PARK VE
JULIA
HAART MY UNORTHODOX LIFE
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RALPH LAUREN HARRY BENSON M A R I O B U AT TA R . C O U R I H AY G E O R G E WAY N E
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All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice. All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker.
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PENTHOUSE ON THE PARK 21 East 26th. 4BR. 7.5 Bath. $24.99M. Web# 22585183. Chris Pomeroy 212-381-2531 Richard Orenstein 212-381-4248
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AT HOME ON PARK AVENUE 830 Park Avenue, Maisonette. 3BR. 3 Bath. $10M. Web# 22494165. Marsi Gardiner 212-452-6282 Mike Lubin 212-317-3672
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SPACIOUS, LUXURY, 10’ CEILINGS 287 East Houston Street. 1BR. 1 Bath. $1.375M. Web# 22663973. Nikki Adamo 212-317-3690 Melissa Murphy 212-317-3691
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REBUILT BROOKLYN LIMESTONE 234 Sterling Street. 4BR. 1.5 Bath. $2.35M. Web# 22617250. Catherine E. Witherwax 718-399-4114
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URBAN OPULENCE 500 Park Avenue. 3BR. 2.5 Bath. $4.75M. Web# 22617066. Lauren Cangiano 212-381-3397 Alisha Lloyd-Hudson 212-381-3219 DUMBO PENTHOUSE 30 Main Street. 3BR. 2.5 Bath. $4.25M. Web# 22655491. Julie Leedes Bienstock 212-521-5785 Thomas James Hatton 212-381-6585
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EXCEPTIONAL VOLUME IN NOHO 40 Bleecker Street. 2BR. 2.5 Bath. $3.995M. Web# 22632741. Ben Haymes 212-712-1109 Jeffrey Stockwell 212-906-0564 Dominique Ramirez 212-381-3346
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SOHO PENTHOUSE 210 Lafayette Street. 2BR. 2 Bath. $3.85M. Web# 22539948. Janet Weiner 212-381-6558 Seth Cohen 212-381-3249
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CENTRAL PARK AT YOUR DOORSTEP 1170 Fifth Avenue. 3BR. 2.5 Bath. $3.35M. Web# 22644241. Katharine F. Tuckerman 212-906-9222 Edith F. Tuckerman 212-906-9228 Julianna Simmons 212-712-1150
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PARK VE
Contents ICON
20 RALPH LAUREN: A WAY OF LIVING
30 HARRY BENSON: AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE 38 R. COURI HAY: PR GURU FA S H I O N
46 J'ADORE 52 TRENDS BY SOFIE 54 DEBEERS: EXQUISITELY TIMELESS
VO LU M E 1 . N O . 9
68 JULIA HAART
MY UNORTHODOX LIFE
ARTS
56 NADJA SAYEJ 62 ANJA HESSLER 64 BONNIE LAUTENBERG 66 YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX PROFILE
84 RICK SPRINGFIELD: HOLLYWOOD ROCK ICON 88 ALTHEA'S ROOFTOP 90 COMMAND EDUCATION 96 THE TRUNKS COMPANY 98 NICK SPANOS T R AV E L
100 RANCHO LA PUERTA 106 RIVER HOUSE 108 MIRABEL BERKSHIRES
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NO.9
Mint 20 Footer with Elevator 45 WEST 70TH STREET
Mint like New Development + Views and Location!
Palatial Full Floor Home
50 CENTRAL PARK WEST, 8A/9A
485 PARK AVENUE, 11TH FLO OR
Stunning Views in BEST Location
Full Floor Condo with 3 Terraces!
Amazing Views, 4 Exposures
45 EAST 22ND STREET, 42A
145 EAST 76TH STREET, 11
37 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, 8A
Mastery of the Craft. It's Timeless. PARK_Fall23_TOC.indd 11
Lisa K. Lippman Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 1934 Broadway, New York, NY 10023 212-588-5606 llippman@bhsusa.com
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PARK VE
VO LU M E 1 . N O . 9
Contents DINING
110 CUCINA 81/2 114 SHOTA OMAKASE BEAUTY
116 DR. BARRY WEINTRAUB 122 DR. OSTAD S H E LT E R
126 MARIO BUATTA: A HISTORY LESSON 134 BENCHMADE MODERN 136 PHILADELPHIA TABLE COMPANY 142 CASTLERY 144 BARBIECORE 146 DISCOVERING VALUE IN LUXURY REAL ESTATE SOCIAL
76 JEAN SHAFIROFF: ANIMAL ADVOCATE & PHILANTHROPIC LEADER
46
J’ADORE
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148 COURI 150 NEW YORK CITY BALLET GALA 151 NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC OPENING NIGHT 152 CARNEGIE HALL 153 FIT COUTURE COUNCIL LUNCHEON 154 THE HAMPTON CLASSIC 155 LATINIGNITION 156 GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER 158 MICHAEL KORS NEW YORK FASHION WEEK 160 METROPOLITAN OPERA OPENING NIGHT
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K
s
LIFE IN
balance
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WORLD RENOWNED R E S O R T & S PA M I R AVA L R E S O R TS . C O M / B E R KS H I R E S @miravalberkshires 866.96 6.6135 or consult your travel professional
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Book your weekend getaway, or escape for a day at Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa. Part of the HYATT family
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PUBLISHER & FOUNDER Christopher A. Pape EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CO-FOUNDER Julie Sagoskin
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER R. Couri Hay
ART DIRECTOR Paul Crawford
EDITORAT-LARGE George Wayne
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Ryann Reynolds
FEATURES EDITOR Bennett Marcus
SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Patrick McMullan
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Lauren Bens, & Lexi Wolf
ASSISTANT EDITORS W.A. Muller & Laurel Moriarty
EDITORIAL INTERNS Nati Tesfaye, Lauren Stanzione, & Cierra Morgan
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Michael Gross
PALM BEACH EDITOR Christine K. Schott
TRAVEL EDITOR Joe Alexander
REAL ESTATE EDITOR Alison Kenworthy
INTERIORS EDITOR Cara Gibbs
ARTS EDITOR Janis Gardner Cecil
INTERIORS EDITOR Cara Gibbs
COPY EDITOR Julie Eakin
julieeakin@yahoo.com
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Oliver Li
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA Sarah Mohamed
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ben Widdicombe, Whitney Schott, David Michaels, Lisa Lippman, Alexander Powers, Hannah Minnick, Christine Montanti, Sofie Mählkvist, Sergey Gordeev, Laurie Newkirk CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Udo Spreitzenbarth, Stewart Shining, Henry Lou SALES TEAM Lisa Stiehl Associate Publisher 914.760.6875
lisa@park magazineny.com
Siobhan Shea Rossi National Sales Manager 914.374.0710 siobhan@park magazineny.com
Wendy Packer Vice President of Sales & Marketing 203.904.6700 wendy@park magazineny.com
Maria Coyne Director of Florida & Caribbean Sales 305.975.9234 mecoyne@ mecoyneinc.com
Scott Pauker Advertising Sales Manager 917.859.1343
scott@park magazineny.com
Boris Gikher National Account Manger 718.971.0331 boris@park magazineny.com
MCaseMedia, Inc. Publisher’s Representative 914.953.3202 info@ mcasemedia.com
PARK is published four times annually by Park Avenue Magazine LLC. Copyright 2021 by Park Avenue Magazine LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are welcome on an exclusive basis, but must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Reasonable care in handling manuscripts and photographs will be taken, but PARK cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials submitted. Printed in the U.S.A. *This issue features paid for sponsored content and covers provided by outside sources. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Christopher Pape at: christopher@parkmagazineny.com
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A
Editor’s Letter
s we enter chunky sweater weather while pumpkin spice lovers rejoice - count me in – we invite you to delve into our pages rich with decadence, whimsicality, fascinating personalities, and icons like you have never known them before. From the Berkshires to one of Bucks County Pennsylvania’s most special properties, fall in love with our top picks for visiting ever-changing foliage this fall – wherever you go his season, make sure to tag yourself with a copy of PARK – and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram! He’s dressed royals, celebrities, and Olympic athletes, and with a new Rizzoli book out, we get to know the man who changed the landscape of fashion in America like never before – Ralph Lauren. Feeling most at home on his ranch, Ralph’s love of the West is brought to life in his 400-page hardcover. Our own Editor-at-Large, George Wayne gives an in-depth look at the man who is not just part of our country’s culture – he designed it. Ralph’s daughter-in-law, Lauren Bush Lauren, who we featured on our Spring Cover along with her mother Sharon Bush, and sister Ashley, happens to be our favorite human ever. This first family of fashion continues to reinvent style – as well as philanthropy and good old-fashioned Americana. We also bring you famed photojournalist Harry Benson, right on the heels of the 60th anniversary since he first accompanied the Beatles on their journey to America and introduction to the country on the Ed Sullivan Show. See behindthe-scenes photos and hear untold stories. Netflix reality star, author, and entrepreneur Julia Haart is our stunning cover girl – and she isn’t afraid to bare it all – literally. With a new shapewear line, she is coming into her own and branching out – she is in her confident Julia era and she’s not going back. We love how she strikes a pose and gives us her biggest life advice – just be you. PARK is also keeping up with Jean Shafiroff, our favorite fashionista, and queen of philanthropy – if you’ve been to a gala lately, Jean has likely chaired it. She might always look like the belle of the ball, but her passion for helping others is always the most striking feature about her. We hope you enjoy the fashions, seasonal trends, photos from the biggest events of the social season, and personalities on our pages. Enjoy your fall to the fullest and stay safe!
Julie Sagoskin Editor-in-Chief 16 | parkmagazineny.com
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PERPETUAL MOON 41.5 PLATINUM LUNAR FANTASY
www.arnoldandson.com
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F
From the Publisher
all is my favorite season. With a bit of a chill in the air, I feel invigorated (except that as of this writing I have a terrible head cold, always a fun few days). The leaves change, the kids are back at school, and we are thinking ahead to the holidays. PARK is full of pride for this issue. From our in depth look at Ralph Lauren’s interiors (a big thank you to George Wayne for this spectacular piece) - to Mario Buaata, The Prince of Chintz, and everything in between, we’ve made a deep dive into the world of shelter/interiors editorial content. And to compliment that exploration, we are extremely fortunate to work with one of the most well-known (and may I say most talented) interiors editors/writers in the business, Cara Gibbs. Ms. Gibbs is an American living in London and has worked with some of the biggest magazine titles in the world. With that said, we know you will love it as much as we do! We also have an in-depth look at our co-founder and editorial director, R. Couri Hay, who has lived a remarkable life full of the most noteworthy interactions with celebrities, socialites and heads of state. For the first time in print, read all about the man who Andy Warhol discovered in Paris and who is an integral part of PARK. A special thanks to my hard-working team and to the readers for your patronage. Without you, PARK would be nothing. We greatly appreciate it! Till the next issue! Adio!
Christopher A. Pape Publisher & Founder 18 | parkmagazineny.com
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R
ALPH
LAUREN A
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B Y G E O R G E WAY N E
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Ricky and Ralph Lauren on the beach in the Hamptons, NY. (LES GOLDBERG, 1977)
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IN RALPH LAUREN’S LATEST TOUR-DE-FORCE, a Rizzoli-published tome, there is one particular image which is the simplest yet most emotive of the entire book. He’s walking on the Montauk beach with the love of his life, his wife Ricky Lauren. It’s 1977 and the timeless, effortless, one-of-a-kind-singular style for which he’s known is on full display. Both of them are wearing sheared khaki shorts. She’s in a cobalt blue cotton shirt, and he’s in a sleeveless green puffer, exuding a full-on Steve McQueen vibe with shimmering, silver aviators. The image is so definitive of the ethos of Ralph Lauren that we had to put it on the cover. It’s simply déshabillé, the French “undressed,” the kind of studied informality one can only be born with. “Life was so simple and easy,” Ralph opines about that time. Fast-forward to more than forty years later: Ralph Lauren’s imprimatur on design and lifestyle is definitively presented in the new book, Ralph Lauren: A Way of Living. A whopping 544 pages contain some 400 sumptuous images.
The cover of Ralph Lauren: A Way of Living. (RICHARD CORMAN, 2007)
The whole idea is “to bring the cinematic vision of Ralph Lauren to life” via this stunning and intimately written book that covers the many decades of influence and innovation from one of the world’s most revered tastemakers. The book is divided into three chapters: Homes, Lifestyles and History. “What I do is about living the best life you can and enjoying the fullness of life around you. From what you wear to the way you live to the way you love. Our homes are a canvas for living,” says Ralph. Without a doubt, Ralph Lauren has created a multifaceted world evoking an unparalleled original style that took hold with his groundbreaking home collection of 1983. It was the first opportunity for the consumer to experience the complete world of Ralph Lauren. Now the designer takes us on the most intimate reveal of his sumptuous homes across the globe. We journey from city to country mansions, from farm to the beach. “Homes that
“WHAT I DO IS ABOUT LIVING THE BEST LIFE YOU CAN AND ENJOYING THE FULLNESS OF LIFE AROUND YOU. FROM WHAT YOU WEAR TO THE WAY YOU LIVE TO THE WAY YOU LOVE. OUR HOMES ARE A CANVAS FOR LIVING.” RALPH LAUREN
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Journey’s End Collection. (MIKKEL VANG, FALL 2019)
JoThe iconic RL-CF1 Chair takes direct inspiration from Ralph Lauren’s McLaren F1 and features 54 layers of hand-laid tissue carbon for an exceptionally strong yet lightweight cantilevered frame.
The limited-edition Tartan Highboy was an intricately carved mahogany chest with brass fittings, covered in a hand-applied tartan pattern and took two-and-a-half years to perfect, Tartan Collection.
(MARTYN THOMPSON, FALL 2003)
(GILLES BENSIMON, FALL 1991)
The iconic Writer’s Chair upholstered in hand-burnishedleather. (FRANCOIS HALARD, FALL 1994)
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The Saloon at Ricky and Ralph Lauren’s Double RL Ranch in Colorado. (BJORN WALLANDER, 2013)
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‘‘I LOVE THE CHARACTER OF OLD THINGS, AND I BUILT THIS HOUSE OUT OF OLD BARN WOOD.” RALPH LAUREN
tell our story, “and every interior design junkie’s dream: From the Colorado refuge, the sprawling ranch with its distinct homage to the spirit of the American West, to swashbuckling Ralph at the gorgeous villas at Round Hill, Jamaica. The most breathtaking images are perhaps of the latter (I am, after all, a proud Jamaican). The book opens with the Montauk property “set on a high cliff,” Ralph tells us. “This is the house straight from the heart.” What does that mean? How about a splendid pool resembling a blue lagoon off Madagascar? And then we are off to his Double RL Ranch, with Mr. Lauren opining, “I love the character of old things, and I built this house out of old barn wood.” This reviewer considers it an ode to a chic cowboy and an Americana aesthetic. “My vision continues to be as it was in the beginning—it hasn’t changed. Here, we were looking for a complete change of culture and yet in a way that was fulfilling.” The result is Double RL country, to the hilt. By contrast, the Fifth Avenue home off Central Park is minimalist and sleek, apart from the sculpture of an authentic Star Wars Stormtrooper movie mannequin that takes pride of place. It’s the one bit of Hollywood kitsch so blithely featured in any of his properties. These are all deeply personal expressions from a man not known for showing off his acquired wealth and possessions. He says as much throughout the book,
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Ralph Lauren on horseback at the main gate to his Double RL Ranch in Colorado. (BARBRA WALZ, 1989)
along with several other unexpected revelations. “In fashion, it’s a tuxedo worn with jeans and cowboy boots” exemplifies his love for contradiction and eclectic mix and how he describes his estate in Bedford, New York. “My homes have always offered refuge, warmth and comfort for me and my family. I’ve never followed architectural rules; I look for things that make my heart race. Bedford is the place we can get in the car and drive on the spur of the moment.” Gorgeous, bucolic Bedford, where the buzzwords are warmth, individuality and glamour. “Fall is the season we associate with Bedford,” Ralph mentions. But no other Ralph Lauren home races this arbiter’s heart more than the impossibly perfect set of Round Hill Villas in Jamaica. This historic property west of Montego Bay at the Round Hill Hotel and Villas showcases the most flawless images. Any true connoisseur of fine travel must consider scoring an invite to spend two nights in the guest villa, The White Orchid —a bucket list assignment for the ages. (Hint! Hint.) Situated on the lush peninsula of the western St. James Parish is this truly historic 70-year-old Jamaican hotel & villa property. Ralph designed his two villa properties, the first owned since 1982. “This is the closest thing to heaven that I think I can feel,” says the
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Hither Hills Studio Collection. (FRANCOIS HALARD, SPRING 2007)
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Villa America Collection.
PHOTO BY FRANCOIS HALARD
(FRANCOIS HALARD, SPRING 2006)
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“MY LIFE HERE IS ABOUT REJUVENATING, A SENSE OF QUIET AND OF PRIVACY.” RALPH LAUREN Ricky and Ralph Lauren’s home in Bedford, NY. (BRUCE WEBER, 2002)
sarong-ed, bare-chested Ralph posing up a storm from the cliffs of Round Hill. We get the most ravishing peeks here- behind those Matisse Blue doors of the splendid Round Hill property. “Clean with a kind of barefoot luxuriousness.” “We moved into a romantic old villa on the highest point of the land,” he says of setting sight on his now iconic High Rock Villa of Round Hill. “It had a spirit and a glamour that harkened back to the days when Grace Kelly, Noel Coward and Errol Flynn wintered there.” And so, of course, when in residence at High Rock Villa, “those evenings call for a little island glamour.” Which means white-jacket dinners on the verandah amonst one-of-a-kind orchids and Capri vibe of overflowing bougainvillea everywhere. All to the beat of chirping island insects and the ever-restless Caribbean Sea. It looks like a floating island, all pristine white and Matisse Blue with the Jamaican-styled shingled roof and sleek white concrete and marble shapes. “My life here is about rejuvenating, a sense of quiet and of privacy.” There is much to laud in this book, perhaps foremost Ralph graciously allowing us to ogle his homes. Each Ralph and Ricky Lauren home displays its own distinct visual language, and there’s no denying that a Ralph Lauren home is no ordinary home. His latest book is a wonderful exercise in finessing brand heritage and refinement on a very personal level. And so we will leave it to his decades-long friend, peer and fellow iconic American tastemaker in Calvin Klein to remind us: ‘”Ralph was the first to create a lifestyle that embodied clothing, furniture and travel—no one has done it better.” Amen, Calvin, amen. P A view of the Atlantic from Ricky and Ralph Lauren’s Montauk home. (PIETER ESTERSOHN, 2005)
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Harry
Benson PHOTOGRAPHER
AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE BY WHITNEY SCHOTT
Harry and Gigi with daughters Wendy & Tessa.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN DELANO
As the 60th Anniversary of The Beatles coming to America, and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, approaches in February, PARK Magazine’s Whitney Schott sits down with the award-winning photojournalist who accompanied them on that journey, Harry Benson CBE.
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THE BEATLES FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, NEW YORK CITY, FEBRUARY 9, 1964 Beatlemania was spreading and this was to be their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The excitement started at breakfast time. My room was just down the hall, and I was having breakfast with the four of them in their suite at The Plaza Hotel. No one was eating much. Everyone was just talking about their performance, which would be broadcast live that evening. Outside, in the street, excited, hysterical young fans were waiting for us to leave for The Ed Sullivan Theatre. Police assigned to the hotel were busy wrestling with the young girls who were trying to climb up back stairways pretending to be hotel guests. About 1:30pm, there was a band on my door. John came in and said they were going to the theater now and to stay close as I could or the police would cut me off. There was pandemonium trying to get to the car. In the car, we left the hotel, all four put their heads down while I took the photographs of the fams screaming and leaning on the back window. When we got to the CBS studio, it was chaos again. I jumped out first and John kept me next to him because the studio stage door opened and slammed like an elastic band so that no fans could push their way in. After the rehearsal, we just stayed at the studio; it would have been too hectic to go back to the hotel. We sat around drinking Coca-Colas until they went on. As everyone knows, they were sensational. The frenzied audience with girls crying and screaming in mass hysteria drowned out their singing. This became the norm for all their appearances.
THE BEATLES, PILLOW FIGHT, PARIS, 1964 In early January, I had been given as assignment to go to Africa…and was all packed, ready to go… the phone rang…and the night editor said I was to go to Paris the next day to photograph a new group called The Beatles. I told him I was leaving for Africa on a major news story and didn’t want to photograph a relatively unknown pop group. I hung up and thought that was that. A few minutes later, the phone went again, and the night editor said, “The editor says you are going to Paris.” Unbeknownst to me at the time, that was my lucky day. It was 3:00am after a concert at the Olympia in Paris in January 1964. They had so much pent-up energy after a performance, and they really couldn’t go out because they would be mobbed. So we were sitting around talking and drinking. Their manager, Brian Epstein, burst into their suite at the George V Hotel to tell them, I Want to Hold Your Hand was number one on the American charts which meant they were going to America to be on the The Ed Sullivan Show. That also meant I was going to America with them, and I was pleased. America had always fascinated me. Ever since I was a boy in Glasgow watching James Cagney gangster movies, I knew that was where I wanted to be.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH WITH HER WELSH CORGIS “I covered Queen Elizabeth all over the place. In Canada, in Paris, the Caribbean, around Britain and at Buckingham Palace,” Benson recalls. “I was commissioned by Christopher Baker, Director of the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, Scotland, to take their official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. The photo with the “red box” filled with details of the day’s world events. I was there waiting for her thinking what could I possibly have in common to talk about with the Queen… then she came in. She had a lot of dogs yapping around her, and I love dogs, too, so I asked, “Ma’am, do you sleep with these dogs?’ She looked at me with a grin and said, “No, because they snore!” We both had a good laugh and that broke the ice,” he said.
