Winter chill has returned to New York but it looks like Easter will be warm at least. A lot of great things popping up this April besides tulips and daffodils and I’ve got them covered today.

Since all my friends and I have been vaccinated, talk has turned to travel and where we want to go in the US since we still can’t travel to Europe. Top of my list is Boston to see the exhibition Monet and Boston: Legacy Illuminated that opens April 17, 2021 at the Museum of Fine Arts. The show “highlights 25 masterpieces by the artist—selections drawn from the MFA’s extraordinary holdings of his work alongside select loans from local private collections.” 

This next recommendation is not for the prudish or easily offended. While I’m sure most anyone French knows exactly who Madame Claude is, American audiences will be introduced to the legendary Parisian madame whose clients included kings, princes, Presidents, and aristocrats, via Netflix this month. For me, Madame Claude is a visual feast of chic fashions, interiors, and cars from the 60s and 70s starring Karole Rocher and Garance Marillier, who mark my words, is going to be a huge star in France before long. Anthony Vacarello for Yves Saint Laurent received a thank you at the end of the film so that’s probably why the fashions are so good. In French with English subtitles.

Also on new on Netflix is The Serpent series also set in the 1970s which looks worth watching and Concrete Cowboys starring Idris Elba.

A charming film that I recently watched is My Salinger Year which is based on a true story of a college grad takes a clerical job in New York in the 1990s working for the literary agency of the renowned and reclusive writer J.D. Salinger. It stars Margaret Qualley and Sigourney Weaver and it’s also worth watching for the fashions. The film is based on the novel My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff.

Premiering on Sunday night on PBS Masterpiece is new eight episode series Atlantic Crossing. Kyle MacLachlan and Sofia Helin star in a drama based on the World War II relationship of Franklin Roosevelt and Norwegian Crown Princess Martha. The SAG Awards are also on Sunday night.

A lovely special linen boxed version of the new book Visions of Home: Timeless Design, Modern Sensibility arrived this week. I was first introduced to Historical Concepts through the work of designer Steven Gambrel in Sag Harbor and this book take a look at a few of the firms projects. I appreciate that site drawings are included to give context to them as well.

I’m still not allowed to buy any new books but if I was, I’d order a copy of Sharon Stone’s new book, The Beauty of Living Twice that was just published this week. In it, the iconic actress talks about her career and the massive stroke from which she just barely recovered.

I rarely buy magazines anymore but I plan to pick up a copy of the Directors Issue of W magazine. For it, director Sofia Coppola cast her muses, Elle Fanning, Kirsten Dunst, and Rashida Jones, in a vision of 1980s glamour. The photos taken in beautiful interiors are definitely worth checking out.

I had a sneak peek at these new Leather and Suede Perfetta Flats at Plain Goods in November and they are finally available to purchase. The toast leather color of the handmade in Portugal shoes would be most practical but the yellow suede would be so fun with all my blue dresses this summer. Decisions. Decisions.

My favorite $75 Cashmere Sweater for women and men has just launched beautiful bright shades for spring including lilac, pop pink, sage, and mint. Perfect timing after the Lovely Lilac and Lavender post this week.

I’ve run out of all my favorite night serums and creams so last night I pulled out my Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum I’ve also been using the cult favorite Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial AHA + BHA Mask more to help my skin recover from winter and the pandemic. I can’t wait to see my facialist soon now that I’m fully vaccinated.

Bon Week-end and Happy Easter!

XOXO,

HC