A Fashion Icon in Taos, NM, Really!

My Facebook Wall is a buzz with Liz comments, but tonight I'm inspired to write about another fashion icon. Not as flashy or famous as Liz, she preferred turquoise to diamonds. She was blond, a model, artist and serious collector. Her treasure was Indian blankets and Southwestern jewelry. I discovered her while in Taos, New Mexico. Her name? Millicent Rogers.

Sometimes it's a stretch to "find fashion" while traveling. I mean not every place is, well, fashionable and I've got to say; I was thinking that might be true of Taos. I was wrong. Millicent's brand of Park Avenue meets Pueblo is the original bohemian chic and it was in Taos that she developed this style. What's more an entire museum was founded to appreciate the Native American art she lived with, commissioned and collected.

The Millicent Rogers Museum is an easy "to do" on your list of cool places to check out while in Taos. One look at Rogers' jewelry collection will have you grabbing for arrant turquoise in your own jewelry stash and donning huaraches. Channel Millicent and add pearl earrings. Besides the ode to Millicent gallery, there is plenty of serious Northern New Mexican art, rich in colors and textures, to center your psyche in Taos valley.

And lets face it; the real treat of any museum is often the STORE! In our little group was Richard Kessler of the Kessler hotel group. He honed in on the estate pieces of R.C. Gorman, a notable and recognizable Southwestern artist. I particularly liked a square turquoise ring set in gold Kessler picked out. Gold with turquoise is a new combination to me and I like it!

Kessler's good taste and passion for art and design was also evident (lavishly so) at the El Monte Sagrado where I stayed. The challenge with a "destination" hotel, "experiential," to use one of Kessler's word, is to make it authentic, but not entirely so. El Monte Sagrado's "art direction" hit the right chord, just enough country Taos twang but with the luxuriousness of an orchestra back up. I liked it!

My new thing...

Most of you know my styling services include personal shopping both with and without the client. I’ve recently added a new fabulous source to my arsenal of shopping venues–Carlisle / Per Se. These two lines deliver on style and quality. Carlisle has been around a while as part of the in-home retail formula that works so well for so many women. Per Se is a newer line and considered more “current” than Carlisle, however for me, they really work best mixed together.

The spring lines are fab. They hit on all the best trends; poppy colors, cubist and geometric patterns, a little tribal here and there and animal prints… The collections host over 20 dresses, best and easiest for spring, AND my personal favorite, a few Hollywood-esk wide leg pants!

I’ll mostly be bringing clients into the Carlisle / Per Se showroom in Greenwich CT. but I plan on making a few City (NY) jaunts to the showroom there as well. The shopping experience is quite luxurious (a private dressing room, personalized attention (me!) plus additional help, seamstress on premise, sizes 0-18 in stock).

And did I mention, these clothes are made in Hong Kong from mills used in Italy and France. It’s beautiful, quality stuff, the likes of Dior or Donna Karen at Bridge Sportswear price points. I’m really excited to be using it as a styling resource for anyone needing anything special from casual to career to dressy to fun!

I’m starting to book appointments now. Get in touch with me. I can’t wait to show you my new thing.

Cathie

cathiearquilla@verizon.net

"Come to my Villa."

Sometimes grief strikes us at the oddest times. This morning I was watching a press DVD about a villa in Umbria, Italy. The villa sits just outside the hill town of Montafalco. Watching, I was brought to tears. I was thinking, this is why Dad loved Italy. If only I could bring my Dad to Montafalco. We’d stay at this villa, the Villa Pambuffetti. We’d eat that pasta, drink that wine, sit and talk and read on those round over-stuffed chairs–and they would envelope us like my Grandma Rose’s bosoms, in a great hug. I miss him dearly.

