Town & Country articles from February 2007

Town & Country archives from February 2007

Funny guys finish first.(EDITOR'S LETTER)
February 1, 2007... THERE ARE MANY WAYS to a woman's heart--flowers, music, Champagne, candy, jewelry or a romantic dinner with just the two of you. Our February issue is full of great ideas for Valentine's Day. But one of the surest ways to make a woman surrender...

Cause to celebrate.(In Your Own Words ...)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... T&C's 160th-anniversary issue in November was a keeper. Pamela Fiori's editor's letter mentioned that many people love the "Parties" section, and I am definitely one of them (although reading about parties is more pleasurable for me than...

Mother knew best.(In Your Own Words ...)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I appreciated Adam Bluestein's November "Social Graces" column, "Party Behavior," on being a perfect guest. My husband and I throw an annual Christmas party, and I am adamant about hosting properly. The article covered points we may forget...

A dazzling December.(In Your Own Words ...)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Carolyne Roehm's gorgeous, golden New York City apartment and William Yeoward's colorful country home in the Cotswolds ["Carolyne in the City" and "Christmas in the Cotswolds," by Sarah Medford, December] in the same issue? Two of my very...

The big idea.(In Your Own Words ...)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Brava! I'm writing to thank Pamela Fiori for her January letter, "Think Small." Those of us who've spent the last several years campaigning against the American obsession with all things supersized readily appreciate how much more less can be....

Prints charming.(READER MAIL)
February 1, 2007... More than 150 of Town & Country's most memorable vintage covers are now available for purchase online at art. com. Each of these striking images--including the one above, from August 20, 1921--is reprinted in its original detail on high-quality...

Masterpiece studio.(PARTIES: Studio Museum in Harlem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Canvas: What started off as a small studio on 125th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City has grown into an internationally recognized institution for black artists around the world-the Studio Museum in Harlem. Founded in 1968, the...

Town&Country's 160 years of style.(scene & be seen: A calendar of events, trunk shows and benefits taking place at a store or location near you.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... IN 1846, Town&Country was born under the name The National Press and was soon renamed The Home Journal. In 1901 we became Town&Country, and for the last 105 years we have proudly published under that title. In 1925 William Randolph Hearst...

Curtain up.(PARTIES: San Francisco Opera)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... It's a Start: The San Francisco Opera celebrated the opening of its fall season with a special performance of Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball), starring the inimitable soprano Deborah Voigt, followed by a pair of parties thrown by...

Recipes for romance: what ingredients add up to love? Four on-the-go couples share their secrets.(ON THE TOWN)
February 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, D.C. PAMELA GALLOWAY-TABB (vice president of general services for the Freedom Future and the Newseum) and ROY TABB (information-technology specialist for the city's Department of Human Services). MET: Started dating in...

To sleep, perchance to dream.(IN THE COUNTRY; Rooms)(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2007... The most glamorous photographs, like the most glamorous rooms, invite the viewer in and make her want to linger. And the images created by master interiors photographer Derry Moore do just that. For decades, Moore has turned his lens on some of...

Chocolate is for lovers.(IN THE COUNTRY)
February 1, 2007... Flowers are fine, but something sweet can be sensational. Here, a few of the most awe-inspiring confections we've seen lately. The beautiful Selezioni box from AMEDEI combines the Tuscan brand's best concoctions, including its Chuao and...

Ports of romance.(IN THE COUNTRY)(Portugal's Douro Valley wine)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Celebrate Valentine's Day with the only wine as consistently long-lived and resilient as the strongest relationships: vintage port. The famous fortified libation, made in Portugal's Douro Valley, is sweet, robust and sophisticated, and the top...

Inn love.(IN THE COUNTRY)
February 1, 2007... Feeling every inch a Van Cortlandt (the family that built this house in 1760 on a leafy riverfront expanse), I stepped out of my bedroom and onto the bi-level terrace, watching as a red tugboat, bathed in golden light, moved up the Hudson....

Between the covers.(IN THE COUNTRY)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A standard Valentine's Day card simply would not do for the amorous people in these great works of romantic literature. The messages they send, to each other and to readers, are rife with intrigue and ferocity of feeling--and sealed with many,...

In the garden.(IN THE COUNTRY)(ROSA RUGOSA bush)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Those Valentine's Day roses will wilt before the week is out. This year, give your beloved a ROSA RUGOSA bush to plant in the garden instead. While most roses are pesky creatures that crave inordinate attention and droop at the slightest...