ANDY WARHOL AND BIANCA JAGGER, THE FACTORY, NEW YORK CITY, 1977 I first met Andy Warhol when I came to New York in 1964 with the Beatles. He was making one of his underground films, and I photographed some of his entourage at the Chelsea Hotel. I hadn’t run into him in quite some time when Bianca Jagger suggested we have lunch at The Factory, Warhol’s studio, which was as infamous as the artist, himself. We were joined by fellow artists Jamie Wyeth and Larry Rivers. “Andy took my photo that night too, but I have never been able to find it,” says Benson.
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BARBRA STREISAND, CENTRAL PARK CONCERT, NEW YORK CITY, 1967 Fans flocked to“A Happening in Central Park,” one of the first free concerts in New York’s Sheep Meadow. People were mesmerized. After the concert, which was filmed for television, Barbra Streisand lived up to her legendary reputation as being difficult when she looked at me and shouted at the photographers to “get the f--- away” as she headed for her trailer.
A
SK HARRY BENSON ABOUT HIS LIFE AND HE will tell you it’s been extraordinary. “I wouldn’t have wondered from photography. Photography got me around the world…meeting people…Even if I was a millionaire, I couldn’t have had this life. You couldn’t afford it!” he says in his distinctly Scottish brogue. Vanity Fair, Town & Country, Time, Newsweek, People, Life & Paris Match As a photojournalist for LIFE magazine from 19702000, his work has also appeared in such publications as Vanity Fair, Town & Country, Time, Newsweek, People and Paris Match. He has literally shot everyone and everything. From Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, (41 and 43), Clinton, and Obama, to Senator Bobby Kennedy - the night he was assassinated. Then there have been all the actors, models, athletes, socialites, and musicians he has photographed -- including The Beatles, with whom he
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arrived in America on assignment in 1964. Benson’s honors include a Commander of the Order of the British Empire appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2009; letters from universities such as The Photographic Society and International Center of Photography. A documentary HARRY BENSON, SHOOT FIRST which chronicles his 70-year career was released by Magnolia Pictures in 2016. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Benson says he was basically self-taught. Inspired by his father – a zoologist who founded the Calderpark Zoo and loved photography, he took up photography because he was good at art. “At school, I wasn’t a good student, but I was good at art. I was good at art, but not great at art. Good, but not good enough. Photography was a natural way. I studied photography by looking at photographs and basically taking over a camera. A camera will do what you tell it to do,” he says. He went to work for a local newspaper, Hamil-
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MICHAEL JACKSON “Like a lot of people, I was allowed into his bedroom. And at the entrance to Michael’s bedroom there’s a little boy and girl --like a Boy Scout and a Girl Scout, outside his bedroom door. He knew what I wanted for LIFE magazine, He knew I wanted to get as close to him as possible and he knew he was going to have to show me something. I was not just going to accept something dopey. I want to see something special. Otherwise, why would the magazine give you five or six pages? I didn’t show him I was excited about it because if they see you’re excited they think they’ve given you something and you’re done. If you don’t show them you’re excited, they may give you something more. He gave me “Bubbles” his monkey. Michael was eccentric. He showed me everything I wanted to see…and he danced for me…on the bed and around the house.”
ton Advertiser, moving on to the Daily Sketch after his exclusive interviews in prison with Scottish mass murderer Peter Manuel. By 1959, he was working for Lord Beaverbrooks’s Daily Express, and the rest is history. “The thing about photojournalism,” he says, “is that your situation changes every day. Things can change and you have to be quick enough to see it changing and I photographed everything…marching with Dr. Martin Luther King…the Watts Riots… Princess Di and Charles gettin’ married…I would photograph anything and would do any story.” There were some challenges. “When someone would say, ‘Oh, I’ve got a person, a wonderful person, you’re gonna love them’...I knew I had a problem. Someone who knows how to manipulate you,”
he says. “But when they would say someone was terrible, a nasty piece of work, they were fine. People don’t tell you accurately what others are like. You have to find out for yourself. And even then, it doesn’t really throw me off because that is what I’m expecting…But one thing I did learn quickly is flattery. People love flattery. So, put it on with a shovel. Tell them how great they are. People love flattery. No matter who they are. Then you’re on a good level to tell them, I want you to jump into a bath…with a dog or something,” he laughs. The Beatles One example was when Benson first photographed The Beatles. It was January 1964 and their
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“PEOPLE LOVE FLATTERY’’
TRUMAN CAPOTE AND LEE RADZIWELL AT HIS BLACK AND WHITE BALL, THE PLAZA HOTEL, NEW YORK CITY, 1966 Everyone wanted to be invited to what is still being called the “party of the century.” It was the hottest ticket in town. It is said that those who were excluded lied, saying they were out of town, rather than admit they weren’t invited. It seemed everyone who was there was famous for one reason or another. The party was given in honor of Kay Graham, owner of the WASHINGTON POST, and for the detectives who broke the murder case Capote wrote about in his groundbreaking nonfiction novel, IN COLD BLOOD. Truman was on top of the world. “He was one of the funniest people I’ve ever been with. He was crushed when they cut him off. He cried with me... and cried. He knew that was going to happen, but he said, “I didn’t mean it.”
manager, Brian Epstein, had just told them their hit single, I Want to Hold Your Hand, had gone to number one on the U.S charts. “I went to pick them up. They were prepared to go out on the street, and I said, ‘no, I want you here.’ I had heard them talking about a pillow fight they had had a few nights before, so I suggested it. I thought it would make a good photo to celebrate. And John Lennon said, “You know, that is stupid. You’re gonna make us look stupid and silly. We don’t want to look stupid.” And the rest agreed, and then he slipped away. And the others, Paul and Ringo, stayed, and then John comes up behind them and banged them in the head with the pillow,” he laughs. “It was great, and I got my photo.”
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“EVEN IF I WAS A MILLIONAIRE, I COULDN’T HAVE HAD THIS LIFE.”
RFK Assassination RFK Floor- 1 @Harry Benson 1968 LG
President Clinton’s Kiss @Harry Benson 1993 PP
Persons of interest Benson met his wife Gigi “while traveling to Houston, Texas, on assignment with Prince Philip who went there to see the Space Center,” says Gigi Benson. Her parents were invited to a gala reception for the prince and brought her along. She was in college at the time at the University of Texas. Harry then invited her to attend a Barbra Streisand concert. “The first concert in Central Park,” according to Gigi, “We sat in the front row.” Once they were married, she didn’t really travel on shoots with Harry. “The wife doesn’t go,” she says. Gigi serves as the archivist for Benson’s work and editor of his books, including “The BEATLES on the ROAD 1964-1966” (Taschen, 2012) and HARRY BENSON: Persons of Interest (powerHouse Books, 2017). Benson’s latest book, “PAUL,” featuring photographs of the legendary Beatle, Paul McCartney, was published in 2022. The author of twenty-one books, Benson is working on a new one and has enough content for sever-
al more. “Our daughters, Wendy and Tessa, would say Harry was always getting up from the dinner table to get on a plane to go someplace far away that we couldn’t even spell!” says Gigi, noting a camera bag on the chair next to him. A retrospective of Benson’s work, A MOMENT IN TIME: ICONIC IMAGES BY HARRY BENSON, an embodiment of some of the most significant moments captured in the 20th and 21st centuries, was shown this summer at the Southampton Arts Center on Long Island, curated by Sally Martin Katz. There, Harry spoke about his life’s work and told some wonderful anecdotes about the photographs on view. The 60th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America, and appearing on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” will take place on February 7th and 9th, 2024, respectively. Benson plans to release some limited edition prints to commemorate that extraordinary time. P HarryBenson.com
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USA for Africa Life cover @Harry Benson
Greta Garbo @Harry Benson
Ali Hits George @Harry Benson 1964
Halston Spandex #2 @Harry Benson
Jackie Ski Mask @Harry Benson
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Guru PR
R Couri Hay
R. Couri Hay Creative Public Relations BY BENNETT MARCUS
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R. Couri Hay is one of the most prolific figures in American public relations. His New York based firm, R. Couri Hay Creative Public Relations, has received multiple accolades, and has ranked among the “Top New York City PR Firms” by the respected media analyst Expertise for seven consecutive years. Couri’s life has been a swashbuckling romp through the pinnacle of late-20th century culture, starting during his early teens in the 1960s and continuing at full throttle today. From LSD guru Timothy Leary as one of his godfathers to designer Halston and ballet icon Rudolf Nureyev as lovers to being declared an Andy Warhol superstar. Couri danced with Princess Grace in Monte Carlo at the Croix Rouge Monégasque at 17 and later worked with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on American Ballet Theater galas. He has appeared in a slew of documentaries over the past several years, including the 2022 Netflix series “Andy Warhol Diaries.” R. Couri Hay has carved a remarkable path.
Iconic Clients: Harry Winston, Prada, Chopard, BVLGARI, Brioni, & Bergdorf Goodman While Hay is the go-to name for PR advice and crisis management counseling many prominent people, formally and informally, on how to burnish their images, his company’s mission has always been to combine luxury with philanthropy. With 40 years in business this year, his diverse client portfolio includes some of the world’s most notable VIPs, institutions and brands. He has represented iconic fashion, jewelry and luxury brands including Harry Winston, Prada, BVLGARI, Chopard, Bergdorf Goodman, Lora Piana, Fendi, Brioni, Escada, Veuve Clicquot and Krug Champagnes among countless others. He has planned events for the Centennial Anniversary of the Juilliard School and the 10th Anniversary of the Broadway show “Chicago,” and orchestrated galas for Lincoln Center, the New York City Ballet, the Budapest Symphony Orchestra , the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the openings of multiple art fairs, including Art Miami and the Hamptons Fine Art Fair to name but a few.
Celebrities currently on Hay’s client list include “Three’s Company” legend Suzanne Somers, Julia Haart of Netflix hit “My Unorthodox Life”, Twin Peaks star Amy Shiels, philanthropist and jeweler Kayla Rockefeller, SohoMuse founder Consuelo Vanderbilt, QVC star and hairstylist Chaz Dean, skincare mogul Peter Thomas Roth and 89-year-old Guinness World Record title holder for Oldest Working Female Comedian D’yan Forest. He has also done special projects with Sophia Loren and Brooke Shields, whose 18th birthday he helped organize in 1983. Bringing things full circle this past summer, he worked with Brooke’s 17-year-old daughter Grier Henchy on a philanthropic project. He’s also done charity events with Anderson Cooper, Michael Phelps, Mariel Hemingway, James Franco and Dakota Johnson, who will be honored by Hay’s longtime client the Hope for Depression Research Foundation this fall. Park Magazine Co-founder Hay is Co-founder and Editorial Director of Park Magazine, where he has crafted covers featuring high-
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“MY MEDIA APPEARANCES ARE MEANT TO BE A MAGNET FOR MY BUSINESS. MY MESSAGE IS: IF I CAN BE HERE, I CAN PUT YOU HERE, TOO” Couri & Charles James
profile personalities like Cornelia Guest, Lydia Hearst, Sharon Bush and Lauren Bush Lauren, as well as his own clients Somers, Haart, and Rockefeller. Couri is also the Travel Editor and Society columnist for Social Life Magazine in the Hamptons and a columnist for Fashion Mannuscript in Palm Beach and Miami. He also appears on CNN, PBS, FOX, and the Discovery Channel and more commenting on Hollywood and pop culture. Media Appearances In addition to the Warhol series, Hay appeared in the 2022 Ghislaine Maxwell miniseries, “House of Maxwell” on the BBC, and, in 2023, the Tinsley Mortimer documentary “Queenmaker: The Making of an It Girl,” directed by Zackery Drucker, which is on Hulu. He also shared his experiences with Halston in CNN’s 2019 documentary about the iconic fashion designer and appeared on “Ghislaine: Partner in Crime” on Paramount +, talking about Jeffery Epstein’s scandal in 2022. Currently, he is a Royal Correspondent for “Good Morning Britain” on ITV. Couri is considered a Kennedy family expert by the press and has been quoted extensively in biographies about Michael Kennedy, who he was skiing with in Aspen when he tragically hit a tree and died. He also skied with his media pal John F. Kennedy Jr. in Aspen and has been quoted in multiple biographies about the Kennedy scion. Hay was a prominent presence in the 2023
documentary “Last Night In New York,” about society scribe David Patrick Columbia, hobnobbing with esteemed personalities like Liz Smith, Charlotte and Anne Ford, Olivia Palermo, Patrick McMullan, Jill Kargman, Hilary Ross, Geoffrey Bradfield, Susan FalesHill, Beth DeWoody, Nikki Haskell, Gayfryd Steinberg, Carolyne Roehm, and Muffie Potter Aston. Showtime’s 2021 documentary “Gossip,” about legendary columnist Cindy Adams, also gave viewers a taste of Hay’s personality. In 2018, Hay was featured in an eight-page profile in Town & Country, and he is consistently quoted in local and national outlets on celebrity news. “My media appearances are meant to be a magnet for my business,” Hay says. “People think: If he can do it for himself, he can do it for me. My message is: If I can be here, I can put you here, too,” he adds. Couri has been named to Quest Magazine’s 400 List repeatedly. A Remarkable Life: from Gossip Columnist to PR Guru Hay’s life story could make an epic novel, so packed with interactions with the greatest minds of our times, drawn by his charisma, it’s hard to imagine. Hay attended the Waynflete School in Portland, Maine, with Bette Davis’s son Michael Merrill, before going on to attend North Yarmouth Academy, where Paris Hilton’s father, Rick Hilton, was also a student.
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The Early Years
Couri & Jackie Kennedy at ABT
Couri with his dog Pogo
Couri & Andy Warhol
With Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Dame Margot Fonteyn
Couri and John Lennon at the Kennedy Center
Couri & Liza Minelli
Brooke Shields & Couri at The Oscars
Regis Philbin, Couri & his fiancé designer Zandra Rhodes on set
Couri with his Godfather Timothy Leary
Couri & Princess Grace
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More Recent Years
With Tinsley Mortimer
Couri with Melania Trump
Bill Clinton & Couri
Couri with Hillary Clinton
Couri, Suzanne Somers & Alan Hamel
With sisters Lydia & Gillian Hearst
With Amanda Hearst Couri & Julia Haart
Couri with Paris Hilton
Zackary Drucker & Couri
Mayor Eric Adams, Evie Evangelou & Couri
Couri & Christie Brinkley
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Couri with Cornelia Guest
“I MAKE IT A RULE TO NEVER TURN DOWN AN INVITATION TO THE WHITE HOUSE — NO MATTER WHO IS IN POWER — BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE GOING TO MEET” His university writing teacher was Pulitzer Prize and Oscar winner Larry McMurtry. “He was willing to give me college credit to write for Interview in 1971, the early days,” he laughed. Hay figured he could do interviews and started with family friend Bette Davis and her husband the Gary Merrill, who costarred with Davis in “All About Eve.” “Andy loved glamorous, iconic stars, so it was a go,” he says. He went on to interview Marlene Dietrick, Ginger Rogers, Lena Horne and Warren Beatty, plus several political figures from Washington, where he did course work at Georgetown University and was mentored by McMurtry at American University. “Imagine getting college credit to write for Andy!” He juggled his class schedule to be in New York Friday afternoon through Monday, making $25 a month. “Andy signed all the checks. I kept them.” His association with Warhol provided valuable lessons. “No one knew more about art, marketing and promotion than Andy,” Hay says. He later went on to write for other publications including a gossip column for the National Enquirer in the 70s and 80s, People, where he helped create the original “Chatter” column, as well as Town & Country. He also reported for the New York Times, New York Post, WWD and W, where he helped write “Suzy” – the ne plus ultra of society columns - by his pal Aileen Mehle for five years.
Hay has visited the White House under six presidents: Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Obama and Trump. “I make it a rule to never turn down an invitation to the White House — no matter who is in power — because you never know who you are going to meet,” he explains That knowledge of how the press works – and how to frame a story for maximum exposure – led him to realize he had a flair for promotion, and public relations was the logical progression. A 2014 New York Times profile of Hay was titled simply: “The Gossip Guy.” In 2014, The New York Time’s art critic Roberta K. Smith reviewed Hay’s collection of Charles James drawings at The National Arts Club. He then donated over 300 of the drawings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In May of the same year, The Met showed a group of these drawings in their show, “Charles James: Beyond Fashion.” Prominent New England Family Roots to High-Profile New Yorker Hay’s mother, Marilyn Couri Hay, was a Maine socialite, sportswoman, champion equestrian and philanthropist who served as Chairman of the Red Cross for the Greater Portland Area for a decade. His mother’s family founded Camp Couri to give inner city youth a chance to experience the outdoors of Maine.
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Sky Lodge, the Couri family compound, built in 1929 in Moose River, Maine
They also built senior centers in the state. In 2018, The Couri Foundation, established by her cousins Elaine and John Couri, who co-founded Duty Free International and is the Syracuse University Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus, gifted the family’s historic family compound Sky Lodge, built by architect Felix Arnold Burton in 1929, in Moose River, Maine to Unity College. The gift includes seventeen buildings, plus the 7,500 square foot main lodge, and over 150 acres of land. Hay’s cousin, Ralph Hay, founded the NFL. An owner of the Canton Bulldogs team at a time when professional football in Ohio was nearly extinct. In 1920, Ralph gathered representatives from 11 different teams to form the new league. His cousins, Judy and George Couri, own the multi-national rug company, Couristan, which has been in business for 97 years. Boston Roots The Hay family has deep roots in Boston, where Couri’s father, Walter F. W. Hay Jr., was born while Couri’s grandfather, Dr. Hay, was a medical student at Harvard. Dr Hay’s wife, Alice White Hay, was a concert pianist who played with the Boston Symphony and studied at the New England Conservancy of Music before going on to The Julliard School. His greatgrandfather, Harry F. G. Hay, was the mayor of Westbrook, Maine and was the president and owner of The Westbrook Trust Company. Hay credits his interest in national politics to family friend and Maine Senator Margert Chase Smith, who he interned with while living in Georgetown.
Mayflower Society Hay, a Mayflower Society member, descends from five passengers on the historic ship, including Governor William Bradford, Mary and William Brewster and Constance and Stephan Hopkins, who signed the Declaration of Independence. His ancestor, statesman John Hay, served as a personal secretary to President Abraham Lincoln, co-authored a 12-volume biography of Lincoln, with John G Nicolay, and was Secretary of State in 1890. Couri has written two books: a novel called “Secret Lives” and the fashion book “Charles James: Beneath the Dress.” He is currently working on his memoir, due out in 2026. Hay was engaged to the English designer Zandra Rhodes in the 80’s and they remain good friends to this day. Couri was a fixture, host and PR consultant at Studio 54, and went on to open the legendary night club Tatou with Studio 54’s last owner Mark Fleischman in 1990. Today, Hay lives with his partner and their King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Phantom Webster Westbrook Hay, in a landmarked Upper West Side townhouse. He served as President of the Jury for the 15th Anniversary of the New York International Film Festival in 2022, contributing his expertise and discerning eye to the prominent event; he first assumed the role in 2015. In recognition of his exemplary leadership and contributions to the world of television, Hay was honored with the prestigious Leadership Award at the 2023 NYC TV Festival, solidifying his status as a respected figure in the media and entertainment industry. P
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Marilyn Couri Hay & Couri working on the Red Cross drive
Couri’s Grandfather, Arthur N. Couri, was the Commodore of the Portland Yacht Club
Couri’s Grandmother, R. Louise Couri, aboard The Renié
R. Louise Couri, Anne M. Bradford, Marilyn Couri Hay
The Great Hall at Sky Lodge, which is the oldest and largest log cabin structure in Maine
Family Picnic at The Portland Yacht Club
Walter F. W. Hay III & Couri
Walter F. W. Hay Jr. & Marilyn Couri Hay
Marlon Brando & Couri Couri & Gale Parker in Capri (1968)
rcourihay.com @rcourihay wikipedia.org/ wiki/R._Couri_Hay
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J’ADORE
FASHION
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Dress Christopher Esber
SHOT EXCLUSIVELY IN PARIS FOR PARK
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ PHOTOGRAPHER: HENRY LOU @ ABTP Agency
MODEL: FLORA @ Cover Agency Paris
STYLIST: JOHANNA VIKBLOM HAIR STYLIST: KATRIN SACHENKO MAKEUP ARTIST: MELANIE VERGNOL PRODUCTION: BIG ALICE PRODUCTIONS NY CASTING DIRECTOR: ERIC CANO
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FASHION
Bodies Intimissimi Stockings Swedish Stockings Shoes Stylists own Bag Vintage Prada
Blouse Valentino Skirt MiuMiu
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FASHION
Skirt Valentino Accessories Swedish Stockings Shoes Roger Vivier
Top Christopher Esber Skirt Oude Waag
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NEW SEASON
Trends bySofie FA L L I N T O T H E S T Y L E S O F T H E S E A S O N
BY SOFIE MÄHLKVIST
Khaite Danielle High-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans Price: $460 khaite.com
Theory Sheath Dress in Good Wool $245 Theory.com
L’agence Galena Striped Long Cardigan $420 lagence.com
A pair of classic jeans is a great staple for your closet! It’s perfect to style with a light top in early fall or a sweater for chillier days.
