the house is African safari meets the tropics. Rustic luxe décor dominates accented by the colors of the natural surroundings. “I love CSI Miami. Is the color like that for real?” said Fabio to me when we were discussing American television. I thought it was quite funny he was commenting on the blaring colors of CSI Miami when Brazil is its own Technicolor extravaganza. I found plenty of inspiration for my next Dea Rosa collection here. Color palette: done.

Days began getting up to watch the sun rise followed by a run on the beach. One morning I got up to a rather interesting welcome committee: a Golden Labrador, Siberian Husky and black lab puppy, a canine caravan of sorts. We ran along the beach together, in and out of the sea, and played fetch with a coconut.

Every day, breakfast consisted of mango, papaya and other fresh fruit (although Kitiana will make you anything your heart desires), and then I did a bit of beachcombing, and eventually took catnaps in every spot around the pool and in the open-air living room. I’d graze back and forth to the fridge to have a slice of mango and another coconut water (which was endless and fresh). Time stood still. I’d finish another book. I’d write a blog entry. I would take another nap.

Every afternoon at 5pm, Tatiana, my yoga instructor, would show up and we’d start our practice with a solid chant, followed by an hour of intense ashtanga. Ask Fabio to book her for you.

Casa Azul is a magical place, only further enhanced by the simple beauty of Trancoso. Teak wood and woven straw furniture served as a backdrop for brightly colored fabrics. The master bedroom was its own free-standing bungalow. Three additional bungalows slept another six persons. A giant swimming pool, boathouse with Kodiak, kitchen, dining room, breakfast room were all open to the mangroves outside. An open-air screening room rounded off the amenities. One of my favorite spots was a day bed in the living room, and of course, under it lay a “carpet” made of palm frond designed and handcrafted by Fabio.

I booked through the Brazilian Beach House Company, the only travel company dedicated to renting fully staffed private homes on the coast of Brazil. They have an exclusive portfolio of around 30 properties—villas, beach houses and private islands—that rank among the most luxurious accommodation available in the country today.

The company’s founder, Steven Chew, is a pioneer of the luxury and expeditionary travel in Latin America. Born and educated in England, he subsequently lived in Venezuela and Argentina, before settling in Brazil. He’s nailed it well. He understands his clients, and has even gone so far to separate the houses in his portfolio into several categories: Film Stars and Villains, Flip-Flop Luxury, Robinson Crusoe, City Surfers and Beach Cowboys. 

So what category do I fit into? Well, I think I’m a mix of Villain/Flip-Flop Luxury in a Robinson Crusoe destination…OK, with a bit of City Surfer thrown in for good measure. Well, I guess I am the Brazilian Beach House Company’s core client. I’ll have to try them all…although you’ll be hard-pressed to get me away from Casa Azul. My return is certain.

Our gate to the beach…

My nap area.

Open-air living room.

How fabulous is this? So gorgeous for two!

Daiane…I will miss her! This woman has MAGIC hands.

Love this color rose.

Running on the beach in the morning with my husky companion.

And the second part of the canine caravan….

This perfect sand dollar washed up on the beach. I tossed it back. Such a fragile life.

Life in Trancoso: Part 1

“Is Fabio driving OK?” I had just touched down in Porto Seguro in Bahia, Brazil. My driver/concierge for the week, Fabio, continued to speak in third person, “Fabio loves New York!” This comical exchange continued and he asked, “How is the Big Apple? Do you like Michael Jackson?” After obliging to the music, we drove through the darkness, under a canopy of stars, to the King of Pop’s greatest hits.

For those not familiar with Trancoso, think of it as your hippest hippie spot on the planet. It’s where the Brazilian elite meld with a stylish mix of US and European visitors.

The village of Trancoso has a very pretty colonial heart, set on a bluff overlooking the sea and clustered around a large grassy main square known as the Quadrado. Rectangular and roughly the size of two football pitches laid end-to-end, the Quadrado is surrounded by colorful native houses presided over by a small church at the far end which has an off the charts view to the beaches and sea below.

In the evening everyone heads to the Quadrado to sip caipirinha and browse in the boutiques (which include nearly all of the chicest Brazilian designers - I LOVE Cristina Passoa, a jewelry designer who studied in London, Paris and lives between Barcelona, Brasilia and Trancoso) and local stalls. The atmosphere is incredibly relaxed - the very antithesis of Europe’s glitziest resorts – and flip-flops, open shirts and kaftans are the order of the day. Yet many of the best known Brazilian filmmakers, models, journalists and singers happily hang out in the bars and restaurants as if they were at home. This mixture of cash and DNA has started to attract a sophisticated international clientele who come for the authentic flavor of Brazil, enhanced by good, unpretentious restaurants, small hotels and stunning private houses. One of which, Casa Azul, is my base camp while I’m here.

The house is set right on the water at Praia dos Nativos. Designed and built by Fabrizio Cacarelli, the property is perfect in keeping with its surrounds and represents a modern, cleaner interpretation of traditional Bahian architecture, which is enhanced by sleek contemporary furniture and design. A series of bungalows on stilts are connected by a raised wooden walkway. It’s African safari meets Robinson Crusoe all shaken together in a very, sexy cocktail.

So now you have the vibe. Embrace the spirit of this magical place. But for now—reflecting the true sensibility of Trancoso—writing this entry is far too much work. More to come…stay tuned.

Hanging out on the Quadrado.

The famed church on the Quadrado…I bought the most fabulous gold charm of this from the darling and super talented, Cristina Passoa.

The never ending beach…no, really, I don’t think it ends.

My bath at Casa Azul.

My room at Casa Azul.

The pool at Casa Azul.

Alvorada in Trancoso

Alvorada. When the sun emerged from the sea this morning, it was like an explosion on the horizon. An eruption of every color imaginable. The dawn of a new day here in Trancoso.

I’m here in this far-flung (albeit super chic) part of the world in a gorgeous spot run by Brazilian Beach House, finding inspiration for my next Dea Rosa collection, and embracing everything this sexy locale has to offer. Stay tuned for more posts!

The Ultimate Fashion Hotel

With a guest list that reads like the schedule during Paris Fashion Week - Chanel, Balmain, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Lagerfeld, Gaultier and Rykiel have all stayed - the famed Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz is as iconic as it is chic. 

Napoleon III built the summer mansion (think Versailles on the beach) for his fashion-forward wife, Empress Eugenie. Coco Chanel opened her third boutique (after Paris and Deauville) in the famed beachside town that was frequented by European royals, and today, the southwestern French city (only 30 mins from San Sebastian, Spain) is a fave among the surfer set, and the seasoned wanderlista. It’s a dichotomy of luxury: hidden tapas bars pepper the back streets while the grand boardwalk pays homage to the glory of yesteryear.
 
Indulge in a heavenly spa (Guerlain has a three-story outpost here), delight on sinful food and be inspired as you glide down the rich hallways in your couture.

Hotel swimming pool, famed boardwalk and beachfront. 

Super fab tapas bars are all over this bohemian luxe French town.

Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz front entrance.

Gorgeous sardines. The daily lunch buffet is divine.