Keren Craig & Georgina Chapman.(FASHION & STYLE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... OCCUPATION: Cofounders of the two-year-old New York-based Marchesa line, which specializes in alluring evening wear. BACKSTORY: The Swiss-born Craig (left) and the British-born Chapman met in London while studying fashion at the Chelsea College...

Selina Van Der Geest.(Seek and ye shall find: a trove of treasures either specially made or a bit below the radar.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... SELINA VAN DER GEEST's well-stocked store, NL-GB, is Millbrook, New York's best-kept secret. Among the boutique's array of furniture, textiles and private-label clothing is its new line of stoles made of vintage fur and updated with vibrant...

Jussara Lee.(Seek and ye shall find: a trove of treasures either specially made or a bit below the radar.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... At JUSSARA LEE, downtown Manhattan's premier custom shop for women, you can order clothing from the designer's seasonal offerings and have it made to your specifications, including color, fabric and pattern. Lee's cashmere creations, produced...

Rocio Ildemaro.(Seek and ye shall find: a trove of treasures either specially made or a bit below the radar.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Traditional training in the art of shoemaking has earned Dallas-based ROCIO ILDEMARO a loyal following among women who appreciate personal attention and the exceptional quality of custom-made footwear. Ildemaro, who travels to her clients'...

I Pezzi Dipinti.(Seek and ye shall find: a trove of treasures either specially made or a bit below the radar.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Those lucky enough to visit Cathryn Collins's traveling trunk shows in New York, Los Angeles and London for the latest unveilings of I PEZZI DIPINTI will be delighted to see that among the line's cashmere sweaters, hand-loomed Asian textiles...

Tomasz Starzewski.(Seek and ye shall find: a trove of treasures either specially made or a bit below the radar.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... London's TOMASZ STARZEWSKI has been designing glamorous evening wear for royals and other celebrities (the late Princess Diana was among his frequent clients) since the early 1980s, emphasizing the timeless rather than the trendy--not to...

Prada.(Seek and ye shall find: a trove of treasures either specially made or a bit below the radar.)
February 1, 2007... Ever prolific, PRADA has just launched a limited-edition collection of stunning cocktail and evening pieces. As in couture, the tag on each item is stamped and numbered to guarantee uniqueness and authenticity. Navy and green silk-faille beaded...

Hermes to go.(FASHION & STYLE)(Kelly Flat )(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Add another bag to Hermes s roster of luxurious accessories: the Kelly Flat ($7,100). This modern, unconstructed version of the iconic Kelly, which was introduced in the 1930s and later named for Monaco's Princess Grace, is "based on...

Ballet class.(FASHION & STYLE)
February 1, 2007... The chic little shoe inspired by the most romantic of dance forms is back--and more pliable and comfortable than ever. Clockwise from top: ROGER VIVIER suede Ballerine Chips ($525). TOD'S Dee ($325). BOTTEGA VENETA leather flats ($540). CHANEL...

Get in the mood.(FASHION & STYLE)
February 1, 2007... Dress up, splash on an irresistible scent, and make a toast to your loved one on Valentine's Day. 1. Oh so ETRO. Wool Briseide jacket (suit, $1,600), silk tie ($125) and cotton pocket square ($85), at selected Etro stores, 212-317-9096; cotton...

Chains of love.(JEWELRY)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Move over, diamond line bracelet. We've been seduced by the next generation--the bigger and bolder diamond chain. Clockwise from top: H. STERN BY DVF 18k-whitegold and pave-diamond Sutra ($162,000), 800-7-HSTERN; www.hstern.net. POMELLATO...

Fire Stone.(JEWELRY)
February 1, 2007... When the intense orange-red of a mandarin garnet (a rare gem found mostly in Africa) meets a yellow-gold setting, the result is electrifying. Clockwise from top right: LAURA MUNDER 18k-yellow-and white-gold ring with fancy-cut diamonds (price...

Gold on gold.(WATCHES)
February 1, 2007... BlackBerrys and cell phones may tell time, but they're no substitute for an elegant 18k-gold watch. Our favorites, clockwise from top: BEDAT & CO. Ladies No. 3 (512,000), 877-BEDAT-CO. FRANCK MULLER GENEVE Cintree Curvex ($16,100), at Bergdorf...

