resort – Ann Street Studio

Four Seasons Rancho Resort Encantado

In my recent journey across the United States by far one of the highlights was Santa Fe, New Mexico. In fact, I had only planned to stop for two nights and ended up staying four. The problem was I never wanted to leave The Four Seasons Rancho Resort Encantado which I discovered tucked away into the quiet rolling hills of Santa Fe. It was a small semblance to my life in France. Living with nature, enjoying a glass or two of wine by the fire at the end of the day, recapping what new discoveries had unfolded. I liked being away from the hustle and bustle of historic downtown Santa Fe, but I also liked knowing I could hop on the shuttle provided by the resort and be in the middle of everything in 20 minutes.

Most of all, I loved having a my own private casita (small house) to stop the forward motion of cross country driving and just enjoy for a moment. To enjoy the amazing stars dotting the velvety purple sky and s’mores over a campfire. To enjoy the snow fall from bed to the sound of wood cracking in the adobe fireplace. To enjoy the Southwestern flavors at the resort’s restaurant Terra which, you know me, included a few orders of bison tacos and margaritas. Perhaps the main treat however, was my facial at the spa which is one of the top rated in the world. My esthetician had owned her own spa in LA for over 30 years so I followed all her advice on skincare post facial and my skin has never looked better. I feel amazing without makeup on which has always been my goal for taking care of my skin. *here is a good tip she taught me: dampen your skin slightly before applying your serum as it helps to absorb into surface*

So you can see why I wouldn’t want to leave.

It doesn’t take long when you visit Santa Fe and the surrounding region to understand why it’s known as the land of enchantment. There is something to the colors, the history, the architecture that burrows into your soul. I can never get over how beautiful the sky was. A 24 hour nature show! I shared all of the discoveries in real time on Instagram stories but I wanted to leave a list here to reference and share shall I ever be so lucky to find myself here again in Santa Fe, in the great American Southwest.

Vinaigrette // Modern General // Georgia O’Keeffe Museum // Ghost Ranch // Cafe Pasqual’s // Santa Fe Farmer’s Market // Shake Foundation // El Santuario de Chimayo // Bandelier National Monument // Ten Thousand Waves spa // Kakawa Chocolate House // Ojo Caliente // Shiprock Santa Fe // La Choza // Dolina Cafe // Gruet Tasting Room // O’Farrell Hat Shop // Whoo Donuts // The Teahouse // Canyon Road // Tent Rocks // The Shed // Traveler’s Market // Plaza Blanca // Home Frocks // Ark Books // Apuntia Cafe // Geronimo // Ohoris Coffee // Radius Books // Sazon // La Plazuela // Joseph’s // Coyote Cafe // Tia Sophia

Winter at the Four Seasons Rancho Resort Encantado in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Bulgari Resort Bali

September 21, 2016September 30, 2016Posted in TravelTagged accomodations, bali, Bulgari, bulgari resort, bulgariresort, hotel, indian ocean, luxury, luxury hotel, resort, travel9 Comments

Standing elegantly off a cliff overlooking the endless Indian Ocean is the amazing Bulgari Resort Bali. It is a luxury resort balancing the natural elements and Balinese traditions with the sophistication of the Italian design house complete with an Italian restaurant so wonderful it was awarded ‘Best Hotel Restaurant in the World’ by International Food & Beverage Forum.

An amazing juxtaposition of private villas and sprawling mansions sound like a mega resort but that it is certainly not. It maintains a personal sense of privacy, and most importantly for me, peace all while making nature the greatest design element of all. The natural tones and traditional building elements sit the resort comfortably into the lush green and dramatic rocky cliff location.

I started each morning jetlagged at 5am, watching the colors of the sunrise fill the sky. Always first to breakfast, I would sit and have a traditional Balinese soup of chicken broth and noodles with mixed vegetables (and A LOT of spice) to the distant sound of the ocean crashing below. Lunches down by the beach consisted of fresh squeezed juices and light fish while the afternoons were perfectly filled with dips in our private pool before a 4pm walk around the property looking for the resident monkeys to see what trouble they were getting into.

