I had the most rejuvenating week of wellness in Aix-en-Provence, home to NAOS Global and their luxury skincare brand, Institut Esthederm! I got to experience the new Age Proteom Advanced Serum firsthand straight from the laboratories where their special cellular water is created, to using it on the daily as the first step in my routine throughout the trip. With the Age Proteom Advanced Serum, the skin ages twice slower. Ecobiology is the foundation of this serum and it supports and strengthens the skin’s natural abilities to adapt and regain its balance on its own. I’m so in love and in awe of what this serum can do. The enchanting Les Lodges Sainte Victoire was our home base. We went from Provence to Mariselle. It is a total French dream, especially with the locals as our guide. 

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My days spent in Cognac, France were absolutely divine. I stayed at the Le Logis Grey Goose chateau, one of the most beautiful properties in all of Cognac. I couldn’t stop lusting over it’s stone walls, cozy velvet chairs, and acres of lush vineyard. It felt like I stepped into my very own fairytale. I spent the day biking in my bikini through the town, and nights with the ladies sipping on my favorite vodka cocktail, the Grey Goose Le Fizz: a perfect mix of lemon, sparkling water, and St. Germain elderflower liqueur. Refreshing. Looking back, I miss everything from our decadent homemade meals in the kitchen to late night dance parties in the living room. We thoroughly got to enjoy this beautiful chateau, which welcomes friends of the Grey Goose family to come by and get a taste of the brand’s French roots. And I enjoyed it indeed, spending every sunny moment on the deck by the pool and having all the French bread a girl could eat. I packed loads of soft color palettes that easily blended in with my surroundings. Pastel trousers, soft pinks, a classic beige trench coat, and a ton of bikinis. As for the night, you would find me in silk mandarin style tops, pops of reds, midi dresses, and classic blazers. I even whipped out some sparkle. I could prance around in the French countryside all summer long. It’s sometimes nice to feel far from home, and in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Bally handbag

Kristinit top

Nicole Miller trench coat

Maiyo swimsuit

Carven sandals

Solid & Striped bikini

For Love and Lemons dress

Cuero and Mor sandals and handbag

Manila Grace skirt

Walter Baker dress

Puma sunglasses

Each x Other dress

Silk New York blazer

Carven jeans

Salvatore Ferragamo heels

Each x Other dress

Balenciaga bag

Ba&sh Paris dress

Etro scarf

Christian Louboutin shoes

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This is not a normal shape I wear…the bubble, but it’s pretty fun to switch things up, and especially during Paris Fashion Week. Here I am snapped outside the Marimekko show. The presentation was beautiful, with loads of pink and reds with women of all ages taking the stage. It was refreshing. This little Marimekko bubble polka-dot number went best with a pair super thigh-high Tamara Mellon boots and my favorite Proenza bag. Totally rain proof. The weather was intense, making it one of those days to throw my hair up in a bun, skip the makeup, and add on giant pair of goggles…aka, my fun Karen Walker sunglasses. Paris was amazing this fashion month. There were so many incredible shows, presentations, and previews. Team Suarez had the most productive week of non-stop action! There was so much to do in so little time! Our home base was at the super chic Hoxton hotel. I have never run into so many people I’ve worked with before in one place. It was like a zoo…it felt like everyone was either out in the cafe taking meetings or simply chilling out with a glass of wine in between shows. It’s a pretty amazing space to just sit and people watch. Everyone looked wonderful, all jazzed up in their best for the shows. In Paris, I always feel I step up my game when it comes to getting dressed in the morning. I like to wear something a little out of the ordinary. The city just makes you want to create beauty of everything that’s around you. I always come home after a Paris trip feeling inspired to soak up the simple luxuries of the everyday because in Paris, that’s what life is about. The luxury of your morning coffee. The luxury of simply walking around the city. I can get used to the luxury of everything made in France. 

Marimekko dress (similar)

Tamara Mellon boots

Proenza Schouler handbag from Monnier Freres

Karen Walker sunglasses

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I was in Reims, France with the lovely Veuve Clicquot team to learn every little thing about champagne and learn about their latest creation, CLICQUOT RICH. We began our trip at the exclusive Hotel Du Marc. It’s a luxurious house turned private estate owned by the Veuve Clicquot family, and only used to host parties and invited guests. Talk about one very special experience. 

