Summer Supper
Home June 18th, 2013
If your garden or fishing nets are filling up then it’s time to have people over for dinner! Set a stylish table with our suggestions for a relaxed summer soiree.
Pictured above, clockwise, from left:
Few things are more elegant than Julia B.’s embroidered cocktail napkins. We can’t get enough of this beautiful coral hue with the summery white monogram.
Grace Hayes’ Tole Fern Planter makes the perfect centerpiece. Pile it up with hydrangeas and greenery straight from your yard for a natural look.
This Artisan Glass Pitcher has simple, clean lines and a sleek feel. Perfect for a night on the porch!
Juliska’s Bamboo Collection exudes casual elegance that lends a dash of international flair to the table and mixes easily with other collections. And don’t forget the flatware to match!
Mean Magaritas. Need we say more?
These round raffia placemats come in a variety of spunky colors that will spice up any table. They are handmade in Madagascar and come in a set of four.
The Nantucket Ice Bucket is perfect for keeping your wine chilled while you are putting the final touches on your meal. It’s the perfect summer accessory and makes a great hostess gift as well!
Beach Bound
Shops June 18th, 2013
It’s time to pack your bags for the beach! Here are a few of our favorite picks for checking everything off of your list and making it look effortless…
First you need the perfect beach bag. We’re partial to the handwoven St. Tropez Tote for its beautiful craftsmanship and detail.
We recommend A.Barclay’s scarves for every vacation! They pack down to nothing and are elegant enough to wear as a shawl to a cocktail party, and easy enough to wear as a beach wrap.
Next you’ll need lip balm and sunscreen. This Jao Lip Balm is “specially formulated for lip balm snobs”. Need we say more? We’re also smitten with the Skin Ceuticals Sport UV Defense Sunscreen. It’s perfect for a busy day on the beach.
Turkish towels are ideal for beach vacations. They aren’t bulky when wrapped around your waist and are lightweight and quick to dry!
Not much of a sun goddess? Then Parasol’s beautiful embroidered tunic is the perfect solution. This lightweight linen dress offers you full upper body coverage with UPF 50+ in beautiful, effortless style.
Glamourpuss NY’s Tahiti Tassel necklaces are great for when you find your self transitioning from beach time into cocktail hour.
Keep the sun out of your eyes, and off of your face with this Lighthouse Cap from Harding Lane. We love the pretty sea foam green with a needlepoint stitched lighthouse.
Style Icon: Melissa Biggs Bradley
People June 11th, 2013
To say that Indagare’s Melissa Biggs Bradley is a travel expert would be the understatement of the century. With a mile long resumé and a full passport, it is safe to say that she’s seen it all! Here Melissa shops Taigan for a few of her favorite finds.
Ikat clutches: I love these Ikat clutches from the Philippines because they are just the right size for my iphone, lipstick and car keys .
Haremlique Kaftan: This light kaftan from Turkey is just the kind of thing that I love to spend summer days in because it looks stylish but feels so comfortable.
Oil and Vinegar: I was in Napa Valley for one of my best friend’s 40th birthday (we had a girls’ weekend visiting wineries, shops, spas and fabulous restaurants) when I discovered this olive oil company and I love being able to order their oils and vinegars. They also make great hostess presents.
Hand Blown Drinking Glass: These drinking glasses from 100% Capri add excitement to any table.
Cufflinks: My dad has always liked cufflinks with style and humor. These are subtle and bold at the same time so perfect for a confident man.
Loafers: These would make great travel shoes because they look comfortable and would add flair to a basic black uniform.
Canoe: These canoes are almost too beautiful to use but I know my kids and I would love to take one out on the inlets around our house in Long Island.
Travel Guide: For friends who are traveling to Europe with kids for the first time, our Mapped Out Guides are essential. They make navigating Paris, London, Rome, Venice and Vienna so fun and easy.
Swim Shirt: I love the beach but always want to protect my skin from sun damage so these UVB shirts from Parasol are fabulous.
Notecard: Though I communicate predominantly by email there are those times when sending a card is appropriate and for many of my close friends who love travel and particularly Paris as much as I do this card would work for many of those times.