This is my second time visiting Bali. What draws one here mostly, in my opinion, is the culture. The peacefulness of the people and the spirit of the ones who have moved here to be closer to it. Yoga, organic juices, and nature are the commodities of Bali, and are served up here at Bulgari in this beautiful setting. On my first visit to Bali I explored all over the island from hiking to the the top of a volcano to shooting on the black sand beaches and sleeping in a structure made of entirely bamboo. Though on this trip we did venture out to Ubud, mostly I just wanted to stay here at the resort. The beauty and calm is what my soul needed.

So here is to another amazing experience on this little island on the Indian Ocean…

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Welcome to NIZUC

June 22, 2015June 26, 2015Posted in TravelTagged beach, cancun, cancun mexico, luxury resort, mexico, NIZUC, NIZUC Resort, resort, travel12 Comments

From almost anywhere at the resort you have views of the Caribbean sea and a front row seat to a spectacular sunset show every night. The service, especially in contrast to the very bohemian world of Tulum, was some of the best I’ve ever experienced. While giving you the sensation of complete privacy they still manage to show up at just the right moment to fulfill any wish or desire you crave. The grounds are spotless, keeping a very zen feeling throughout the resort. With six amazing restaurants (I was able to eat at 5 of them) and the most beautiful spa I’ve ever seen (best facial of my life btw), they set it up so you never have to leave. Of course, there are some places that you travel to where you want to go out and explore but at NIZUC it’s very simple: you rest, relax, eat, sleep and repeat in the most comfortable way possible.

I’ll be honest, I prefer more historic resorts or locations so I didn’t expect to be so taken by a new hotel but I fell in love with NIZUC. We would lay in the day beds by the ocean in the mornings, have amazing Mexican food for lunch, go for a swim in the infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean and resort grounds while sipping on a rum cocktail from the swim-up bar. At night we would dress for dinner, have drink while watching the sunset at one of the many lounges and talk about how we never want to leave over a quiet dinner perfectly served.

As if it needed another reason to be spectacular, it’s only a 15 minute car ride from the airport through tree-lined boulevards. Done. When can we go back?…

(Above, walking the corridors of NIZUC in a white TIBI maxi dress)

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Beach Resort Fashion

February 4, 2015Posted in Fashion EditorialTagged ann street studio, annstreetstudio, beach, beach resort fashion, beachresortfashion, casa claridge, fashion, fashion editorial, fashioneditorial, ford models, fordmodels, gabby, jamie beck, kelly framel, kellyframel, locaion, melissa connor, miami, resort, sephora, sephora cosmetics, vacation5 Comments

As I sit here in New York City, it’s 24 degrees outside, we just “survived” snowmeggedon and more freezing rain is in the forecast for this next week. Oy, I’m ready for a break from winter, to play in the sun and sand and look out on a horizon of endless teals and blues until it ignites into a fiery sunset. I like to fantasize about what I’d wear to the beach or sparkling dinners seaside. Until that getaway day comes I’ll just pretend I’m here at Casa Claridge Beach Club, in these sweet, simple, resort outfits for the classic girl at heart.

Above~ Jill Stuart crop top and skirt | Maiyet Purse | Maiyet Bracelet

Below~ Audra Bustier | Christian Siriano Trousers

Above~ Solid & Striped black swimsuit | Maiyet sweater | Tiffany T bracelet

Below~ Jill Stuart dress | Maiyet Shoes

Above~ Jill Stuart crop top and skirt | Maiyet Purse | Maiyet Bracelet

Below~ Zimmermann Swimsuit

Above & Below~ Tanya Taylor Meredith Dress

Above~ Maiyet dress | Maiyet Purse | Maiyet Ring

Below~ Audra Bustier | Christian Siriano Trousers

Shot in Miami at Casa Claridge Beach Club | Styled by Kelly Framel | Modeled by Gabby from Ford Models | Hair & Makeup by Melissa Connor using Sephora Cosmetics | Manicurist Cecilia from Pau-Eric Sinclair

Resort Chic

January 20, 2015January 21, 2015Posted in Fashion EditorialTagged ann street studio, annstreetstudio, casa claridge, casaclaridge, Casie Chegwidden, chic, fashion, fashion editorial, fashioneditoral, jamie beck, jamiebeck, kelly framel, Lena Radonjic, miami, minimial, resort, resort fashion, resort fashion editorial, wilhelmina7 Comments

There is nothing like getting away from the winter months, packing a light suitcase and going someplace warm. Any place warm. I love dressing for my travels, be it adventure wear for #onlyinsouthamerica or polished L.B.D’s for Parisian nights.

