If you’re a foodie like me then you’ll thoroughly enjoy two new blogs I just discovered that I’m excited to share. Both combine food and style and are completely addicting! First up is Sous Style…. a food blog created by Elle photo director Pippa Lord which chronicles the culinary adventures of fashionistas and tastemakers around the globe. The subjects are stylish and intriguing, the photography is stunning and the food is absolutely mouth watering. Pippa has dubbed Sous Style as a site for “a new generation of homemakers.” Think younger, hipper Martha Stewart types who love to cook and entertain at home. I’m completely hooked! Below is a look at what you’ll find inside and you can check out Sous Style here!

_{Sous Style Creator Pippa Lord (above)}

All photos above via Sous Style.

Next up is Lookbook Cookbook which is written by Toronto based Jessica Milan, a photographer and former model that also happens to be studying holistic nutrition. I was especially excited to stumble upon this blog not just because of it’s unique fusion of fashion and food but also because I eat (mostly) gluten and dairy free and this recipe based blog features all vegan baking recipes that are gluten, dairy and, best of all, guilt-free! Jessica bakes her tasty treats and then shoots super cute, impeccably styled models eating them which puts both the food and fashion center stage for a double dose of inspiration. Catch a peek at some of the site’s sweet shots below and you can check out Lookbook Cookbook here!

Above photos via Lookbook Cookbook

I always love it when the worlds of fashion and interiors collide and such is the case with the ad campaigns of American fashion designer Reed Krakoff. Starring British supermodel Stella Tennant and shot at the expansive Upper East Side townhome that Reed shares with his interior designer wife Delphine, the stylish interiors of Reed Krakoff’s Fall 2011 campaign almost steal the spotlight from the clothes!

And below, a few snaps from Krakoff’s equally beautiful Spring 11 ad campaign.

_{Tory Burch’s new Madison Avenue Boutique}

When it was nothing more than a small collection of tunics that launched when its eponymous founder was better known for being a socialite than a fashion designer, Tory Burch was on my radar and over the years I’ve paid close attention to its development. I’ve watched it grow into the multimillion lifestyle empire that it is today with a global presence and storefronts in some of the most sought after locations in retail real estate. There really are only a few brands that have risen to the level of success that Tory has achieved and with as quick of a trajectory. One of the things I admire most about the brand is how, over the years, Tory has developed a signature style so highly identifiable that it can only be considered iconic…in the same vein of brands like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein…Apple. You get the drift. As Tory continues to expand her empire, this week in particular is an especially big one for her as she held her very first runway show to debut her Spring ’12 collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week to rave reviews and also opened her a beautiful new 8,000 square foot global flagship store on Madison Avenue.

_{Tory Burch on Madison Ave}

The new boutique on Madison Ave is a shining example of Tory’s signature style as is her other store designs around the world. For this store and all of her others, she collaborated with her friend/architect/decorator Daniel Romualdez who also designed her stunning 9,000 square foot apartment at the Pierre. You can see it here. There was a great article last year in the Wall Street Journal about how Tory’s personal interior design has influenced her store design in a big way. In the article she said that she aims for her shops to feel like a beautiful residential space where customers can feel as comfortable as they do at home. Although each of Tory’s shops has its own unique design design, they all include a few key signature elements that unify the spaces and help create that signature Tory Burch store identity: lacquered walls, tiered brass chandeliers, graphic carpets, bursts of pattern, slipcovered sofas, x-benches, eggplant purples, pea greens, pops of high-gloss orange…the combinations are quite brilliant and all of these elements come together to create a glamorous ambiance that only enhances the shopping experience. Here’s another view of her stunning Madison Ave boutique and a few others around the world:

_{Tory Burch Madison Avenue}

_{Tory Burch Seoul S. Korea}

_{Tory Burch Meatpacking District NYC}

_{Tory Burch Los Angeles}

_{Tory Burch East Hampton}

_{Tory Burch in her new Madison Ave boutique’s VIP salon}

On the evening of Tory’s fashion week debut, a bevy of VIPs and celebrities packed the new Madison Ave flagship to celebrate its launch. Burch’s hip hop mogul boyfriend Lyor Cohen was there which probably explains the eclectic mix of celebs that were present which included hip hop figures like Russell Simmons, Jay-Z, Questlove from The Roots, Estelle, Beyonce and more. Here are a few photos from the opening celebration:

_{Tory Burch & Beyonce}

_{Lyor Cohen (aka Tory’s BF. And on a side note – the backdrop of hydrangeas is gorge!)}

_{Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Douglas Friedman & Carlos Mota}

_{Linda Fargo}

_{Marina Rust Connor}

_{Paula Patton}

_{Tamara Mellon}

_{Vera Wang}

_{Aerin Lauder}

Photos: Toryburch.com and Style.cocm

_{Cute girl on a bike. Photo via Fash n Chips (This could be me!)}

I want to buy a bike…I want one bad. A cute little vintage/European inspired bicycle with a wicker basket on the front to tote my things around in and a little brass bell just for kicks. The only thing that’s holding me back is my intense fear of riding a bicycle around New York City where people tend to drive erratically, not to mention the plethora of bike messengers that ride around the city which are pretty scary too. I’ve seen bikers get hit by cabs and people get hit by bike messengers on a few occasions. Not cool. Anyway – I’m working on conquering this fear so  I can at least muster up the guts to ride around my my own neighborhood and maybe even to the West Side Highway where I hope to take leisurely rides along the Hudson. Here are some of the super cute bikes I’ve been eying. And for an of my NYC readers with bikes. I’d love to know- is it as scary as it seems? (on a side note – I wish I could look half as chic as the stylish women in these photos while riding my bike!)

1. Missoni for Target Bicycle, $399 available Sept 15 at Target.com | 2. Schwinn World 24 Cruiser, $489 | 3. Linus Mixte 3-Speed Bicycle, $589 | 4. Kate Spade for Abici Bicycle, $1100 | 5. Schwinn Cream 1-Speed Bicycle, $271.99 | 6. Public C-7 Bike, $550 | 7. Peterboro Cycle Basket, $44 | 8. Nutcase Helmet, $55 | 9.  10. Pashley Saddle Bag , $180. Top right photo via Mr. Newton.

A few weeks ago when I visited Palm Springs we spent our first night at The Colony Palms which is a beautiful old Spanish style hotel with a storied history. In the 1930s the property was owned by an alleged member of the mob and was equipped with a basement casino, a speakeasy and a brothel! It was Hollywood’s golden area the hotel, called The Colonial House back then, was a glamorous retreat frequented by legendary stars like Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Carol Lombard and many more. Over the next several decades the hotel changed hands a few times before reopening in 2007 after a 3-year $16million renovation which included stunning interiors designed by “million dollar decorator” Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The decor infuses Moroccan, Spanish and Mediterranean influences with classic colonial style, old Hollywood glamour and a touch of the exotic. The property is lush with palm trees, fountains and beautiful gardens which create a laid back and sophisticated ambiance. Here is a peek at some photos I shot during my stay…

This is the elegantly appointed lobby that greets you when you check in. I loved the presence of the framed suzani on the wall behind the desk which creates a beautiful focal point. Framing delicate antique textiles is a great trick for allowing you to beautifully showcase them while still keeping them in tact.

Framed black and white photography with fashion and old Hollywood imagery adorn the walls. There are also more suzanis everywhere…

I loved the addition of subtle contrast welting, nailheads and  fringe detail on the plush velvet sofas  in the lobby. I always say that good design is in the details!

All throughout the property you’ll find beautiful old Spanish tiles like this covering the floors…

This is the hotel’s amazing restaurant, The Purple Palm, which is situated right by the pool. The food is Mediterranean inspired and totally amazing. Our dinner there the night we checked in was one of the best meals we had in Palm Springs and the next morning we had the most incredible breakfast ever.

We stayed in a standard guest room with two double beds and the decor was simple but lovely. The beds were incredibly comfortable and I loved the suzani covered headboard which provided an energizing splash of color.

Here’s a view of one of the hotel’s courtyards overlooking the pool and The Purple Palm…

And the chic pool surrounded by wrought iron lounge chairs with rust colored cushions which play well off the colors in the terracotta roof tiles and the natural elements…

And finally, a shot of the property just after sunset. For more information on The Colony Palms click here.

_{Photos by Nicole Gibbons}

_{Interior design by Martyn Lawrence Bullard}