The Best Bet
If you think thread counts are arcane, welcome to the world of custom needlework. Léron (804 Madison Ave., nr. 68th St.; 212-753-6700) is one of the few American companies to offer linens, like this Egyptian-cotton sham ($1,950), stitched in the tiny, dense Beauvais style. It can take up to six months for Léron’s French atelier to produce a custom order, but two sets of table linens are currently in stock (the least expensive is $8,500). If that sounds steep, try a handkerchief at $275.
(1) The tops, shorts, pants, shoes, and swimsuits in Stella McCartney’s new Adidas line not only work in the gym—they look good on the street, too ($40–$210; tunic top shown here, $70 at Bloomingdale’s).
(2) One hundred years ago, C.O. Bigelow was a small apothecary; some of the products in its new personal-care collection, like the Rose Wonder Cold Cream, use original formulas dating back to that era ($4–$32; 212-533-2700).
(3) Gerald Gulotta’s “España” coffee set was introduced by Block China in 1965 and discontinued in the early seventies. Fans of the designer will find three original sets at Alan Rosenberg—Works of Art; one each in black, brown, and white ($500–$600 per set; 212-288-2505 or alanrosenbergwoa.com).
(4) A sleek aluminum tea column looks so much better on a beautiful saucer than a crumpled tea bag. Inside each column is 2.3 grams of tea; choose from eight flavors ($6.50 for a four-pack at Dean & DeLuca; 212-226-6800).
(5) Combat glare on the slopes with goggles that use U.S. Air Force technology. Uvex Sports’ new F1 Magic ski goggles use a liquid crystal controlled by a tiny switch—when the lens is “on,” they go dark; when “off,” they’re light ($210; uvexsports.com for stores)