Usually when I think of “resort” fashion I imagine a lot of bright colors and printed patterns which is not really my personal style. So why should it have to change just because you’re on vacation? On a recent trip down to Miami, Kelly and I shot a fashion editorial for the minimalist at heart while also letting the latin culture find influence into our shoot. I loved how the walls of Casa Claridge, our location for this sitting, reminded me so many places in Cusco and I’m instantly transported back to the terra cotta floors and dusty stucco walls.

Here is our take on resort fashion, a study of simplicity and the classics, pieces you can then wear over and over again and if you’re lucky, maybe to some places like these…

Above~ Monique Lhuillier dress || Monica Rich Kosann Earrings

Below~ Wes Gordon dress || Monica Rich Kosann Bracelet || Fragments studs

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Maiyet Resort

December 9, 2014December 10, 2014Posted in Fashion EditorialTagged ann street studio, annstreetstudio, B&W, beach, black and white, blackandwhite, fashion, fashion editorial, fashioneditorial, gia, jamie beck, jamiebeck, kelly framel, kellyframel, location, maiyet, miami, ocean, resort, resort 2015, wilhelmina8 Comments

Sometimes you have to be present in the moment. Sometimes you wake up and it’s raining outside, the wind is ripping at you and what you physically feel in nature, you are emotionally feeling in life. When Kelly and I were talking about shooting a fashion story on MAIYET’s resort collection, fittingly while at a resort for Art Basel, we couldn’t have anticipated the day nature gave to us. I wanted to use it as inspiration, to set the mood, to let the rain fall on her, the sand stick to her skin, the wind throw her hair and the ocean push her down. I wanted to wash away the year into a black and white memory. I’ve been so raw lately, having traveled and created non-stop for so long. I wanted a dark day on the beach, just to feel… something.

I think though the turmoil of that day, the turmoil of emotion is a part of life and a part of art. The change in the weather, the change in our lives. Everything changes, does it not? I remember last summer shooting my first story on MAIYET, the dancing light of the eastern tip of Long Island, the bond of friendship and womanhood captured from behind the lens. This resort collection carries the same threads but like life, you can see the changes. The signature cuffs are here but they are bigger now. The gorgeous coats take on more volume. The artful design to clothing is still there but more refined, more wearable from ocean to ocean.

So why MAIYET?… because they think differently. They hire artisans from around the world to produce their boutique clothing line which aids in these craftsmen to be able to build viable businesses in counties where opportunities like that do not exist so freely. Beyond the clothing they work with artists like Benjamin Millepied to choreograph a video with custom made pieces in movement to a beautiful dance based on an ancient Greek love story. They also made my all time favorite black blazer I’ve worn more than any other article of clothing, and THIS video which always and always gives me wanderlust.

…. and then I’m ready again for the sun to come out.

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Oscar de la Renta Boutique

November 21, 2014November 25, 2014Posted in LifestyleTagged beach, Caribbean, dominican Republic, dominicanrepublic, island, odlr, oscar de a renta, punta cana, puntacana, resort, shopping, torguabay, tortuga bay, travel, vacation3 Comments

Staying in the paradise imagined by fashion design legend can only mean there are going to be some glamorous fashion moments which we found at the resort’s Oscar de la Renta boutique and opened a whole new world of destination luxury shopping. Here it’s resort wear 365 days a year from darling garden dresses to a floating sea of chiffon caftans, perfect beaded mules that are effortless and comfortable for a resort but still put together and chic. They carried every color earring you need to make a true entrance for dinner, which we would call our “Elizabeth Taylor moments”. It’s funny, I’m typically very minimal with my jewelry but here in this explosion of Caribbean color it felt right to wear a big bold colored jewels, obviously, Oscar knows how to dress a woman for resort life. At dinner Kelly was wearing a beautiful pair of coral ODLR earrings so glamorous when sparkling off the evening night light and when she took them off I had a horrible reaction at how sad she looked just “normal”. From that moment on we were dripped in Oscar’s crystals and jewels. Usually when I think of the brand I think strictly about fashion, about the iconic women he dressed, our version of American Royalty, that I forget about the home wares! Candles and picture frames, beautiful ocean fish dishes he created from his inspiration of Punta Cana and all the beautiful objects that make a home feel truly special that ladylike way only Oscar de la Renta can do.

