Those of you who have visited the store in the past few weeks have probably noticed some oases of springy color – warm camel, lush jungle green – in the form of the Reece Hudson spring collection. Her innovative designs have the studied architecture of serious investment pieces and the cleverness and practicality of a fresh, young line – all made with leather so tender that we’ve heard customers gasp upon touching it. We’re very excited to add her to the growing roster of the Ladies of Castor & Pollux.

Designer Reece Solomon and her business partner, Max Stein, unveiled the first Reece Hudson collection just last spring. It didn’t take long for the internet to erupt in accolades at Reece’s simple and tactile luxury. The goal of the line, according to Reece, is to maximize the value of the bags without budging on quality and craftsmanship. Each New York-made piece is versatile, designed to be roomy enough for day while losing none of the sleek elegance appropriate for evening. Her current spring collection includes warm-toned riffs on the styles that first got our attention, with crocodile accents for some added rugged edge.

Read on to find out who – and what – inspires Reece.

Photo by John von Pamer

Favorite recipe?
My dad’s recipe for eggplant parmesan; my grandmother’s secret recipe for matzoh ball soup.

Last great book you read?
The Last of Her Kind, Little Bee, and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series.

Winter drink of choice?
Basil Hayden’s on the rocks.

Your animals – names and breeds?
A black and white parti Pomeranian named Georgia.

Do you exercise? What do you do, if so?
Yoga and a little running on the treadmill.

Salty or sweet?
Both.

Who inspires you and why?
My grandmother was my earliest inspiration when I was growing up. Today I’m inspired mostly by stylists such as Carine Roitfeld, Katie Grand, and Alex White, who really cultivate their own aesthetics. Most celebrities today are just products of stylists, so I don’t really find them too inspiring. I’ve always loved Jane Birkin’s style, she’s probably one of my biggest fashion icons, and I also admire some of the very few truly original fashion eccentrics of today, such as Daphne Guinness, Anna Dello Russo, and Catherine Baba.

Pool or ocean?
Ocean.

Favorite city?
Paris, where I studied abroad in college.

Last great vacation?
My trip to Paris for Fashion Week!

Favorite TV show?
True Blood, Dexter, and 30 Rock, but really into Boardwalk Empire so far…

Weirdest job you’ve ever had?
Don’t think I ever had one…

Favorite restaurant?
In new york: Babbo, Bacaro, Café Gitane, Marlow and Sons, Bar Pitti, Marea, and Sushi of Gari. In Paris: Guy Savoy, Ferdi, and Les Papilles. In LA: Pinches Tacos, Gjelina and Yatai.

Favorite object in your home?
My vintage striped wood coffee table.

Favorite piece of clothing?
Rick Owens long leather and wool coat.

Favorite blog or website?
Jak and Jil, Style.com.

Something you’re scared of?
Spiders. I have a terrible arachnophobia.

Favorite record?
Radiohead’s OK Computer and The Bends, and The xx’s xx.

Favorite pop song?
George Harrison’s “Got My Mind Set on You.”

Your ideal day?
On the beach with all my friends, beers, and good music.

Favorite gift you’ve ever received?
A Donald Sultan “smoke rings” photograph, given by my parents for my college graduation, and a gold and diamond ring that my grandmother gave me, that was previously her mother’s, that I wear everyday.

Favorite flower?
Black Magic and Black Baccara roses.

Favorite scent (perfume)
Lavender gris.

Astrological sign?
Gemini.

What do you do for a living?
Fashion designer; owner of handbag line Reece Hudson.

Where do you live?
NoLIta.

Your lucky number?
6

What piece of art would you buy if you had absolutely no budget?
A Marilyn Minter enamel-on-metal painting, a Jackson Pollack black-and-white mural painting, and Richard Serra’s Sequence sculpture.

This week’s lady is Katie Finn, the extraordinary, witty designer behind Elizabeth Street, a line of exquisite accessories that has elicited many an Ooh and Aah from Castor & Pollux customers. Katie got our attention through “pure tenacity,” e-mailing us with a link to her website out of the blue. We were entranced by what we saw – precious and semi-precious stones hugged by unobtrusive gold settings and linked by delicate chains.

