Summer may be almost over, but we're taking a wistful look back at some particularly stylish vacations. Here, Sunday Riley talks about her recent trip to Arizona.

"I took a long weekend break from the frenzy of creating a new exciting launch (coming this fall) and headed to Miraval outside of Tucson, Arizona with my good friend and publicist, Celia Cohen."

"Being so careful with my skin (and being somewhat neurotic with sun exposure), I spent half of the trip layering Cashmere SPF 30+ to protect myself in the Arizona desert. I looked like Lawrence of Arabia on 6 a.m. hikes through the mountains with my huge Stella McCartney scarf wrapped around me to shield me from the sun!"

"The highlights of the trip included the beautiful scenery of the plants, animals, and gorgeous backdrop of mountain, amazing company, and a much-needed break from my normal routine. I also loved daily yoga and fairly intense Thai massages!"

"After four days of serenity it was back to formulating new products... soon to come! Maybe there was some more inspiration from the desert."

Summer may be almost over, but we’re taking a wistful look back at some particularly stylish vacations.

Chris Benz

“After a whirlwind couple of days in Florence for the Pitti Filati yarn exhibition, I spent the weekend in Lacoste, France in the Provencal countryside doing a watercolor class at the Savannah College of Art & Design campus there. It was so beautiful—the colors, lavender-scented air, and relaxed lives people live there. I loved being back in the ‘classroom’ doing artwork and giving my mind a little break from the crazy fashion calendar!”—Chris Benz

Lacoste

Summer may be almost over, but we're taking a wistful look back at some particularly stylish vacations. Here, Gucci Westman shares memories from England and France.

"First we went to England to attend two weddings. This is Gray having homemade blackberry ice cream at the Wellington Arms, one of our fave pubs in Hampshire!"


"Dash is washing his dad's car in England!"


"This photograph is from Cordes Sur Ciel. We love it here, got married here, and go every summer. David's mom has a house nearby, look at the view!"


"My favorite place in the world to have lunch, at David's mom's house called Donnazac in the South of France. We're sitting just above the lavender field under a big shady tree."


"Here we are at a neighboring farm owned by a man named Marcel Rocs. There's a vineyard right next door!"

Summer may be almost over, but we're taking a wistful look back at some particularly stylish vacations.

"After a whirlwind couple of days in Florence for the Pitti Filati yarn exhibition, I spent the weekend in Lacoste, France in the Provencal countryside doing a watercolor class at the Savannah College of Art & Design campus there. It was so beautiful, the colors, lavender-scented air, and relaxed lives people live there. I loved being back in the 'classroom' doing artwork and giving my mind a little break from the crazy fashion calendar!"—Chris Benz

Music City may boast some of the country’s most exciting live-music venues, but when it comes to fun in the sun, you can’t beat the summer festival. Here are four worth traveling for.

Björk

Manchester International Festival (June 30 to July 17, various locations, mif.co.uk)
Lowdown: Like a love child of Performa, Humana, and Coachella, MIF combines art, music, theater, and live performance. This year brings the four-years-in-the-making, Robert Wilson–helmed play, The Life and Death of Marina Abramovi´c, and Snoop Dogg’s performance of his debut album, Doggystyle.
Must-See: Björk (above) gives six (relatively) intimate performances from her new album, Biophilia.
Sleeper: Three theatrical sets of Paul Heaton’s eight-chapter, seven deadly sins–invoking pop song, “The 8th.”

James Blake

Pitchfork Music Festival (July 15 to 17, Union Park, Chicago, pitchforkmusicfestival.com)
Lowdown: “It’s a real-life extension of our magazine, a way to directly create an environment that is friendly, inviting, and about the experience,” says Pitchfork president Chris Kaskie of the five-year-old fest run by the must-read music website. With 41 bands it found “interesting and exciting”—which is to say, about to blow up—Pitchfork drew 35,000 fans in 2006. This year it expects 55,000.
Must-See: James Blake (above).
Sleeper: Brit rockers Yuck, whose February debut drew a buzzmaking 8.1 rating on the site.

Foster the People

Lollapalooza (August 5 to 7, Grant Park, Chicago, lollapalooza.com)
Lowdown: Perry Farrell says he was “simply planning a summer adventure” when he launched Lollapalooza with the Violent Femmes, the Butthole Surfers, and a gun-toting Ice-T. Twenty years later, it’s still going strong.
Must-See: The Cars, hot off their first album since 1987.
Sleeper: Foster the People (vocalist Mark Foster, above), L.A.’s answer to MGMT.
While There: Catch Will Eno’s new play, Middletown, which drew raves in New York and runs through August 14 in the Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theatre (steppenwolf.org).

