Emilio Grossi's New England

He just might be the greatest American photographic artist whom no one has ever heard of. For five decades Emilio Grossi's minimalist portraits of life along the Seaboard have captured history and emotion without wide angle lenses, without color, simply by highlighting the texture of window panes and gray shingles or a wrecked barn in Rhode Island. 

Doorway, Milford

How can a solitary sand dollar move me to tears? Zooming in on the headlights of an old Chevy truck, paint chipped, tree branches reflected in the paint on the hood, Grossi makes America mythic - from the beaches of Key West to the strands of Cape Cod.

Check out more of this master (and my Grossi-inspired get-up) after the jump.

Jessica L. Pizzo: Girl American.

Through a tangled web of Newport connections, I recently made the acquaintance of Jessica L. Pizzo, globe trotter, tennis champion, designer of Tartan Hugs, and world-famous Cupcaketologist. We bonded over a shared love of the sailing capital's dashing sailors and now collaborate on blog projects and pipe dreams (to buy beach houses and fall off the grid).

But more than anything else it's Jessica's impeccable, effortless sense of style and wild appreciation for the Eastern seaboard that make her this week's Girl American.


Read my interview with Jessica and scoop her sartorial secrets after the jump.

A Christmas sail.

Last year I spent Christmas in Newport, R.I., dipping my Hunter-clad toes in the icy Narragansett. This year I am far from the ocean (as far as I can be), but Santa (a.k.a. Mom) was kind enough to bring the coast to me in the form of this fabulous Sea Bag.

This tote, the signature holiday Green Star Bag, was made in Portland, Maine, from reclaimed sails. Since 1999, all materials (from canvas to Kevlar) have been recycled, restored, and stitched together by founders and designers Hannah Kubiak and Beth Shissler.

I had never heard of this brand but quick research shows that I received more than just a beach bag: Kubiak and Shissler are incredible women working hard to improve the lives of their fellow Mainers. 

Causes and projects they support include:

Sail Maine Scholarship Fund: they contribute funds to help children learn to sail.

Maine Cancer Foundation: they design limited edition Celebration Bags with pink ribbon sails.

Maine Correctional Institute for Women

Portland waterfront preservation

Thank you, Santa. (And thank you, Mom!)

Kate Huether: Girl American.

To kick off my new blog feature Girl American, I turned to sorority sister, fellow Missourian, and long-time style standard Kate Huether of Joy & Cake to tell me a little bit about where she draws her inspiration and how she stays ahead of the pack in one of our country's oldest and most venerated cities.

Wearing American designer Rebecca Taylor.

Keep your keys warm with fox fur.

Last Wednesday, while we were literally rushing out the door for a dinner, my dazzling friend Liz surprised me with this natural red fox fur keychain. I suppose she thought my LV needed a little more rusticity. (See for yourself here or scroll down.)

For less than twenty dollars you too can channel Davey Crockett as you fumble for your keys...or Be Like Liz (as I often aim to do) and clip it to your handbag. 


You can find these keychains on eBay in a veritable spectrum of shades both natural and dyed. I think they're the perfect marriage of decadence and mountain man simplicity.