Having spent years fabricating pieces for other designers, Katie officially launched Elizabeth Street in 2009, inspired by a mentor who encouraged her to work exclusively in gold. Picking up Elizabeth Street during the summer of 2009, Castor & Pollux was one of the first stores to carry the line, and was “super-instrumental,” according to Katie, in getting the word out about her work.

Katie craves the “meditative” aspect of jewelrymaking, and is “driven by the ability to make everything with her own hands.” She produces every Elizabeth Street piece personally, “start to finish.” We’re very excited to present her uproariously funny answers to our 28 questions.

Photo by John von Pamer

Favorite recipe?
Anything with lobster in it, or hot dogs and ketchup.  Is that lame?

Last great book you read?
Freedom.

Winter drink of choice?
Lagavulin neat or a Michter’s hot toddy.

Your animals—names and breeds?
Currently, I have no pets, but Smilla (my mutt who lives in Florida now) will always be the one that has a total hold over me.

Do you exercise? What do you do, if so?
Yes, I dance around my apartment at four in the morning.  I have a strict schedule that I adhere to after a night of heavy drinking.

Salty or sweet?
Spicy.

Who inspires you and why?
My grandmother, Lady Gloria Dale.  She has impeccable taste, a gorgeous sense of style and is a totally motivated person.  At 88, she’s just started her own line of felted pillows. She’s lived and traveled all over the world and has a wickedly inappropriate sense of humor.

Pool or ocean?
Ocean.  I grew up on the Gulf of Mexico and cannot be landlocked.  I go crazy without access to the ocean.

Favorite city?
I’m still wrapping my head around this.  I fall in love with most places I go so I can’t say a favorite.

Last great vacation?
Years ago I sailed from Charleston, SC around the tip of Florida and across the Gulf to New Orleans.  We anchored off the Dry Tortugas in the dead of night and woke up in a tropical paradise.

Favorite TV show?
Archer.

Weirdest job you’ve ever had?
Pedicab driver in Savannah, Georgia.  That was probably the funnest job I’ve ever had, too.

Favorite restaurant?
Café Degas in New Orleans.  If you’re ever there, you have to check it out. I love it for the atmosphere as much as the food.

Favorite object in your home?
It’s a toss up between my bathtub and my bed, for obvious reasons.

Favorite piece of clothing?
Right now, it’s my Burberry winter coat. It’s freaking freezing in New York.

Favorite blog or website?
Gawker.com. It cracks me up and keeps me up to speed on current events at the same time.

Something you’re scared of?
The ever-rising cost of gold.

Favorite record?
Pixies, Surfer Rosa.

Favorite pop song?
“Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” by Alicia Keys.

Your ideal day?
It starts at the beach and ends at the Russian bathhouse.

Favorite gift you’ve ever received?
Ancient ivory bracelets from my grandmother.

Favorite flower?
Magnolia.

Favorite scent (perfume)?
Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom & Honey cologne.

Astrological sign?
Virgo.

What do you do for a living?
I’m a jewelry designer, and occasional consultant for all things everything.

Where do you live?
Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Your lucky number?
Aren’t they all lucky?

What piece of art would you buy if you had absolutely no budget?
It would be a Gerhard Richter—not sure which one, though.

We fell in love with Meredith Wendell’s quirky, poppy accessories last fall and immediately contacted them about carrying their pieces in the store. We then fell in love with Ross and Meredith German, with the husband-and-wife team behind the line—to the extent that we enlisted Meredith for the 24th installment of the Ladies of Castor & Pollux. (Sorry Ross! You’ll be the first gentleman of C & P, we promise.)

We’re completely taken with Meredith’s aesthetic. She puts old-school prep, a luxury-level commitment to construction and materials, and a wry sense of humor into a martini shaker and delivers. She very kindly submitted to our analysis so we could get a better idea of what makes her tick.