Odd Future

Hard Fest (August 6, Los Angeles State Historic Park, hardfest.com)
Lowdown: Four-stage extravaganza (seen at New York’s Governors Island last year), with rap, rock, and an electro tent curated by James Murphy’s DFA Records.
Must-See: The critic-slaying rap group Odd Future (above).
Sleeper: DJ sets by Murphy and Miike Snow.
While There: Don’t miss the Gardar Eide Einarsson–curated punk show at Honor Fraser gallery (honorfraser.com).

Read Marshall Chapman's "Nashville Rising" here.

Manchester International Festival: Zipi/Epa/Corbis; Pitchfork: Rahav Seger/Retna Ltd./Corbis; Hard Fest: Michael Tulberg/Stringer/Getty Images; Lollapalooza: Karl Walter/Getty Images.

While best known for hosting the Sundance Film Festival and a recent Winter Olympiad, Park City also happens to be ideal off-season—especially for the outdoorsy and adventurous, which aptly describes my family (and, sometimes, even me). We hiked, zip-lined and snow-shoed. But our favorite activity was eating, which we did quite well.

Grappa Restaurant

Grappa, Park City: Great Italian food in a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. The pastas are plentiful and flavorful, but a must is the Grape and Rosemary Piadina.

From left: Talisker on Main; a dish from The Farm at The Canyons

Talisker on Main, Park City: Even in the town’s fanciest restaurant, you can still wear your hiking pants. They just had better have an expandable waistline for this gastronomic dream.

The Farm at The Canyons: You can’t pick a bad choice on the menu of this new farm-to-table spot, whose offerings change constantly for that very reason. However, the burger should be a constant, and it does not disappoint.

Monty, the Montage's mascot

The Montage: Nestled deeply into Deer Valley’s many mini valleys, the massive Montage looks like some old-world chalet hidden up in the Swiss Alps. Still has a cozy lodge vibe, though. All rooms have fireplaces, and with a location like this, no room has a lousy view. Another plus: They allow dogs. Meet the resort’s mascot, Monty.

Spa Montage

Spa Montage: After all that eating, nothing like a massage to redistribute the fat cells! Spa Montage offers every kind, including The Surrender. Every Surrender is custom designed according to each client’s needs. I kept it simple: I. Need. A. Massage.

Peninsula House

Although a lack of wind didn’t allow her boyfriend to practice kitesurfing as planned, W's Karla Martinez found charming restaurants, cozy villas and deliciously strong coffee during a recent trip to the Samana Peninsula in Dominican Republic. Highlights from the vacation and her summer essential packing list below.

Accommodations
Balcones del Atlantico: Two and three bedroom villas with lovely service and great food on premise.
Peninsula House: A 6 bedroom boutique hotel, perfect for couples.

Balcones Beach House

Breakfast
Balcones Beach House: Must have scrambled eggs and a Mangu specialty, mashed plantains. Dominican coffee is fantastic. Order a cortadito, an espresso with a drop of milk.

Left: Peninsula Beach House, Right: Luis at Playa Coson

Lunch by the Sea

Peninsula Beach House at Playa Coson: Where after lunch you can rent four wheelers and take an off-road ride.
Luis: Rustic and casual, great grilled fish

La Terrase

Dinner
La Terrasse: A charming spot with red and white décor.
Cuca Marina: Incredible ceviche.
Pizza Playa: Delicious pizza, Dominican Style with cheese and corn.

Late Night
Mosquito Bar: Small and quaint with a great DJ and delicious Mojito’s.


Packing Essentials:
Tods bag and driving shoes

Christian Louboutin printed flats

Tory Burch cardigans for breezy evenings

Equipment eyelet shirt

Lisa Marie Fernandez neon yellow bikini

Two years ago, while traveling in Bahia, Brazil, fashion stylist Kirsty Hathaway stumbled upon her perfect beach: an idyllic, sun-drenched spot that had somehow eluded the crowds. The discovery not only made her vacation, but inspired her newest project, a beach-themed webzine called beachtomato.com. The site brings together photos of the world’s most alluring beaches (some well known, others obscure) with info-packed features on beach-centric fashion and beauty. If a sandy spot catches your eye, click the “Take Me There” link to be connected with blacktomato.co.uk, a bespoke travel operation that, according to Hathaway, will not only coordinate your trip to paradise but also “make sure all of your whims are taken care of.”

