Victoria May/June 2022

Dear Friends Thomas Jefferson observed, “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life.” The years have crept by since I visited the City of Light, but I remember in vivid detail the bliss of exploring this incomparable destination. Especially during springtime, the senses come alive while surveying centuries-old landmarks robed in the season’s freshest blossoms. In this issue, favorite contributors invite us to journey to Paris. Alongside photographer Kindra Clineff, we stroll past brimful floral shops, encouraged by garden expert Tovah Martin to incorporate je ne sais quoi into our own bouquets. Find this lovely and inspiring Touring feature on page 23. Hidden Treasures wanders the gardens of the Royal-Palais; Shops We Love inhales the delights of Parfumerie Oriza. Become immersed in these stories,…

Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love. We love your ideas! Do you have any suggestions about something you’d like to see in the magazine? If so, reach out to us at victoriamag.com/contact-us. Take a closer look at some of our favorite May/June features: Blue & White Beauty Tina Yaraghi, the entrepreneur behind The Enchanted Home business and blog, infuses her interiors with the timeless charm of our favorite color palette. Peony for Your Thoughts In this exclusive web feature, inspiration blooms in the hands of floral designer Semia Dunne, who offers tips for arranging the season’s most luscious flowers. Classic Gallic Cuisine Our test kitchen chefs serve up recipes for quintessential French dishes that stand the test of time for their simple preparation and satisfying flavors. Because of…

In the 1980s, I worked across the hall from Analyn, who quickly became one of my best friends. One morning, she came in with a new magazine. We were enthralled with the cover, pictures, stories, and perfectly lovely name: Victoria. It was a respite in our busy lives. Whenever we would arrive home, having received the next issue in the mail, we would call each other and read it together over the phone! Through the years, we have continued enjoying and appreciating this wonderful work of art and still talk about each issue as it comes. It’s a treasured part of our friendship, which is such a blessing to me. ANN FOLKES BULLOCK Seminary, Mississippi Victoria magazine has instilled in me an appreciation for everyday life. Inspired by its pages, I have begun…

One afternoon, I was standing in a bar at a ski resort when a stranger asked me a question that changed my life. The whole situation was unusual in many respects—I don’t ski, I don’t frequent bars, and the woman turned out to be the wife of our house contractor, although I’d never met her and had no plans to that day. And yet, there she was sitting on the stool next to next to me and asking, after five minutes of polite introductions, a simple question: What do you do that makes you happy? It could have been an easy question to answer, but I found, to my surprise, that it was not. At the time, I was a stay-at-home mom, my hours filled with others’ needs and wants. I had…

“I WANT MY HOME TO BE THAT KIND OF PLACE—A PLACE OF SUSTENANCE, A PLACE OF INVITATION, A PLACE OF WELCOME.”—Mary DeMuth“SOMETIMES THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN A WHOLE DAY IS THE REST WE TAKE BETWEEN TWO DEEP BREATHS.”—Etty Hillesum…

It’s no secret that the French wear their hearts on their sleeves. Meander the streets of Paris in springtime, and one quickly discovers that the nation’s adoration of petaled perfection cannot be contained within the cozy quarters of the City of Light’s plethora of flower shops. Stout buckets brimming with plump buds of roses, peonies, carnations, stocks, and similarly lush floral fare frame windows, positioned to lure customers inside. But the message communicated by these charming storefronts is more profound than a singular desire to sell bouquets. Stepping inside, what you witness within these havens of blooms is affection for the land and its bounty distilled into a few square feet of retail space. Every inch is evocative—the final goal being to send you home carrying a miniature garden in your hands,…