But let’s start from the beginning. “Veuve” means widow in French and it was Madame Clicquot who took over the family champagne business when her husband died unexpectedly, leaving her widowed at a young age. The company then became called Veuve Clicquot and we believe it was their daughter Clementine who was the inspiration for the iconic yellow seen on the label. Madame Clicquot had some major girl power. Back in the day, women weren’t ones running businesses, but Madame Clicquot is what I like to call a GIRL BOSS. She wanted to continue the family business, perfect the production of her wine, and build the luxurious Veuve Clicquot brand.

Now let me take you back to Hotel Du Marc. This extremely chic hotel has a brilliant library, a dining room unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and a stunning lavender staircase, inspired by the rich hues of the grapes used in each wine. On the second floor are rooms that each represent a different country. I fell in love with the seafoam green walls of the guest bedroom representing France, and the extra large pink kimono draping along the wall of the Japanese room. Each part of this hotel was breathtaking. It was only a short drive from the Veuve Clicquot cellars… where the wine is made, left to age for years, before being distributed and enjoyed all around the world.

I am so excited to introduce you to Veuve Clicquot Rich. Rich is inspired by mixology, and that’s why we call it CLICQUOLOGY. Clicquot Rich is a bit more sweet due to its higher concentration of sugar. It’s meant for drinking in a large wine glass, served over ice, and accompanied with fresh ingredients including pineapple, celery, tea, pepper, cucumber, or grapefruit. For me, I personally love adding in the green and red bell peppers. The spice gives it all a little kick! It’s delicious and refreshing. It’s totally my summer rooftop drink. My friends are going to be obsessed. And it’s nice going to champagne for a change, over a wine or a classic cocktail. I love this new, innovative take on mixology and champagne.

CLICQUOLOGY took a while to perfect. Finding the right amount of sweetness. Finding the right fruits and veggies that complement the champagne well. But it was worth the wait!

Here is a little insight on what goes into producing champagne. This process takes 4 years!

1. The grapes are harvested by hand in September in the vineyards of Reims, France.

2. Gentle press to a juice, then it becomes base wine and goes through fermentation.

3. It’s blended and bottled in February to sit for 3 years.

4. The second fermentation. Yeast and sugar are added and natural carbon dioxide.

5. Open the bottle, remove the years, and add alcohol.

6. Last step is dosage. This determines if you are making something sweet or dry, or something really potent, like a dessert wine. The Clicquot Rich is in between. It’s not a vintage. It’s a bit more sweet and made to be mixed with fruits or vegetables to enhance the champagne’s flavor.

So now you know a bit about champagne, straight from the city of Reims! See you at the NYC polo match this weekend.

// Finders Keepers top, Milly pants, AGAIN Collection fringed dress, Jocelyn fur coat, Dear Frances mules, Ax + Apple jewelry, Dannijo earrings //

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We had just landed in Paris for our Veuve Clicquot adventure in the beautiful city of champagne: Reims, France. I’ve got a full rundown coming soon for you and I can’t wait to fill you in on all things CHAMPAGNE and take you on a private tour of the exclusive Hotel Du Marc. Talk about one magical, magical trip. From Paris we took a 1.5 hour drive to Reims and arrived just during magic hour. It was a sleepy Sunday afternoon, and I had to cure my jetlag with a good cup of coffee. Quiet little cafes and empty roads. Just the sounds of birds chirping by the ferris wheel. But it was just what we needed before what turned out to be a wild few days of literally popping bottles…but you know, with a certain je ne sais quoi. Our team of editors and photographers were in high spirits despite the fact that we all flew the longest flights into France from around the world. But all was okay as soon as we walked around Reims, for the sunlight in France somehow always bounces off the pale buildings into a gold hue that I just go gah-gah for and makes you forget any sort of jet lag that may me overtaking us. Bonjour!

// Wildfox sunglasses, Capulet leather dress, VEDA leather jacket, DKNY tights, Jerome Bocchio handbag, AGL shoes //

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