The little black dress is the definition of “simple, but stylish.” You can never have too many in your closet!
A long-knitted dress is perfect for any weather. Style one with a blazer or a long coat.
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M. S. Rau Diamond and Pearl Bangle Bracelet $9,850 Rauantiques.com
Chanel Calfskin & Metal Moccasins $1,575 Chanel.com
What’s more classic than diamonds and pearls?
Your go-to shoes this season! Loafers are timelessly charming and comfortable to wear, making them the best classic shoe to have in your wardrobe.
Sofie Mählkvist is a 24-year-old Fashion Columnist and Social Media Consultant. She works with fashion brands overseeing their social media channels while also analyzing trend forecasting for upcoming seasons. Sofie is working on her master’s degree at Harvard University in Fashion Marketing Management. She graduated from Regent’s University London, where she finished with honors in Fashion Marketing and Global Management. Sofie lives in NYC, London, and Paris, allowing her to attend all the fashion shows. She made her debut this year at the Viennese Opera Ball and was proclaimed “The Deb of the Year.” IG: sofiemahlkvist
MaxMara 101801 Icon Coat Light Edition $2,450 Maxmara.com
Toteme Side-Split Doublé Skirt Chocolate Mélange $600 Toteme-studio.com
An oversized coat is another haveto-have in fall season. One works perfectly over your favorite party, work, or casual outfits. a mini dress.
Cold weather doesn’t mean you have to give up your skirts. A wool skirt will keep you warm and stylish this season!
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NEW SEASON
De Beers Exquisitely Timeless
F
ew companies or brands conjure the elegance and luxury, across all industries, like, De Beers Jewellers. For over 130 years, De Beers has supplied the world with the highest quality diamonds as the largest and most important diamond mining company in the world. It is only in the
BY LAUREN BENS
last twenty-two years that De Beers has become a Jewellery House on par with (and in our estimation surpassing) those more established brands. We had the opportunity to speak with the company and find out more about their process, designs and how they work with clients to create the most stunning jewelry pieces.
Evolving to meet the customer demands of today De Beers Jewellery is a young brand at just 22 years old, but benefits from 135 years of diamond expertise. We always listen to what our clients want and try to incorporate it in our creations, so our jewellery offer is constantly evolving. Today more women are buying Jewellery for
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themselves, so we are creating bolder designs like the new Talisman and Enchanted Lotus pieces. There is a big focus on self-expression. It is no longer about celebrating traditional moments only but also about self-love, self-purchase and celebrating accomplishments, as well as expressing style with an item which is everlasting. Since our new CEO, Celine Assimon joined, she has driven creativity in our High Jewellery, as we imagine designs that glorify our most exceptional diamonds and bring to life our incredible craftsmanship. High Jewellery knows no boundaries - this is where we explore, try new materials like coloured titanium or aluminium, combining antique inspired techniques like Grand Feu which we used in our Metamorphosis collection for the first time, and innovate the most. Our clients are looking for jewellery to wear every day, rather than keep in their safe so we are creating High Jewellery looks that are versatile so that our clients can have pieces that can be worn in multiple ways, suiting different occasions and moods. With Metamorphosis, we wanted to offer High Jewellery pieces which transform to be easily worn during the day and to become a statement piece for an event. A good example of that is the Prelude necklace which can be worn as a simple riviere or an incredible necklace with four strands of diamonds suspended by two medallions. Every piece in one of the sets, Autumn, is transformable. It gives a certain nonchalance to the pieces; they are less formal and therefore very playful for our clients. We also know they are more interested in coloured diamonds and fancy shapes, especially distinctive shapes. Innovative craftsmanship The hero jewel in every one of our collections is always the diamond, but a great piece of jewellery is one where the gemstone lives in harmony with craftsmanship, design and meaning. We preserve the traditional craft and infuse it with highly innovative ground breaking
solidified our design credentials with distinct collections such as Enchanted Lotus, Talisman and Dewdrop and grown our exceptional High Jewellery offering.
techniques and materials. How has De Beers remained one of the most well-respected jewelers in the world? No other Jewellery House was born in diamonds like De Beers. The company is still the best source of the world’s most beautiful diamonds, showcased in our distinct jewellery designs, as well as being truly committed to building a long-lasting positive impact in the world - this is what makes De Beers unique and respected. Individual and distinct Our clients know that when they come to De Beers each diamond has been individually assessed by eye for its exceptional fire, life and brilliance - and for its beauty by our experts, rather than relying on conventional assessments and laboratory grading certificates. Historically we’ve been known for our bridal offering but over the last years we’ve
Inspired by nature We often look to the natural world to inspire our designs and create unique stories around our collections. Our Enchanted Lotus collection takes inspiration from the lotus flower which is known for its natural beauty but even more so for its symbolic meaning. Found in abundance in the magical oasis of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a country we have a deep connection with, the flower is associated with rebirth because it blooms by day, retreats into the water at night, reemerging fresh in the morning. Across various cultures, the Lotus is considered one of the most sacred flowers and like diamonds, it symbolizes purity and eternity. Because of this, we felt it was the perfect flower to inspire a collection. Our latest High Jewellery collection, Metamorphosis, pays homage to nature’s constant evolution and the transformative power of natural diamonds. It alludes to change and transformation, a theme which feels very close to us as we are on our own transformative journey at De Beers, from purveyor of the world’s finest diamonds to an innovative and creative Jewellery House. The collection comprises 46 unique pieces and it was revealed in two chapters. The first, launched in January, introduced Prelude, a set which captured the four seasons, which told the story of the start of a magical transformation. In Chapter Two, we continued this poetic ode to the beauty of nature’s constant evolution and welcomed four beautiful butterflies. We launched this chapter in July during Couture Week and took everyone on a journey across each of the four seasons. Each set has a distinct aesthetic that showcase our exceptional craftsmanship. Spring is represented by the feminine petals of the King Protea flower, native to southern Africa, where many De Beers diamonds are discovered. P debeers.com
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ARTS
NEW YORK CITY’S legendary nightlife has long captivated the imagination. It’s a gateway to the glitz and glamor, a way of getting close to the stars. In a world of Photoshopped social media personalities and pre-booked Paparazzi photos, one photographer has seen it all, B Y W. A . M U L L E R
Nadja
Sayej
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slipping behind the velvet rope to capture some of New York’s most elite events. Nadja Sayej, a renowned cultural journalist and celebrity photographer, showcases her best behindthe-scenes scenes in this dazzling black-andwhite photography book, The Glitzerati.
Julia Fox by Nadja Sayej
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ARTS
PHOTO BFA NINA FERNANDEZ
‘‘In an age where airbrushed perfection dominates the digital landscape, Nadja Sayej’s approach to photography stands as a beacon of authenticity.’’
Nadja Sayej
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Christy Turlington and Ansel Elgort by Nadja Sayej
A Book in Photo Captions In today’s world, reading headlines and photo captions takes the cake. Reading a full 400page book (without photos) is inconceivable for a social media-distracted readership in 2023. Sayej has wisely designed a book for the Instagram generation: photos accompanied by captions. That’s it. Just read the captions and flip through the photos. It’s that simple. With a paparazzi-esque photo style, and a penchant for spontaneous shots, this collection features over 200 photos from 2018 to 2023, looking into New York’s most opulent galas, cocktail soirees and parties that help define New York City’s style, society and ethos. All Eyes On Celebrities The Glitzerati is more than just a photo album, it’s a yearbook of New York’s best parties. It documents the social life of celebrities, art stars, influencers and fashion icons as they are one with the pulse of the city.
The photographer offers a glimpse into some of the city’s most high-profile events, from Cardi B and Diane Keaton at fashion week to Bruce Willis at a film festival and Debbie Harry at an awards gala. Paparazzi Meets Behind-The-Scenes Coverage In an age where airbrushed perfection dominates the digital landscape, Nadja Sayej’s approach to photography stands as a beacon of authenticity. The book’s extensive captions accompany each shot, adding depth and context to the images. Nadja is a master storyteller, and her words breathe life into each photograph, offering insights into the personalities, emotions and candid moments of her subjects. The book features a photo of renowned artist Marina Abramovic at an art gala in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where she walks with a cane, symbolizing the enduring strength that has
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Nicky Hilton by Nadja Sayej
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ARTS
‘‘The artist is the first woman ever to have a retrospective at the Royal Academy of Art in London’’ Jeremy Scott by Nadja Sayej
carried her through her 50-year career. The artist is the first woman ever to have a retrospective at the Royal Academy of Art in London, which runs until January 2024. Another highlight is capturing 1990s supermodel Christy Turlington without makeup, while attending a quiet fashion boutique event in Soho. It reveals her beauty and understated elegance, while sharing an intimate moment as she whispers alongside Ansel Adams. Beverly Johnson and Dennis Basso by Nadja Sayej
A Tribute to Society Photographers Sayej’s photographic oeuvre may immortalize celebrities of today but it’s a collection that may be better understood far in the future, looking back on what the social climate was like during this five-year period. It also pays tribute to women photographers who came before her, like Diane Arbus or Ellen Von Unwerth, and society photographers like Slim Aarons, Bill Cunningham, Henri Cartier-Bresson and more.
By capturing the cultural class—the jetsetters, the movers, and the shakers of New York City—this photo book is a testament to society photography, and how it has changed and evolved over the years, from the time of Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball in the 1960s, to present day, where photo agencies dominate the scene in New York’s storied venues like the Plaza Hotel, Cipriani’s and more. The Glitzerati proves to be a journey into New York’s entrancing nightlife. It goes beyond your typical filtered and staged shots, offering a behind-the-scenes, authentic portrayal of celebrities, high society and the people who work in the industry. From renowned photographers to photo shop owners, bartenders, doormen and valet parking, this book offers a look at those who take the stage as well as those who work behind the scenes. Candid captions accompanying each photo detail what this world was like in the postpandemic “Roaring Twenties.” P
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Sam Smith by Nadja Sayej
Anna Wintour, Baz Luhrmann by Nadja Sayej
Tona Lewis Lee and Spike Lee by Nadja Sayej
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Anja
t
Hessler
Creating One-of-akind Moving Sculptures from Precious Metals B Y R YA N N R E Y N O L D S
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ell us about your personal and educational background. When and why did you make the move to the United Kingdom? I was born and raised in Germany. My journey into the world of art and design began at a very young age when I started experimenting with various artistic processes and mediums. During my academic years, I pursued a formal education in becoming a display artist, which exposed me to a diverse range of crafts and design skills. This period allowed me to delve into the intricacies of theatrical stage-based arrangements, with a particular focus on sculpting forms in space and understanding how to captivate and engage
viewers. Upon completing my college education in 1995, I decided to relocate to London to pursue my dream of a career in theatre stage design. How did you get into mobile/sculpture? My artistic intention is to transcend the conventional boundaries of sculpture, providing a sensorial experience that engages both visual and tactile senses. With meticulous attention to materials, shapes and textures, my primary goal is to craft visually mesmerizing pieces that convey a graceful sense of motion. By carefully considering the balance and proportions of my sculptures, I aim to orchestrate an intricate interplay of forms that evokes a
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forms that evolve and change over time. I also draw ongoing inspiration from Barbara Hepworth’s mastery of sculpting organic shapes and her profound connection to the natural world. Describe the technical and emotional processes that go into making a piece? My artistic process is a harmonious blend of technical precision, emotional connection and a deliberate exploration of time’s effects on materials. I use traditional techniques to meticulously shape every element by hand, forging a deep connection with the materials. Working with metal is a personal and expressive experience for me. I love the art of manipulation, oxidizing the metal to reveal signs of aging. This deliberate technique adds depth, texture and character to the sculptures, imbuing them with a sense of time and narrative. It’s a process that elevates each piece, making it genuinely distinct and meaningful.
sense of wonder and invite the viewer into a realm where art, design and the natural world coexist in harmony. What are some of your inspirations? My artistic journey has its roots deeply embedded in Minimalism and the Modernist movement, particularly the Bauhaus philosophy, which emphasizes the fusion of art, design and craftsmanship. I am captivated by the clean lines, symmetry and spatial relationships found in architectural design. Inspired by both organic and geometric forms, my aim is to strike a harmonious balance between precision and spontaneity in my work. Each sculpture undergoes meticulous
construction, with careful consideration given to the arrangement and alignment of its components. Yet, I also embrace the element of chance, allowing the mobiles to take on a life of their own as they interact with their environment. What other artists do you admire? I have immense admiration for numerous artists who have significantly influenced my creative journey. To provide a few notable examples: Joan Miro’s playful and surreal approach has inspired my exploration of form and imagination. The kinetic sculptures of both Alexander Calder and Takis are a huge influence and drove my fascination to experiment with dynamic
Which galleries support you? Where can readers find your work? My sculptures have been prominently featured in prestigious exhibitions and art fairs across Europe and have found homes in various esteemed private collections across the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. A curated selection of my work is available on Saatchi Art (https://www.saatchiart.com/ formplusgestalt). I am also represented through Future Icons, a renowned U.K.based agency specializing in showcasing exceptional artist and designers. Please share some goals/plans for the near future. In the near future, my focus is on further expanding my artistic practice globally, with a specific emphasis on the creation of large-scale sculptures and installations. I am also excited about new commissions, crafting unique and personalized pieces tailored to individual spaces. P formplusgestalt.com
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Bonnie
Lautenberg Artist & Photographer BY BENNET MARCUS
ONNIE LAUTENBERG is an author and renowned photographer, whose work is in private collections as well as those of the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Culture, the New York Historical Society, Newark Museum, and the Library of Congress.
If the name sounds familiar, her late husband was Frank Lautenberg, who served five terms as a New Jersey senator from 1982 through 2013. Living in the center of the political whirl, in 1993 Bonnie Lautenberg found herself at the White House, where President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Chairman Yasser Arafat were signing the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Accord. She began taking photographs. “I always had my camera in Washington,” said Lautenberg. As the three leaders were walking out of the White House, she had a flash of recognition that she was capturing a momentous piece of history with her camera. The adrenaline rush was heady; she was, from then on, hooked on photography. Innate Talent It wasn’t simply her proximity to the halls of power; it turned out that she had talent. The technicians at the photo lab – they still used film back then – told her that her pictures were as good as or better than those
of their professional photographer clients’ who had shot the same event. “That really made me think I had something,” she said. 100 U.S. Senators on How They Changed Our Lives Another politically related project Lautenberg created was called “How They Changed Our Lives: Senators as Working People,” in which she photographed all 100 members of the 109th congress (2005-2007). Her husband had proposed much legislation over the years, including the law that banned smoking on airplanes, so Lautenberg became curious about what the other senators had done. “They all allowed me to photograph them, and they gave me the text of what they accomplished.” The project was exhibited at the Mana Contemporary art center in Jersey City, and is now online at the Library of Congress in perpetuity. Eli Broad Collection Another career highlight came in September 2008, when Lautenberg
photographed then-candidate Barack Obama speaking to an audience at a private home in New Jersey. One of those pictures was in a group show at the Howard Greenberg Gallery in Manhattan and is in many private collections, including that of Eli Broad, the prolific art collector and founder of The Broad, a Los Angeles art museum. Mr. Broad displayed the picture along with the text “Change Has Come to America,” referencing Obama’s catchphrase. At an inauguration party he hosted, he had Lautenberg make 350 smaller versions as favors to attendees. “I was very honored that Eli Broad thought enough of me to do that and thought enough of the piece to give it out to everybody at his party as a gift,” Lautenberg said. Pop Rocks – Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus & Justin Bieber Lautenberg does not limit her practice to politics. One body of her work features entertainment icons in performance, including Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and others. It began in 2010 when her husband suggested they go to see Lady Gaga at Radio City Music Hall for their anniversary. Hearing that Gaga allowed concert audiences to take photos – this was when Instagram was in its infancy, but Gaga was prescient about the rise of social media – Lautenberg snagged front row seats at center stage and snapped away. An East Hampton gallery showed them, and the Gaga pieces have since been in many different exhibits related to music, and spurred Lautenberg to expand it into a series called “Pop Rocks.”
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“Artistica! Where Hollywood Meets Art History”
In 2018, she began a new series, “Artistica! Where Hollywood Meets Art History,” pairing a film still and a painting done in the same year. It’s about how one art form may have influenced another. That was shown at the Boca Raton Museum in the ‘22-’23 season. One of her works, a photograph of Paul Newman from “Hud” juxtaposed next to Andy Warhol’s Elvis Presley in jeans, holding a gun and wearing a holster, was sold off the wall at Holiday House’s Hamptons showcase over the summer. Lautenberg will also show the series at Carlton Fine Arts on Madison Avenue on October 11th, 2023. Statue of Liberty: Roe, Guns More recently, photos of a Statue of Liberty replica Lautenberg had taken became the basis for work related to the pandemic, as well as other issues like the repeal of Roe V.
Wade and gun violence. When the pandemic hit, she put an American flag facemask on Lady Liberty with backgrounds in red, white and blue. An edition of ten pieces printed on aluminum that she donated to the Biden campaign sold out the first day. The David Benrimon Gallery put them in a group show called “Rethinking America,” with the likes of
Warhol, Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Robert Longo and Deb Kass. “It was quite thrilling to be in a show of all these great artists!” Lautenberg exclaimed. “Tears of Roe,” in which in which Lady Liberty is crying amidst a pink background, was sparked by the Supreme Court decision. A recent retrospective at the Jewish Museum of Florida included works from the Artistica!, Pop Rocks, and Lady Liberty series’. “We called the show ‘Lady Liberty.’ It was all about women.” Upcoming Book: Frankly Speaking Lautenberg’s book, “Frankly Speaking: The Extraordinary Life of Senator Frank R. Lautenberg,” is out in May 2024, with foreword by Hillary Clinton and afterword by Joe Biden. “It’s about Frank, and my life with Frank.” P bonnielautenberg.com
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PROFILE
I
The YAGP 25th Anniversary Gala ’m generally not into revolutions; but, as revolutions go, this one is pretty big – and I am definitely a fan. The revolution in question? The one started by Youth America Grand Prix – the world’s largest student ballet competition, when it revolutionized the world of dance by radically changing the way the world’s dance schools and companies look for talent. It did so by creating a global network of dance – a centralized, global pipeline of opportunity for dance students worldwide to audition for scholarships to the world’s leading dance academies. It also gave dance schools and companies around the world access to virtually any talented young student anywhere on Earth. “If we knew how much work this would be, we probably wouldn’t have done it,” laughs the mastermind behind the revolution, Larissa Saveliev, the charismatic Russian ballerina who started it all 25 years ago. “Back then, there were all these dance students looking for a place to study – and all these schools looking for talented students, but there was not one place where they could all meet.” Youth America Grand Prix became that place – now conducting auditions in more than 30 U.S. cities and 15 countries worldwide. The most talented and promising of them gather in New York in April of each year for what has now become the world’s largest dance family gathering – where they audition for hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to the world’s leading dance academies. Susan Jaffe: Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre The result? 450 YAGP alumni are now dancing in 80 companies around the world – including such preeminent companies as the Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Stuttgart Ballet – and, of course, New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, America’s national ballet company. Susan Jaffe – the celebrated American ballerina who became the Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre last year – says it is
Y O U T H A M E R I C A
Grand prix A Revolution in Dance BY SERGEY GORDEEV
difficult to overestimate YAGP’s role as a major pipeline of dance talent. A champion for young talent throughout her entire career, Jaffe was involved in YAGP from the very beginning, serving as a mentor, teacher and a scholarship presenter for countless aspiring young dancers. “Right now,” she says, “60 out of 92 ABT company dancers are YAGP alumni – and so are 7 out of the 12 dancers in the ABT Studio Company, the junior company of ABT.” One of these celebrated YAGP alumni at ABT is Calvin Royal III, how a Principal Dancer. Royal III participated in YAGP almost two decades ago – and credits YAGP with the opportunities it took for him to succeed. “Youth America Grand Prix provided an opportunity to have a pathway for exposure in the dance world, and access to scholarships. It has been a springboard for dancers of color, like myself, for decades – and, as a Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre today, I am proud to say I have joined the roster of many incredible artists worldwide who also took part in YAGP.”