Benguerra Island, Mozambique

Philippines

Click here for Kirsty Hathaway’s list of the world’s most relaxing beach.

When the jitney is far too pedestrian and any old charter won't do, now there’s the new StndAIR seaplane from André Balazs and The Standard Hotel, making its first flight today and running through October 10.

True to Standard form, the cherry-red Cessna 208 Caravan Amphibian aircraft takes it a step further than peanuts and soda: on-board there’s André Balazs Rose, Sweedish Fish, StnAir Branded water, and a Standard flight greeter at departure and arrival. The plane is available for charter to any East Coast destination within a 300-mile radius of New York (Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, Hudson Valley) and offers scheduled flights during peak times between New York City and East Hampton. Package deals will also be offered to Standard New York and Sunset Beach hotel guests. One caveat? The plane only seats 8, so you might need to book a few round trips to accommodate your clam bake guests.

And if booking on Expedia is too banal, StndAIR offers a uniquely competitive pricing model for select flights (and by competitive, we don’t mean comparable with big-name airlines): the first person to book a ticket receives the lowest price and there’s a sliding price scale that increases as more people sign up, the first group to fill a flight to one location gets the confirmed charter. Our advice? Get seven of your friends to book immediately—you don’t want a faster group stealing your charter.

To book, head to stndair.com, email reservations@stndair.com, or call 855-STND-AIR between 8am and 8pm.

If anyone knows how to throw a killer party, it’s Ian Schrager, who did what he does best to mark the opening of his latest hotel, the Istanbul Edition, second in a planned rollout of the brand, which will soon include Mexico City, London and Miami. The grand opening was a Turkish delight, mixing the crème de la crème of the local social scene with an imported selection of international celebrities—Diane Kruger and boyfriend Joshua Jackson mingled with local grand dames with an obvious affection for diamonds and plastic surgery, while other boldfacers included Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, hometown star Rifat Ozbek, Jefferson Hack and Richard Nicoll.

It’s easy to see why the fashionable would flock to Istanbul, with its awe-inspiring architecture and Old World charm effortlessly mixing with ultramodern restaurants and nightclubs, and with the Edition’s arrival, they now have a boutique address to call temporary home. The 13-story hotel’s aesthetic is decidedly understated, incorporating Byzantine and Ottoman motifs and materials, such as mosaic tile, hanging lamps, into a contemporary design scheme. From the low-key, domed lobby (above), to the discreet check-in desks set off to one side, the vibe is similar to a white glove residential building’s. A small army of attendants can mobilize in a moment to meet any request, but their attitude towards guest service is warmer than the aloof attitude you’ll sometimes find at other five stars.

Drawing room

At an average of 480 sq. ft., rooms are enormous, with soaking tubs, glass-enclosed rainforest showers, Bang & Olufsen integrated HD tv’s and a seating area with sweeping views. The Edition’s public offerings are equally impressive, boasting an outpost of Cipriani (complete with dapper Italian staff) that resembles the restaurant’s London location almost to a tee, a 20,000 sq. ft., multi-level spa operated by wellness experts ESPA (book the Turkish Indulgence), the lobby’s Gold Bar, outfitted with a twenty foot aquarium, and the mezzanine floor’s guest lounge. Things take a surreal turn at Billionaire, the nightclub namesake of creator Flavio Briatore (Schrager makes it clear that he had nothing to do it). The soaring multi-level underground space is very Austin Powers circa 1985, outfitted in shades of white with plenty of glass balconies from which to take in all the outré action. The opening’s over-the-top performances by Russian pop star, Nikolai Baskov, with a bedazzled and pirate-shirted crew of backup dancers, and by Hadise, better known as the ‘Turkish Beyonce’, were a taste of good times to come.

A guest room

The Edition offers enough to keep guests entertained for days on end, but given that Istanbul is one of the most storied cities in the world, exploring outside of the hotel is in order. The Grand Bazaar is the most famous shopping destination, but for a more modern selection, visit concept stores Midnight Express and ParisTexas. If contemporary art is of interest, drop in to Rodeo — a regular on the art fair circuit, owner Sylvia Kouvali represents top-tier Turkish talent — or stop by the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, which has an excellent waterfront cafe. Big nightclubs abound, but it doesn’t get more fun than Off Pera, a tiny dance bar where hipster locals let loose. And after you’ve had your fill of nightlife, enjoy a late-night drink on the terrace at hot spot Anjelique, overlooking the Bosphorus.