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Punta Cana

November 20, 2014November 21, 2014Posted in TravelTagged beach, Caribbean, dominican Republic, dominicanrepublic, island, punta cana, puntacana, resort, travel, vacation10 Comments

We had a few excursions up our sleeve on our visit to Punta Cana first being a dip in one of the 12 fresh water lagoons at the Ecological Reserve. It was the most crystal clear water I have ever seen, the perfect way to swim with little turtles and lazy fish.

Something I was very interested in learning about was Punta Cana’s Ecological Foundation and their Zero Waste movement. Here, they work on the island’s sustainability making programs to help protect and preserve the natural environment and resources and properly prepare the development of the Dominican Republic so things like the impact of tourism are managed and allowed to aid to keeping the environment and culture beautiful if not better. Here at the Ecological Reserve they keep iguanas, riding horses, work animals, farm animals, gardens, an earth worm farm (which eats the organic waste from restaurants and makes compost for the garden) and bee hives. When they wanted to start a bee colony they spoke to Mr. de la Renta about it and the first hive came from the porch of Oscar’s private home. When he visited the reserve this past year he saw how the program was going which not only pollinates the local fruits and vegetables but also creates honey which makes jobs for locals to harvest, package and sell and at the spa we visited they even use it for their facials which I loved! Anyway, it went on and on with amazing projects I found completely fascinating and something I hope can be an international example of how to start dealing with the human impact on our environment.

We bounced over the to Playa Blanca Beach Club where we did stand up paddle boarding and dined on local fare at the beach side restaurant there and tried to remember just which day of the week it was exactly…

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Tortuga Bay

November 19, 2014November 20, 2014Posted in TravelTagged beach, Caribbean, dominican Republic, dominicanrepublic, island, odlr, oscar de a renta, punta cana, puntacana, resort, torguabay, tortuga bay, travel, vacation8 Comments

The last time I had the joy of going on an all girls trip was right before I got married a couple of years ago. We found ourselves hypnotized in the rose scented air of Morocco and the rugs I brought from the souk lay at the studio as a constant reminder of that meaningful trip with friends. Now I have a new treasure to put away in the box of unforgettable memories, a journey to paradise.

Tortuga Bay, the luxury boutique hotel on the eastern edge of the Dominican Republic in an area called Puntacana, is known for many things- powdery white sand beaches that feel like you are walking on flour, beautiful warm aquamarine Caribbean water, ceviche that is out of this world fresh, but most notably, having the 13 luxurious beachfront villas in the private enclave designed by the elegant fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. I loved being there, in Mr. de la Renta’s home country, and discovering his essence in everything, in the white lattice work chairs, chic wicker canopy beds, embroidered pillows, all the ODLR bathroom amenities, charming hotel staff. You were living in the lifestyle of Oscar de la Renta which can only mean one thing: total beauty.

You walk off the plane on the runway, that warm sticky air licks you immediately and in what could only be ten minutes you are standing on your private balcony looking out at that perfect ocean forgetting where you even came from before. Our canary yellow villa, with your personal golf cart parked out front for “getting around”, was a beautiful compliment to green of the palms, blue of the sky and turquoise of the ocean. With an small and intimate number of villas comprising the property you can easily find yourself alone on the three mile stretch of white sand beaches which is what my soul needs sometimes living in a city where we all literally are on top of each other.

So what did we do with ourselves sans men?… We started the day paddle boarding at playa blanco. We took our golf carts to the Six Senses Spa for facials and massages. We laid in lounge chairs sipping coconut cocktails and marveled at the most stunning panoramic view of the setting sun’s sky, a wash of colors only comparable to a Monet painting. There was five course dinner on the beach, a tapas parade for lunch, a dinner at the dock accompanied by three Dominican musicians serenading us. Most of the food we ate was sourced locally, caught that day or grown in the resort’s garden which is all about their focus on sustainability. In the evenings after dinner we would all go for a midnight swim watching thunderstorms light up the sky in the distant horizon. Mostly though, we talked and laughed and stared in awe at a place too beautiful to explain, it can only be experienced.