It was my pleasure to meet the family behind Villa Pambuffetti last night. They treated us to a dinner of “home favorites” at the il Buco restaurant in lower Manhattan. Alessandra Angelucci Pambuffetti, our hostess, exuded elegance and ease, she was so graceful and charming and chic, that not only did I want to visit her at her Villa, I wanted to adopt her life! Imagine, being able to say, “Come to my Villa. I’ll give you a cooking lesson in the morning and then you can explore the Franciscan art of Montefalco. Or just sit with me in the garden and drink our local wine, Montefalco Rosso or Sagrantino. I was converted. In my next life I am Alessandra Angelucci Pambuffetti. I own an Italian VILLA!

BUT I will not wait until my next life to visit Villa Pambuffetti and if you have a villa-ownership fantasy like me, you should go there too! Lucky for you, you’ll be a guest with none of the headache of ownership. You can relax, a specialty of the house.

If you prefer to wonder, well you’re in Montefalco, “Everywhere you look or you walk everything is ancient, medieval, stony, cold and hard. Tiny roads cut tall stone houses through ancient towers, portals, castles, churches and walls.” Said Hermann Hesse describing this ancient village, unchanged since he visited it in the early part of the 19th century.

I can’t finish this post without describing one stand out, unexpected dish served to us last night–Cachi con Finocchio–persimmons, fennel, hazelnuts, mint, parmesan. This combination was just music to my taste buds. Accompanied by Grigetto wine, seated in the basement wine cellar of il Buco next to my Italia –phile friend Lisa Beth, captivated by Allessandra, I had gone to heaven and it was in Italy.

Holiday Dress Ups! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Lausanne, Switzerland was getting all gussied up for Christmas as I was leaving there just before Thanksgiving. On the shores of Lake Geneva, Lausanne is yet another Swiss town I would have liked to spend at least a week exploring, getting to know the ups and downs of its hilly streets, popping in to art galleries, museums and of course fashion hunting!

(They had an unusual snowstorm last month. Rare, because Lausanne is lakeside and with its balmy weather, it usually doesn’t experience snow accumulation. Check it out on Youtube. Those pillars dripping in white lights is the entrance to the Lausanne Palace & Spa–swank!)

I, however, had to head back to New York to jump back in to all things work and domestic. The luxurious trip back on Swiss Business gave me plenty of time to rest up for the crazy Christmas season approaching. What’s better than to spend a day in bed watching movies while charmingly accommodating, impossibly spiffy people provide you with outstanding service! It felt like my seat was my own little ultra-hip apartment. Everything essential was bedside and anything else I needed or wanted was “delivered.” Including Swiss wine and chocolates of course.

Back in New York I approached my clients with a “Holiday House Call” idea; I would put together a couple of fancy outfits using their own wardrobe and accessories to prep for holiday parties. These have been quick visits, and this elf has had a blast playing big-girl dress ups with party clothes. Sequins? Yes. Bobbles and beads? Yes. We channeled Coco, a little Marilyn and some Garbo. I grabbed for silvers and golds and those wonderful jewel tones so fine this time of year. Often, more was better. The Holidays generally aren’t for shy dressers, unless you’re doing that androgynous tux look–always in style, but you must add a red rose, if not to your lapel, then your hair...

Switzerland, Day Trip, Vevey, Montreux

MyStylist Travel Advisory

Were To Go

Vevey! As I mentioned in my last blog, Vevey, Switzerland is an incredibly charming town to wonder round, especially in what is known as the “Old Village.” It is one hour from Geneva’s international airport, accessible by train and bus and perfect for an afternoon of shopping, cheese smelling and tasting or chocolate browsing and buying.

What to do

Ever on the look out for out-of-the-ordinary shops, I found two in the Old Village that should be part of any “fashion” day trip to Vevey. Un Air De Famille, Rue du Conseil 5, is a stylish vagabond’s paradise. The clothes are alternative; almost costume, modern and antique at the same time, touches of whimsy and flavors of “the homemade.” You don’t have to be a fashion hound to appreciate the merchandising. Anyone with a love for antiques or Victorian attics will loose themselves. Expect to discover designers: Myrine & Me, NOA NOA and Ewa iWalla–very cool.

