Welcome!  If you're reading this, then you are hopefully enjoying a visit to our newly redesigned website.  It has been quite a bit of labor for our team, and I am immensely grateful for the dedication, attention to detail, and team spirit that went into making this happen.  Please let us know what you think.  The driving principle was to create an immersive LFrank experience for those who can't make it to the boutique in Venice, and to ensure that the online shopping experience is both a delight and a breeze.  Enjoy having a look!

Recently, we co-hosted a party with Lisa Love for Pamela Hanson, who was in town signing her gorgeous new book, Private Room.  We are thrilled to have a few copies left, and have made the book available here online in our Essentials category.  This chic, sexy, charming, and romantic book contains portraits of eight women taken by Pamela at Lafayette House in NYC over the course of a couple of years, and styled by Susan Winget.  The result is a truly special publication, in a limited release by art-book publisher Damiani of 1000 copies.  

 

Another project (and complete labor of love) that I have been immersed in is the development of our gentlemen's sleepwear collection.  We don't want the men in our lives to feel left out of the personal luxury conversation, so we are delighted to offer robes and pajama pants with the same exquisite attention to detail that the women's collection has.  The fabrics are the finest Italian men's shirting cottons, and feature french seams, contrast piping, mother of pearl buttons, and expert tailoring.  For the holidays we will have the softest cotton flannel, as well as a super fine wale corduroy.  Both are excellent gift options for the men on your holiday list.  

 

Pairing two of my loves together in a necklace was such a natural thing to do.  Lace and jewels are quite complementary, as seen here with our diamond slice pendant on a length of Solstiss Chantilly lace.  We have additional pendants that can be worn this way as well.  Swing by or give us a call if you would like to see what is in stock, or available to order.

With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, I am now turning my attention to Thursday, and to sharing the day with family and friends.  We take Thanksgiving quite seriously in our house, cooking up a storm, and this year is no exception.  If anything, I feel that the volume is turned up a bit higher.  Our son is home from college, and is so excited for the home cooking that he has been missing this first semester away from home.  Of course we will be making all of his favorites, including Persimmon Pudding.  I shared that recipe a couple of years ago on the site, and I'm sharing it again here because yes, it's really that good.  

 

 Enjoy the holiday, with extra Love + Gratitude for all...

 

 

Well, so much for the Autumn Solstice. With this 90+ degree weather, it literally feels like August in Tuscany this week. If only it was. Last week, September 22nd marked the official end of the summer season, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. I have never quite appreciated our Main Street location and it’s delicious air conditioning as much as I have this week. The hot weather brings new meaning to the term “Indian Summer” in my book. Alas, September 22nd is also significant as it is our wedding anniversary. This year Peter and I toasted our twentieth anniversary, as well as it being a month since taking our son to college. Quite a lot to celebrate, I must say. As for anniversary gifts, the traditional 20th anniversary gift is china. One can interpret this many ways, and one of them would be with our beautiful ancient Chinese glass bead necklaces. I’ve collected beads for ages, but a dear friend of mine really upped my game by introducing me to some particularly notable and ancient finds.

Until not too long ago, there was a belief that all the glass beads found in China were actually traded, and not manufactured there. This is incorrect, with many incredible examples of ancient Chinese glass beads coming from the Yunnan province and elsewhere in Southwestern China.

This necklace features ancient Chinese glass beads and gourd shaped pendants with 18k yellow gold beads strung on a leather cord. The gourds are an auspicious symbol in Chinese culture, warding off evil spirits and disease, and thought to bring luck.

Sometimes for a twentieth or other significant anniversary, a couple may wish to purchase new wedding bands, or update an engagement ring. It also happens that a husband loses a ring somewhere along the way (surfing is the most common reason!), so an updated ring for him might be the perfect anniversary gift. We have a lovely selection in 18k yellow, white, and rose gold. I gave my husband a rose gold ring for our anniversary five years ago, and I love the patina that the finish has developed over time.

I would also love to highlight one of my favorite new pieces from the lingerie collection for Fall. I’m especially excited for the new Peacock color. The new short Venus slip is beautiful with the diamond slice colored lace trim. The short length is also perfect for this extended summer weather. I usually go for the long, ankle-length Juno slip, but this year I’m going to go short. Speaking of slips, everyone needs one. I know that some of you still prefer sleeping in an old cozy t-shirt, but please do yourself a favor and try one of our silk charmeuse slips. They feel like heaven, and are incredibly flattering. We spent ages working on the fit, and it shows.

