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The Good Life
Just because you lack a 'Mac' in front of your name doesn't mean you can't have a little of the Scottish Highlands this season. Plaid and cable-knit sweaters are dominating window displays, signaling the return to one of fashion's classic looks. And the resurgence extends beyond clothing: accessories and home furnishings are also getting the Scottish touch.
Tartan, of course, is a big part of the trend. In 1853, Prince Albert created the Balmoral Tartan--the traditional gray, black and red plaid--after his wife, Queen Victoria, leased the castle. The British designer Vivienne Westwood was the first to give the classic tartan a modern twist. This season she has gone especially heavy on tweed, tartan and w ool; her plaid skinny pants offer an updated look of the 1970s' punk bondage trouser, (£150-180, vivienne westwood.com ).
Another Brit big on the Scots is Alexander McQueen, who even incorporates his own family tartan--black and dark red with a hint of gold--into his current collection. McQueen's bold use of plaid makes his dresses perfect for a highland fling. Scalloped-edge leather jackets, ruffle-neck blouses, large belts and lace juxtapose masculine and feminine for a brooding yet flirtatious Lady Macbeth look ( alexandermcqueen.com ).
Scottish designers are using time-honored techniques to produce snazzy modern sweaters as well. Pringle of Scotland makes a gorgeous cream cashmere cardigan with an asymmetric front (£750-795, pringle-of-scotland.com ). Cameron Taylor's luxurious sweaters with chunky buttons are also a cozy treat (£498-908, cameron-taylor.com ).
You can also create the ambience of a Scottish hunting lodge with some new housewares. Paul Smith's Antique Antler chairs add a rugged yet inviting touch beside any hearth (£2,700/pair, paulsmith.co.uk ). Or plant your bulbs this fall with Luchford's stag-handled gardening tools (£95 each; luchford.com ). When your work's done, you can settle back for a nice glass of single-malt Scotch.
Forget tea in a stuffy hotel. This chic tea emporium in the heart of Notting Hill offers not only tea with all the trimmings--including warm scones and clotted cream--but also a full-fledged gourmet lunch menu.
Ambience: Floor-to-ceiling windows and comfy purple chairs make it the perfect place to check out the trendy crowds hoofing it toward Portobello Market. Glass chandeliers clink cheerily overhead, adding to the charm.
Teas: It's hard to pick from the more than 160 teas and infusions on offer. The Earl Grey range--including lavender- and organic-rose-infused--is especially popular. Herbal infusions like Immune Boost gain fans as the cold season approaches, and insomniacs swear by Sweet Dreams.
Entrees: Brunch--or lunch? Homemade toasted crumpets with honeycomb and fresh-fruit salad with jasmine-infused syrup vie with seared tuna on the eclectic menu.
Sweets: Afternoon tea is all about the desserts. And the ones here range from Baltic beetroot cake to dark chocolate and Japanese cherry-tea marquise. Or try the plate of shortbread, peanut butter, chocolate chip and hazelnut cookies.
This sophisticated Spanish city is rich in history, art and outstanding tapas bars--but hasn't yet been discovered by the glitterati.
Marvel at La Seo , the soaring cathedral of San Salvador, built between the 12th and 17th centuries and gracefully incorporating romanesque, Gothic, Mudéjar and baroque architecture.
Stroll the Plaza del Pilar and check out the fountains and the vast basilica with its 11 brightly tiled cupolas and Goya-painted domes.
Visit the Aljafería , a stunning Moorish palace constructed in 864 and rebuilt in the Mudéjar style by the medieval Christian kings and then again by the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella.
Drink wine or small glasses of frosty beer at La Cueva en Aragón . Sample the only item on the menu: mushrooms sautéed in rich garlicky butter (Libertad 16).
Now is the best time of year to check out farmers markets. France has a staggering 36,000 spread across the country. Don't miss the Provençal offerings in Vaucluse, especially now that it's almost truffle season ( avignon-et-provence.com ). Italy's markets throw off a dazzling array of colorful sights, smells and sounds. Many towns in Tuscany and Umbria hold them weekly; one of the best known is in Montepulciano, where every Thursday local cheeses, breads, mushrooms and sometimes even whole roasted pigs are on offer ( montepulciano.com ). You'll have to plan ahead for the market in Britain's Huntingdon: it's held every other Friday. It offers everything from asparagus to chili peppers to trout--all from within a 30-mile radius ( huntingdontowncentrepartnership.co.uk ). Across the Balkans, there are weekly markets in towns like Split, Croatia, and Trebinje, Bosnia. But if you miss one, don't worry; this time of year, local farmers set up colorful stands along the roads to sell things like homemade olive oil, freshly grown tomatoes and thick, sweet honey.
--Ginanne Brownell
Located in Fiji, Vatu Vara--known as Hat Island--houses an extinct volcano, coral reefs, limestone cliffs and dense jungle. All for $75 million ( luxuryrealestate.com ).
To say the new bmw M6 is a sweet ride is to utter the obvious. Its 5.0-liter, V-10 engine cranks 500 horses, looks fast even when parked and costs more than most people earn in a year. And though it has a back seat, this sports coupe is first and foremost a driver's car: tight handling, responsive steering, at-the-ready acceleration. At one point I heard the words come out of my mouth: "It's almost too fast." But BMW builds cars to handle speed, with a rigid chassis to hold the road, and big cross-drilled brakes. I felt secure in the snug, bolstered seats, which hugged my thighs, hips and shoulders while I was cornering. And I liked the Sequential Manual Gearbox, which can be adjusted to shift at higher revs for performance or at lower revs to save on fuel. So sweet, and yet ... a touch nasty. --Tara Weingarten