Iconic YAGP Gala If there is one place where the impact of YAGP is the most obvious, it is the iconic YAGP Gala, which serves as the culmination of the week-long Season Finals. Traditionally held at Lincoln Center, it features some of the most promising young talent from around the world alongside some of the most celebrated dancers performing today, in one spectacular evening of dance. Over the years, the star-studded YAGP Galas featured New York debuts and farewell performances of some of ballet’s biggest superstars. They have included such international celebrities as Natalia Osipova (Bolshoi Ballet), Roberto Bolle (La Scala Ballet), Darcey Bussell (Royal Ballet), Polina Semionova and Daniil Simkin (Berlin State Opera Ballet), stars of American Ballet Theatre Misty Copeland, Skylar Brandt, David Hallberg and Diana Vishneva, Broadway sensations like Robert Fairchild, and stars of New York City Ballet such as Tyler Peck, Daniel Ulbricht and Wendy Whelan, to name a few.
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The YAGP 25th Anniversary Gala will take place on April 18, 2024 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. For tickets, visit yagp.org .
Mick Jagger, Melanie Hamrick, The Olsen twins & Alan Cumming The stage is not the only place for celebrity sightings at YAGP – there are also plenty of them in the audience. The YAGP Gala attendees have included the likes of Mick Jagger, Cicely Tyson, the Olsen twins, Nicolas Sarcozy, Katie Couric, and Chelsea Clinton, as well as celebrity Gala hosts – Alan Cumming, Hoda Kotb, and Keltie Knight. Why do they come? For sure, to be entertained. Some come to see the young stars of tomorrow before they burst out internationally. But there is also something deeper than that. Larissa pauses before answering the question why dance is so important to her personally, and to the audiences that have kept coming to YAGP for the past 25 years. “Dance gives us a powerful way to express our humanity, to discover and communicate our unique voice. It allows us to connect to ourselves and to each other in a way that is just not possible in any other artform. It makes us better humans – and makes the world a better place.” P
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B Y B E N N E T T M A R C U S PRODUCED B Y R . C O U R I H AY
COVER AND EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY U D O S P R E I T Z E N B A R T H
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PROFILE
JULIA HAART HAS LIVED QUITE AN EVENTFUL LIFE.
A mother of four, she left her insular ultra-Orthodox Jewish community at age 42, cut off from family and lifelong friends. She was brave enough to face public scrutiny in the Netflix reality show My Unorthodox Life that over two seasons documented her daily life, and authored a 2022 memoir, Brazen, about her journey “from long sleeves to lingerie.” Haart has started multiple successful businesses, both before and after that life-altering leave-taking. Her 2019 marriage to tycoon Silvio Scaglia that ended messily in 2022, with lawsuits and countersuits and the loss of her job as CEO of his company, was splashed across the tabloid press worldwide. Haart has recently partnered with Tawkify, an exclusive and personalized matchmaking service that has made over 100,000 pairings since 2012. Julia has committed to go on dates with twelve men over the next year in the hope of finding her perfect match. Julia will chronicle her dates on social media, so her fans can follow along on her journey to find love. tawkify.com
“I WAS SO TIRED OF BEING TOLD TO MAKE MYSELF INVISIBLE.”
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Freedom Fighter Her reaction to these harrowing developments? Haart has recently relaunched her shapewear line, +Body by Julia Haart, that had been on hiatus while she dealt with her divorce, and she has become an activist, lending her voice and fundraising for a number of causes, including women’s issues both in the U.S. and around the world, fighting misinformation in the media, and supporting the people of war-torn Ukraine. When we spoke to her, in the Fall, for this article, she had just returned from a trip to Rwanda, delivering female products and educating people about sexual wellness and AIDS, with The Body Agency Collective, an organization involved in ensuring women’s sexual health and wellness globally. During our conversation, Haart did not once mention her divorce, the loss of her job, or either of her exhusbands. She has no regrets. The conversation was upbeat and future-oriented, and she was (somehow) full of energy just days after returning from that Rwanda trip. Political Awakening: Roe Repeal Haart had never been politically active in her life. “I didn’t understand it,” she said. “I didn’t trust politicians. I was like, this is not my problem. I’m going to change the world in my own tiny, little way by ensuring that women are financially independent and freeing them from the things that I think
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PROFILE
that can be better.” Then came the repeal of Roe v. Wade. “When they did that, I realized that I have no choice but to become politically active, because helping women in business is not going to do anything if we don’t have rights to choose our own destiny anyway.” This past year she’s become very drawn in, joining the board of the ERA Committee, meeting with President Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and various senators, raising money, and holding events in her home. “I’ve really have gotten very, very involved in women’s issues from a political standpoint here in this country,” Haart said. Ukrainians: Freedom Fighters of Our Time “When I realized the severity of what was going on in Ukraine, I understood that they’re the freedom fighters of our time,” said Haart. This resonated deeply. “I gave up a lot for freedom. I don’t take freedom for granted. I gave up my family, I gave up my friends. I gave up my entire world that I knew until I was 42 years old. In Ukraine, they’re giving their lives for freedom; they are dying for freedom. That’s a whole different bubble, and so I felt like I have to go and figure out ways to help, because there’s nothing I admire more than someone who’s fighting for their freedom.” She’s been on the ground in Ukraine twice, helping to deliver donated ambulances and medical supplies, driving them from Slovakia to the frontlines in Bakhmut amidst falling bombs. She helped to open a women’s shelter there, a safe space for women that have been sex trafficked or have been victims of any kind of sexual violence. “Hopefully people will copy us and do it all over the country.” She walked through a landmine zone to help bring awareness to that hazard of the war. “When Ukraine takes back a territory, it’s not over, because the Russians are planting landmines in very specific locations, children’s playgrounds, schoolyards, and farmland.” Iranian Women’s Rights: Haart was invited to speak at one of the Iranian women’s marches in Washington, DC. “It’s funny if you think about it, this little Jew girl from Monsey, New York speaking on behalf of women in Iran,” she said. “But it actually makes perfect sense because I had the same rules in my community that they had in theirs. I wasn’t allowed to live by myself, I wasn’t allowed to choose who I married, I didn’t travel without permission, I wasn’t allowed to read books or educate myself.” She connected with Iranian women on that shared experience, but obviously their situation is so much worse, she acknowledges, because they’re being arrested and killed. “These women are freedom fighters. They are literally putting their lives on the line to ensure a better world for their
daughters. What could be more extraordinary than that?” Haart sums up her activism: “We’ve got to change the world. We can’t leave it the way it is right now. It’s kind of a mess.” BRAZEN: From Long Sleeves to Lingerie Haart’s road to being her own person may seem glamorous, with her reality TV show and Tribeca penthouse and fashion-industry businesses, but actually it was long and arduous. Born in Russia, Haart’s family moved to Texas when she was a child; she was the only Jew in enrolled in her private school. Her parents became more religious, and when she was in fourth grade they moved to Monsey, New York, with its large Orthodox community. She attended a religious girls’ school there and for the first time in her life was surrounded only by observant Jews, which was a culture shock. “I loved my Jewish identity,” Haart said. “I just didn’t know that that meant I had to cut myself off from the rest of the world.” After graduating high school, she spent a year in Israel, studying at a girls’ seminary, and at age 19 became a wife through an arranged marriage, as is the custom in her community. She and her new husband, Yosef Hendler, moved to Brooklyn, and later to Atlanta. The new location was thrilling for Haart, because the religious communities outside of the New York area tend to be more open-minded. “Atlanta was the beginning of everything,” Haart said. There, she became a speaker and leader in the Orthodox community and began learning about the secular world. She read secular literature at Barnes & Noble and the family acquired a TV. But she struggled to incorporate the outside world into her own life. “I just was tired of being told Julia, you’re too noticeable, your clothes are too tight and too colorful, stop attracting attention.’ I was so tired of being told to make myself invisible.” One rabbi told her that nowhere in the Torah does it say you need to be happy. The process of leaving the religious community was gradual; it took over eight years to plan her departure from Orthodox life. Once she had left, Haart founded an eponymous shoe company, and then was hired as the creative director for the luxury lingerie company La Perla, where she designed Kendall Jenner’s naked 2017 Met Gala dress. (Jenner was the face of the brand at the time.) In 2019, Haart became CEO of
“I GAVE UP A LOT FOR FREEDOM.”
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Elite World Group, a talent media conglomerate (Silvio is still a non-executive member of the board. He still does not have any position in eWG In 2022, she published the memoir, “BRAZEN: My Unorthodox Journey from Long Sleeves to Lingerie”. In spite of leaving her ultra-Orthodox community, Haart still believes in God and cherishes Jewish values like kindness. “You think I want people to stop keeping Shabbos? Of course not,” she said. “I do want them to stop telling women what to do.”
“WE’VE GOT TO CHANGE THE WORLD. IT’S KIND OF A MESS.”
Shapewear Relaunch After pushing pause to settle her contentious divorce, Haart has relaunched her shapewear line, +Body by Julia Haart. She used the hiatus to improve the product. “We kind of perfected things and made little tweaks to make the product even better, so the current product is just extraordinary,” she explained. With five styles currently available, the line is a gamechanger, a totally new concept in shapewear – its delicate, colorful look, lightweight fabric and technological innovations are like nothing on the market.
Shapewear Concept Inspired by Bridget Jones’s Diary The idea for the shapewear line came when Haart watched the movie Bridget Jones’s Diary for the first time in 2017 – she had to catch up on popular culture after leaving her ultra-religious community. In one scene, Bridget ponders wearing bulky shapewear to look better at a party where her love interest, played by Hugh Grant, will be, but then she can’t bring him home because he’ll see it. She gets tipsy, forgets she’s wearing the shapewear, brings him home, and he’s shocked when he begins to remove her dress. “Her face turned purple with embarrassment, and I remember thinking to myself, wait a minute, what do women do?” She asked around, and people told her that during foreplay they run to the bathroom, take it off, hide it in the drawer, go back to foreplay, and sneak it back on after sex. “All these machinations, rather than letting whoever your significant other is or whoever you’re currently enjoying life with to see their shapewear. That’s what gave me the idea, the movie Bridget Jones’s Diary.”
Attractive Shapewear The garments are so pretty that they can be worn as-is, as a dress or top, or under clothing as shapewear. The thin, lacy fabric holds you firm with its exclusive PowerBond™ 2.0 technology, and it comes in vibrant colors thanks to a special dying technique Haart’s team developed. Haart has created an entirely new category: luxury shapewear that’s designed to be seen. The innovative garment construction eradicates the back-center seam, adds padded bra cups – in various sizes, for a perfect fit - and offers a deep-V underwire that supports and shapes the body while offering unrivaled comfort. Thin, Comfortable Fabric, All-Sizes +Body fused all the layers of typical compression garments into one single layer. “It’s as thin as a piece of paper. It’s incredibly powerfully compressing, but comfortable,” said Haart. “It actually learns your body and heats to it, and puts more pressure and power in the places where you need it most. So the more you wear it, the more comfortable it gets.” It’s so thin, you could wear it under anything, but it’s not adding girth. Most shapewear is sold by clothing size, but not by cup size. “We’ve created a hybrid that is sold not only by dress size, but by cup size, so you could buy an extra small DD or an extra small B. It’s literally created to enhance every curve of a woman’s body,” Haart said. +Body sizes range from extrasmall to 3x-large – and choose your cup size. Collaborations Haart formed a partnership with the skincare brand AMEON, founded by Alina Mehrle, a cancer survivor whose skin improved dramatically after her oncologist recommended cryotherapy. “I’m really excited about it. It’s a lovely, incredible product,” Haart said. “Alina walked out of that stronger than ever and determined to turn that diagnosis into something positive.” The partnership came about when Haart met Mehrle’s husband, a Ukrainian film director, in an elevator. He’d done a documentary about the situation in Ukraine, and asked Haart to help him get the word out. She held an event for that, and met his wife there, and that’s how the AMEON partnership came to be. “It actually came about through activism for Ukraine,” she said. “But I love the product,” she added. “I really believe in it. I very rarely advertise for brands. I do it very, very infrequently, because I don’t want to advertise something I don’t believe in.” P bodybyjuliahaart.com @juliahaart
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Jean Shafiroff
"THE FIRST LADY OF PHILANTHROPY" SHARES THE BEAUTY OF GIVING BACK BY L AUREN B EN S
PHOTOGRAPHY BY UDO SPREITZENBARTH
SHE MIGHT BE KNOWN AS THE COVER PHOTO PINK DRESS BY VICTOR DE SOUZA PHOTO WITH HEAD SCARF SCARF: GUCCI WHITE SUITE: VICTOR DE SOUZA PHOTO RECLINING IN GOLD GOWN GOLD GOWN BY VICTOR DE SOUZA PHOTO IN BATHTUB RED GOWN BY WES GORDON FOR CAROLINA HERRERA PHOTO IN SHORT PINK DRESS STANDING DRESS BY VICTOR DE SOUZA PHOTO IN BLACK AND BLUE SUIT SUIT BY RON DYSON
Cover Girl of Philanthropy, with dozens of
successful charitable galas under her very fashionable belt, but philanthropist, socialite, television host and author Jean Shafiroff is as excited talking about yet another upcoming gala she’s chairing or being honored at as if it was her first. Often called the First Lady of Philanthropy by the international press, Jean is hard-working and deeply devoted to the philanthropic world.
PHOTO IN WHITE SUIT AND LEANING AGAINST THE PIANO SUIT BY VICTOR DE SOUZA SUNGLASSES: CHANEL HAT VINTAGE: DINA FAB FUNKY SHOES: MICHAEL KORS
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PROFILE
“YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY YOUR CAUSES BUT THE CAUSES OF OTHERS AS WELL’’ For Shafiroff, each and every organization she gets involved with holds meaning and purpose. She devotes her time—and money—to ensure that each charity she lends her support to has every chance for success. Jean raises money, holds parties and writes generous checks herself: a triple threat of the social fundraising scene. She walks the red-carpet walk, both at events and behind the scenes, which is why she is continuously sought out when it comes to joining a board or attaching her name to a gala. Watching her in action, it’s clear that being the face of philanthropy requires much more than just showing up at a party. Jean explains there’s always more work to be done. Jean Shafiroff is the author of Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give, and the host of a weekly television program called “Successful Philanthropy,” which airs in the Hamptons. For the program she interviews everyone from politicians to CEOs, lending insight into what it means to be fundamentally involved in charitable giving. Shafiroff’s resume includes serving on the boards of the NY Women’s Foundation; Southampton Hospital Association; the honorary board of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation; Mission Society of NY; the French Heritage Society; the Couture Council of the Museum at FIT; Casita Maria; The Jewish Board (honorary trustee); and Global Strays. For her philanthropy, Jean has been honored dozens of times by organizations including the Stonybrook Southampton Hospital; the American Heart Association; the American Cancer Society; American Humane; New York City Mission Society; Southampton Animal Shelter; Surgeons of Hope;
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PROFILE
“WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE CHANGED THE LIFE OF A CHILD IN NEED IT IS A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE.” and Al Sharpton’s National Action Network. A follower of Catholicism, Jean has also been honored for her work by The Jewish Board and Hadassah. Shafiroff traces her passionate devotion to serving others back to her upbringing in a middle-class family in New York. Along with her stay-at-home mother, her father, a music teacher, instilled in Jean an understanding of the value of helping others. The family often volunteered at her school or in church. After graduating from high school, Jean received a B.S. from Columbia University and then her M.B.A. in finance from the school’s Graduate School of Business. She worked in both public finance and private partnerships on Wall Street and before long was able to take her in-demand business experience to the fundraising world as well. Jean Shafiroff not only writes her own checks but is adept at getting others to contribute sizable sums. There is an art to the charity world, and Jean is indeed very skilled. Her ease stems from her genuine desire to help others and make a difference. “I do it because I believe in it,” she says. Aside from helping those in need, whether with organizations related to women’s rights, underprivileged children, animal groups, health care or the arts, Jean is also proud to be inspiring others, including a new generation of young philanthropists. Aside from teaching children to be kind and to share, she believes that junior groups need to find ways to make younger people feel connected and treat them with dignity and respect to ensure they have a positive experience.
According to Shafiroff, the most critical part of giving is giving of yourself, which means not just your checkbook, but attending events or volunteering. Her biggest desire is to get others interested in this philosophy of giving and to believe in the mission not just to attend an event. Though she knows better than anyone that raising funds doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Having appeared on the cover of multiple magazines including Elle India, Glamour South Africa, Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, and many more, Jean Shafiroff is also a fashion lover. Her designer gowns often make an appearance on her social media pages, including her Instagram, which has over one million followers. Being active and posting about charities and events is another way for Jean to use her profile to raise awareness. “You have to support not only your causes but the causes of others as well. It is important to show up to other people’s events as well as your own,” she explains. One day she plans to donate her entire gown collection to a museum. The fashion-loving fundraiser truly appreciates the beauty of giving. Shafiroff describes how good it feels to give when she states, “When you know you have changed the life of a child in need or a person struggling with their health, it is a very rewarding experience.” After all, the real beauty, she believes, is underneath the beautiful façade of a glamorous gala dress. Just as she states in her book, even if she never knows or meets the people who are going to be the recipients of the work being done, it is a wonderful thing to know you’re helping.
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PROFILE
“IT FEELS LIKE WE LIVE IN A BUBBLE, AND IT JUST EMPHASIZES HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP OUT’’
As the saying goes, charity starts at home, and it’s no surprise that Jean’s two daughters have followed in their mother’s charitable footsteps. One daughter does a great deal of volunteer work in Kenya with disabled children while her other daughter is the co-founder of a charity called Global Strays, which is focused on animal welfare and educating children about how to help animals. A proud pet parent of shelter animals herself, Jean Shafiroff served as the national spokesperson for American Humane’s COVID-19 program, which raised over one million dollars to help feed over 1,000,000 homeless animals. When Jean reflects on trips to remote places outside the U.S., she says they only make her appreciate everything she has and what our country has to offer. “It feels like we live in a bubble, and it just emphasizes how important it is to do something to help underserved populations. We have an obligation to help out. Whether you’re going into a poor neighborhood or an orphanage in Cambodia where people live just the same way we did in this country 100 years ago, it’s all a reality check.” With a love of the United States and beyond, Jean Shafiroff enjoys supporting both local organizations as well as international charities. This charitable maven on a mission explains that the key is to do things for which you feel you can make a difference. “Follow your passions and get involved with charities where you can be of great help,” she advises.
This role model and philanthropist understands the importance of making everyone feel welcome. As Shafiroff says, “You never know who that woman sitting in the corner at the galas every year might be and what she might be able to contribute if she likes the charity and the people involved. Never underestimate anyone .” Jean follows her own advice, which is to do what you can but know that you should never extend yourself beyond your comfort zone. She explains that as there are so many parts of getting involved in a charity, no one should ever feel intimidated if they can’t write the biggest check in the room. What’s on the philanthropic horizon? Shafiroff has noticed some changes in recent years, including a lot more hybrid-type partnerships between philanthropy, business, government and media. She believes these partnerships allow charities to do more and more. Jean Shafiroff remains humble and gracious as she continues to be honored by numerous organizations. And her many fans will be happy to learn that she is also working on a new book with even more inspiration for those looking to make a difference in their own distinct way. P I: @JeanShafiroff @JeanShafiroffatwork F: @JeanShafiroff, Style & Philanthropy and @JeanShafiroff T: @JeanShafiroff
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Rock Icon
Hollywood
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Rick Springfield Plenty of mainstream entertainers capture the attention of fans worldwide, but few are as riveting as Grammy Awardwinning singer-songwriter and musician Rick Springfield. The captivating rocker whose talent knows no boundaries has a visionary appetite so extensive that to map its depth one would need to travel from his home in Malibu, California, to his native roots in Australia. With a career spanning over five decades, during which he has sold over 25 million albums and secured 17 Top 40 hits in the U.S. alone, Springfield has proven to be a musical genius connecting with audiences on a profound level through his storytelling and guitar playing. The songwriter’s passion for creativity isn’t just limited to music though, as evidenced by his many other accomplishments, including actor, author, radio talk show host and entrepreneur. At age 74, the vibrant artist has an unstoppable drive and shows no signs of slowing down. Currently, Springfield is on a national sold-out tour performing music off his latest album, Automatic. B Y C H R I S T I N E M O N TA N T I
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PROFILE
The Australian-born singer and songwriter exhibited an innate musical talent at a young age. Never suspecting that he would one day move to America and become a household name, the former Dr. Noah Drake, of ABC’s daytime drama General Hospital, fell in love with music and guitars during a difficult time in his early life, when he was 11 years old. Springfield’s father was a lieutenant colonel in the Australian army and consequently moved his family to different military bases for extended periods of time. This constant ricochet to and from various cities in Australia and England was trying for the young musician. No sooner would Springfield acclimate to his new surroundings and make new friends in school when he would have to relocate and leave behind everything, including his beloved pets. He details the torment this caused during his childhood in his New York Times Best-selling autobiography Late, Late at Night: A Memoir. The day of Springfield’s interview is a beautiful fall afternoon in Huntington, New York. I am seated across from the songwriter at a table in the nostalgic Founder’s Room, a private urban club inside The Paramount, where he will be performing in concert later in the evening. Dressed in a black leather jacket and black jeans, the singer is eternally casual and hip. His humble demeanor and welcome candor make it obvious that he’s had a wealth of experiences, good and bad, which have affected him profoundly. The rock icon describes the motivation that drives him to constantly create new music and continue to perform.