Photo by John von Pamer

Favorite recipe?
My great-grandmother Mimi’s sweet roll recipe.  Lots of Crisco and Margarine.  I make them every Christmas.

Last great book you read?
“City of Thieves” by David Benioff.

Summer drink of choice?
Tequila and lime juice.

Your animals – names and breeds?
Dalton, our Boston Terrier. He is named after Patrick Swayze’s character in Road House.

Do you exercise? What do you do, if so?
When I can, I kick box.

Salty or sweet?
Oh, both – hopefully at the same time.

Who inspires you and why?
My grandmother.  Stylish, elegant, independent, beautiful and honest.

Pool or ocean?
Pool on the ocean.

Favorite city?
New York!

Last great vacation?
At the Greenbrier hotel.

Favorite TV show?
Arrested Development, Love Boat and Bewitched.

Weirdest job you’ve ever had?
My first 3 years in New York I worked in the windows at Saks. It’s not really weird, but by far the most interesting.

Favorite restaurant?
Ideally, the Four Seasons restaurant. Normally, the Maritime Hotel.

Favorite object in your home?
Our Lucite coffee table we had made to hold my grandmother’s quilts she has given me.

Favorite piece of clothing?
Hermes cashmere scarf.

Favorite blog or website?
1^st Dibs, Style Rookie, style.com.

Something you’re scared of?
Plane crashes.

Favorite record?
Graceland.

Favorite pop song?
Talking Heads, “This Must Be the Place.”

Your ideal day?
A big, long, lunch outside on the water.

Favorite gift you’ve ever received?
A big vintage enameled lion bracelet from my husband.

Favorite flower?
Tulips.

Favorite scent (perfume)?
Agent Provocateur.

Astrological sign?
Scorpio. Really Scorpio.

What do you do for a living?
Accessories designer.

Where do you live?
Upper West Side.

Your lucky number?
13 or 18.

What piece of art would you buy if you had absolutely no budget?
Hans Hofmann, “The Gate.”

Today brings you Molly McCommons, the charming front desk lady/blogger at Seagull Hair next door. We always feel lucky to be surrounded by such interesting, inspiring and genetically blessed Ladies here on West 10th and Molly adds to our roster of Ladies from the block (Louise and Laura).  In addition to coming to work everyday in one of the prettiest neighborhoods in the country we get the chance to hang out, talk, work and have a great time here on our little street and that makes every day a bit better.  So read below about Molly – and don’t forget to admire that photo – those lips, those nails, that hair – she’s got it going on!

The Ladies of Castor & Pollux – Lady No. 23 – Molly McCommons

Photo by John von Pamer

Favorite recipe?
Lazy roasted vegetables. Preheat the oven to 450°. Cut up a bunch of whatever vegetables you like or have on hand: Red peppers, squash and asparagus for summer; root vegetables, brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes for winter. Onions or shallots always. Toss the vegetables in olive oil til they are all coated and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper and rosemary. Spread them out on a pan and leave them in the oven for about half an hour, or until they look nice and caramelized.

Last great book you read?
Zelda by Nancy Milford; Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc.

Summer drink of choice?
Coconut water blended with ice and melon.

Your animals – names and breeds?
I have no pets, so I take solace in my co-worker’s dogs when they hang out at the salon. They are a blonde French bulldog named Pearl and a white boxer named Jacques.

Do you exercise? What do you do, if so?
Bike riding.

Salty or sweet?
Salty and greasy with a sugar chaser.

Who inspires you and why?
My mom is my constant inspiration. I just saw her perform as Eleanor of Acquitaine in The Lion in Winter and she killed it. She nailed every nuance of being a sultry, seething, scheming, king-mothering, insane yet lucid bitch of a certain age.

Beach or ocean?
Ocean.

Favorite city?
NYC.

Last great vacation?
Montreal.

Favorite TV show?
YouTube.

Weirdest job you’ve ever had?
Pedi-cabbing.

Favorite restaurant?
The National, in Athens, Georgia.

Favorite object in your home?
A hefty smoky quartz geode that was my grandmother’s.

