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letter editor STEVEN VISNEAU, SISTERBROTHER MGMT. 8 F or several weeks now, I have spent many an hour plotting the best way to ring in 2019. Dine in or dine out? (Always in.) Wear sequins or velvet? (Who am I kidding? Neither. My only require- ment is that the outfit involve mink.) Vodka or champagne? (Still TBD.) Ultimately, it was a story about society cock- tails written by our culture/style editor Billy Fong (PaperCity November 2018 issue) that led me to my New Year's Eve plan: Interior designer Jan Showers, when asked by Billy what she prefers to wear while cocktailing, declared that her favorite outfit is a kimono — worn specifically on New Year's Eve, when she and her husband, Jim, dine on caviar and champagne at home, a longstanding tradition in their very stylish lives. And so, here I am, spending the last 10 days of 2018, poring over the Petrossian catalogue and studying a particularly expensive corner of Central Market, all in search of the perfect caviar for my New Year's Eve at home. Soon, I will make a stop at Vintage Martini, with outlandish caftans and kimonos on the mind. Call me indulgent, but I think we've earned it. I, for one, was thrilled to bid 2018 farewell — with all of its ups and plenty of downs, its stressful moments and few peaceful respites. I look forward to the clean slate that is 2019: A year that I hope brings a jolt of fresh perspectives — and maybe some wild abandon — to all of our lives. This January issue is a testament to new beginnings and a change in perspective. Designer Brenda Schoenfeld has opened a new boutique of jewelry and design objects after returning to Dallas following a long sabbatical spent living abroad in Italy. "I decided to do a store that is a reflection of who I am now," she told home design editor Rebecca Sherman, of her personal and professional reinvention. We tell the story of Peacock Alley and its fabled history in the business of beautiful linens — and how the company's founder, Mary Ella Gabler, ingeniously kept the family business afloat during the 1980s recession, with a little help from the family farm and its surprisingly lucrative produce. And art and creative director, Michelle Aviña, redefines our tra- ditional perception of beauty with a gorgeous portfolio of images photographed by Tony Solis. All these stories share one common bond: the idea that the unexpected is often the best (or at least the most rewarding) approach. And so, to you I offer the following advice: Shake things up. Eat the caviar. Take the dare. Indulge as much as you want. I'll be right there with you. Christina Geyer Dallas Editor in Chief christina@papercitymag.com