Zihuatanejo is one of my favorite places on earth. “Zihuat,” as I often call it, is one of those places that doesn’t require much packing – just a few bathing suits and a chic cover-up or two. This cover up by Sundress is an absolute favorite of mine and one that has traveled with me all over the world (including Phuket, Thailand where these pictures were taken.) I have my stylish sister-in-law to thank for letting me know about the brand, which was founded by Estelle Calafato Valtancoli in 2014. Estelle began her career at Nina Ricci before starting her own line, which is inspired by her myriad travels and the rich colors and textiles found in exotic, faraway destinations. I had the pleasure of talking to the founder about her vision and inspirations.

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Since I was a little girl I’ve had a soft spot for sweets. As I have grown up, this temptation never wavered, perhaps only getting worse, I’m afraid. Some of my favorite sugar-coated memories include popping into tiny sweet shops as a study abroad student in Florence, trying homemade lemon tarts topped with fresh berries, or biting into my first raspberry macaron in Paris. Needless to say, sweets make me happy and I love when people find ways to make them extra special. As I was scanning my Instagram feed one day I stumbled upon the most beautiful, whimsical cakes crafted by English baker, Genevieve Frosch. One of her cakes was included in a November 2016 American Vogue spread with author and Vogue writer, Plum Sykes. These are no ordinary gâteaux, mind you. Frosch has a decadent decorating flair that incorporates all kinds of delectable motifs, from fresh flower petals to sugared gum drops, wild berries, fallen leaves, jammy preserves, and stone fruits like apricots and cherries. Most all of her cakes are multi-layered and imperfect, polished and playful, the combination of which makes them utterly irresistible, in my opinion. I had the pleasure of interviewing Genevieve and loved learning more about her process – keep reading to meet the charming baker extraordinaire.

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