Gilded Lives: Collette Dinnigan and others

One of the most beautiful books ever published was released today: Collette Dinnigan's illustrated memoir, Obsessive Creative.

A pictorial history of Collette's life as one of Australia's foremost fashion designers, Obsessive Creative is filled with exquisite images of her family, her travels, her inspirations, her fashion collections, and her friendships and clients. (Including Princess Mary, Sarah Murdoch, and Toni Collette; the latter two were married in Dinnigan's designs). It's a sumptuous tome that (almost) justifies the $100 price. 

I've had the privilege of seeing a preview copy, and couldn't put it down. I've also had the privilege of interviewing Collette, for a magazine article several years ago, and she was considerate, thoughtful, well-mannered and surprisingly calm, given her workload. "All I wanted to do was turn my craft into something I could make an income from," she said humbly. But she added that she was always very focused. And had a firm work ethic.

However, like all hard-working women, she said that she sometimes finds life exhausting. "A lot of hard work, energy and tears" have gone into the business over the years," she admitted. 

In fact, when she finished writing this book, she decided to close another chapter in her life: her business. She had been in the game for two decades but it was only in writing her memoir and looking back over her life that she realised how much she had achieved – and just how much she had sacrificed.

So this book – as well as her collections – will be a legacy of her 24 extraordinary years in fashion.

All the best Collette.
We will certainly miss you.

Now out from Lantern/Penguin. $100. 
(Limited edition version, cover shown above: $250.)

Another beautiful book that's just been released from another beautiful designer is Tricia Guild's Colour Reconstructed. The head of Designer's Guild is as much of a prolific writer and traveller as she is a designer, and this book reveals her love of colour, with photos taken across several continents – including the always-spectacular India. 

And while nowhere near in the same league as Ms Dinnigan and Ms Guild, my next book, an illustrated guide to Provence and the Cote d'Azur, has gone off to the printer. It will be published on December 1, just in time for Christmas. (Pan Macmillan/Plum, $49.95)

I'll gladly share some Provence secrets in the next few weeks, for those planning a trip there next year.

Oh – and if you're wondering what's happened to other book projects, including Picnic at Hanging Rock, I've recently changed publishers, having decided to return to my former editor/publisher, whom I adore. We're currently working on these and some other wonderful new book projects, including a new series of beautifully illustrated guides to New York, London and Paris. 

I'm very grateful to be working with her again. She's already lined up one of Australia's most amazing book designers to do the first guide, so I can't wait to see what the creative team will come up with.

Charleston: The No 1 City in the World?

This year, the readers of the highly respected Travel + Leisure magazine voted the city of Charleston in South Carolina the No. 1 City in the United States and Canada in the magazine's World's Best Awards 2013 survey. It was a slight drop on the travel ladder – in 2012 readers of rival magazine Condé Nast Traveler voted Charleston the No. 1 City in the World. 

I don't know about the No. 1 in the World – places like Bellagio (Lake Como), Paris, Nice, and Sydney are also pretty gorgeous – but it would certainly be one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. And its sister city Savannah is just as lovely. Spectacular architecture, quietly glamorous interiors, extraordinary antiques (and amazing antique stores), and immaculate manners... What's not to love about this part of the world? 

To make things more irresistible, both cities are becoming creative hotspots, with Charleston being touted as The New San Francisco (lots of tech companies are moving there) and Savannah churning out talent from the renowned Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs and Anthropologie have all recently opened stores in Savannah. (The cocktail party for the Kate Spade opening was fab.) Here's proof why you should put these two beauties on your List of Places to Visit.

{The Spanish Moss is everywhere, dangling from Oaks and other grand old trees such as these here in Savannah's famous Bonaventure Cemetery, made famous in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.}

{Incredible private gardens}

[A delightful restaurant called The Pink House in Savannah: beautiful period rooms and equally lovely service}

{An antiques store in a grand old three-story mansion in Savannah; every floor was filled with amazing pieces but the real appeal was the building}

[The beautiful Gryphon Tea Room in Savannah, where books line the walls and a leopard-print carpet offers a dramatic backdrop to the lime green silk chairs}

{The Paris Market and Brocante store in Savannah – incredible interior and gorgeous products}

Thinking Pink: Hotels & Homes in the Season's Hottest Hue

Did you see the sartorial fuss made over Simone Rocha's latest fashion show? 

Simone, who is the talented daughter of design legend John Rocha, released a collection that ranged from Pepto-pink princess coats to classic black LBDs with a twist. It was pastels, but not as we know it. Just look at the tea coat above. It could be Jackie O all over again.

 The website Refinery 29 loved it, saying: "We’re tickled pink for her." 

(Pun intended.)

Pink, it seems, is the season's hottest hue, at least here in Australia where we're heading into spring. As a fashion editor friend said: "Blush is fast emerging as the colour of summer."

If you're a fan of rose shades, here are some lovely places to find them.

The Fielding Hotel, Covent Garden. 

A great little cheapie loved by Australians.

{thefieldinghotel.co.uk}

Garden designer Arne Maynard's country retreat in Wales, Allt-y-Bela. 

Arne is loved by many notable Londoners, including Tricia Guild of Designer's Guild, for whom he designed a sublime townhouse garden. 

He also won Gold at Chelsea for the Laurent-Perrier Garden.

You can stay at his country property. I've booked in for October. Can't wait.

{www.alltybela.co.uk}

More from Arne Maynard's beautiful blush-pink country home, Allt-y-Bela. 

Another beautiful place to book for your next getaway. 

This carriage house is in downtown Manhattan, and is available to rent through One Fine Stay.

Just love that mezzanine.

{onefinestay.com}

The newly redecorated Beverly Hills Hotel in LA. 

The hotel's famous signature pink (a dominant part of its brand) has been given a lift so it comes across as being less saccharine sweet and more Modern Glamour. 

Still a gorgeous place for lunch, even after all these years. 

(NB It's great if you have a long stopover in LA en route to NY and don't know what to do.)

Las Alamandas in Mexico. 

Another stylish hideaway with a surprising colour palette.

Owned by Isabel Goldsmith, the daughter of the late British financier Sir James Goldsmith. 

More from Las Alamandas.

An ode to rose, Charleston in South Carolina is one of the pinkest cities in the US. 

We're heading there in 2 weeks, and looking forward to seeing the South's famous grace, style and charm. We were going to stay in this hotel, above, but changed our mind for various reasons, and are now staying in the brand new Zero George Street, which has rave reviews. But is far less colourful.

More from Charleston's pink-toned boulevards.

Cabbages and Roses' store in Chelsea, London.

Not sure of credit, but will locate. Just love this.

New book. Looks good.

Gucci. Fabulous.

An oldie, but a goodie.

Dior by Dior: The Autobiography of Christian Dior.

And lastly, wonderful news for Schiaparelli (perhaps the most famous pink name of all), with Christian Lacroix taking the helm of this great French design house.

The famous salon in Paris has also had a revamp (above)

Elsa Schiaparelli would be pleased.