“My depression is what has kept me performing all these years. I never feel as if I am enough. I have to keep pushing and trying new things. Getting better at them and accomplishing something is really like a drug for me. I absolutely love to write and that’s really my core. As a writer you latch on to something that moves you. It could be something that was from 20 years ago that you relive, or it could be something that happened yesterday. The album Automatic is about God, sex, death and all the wonderful things that I love to write about.” Over the years, Springfield has managed to balance his acting and musical careers, simultaneously working successfully at both. He has acted in various film and television roles which include starring opposite Meryl Streep in Ricki and the Flash, playing a version of himself in Californication and portraying Lucifer in the CW series Supernatural, to name a few. When asked if he shares the same creative passion for acting as he does for music, the Grammy Award-winning musician confesses, “I love doing both. I fell in love with music when I was eleven years old and the acting developed when I was in my twenties. I think about music all the time, whereas with acting, you only really think about it when you have a part, and when
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PHOTOS BY ROB RICH / SOCIETY ALLURE
‘‘HUG A DOG! IT REALLY WORKS. YOU CAN FEEL YOUR WHOLE SOUL RELAX. THEY ARE A FOUR-LEGGED ALTERNATIVE TO PROZAC.’’ you have to work the part. When I’m acting, I am an actor, and when I am playing music, writing music or performing, I am a musician. It’s easy to switch over. It’s not like, oh my God, I have to put myself in a different head space. It’s natural, and I think I have gotten better at both which is my goal.” Aside from spending time with his wife, Barbara, two sons Liam and Joshua and dog, Bindi, Springfield manages to find time to engage in projects which include hosting his own SiriusXM radio show, Working Class DJ, an ‘80s-themed program which airs Friday nights at 8:00 pm (ET). In addition, Springfield has partnered with his longtime friend Sammy Hagar to produce a sweet and smooth brand of liquor, Beach Bar Rum. And his New York Times best-selling autobiography, Late, Late at Night: A Memoir which Rolling Stone Magazine hailed as one of the top 25 rock memoirs of all-time. The author says, “I wrote the book myself. I didn’t have a ghost writer, and I didn’t realize that a lot of biographies are image polishing. I had to be honest in the book. I enjoyed writing it, but when I was finished I was kind of shocked realizing that people would actually read it. I got nervous because it’s very revealing and I called my publisher to tell her I really didn’t want to release it.” She said, “Well, you have a contract, Ricky.” A friend of mine’s reaction after reading the book was “You’re either insane or incredibly brave!” Springfield explains how music has helped him deal with his lifelong struggle with depression. “When I was 16,
I was in a bad mental state and tried to hang myself. I was so depressed, and I didn’t want to go to school because I was failing and I wasn’t really popular. Then, I got kicked out of school in eleventh grade; the only arena that was meaningful was the school arena. The hormones were kicking in with a lot of chemical stuff that I didn’t understand. I always found joy in writing and staying home playing the guitar or reading, so that was my solace. It made me feel like I had something other than depression, and it became my focus and balance. I try to turn to something positive every time it hits.” Reflecting on Springfield’s candor, I can hear the bass of the guitars playing above the ceiling and I feel the vibration coming through the walls surrounding us. It’s getting late, and the musician is scheduled for a sound check on stage. Springfield takes a sip of coffee, turns to me and shares some final advice for anyone struggling with depression: “You have to give it time. Don’t take a permanent solution for a temporary problem. Sometimes medications work, and sometimes they don’t. Meditation really helps me. When I’m meditating and performing, I’m not depressed at all. Find something you love and pursue it. Hug a dog! It really works. I always go up to a dog if I see one, and I will pet or hug it. You can feel your whole soul relax. They are a four-legged alternative to Prozac.” P A special thanks to Jim Condron and Adam Ellis for the use of our beautiful locations: The Paramount and the Founder’s Room, Huntington, New York.
Instagram @rickspringfield
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PROFILE
Althea’s
ooftop R A Garden of Eden BY L A U R E L M O R I A R T Y
A
A Hidden Oasis
lthea’s Rooftop, the new secret green oasis that boasts sweeping views of the Hudson River, captures the essence of the Garden of Eden. The venue, which is nestled on the corner of 52nd Street and 12th Avenue, features a plethora of special events throughout the year. There will also be a variety of weekly parties, such as Hookah Fridays, Cigar Nights, with professional cigar rollers, and whiskey tastings, featuring brands like Brian DiMarco’s Harlem Standard, every other Thursday. Top DJ’s will spin on Friday and Sunday nights to keep everyone dancing. To launch the cool new space, film producer Noel Ashman hosted A celebrity studded birthday bash for Joseph Sikora, who stars in “Power Book IV: Force,” at the rooftop that sits atop the Hustler Club.
Inventive Sips The enchanting rooftop features an inventive cocktail list curated by general manager Nico Moudatsos, who puts his own twists on classic cocktails, as well as the rooftop bars. All drinks are made with fresh fruits and house made infused simple syrups. Selections will include the Nitro Ristretto; Raspberry Martini; Strawberry Mojito; and the Spicy Margarita; among many more. The venue also has bottle service. Serene Décor With the vibrant New York City skyline serving as the backdrop, this rooftop bar transcends the ordinary. Moudatsos’ vision is to craft an experience akin to lounging on a cozy apartment balcony, a private urban hideaway where the bustling city below fades away. He describes the rooftop bar as a “music-driven neighborhood spot” with “relaxed vibes” where guests can feel comfortable lounging for hours. Upon entering
GETTY
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Noel Ashman and Joseph Sikora
Althea’s, guests are greeted with a staircase whose walls are covered with brightly colored vine graffiti created by a prominent local artist. The design team at Althea’s has also created intimate seating arrangements with plush cushions and twinkle lights casting a warm glow as the sun sets. The expansive rooftop is accented with towering white Doric columns and palm trees festooning the dramatic lounge and bar areas. The Best of Both Worlds This rooftop bar has an added optional twist that makes it stand out from the rest. Via a hidden door guests have the option to head downstairs to the energetic groups of people enjoying the nightlife in the Hustler Club. As night falls, the vibrant club comes alive, creating a dynamic and electrifying atmosphere. Guests can find themselves immersed in a world of excitement and revelry, soaking in a nightlife experience that contrasts perfectly with the laid-back oasis above. With breathtaking views of the city’s iconic landmarks and a thoughtfully curated soundtrack, Althea’s rooftop bar invites patrons to unwind, socialize, and create memories that will linger long after the night draws to a close. P hustlerny.com
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The PROFILE
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How to Get Into the Ivy League The Secret the Tiger Moms Don’t Want You to Know B Y DAV I D M I C H A E L S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY BY UDO SPREITZENBARTH
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PROFILE
he landscape of elite college admissions has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Whereas last generation’s college applicants were debate team captains and student paper editors, this generation’s college hopefuls are minting NFTs and trading Ethereum. With larger applicant pools than ever before and acceptance rates dropping to precipitous lows, Ivy League and other top schools are looking for more than perfect grades and test scores. Given the unprecedented access that today’s applicants have to technology, information and online resources, colleges want to see applicants who have the enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity to investigate the world around them and chart their own path within it—all while making an impact in their communities. In the midst of these evolving expectations from top-tier colleges, motivated Gen-Z applicants and their strategysavvy parents have discovered the key to navigating the cutthroat admissions process: enlisting the expertise of a private college consultant.
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PROFILE
But don’t expect a recommendation anytime soon—given the fiercely competitive nature of college admissions, many parents regard their college consultant as their best-kept secret. “When parents find an expert consultancy, they don’t want anyone else in their circle to get the same expert guidance and strategy,” says Roberta Seiler, Partner and COO of Command Education, a boutique private college consulting firm. “Parents who are in-theknow understand that the landscape of elite college admissions is more competitive and cutthroat than ever before. Top colleges are seeking to diversify their student bodies and are unlikely to accept multiple students from the same private school.” Although they may have vastly different backgrounds and come from all over the world, the parents who work with Command Education are all seeking the same solution for their children: an individualized, whiteglove approach to help their child not only gain acceptance to the most prestigious schools in the U.S., but also gain the independence and agency to take control of their education. “With most prestigious schools having received a record-breaking number of applications in 2023, they could fill their incoming freshman class several times over with 4.0 GPAs and 1600 SAT scores,” says Christopher Rim, Command Education’s Founder and CEO. “Ultimately, what will make an applicant stand out to elite colleges and universities is authentic passion and specialized interests—developing those things requires years of strategic planning and well-informed guidance. We work like an incubator for students, providing support and expertise to help students develop their own passion projects, build a meaningful nonprofit or run their own company.” Zoe, of New York, was one such student.
She performed well at Trinity School, receiving mostly straight A’s and scoring a 1560 on her SATs. When she began working with Command Education Senior Mentor Wafa Muflahi, she had a clear passion for writing and spent time after school tutoring elementary school students in English. As she worked with Wafa to find opportunities to tutor non-native English speakers, Zoe became aware of the plight of newly arrived refugees to the U.S. and the lack of educational resources available to them. She hoped to combine her lifelong love of writing with her desire to aid refugees but wasn’t sure where to start. Wafa worked with Zoe to source opportunities to connect with refugees in need. After extensive research, she partnered with a glob-
al aid organization that provided her with the contacts necessary to get her project off the ground. Zoe developed her own curriculum and started a book club for young refugees, through which she helped them strengthen their English language skills and introduced them to her favorite childhood novels and stories—from Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree to Homer’s Odyssey. Eventually, Wafa encouraged Zoe to expand the project’s original New York chapter to several chapters in her region, and Zoe became a promising name in refugee advocacy. By dedicating so much time and energy to her passion, Zoe not only made an impact but also earned admission to her dream school, Brown University. “I have always known that Zoe was talented,” says her mom, Vanessa. “But I had no idea
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“WE WORK LIKE AN INCUBATOR FOR STUDENTS, PROVIDING SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE TO HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR OWN PASSION PROJECTS, BUILD A MEANINGFUL NONPROFIT OR RUN THEIR OWN COMPANY.” what she was truly capable of until she started working with Wafa. Command Education gave Zoe a competitive edge in the application process—I couldn’t have helped her achieve these results without their expertise.” Vanessa isn’t the only parent to see her student open an acceptance letter to their dream school. Considering the consultancy’s successes, it is no wonder that parents are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars annually for Command Education’s services— and that they don’t want to share their secret. Over the last five years, 94 percent of students who worked with the firm were accepted into one of their top three schools, and during the 2021-22 application cycle, 100 percent of their students who applied early decision to Harvard University were accepted.
E
arning admission to an Ivy League institution requires a strategic approach starting the first day of freshman year. As the competition intensifies, every choice—from extracurricular involvement to course selection to passion project—plays a significant role in your chances of getting into your dream school. According to Christopher Rim, these are the five key decisions to make that could enhance your Ivy League admission prospects:
3. DEVELOP A MEANINGFUL PASSION PROJECT: A standout Ivy League application will include the development of a passion project. This initiative should synthesize your interests over high school, ultimately providing a tangible impact on your community. While the subject of passion projects vary, they all demand dedication, self-reflection, and strategic planning. Students should consider their interests and begin brainstorming during sophomore year.
1. PURPOSEFUL PASSION EXPLORATION:
4. MAINTAIN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE:
Freshman year is the perfect time to explore your interests. Engage in clubs, extracurricular activities, or community initiatives that genuinely intrigue you. As you explore the options available to you, approach this experimentation deliberately, asking questions like: What activities do I truly enjoy? What subjects or themes do they revolve around? Can I envision myself taking on a leadership role? Intentional curiosity will set the stage for a successful freshman year.
Outstanding grades and test scores remain foundational for success in the world of elite admissions. Balance your extracurricular pursuits with academic excellence, avoiding any negative impact on your classroom performance.
2. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY IN EXTRACURRICULARS: Ivy League schools value students who have demonstrated meaningful engagement with their niche subject of interest. Starting in sophomore year, tailor your extracurricular involvement to your passions. Ensure that each activity contributes to a coherent narrative about your interests and goals, aiming for leadership roles and deeper engagement.
5. MAXIMIZE SUMMERS:
Use breaks to deepen your engagement with your interests. Explore your passions through volunteering, internships, or summer jobs. Plan early for summer opportunities, as application deadlines for competitive programs fall during the winter months. Crafting a compelling Ivy League application hinges on strategic choices. Your high school journey is an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and ambitions. Start early and approach these decisions with purpose and planning to set yourself on the path to Ivy League success. P commandeducation.com
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PROFILE
Trunks Company Jaipur The
B Y L E X I WO L F
W A New Era of Trunks
hen talking about traveling trunks, the first thing that comes to mind is the classic Louis Vuitton iteration. Although a staple for the jet set and aristocracies around the globe since they were first introduced in the late 17th Century, the Vuitton trunk has become monotonous and expected. Trunks Company, Jaipur’s bespoke designs are the solution to this high-class problem. Brothers Paritosh and Priyank Mehta, the founders of Trunks Company, Jaipur, have traveled far and wide with the intention of bringing the art of trunk making into the modern era. Founded in 2011, Trunks Company has been catering to collectors, art aficionados and, yes, travelers, but their goal is to transcend the original purpose of the traveling trunk. The talented duo want to create treasured keepsakes and captivating classics. Imbuing new life into a relic of the past few centuries, with some of their products spotlighting the ancient art of tea and coffee brewing and traditional board games. “Our trunks are infused with modern living,” Priyank said.
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The Turban Trunk The company pays homage to India with all the products they create. However, one stands out among the rest. One of their most prized pieces is called “The Turban Trunk,” which attempts, and succeeds, at showing how something as simple as a turban, a customary head scarf symbolic of Indian culture, can be considered an art form. They have also been commissioned by some of India’s most prized landmarks, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, to commemorate the landmark’s 111th anniversary, and the Rambagh Palace. In 2018, they also designed the GQ Style Award trophy, which was an hourglass encased in a miniature version of their trunks. The award, named “A Timeless Trove,” was made to symbolize the recipients who have crossed the boundaries of age and trends.
A Storied Past The usage of trunks has undergone major transformations since their inception – from being used as caskets, then as storage and ultimately as luggage in the form of Steamer Trunks. “During the early 18th century, as global travel became more accessible and popular, the steamer trunk became widely used in long sea voyages. In the 19th century, trunks were made of metal or wood. They were also used in vintage cars during the early 20th century when cars were able to make extended journeys. They embody a bygone era of travel,” Paritosh explained. However, since the invention of the modern suitcase, traveling trunks have become an antiquity and used as mere decorations, with many collecting dust in forgotten attics. “These timeless masterpieces are meant to captivate and inspire, bridging the gap between the past and present, and effortlessly complementing modern lifestyles with a touch of nostalgia and elegance.” Bespoke Creations The items in their repertoire are varied: ranging from watch and jewelry storage, fully
portable bar trunks, Polo gear carriers and tea and coffee trunks. None of their products are the same, each being handmade for their discerning customers. “We can only handcraft a limited number of trunks each year, all of which are truly unique. No two creations are identical,” Priyank said. Their design process is complex, with each of their products consciously crafted over hundreds of hours, but it all begins with a simple sketch. After the sketch is finalized, they start the intricate task of analyzing materials, textures, colors and forms and blending in the highest quality of leather, wood and metal. These materials are then finished with an unconventional method of hand painting. This process includes creating their own dyes, pigments and oils, and manually painting each piece of leather. Some of the unique colors they offer are Midnight Sea, Turquoise Tides, and Amber Cloud. “Creative thinking is our DNA,” Paritosh said. “Our trunks are produced through an evolution of rejections and trials. To make something as exquisite as our creations, purely out of our depths of imagination, is an art within itself.”
Rare Trunks Although each of their trunks are handmade and one of a kind, Trunks Company also offers, by invitation only, Rare Trunks. Once every few years the company offers a complete collaboration with their artisans and designers to create custom made products. Some of their past Rare Trunks include “The Melody Library Trunk,” which includes built-in speakers, and “The Watch & Jewelry Safe Trunk,” allowing for their customers to secure their most valuable possessions in their home or during their travels. Steeped In Indian Culture & Looking Forward The brother’s mission is far from complete. Their hope is to SHARE the craft of trunk making on a global scale. “Our vision is to share our story with the world beyond India, expanding our community and playing a pivotal role in shaping the evolution of art and culture.” The Trunks Company will show their latest collection at The Salon Art + Design Fair, opening November 9th at the Park Avenue Armory. P trunkscompany.com
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PROFILE
Bitcoin Pioneers Nick Spanos, Zack Weiner & Joe Gallagher BY BENNETT MARCUS
ZACK WEINER AND JOE GALLAGHER launched Manhattan Movie Studio in 2021 with the goal of creating a decentralized system for making films. Their reason for this concept was frustration with the traditional structure of film studios, which they see as heavily bureaucratic and unfair to filmmakers in getting their movies financed and distributed. Their grievances with the studio system are similar to those of the writers’ and actors’ unions, which were waging massive labor strikes at the time this article was written. The entertainment industry’s latest model, streaming services, are at the heart of the issue. Weiner was thrilled when his 2016 horror film, Uncaged, was bought by Netflix. The filmmakers received upfront money; they also assumed they’d receive royalties and data on viewership, but that never
happened. Their further dealings with streamers were no better. “We weren’t even asking for money most of the time, we were asking for data. They wouldn’t give that.” Joe Gallagher was cast in Weiner’s 2019 movie, Pledge, which aired on Hulu with similar results. “It’s hard to really understand what impact the film’s having because there’s not that transparency,” Gallagher said. Frustrated with the industry, he left acting and went into data analytics, which gave him greater understanding. “Zack and I dreamt up an idea for a project that we could just pick up a camera and make ourselves. And that launched, for me, anyway, the ethos that I want to bring with the movie studio: Let’s just go and make it; we don’t need permission. Permission-less has become a theme of this and it’s something we’re going to continue to drive forward to the future.”
Decentralized Financing via Bitcoin: Everyone Can invest. To help achieve their goal of democratizing the funding of movies, Manhattan Movie Studio partnered with Nick Spanos, founder of the Bitcoin Center, who came up with a revolutionary way to finance films through bitcoin. With this approach, Weiner and Gallagher aim to change the closed system in which only the wealthy and connected can provide funding and attach their names to movies. “Anyone with a phone can be a producer and get a legally binding contract to have your name featured in the credits.” Spanos has developed a system in which you can invest in a film via your phone. Potential investors are invited to screenings of new movies or those that are in need of more money to finish and use the technology to invest in the film in a legally binding way. Those who invest get their bitcoin back,
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‘‘ PERMISSION-LESS HAS BECOME A THEME OF THIS AND IT’S SOMETHING WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.”
