Southern Lady September 2022

The September issue of Southern Lady is always one of my favorites, because it gets me excited for my most cherished season: fall! As we work on it earlier in the year, I can already picture the first tinges of red and gold on the trees and feel the crisp morning air on my face. In the pages that follow, we welcome all things autumn, from a simple bouquet of dahlias and roses tucked in a tea canister on page 35 to a brunch gathering on page 95 that’s topped off by a scrumptious apple cider cake. We also take you to one of the top hidden gems in the North Carolina mountains for the changing of the leaves: the beautiful Lake Toxaway, page 43. One of the only ways…

TABLETOP NOTIONS When I was very young, I loved to poke through the odds and ends in our china hutch, including a set of tiny crystal stem glasses that enchanted me. They were cordial glasses, of course, but back then I had no idea what they were called; I just thought they were the last word in elegance. My mom would sometimes let me get them out when I had a friend over to play—though they couldn’t have held much, I remember feeling so sophisticated as we sat there and sipped our juice or water. While I know more about stemware these days, I never outgrew my fascination with specialty table goods like porcelain butter pats, silver tomato servers, and cut-glass relish dishes. That’s the idea behind our food feature on page…

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? WE’D LOVE TO SEE—TAG US IN YOUR PHOTOS! Get a glimpse of the beautiful images our social media friends have shared with us, capturing their own inspiration from the pages of Southern Lady. Top row: Antique pitchers, gold accents, and freshly clipped hydrangeas are a stunning centerpiece on @bhomewithbernadette’s dining table. With a neutral backdrop, @ahillcountryhome brings warmth to a stair hall with an arrangement of dried stems and an oversize candle. We’d love to join @carolyntillerydallas’s playful picnic amid September’s beauty. Middle row: A swing on @warehouse67design’s porch is perfect for an afternoon respite with coffee and loving puppies. A spectacular tablescape by @wilshirewondersmn celebrates the harvest season. Bottom row: Individual charcuterie boards greet @theclassichostess’s guests at a birthday extravaganza. Chunky knit blankets, groupings of candlesticks, and…

Pink peonies, blue-and-white porcelain, party planning, and Winston Churchill—these are a few of Kathryn Greeley’s favorite things. In her latest coffee-table book, The Collected Cottage: Gardening, Gathering, and Collecting, the acclaimed designer and hostess extraordinaire reflects on the memories and treasures she’s amassed over decades at her beloved North Carolina home, Chestnut Cottage. “I felt compelled to share these things with people in hopes that they would be inspired to create their own homes into sanctuaries for themselves,” says Kathryn, whose second hardback hit shelves this summer. A thoughtful collection of memoirs, decorating advice, and entertaining ideas, The Collected Cottage speaks to confident and apprehensive hosts alike. “You don’t have to be a gourmet cook; there are caterers. You don’t have to be good at floral arranging; there are florists. I…

When Willa Allen was asked in 1976 to provide dessert for a special event, she went searching for a trusty shortbread recipe from a friend that she felt sure would be a crowd-pleaser. With a little bit of butter and a lot of love, Willa’s small-town home bakery would later become a national sensation, selling her tasty treats in almost all 50 states. After the success at her event, neighbors and friends convinced Willa to begin retailing her delicious cookies. Starting in the small kitchen of her Hendersonville, North Carolina, home, the popularity of Willa’s Shortbread opened the door to selling at local markets and shipping across the South. Once she expanded to mail orders, Willa began shaping the original wedge into bite-size cookies for easier transport. Willa ran the enterprise for…

“HAPPILY WE BASK IN THIS WARM SEPTEMBER SUN, WHICH ILLUMINATES ALL CREATURES.”—HENRY DAVID THOREAU…