“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

Name: Blake Mycoskie
Occupation: Chief Shoe Giver and Founder, TOMS Shoes
Travel Destination: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hotel: Faena Hotel, www.faenahotelanduniverse.com
Restaurant: Bar Uriarte, www.baruriarte.com
Best Time of the Year to Visit: November during the Palemero Open, the biggest polo tournament in the world.
Insider Secrets: San Telmo on Sunday is the best time to visit the outdoor markets. And also, everyday you should have at least one Freddo ice cream.

I love red lipstick and I love to paint red lipstick. Watercolor by Kate Schelter.

Today, the amazing Garance Doré (who writes one of my very favorite blogs that I check maniacally everyday, and whom I met in September at Fashion Week — she is the sweetest, warmest most talented girl) posted a beautiful illustration she did of her red lipstick. I love red lipstick. In fact, I did several lipstick watercolors last August during the summer rain on my mom’s porch in Cape Cod. Everyone wondered why I decided to paint my lipstick (and then my Mason Pearson hairbrush, and then my Shu Uemura eyelash curler) but I was all the sudden interested in painting little things that I love. Here are my paintings in an ode to Garance who inspired me and made me so happy today. Yes, it makes me happy that somewhere out there, there is someone whom I admire that also loves red lipstick and to draw lipstick.

My Chanel red lipstick No 88 Saturn. Watercolor by Kate Schelter.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Olivia Chantecaille
OCCUPATION: Creative Director, Chantecaille Beauté
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Saint Barthelemy, French West Indies
HOTEL: Private Villa
RESTAURANTS: Maya’s is owned and Run by Maya and her husband Randy. It is on the water where they serve delicious, local food and make you feel like family. You will always run into familiar or famous faces. L’Esprit de Saline (off of Saline beach) is set in a covered garden and they serve amazing local food with an Asian touch. Lastly, for a change of cuisine, I love L’Isola in Gustavia. It serves the best pasta that makes you feel like you are in Italy. Go to Le Piment in St. Jean for the most delicious paninis.
BEACHES: For swimming, Gouverneur and Saline Beach are two of my favorite places to spend the day and go for long swims. I love Anthelios sunscreen for the body from the local pharmacy. (The SPF is much less toxic than most and it is much more affordable than in the States.)

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: December – August. (Beware, September – November is hurricane season).
TRAVEL RECOMMENDATION: For those afraid of the tiny puddle jumper plane to the island, I recommend renting a boat. It takes 45 minutes and the minute you set foot off the plane and onto the water you immediately feel on vacation and all of the stress of city life melts away.
INSPIRATION: I got married in St.Barts this past year and spent quite a bit of time there. One of my favorite moments was at the end of a long day of swimming, when the sun was beginning to go down, I would sit on the terrace of our villa looking out at the calm water and the metallic reflections of the setting sun over the mirror-like sea. The mix of cool grays and rose blended with the warm light strongly inspired me for our new color palette for Spring 2010.

Flying into St Barths: Not for the faint of heart. Photo Michel Hasson.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Alphan Eseli
OCCUPATION: Film Director and Photographer
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Havana, Cuba
HOTEL: Hotel Nacional, www.hotelnacionaldecuba.com or rent an old colonial style house in Miramar.
RESTAURANT: Nice small home-cooking restaurants called Paladar.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Any time of the year is great. August is a bit too crowded.
INSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS: Havana Vieja (the old part of the city) is very nice. For live music, try to avoid tourist traps like Tropicana; go to more local places. For beautiful beaches, check out Plaja del Este or Varadero.

Calle Brasil, Habana Vieja. Photo Jim Skea

Photo Seth Holladay

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Tracy Smith
OCCUPATION: Owner and Founder, House of Lavande
TRAVEL DESTINATION: The Dordogne Region, France
HOTEL: Chateau Maroutte, www.chateaumarouatte.co.uk
RESTAURANT: An early evening visit is recommended for diner at Moulin des Abbayes, www.moulinabbaye.com in the nearby town of Brantome (known as the Venice of the Dordogne.)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: We were there in July and the sunflowers were in full bloom.
INSIDER SECRETS: Book a chef (or take someone with you that has a love of the culinary arts), because the castle is an excellent place to cook a beautiful meal and enjoy it al fresco while overlooking the valley below. There is also a grand dining room inside. Note: there are plenty of local markets, but not very close by.
NEAR BY: Book in advance tours in Bordeaux as it is only an hour from the castle.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.
NAME: James Lowther
OCCUPATION: Interior Designer and Owner, Lacquer Company
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Bagan, Burma (Myanmar)
HOTEL: Road to Mandalay Luxury Cruise, Irrawaddy River
RESTAURANT: Eat like a king on board!
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: October – February
INSIDER SECRET: Go past all the faux-tiques at the front of the shops and rummage in the back room, where they keep all the good old stuff.
INSPIRATION: Bagan is the most enchanting place in the world and it inspired my love of lacquer.

Hot air balloons float over temples at Bagan, Burma

James Lowther in Burma. Photo James Lowther.

The Road to Mandalay Luxury Cruise goes up the Irrawaddy River.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Cena Jackson
OCCUPATION/TITLE: Director of Public Relations, Alberta Ferretti
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Santorini, Greece
HOTEL: Katikies, www.katikies.com
RESTAURANT: The Pool Restaurant Karini
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Mid to late June.
MUST GO: In Oia, the most westerly point of the island, there are tons of little markets and galleries where you can find amazing art and gold jewelry.
DON’T MISS: Go down to the sea’s edge and watch as the fisherman pull fresh fish and octopus from the water and throw it right on the hot grill.

The breathtaking view from The Katikis Hotel, Santorini

Two of my favorite stores in NYC are having sample sales at the same time!

John Robshaw Sample Sale
245 West 29th Street
11th Floor
Wednesday, Nov 18th through Friday, Nov 20th: 10 am – 8:30 pm

Steven Alan Sample Sale
87 Franklin Street (btwn Broadway / Church)
Thursday, Nov 19th: 8:30 am – 8 pm
Friday, Nov 20th: 8:30 am – 8 pm
Saturday, Nov 21st: 12 pm – 7 pm
Sunday, Nov 22st: 12 pm – 5 pm

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: John Derian
OCCUPATION: Owner of John Derian Company
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Marrakech, Morocco
HOTEL: I love the Beldi Country Club in Marrakech, www.beldicountryclub.com
BEST TIP: It is 10 minutes outside the city and has a beautiful pool nestled in an olive grove. It has a day spa and they just opened a hotel with two other pools at the other end of the property. It is like Eden and it’s owned by a French couple.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Fabiola Beracasa
OCCUPATION: On-camera personality; Interview magazine contributing editor
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Lenox, Massachusetts
HOTEL: Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, www.kripalu.org
RESTAURANT: Everyone eats in the cafeteria where the food is 100% organic, natural and everything is composted and recycled… it’s wonderful.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Any time you need to get in touch with yourself and get away from the “noise” in your life.
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION: If your definition of “luxury” is a 5 star (or even a 4 or 3 star) resort, this place is NOT for you… if like me, your definition of luxury is finding a place that can help you grow as a person then you found the perfect getaway!
INSIDER TIP: If you go to the website and click on the “calender”, there are all types of weekend retreats suited to many different needs.