Sritha Thayi, Eric Manganaro, Joe Gallagher, Zack Weiner, Nick Spanos
hopefully with profits, and they get credits in the movies. Bitcoin Center: How it Works An investor puts bitcoin into a digital vault which is given to a traditional bank as collateral and exchanged for dollars, which the filmmaker gets to finance his or her film. The banks accept bitcoin, which is a digital currency, unlike cryptocurrency, web 3.0, blockchain and other types which Spanos calls “dead-end detours” over the last three years. “The SEC green-lit Bitcoin and Bitcoin’s the only thing Hollywood people will touch,” he said. Kyra Sedgwick & Method Man “And it works. We’re getting money,” Weiner said. Bitcoin-financed projects they have coming out include Bad Shabbos, starring Kyra Sedgwick and Method Man,
and Magic Money, about a multi-milliondollar Nike sneaker deal gone awry starring NBA player Evan Mobley. Another is the George Lopez holiday comedy “How the Gringo Stole Christmas”, due out in December. Nick Spanos, Bitcoin pioneer Spanos founded the Bitcoin Center in 2013 and located it 100 feet from the New York Stock Exchange, yet his path to that glittering corner of Manhattan was far from conventional. Founder of the Bitcoin Center in 2013, the first physical bitcoin exchange, Nick Growing up in a blue-collar immigrant family on Long Island, Spanos displayed technology wizardry from an early age, building his first computer at age 13. “Back then, you couldn’t buy a personal computer, so I built one from a kit with a solder iron,” he
said. “And then I discovered girls and cars and Bill Gates,” he added, laughing. He later studied studied computer science and aeroSpace engineering at the New York Institute of Technology. Spanos had a varied career, including an early-1990s stint as general manager of the legendary New York nightclub Webster Hall. He was a commercial fisherman, worked in real estate, and toiled in political campaign data for a long time. “I did all of Ron Paul’s data. I managed his phone banks. I had over 1,500 people on any one day on the phone banks and crunched the numbers with data scientists and we’d micro target.” This was before computers. He managed data for presidential candidates including Paul as well as Paul Tsongas, George W. Bush and others, and later wrote campaign management software and sold or rented it to politicians, “I’ve done everything and mostly at the same time. I don’t sleep much.” None of his candidates won their elections and by 2010 Spanos felt as though he’d thrown his life away, having spent 20 years working on losing political campaigns. Then he interacted with Bitcoin and decided that the currency should be his candidate. “They can’t destroy Bitcoin on election day; there is no election day. That’s why I opened the Bitcoin Center.” Spanos was the subject of the 2016 Netflix documentary Banking on Bitcoin, chronicling the establishment of this new currency. He has also been featured on CNN, the BBC and other media outlets. P manhattanmoviestudio.com
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RANCHO LA PUERTA
Paradise Found i n Me x ic o World’s Best Destination Spa B Y R . C O U R I H AY 100 | parkmagazineny.com
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P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F R A N C H O L A P U E R TO
I’ve been going to Rancho La Puerta since the 80’s and although it is now a state of the art facility, think limited Wi-Fi and iPhone, the basics of The Ranch, the authentic vibe of the cozy casitas with fireplaces, fresh food and juices from its organic gardens, classes for all ages, attentive staff, wonderous hiking trails for all levels of walkers and Mt Kuchumaa, the sacred mountain that gives off a palpable spiritual energy, remain the same. Let’s not forget the pollution free air; but for me, one of the most impressive features are the celestial gardens; 32 gorgeous acres of them, some wild, others manicured. The sprawling beds of red and white Hollyhocks that soar to 14 feet tall are the most magnificent I’ve ever seen. Sarah Livia Szekely, president of Rancho La Puerta and daughter of cofounder Deborah Szekely, is a world class landscape architect. Her use of color blocking by planting large spaces of one specimen create a breathtaking panorama that reminds me of master works by the great impressionists. Rather its fields of black-eyed daisies, red and white geraniums, calla lilies, cacti of all sizes, white irises that could bring tears to your eyes, or trellises covered in lavender wisteria, everywhere you look there’s something heavenly to see. Brightwood has been working on these gardens for over thirty years, and the love and energy she has invested has paid off. My advice: try to visit Rancho La Puerta at different times of the year in order to see the enormous variety of plantings that bloom in different seasons. And Deborah Szekely, The Ranch’s inspiring co-founder, is still here imparting the wisdom she has gathered over her remarkable 101 years on our planet every week. Rancho La Puerta is the ne plus ultra of spas. The Ranch Rancho La Puerta has consistently been hailed as one of the top wellness resorts in the world by travel writers, celebrities, and seekers of a healthier lifestyle since it was founded by Edmond & Deborah Szekely in 1940. Located 45 miles from San Diego in bucolic Tecate, Mexico, it is the oldest spa in North America, and was proclaimed the “World’s Best Destination Spa” by Travel + Leisure for multiple years. What began as a tiny camp built in the shadow of historic Mt. Kuchumaa is now an all-encompassing resort nestled amidst lush flora and vineyards. The 4,000 scenic acres include vast woodlands and meandering mountain trails. The resort’s winding brick paths, vineyards and koi ponds are bordered with orange
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“RANCHO LA PUERTA IS THE NE PLUS ULTRA OF SPAS.” R. COURI HAY
and yellow lilies, flowering shrubs, and red roses. Nicknamed “The Ranch” by the procession of returning guests. rancholapuerta.com Mother of The Modern Spa Movement Deborah just celebrated her 101st birthday in May 2023 and is now an indefatigable and spritely example of healthy living. Deborah is a widely referred to as “The Mother of the Modern Spa Movement” and is one of the country’s leading wellness crusaders. Deborah told me, “Delight in the little things in nature and in life—I think it’s hard to be truly healthy without that. Thinking out of the box, seeing, being aware and enjoying the little things, this is what is so important.” Of her charitable work, she said, “All the different nonprofits I created have to do with connecting people because then you get strength. It’s very nice to be powerful individually, but if you can bring people together it’s lasting.” Kate Winslet, Madonna, Claudia Schiffer & Oprah Winfrey Szekely’s pioneering fitness and health spa in Mexico was discovered in the 1940s by Hollywood luminaries such as Burt Lancaster, Kim Novak, Bill Holden, and the writer Aldous Huxley. Over the years
Rancho La Puerta has attracted Kate Winslet, Madonna, Governor Jerry Brown, Arianna Huffington, Claudia Schiffer, Bill Moyers, Alicia Silverstone, Erica Jong, Oprah Winfrey, and Ricki Lake, who once utilized the resort’s classes to train for her appearance on Dancing with the Stars. There are also weeklong schedules of Pilates, yoga, art lessons, meditation, and cooking classes by renowned visiting chefs. New classes this year include Breathing Basics, Cardio Drum Dance and Chakra. Some of the interesting workshops include Journaling for Joy and How to Create a Life with Purpose. Do not miss the inspiring Sound Healing classes by Anne Van De Water; she has a magic touch. At The Ranch, Deborah is hoping to encourage the next generation of “health nuts”—a favorite descriptor for people like herself who “read labels, go to farmer’s markets, participate in a community garden or has a garden, and are active in taking responsibility for their own health.” Escaping the Depression Born in Brooklyn, Deborah’s fascination with beautiful landscapes was developed at an early age when her family moved to Tahiti during the early
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1930s to escape the Depression. “We were the only Americans on the island other than the governor who had two boys,” she remembers. Her mother, Rebecca Shainman, was the Vice President of the New York Vegetarian Society in 1926 and set the family’s course for healthful eating. “In those days they called it ‘fruitarian’ because we ate everything raw.” Szekely met her husband, Edmond, just after finishing high school and the couple married when she was 17. “He had never bought a train ticket, he never learned to type, he never learned to drive because he said that it interfered with the life of the mind. He was totally impractical but marvelous and charismatic,” she says of their first meeting in Tahiti, when Edmond, the head of the British International Health and Education Center in Surrey, England, was on leave to write two books on Mexico. “Everybody thought he was wonderful, so I thought he was too. The minute he walked into a room, some way or another the energy of the room changed.” World War II The original no-frills camp had its origins in World War II, when Deborah and her husband, a native of Hungary, were living in southern California, and because of his refusal to return to Europe to serve in the military, an order was issued for his arrest as a deserter. “We didn’t collapse,” Deborah recalls. “Thankfully we got a letter two weeks later from U.S. Immigration and Naturalization, what they now call Homeland Security, and it said that if he was found in our country on June 1st, 1940, he would be arrested and shipped back to his country. So we went to Mexico.” Tecate, Mexico Her husband Edmond Szekely, a renowned scholar, had planned to teach a summer school session in Oslo. “We knew we would have to hold the summer school because we were counting on the money from the students, and they had already signed up. So we just wrote them and said the summer school instead of being in Oslo is going to be in Tecate. And we had to make it cheap because they had to bring their own tents.” That’s why they chose the location, near the U.S. border, about an hour from San Diego. The resort is still in that same location today. Herbal Wraps & Skin Care The Ranch began as a rustic summer camp,
however, in the early days, they did create an herbal wrap, out of necessity, Deborah explains. “Without it many of the guests, because they never exercised at home, were so stiff they literally crawled out of their beds after their first day of hiking and exercise at the Ranch. Herbal wraps were the answer. The heat relaxed the muscles.” Later, the Szekelys hired experts to begin training programs in massage and skin care at Rancho La Puerta, and they were an immediate hit. “Guests had worked hard all day, and they looked forward to having the soothing attention of facials and massages.” Want a deep tissue massage or shiatsu? Ask for Carlos or Arturo; they can bring your body back to life after a long day.
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we were meant to be here. I really believe that, and the reason Rancho La Puerta is so successful is because we’re on the path that we’re supposed to be on. It was nothing that we planned, created, plotted - none of that.”
“THIS VILLAGE IS DEDICATED TO WELLNESS” SARAH LIVIA BRIGHTWOOD SZEKELY
The Sacred Mountain: Mt. Kuchumaa Together, the couple opened Rancho La Puerta which today runs $5,150 a person per week; however, their first summer health camp in Tecate was decidedly more humble—$17.50 per week and bring your own tent. For that economical price, guests hiked, enjoyed rustic vegetarian meals, group exercises and attended daily lectures by the founders. “It was years before we could buy property and it was little by little by little that we assembled the land,” she says of Rancho’s property that now spans 4,000 acres— half of which can never be developed and includes the famed Mt. Kuchumaa, where Deborah’s late husband and son, Alex, are now buried. “When we got here, we heard some weird stories that it’s a sacred mountain and my husband said, ‘Oh, it’s just folklore,’ but after we’d been here a few years, they had a major pow-wow on the mountain and tribes came from all over the United States. I know that we’re here because
Living Skills The lessons taught at the spa on how to lead a healthful, mindful life, Deborah has been trying to teach beyond the San Diego region over the last several decades. In 1984, she wrote the Congressional Management Manual, which is still used by all new members of Congress as a manual on how to transition into their new offices. She ran for Congress herself in her 60s and lobbied for issues popular with the “health nuts,” such as taxing sodas and soft drinks and lowering subsidies on unhealthy foods. And she created Living Skills, an elementary school curriculum to teach students about obesity prevention. Sarah Livia Szekely Although her daughter now runs the resort full time, Deborah has not slowed down. She’s an author and advises Congress on policies promoting fitness, health, and making more nutritious, natural foods available to Americans. Deborah is still lecturing at The Ranch at least once a week. She thinks her daughter is doing a wonderful job. “She is gifted, and I think in some ways it reflects her personality,” says Deborah. “She is very spiritual. She’s very musical. She’s an artist, and I think most of the classes reflect more of her.”
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Now in her tenth decade, Deborah has ensured her mindful message will live on. Rancho La Puerta is now under the direction of her daughter, Sarah Livia– who continues to strive for excellence with new endeavors. Their newest additions include a state-ofthe-art water treatment plant, as well as a brand-new community, dubbed The Residences. The Residences The Residences is a private, wellness focused 118acre village with sweeping views of the grounds and will eventually boast 113 private homes priced from $1.21 million to $2.51 million. The homes will feature spacious living and dining room areas with fireplaces, large private patios with hammocks, meditation spaces, and fountains, as well as eco-friendly and sustainable technology. “For many years at Rancho La Puerta we have nurtured the dream of creating a residential community – a village rooted in our traditions of living in harmony with the natural world,” says Brightwood. “This village is dedicated to wellness. It’s a place where you can draw strength and become your most resilient self.” A Typical Day’s Regimen What you do on any day at The Ranch is entirely up to you, and depends upon what interests you, but many guests enjoy a morning hike, go to breakfast, and then perhaps take a meditation class or a visit the gym. For guests who want to participate in a fitness session led by a trained instructor, there are over 40 classes every day, including pickleball, Tai Chi, HIIT, Barre, kickboxing, and salsa. The Ranch also offers mind-body classes, such as aerial yoga, meditation, Feldenkrais, and WATSU, a form of guided water dancing. Food: Part of the Experience Up to 80% of what is served at each meal is grown on the premises at the resort’s six-acre organic farm, Tres Estrellas. The farm is located about two miles up the valley from the rest of the facilities; guests can visit with early morning hikes, tours of the garden, and even an introductory organic farming class led by the charismatic head gardener, Salvador Tinajero. The rest of the food is sourced from local farmers who follow sustainable practices, and seafood is purchased fresh daily from local fishermen at the nearby port of Ensenada. A fresh “catch of the day” is featured on the menu four times a week for dinner, and several times a week for lunch. My favorite dishes
include the breakfast, with made-to-order omelets and fresh juices and oatmeal, as well as the Rainbow Lasagna with Lentils and Pomodoro Sauce and Eggplant Parmigiana and Curried Tomato Sauce for dinner. The cuisine at the resort is described as “lacto-ovo pescatarian,” which includes dairy, eggs, and seafood, but no meats or poultry. Meals consist of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, dairy, egg, and seafood. Since 1940, the team at Rancho La Puerta has developed, tested, and proven hundreds of recipes, culminating in a superb all-natural diet to fuel their guests. Mealtimes at The Ranch are about creating camaraderie and community. Breakfast and lunch are informal while dinner is a sit-down affair. Chef Reyna Venegas, the executive chef at The Ranch, says that she believes eating is a sacred act. “What we consume becomes a part of ourselves. I want guests to enjoy each bite, relax, and have the best dining experience possible.” When she cooks, she draws from her culinary training, her strong Northern Mexican roots, and her experience preparing light and healthy cuisine. She explains that her goal at The Ranch is “for guests to feel energized, inspired, and nourished with every meal.” The Ranch has also hosted internationally renowned guest chefs such as Deborah Madison, the founding chef of Greens in San Francisco, John Ash, the author of From the Earth to the Table, and James Beard Foundation Hall-ofFamer Anne Willan, who wrote The Country Cooking of France. On my visit, the guest chef was James Beard award-winning cookbook author Virginia Willis, known for her scrumptious Southern cuisine. Final Thought After dinner I asked Deborah if she had a final thought now that she’d entered her tenth decade. “Just do everything right,” she said, and she certainly has. I’m already looking forward to my return! P
“DELIGHT IN THE LITTLE THINGS IN NATURE AND IN LIFE” DEBORAH SZEKELY
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River House at Odette’s Luxury on the Delaware River
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estled serenely along the sinuous banks of a meandering river, the River House at Odette’s, in New Hope, Pennsylvania, stands as a testament to the artistry of timeless luxury interwoven with historical charm. Once the vibrant domain of a 1920s cabaret, this remarkable estate seamlessly marries its glamorous past with the contemporary opulence of today, offering guests a remarkable sojourn that bridges eras and redefines luxury. A retreat to the River House is an invitation into a realm of exquisite allure, where every facet is meticulously orchestrated to immerse visitors in an atmosphere of
B Y R YA N N R E Y N O L D S
sophisticated chic. Rooms adorned with panoramic vistas—whether of majestic mountains or the gently flowing river— welcome guests to a sanctuary that rejuvenates the spirit and soothes the senses. Those who have a fondness for the extraordinary can indulge in river-facing rooms, each graced with private balconies that invite guests to bask in the artistry of nature. In addition to the 36 guest rooms, the estate’s two guest houses can serve as the perfect celebration destination. These refined abodes boast two bedrooms, two baths, a lavishly appointed living space, fully equipped kitchen, delightful balcony and a private lawn that serves as a picturesque backdrop for weddings and
bridal photography or the perfectly curated picnic. These guest houses also offer private garages and a seamless connection to the main hotel, a mere minute’s stroll away. For connoisseurs of art, the River House is a treasure trove, showcasing a curated selection of eclectic artwork by local artisans that graces its interior spaces. An echo of nostalgia lingers within its walls, as evidenced by the intimate piano lounge that recalls the melodies of bygone eras. The onsite dining options are an artistic journey of taste, with both indoor and outdoor venues that engage the senses. Elevating the culinary experience, the hotel’s exclusive rooftop bar and restaurant—exclusively for members and guests—offers a refined setting to relish the finest cuisine and cocktails.
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Culinary journeys to both the main restaurant and the elevated rooftop venue are an embodiment of gastronomic excellence, where the expertise of the chefs manifests in every dish. From expertly prepared steaks and seafood to a meticulously curated cocktail repertoire, these dining episodes leave an indelible impression. The staff’s unwavering attentiveness further elevates the atmosphere, creating an ambiance of genuine hospitality that easily allows the River House to stand out as of one of the best boutique resort hotels in the Mid-Atlantic. The pièce de résistance of the property is its banquet hall, graced with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame panoramic river views. This captivating space serves as an idyllic
canvas for weddings and corporate gatherings, where sophistication and nature harmoniously collaborate. For intrepid explorers, the River House extends a gracious invitation to discover the rustic countryside via bicycles available to hotel guests. Cycling along the river’s edge reveals historic treasures such as the Washington Crossing Historic Park or the charming town of New Hope, each pathway a conduit to the region’s storied past. The
broader Bucks County area unveils wineries and ghost tours, amplifying the richness of the experience. In essence, a retreat to the River House at Odette’s orchestrates a symphony of nature, luxury, fine art and history. Beyond its scenic facade, the allure lies in the seamless fusion of indulgence and authenticity. A mere whisper away from the urban clamor of NYC, this hidden sanctuary offers a haven for respite seekers, and an escape that leaves an indelible impression on the soul. For those contemplating their next odyssey, the River House at Odette’s beckons—a domain where elegance, history and luxury coalesce, promising a transcendent experience that spans the ages. P riverhousenewhope.com
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Miraval Berkshires A Beacon of Serenity
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n a fast-paced world brimming with relentless demands and digital distractions, creating a life in balance has become more elusive than ever. As the cacophony of modern life intensifies, the need for spaces that foster tr ue balance and transformative wellbeing experiences becomes increasingly paramount. Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of the Berkshires, Miraval Berkshires emerges as a sanctuary where guests can embark on a journey towards a life in balance. At the heart of Miraval Berkshires’ philosophy lies the integration of mindfulness, including mindfulness surrounding digital devices. In an age where screens have woven themselves seamlessly into the fabric of daily existence, Miraval Berkshires recognizes the importance of disconnecting in order to reconnect. Encouraging guests to tuck their devices in a cell phone sleeping bag and engage with
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BY W.A. MULLER
the present moment, Miraval Berkshires provides an oasis where individuals can truly unplug and tune into their intentions. Miraval Berkshires offers a wide array of inspiring wellness activities that help fulfill everyone’s individual wellbeing. From invigorating outdoor adventures that connect one with the rhythms of nature, to contemplative meditation sessions that soothe the soul, guests can customize their experiences to align with their own aspirations for balance. Whether it’s the thrill of conquering a challenging ropes course or the serenity of practicing yoga amidst breathtaking rolling hills, Miraval Berkshires offers a diverse schedule of activities that cultivate both inner and outer resilience and gratitude. Cultivating balance isn’t limited to the body and mind; it extends to what we nourish ourselves with. Miraval Berkshires recognizes that healthful meals are an integral component of a balanced life. The culinary offerings are meticulously crafted
to be not only delicious, but also nutritionally enriching. Guests are treated to an assortment of locally sourced, wholesome ingredients that please the palate while nurturing the body. The act of mindful eating becomes a gateway to fostering a deeper connection with oneself and the world. What sets Miraval Berkshires apart is its commitment to transformation through experience. Miraval Berkshires fosters an environment where guests can confront their limitations, expand their boundaries, and emerge renewed through transformative experiences. These serve as catalysts for personal growth, empowering guests to step into their lives with heightened clarity and purpose. As a beacon of serenity in a world often characterized by noise and haste, Miraval Berkshires offers more than a mere getaway; it offers a path to crafting a life in balance. P miravalresorts.com/berkshires
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Come Visit Rockland County
Explore the great outdoors and experience our exceptional eateries and village shops. For a Great Getaway that’s not far away, make your next...
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DINING
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Cucina POWER LUNCHING ON BILLIONAIRES ROW
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BY GEORGE WAYNE
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t took less than three years for the legendary New York City culinarian August Ceradini to re-master a moribund yet still stunning restaurant. A landmark space among the grand old ladies of Billionaires Row, it’s located in the iconic Solow Building at 9 West 57th Street (rechristened the Soloviev Building in 2020). Cucina 8 1/2, attuned to old-school Italian fare, has emerged from the pall of a pandemic to become, suddenly, the power lunch spot of uptown power lunch spots emerging from the kitchen of seasoned veteran Chef Sam Hazen, who knows how to run this type of huge place. “This is an iconic room; there are not many jewels like this one left,” says the impresario August Ceradini, with the wave of a hand across the sweeping room—containing many private dining rooms and such, this is
a 20,000-square-foot behemoth. “We’ve moved from the old French to a rugged yet elegant Tuscan narrative for Cucina 8 1/2. It’s now about an Italian stylization rather than the brasserie effect that preceded this room,’’ says the debonair Ceradini, whose esteemed legend remains as Chairman Emeritus of the famed Culinary Institute of America. Gordon Bunshaft was the architect of this “most elegant and heroic of buildings,” according to a New York Times’ description of the Solow Building back in 1974. It was instant iconography from day one. “Extraordinarily sensuous.” Was the verdict. Other critics were enraptured with the sleek curtain wall of the sloping glass tower with its lapis lazuli palette of glass. And then the piece-de-resistance, the 275-square-foot nearly cylindrical entrance down the sweeping stairs and into the dramatic dining room, which effortlessly reeks of power,
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money, and more power. Appropriately Felliniesque, this vast and beautiful setting is the definitive allure of Cucina 8 1/2 and cause alone for its burgeoning buzz du jour. Cucina 8 1/2 has emerged as the best-kept secret amongst current top-shelf Manhattan politicos who get to rub shoulders with the billionaire hedge fund big-wigs. The investment firms and venture capitalists with offices upstairs and for whom a lunch here is like going to one of the swankiest cafeterias in Manhattan. This is where the owner of Chanel, Alain Wertheimer, takes lunch. It’s just an elevator ride from his office in one of the most secure buildings in town, with its private security force at the Soloviev Building. 9 West 57th Street, even as a public building, is as secure as Fort Knox. After all, there’s almost $3 billion dollars worth of modern art all over this property. So lunches among the curtained banquettes, not to mention the burl-walled
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private dining rooms with seat-side Modigliani paintings, have quietly made Cucina 8 1/2 one of the low-key yet essential spots in town to network and close the mega-deal. With its signature steel curtain facade and decor that reeks of Rochebobois (which I love, for the record), descending those extraordinary stairs is enough to jolt the joie de vivre. For others, it’s the mere scent of the place, that some of the world’s top net-worth individuals, a.k.a. zillionaires, live and work on this stretch of 57th Street. And you never know who you might meet by the golden bar of Cucina 8 1/2. Is that the perennial all-American ‘80s supermodel Carol Alt swanning down the stairs and looking ever-glamorous, wrapped to her ankles in a simple sheath of black? Indeed it is! The high net-worth uptown It-girl starts her Thursday night with an early dinner at Cucina 8 1/2 and ends up down the street on the verandah in the sky at the Aman Hotel.
