Weddings are definitely an individual journey. Personally, when I was first married I was 22 and not too savvy about reality. I insisted on wearing a Mexican Peasant Wedding gown, to which my very traditional mother acquiesced. But she put her foot down when it came to the invitations, insisting on engraved notes from Tiffanys. I thought she was crazy. However, light years later, I see her point. There is … Read More
Even though Fleur of England has been on my radar for several years now, I have tread carefully as I always do when analyzing its potential here in North America. It’s very difficult to cultivate a brand business that is based overseas: in this case England. The logistics alone can be mind boggling, so despite the exquisite collections that continually flow from this company; I needed some affirmation that they … Read More
I have been to Paris more times than I can count for a variety of reasons: school, work, and pleasure. As you might imagine, I have seen both the required sites as well as many niche venues worthy of investigation, some of them multiple times. But as luck would have it, I have never been inside the Paris Opera; my timing was never right. This 19th century Beaux Arts … Read More
Ever since I have been in the Lingerie Business, I have been seduced by the visual beauty of the Simone Perѐle brand. There is a clear message of French chic embodied in the design personality. Although it was not until this year with the emergence of the Revelation collection that I could personally experience the Simone Perѐle mystique, I have always believed that this story is the perfect compliment to … Read More
Yesterday I got caught in a flash flood here in Connecticut. I was taking a riding lesson when a wicked downpour exploded over the ring. Thunder and lightning forced an immediate dismount. By the time we got the horses back to the barn, there was water everywhere and rising fast. We took refuge in the hayloft to wait it out. That storm defies the fact that summer is over even … Read More
One of the cardinal rules of retail merchandising is the simple fact that a merchant has about 15 seconds to seduce a customer before she or he disappears into the dust. It does not matter if it’s a brick and mortar store, an on line boutique or a brand competing for a buyer’s attention. When I was trained, ions ago, on the Executive Training Squad of the venerable Abraham & … Read More
By April Burch (guest contributor)
Today, I was invited to lunch with friends at Blantyre in Lenox, Ma. Blantyre is a beautifully appointed estate hotel that was originally built during the gilded era, Despite its proximity to the concrete turnpike that weaves its way through the Berkshires and New England, it is an oasis of elegance. It is easy to get caught up in our childish dreams of the wealthy … Read More