Favorite piece of clothing?
Anonymous faded black XX-large cutoff muscle shirt.

Favorite blog or website?
Nasty Nets Internet Surfing Club.

Something you’re scared of?
I’m too scared to discuss it.

Favorite record?
Lovers Live by Sade.

Favorite pop song?
“Creep” by TLC; “Bad Boy” by Jamie Principle.

Your ideal day?
Working on house music all day in a secret shanty/rave cave close to a beach beside a bioluminescent bay, taking breaks between breakthroughs to eat delicious snacks. Receiving wonderful news. Then having a dance party on the beach with all the pals.

Favorite gift you’ve ever received?
A sandwich.

Favorite flower?
Baby’s breath.

Favorite scent (perfume)?
Himalayan musk.

Astrological sign?
Capricorn.

What do you do for a living?
I am the front desk lady/manager at Seagull Salon.

Where do you live?
Brooklyn.

Your lucky number?
9.

What piece of art would you buy if you had absolutely no budget?
A giant Nolan Hendrickson painting or Paul Slocum’s Deep House for Symphonic Band and Choir.

I met Stefania three months ago through our mutual friend Karla, the proprietress of Casa Violeta in Tulum, Mexico. Stefania and I wasted no time in sharing our passion for all things unique and beautiful.  We quickly hatched a devious plan: a line of her customized found-object necklaces designed exclusively for Castor & Pollux. Stefania reworks and embellishes recycled fixtures, cultivating an aesthetic that blurs the lines between art object and accessory. This month alone, she’s been in the Italian editons of both of Vogue and Elle – yes, that’s her necklace on Coco Rocha! We’re so excited to bring her energy into the store, especially at a time of year that could use a little jolt. Read on for a Q & A with Stefania where she free-associates on the perks of walking in New York, Karen Blixen, and bellinis!

The Ladies of Castor & Pollux – Lady No. 22 – Stefania Pia

Photo by John von Pamer

Favorite recipe?
Oh, mamma mia… I have so many. I can say the amazing risotto with pumpkins that my mother makes is like a 3D experience!

Autumn drink of choice? (Should this be winter drink of choice?)
The original Bellini is seasonless.

Your animals – names and breeds?
I don’t have one.

Salty or sweet?
In my deep deep soul I am macrobiotic. Sometimes, especially before Christmas, with all the presents from Italy, I can’t resist some sugar. Normally I am really against sugar!

Pool or ocean?
POOL. After I saw the movie Jaws… I can’t! I really can’t!

Favorite TV show?
I LOVE Seinfeld and LOVE Larry David. I think George Costanza is a genius.

Favorite piece of clothing?
A trench coat from Isabel Marant! I am never never without it.

Favorite pop song?
EVER: “She Bop” by Cindy Lauper.

Favorite perfume?
Jamaica Island Spyce. [Editor's note: available at Castor & Pollux!]

Astrological sign?
Capricorn. January 10th.

Where do you live?
West Village.

Your lucky number?
7! I’m working to a project titled “The Magnificent 7.”

I met Phoebe one fated Sunday after many, many necklaces turned into a tangle (long story) and she helped out by untangling them, and this was after many, many others had tried. We rewarded her with shots of tequila and plans to see each other in the future. Lucky for us that happened sooner rather than later – we met up at her apartment and began discussing with Annette, her sister, the idea of a collaboration between C&P and Anndra Neen. Merging their talents with jewelry and our love for equestrian imagery we came up with a truly special collection that we now have in the store. And it’s everything that we wanted it to be. Sometimes things are just meant to happen.

Photo by John von Pamer

Favorite recipe?
Phoebe: Tuna tostadas with spicy mayo.
Annette: Tuna tostadas with spicy mayo and avocado.

Last great book you read?
Phoebe: Justine by Lawrence Durrell.
Annette: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.

Autumn drink of choice?
Phoebe: Tequila with cilantro and agave nectar.
Annette: Black Label on the rocks.

