As we wrap up summer, we’ve asked one last accomplished woman of style whom we admire to come up with 10 suggestions for a sweet season. This week we invited Talya Cousins, an editor and creative director. Born and raised on a kibbutz in Israel, Cousins spent 10 years working as an editor for Condé Nast—most recently at W Magazine, where she was the senior accessories, home. and jewelry editor. In 2011, she ventured online to build and oversee the merchandising, production, and creative departments for OpenSky.com. Today she writes for various publications and provides creative direction and online user-interface consulting for projects centered around jewelry, fashion, and food. She is a member of Creative Collective Col-Lab and lives in New York City. —Ed.
Favorite Summer Destination: Islesboro, Maine. Our friends Philip and Louise have a beautiful, rustic farmhouse with six bedrooms. Every summer a group of us head there for one week. We hike, swim, sail, play bocce, and cook together every night. It’s a magical little place.
Islesboro, Maine. Image courtesy of Tayla Cousins
Current Summer Reading: The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, by Michael Chabon
What to Wear to a Summer Party: For an easy day-into-night look, I often pair a Ter Et Bantine tailored slim cropped trousers with a Zero + Maria Cornejo lightweight top. For more formal events, I love Dries Van Noten’s organza semi-sheer printed skirts with his sleeveless vest-like top.
Top from the Zero + Maria Cornejo Resort 2014 Collection; Skirt and Vest from the Dries Van Noten Spring 2013 Collection
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Favorite Summer Fragrance: Grapefruit Cologne by Jo Malone
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Necessary Summer Indulgence: I try to avoid sugar, but I can’t resist my friend Zohar Zohar’s “Dates & Halva Roses.” They’re a Middle Eastern play on the sticky bun. Gooey and delicious and baked only on weekends at her sweet little bakery, Zucker Bakery, in the East Village.
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Preferred Seasonal Spa Fix: My treat is acupuncture at the Continuum Center for Health & Healing in New York City.
Favorite Housegift for a Summer-Weekend Invitation: I bring a bag of my homemade, sugar-free, olive-oil granola, and I custom make a label that references the host or the occasion.
Tayla’s homemade granola with handwritten note for her host.
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Favorite Summer Entertaining Tips:
Cucumber, Shrimp, and Melon Gazpacho
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Asics Running Shoes 
Linea Germania Scarf 
Anna Sheffield Pinky Ring 
Borsalino Straw Hat
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Current Film on Your List to See This Summer: Cutie & the Boxer.
An exclusive peek at the looks from designers featured in the Mercedes-Benz Fall Fashion Week whose creations will be serving as inspiration for many of the more reasonably priced lines. Spoiler alert: the timeless marriage of black and white is back.
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Talya Cousins makes us all wish that summer could last long enough for us to try her special tips for entertaining, read a fascinating new detective story and swan around in those delightful outfits. Alas, Tayla, your post for Fashion Friday is the last in our series for this summer, though we hope that you will join us again next summer. We want to thank our board member, Colleen Caslin of Verdura, for introducing us to these stylish women who know a lot about fashion but even more about how to have fun! This is the second summer that our readers have benefited from Colleen’s collection of fabulous women. Next up: Transitions to fall.
I will miss this fun and even amazing series. I am pretty sure I even ordered something based on what’s here; of course, would love it all. The books, the food, the tempting vacation spots. It indeed should be filed under pleasures.
Thanks!