Your next stop should be Balthazar, 32, rue du Lac. The store’s colorful, kid-like pop-art merchandise screams “Come and see!” Proprietor Valerie Jobin lives above the store. Her decidedly cheerful buying choices stand out on a street that sets a more serious fashion tone. It’s fun. Check it out.

What to wear

Considering you are right on the lake (Geneva), dress warmer than you might think. Avoid small pointy heals–cobblestones! And dress comfortably elegant–I threw on a wool shawl, grey cords and a big chunky necklace.

What to eat

See my last blog post for the place we picked. Both restaurant and chocolate shop, Poyet fulfilled my Swiss fantasy of relaxing in a cozy spot near Lake Geneva, coffee and cookie en route to mouth!

What else

This area, encompassing the Swiss towns of Montreux and Vevey, is called the Swiss Riviera for its microclimate. The vegetation is varied; palm trees, pines and pansies occupy the same space. A walking path along the lake connects Montreux and Vevey. Get on it, if even for a short stroll.

Note: Montreux Vevey Tourisme offers the Montreux Riviera Card, a discount card worth investigating.

This time of year the “Montreux Noel” is ringing Christmas bells! Considered the finest Christmas market in Switzerland, chalets erected along the quays and the Grand-Rue are enchantingly decorated to welcome visitors and make them swoon with Christmas nostalgia.

Fellow travel dude, Ramsey Quebein and I discover Vevey.

Follow Ramsey for daily travel tips on Twitter.

The Stylish Swiss Old Lady

When I’m older, I’d like to be Swiss. They are stylish bread, the Swiss old lady. She’s got her sturdy shoes; low heals, just heavy enough to withstand cobblestones, but not too clunky, junky. Her hosiery is sensible too, slightly thick for support and warmth. The calf length skirt she wears of a wool blend in an understated grey, camel or hunter, coupled with a cardigan or turtleneck are stylish choices meant to withstand time. She’s not changing her look from season to season, year to year. Then there is the scarf, silk, useful, beautiful.

I saw several of these iconic matrons during my trip to Switzerland last week. They impressed me mostly because they make such an effort to be “put together,” tidy, which is really the first step toward looking and feeling good.

One restaurant slash chocolate store in Vevey, Switzerland called Poyet, seemed to attract a well-dressed set, including my old-lady ideal. I wanted to know everyone’s story. The old man with the teenager, the elderly lady with bright orange hair and lipstick to match, the man with the velvet jacket reading the paper–they all had a tale. What’s more they seemed to be taking time to actually just sit, stare, listen and sip. It was a Tuesday afternoon almost rush hour, but no one was in a hurry.

Unfortunately, I couldn't surreptitiously grab a decent shot of any of these fine old ladies. So picture of the lovely Poyet and its chocolate will have to suffice.

Why not grab a silk scarf, slip into a straight long skirt, low heals and some pearls. Be traditional, worldly and timeless right now...A few suggestions below.

Swiss Matron Look

Mid-length Skirts by Jones New York
Pumps by Stuart Weitzman

I want to sip Lambrusco in Mantua.

Last week I was invited to an Italian Tourism event highlighting the region of Lombardy, it’s food, wine, fashion, art, architecture…You know, all that is yummy, luxurious, creative Italian. The take away for me–visit Mantua.

This provincial Capitol, in the southeast foot of the Lombardy region, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palazzo Ducale, a labyrinth of churches, piazzas, gardens and porticoes was built over five centuries, from the 13^th to the 18^th. Visiting it would make a pleasant morning adventure. Followed by picnic procurement at the Farmer’s Market, perhaps a stand-up espresso and some scarpe (shoe) shopping (I’m in Italy, shoe shopping is a must!) and then a nap. Dinner might start with pumkin tortelli, a regional specialty and Lambrusco of course.

The next day I’d hit Mantua’s wine trail (perhaps part of it on horseback or bike), check out the cellars, enjoy merlot, pinot, cabernet sauvignon… In the evening, Opera? The Regoletto festival continues through October. One week left…