Your Animals-names and breeds?
Phoebe: Don’t have any.
Annette: I don’t have any!

Do you exercise? What do you do, if so?
Phoebe:I go to the Tracy Anderson Gym.
Annette: Yes, I run on the river.

Salty or sweet?
Phoebe: Sweet and salty.
Annette: Salty.

Who inspires you and why?
Phoebe: Iris Apfel because she’s the anti-sheep.
Annette: Tilda Swinton because she always gets it right.

Pool or ocean?
Phoebe: Ocean.
Annette: Ocean!

Favorite city?
Phoebe: New York, Paris, Mexico City.
Annette: Mexico City, New York and London.

Favorite vacation?
Phoebe: Trip to India.
Annette: Traveling around India.

Favorite tv show?
Phoebe: Forensic Files.
Annette: Party Down.

Weirdest job you’ve ever had?
Phoebe: Working at a toy store.
Annette: A counselor at a children’s theatre camp.

Favorite restaurant?
Phoebe: Contramar.
Annette: Chop’t.

Favorite object in your home?
Phoebe: My wooden sculptures by Goulven Elies and a watercolor my Father made for me.
Annette: A ceramic vase handmade in Oaxaca of red and black clay.

Favorite piece of clothing?
Phoebe: A dress by Bernhard Willhelm that was owned by Bjork. I got it at a Phillips de Pury auction.
Annette: A grey mesh wrap by Julius.

Favorite blog or website?
Phoebe: Sea of Shoes, Touch Puppies and Reuters.
Annette: Ubu Web.

Something you’re scared of?
Phoebe: Basements.
Annette: Karaoke.

Favorite record?
Phoebe: Antony and the Johnsons.
Annette: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.

Favorite popsong?
Phoebe: Twister by Disco Ruido.
Annette: Precious Little Diamond by Fox le Fox.

Your Ideal day?
Phoebe: Being somewhere warm, eating good food, taking many naps and spending it with someone I love.
Annette: Having no plans, being outside and feeling perfect in the weather. Walking and talking with the person I love, eating deliciously and sleeping like a baby.

Favorite gift you’ve ever received?
Phoebe: A book on antique jewelry and a sewing machine when I was 10.
Annette: A private kiss in a public place.

Favorite flower?
Phoebe: Peonies.
Annette: The Jacaranda.

Favorite perfume?
Phoebe: Tiempe Passate.
Annette: 1969 by Histoires de Parfums.

Astrological sign?
Phoebe:  Gemini.
Annette: Aries.

What do you do for a living?
Phoebe: Jewelry designer.
Annette: Jewelry designer.

Where do you live?
Phoebe: Gramercy, New York.
Annette: East Village, New York.

Your lucky number?
Phoebe: 4.
Annette: 6

What piece of art would you buy if you had absolutely no budget?
Phoebe: A Kandinsky and a Matisse.
Annette: The stained glass windows by Chagall.

I know he’s my husband, but I just saw this contact sheet of a sampling of the Ladies of C&P and was stunned at how beautiful they are all together. Damn these are some pretty girls. We have many more Ladies to come – someday they’ll all be contained in a beautiful book – can’t wait for that project!

Lesley has all the qualities that we over here at C&P admire and love. She’s whip smart, lovely to look at, super witty and has a funny little dog named Ya-Ya. She’s rooted in the past but firmly planted in the present which will make perfect sense once you get your hands on a copy of her great new book, Let’s Bring Back, based on her column at the Huffington Post. It’s an encyclopedia of style, living well and taking care of the simple things with grace. Take a peek into her world and get inspired to throw a dinner party, start a hobby or wear tennis whites.

Photo by John von Pamer

Favorite recipe?
The Barefoot Contessa’s Beef Bourguignon.

Last great book you read?
Wigs on the Green by Nancy Mitford.

Autumn drink of choice?
Hot toddies: they’re the perfect cure for the common cold, and therefore a reasonable excuse to stay drunk all winter long.

Your Animals-names and breeds?
Ya-Ya, my French bulldog.