Cucina 8 1/2 well understands its pedigree as a very competent high-end restaurant in one of Manhattan’s most valuable office buildings. So going the “refined rustic Italian” route was the perfect note. “We are bringing oldschool glamour, tableside steak spectacles and 21st-century cooking,” opines Chef Sam Hazen. Thus, the server mixes the Caesar tableside, and the five-star version of the Cucina 8 1/2 Chicken Parm is served via Dutch oven. It’s the signature dish of the house and a must-order. The Lamb Cavatelli has also been a hit with the regulars who sometimes saunter in wearing full-on Loro Piana for dinner from another billionaire tower down the street. Nobody stares or gives a second glance when Kim Cattrall, another new regular, often shows up for early supper with her beau and takes up one of the discreet ban-
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quettes of which there are many. The customized dining experience is what it’s all about for a kitchen that stays open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. You never know when “Mr. Chanel,” working very late, might make his way down for something to nosh on. Or, even moreso, the esteemed mogul and CEO power behind the throne of the $6 billion Soloviev Group, Michael Hershman. For the arbiter, the Tuscan Steak is always worth every visit to Cucina 8 ½, to gorge and gnaw on like a Rottweiler all night long. The pasta is made in-house, of course, but the only thing missing from Cucina 8 1/2 is the cheese wheel presentation and the most perfect Cacio e Pepe with guanichella to be had in New York City. Maybe one day. If it is a light supper night, go for the Spaghetti al Limone, yet another outstanding signature house dish. And if you are still on the foodie train? Then, by all means the creamy burrata with a caponata of sweet-sour pickled
“WE ARE BRINGING OLD-SCHOOL GLAMOUR, TABLESIDE STEAK SPECTACLES AND 21ST-CENTURY COOKING” OPINES CHEF SAM HAZEN.
vegetables is in order. And why not sit at the swanky Onyx bar: All-white terrazzo floors, statuesque columns, expansive floral displays, a grand piano and dimpled leather couches. Architect Hugh Hardy at Holzman Pfeiffer Associates created the initial design, which seasoned NYC fashion designer and tastemaker Cesar Galindo has since tweaked. Classic modernism now complements the Gordon Bunshaft roots of this iconic New York City skyscraper. It’s the one on 57th Street, a kiss away from Bergdorf
Goodman, the sloped building with the lipstick-red “9.” Yes, that iconic NYC public art masterpiece from the artist Ivan Chermayeff. “Remember when dining out was an experience? That’s why we are here, and in the process, we’ve reinvented this corridor along West 57th Street,” says Ceradini. Sure enough, the buzz has caught on, and Mr. Ceradini’s claim will advance when the uber-icon of hospitality Jean-Georges Vongerichten opens his next creation. His Four Twenty Five will be 14,000 square feet of uptown foodie glamorama to arrive at 425 Park Avenue at 57th Street. But when it comes to Cucina 8 ½, there is simply no competition. Make sure to get to know the inimitable “Miss Liz,” who runs this postmillennial power dining room with wit and precision. P cucina812.com
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Shota Omakase DISCOVER THE EXCEPTIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP OF CHEF CHENG LIN BY LAUREL MORIARTY
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A Culmination of Passion in Williamsburg n the heart of Brooklyn’s everevolving culinary scene, a new gastronomic gem has emerged. Tucked away amidst the cobblestone streets and artisanal boutiques of Williamsburg, Shota Omakase beckons diners who appreciate the dedication to quality ingredients and exceptional craftsmanship.
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“Shota No Sushi” Chef and owner Cheng Lin started his sushi career working at Hatsuhana in Midtown as a trainee in 1997, the same year he moved to New York from Fujian, China. There, he learned the art of sushi and the intricacies involved. Two years later, he read the book “Shota No Sushi,” and his life changed. He dedicated himself to the art of sushi and never looked back, and promised himself he would open his own sushi restaurant someday. After working as a senior sushi chef at Sushi Seki, Blue Ribbon, and ITO Tribeca, he finally welcomed guests to his own Shota Omakase in August. Bringing Premium Omakase to Brooklyn Why Brooklyn? “When I was working in the city, I noticed so many people coming from Brooklyn to go into the city to eat. Everybody said the same thing: ‘There’s nothing in Brooklyn, no premium omakase.’ So I thought why not?” Cheng Lin noticed omakase spots popping up everywhere in Manhattan, but he knows his spot across the bridge stands apart. “Some restaurants call it omakase, but they have the same menu all year round and they’re only getting the same quality as a sushi restaurant.” The walls of Shota are completely bare. The art, instead, is the meal itself. As guests sit at the intimate counter, they witness the artistry firsthand, as chef Cheng Lin weaves
a narrative through dishes that transcend mere sustenance, or even mere sushi. The Edomae style menu changes daily, but the structure stays the same. The meal begins with four otsumami, including a bowl of soy marinated fresh salmon roe with caviar and fresh wasabi. The otsumami, or small bites, are followed by soup. The soup was light and simple, but the flavor was complicated and rich. The broth is made with only five ingredients, all from Japan, then sea bream, fresh wakame seaweed, chive, and chrysanthemum flowers are added with the rockfish, which cooks in the broth. Cheng Lin explained, “The fish is wild caught to get the deep sea flavor into the soup.” After the soup and small bit, diners enjoy 11 pieces of nigiri, a hand roll, and finally tomago. Unique Rice & Rare Vingars Cheng Lin is dedication to perfection in every single ingredient. Ninety percent of the fish is flown in directly from Japan, and every piece guests eat at Shota was in the ocean less than three days prior to being served. He buys directly from a market instead of a wholesale supplier, and he believes that having a personal relationship with the supplier is an important part of what sets Shota apart. “I chose my vendor because there’s a trust there; I know that they provide the best quality fish.” Wasabi is fresh ground at the table for each seating. However, the thing that really sets Shota apart from other omakase restaurants is the rice. Cheng Lin exclusively uses sushi rice sourced from small farmer in Gero City, Gifu, Japan. It is completely organic, grown chemical free in Japan, and freshly polished in New York. The grains are 1.5 times larger than typical sushi rice, and it delivers a sticky
sweetness one typically doesn’t find in other sushi establishments. The thicker grains of rice are enhanced even further by the two types of sushi rice vinegar Cheng Lin uses: an Edo-Tannen based on red vinegar made with domestic sake lees to develop flavor and richness, and a second azaku vinegar that is so rare, Shota’s vendor doesn’t even want it named. Each one is thoughtfully paired with fish to enhance the taste of the sushi. Fresh rice is brought out after every few nigiri so it remains warm and the vinegar flavors stay potent. “Anything to bring out the best flavors in the fish,” Cheng Lin explained. “Premium quality ingredients always help make the fish better.” Top Tier Wine, Champagne, Beer & Sake List Shota Omakase’s commitment to excellence extends beyond its exquisite cuisine to its thoughtfully curated beverage selection. Their wine list boasts a carefully selected array of fine wines, expertly chosen to complement the nuanced flavors of the omakase experience. For those seeking a more traditional beverage, the sake selection ranges from dry to sweet and back again, and the knowledgeable staff is more than happy to guide guests through it to find what will elevate the meal the most for them. For beer enthusiasts, there are two options: a Brooklyn Lager brewed right up the street in Williamsburg, and a Hatichino Nest brewed in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Perfectly ‘Not Perfect’ Cheng Lin holds high standards for himself and his team at Shota Omakase, and it’s impossible to miss the difference in the final product. While dining at the beautiful location at 50 South 3rd St in Brooklyn, I saw Cheng switch out two cuts of fish and cut what appeared to be identical pieces in front of me before covering the fish back up. When I asked why he replaced them, his short answer reflected his dedication to making his dream a success: “Not perfect.”P shotaomakase.com
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Dr. Barry Keeping America Beautiful, One Patient at a Time BY L A U R E N B E N S
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hile Fifth Avenue plastic surgeon Dr. Barry Weintraub is known for helping people look and feel better, his personalized care and techniques go more than skin deep. The key to high quality aesthetic surgery is, according to Dr. Weintraub, to look improved, but untouched. This board-certified plastic surgeon who was born and raised in New York attended Cornell School of Medicine where he also completed his Plastic Surgical Residency. He equated his passion for aesthetic surgery with going to art class. “For me, plastic surgery is the only field that combines artwork and medical science in such an elegant way.” Known for his less-is-more aesthetic, Dr. Weintraub specializes in the face, eyes, nose, and neck. “Operating ‘above the clavicles’ performing a facelift, rhinoplasty or eyelid lift is more detailed, complex, and requires pinpoint precision
EIN T W COVER PHOTO BY M A R K E L Z E Y
T H I S PAG E BY U D O S P R E I T Z E N B A R T H
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as compared to body surgery such as liposuction, breast surgery and tummy tucks, where the structures are larger – although I enjoy performing these procedures as well.” To this point, Dr. Weintraub has pioneered his own technique for scarless gynecomastia surgery (the reduction of excess male breast tissue) using basket cannulas that remove the glandular tissue via a tiny aperture located in the armpit. “The endpoint of superior aesthetic surgery is to make patients resemble their best photographs, so they look like a better version of themselves, but are still clearly recognizable. I don’t believe in a single standard of beauty: there is beauty in individuality. The key to successful surgery is to not leave any telltale signs that surgery has taken place. One must respect the natural anatomical landmarks that define the aesthetic of a ‘natural’ face, nose, eyes, or neck. This is especially true when it comes to facelifting. Satyr ears, for example, occur when the earlobes are set too low, or the earlobes themselves are obliterated. Such subpar results are carefully avoided. This also goes for a pulled-too-tight facelift, where an individual can look like an overfilled pumpkin in a wind tunnel, which is not a quality result.” According to Dr. Weintraub, surgery should be slow and deliberate, and all aspects of the process should be pleasant. He imports relaxing fragrances from Capri to lightly scent his office, and chandeliers hang in his treatment rooms. While enjoying views of Central Park, patients are educated about the process and are soothed by Dr. Weintraub’s calm and gentle manner. When it comes time for surgery itself, his fully licensed and accredited operating room and outpatient facility are the utmost in high-
“THE ENDPOINT OF SUPERIOR AESTHETIC SURGERY IS TO MAKE PATIENTS RESEMBLE THEIR BEST PHOTOGRAPHS, SO THEY LOOK LIKE A BETTER VERSION OF THEMSELVES, BUT ARE STILL CLEARLY RECOGNIZABLE.’’ quality instrumentation and technology. With a parking garage in the building and a private entrance, patients can have surgery with total anonymity. The opposite of a factory, Dr. Weintraub performs a maximum of two smaller surgeries, or one large case – such as a facelift – per day. “Factories are great for producing the same thing over and over,” he says, “but for individualized results,
deliberately focused and unrushed time is required.” Dr. Weintraub employs a triplanar, hybrid facelift that is the fusion of three separate “planes” (layers) of the face, including the deep plane, the SMAS (submuscular aponeurotic system) layer, and the top layer of the skin itself (the subcutaneous layer). He explains that each plane must be addressed
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since each needs a different degree of tension to suspend it, counteracting the gravitational pull that causes the face to fall forward and down over time, creating deep nasolabial folds, marionette lines, jowls, obscuration of the jawline, and excess skin of the neck which some patients call a “turkey waddle.” The first two areas that have a tendency to show signs of aging for men and women are
the eyes and the neck. With the eyes, excess skin can hide the eye, and can smear mascara and eye makeup. Sought out for his surgery to preserve the natural shape of the upper eye, Dr. Weintraub places the incision below the blink crease so no telltale marks can be seen. For the lower eyelids, bags can appear that no amount of topical creams, serums, or non-invasive treatments can cure.
He removes the excess fat causing the bags via a hidden incision in the pink part of the eyelid while the patient is sleeping comfortably with corneal guards in place. Any excess crinkly lower-eyelid skin is treated with a pixelated Erbium laser, obviating the need for any visible incisions in the lower-lash area. When it comes to the neck, for men, a
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business shirt and tie can accentuate excess skin and can obscure the jawline. Women might start reaching for scarves or turtlenecks to hide the issue. “The important aspects of neck lifting involve careful dissection and removal of unwanted skin and fat, as well as sturdy SMAS support. The jawline should be sharp, and the neck, snug. Wounds are painstakingly sewn under loupe (5x human vision) magnification, producing the finest and thinnest incisions possible that I hide in the crease behind each ear.” Refinement of the nose is another of Dr. Weintraub’s passions. Not only does he perform a tremendous amount of teen rhinoplasties, primary rhinoplasties, and complex revision rhinoplasties, he states that, “The nasal profile is often overlooked when it comes to making patients appear younger. There is often unwanted width and a dorsal hump. As we age, the nose has a tendency to become bulbous and downturned, and any indication of this adds years to one’s face. The goal is not an upturned nose where the nostrils can be easily seen, but often a neat, straight line without a plunging tip, particularly upon smiling.” For Dr. Weintraub’s rhinoplasty surgeries, he says that patients have gotten more educated over the years. “Patients are becoming quite informed about the tipdefining points and what a nose should look like. The tip should be at a 91-93-degree angle between the upper lip and the nose.” While some patients discover Dr. Weintraub through online searches or social media, he believes the best source of referral is by word of mouth, both by referring
physicians and happy patients. “One of the greatest compliments is when a parent I’ve operated on brings their son or daughter for surgery. There is no greater honor, and I am always so flattered by this gesture.” During his thorough consultations, he listens carefully and allots plenty of time for discussion. “When patients come to me for a consultation, I ask them to look in a mirror
and point to what they would like improved. It is not for me to tell them what they need because nobody needs plastic surgery; my services are only a want. Ultimately, it is the patient who will wake up with the result, and every patient has a different idea of what attractiveness is.” The good doctor also advises potential plastic surgery candidates to seek surgeons
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“THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF NECK LIFTING INVOLVE CAREFUL DISSECTION AND REMOVAL OF UNWANTED SKIN AND FAT. THE JAWLINE SHOULD BE SHARP, AND THE NECK, SNUG.” certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which was established in 1937. He warns that there are now multiple surgical boards and various subspecialties creating their own boards, which sometimes causes confusion about qualifications and correct certifications. Whatever beautifying procedure patients seek, one thing is for sure: Dr. Weintraub
takes patient care to a whole new – and personal – level. “My staff books my consultations on the 60- minute timeslot, so there is always time to discuss the procedure(s) thoroughly. My consultations only end when all pertinent photographs have been reviewed, and my patients run out of questions.” This specialized plastic surgeon, who uses the latest innovations and was even honored by Newsweek as one of the top plastic surgeons in the country, has also noticed a new phenomenon: approximately 25%-30% of his practice is comprised of male patients. Dr. Weintraub stated that male facelifts are much more common than they were ten years ago. Dr. Weintraub, who in addition offers less-invasive procedures as well such as Botox, fillers, laser resurfacing, radio-
frequency microneedling, bio-identicalhormone therapy, as well as HydraFacials and peels, has created a full line of skincare products to aid in his patients’ aesthetic improvement. In addition, many patients from overseas and out of town stay at the nearby Plaza or Pierre hotels and receive a discounted rate, where Dr. Weintraub is known to make house calls to ensure his patients are healing well. His carefully curated staff of overnight nurses provide care to patients from abroad, as well for those locally who wish to experience the ultimate in pampering. Dr. Barry Weintraub, who is just as famed in his field as the celebrities and royals he has cared for, treats each patient in his own – and very specialized – way. P drbarryweintraub.com
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Dr. Ostad Minimally Invasive Procedures for Fall BY LAUREN BEN S
Ariel
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he Upper East Side’s most personable cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Ariel Ostad, is a triple threat. With his board-certification in facial cosmetic surgery, cosmetic dermatology, and MOHS micrographic surgery for skin cancer, he offers decades of expertise all within his state-of-the-art office in a compassionate environment. Though he specializes in everything from liposuction to facelifts, he is also skilled in procedures that require a lot less heavy lifting – but they are still guaranteed to give a lifted look. Dr. Ostad explains how nonsurgical facial rejuvenation is the perfect solution for those who are busy with their daily lives and don’t have the time to go through major procedures involving downtime. “There are major advances in non-surgical facial rejuvenation that can make you look years younger without going under the knife,” he said. This dedicated doctor breaks down these much less invasive techniques into three categories. The first involves Botox which can
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get rid of expression lines on the forehead that form due to the movement of eyebrows going up and down as well as frown lines from squinting, smile lines, and crow’s feet. His treatments will not only get rid of smile lines but give you something to smile about. While these easy injectables might take only ten minutes, the results can last upwards of four to five months. They can also slim the lower face and improve the neck. “It has many uses and little recovery – you can go to work right after,” Dr. Ostad said. The next class of treatments is hyaluronic acid fillers which are made of hyaluronic acid, a component of collagen that is found throughout our body and is something we lose over time. “We start to lose a percentage of our collagen in our 30s and into our early 40s and beyond. So, it’s an easy way to help improve wrinkles that form in terms of our laugh lines, marionette lines, off-corner of mouth lines, and sagging jowls that can appear as a result of gravity.” Dr. Ostad explains. Dr. Ostad also explained how fillers act like a gel implant for those with receding chins. The 15-minute non-invasive procedure can help to build up a chin or nose and give it proper proportions. These fillers work beautifully, but as Dr. Ostad explained, knowledge of facial anatomy is critical in order to administer the filler properly. Having an aesthetic sense and being an artist is very important. Dr. Ostad’s philosophy is that “less is more” and his patients definitely see more improvements after they come to him. The third treatment option involves addressing the whole skin texture. When it comes to facial skin tone and texture such as
people developing brown spots, discoloration, redness, rosacea, or crepiness as part of the aging process, he treats these issues with minimally invasive lasers. These lasers target sun damage, excess blood vessels, wrinkles and fine lines. “They do such a great job of improving skin tone, wrinkles and getting rid of hyperpigmentation.”
Just don’t neglect the neck. “I perform a suture suspension technique called Myellevate, where I use a permanent suture under the skin to uplift the neck. There is minimal recovery associated with this.” For those with a look of heaviness or fullness under the neck and chin area, liposuction can be used which is performed
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“WE CAN REALLY HELP TO IMPROVE PEOPLE’S AESTHETIC ISSUES WITHOUT MAJOR RECOVERY TIME. THESE LESS SURGICAL OPTIONS CAN HELP UP TO 80 PERCENT OF PEOPLE.” under local anesthesia and requires less than 48 hours of recovery time. This helps eliminate bulges under the neck and creates a smooth appearance. Known for his personal patient care, he has seen a drastic uptick in non-surgical rejuvenation procedures over the last five or six years, especially since the start of the pandemic.
“We can really help to improve people’s aesthetic issues without major recovery time. These less surgical options can help up to 80 percent of people.” Dr. Ostad also specializes in regenerative medicine by using the power of one’s own blood called Platelet Rich Plasma also known as PRP which can aid in improving crepey appearance as well as fine lines. It
doesn’t lift tissue or replace what fillers do but it’s great for rejuvenating the face. Dr. Ostad is grateful and feels privileged to have been of service to his patients and to have their trust for the past 25 years. He believes in the delivery of outstanding skilled care to his patients in an empathic environment. P drarielostad.com
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Design historian and author
Mario Buatta
Emily Evans
History Lesson INTERVIEW AND INTRO BY CARA GIBBS
Eerdmans’
latest book transcends the boundaries of
retrospective.
© AIKEN INTERIORS
a typical design
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very now and then, the world of design offers us a chance to peek behind the curtain and witness the creative processes that shape our living spaces. For design historian Emily Evans Eerdmans, this opportunity has manifested multiple times as she’s studied the inner workings of some of the industry’s most iconic figures. Eerdmans’ recent book, Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator,takes us on a captivating journey through the life and work of the legendary interior designer, offering readers an intimate glimpse into his remarkable legacy. Throughout her distinguished career, Eerdmans has garnered a reputation as a leading storyteller of design, weaving together the threads of history, culture and creativity into vivid tapestries of the lives of interior luminaries. Her latest endeavor brings Mario Buatta into the spotlight, a fitting choice considering his profound impact on interior design. With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for aesthetic nuance, Eerdmans offers readers a comprehensive exploration of Buatta’s life, vision and the mark he left on the industry. The art of interior design often remains hidden from
inviting us to enter the inner sanctum of Mario Buatta’s design philosophy. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Eerdmans uncovers the inspirations that fueled Buatta’s creativity. Readers are treated to an
© ESTATE OF EDGAR DE EVIA
public view, but Eerdmans’ work peels back the layers,
array of anecdotes and stories that reveal the essence of Buatta’s design approach—a harmonious blend of classical influences and contemporary sensibilities. Quite simply, Eerdmans paints a vivid portrait of Buatta’s life and creations. Her book is an invitation to step into the world of an extraordinary designer and experience the magic he wove into every space he touched. Here we chatted with the author to delve a little deeper into her insights.