For more of Melissa’s picks visit Taigan.com.
All About Accessories
Fashion June 11th, 2013
If you enjoyed last week’s Black and White feature, then you’ll love this week’s batch of crisp accessories to match.
Pictured above, top row, from left:
Bounkit’s Black and White Onyx Earrings are dramatic and fun. Everything you want from a pair of earrings! We love that the drops can be detached for two looks instead of one.
This chic cream colored clutch features exotic glazed python details with a top twist clasp closure.
This We Are Owls scarf is true to the brand’s uniquely funky line of designs. It features a “Lady Deer” draped in pink and yellow.
By Paige’s Geometric Black and White Needlepoint Loafers are the perfect go-to shoe for any season. We can’t get enough of their preppy vibe.
Second row, from left:
This hammered metal necklace from Beige has fun enamel accents. Go ahead and make a statement in this mixed material stunner!
Camilla Skovgaard’s stiletto sandal featuring graphic leather straps in black and white cowhide are perfect for a night out on the town.
This chunky wood and resin necklace by Irene Wood would look great with a simple white tee.
This set of Black and White Swan Cufflinks would make a great gift for Dad!
Fetch Bar: Ready to Rum
Food & Drink June 11th, 2013
Of the many certifiable classics in the canon of cocktails, it’s hard to beat a classic Daiquiri.
Marred by many years of mishandling at the hands of overzealous barkeeps, the Daiquiri has always been a very simple drink: rum, lime juice, sugar. Fruit need not make its way into the concoction; why muddy up something so sound?
If variation is a must, opt instead for a Bacardi Cocktail, a classic in its own right. In this case, Grenadine is doing the pinch-hitting for sugar, and when made well, the bright snap of lime juice is tamed by the natural sweetness of the pomegranate. In fact, you could argue that they are soul mates.
I tend to favor my drinks dry and bright, but if you require more sweetness in yours, you can always up the Grenadine. If bubbles are what you’re after, ditch the lime and Grenadine all together, and take it with tonic; if you’re not a sailor, at least you’ll feel like one.
-Brooks Reitz
“Bacardi Cocktail”
Combine the following ingredients in a shaker:
1.5 ounces Bacardi Light Rum
.5 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
.25 oz. Jack Rudy Small Batch Grenadine
Add ice, shake and strain into a stemmed cocktail glass.
“Rum & Tonic”
In a tall Collins glass, combine:
1.5 oz. Mount Gay Rum
.5 oz. Jack Rudy Small Batch Tonic
Add ice, top with soda water and stir
Garnish with a lime, to fight scurvy, of course.
Pictured above, from left: Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.’s Small Batch Grenadine, Brooks Reitz himself, The Mariposa Confetti Highball glass
Gifts for Dad- Round 2!
Gifts June 4th, 2013
Shopping for dad can be the ultimate struggle, which is why we’re bringing you round 2 of our Father’s Day featured items!
Pictured above, top row, from left:
Help dad tee off in style with these golf balls and tees on his shirt cuffs. They are ideal for the golf lover who wants to be reminded of the peace and quiet of the golf course even when he’s trapped in his day time suit far away from the greens.
Go green and look cool with this is a one-of-a-kind, handmade, solid oak longboard. This board is designed for daily cruising and commuting and is perfect for the hip pop!
These plastered cocktail napkins are perfect for the father with a sense of humor or an appreciation of history. At $32 for a set of 4 they are pretty easy on the wallet too!
Second row, from left:
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so look no further than the Notti Daddy Tower. With toffee, sugar cookies and cheese bits there is something for all occasions!
This book is truly a whopper, not in the sense of an unbelievable fish story, but in its size (it weighs in at nearly four pounds). We think it’s an ideal gift for the sportsman who is always after that great catch!
These sunglasses don’t just block out the sun they focus the gaze of any spectator. If your dad appreciates the finer things in life then he’ll love the craftsmanship of these shades, especially the lenses made by Zeiss.
For more gift ideas see last week’s picks for daddy-o!
Elusive Find: the Perfect Pouch
