Kate Schelter in the Coco Weekender, Harbour Island. House of Lavande necklace. Photo Kate Schelter.

My friend and Gypset Style author Julia Chaplin, recently launched a Gypset dress and pareo line with the tagline Here and There. I was very lucky to be able to test drive the brightly colored tunics during my recent jaunt to Harbour Island, where I personally imported an order to India Hicks’s breezy boutique The Sugar Mill where they are sold. I had fun meeting India and her partner Linda and wearing the tunics all over the island. Here are a few snapshots as well as some insider tidbits from Julia herself.

Kate Schelter in the Sant Joan on Harbour Island. Photo Kate Schelter

Kate Schelter: What’s you favorite Gypset location?

Julia Chaplin: Lamu, Kenya

KS: What’s the farthest you’ve ever traveled from home in pursuit of adventure?

JC: I went to Trancoso, Brazil from Mexico via Uruguay so it really took forever. I was in Jose Ignacio, went to a late dinner then a party, drove 2 hours to my 6am flight in Montevideo, flew to some city in Brazil, missed my connection, slept in a luggage storage area for 8 hours, flew to Salvador, took a ferry and than a taxi down a bumpy dirt road and finally arrived in Trancoso.

KS: Where did you get the inspiration for the Gypset clothing line?

JC: So I could have something groovy to wear when I arrived in a Gypset enclave. Cool but not dripping with logos.

KS: Where are the fabrics from? Where is the line made?

JC: The fabrics are from both the east and west coasts of Africa. Some I smuggled back in my suitcase. I had the line sewn up here in NYC’s garment district.

KS: How often will you put out a new line?

JC: I’ll do stuff as often as I’m inspired. I like the idea of being a bit outside the fashion industry in that sense. It’s more Gypset to operate on your own schedule.

KS: Gypset is a great term. What’s the best Gypset slang you know?

JC: A Gypster [rhymes with Hipster] is the younger Gypsetter who maybe lives in Bushwick and has an 80′s caftan.

KS: Can you name three pieces from your collection and where your girl is wearing them in your mind?

JC: Sant Joan – Jade Jagger in Sant Joan Ibiza.

Coco Weekender – Karen Elson in Montauk

Poppy Weekender – Honor Fraser at Art Basel

Available at www.gypset.com

Coco Weekender watercolor by Kate Schelter.

Harbour Island watercolor by Kate Schelter.

Tom Ford True Coral lipstick watercolor by Kate Schelter. The perfect Gypset color.

Tracy Smith, founder of House of Lavande. Photo Billy Farrell Agency.

In January we flew south to see some sun (after months of snow, snow, snow) and to celebrate the town of Palm Beach’s Centennial with vintage couture jewelry brand House of Lavande. Since it also fell on HOL founder Tracy Smith‘s birthday, and because you can’t give a cake and candles to a beach, we toasted with lavender colored vodka shots, cabana stripes and surf boards.

All our favorite friends from NYC attended and all our favorite editors were there to record the dancing, diamante, and debauchery from Vogue, Elle, Purple Magazine, W, Paper, Teen Vogue, Tales of Endearment, and Fashionista. Even Page Six had a spy lurking in the sand by the dance floor as guests kicked off their heels and the chandeliers swung from side to side in the oceanside winds!

I have been a fan of her blog ever since I first laid eyes on it,  two years ago. I love her work and often felt we shared an aesthetic. So, when she emailed me out of the blue this cold January to ask to get together and, oh, yeah, take your picture, I had to keep from jumping out of my skin with excitement. She is one of my favorite photographers and you know what it’s like to meet your idols in life!! I had to act cool. Instead, we immediately started exchanging stories and jokes, and hours and hours flew by. Just like that.

© Photo Garance Doré www.garancedore.fr/en/

And then she asked me another favor: would I write a NYC guide? (I am a Gemini, and anyone who follows astrology knows that we are walking databases!) So I had two heart attacks, one after the other!! Just like a teenage girl.

© Photo Garance Doré www.garancedore.fr/en/

Thank you, Garance!!

“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: Jennifer Zuccarini
OCCUPATION: Design Director, Victoria’s Secret / Co-founder of Kiki de Montparnasse
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Sao Paulo, Brazil. I had so much fun there: great architecture, food, nightlife, fashion… and just a little dangerous.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Anytime, especially from December to May. HOTEL: Hotel Emiliano is a very cool boutique hotel in the posh Jardins neighborhood.
RESTAURANT: KAA is one of the hottest, much talked-about new restaurants. It was designed by Sao Paulo’s own Arthur de Mattos Casas of Studio Arthur Casas Architecture and Design.
HIT THE TOWN: After dinner, head to Skye on the top floor of the boutique Hotel Unique for great views of the Sao Paolo skyline, with an amazing pool. Have a night cap at the Lions Club that long ago housed an elegant men’s club.
SHOP: Thais Gusmao for the best lingerie (cheeky-good fun), Galeria Melissa for shoes, Adriana Barra for quirky, graphic home furnishings, accessories, and sexy reversible bikinis (located in an amazing, historic townhouse with each room fully outfitted in her distinct style.) Choque Cultural is the premier grafitti and underground art gallery.

