Indholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2025 i Southern Lady

BOUNTY & BLISS The arrival of fall in the South is more than a refreshing reprieve. It’s a return to routines and brimming social calendars. It’s the rainbow of school colors and familiar band chants trumpeting the excitement of football season. It’s pumpkins and mums poised on front porches and brisk evenings around backyard firepits with family and friends. Throughout this issue, you’ll discover beautiful ways to elevate any occasion autumn brings. Take cues from the enchanting garden patio scene on page 53, complete with an intimate table cloaked in golden tones and earthy hues. Our hearty supper on page 91 will beckon loved ones home for a cozy Sunday meal, while the assortment of scrumptious baked delights on page 105 is perfect to take along to a weekend tailgate…

Known for her cheerful yetpolished aesthetic, my friend Laurie Byrne is the creative force behind Preppy Paper Girl, an online boutique of party goods ranging from personalized gift tags and embroidered linens to troves of vintage china. The social media influencer’s Instagram account, @lboriginals, offers glimpses of her Atlanta home. Laurie is full of entertaining ideas, with grace notes that convey joy in every exuberant detail. This verve is especially evident on her Thanksgiving table. Here, pastels offer a charming contrast to the darker shades of the family’s dining room. In this space, the soothing tones of an earthy Buffalo check wallpaper create a perfect backdrop for highlighting lighter hues of pink and green. Melding classic style with an unexpected palette enlivens the design. Laurie tops a custom tablecloth with…

MELLOW CHARM In the shelter of an ivy-covered courtyard, a cozy table for four offers an inviting place to celebrate autumn’s arrival. Dreamy yellow dahlias mixed with magnolia leaves make a fetching centerpiece paired with a lush cornucopia overflowing with gourds, fruit, and pine cones. Set against a soft blue-and-white plaid cloth bordered by an avian motif, gold-accented plates echo the abundance of harvest riches. Antique bamboo flatware and luminous chambray-hued goblets tastefully complete the look. A blazing array of mums illuminates the hearth, while a woolen throw and copper mugs filled with steaming cider encourage guests to linger long into the twilight. A NEW CHAPTER When shadows start to fall, invite friends to draw even closer as you read a heartwarming story or spine-tingling tale from a favorite book.…

SAVORING THE SEASON As golden sunlight fades, welcome loved ones around a table set for a hearty autumn meal. Herb-Butter Roasted Chicken nestles in a cast-iron skillet, surrounded by the sweet aroma of muscadines and shallots, while creamy mac and cheese with butternut squash soothes the soul. Lemon Broccolini Amandine and our Wilted Greens Salad add freshness, as Mulled Citrus Cider delights with its spiced warmth. For the grand finale, Candied Apple and Pear Bundt Cake, drizzled in a glossy syrup glaze, invites guests to indulge in the season’s slow, joyful moments. Wilted Greens Salad Makes about 4 servings 2 tablespoons canola oil⅓ cup sliced shallot2 cloves garlic, sliced3 (5-ounce) containers mixed baby greens2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar1 teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon ground black pepper¼ teaspoon smoked paprika 1. In…

COVER See Gilded Threads. GILDED THREADS Pages 13–14: Wreath sashes; Specialties by V. FINER WITH TIME Pages 45–51: Special thanks and location provided by Adams Antiques & the Potager. Page 45: Antique French Louis XV–style carved fruitwood upholstered fauteuils armchair, antique Mediterranean late-19th-century hand-carved pine double doors, 19th-century English black-and-white transferware footed platter, reproduction Spanish Colonial giltwood starburst mirror, antique Italian gilt pine lamp, assorted chests, side table, and silver trophy cup; Adams Antiques & the Potager. Page 46: Antique French late-19th-century oil seascape canvas by G. Elmone, antique late-19th-century English mahogany tea caddy box, Italian marble fruit, antique French brass server, antique French Art Nouveau painted terra-cotta bust stamped Pierrette, antique mid-20th-century silver plate hammered repoussé grapevine adorned wine cooler, assorted antique books; Adams Antiques & the Potager.Page 47:…

Take a look at some of our favorite September/October web features: Southern Getaways for Fall Whether you’re taking in showstopping foliage, exploring charismatic downtowns, or seeking waterfront serenity, browse our top ideas for unforgettable autumn escapes. Host a Cozy Soup Party Gather with kith and kin for an evening of laid-back conversation and comforting fare, including satisfying soups and flavorful accompaniments made for dipping. Our Top Pumpkin Recipes It’s time to pull out fall’s most anticipated and versatile ingredient: pumpkin. Our lineup of tasty sippers, sweet treats, and savory dishes is sure to delight guests. Seasonal China Showcase Revel in nature’s beauty with tabletop settings inspired by the grandeur of these brisk months. Be the first to know about exclusive content by subscribing to our newsletter at southernladymagazine.com/newsletter-signup and by…