The Peacock color is an incredibly rich blue with a bit of green. The new pieces in this color will be in store, as well as available at Barneys New York on Madison Avenue, Beverly Hills, and online soon.

If you’ve been to the store at all over the last nine years, you know of my deep affection for chocolate. If you’ve visited us recently, you’ve hopefully experienced our new collaboration with Milla Chocolates. If you haven’t, then please drop by if you’re in the neighborhood. It is award-winning, locally made, beautifully packaged and completely delicious.

Not only do we a have delicious assortment on hand for sampling, we are also selling our favorite treats from Milla at the store. My favorites are the Hazelnut Praline Bar, and the jars of Candied Valencia Orange Peel. Those jars are going quickly, I should point out! I will be taking a few jars of the Chocolate Dragées with us to family weekend, when we visit our son at school. A little fine chocolate is something we’ve always really appreciated as a family, hunting down the best chocolate wherever we travel, and these jars are perfect for sharing.

Since it does feel like Tuscany in August, I’ve decided to cook like it too. For lunch this week I’m making a raw zucchini salad, with a dressing that is a riff on my pumpkin seed pesto, with tons of lime juice and a bit of extra virgin olive oil. I add an assortment of chopped fresh herbs; chives, parsley, mint and a couple of handfuls of arugula to spiralized zucchini strands, along with a handful of pumpkin seeds and lots of shaved parmesan, and toss. It’s the perfect, crisp, refreshing salad on these days where everything and everyone feels a bit wilted. I hope that you enjoy it!

This weather may not be quite in sync with the season, but we are completely ready for Fall on Main Street, and looking forward to seeing you!

Lots of Love,

Oh Summer, I love you so. I always have, and most likely I always will. I love the sun, the way that it stays light so late in the evenings, and the mostly more relaxed state of being that comes with school being out of session. This particular year feels like the fastest summer on record. Technically, I suppose we are about close to being midway through the season. I feel like time is flying, and if I blink twice, we will be headlong into Fall. In the spirit of slowing down to really savor the rest of these long summer days, I wanted to showcase some of the beautiful cotton lingerie we have been making for our clients to take along on their summer holiday travel. We are using the highest quality Italian men's shirting cottons, along with exquisite lace from the unparalleled French lace manufacturer Solstiss. Solstiss supplies lace to the world's most storied design houses, including Chanel, Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Nina Ricci, and many more. The tradition and quality expressed though their beautiful lace is something that is unrivaled in the industry. This lovely blue and grey combination of striped Italian men's shirting cottons and lace from a custom set of lingerie we made for a client traveling to Nantucket A few of my favorites from the cotton and lace collection Our sleep shirt can also double as a piece to wear to the beach over a swimsuit   Whenever I travel, I like to wear small earrings or studs on the plane.  They're just more comfortable and easier to manage than longer, more dangly styles.  Here are a few new additions and perfect options for summer travel days. Keshi pearl and rose cut cognac diamonds alongside a trio of brilliant diamonds A selection of studs and small dangle earrings with mixed cut and shaped diamonds Prong-set, pink and blue double pear-shaped, rose cut sapphire studs. Summer is made for poolside lunches and dinners, and this year has been no exception.  I recently cooked up a feast for a dear friend's birthday.  I roasted little red fingerling potatoes, made a simple Heirloom tomato salad (what could be better at this time of year??), an arugula, radicchio, spring onion salad with shaved parmesan (special birthday boy request), Harissa roasted wild caught Halibut, and a dense, delicious, and flourless chocolate fudge cake adapted from Ottolenghi in London. I sliced a selection of heirloom tomatoes, added shaved red onion, torn basil, crumbled goat's milk feta, and olive oil For this salad, I tossed wild arugula with shaved parmesan, sliced spring onions, and radicchio.  I just toss with a splash of balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon juice, and olive oil.  I sprinkle pink salt and freshly ground pepper after tossing. This chocolate cake is heaven, period.  I serve it with creme fraiche and mixed berries. I hope you are having a lovely summer, whether travels take you far and wide, or you are in town enjoying the long days and more relaxed energy of LA in July.  Swing by to say hello, if you're around!  We have lots of new and beautiful summer jewels and lingerie to show you. Enjoy,