KAA Restaurant

Galeria Melissa. Photo courtesy of Lalo de Almeida for The New York Times.

Hotel Unique has a thriving nightlife on the roof with 360 degree views.

“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: Mary Ellen Matthews
OCCUPATION: Photographer, Saturday Night Live
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Mal Pais, Costa Rica for the surfing!
HOTEL: I stay at a barefoot hotel called Tropico Latino, www.hoteltropicolatino.com. It sits right on the surf break… I love the bungalows they have there… truly a surfer’s paradise.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: December – May.
RISE AND SHINE: Wake up before sunrise for a morning surf session then breakfast at the hotel or one of the amazing local restaurants down the dirt road…some down time with a book then back in for another surf…a nap then, my favorite part of the day, a sunset surf. Nothing can compare to having your friends in the water with you as the sun goes down and you catch your last wave of the day before dinner and cocktails! A dirt road connects a few breaks and great little towns… Santa Teresa for one.

A bungalow at Hotel Tropico Latino.

Palm-y pathways.

The endless surf break at Mal Pais.

“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: Katie Lee
OCCUPATION: Cookbook author of  The Comfort Table
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Punta Mita, Mexico
HOTEL: Four Seasons www.fourseasons.com/puntamita
RESTAURANT: El Corral (delicious local seafood), Aramara (Asian/Mexican fusion), or any taco stand in town.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: January through March. The whales migrate though the area during this time. Every morning from my casita I watched whales jumping. Pretty spectacular way to start the day!
ROAD TRIP: Rent a car and spend some time exploring nearby beaches. If you like to surf, there are great waves and not too many people in the line-up. There are several interesting towns to check out as well, like Sayulita and San Pancho, which are only about 20 to 30 minutes from Punta Mita.

Katie's fresh catch of the day! Photo Katie Lee.

Fresh fish at The Four Seasons. Photo Jaunt Magazine.

Punta Mita sunset. Photo Katie Lee.

“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: Juan Gali
OCCUPATION: Bon Vivant
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina
HOTEL: Llao Llao Resort + Spa, www.llaollao.com
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Early December (for warm weather); July (for cold weather)
FRIENDLY TRAVELS: If you arrive smelling like a horse from a 2 week riding and camping trip, they let you go straight to your room to shower, no questions asked!

Wintery Bariloche, Patagonia.

Sunny Bariloche, Patagonia.

Poolside mountain view..

“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: Melanie Remai
OCCUPATION: Co-Owner,  The Ideas – Bespoke Trend Forecasting
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Galle, and Tangalle, Sri Lanka
HOTEL: The Amangalla in Galle; The Amanwella in Tangalle
RESTAURANT: The Sunhouse for dinner in Galle. Afternoon tea & scones at The Amangalla.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: April
WALK IT: Take a walk around the old dutch walls of Galle.
HISTORY: Galle is an old fort town and has some incredible architecture while Tangalle is even further south and much more remote but has some of the most exquisite untouched beaches I have ever seen. Plus there is surf! The locals couldn’t be more gorgeous in nature and attitude. I love their casual vibe mixed with the properness of an old British colony! Of course the tea is amazing!

Photo Melanie Remai.

Photo Melanie Remai.

Photo Melanie Remai.

“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: Douglas Friedman & Bradley Garlock
OCCUPATION: Photographer & Production Designer (respectively)
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Mustique Island, Grenadines
HOTEL: Rent a villa
RESTAURANT: The Cotton House Beach Bar. But a beach picnic is best.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: It’s the perfect holiday there any time of year.
PACK: Bring plenty of books, and leave your shoes at home… you won’t need them (unless you’re a woman who needs a very high heel.)
MUST SEE: Never miss a sunset from anywhere on the island and try and find the Bat Cave…

All photos courtesy of Douglass Friedman.

Here are some watercolors that I painted of my hat (from Gana), Chris’s hat (purchased on island), our little cottage’s view, a plant with chartreuse leaves, and our bottle of Mount Gay rum that we couldn’t finish in a week.

Watercolor by Kate Schelter.

Watercolor by Kate Schelter.

Watercolor by Kate Schelter.

Watercolor by Kate Schelter.

Watercolor by Kate Schelter.