During The Original Round Top Antiques Show, the town’s one square mile ofwonderful swells with antiques dealers, interior designers, and design enthusiasts hitting up hundreds of tents and venues. While Round Top is no doubt the place to be in January, March, and October, if you’re a serious shopper, the charm abounds in every season. The antiques capital of Texas is emerging as a year-round destination. Think rural charm meets high design with a side of spectacular shopping, fashionable stays, and delectable dining. Grab your girlfriends, your boots, and your measuring tape—yeehaw, let’s go! There are numerous fabulous places to stay, but our favorite home base is The Frenchie Boutique Hotel, where we’ve filled the mini-resort’s fashionable farmhouses, art studios, and chic pool bungalows during The Southern C Retreats. Sit…

Borrow from nature’s paint box and treasure trove to outfit a tablescape teeming with autumnal esprit. Complementing the prismatic transformation of foliage from green to fiery tints, a single dried orange slice joins a gilded pine cone affixed to a twig for a creative place setting topper. A satin bow and handwritten name card extend a personalized greeting, while an abundance of freshly clipped beauties and petite pumpkins round out the endearing display.…

Centuries ago, Chinese artisans perfected porcelain. By the mid-eighteenth century, these delicate yet durable treasures had become the nation’s chief export, finding appeal and inspiring imitation across the globe. While blue-and-white wares are universally recognized as the most iconic style from the region, another popular favorite—Rose Medallion—bears similar range in artistry while offering a far more colorful palette atop each alabaster shell. Though actually a subcategory of the famille rose, or pink family, this style features distinctive panels placed around a central floral motif, inside which lies a flower one might not have guessed: a peony, the former national flower of China. Indeed, Rose Medallion gains its name not from the type of blossom painted atop its surface but rather the rosy hue that adorns its scenes. These scenes alternate…

“IF I CAN MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL FOR SOMEBODY, I AM GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.”—VILCY NELSON As her youngest child was poised to leave for college, Vilcy Nelson and her husband were also building a new house that realized one of her dreams: a room for crafting. Ready to fill the space, the seamstress stopped by a local sewing store and fell in love with an embroidery machine and software program. Before the new home was even fully constructed, Vilcy set to work designing monogrammed pillows, towels, and garments for family and friends, often losing track of time in her newfound pursuit. This pastime soon developed into Specialties by V, a flourishing embroidery business that includes making one-of-a-kind linens, seasonal accents, and personalized gifts. For information, visit etsy.com/shop/SpecialtiesByVShop.…

Bangles etched with unknown initials and lockets long forgotten hum with a sense of history that speaks directly to Gretchen Pettis’s heart. After years of collecting monogrammed gold bracelets and other personalized baubles, Gretchen’s ponderings of the past gave rise to Interlude Antique Jewelry—an endeavor to grant such storied tokens another special chapter. “These pieces represent a meaningful transition, not just between owners but between generations, between stories,” says Gretchen, whose hobby of collecting personalized and antique jewelry evolved into a business in 2019. She had closed the book on her corporate career and never imagined entrepreneurship, especially as her children finished college. But the popularity of her pop-up shopping events at boutiques around the South bolstered her efforts. Lured by the gleam of Gretchen’s offerings, customers are all the…

“Often, the story of an artifact’s journey is more remarkable than the object itself.”— MACKENZIE FINKLEA…

Baked Cinnamon Doughnuts MAKES ABOUT 18 ¼ cup warm water (105° to 110°)1 (0.25-ounce) package active dry yeast5 cups all-purpose flour, divided1¼ cups warm half-and-half (105° to 110°)1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar½ cup unsalted butter, softened1 large egg1 teaspoon kosher salt1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon vanilla extract½ cup unsalted butter, meltedCane Syrup Glaze (recipe follows)½ cup toasted pecans, chopped 1. In a small bowl, stir together ¼ cup warm water and yeast. Let stand until mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes. 2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat yeast mixture, 3½ cups flour, warm half-and-half, brown sugar, softened butter, egg, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla at low speed until combined. (Some pieces of butter will remain.) Turn off mixer; switch to the…