I’m writing this on our flight back to New York where I will pivot into full autumn mode, layering, apple cider and watching the days get shorter and shorter. But, if I find myself cold one night I’ll think back on that golden sun sliding up on the horizon, flooding my suite in honey colored light and warming my soul with natural beauty.

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Island Girl

November 18, 2014November 19, 2014Posted in Fashion EditorialTagged ana, ana nicole, ann street studio, annstreetstudio, beach, Caribbean, color film, colorfilm, dominican Republic, dominicanrepublic, elle sasson, ellesasson, fashion, fashion editorial, film, film photography, island, jamie beck, jamiebeck, kelly framel, kellyframel, kodak, pentax, pentax 67, pentax67, porta160, portra, portra 160, punta cana, puntacana, resort, torguabay, tortuga bay7 Comments

The beauty of Punta Cana was not limited to the just the resorts, but I found the island people of the Dominican Republic mirrored what nature had created. From their charming personality to beautiful warm skin color I found them intoxicating. A strange hybrid of latin culture mixing with European elegance, most of the people we met spoke multiple languages, lived abroad in Europe for a time and had a history of world experience. Being a photographer left alone on a island with her best friend (a stylist) and all these beautiful locals, we decided to focus our lens on Ana Nicole, another one of the Dominican Republic’s beautiful island girls, before she sets out to university in Holland… but for now, she’s just hanging out in Elle Sasson, letting the sun warm her skin, getting guys to open coconuts for us.

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Como Shambhala

May 27, 2014June 2, 2016Posted in TravelTagged bali, Como Shambhala, comoshambhala, decor, detox, healthy, hosptality, hotel, personal-favorite-hotel, resort, travel, ubud19 Comments

After the thirty-something hours and three flights it took to get to Bali, perfectly 12 hours ahead of New York (and my natural body clock), we needed a resort just like Como Shambhala. Tucked away at the end of a very local road is this explosion of natural wonder. On the edge of a jungle vista descending down to the rapid Ayung River (Ayung meaning beautiful) there are endless ways to pass the day, from hiking the 250 stone steps down to the stunning natural spring pools to yoga and spa treatments to wonderful afternoon naps on outdoor beds. The juice menu put all my favorite New York haunts to shame. Everything was amazingly fresh and organic, light and natural, mirroring the environment this special place was nestled in. My mind and body were healed being here and for once in a very long time I felt as though I could simply breathe…

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Donna Karan Resort

February 3, 2014November 18, 2014Posted in Fashion EditorialTagged ann street studio, annstreetstudio, ava smith, chris colbeck, donna karan, donnakaran, fashion, fashion editorial, fashioneditorial, gavin harwin, jamie beck, jamiebeck, nicoletta santoro, resort, resort 201412 Comments

Winter in New York can be brutal, which is why I have been especially enjoying the resort temperatures of L.A. and Brazil where our recent work has taken us. Last year I had the wonderful job of shooting Ava Smith for Donna Karan’s Resort 2014 mailer without knowing how significant this time of year would be. As you know, I have a very deep photographic relationship with Donna Karan and this week, as New York Fashion Week begins again with designers showing their Fall / Winter 2014 collections, I will be in house with them trying to capture the intimate moments that I associate so very well with the Donna Karan women I aspire to be…

Modeled by Ava Smith (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram), Styled by Nicoletta Santoro, Hair by Gavin Harwin, Makeup by Chris Colbeck

See more: Donna Karan Resort 2013 / Shop the looks here

Donna Karan

June 17, 2013June 24, 2013Posted in Fashion ReportageTagged donna karan, donna karan resort 2014, donnakaran, fashion reportage, resort14 Comments

Donna Karan knows women. She knows how they sashay across streets, she knows how they command a corporate desk, she knows how they go out on the town. Donna Karan designs for all of the facets of a woman’s life, and nowhere was it more clear than in her most recent collection, “The L Word”.

Using several “L” words as inspiration – long, lean, languid, luxurious, light, limitless – Karan created a collection that captured the dualities of a modern woman. The pieces were an elegant mix of urban and calm, fitted and draped, neutral and bright, allowing the woman who wears them to simply be, whenever and wherever she may find herself…now that is something this New Yorker can relate to.

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