June! This month has been a whirlwind already, and I find it impossible to believe that summer is upon us. June is many things; the end of the school year, graduation, Father's Day, and the Summer Solstice. Officially marking the long, lovely days of the season is indeed something to celebrate. This June has been quite momentous, as it has been for many of us out there with graduates of all kinds. Our son graduated from high school last week, which was incredibly bittersweet. I am so proud of him at this milestone in his life. I offered to make him a hand lettered signet ring to mark the occasion, but he doesn't quite feel that arriving at college with his initials on his finger is exactly the impression he would like to make. I get it. He's cool, but not that kind of cool. My father was that kind of cool. The signet ring and cufflink wearing kind of cool. The men's rings and cufflinks that I design are mostly influenced by my memories of him, and his dandyish sense of style mixed with a modern sensibility. He would wear pink with red, lavender with mint green, and always looked great in a suit, which he donned every evening. I miss him everyday, and always most especially on Father's Day. I have been working on hand lettering for these rings, and I think they're perfect for both men and women. Stop by, or give us a ring to discuss personalizing one for you. Lettering for a custom signet ring with the initials ATL The work in progress The finished Signet Ring, happy next to a pair of our 3d Pyramid Rings   My Father at Villa d'Este, Lake Como in the late 1940's   My Parents, my Godfather, and me in the 1972 My father was a true bon vivant.  He literally seemed to know everyone, have a friend in every city across the globe, and truly enjoyed spending time with those that he loved.  By the time I came along, he was in his mid 50s, and wasn't particularly interested in parenting.  Or so he thought.  We formed an incredible bond, only strengthened by our mutual admiration for each other.  He was both incredibly traditional and quite eccentric.  He began each day by diving into the pool for a quick morning skinny dip, and ended each day by falling asleep sitting upright in a chair in our living room talking to himself.  He was totally indulgent, spoiled me mercilessly, but also demanding that I always try to exceed my level best in every endeavor.   He wanted me to become a supreme court justice, and made me feel like I could do it.  Literally.  He read books like breathing air, spoke many languages, and told really terrible jokes.  He instilled in me my most deeply held values, and set quite a high bar for the men in my life.   He left too soon, but left enough of an impression to last several lifetimes.  I'll certainly be thinking of him on Sunday. Father's Day Poolside Brunch This Sunday, we will be celebrating Father's Day with a brunch by the pool.  Our children most definitely won the lottery in the Dad department, so I am looking forward to celebrating Peter and our collective good fortune.  One of the things on the menu will be baked eggs with heirloom tomato sauce, basil, shaved parmesan and crispy prosciutto. I will saute chopped heirloom tomatoes with a little garlic, olive oil, and basil until soft and wilted, then add to a buttered, round baking dish.  Then I'll crack six eggs into little indentations in the tomato sauce in a circle around the top, and bake at 350 degrees until the whites are set, but the yolks still runny.  To serve, top with prosciutto that has been also crisped in the oven, shaved parmesan, and freshly ground black pepper.  I'll see what looks best at the farmer's market, but I'd like to serve with a wilted kale salad and roasted, thinly sliced potatoes.  Still thinking about the dessert this year, but seeing as how the stone fruit is really at it's most delicious, and it's meant to be REALLY hot this weekend, I imagine that just sliced peaches, nectarines, and apricots will be best.  Happy Father's Day! Enjoy,