Do you exercise? What do you do, if so?
Yes, I play tennis, ride horses (which is harder work than it appears), walk everywhere, and have private tantrums, which can burn up to 500 calories an hour.

Salty or sweet?
Both, preferably together.  If I were a priest, I’d give communion with squares of Vosges’ salt-filled chocolate ‘Barcelona’ bars instead of those dreadful papery wafers.

Who inspires you and why?
Fashion editor Diana Vreeland, because of her joyous creativity; and silver screen goddess Marlene Dietrich, because she managed to be at once the emblem of glamour and the humblest of mensches.

Pool or ocean?
Ocean

Favorite city?
New York City.  I’m its most devoted mistress.

Last great vacation?
Barcelona and San Sebastian with my husband – heavenly. Pintxos, icy beer, and gin rummy in the Plaza de la Constitucion every day at 2 o’clock in the afternoon: a decadent alternative to teatime.

Favorite tv show?
Mad Men, of course.

Weirdest job you’ve ever had?
While it’s not a job in the strictest sense, when I was a kid, I was asked to be a flower girl in a wedding.  My parents were flabbergasted, for I was the dirtiest, most awfully-behaved tomboy on the planet.  Let’s just say that it was an amusing disaster.

Favorite restaurant?
The ‘21’ Club.  It just radiates old-world glamour, especially the hidden dining room in the old speakeasy behind the kitchen.

Favorite object in your home?
My signed first editions of Marlene Dietrich’s ABC and Diana Vreeland’s memoir, D.V.
And a 1920s photograph of my grandmother posing nude in a flower-filled meadow, with a modest chain of daisies slung around her waist.

Favorite piece of clothing?
My engagement ring, a deco beauty designed for me by my husband.

Favorite blog or website?
eBay, because that’s where I find most of the delightful, strange vintage objets that adorn my house, from old Fred Astaire records to deco chandeliers to elbow gloves.

Something you’re scared of?
Irrelevance, lack of self-awareness, and crazy taxi drivers.

Favorite record?
Right now, a four-record series by blues singer Mildred Bailey, a saucy, once-famous predecessor to Billie Holiday.  They’re all I listen to.  My husband is ready to fling them into the Hudson River.

Favorite popsong?
“Lovefool” by the Cardigans.

Your Ideal day?
A daytime summer picnic with my husband and French bulldog in the woods … chased by an evening of high-octane glamour at the Stork Club.  Yes, I know that the Stork Club closed years ago – but you did say “Ideal.”

Favorite gift you’ve ever received?
The ability to put words together in a witty way on paper.

Favorite flower?
Cabbage roses.

Favorite perfume?
La Dolce Vita by Dior.  You can’t get it in the States, and any time one of my friends goes abroad, I ask her to bring me back a bottle.

Astrological sign?
Sagittarius.

What do you do for a living?
Get paid (not grandly, but enough) to live in my imagination and to broadcast my opinions.

Where do you live?
Greenwich Village, New York City.

Your lucky number?
Twenty-two

What piece of art would you buy if you had absolutely no budget?
Do you mean if budget were no issue?  Then I would buy the mural that Jackson Pollock made for the foyer of Peggy Guggenheim’s New York City townhouse.

If I had absolutely no budget (which is usually the case with me), I’d ferret out something divine from the depths of the flea market.  A few weeks ago, I found a bulb-covered star from an old traveling circus.  I bought it for $50, and I think it’s beautiful.

Laura is one of the masters of hair next door to us at Seagull Hair Salon which is obvious when you see the locks on her. Always dressed up and looking divine she pops in to say hi with Pearl, her lovable Frenchie and lets us in on stories – typically hilarious – of what is going on in the neighborhood. She’s the kind of girl that the more you get to know her the more you like her which seems silly given how likable she is immediately – we hope you like her as much as we do!

Photo by John von Pamer

Favorite recipe?
Granola+fruit+yogurt= parfait!

Last great book you read?
AKC Breed guide. 1980 edition.

Summer drink of choice?
Americano.