Aromatic auras.(BEAUTY & HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... This Valentine's Day, forgo the heart-shaped candies and say "I love you" with the intoxicating aromas of crushed almonds, delectable chocolate, sweet vanilla and succulent figs. Clockwise from top left: MILLEFIORI Fig candle ($40 for set of...

Zani Gugelmann's beauty boosts.(BEAUTY & HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... Zani Gugelmann, a New York City-based jewelry designer, opens her makeup bag and little black beauty book to reveal her tips, tricks and favorite treats. By Cara Kagan 1. LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER: "My mother, Jeannette, buys me all of my...

Revive your makeup.(BEAUTY & HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... An end-of-day touch-up often turns into a start-from-scratch overhaul, but makeup artist FRANCESCA GUERRERA has a solution: her new 4:45 Solutions products, which are designed to be applied over the makeup you're already wearing. First spray on...

Hair to stay.(BEAUTY & HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... For the nearly 40 million women in America with thinning hair, there are now more remedies than ever. NIOXIN ($12.99-$38.99; 800-628-9890), one of the first brands devoted exclusively to thinning hair, was launched in 1987 and soon developed an...

Gifts from the sea.(BEAUTY & HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... In 2004 makeup artist Shu Uemura introduced his Depsea Therapy series (pictured: Lip Balm SPF 15 Sunscreen, $16, in tube; Moisture Recovery Cream, $38, in jar), which relies on Arctic seawater to hydrate skin. This mineral-rich fluid, found...

Women's wisdom on heart disease.(BEAUTY & HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... Pamela Serure, of New York City, is the founder of Get Juiced, a fasting and detox program, and the author of The 3-Day Energy Fast and 3 Days to Vitality. With the publication of her new book, TAKE IT TO HEART (Morgan Road Books; $19.95),...

Lessons from Laura.(BEAUTY & HEALTH; The New Beauty Secrets: Your Ultimate Guide to a Flawless Face)(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2007... Flip through the photos in Laura Mercier's debut book, THE NEW BEAUTY SECRETS: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO A FLAWLESS FACE (Atria Books; $35), and you'll see why Madonna called her the "Rembrandt of makeup artists": she's as skilled at transforming...

Caught red-handed.(BEAUTY & HEALTH; Nail polishes)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... No matter the length of your fingernails, a sexy red polish is a surefire complement to your hands. Long nails look sensuous and feminine in deep shades like NARS's Jungle Red ($15; nars cosmetics.com) and OPI's shimmering ruby, I'm Not Really...

Sold on cells.(BEAUTY & HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... The hard-to-find Swiss skin-care line CELLCOSMET is at last available at selected Saks Fifth Avenue stores. This collection of cleansers, masks, serums and more uses active, living cells that energize your skin--a process known as cellular...

The right red.(BEAUTY & HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... Finding a red lipstick that works well with our complexion is not an easy feat. Too often, we choose a shade that's stunning in its tube but looks clownish instead of glamorous when applied. Good news: we think these rosy-red and brick colors...

Bring the spa home.(BEAUTY & HEALTH: Must-Dos for February)
February 1, 2007... Known for its home-decor collections, PORTICO is now launching Portico Spa, a line of hair, bath and body products ($12.50-$16). Chic, understated and tastefully scented in four different fragrances, the assortment is a sure pleaser....

Take heart.(BEAUTY & HEALTH: Must-Dos for February)
February 1, 2007... TARTE will donate 20 percent of the February sales of its Rise & Shine Plumping Lipstain in Cherry ($21) to the American Heart Association. tartecosmetics.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Cover up.(BEAUTY & HEALTH: Must-Dos for February)
February 1, 2007... ESTEE LAUDER's supersmooth Double Wear Stay-in-Place Concealer SPF 10 ($19.50) promises to stay put for fifteen hours without caking or drying. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Revitalize with vines.(BEAUTY & HEALTH: Must-Dos for February)
February 1, 2007... DIOR's latest skincare products, L'Or de Vie La Creme ($320) and L'Extrait (left; $350), deliver antioxidants extracted from Sauvignon grape vines at the Chateau d'Yquem vineyards and said to be more powerful than vitamin C or E. ...