I love Mother's Day, and not solely because I feel entitled to commandeer the day to spend it with my most beloved, but also because I am blessed with the most extraordinary mother.  Truly, I could not be more fortunate.  My mother is loving, supportive, nurturing, brilliant, beautiful, funny, quirky, talented, gentle, kind, tough-as-nails, independent, understanding...I could go on and on.  We have had our differences, of course, as all mothers and daughters understandably do.  Ninety-nine percent of the time, however, it really is a mutual admiration society.  I am just as proud of her as she is of me, and I hope that when I'm nearly 87 as she is, that my children will feel the same deep love and respect for me that I have for my wonderful mother.   So, with that in mind, I've chosen a few things to suggest as a gift for the mamas in your life. A stacking ring in a diamond or colored stone to represent a birthstone is always a lovely idea. Every mother I know is always thrilled by a new pair of earrings. These necklaces are simple and easy, designed to layer and enjoy. We have three lengths of 100% silk dressing gowns for you to choose from in Double Georgette or Liberty Print.   The Aurora can be worn over a camisole and looks quite chic.  Selene is perfect if you're after something luxurious, but not quite as dramatic as the full length Asteria. Organic, biodynamic chocolates and 100% beeswax and essential oil candles are always a special treat. The Spanish painter Joaquin Sorolla is one of my favorite painters.  He often captured images of a mother and child, and I love this one.  Painted in 1895, it commemorated the birth of the artist's younger daughter, Elena.  I saw it a few years ago in the Museo Sorolla in Madrid, and it has stayed with me ever since. My gorgeous mother... Now that Axe is gone, going out to brunch for Mother's Day doesn't quite have the same appeal.  For years we went to brunch at Axe on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, which was such a treat.  I will miss sitting in the garden this Sunday with a steaming cup of ginger tea, surrounded by family and friends.  I think this year I'll see if my children will make a family favorite, Salade Nicoise.  It's something that my mother taught me to make when I was a teenager, and has evolved over the years into quite it's own thing when I make it myself.  When I'm longing for the taste of my childhood, however, I make it this way.  It's really more assembling rather than cooking, and you can substitute with whatever is on hand or inspiring, so let them surprise you! SALADE NICOISE

• Ortiz tuna packed in a jar of olive oil
• Pitted Kalamata Olives
• Chopped scallions, white and green parts
• Cherry tomatoes
• Haricot Vert, blanched and plunged into an ice bath
• Steamed or roasted baby red potatoes (or fingerlings)
• Hard boiled eggs (slightly underdone to keep the yolks bright orange)
• Mixed Spring lettuces or Bibb lettuce
• Lemon Vinaigrette:  Juice of two lemons, splash of balsamic vinegar, freshly ground black pepper, pink salt + extra virgin olive oil

Fill a large bowl with the lettuces, and arrange the remaining ingredients in sections around the tuna in the center.  Toss with the lemon vinaigrette and serve. Enjoy,

 

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day we would like to feature some of our beautiful greens…both in jewels and lingerie.  The incredible greens of emeralds and tourmalines are as alluring as diamonds, and the vivid green of silk charmeuse, crepe de chine, and chiffon will no doubt enliven your day.  The color green has long been associated with growth, rebirth, and renewal.  That seems especially appropriate now that we are headlong into Spring.  The blossoms are making gardens look beautiful and smell divine, and the longer days are a welcome treat. I’ve never given much thought to St. Patrick’s Day, other than to remember a particular day in elementary school.  I’d been mercilessly pinched all morning, having forgotten to wear anything green.  I was called to the school office shortly before lunch, to find that my mother had dropped off two bright green ribbons for me, which changed everything.   I quickly tied them around my two long braids, thereby putting an end to the horrible pinching, and saving the day.  Now, I think I’ll just wear an emerald or two…or perhaps the emerald green Gaia bralette.  Much more fun than ribbons... Inspired by a sore mouth from dental work (oh, the joy…) I decided to make poached eggs for dinner last night.  I sautéed zucchini, purple kale, and snap peas from the farmer’s market in ghee, topped them with a couple of poached eggs,  and then added my pumpkin seed pesto, chives, and some shaved parmesan.  Tender tooth notwithstanding, it was delicious, almost completely green, and perfect for the season.

For Valentine’s Day this year, I’m hoping for this romantic and chic ensemble from our Lingerie Collection. The long version of the Maia dressing gown is new for the season in Rose Gold, which literally seems to glow in the gorgeous way that only 100% silk charmeuse can.  Underneath it, I plan to wear the Juno long slip in Garnet, a rich color that is somehow delightfully happy under the pale, blush of pink.  They are both so lovely individually, and together are truly sublime.

We also have many Valentine-worthy options for your sweetheart, from the palest platinum color, to the vibrant shocking pink of our Rubellite color.  Perhaps this set…the Olwen Camisole and Sita Knicker, would be a perfect treat for your Love? Or the Gaia Bralette paired with the Hera Brief, both available online here, in our Main Street shop, or at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills, Madison Avenue, or barneys.com   We have new colors available, such as emerald green, white gold, deep amethyst, platinum, and rubellite.  Stop by for a look!  

If jewels are more to the point for your Valentine this year, then may I suggest a few options for you? We just created a few pair of these delightful earrings, some featuring heart shaped Rubies, or Tourmaline, while others sparkle with either grey or white diamonds.  All would make a perfectly sweet Valentine’s Day gift.

