Read It

As we round the corner into the busy social season (Again? How can the year have flown by so quickly?), we look for inspiration, in all areas of life. We’re putting away the lawn chairs, folding up the Adirondack cushions for a long three-season’s rest, and turning to style and fashion to be our byword. And who better to guide us through the maze than Jeffrey Bilhuber, decorator to all the creative elite—even Anna Wintour and Elsa Peretti, and if they don’t know good looks, I don’t know who would. His new title, The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty, is a must-have staple in every interior-savvy girl’s library. Published in September by Rizzoli, reserve yours today.

And, while we’re focusing on our homes’ interiors, let’s not forget about our own exteriors. If it’s inspiration and kick-ass style you’re looking for, dive right into the latest buzzworthy book (all the fashionistas are talking about it): Harper’s Bazaar: Greatest Hits, by industry icon Glenda Bailey. Prepare to be amazed. — KA

Hear It

The legendary Tony Bennett will be joined by an all-star roster of artists this September on his new album Duets II. From Mariah Carey to Norah Jones, Willie Nelson to Andrea Bocelli, musicians from a wide range of genres have collaborated with Bennett on the new release. The album follows his best-selling CD, the 2006 Grammy-winning Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic. To further document the joined forces of such extraordinary musical talent, the U.S. and international recording sessions are being filmed by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Dion Beebe, who worked on movies like Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Collateral. The footage will be released as a documentary in conjunction with the new CD, providing a unique, inside look at Bennett’s creative and artistic process. — EP

Blog It

One of my own longtime favorite blogs is Australian—and, as such, I’ve been hesitant to mention it here, mostly because some of the things featured on it are difficult to get a hold of on this side of the world (not impossible, though!). Also, though, because with the opposite-season-thing that goes on between us and the Antipodes, they’re often featuring things that would be perfect, here…in about six months. But then came this winter—the relentless, wet, white winter, when each day of Australian sunshine and cheer felt like a direct hit of vitamin D to my soul, and I thought —well, why not? Absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com is the personal website of Aussie interior designer and shop owner Anna Spiro. Her taste is spot-on and the beautiful objects she juxtaposes are simply masterful. Almost worth a trip to Brisbane, just to visit. — KA