Buy a bouquet.(BEAUTY & HEALTH: Must-Dos for February)
February 1, 2007... We'll skip the dozen roses, but we'll take all twelve of ANNICK GOUTAL's Splendide Skincare products, which revive skin with rose serum. We're especially smitten with the body cream, Creme Splendide Corps ($95). At selected Barneys New York...

Energize your face.(BEAUTY & HEALTH: Must-Dos for February)(CHANTECAILLE ENERGY SPA)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Chantecaille, the luxe cosmetics line, opened a spa in 2006 at Barneys New York in Manhattan to dispense what our go-go culture needs most: energy. So we sent a T&C editor to the CHANTECAILLE ENERGY SPA to have an Energy Lift Facial ($250 for...

Protect your hair color.(BEAUTY & HEALTH: Must-Dos for February)
February 1, 2007... Chances are you pay a pretty penny for your hair color, so be sure to use hair-care products that are designed to add vibrancy and prevent damage from UV light and styling routines. Our choice: LOGICS Color DNA System ($17-$25). 800-3-LOGICS;...

A weekend's worth of fun: how best to savor those forty-eight hours? With music, games, stories--and a passionate part-time pursuit, as many artists have learned.(ARTS & CULTURE)
February 1, 2007... MOONLIGHTING You'd think that when painters, dancers, musicians and writers weren't busy perfecting their crafts, they'd curl up with a frothy novel or sit in front of the TV watching nothing more demanding than Dancing With the Stars. ...

Accessing the classics.(ARTS & CULTURE)
February 1, 2007... What does Mozart's Jupiter Symphony sound like again? Have I ever heard anything by Sir Arnold Bax? Wouldn't it be great to listen to some Philip Glass? Once upon a time, a housebound winter weekend rendered such questions rhetorical. But...

Thanks to Caedmon.(ARTS & CULTURE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Sissy Spacek will be staying with me for a while. Then I'm going to spend some time with Eudora Welty. I've gotten to know both women through Caedmon, the audio imprint founded in 1952. Caedmon was the first company to produce and sell...

Not-so-standard romance.(ARTS & CULTURE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A Valentine's Day date without savvy, swingy, in-the-mood-for-love music is just another dinner for two. John Pizzarelli: Dear Mr. Sinatra (Telarc; $18.98). Pizzarelli lends his vocal sensitivity and neoswing vibe to a cocktail of Sinatra...

Musical minutiae.(ARTS & CULTURE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Do you know how much you would have paid for a three-day ticket to the 1969 Woodstock Festival? (See answer below.) Assouline's fact- and fun-filled Music Game Book ($34.95), billed as "a world history of 20th-century music," asks and answers...

Nonstop Stoppard.(ARTS & CULTURE)(THE COAST OF UTOPIA)(Theater review)
February 1, 2007... A romantic comedy about quantum physics. An elegiac drama about chaos theory. A murder mystery that wrestles with moral philosophy. Hard to imagine that these could be the ingredients for stage hits, but playwright Tom Stoppard thrives on...

City of Arts and Sciences.(ARCHITECTURE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... For this mammoth and virtually unprecedented project, Santiago Calatrava is completely reimagining an eighty-six-acre parcel of land in Valencia, Spain, from the ground up. Created: 1991; ongoing (the Valencia Opera House opened in October...

Der Ring des Nibelungen.(OPERA)(Sound recording review)
February 1, 2007... Seamlessly weaving together Norse mythology and German legend--not to mention glorious music and impassioned theatrics--Richard Wagner's opera tetralogy redefined the art form. Created: 1869 to 1876. Duration: More than fourteen hours, spanning...

A Dance to the Music of Time.(LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... In this twelve-novel series, British writer Anthony Powell spins a brilliantly satisfying epic that follows a group of bright young friends from their studies at university in the 1920s through to their London lives in the 1970s. Created: 1951...

Fashion on parade.(ARTS & CULTURE)
February 1, 2007... Three exhibitions-two already in progress and one that will open in late February--are worth dressing up for this winter. "Nan Kempner: American Chic." The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art celebrates a style icon. The...

Fine art and antiques.(February MUST-SEES)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... All the world's a fair in New York City. From the 1st to the 4th, the National Black Fine Art Show will fill the Puck Building with works by artists of African descent from the 19th century to today. 295 Lafayette Street; black fineartshow.com....