While flowers and chocolates are always a pleasure to receive, I don’t think that there could be a better idea for Valentine’s Day than a ring.  Stacking rings are always on a jewelry-lover’s wish list, and we have so many wonderful options in this category.  I personally would love to receive a little heart shaped Ruby, or a charming little diamond butterfly ring to add to my collection.  Please stop by, or give us a call this week to see what other delightful options we have for Valentine's day gift giving. Celebrating Valentine’s Day I have to admit, that I’m a sucker for Valentine’s Day.  I always have been.   I can remember spending it with Peter either out to dinner, in the early 1990’s at the West Beach Cafe in Venice, at Il Cantinori in NYC, or in for dinner a deux.  We would enjoy a decadent assortment of french cheeses, wine, and my version of David Waltuck’s flourless chocolate cake for dessert.  Years ago, we decided to include our own little sweethearts in the celebration, making it a group celebration, with friends and families joining us for a dinner in honor of love.  I am normally not considered a trite or overly sentimental person, but when it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day, I go all in.  Somewhere along the road, the theme for the dinner became RED.  The menu is beef tenderloin, radicchio salad, roasted beets, red potatoes, and of course, a decadent chocolate cake with raspberries and strawberries.  With slight deviations over the years, like the time my friend Patrik Milani showed me how to make the most amazing chocolate peanut butter truffles you could possible imagine, I’ve moved on to a version of Ottolenghi’s chocolate fudge cake.  If you haven’t tried it, you must.  As I mentioned last month, I’m still working on perfecting a brownie recipe, which I’ll share with you here. Let me know if you try it, and what you think.  I'm planning to wrap them up to send home with our dinner guests... Happy Valentine’s Day to All!

2016!   I am definitely looking forward to the brand new year.  It has me thinking about resolutions, big and small, and one in particular that I actually made back in early December.  It isn’t about reconnecting with my meditation practice (though I do need to do that immediately!).   No, the one I am thinking about mostly is this one:  I have decided to embrace big earrings for day.  Big, and fancy.  Why not!?  I feel like the things that we reserve for special occasions are actually meant to be enjoyed in the most quotidian of ways.  There isn’t any good reason not to.  Honestly, I cannot think of one reason to “save” one’s beautiful treasures for only certain occasions.  Enjoy them!  Wear them to lunch with a friend, or to anyplace at all.  I promise it will elevate the experience of every single thing.       Madrid Earrings; Emerald, Pearl + Diamonds  Double Pear Pear Earrings, Seven Seas Pearl + Diamond Ring

It's that post-Thanksgiving moment, when I pause to take a deep breath, feel intensely grateful for a million different reasons, and then panic...realizing that in a flash, the gift-giving season is upon us.   So with that in mind, I would like to share with you a few gift-giving ideas for the special people on your holiday list.  I hope that you put yourself on that list too.  I'm a big believer in self-gifting.   It's very important that YOU take care of you, in the best way possible. For Mothers, best friends, or Mothers who happen to also be your best friend, I cannot think of anything more perfect than our Asteria Dressing Gown in 100% silk.  I personally love it in the deep Garnet color with French lace trim, or in one of the limited edition Liberty of London Art Silk prints.  It is both glamorous and comfortable, and feels like heaven on the skin. For the gentlemen in your life, we have a selection of cufflinks and rings that will make a big impression.  The abstract emerald cufflinks are the most dramatic, and the simple gold rings are both strong and organic, while being quite comfortable to wear. And for yourself...may I suggest two stunning and over the top options?  First, the Tsarina ring, which features a deep violet bi-colored tourmaline, dreamy labradorite, and pink sapphires (shown here on the index finger).  It might be extravagant, but I suspect you would never regret the splurge! The other dreamy piece to indulge in would be the Cashmere, wool, and mink Poncho, which is lined in 100% silk charmeuse, and trimmed in French lace.  It is the perfect piece to layer over your lingerie or your regular wardrobe.  Once you've tried it on, you'll understand.  It's a dream. Lastly, for those special gifts that are really proposals, and filled with all the love in the world...a selection of engagement rings.  I think the entwined bands are especially romantic, as is the delicate and captivating diamond flower on a pave diamond band. And don't forget to join us this weekend for our Gregory Parkinson Surround Trunk Show. The textiles for the home that Gregory has created are sublime, and perfect for anyone on your holiday gift list! Happy Weekend,