Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1433456
A s gifting is upon us, we have an e x t r a o r d i n a r y surrealist gift guide and jewelry feature produced by our creative director, Michelle Aviña, and Molly Dickson and Mindy Byrd, respectively. This is the kind of stuff that swims around in her head. In another feature, we look at the fascinating life of jeweler Paul Flato, whose name I was introduced to through a conversation with collectors. This extraordinary man, who bejeweled the major Hollywood stars in the '30s through '70s and early '80s, was revered by Vogue and Harper's Bazaar; had a sumptuous shop on Fifth Avenue, one in Beverly Hills; and another in Mexico City; and had a name that was more recognizable than Harry Winston or Tiffany. Yet he was born in Shiner, Texas, and his grandparents founded Flatonia, Texas, near Round Top (Flato — Flatonia). How is it possible. I discovered Casa Gusto in West Palm Beach about six months ago and finally assigned it to our home editor, Rebecca Sherman (page 72). Well, I thought I discovered it — it turns out Texans shop there in car loads! It's a magical place, both in person and online. I'm also fascinated with Liz Marsh's new collection of botanical and entomological plates, platters, cups, and cachepots. She posted one of the pieces on Instagram, and within minutes, she had a FaceTime request from Moda Operandi owner Lauren Santo Domingo, who has swooped up the collection for her site in time Tom Ford and moi, 2004, Neiman Marcus Downtown Dallas book launch for the holidays (page 76). And finally, Tom Ford 002 arrives (page 40), Ford's second book published 17 years after the black-clad Tom Ford volume. In 2004, Neiman Marcus and PaperCity hosted Mr. Ford in a Ken Downing-designed extravaganza celebrating his first book, at the Downtown Dallas store, the entrance lined with gorgeous boys. Ford signed his books for hours — and he signed anything else he was asked to put pen to. Almost. Poignantly, 002 debuts just a little over a month after Ford lost his husband of 35 years, Richard Buckley. This month, we publish the third edition of Round Top magazine with photographs and an essay on architect Bill Curtis and wife Jane's bucolic farmhouse in Fayette County near Round Top. As he's founder of the esteemed Curtis & Windham Architects, one might expect a stately, period-perfect estate, columned, gleaming white with shutters, rising from the prairie. But Bill is an old soul, taking creation slow, documenting the seasons and days with watercolor paintings and taking the remodeling of his family's farmhouse step by step, watercolor by watercolor. The pairing of farmhouse photographs and watercolors is documented in the winter issue of Round Top magazine. If you aren't near Round Top to get your copy, this story will run in PaperCity in the spring. Wishing you the merriest of holidays. Holly Moore Editor in Chief holly@papercitymag.com 22