At the museums.(February MUST-SEES)(Calendar)
February 1, 2007... Starting on the 6th, Madrid's Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza examines the development of 20th-century portraiture in "The Mirror and the Mask: The Portrait in the Age of Picasso." 011-34-91-369-0151,. museothyssen.org. + The Dallas Museum of Art...

Nature versus nurture: it's not just blue-footed boobies and ancient tortoises that require careful study. The American teenager may be the most mysterious creature of all, as author Mary Morris discovers on a Galapagos cruise with her daughter.(TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK)
February 1, 2007... SINCE MY DAUGHTER, Kate, was small, animals have been our thing. We have marveled at grizzlies in Denali National Park, in Alaska, at armadillos in Costa Rica. A trip to the Galapagos Islands was something we had dreamed of for years. We read...

Couture to go.(TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK)(PENINSULA NEW YORK)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Women staying at the PENINSULA NEW YORK, on Fifth Avenue, already know a thing or two about style, but if you're jetting in for a gala event, bringing a formal gown along may be too great a hassle. Worry no more: the landmark hotel has paired...

Away in Santa Fe.(TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Santa Fe is one of those places that inspire romance. From its earthen houses to the dramatic backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the city glows with an unusual sunlight that has attracted artists for more than a century. To stay in the...

Venice is for lovers.(TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK)(VENICE: HISTORY, ART AND ARCHITECTURE, LIFESTYLE)(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2007... To those for whom Venice is, hands down, the most romantic city on earth comes VENICE: HISTORY, ART AND ARCHITECTURE, LIFESTYLE, a three-volume set edited by Alain Vircondelet and published by Flammarion ($150). Filled with lavish illustrations...

Travel scents.(TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK)(Bottega Veneta's napa-leather sachets)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Give your partner something to remember you by while on the road. Bottega Veneta's napa-leather sachets, in the company's signature woven pattern, are full of tiny stones infused with a heady unisex fragrance from L'Artisan Parfumeur that...

Three stars in seclusion.(TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK)
February 1, 2007... Gourmets from as close as Strasbourg (an hour's drive away) and as far away as Japan make the journey to the Vosges Mountains of Lorraine to dine at one of France's top culinary destinations--and one of its most remote. L'ARNSBOURG opened more...

An arts and crafts revival: embrace the comeback of this deliciously decorative style.(DESIGN TRENDS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... This bronze urn is a half-scale reproduction of a hammered-copper piece that FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT designed for himself in 1898 ($900). wrightcatalog.stores.yahoo.net. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] British textile designer NEISHA CROSLAND...

See it now.(DESIGN TRENDS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART exhibition "Louis Comfort Tiffany and Laurelton Hall--An Artist's Country Estate" (through May 20) brings together more than 200 pieces that once adorned the dream house of the incomparable American Art Nouveau...

To make a long story short: what to do when the promise of brevity delivers anything but.(SOCIAL GRACES)
February 1, 2007... IT'S PAST YOUR bedtime. You have to get home soon because... oh, it doesn't matter why you have to get home; trust me, you just do. The person with whom you are having dinner is telling you about the time he tried to revoke the rule regulating...

Wild about Provence: a royal couple revel in the rustic living at their holiday home in the south of France.(Viscount and Viscountess Linley)
February 1, 2007... PETER MAYLE, a former advertising executive, spent a year there and wrote a best-selling book about it. Others before him--Dickens, Ruskin, Colette and Henry James and, on canvas, van Gogh, Cezanne and Picasso--lauded its light and made their...

Big Sur: returning to the scene of their courtship thirty-five years ago, a California writer and her husband find that blessedly little has changed along wild and wonderful Highway 1--except perhaps it's even better now.
February 1, 2007... WE DIDN'T MEAN to do it. We had plans. It was a breathtaking fall day, sunny and warm, the waves crashing more than 1,000 feet below us as we walked after breakfast through redwood trees back to our elegant cabin. We would change into action...

Starting all over: once Karen and Richard LeFrak settled into their new house--just six short Manhattan blocks away from their old apartment--they realized they'd made a move of life-changing proportions.
February 1, 2007... FIRST THERE COMES the clattering rat-a-tat of perfectly clipped nails on the limestone floor of the foyer. This is followed by two hurtling puffs of white careening to an instant halt at the side of their mistress as she swings open the door....