Your Animals-names and breeds?
Pearl the golden blonde French Bulldog of dreams.

Do you exercise? What do you do, if so?
Walking Pearl in platform clogs.

Salty or sweet?
Both at the same time.

Who inspires you and why?
My Mom.  She loves unconditionally, is only judgmental when asked to be and is a veritable fountain of creativity.

Pool or ocean?
Pool. Then ocean. Then back to the pool.

Favorite city?
New York

Last great vacation?
A surprise visit to Portland for my best friend’s birthday.  Portland has the most delicious food, vintage shopping to die for, and the best strippers.

Favorite tv show?
Strangers with Candy.

Weirdest job you’ve ever had?
Working at Seagull.  It is also the best job I’ve ever had.

Favorite restaurant?
Maneki in Seattle. The sushi in NY just doesn’t compare – it’s heartbreaking.

Favorite object in your home?
My Breyer unicorn.

Favorite piece of clothing?
Right now it would have to be my high waisted acid wash shorts.  They are straight out of 1987 and the brand is “A Time For Us”.

Favorite blog or website?
Sir.

Something you’re scared of?
Bob from Twin Peaks.

Favorite record?
Fleetwood Mac “Rumours.”

Favorite popsong?
Christina Aguilera “My Girls.”

Your Ideal day?
Fire Island with Pearl and all my favorites.

Favorite gift you’ve ever received?
This Valentine’s Day I received a bouquet of fake pink roses and a tutu. True love.

Favorite flower?
Roses. Real ones. Cliche, but true.

Favorite perfume?
Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb.

Astrological sign?
Scorpio.

What do you do for a living?
Hairstylist at Seagull.

Where do you live?
Chelsea.

Your lucky number?
Shaun says it’s 7.

What piece of art would you buy if you had absolutely no budget?
A feather coat from Lanvin Fall/Winter 2010. Or a vintage Blythe Doll.

For many months I heard about Francesca: friends, customers and designers all encouraged me to look at the jewelry that she was making in Mexico with her partner, Jacopo.  We kept missing each other in our travels but started up an email relationship this summer and many, many emails later I was fortunate enough to meet her. I had heard lots about her kindness, beauty and laughter but none of it prepared me for the magical woman that showed up in September with her exquisite creations. She lives her life filled with compassion, love and beauty -something I think we should all aspire to. I hope you’re as inspired as I am.

Photo by John von Pamer

Favorite recipe?
Parmigiana di Melanzane.

Last great book you read?
Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis

Autumn drink of choice?
Martini Bianco – always!

Your Animals-names and breeds?
A rabbit named Rodolfo.

Do you exercise? What do you do, if so?
I walk on the beach.

Salty or sweet?
Salty.

Who inspires you and why?
The Classics, for their eternal truth.

Pool or ocean?
Ocean.

Favorite city?
Paris.

Last great vacation?
Peru.

Favorite tv show?
Lost.

Weirdest job you’ve ever had?
Living at the mountains for five months during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games!

Favorite restaurant?
L’Hotel du Gallion in Paris.

Favorite object in your home?
Old Louis IV Chair.

Favorite piece of clothing?
The blouse that Riccardo Tisci gave me when my son, Leon, was born.

Favorite blog or website?
Wikipedia!

Something you’re scared of?
Jealousy.

Favorite record?
Rolling Stones “I Miss You”.

Favorite popsong?
Madonna “Like a Virgin”.

Your Ideal day?
Wake up. Silence. Croissant, coffee and flea market with Leon, my baby boy, and my best friend. Then get dressed up for the opera and late dinner out.

Favorite gift you’ve ever received?
Leon’s name in gold – I always wear it.

Favorite flower?
Peony.

Favorite perfume?
Chanel No. 5 and of course our Coqui Coqui fragrances!

Astrological sign?
Capricorn in balance.

What do you do for a living?
Designer of Hacienda Montaecristo.

Where do you live?
Mexico.

Your lucky number?
6.

What piece of art would you buy if you had absolutely no budget?
La Cappella Sistina in Vaticano, Rome