Ode to O'Keeffe: just ten years old, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, in Santa Fe, has delighted millions of worshipful visitors as it shapes the legacy of a complex, some would say mythical, American artist.
February 1, 2007... TRY NAMING another 20th-century artist to whom place meant as much as it did to Georgia O'Keeffe. "If you ever go to New Mexico, it will itch you for the rest of your life," she said about the land that she made her home as well as the subject...

T&C's guide to the 85 best scents: this Valentine's Day, reunite with an old love or discover a new one--or two.
February 1, 2007... IF THE 260 or so women's fragrances introduced in 2006 alone are any indication, scent is just as central to women's lives today as it was when Cleopatra anointed herself with rose oil to entice Antony. The grand total of women's fragrances now...

Spring forward: T&C previews the upcoming season's fashions and picks a few standouts.(Cover story)
February 1, 2007... Bright and sunny: Valentino's vivacious yellow gown of ruched chiffon and organza shines with a crystal-encrusted belt topped by a black satin ribbon ($11,500). H. Stern rock-crystal Moonlight earrings ($6,900). Opposite: An ethereal, flowing...

Weddings.
February 1, 2007... Blake Burkhard Lindner and David Lawrence Thompson Jr. were married last spring in a garden ceremony at the Lindner family estate, in Cincinnati. The bride wore a Parisian-lace gown by Vicky Tiel. The couple, who honeymooned in Africa, now live...

Horoscopes.
February 1, 2007... February Aquarius January 21-February 19 Birthdays churn up all sorts of feelings, and this year you seem to be probing a particularly unsatisfactory aspect of your life like a sore tooth and fantasizing about radical solutions. With...

Lela's latest.(WHAT TO WEAR)
February 1, 2007... For designer LELA ROSE, whose ready-to-wear collections have had a loyal following since her fashions debuted, in 1996, the idea of branching into the bridal market was initially intimidating. "Weddings are pressure," says the Texas native...

Three for the aisle.(WHAT TO WEAR)
February 1, 2007... Stylish attire and accessories inspired by a trio of real brides-to-be will add country chic, European sophistication or city glamour to your wedding. Connecticut LUISA BECCARIA child's camisole dress in silk. $800; luisabeccaria.com....

By the sea.(FOR THE GROOM)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... On a bright day, the groom will appreciate RAY-BAN'S aviator sunglasses ($120; sunglass hut.com), top, or CHROME HEARTS' Nooner sunglasses ($795; osainternational.com). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BOTTEGA VENETA'S stylish leaf-print...

Blushing bride.(BEAUTY)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A suitable shade of pink, peach or beige can transform your cheeks from dull to glowing in an instant. Be careful, though, when choosing your blush: bright colors and shimmer are appropriate for indoor weddings but may appear harsh in the...

Fact vs. Fiction: when it comes to achieving the ideal look for your wedding, the myths are endless. To set the record straight, we polled the pros so you'll be stunning on your big day.(BEAUTY)
February 1, 2007... YOU'VE UNDOUBTEDLY heard a million rules--either passed down through generations or issued authoritatively by well-meaning friends--that govern how a bride can look her best. As with all absolute truths, many of these aren't. Here our experts...

The well-groomed groom: follow our tips and your husband-to-be will look picture-perfect on your wedding day.(BEAUTY)
February 1, 2007... EVEN BEFORE YOU walk down the aisle, you've probably spent hours planning your wedding-day look. Your groom, however, most likely assumes that a shave and a haircut will do the trick for him. Not so fast. To help make your man altar-worthy, we...

Making an impression.(TRENDS & TRADITIONS)(wedding invitations)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... When it came time for Trish Kinsella to plan her wedding, in 1998, the California graphic designer drew on her knowledge of the oldest traditional printing method. She designed her own invitations using letterpress, a relief process invented in...

Bridal looks from Lagerfeld.(TRENDS & TRADITIONS)
February 1, 2007... Fashion-forward brides will be pleased to hear that Chanel's uberdesigner, Karl Lagerfeld, has introduced a new line: KARL LAGERFELD BRIDAL. Produced by Rosa Clara, the Spanish manufacturer known for making exquisite gowns for other top...

A more-perfect union.(TRENDS & TRADITIONS)
February 1, 2007... Couples in search of coordinated bridal-party attire can turn to ROBERT TALBOTT, a family-owned enterprise based in Carmel, California, that has produced fine menswear since 1950. Through the 250 stores that carry the line nationwide, the...