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Hi Emily! Tell me a bit about your background. How did you come to concentrate on design and interiors? It all started when I moved to Paris after college to work as a nanny and discovered connoisseurship— everything from croissants to commodes. From there, I enrolled in the Sotheby’s Institute of Art’s master’s program in fine and decorative arts. As a fellow design writer, people always assume I’m also a designer (which I am not!)— does this happen to you and how would you describe your own personal aesthetic? Absolutely! Just recently, we started taking on decorating projects much like antiquaires Madeleine Castaing and Christopher Gibbs. But they have to be special. I am definitely a classicist and veer towards colorful, maximalist rooms. But each space tells you what it wants to a degree (as does the client).
‘‘EERDMANS’ WORK PEELS BACK THE LAYERS, INVITING US TO ENTER THE INNER SANCTUM OF MARIO BUATTA’S DESIGN PHILOSOPHY.’’
What is it about design and specifically interiors that intrigues and excites you? A room reveals so much—not just about its owner, but about the point of time in which it was conceived: its technology, taste, craft and more. It’s fascinating. Is there a specific style or genre you’re most drawn to? Why? The English Country House style— for its color, as well as emphasis on architecture and layered centuries of fine and decorative arts.
© AIKEN INTERIORS
When did you first discover the work of Mario Buatta? When he wrote the foreword to my first book, Classic English Design and Antiques (Rizzoli, 2006). What strikes you most about his work? He was an extraordinary colorist and also infused his spaces with a romantic exuberance.
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When diving into your research for Anatomy of a Decorator, did you find a common thread or connective tissue within Mario’s work? When we did his first book together, we sat together nearly every day for a year discussing his life and work. What interested me in researching this book (without his guidance) was finding out more about how he came to form such a clear, focused style—an Americanized version of the English Country House look. It was interesting to read in very early articles from the 1960s how he would work in any style a client wanted, and then eventually rejected that approach by the end of the 1970s.
© AIKEN INTERIORS
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Tell me how the title of the book came to be. The first book was a portfolio of his work and a glossed-over history of his career. He never wanted to show people how he achieved what he did or how he put a room together. We wanted this book to reveal all of that. Mario famously has an uplifting success story—how do you think that shaped his creative trajectory? He learned a lot about “putting on a show” from his father, who was a bandleader and a member of Rudy Vallee’s orchestra for a time. He had a big personality and liked to make people laugh—that was an essential part of his success as his undeniable talent. Is there a recipe for the Buatta look and feel? Voluptuous upholstery, dressmaker curtains, saturated color (deftly balanced), chintz,
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classical architectural details and collections of pictures and objects everywhere. How would you classify the Mario Buatta aesthetic? An Americanized version of the English Country House style.
© AIKEN INTERIORS
Can you share some insights into his creative process? What was the feeling like when he was creating his spaces and working with clients? Like every design legend I have studied, he started by getting the architecture right. From there, it was a furniture plan, then developing a color scheme with fabrics. He made sure to keep the process fun for his clients and never let it get too serious. Most of his clients trusted him completely and he was able to realize the schemes as he envisioned them. He also loved to reuse things clients already had—which is a rarity.
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What or who inspired his work? And how did he translate his inspirations? John Fowler, there is a chapter on that. Also see the section on Rose Cumming. What techniques, materials,
How did he influence the next generation of interior designers? You can definitely see the thread between him and a certain group of young designers who incorporate bows, chintz, needlepoint and ceramic vegetables and fruit in their environments as seen in the recent book, Charm School: The Schumacher Guide to Traditional Decorating for Today. What’s been Mario Buatta’s impact on the world of design? He was essential to popularizing the English Country House style here in America, bringing ruffles, bows, chintz and dog paintings to everyone with his various licenses (fabrics, Vogue sewing patterns, sheet sets, potpourri, furniture and more). He was one of the first designers in the 20th century to make himself into a brand and his career illustrated the power of being known for a certain look. P
© AIKEN INTERIORS
© AIKEN INTERIORS
appliques, etc. eventually became synonymous with his style and body of work? Chintz obviously, with the nickname the Prince of Chintz he received from the reporter Chauncey Howell in 1984.
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BenchMade Modern B Y R YA N N R E Y N O L D S
Offering A New
- and Transformative -
Take on Custom Designs
n a world where time is as precious as rare gems, and the quest for lavish living seamlessly blends with the desire for top-notch experiences, we’re witnessing a notable resurgence in the demand for custom-made furnishings. American furniture company BenchMade Modern shines as a remarkable symbol of accessible luxury and innovation. Founded in 2015, this innovative brand sought to redefine the furniture-buying experience by making it completely seamless, timely and even fun. This progressive brand has not only revamped the furniture industry but also has transformed the landscape of custom luxury furniture. BenchMade Modern is a safe harbor for customers to access custom furniture on a modern schedule, offering handcrafted items that blend traditional craftsmanship with
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FURNITURE CUSTOMIZATION, SOFT LINES AND ROUNDED EDGES ARE LEADING THE FURNITURE TRENDS THIS YEAR.
DAN CAMPBELL, PRESIDENT OF BENCHMADE MODERN
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WE SEE THAT EACH HOME REQUIRES A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF PIECES, SO WE LOOK TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF STYLES – RANGING FROM MID-CENTURY MODERN TO A NEW, SOFTER LOOK.
DAN CAMPBELL, PRESIDENT OF BENCHMADE MODERN
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THE AUGMENTED REALITY IS INCREDIBLE – YOU SIMPLY POINT YOUR PHONE AT ANY FLOOR IN YOUR HOUSE AND, VOILA! THE SOFA WILL APPEAR TO GIVE YOU A GREAT SENSE OF HOW IT WILL LOOK IN YOUR HOME.
DAN CAMPBELL, PRESIDENT OF BENCHMADE MODERN
cutting-edge technology. The company’s production timeline is astonishingly swift, with textiles taking just two weeks and leather upholstery only four weeks—a rarity in the industry. Furthermore, sofas and sectionals can be tailored to precise dimensions, with adjustments in 5-inch increments, and are available in a diverse array of styles and orientations. BenchMade Modern was born into existence with the pure intention to address a significant gap in the market. This company was created from the premise of offering high-end, personalized furniture at an affordable price, with delivery times measured in weeks, not months. Shall we dare even say BenchMade might even inspire the most loyal Ikea consumers to leave the bright yellow and blue icon background behind for something a little more heartful and authentic? BenchMade Modern first arrived on the furnishing scene with just a handful of styles in its collection. Over time, the company has grown its craftsmanship options to offer 16 distinct collections with more than 100 different fabric and leather options. And don’t let the name fool you: this company isn’t solely about sofas. At the BenchMade Modern website,
you’ll find everything you need to enhance your home, ranging from an impressive selection of living room furniture, including chic accent chairs and versatile ottomans to luxurious upholstered bed frames, stylish lighting options, elegant rugs and much more. Whether you lean towards mid-century modern, prefer a modular look, embrace classic designs or gravitate toward contemporary aesthetics, you’ll find a style that perfectly suits your taste. In the realm of customized furniture, the timeless appeal of soft lines and gracefully rounded edges are taking the lead in this year’s trends. An industry observation revealed that almost every home craves a diverse array of furnishings, which led to BenchMade offering a wide range of attractive styles. BenchMade’s commitment to enhancing the buying experience may be
seen through a current project that involves upgrading the website to stay at the forefront of technology. Its tech team is introducing 3D- and augmented-reality renderings, allowing customers to visualize how different textiles and furniture pieces will appear in their homes. The augmented reality feature is quite remarkable: by pointing your phone at any spot on your floor, you can instantly see the sofa you’ve selected there, giving a fantastic preview of how it will fit in your living space. This marks a significant advancement in helping consumers feel more assured about their custom design choices. For a furniture company to truly distinguish itself, it’s crucial that it harmonizes three key elements: great design, great quality and great service. BenchMade synthesizes the balance of these three elements extremely well. The designers craft pieces perfectly aligned with both the company’s brand identity and its customers’ desires. Feel free to arrange a personalized one-on-one design consultation to have all your questions addressed and receive guidance at every stage.. P benchmademodern.com
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Philadelphia Specializing in Stylish and Sustainable Custom Furniture B Y R YA N N R E Y N O L D S
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Table
COMPANY
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electing a custom table or piece of furniture from Philadelphia Table Company won’t just look stylish in your home—it also ensures safety from toxic finishes. Since opening his Philadelphia showroom in 2014, which is open to the public, and expanding his base of operations, five years later, to his current warehouse in Gloucester City, NJ, just across the Delaware River, Paul Mencel has grown Philadelphia Table Company into a national business with custom orders arriving from around the country. From residential homes to commercial projects, Mencel and team have provided designs for boutique hotels, bars and restaurants. Most recently, they finished a job in a Texas distillery. Paul describes how all his furniture is custom-designed and built to order. “Our makers are responsible for everything from milling and cutting wood to finishing each piece. It’s very hands-on, from top to bottom. Every piece is built one at a time,” he says. The company’s hardwoods, from white oak to walnut, are locally sourced whenever possible. Designs also may include high-end metal, stone and brass. And while 70 percent of the business is focused on dining tables, Philadelphia Table Company also produces custom cabinetry, home bars, kitchen
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islands, sideboards, desks, vanities, record player units, side tables and beds. The Philly-based company known for its custom builds has a core team of five craftspeople dedicated to making products that are high-design, highquality and environmentally focused. Paul’s wife is a two-time cancer survivor, so he’s passionate about using sustainable hardwood and materials with non-toxic finishes. “We made the choice to eliminate toxic materials that don’t off-gas in our house, so I wanted to abide by those same ethics when it comes to investing in things that will go into other people’s homes. A lot of places use varnishes that have harmful chemicals, but we primarily use natural tung oil from the tung tree plant,” he says. In an effort to give back to the planet, the manufacturer donates a percentage of each sale to an environmentally friendly non-profit, via 1% for the Planet. Though a small line of items is available on the company’s website, the majority of the business involves working closely with clients on personal projects that make their design dreams come true. “Clients will usually send us images to convey a sense of their style and we use that as a reference to design and build something custom for them.” Paul has
worked with everyone from Eagles players to local celebrities, and has noticed that people are investing in more artisanal trends and products made with higherquality materials rather than fast furniture. “Our clients are looking for pieces that are built with intention and don’t wind up in the trash somewhere. This means they’re conscious about filling their homes with items that are important to them, and long-lasting.” He equates his custom furniture pieces to art—but more functional. “It can be something that somebody values and get passed down generationally,” he explains. Being a custom design business means that each project comes with its own challenges, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. P philadelphiatablecompany.com 140 | parkmagazineny.com
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Castler SHELTER
Durable Designs Offer Quiet Luxury BY LAUREN BENS
K
nown for its wide-ranging designs, from rustic to modern, Castlery has been producing sturdy and stylish furnishings for a decade now. With customers around the country, the company has continued to grow without sacrificing workmanship. And they’re proud of it. Castlery co-founder Declan Ee describes how he has turned the brand into one of the biggest names in the quiet luxury furniture space.
When did the company launch? The Singapore-born furniture brand was founded in 2013, and targeted toward making luxury living accessible for discerning urban millennials. Just months before COVID-19 ground the world to a halt, in November 2019, the company launched digitally in the U.S. . As the lines blurred between work and home life, Castlery’s foray into the US market took off. What kinds of pieces do you specialize in? Castlery offers stylish, modern and durable furniture at accessible prices. We design pieces that fit right in, yet stand out to elevate the rooms they are set in. We pay attention to fine details such as flange seams, fluted lines, chamfered edges, curves and eye-catching cut-outs. Whether you’re drawn to mid-century modern, modern farmhouse, rustic or minimalist styles, we help clients create a space that’s tailored to them.
How would you describe the workmanship process? Castlery oversees the entire design, build, ship and delivery process, ensuring quality control by directly sourcing raw materials and re-engineering the assembly and manufacturing processes if they do not meet our high expectations. This is incredibly unique for a furniture company of Castlery’s size. All products undergo rigorous testing both before and after production to ensure they meet the design, safety, compliance and quality requirements set by the quality team and product engineers before releasing into the market.
Biggest trends in the industry right now? Quiet luxury, a cultural trend that’s making its way from the runway into the home, is all about focusing on quality and making choices that reflect your dedication to making each moment matter. It boils down to making intentional purchases. For some, that could look like premium fabrications and textures, and to others, quality craftsmanship. Most importantly, each element should feel considered and intentional. Within the home, quiet luxury is an embodiment of tasteful choices, attention to detail and a harmonious blend of comfort and sophistication. The intention is to create a haven of understated grandiosity and timeless appeal. Meticulous attention to detail is also a big focus, including craftsmanship, finishes and accents: all of which elevate spaces with subtle nuances.
We also offer an extensive range of modular seating options that allow customers to build their ideal arrangement, one that’s unique to their style and their home. Parts can be purchased together or separately, and pieced together to create a living space suitable for your personal needs. We hope our modularity introduced across various styles will allow homeowners from small-sized city apartments to larger homes to customize their living spaces to achieve a quiet, luxurious statement.
What are the designs of some of your latest collections? The Casa series is a comprehensive collection that comprises storage consoles, benches and tables for coffee, dining, and side pieces. It features a textured wood grain in a diagonal pattern set off with a two-tone color contrast, bringing a sense of polish to the rustic style. In addition to the Casa Collection, Castlery is also expanding its living room offerings with our deepest sofa yet, the Mori Collection. With its refined silhouette and feather-filled cushions, it creates a luxurious lounging experience. We have high hopes for this collection as it is very versatile and can easily fit into homes with a modern farmhouse, coastal or Japandi aesthetic. We already have expansions for this collection in the works and can’t wait to reveal more in due time. The modular set can be arranged to fit any space and has the capability of growing, or shrinking, as life evolves. P castlery.com
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Barbiecore is the Trend Du Jour B Y A L E X A N D E R P OW E R S & H A N N A H M I N N I C K
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he blockbuster release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie is easily one of, if not the most, anticipated of the year. The resurgence of Barbie and Mattel in the cultural zeitgeist has launched a new phenomenon known as Barbiecore, prompting many to “think pink!” with major fashion, makeup, and interior design outlets embracing the color in the spirit of the movie. To help inspire the creation of your own dreamhouse, here are 7 homes currently on the market with pink design details. From bold, colorful walls to intricate pops of color, these homes showcase what makes pink so timeless and appealing to the masses.
Web ID: bhsusa.com/22432430
Web ID: bhsusa.com/118455
400 Stanwich Road (Greenwich, Connecticut) Even the most classic and grand of homes can incorporate pink while maintaining their ambiance. This sprawling Connecticut estate has a living room outfitted in various shades of the color, making the room stand out while still complimenting the rest of the home.
Web ID: bhsusa.com/22525656
45 West 67th Street #27DE (Upper West Side, NYC) If you love pink but are wary about it fitting into your home, consider having an accent piece, like the couch above, anchored by neutrals. The result is both sleek and contemporary.
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Whether you’re going for a bold statement, or a more tranquil environment, incorporating pink into your home decor can accomplish both. While pink is certainly the trend du jour, the color is also timeless and will undoubtedly add a creative edge to your dream home. For more design and real estate inspiration, head to the BHS blog at blog.bhsusa.com
211 Central Park West #5K (Upper West Side, NYC) Green and yellow are complementary colors to pink. If you want to combine pink with other bright colors, like orange, consider including some greens and yellows to balance things out, as seen here.
Web ID: bhsusa.com/22444648
Web ID: bhsusa.com/22467363
1289 Lexington Avenue #19B (Upper East Side, NYC)
393 West End Avenue #10C (Upper West Side, NYC)
Baby pink is a timeless shade that, when incorporated properly, can defy its namesake and be suitable for all ages. This room is a prime example of how the color, when combined with soft finishes and contemporary furnishings, can look elegant and mature.
While many shades of pink are bright and eye-catching, some, like this muted pinky mauve, are a bit more subdued and relaxing, especially when paired with textural fabrics.
Web ID: bhsusa.com/11404473
4630 Royal Palm Avenue (Miami Beach, FL) Web ID: bhsusa.com/22533631
11 Hoyt Street, #19H (Downtown Brooklyn, NYC) The use of pinks throughout these two living spaces is expertly incorporated. The throw blanket and chairs, each slightly different shades of pink, manage to add both consistency and variation in design while unifying the living and dining areas.
Art is a great way to incorporate colors of all types without overwhelming the space. The bright pinks in the painting above are complimented by a mid-century modern, colorful credenza. With neutral tones throughout the rest of the space, the two combine to create an accent wall.
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50 Central Park West is a white glove service cooperative originally built in 1907 and restored with a gorgeous new lobby, elevators, and hallways. Apartment 8A/9A is an exquisitely renovated, 5,000 square foot home that is a stunning combination of dramatic architecture and classic contemporary details set against the backdrop of direct views of Central Park.
Discovering Value in
Luxury Real Estate
T
BY L I S A K . L I P P M A N
here is no question that prime Manhattan properties come at a price, and luxury buyers are often afraid that they have no choice but to overpay. That, however, does not need to be the case. Working closely with buyers for more than two-and-a-half decades, I have identified four unexpected places where real value exists, and
incredible opportunities abound. Last on is not always the best Rather than focus only on the newest listings to hit the market, I always encourage buyers to consider properties that have been available for several months. More often than not and with the benefit of hindsight, the seller has become more realistic in their expectations and repriced the premium property below the level of offers that they previously rejected. The most important features are not always the shiniest Not to besmirch new development, but I often find that buyers are unduly captivated by brand new, shiny buildings. They get caught up
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45 West 70th Street is a mint condition 20-foot-wide home that was built in 1891 by architect Gilbert Schellenger and is perfectly located on one of the nicest Central Park blocks and on the Gold Coast of the Upper West Side. The four-plus bedroom house has been fully renovated to the highest standards with an elevator, new kitchen and 4 full and 2 half fully renovated bathrooms. The garden is absolutely divine with fabulous light and spaces to entertain, dine and play; and the basement boasts a 33-foot large swimming pool, jacuzzi, and a spa and gym area.
in the competition for the glistening unit and overpay as a result of bidding wars. All the while, they have overlooked the building’s less than premium location. “Location, location, location!” will always reign as the quintessential summation of luxury real estate and convey the greatest enduring value. Remember, you can always update the finishes and create the kitchen of your dreams, but the building’s location is forever. Do not be afraid of co-ops Representing roughly 75% of New York City’s housing inventory, a co-op building is run by a board of directors that governs over bylaws intended to protect the building’s value. In order to compete with their condominium and
new development counterparts, many co-op boards have adjusted their policies in favor of greater flexibility, specifically allowing buying in trusts, year-round renovations, and pied-aterre use. Seek the unexpected A townhouse can be a great fit for luxury buyers. Offering the highest level of privacy and autonomy, townhouses boast unrivaled potential for the use and enjoyment of the sprawling space. From smart-home technology and elevators to in-home gyms, theatres, and even pools, there is unlimited opportunity to include all of the bells and whistles of new construction with monthly carrying costs lower than you would find in a condo. P
About Lisa Lisa K. Lippman is the #1 agent at Brown Harris Stevens, an honor that she has held for the past seven consecutive years. For more information about Lisa and the properties she represents, please visit bhsusa.com/real-estate-agent/lisa-lippman
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SOCIAL SAFARI
Rick Friedman Photo: PMC
Couri
Starry Hampton Nights Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos, Ivy Getty, Sharon Stone, Amy Shiels, Georgina Bloomberg, Pierce Brosnan, Philip Glass, Annie Leibovitz & Calvin Klein
BY R.COURI HAY
Wendy Keys, Robert Wilson, Blythe Danner (BFA)
Photo: BFA
The Hamptons Fine Art Fair One of NYC’s most iconic landmarks, the Astor Place Cube, recently disappeared from its perch. Case solved; the sculpture was sent off to be refurbished, before being shipped to Southampton for the Hamptons Fine Art Fair. The spinning piece’s creator, Tony Rosenthal, was inducted into the Fair’s Hall of Fame, so the city’s commissioners voted unanimously to loan the historical piece to commemorate the occasion. The fourth annual Hamptons Fine Art Fair showcased post-war and contemporary art from over 800 revered artists, including Andy Warhol, Jean Michel Basquiat, and Norman Rockwell, worth approximately $150 million. The Opening Night Benefit and Preview attracted over 3,500 art lovers, including proprietor of M.S. Rau’s Bill Rau, “Twin Peaks” star Amy Shiels, philanthropist Laine Siklos, and divorce attorneys Martha Cohen Stine and Harriet Newman Cohen, to the custom built 70,000 sq. ft. pavilion. Founder, Rick Friedman, featured over 150 galleries. Hamptonsfineartfair.com The Parrish Art Museum Billionaire heirs Ivy Getty and Larry Milstein co-chaired the Parrish Art Amy Shiels Photo: Nadja Sayej
Museum’s Midsummer Watermill Center’s 31st Dance, which celebrated the Annual Benefit, which should never be missed. institution’s 125th The event, dubbed Anniversary. Narcissister, a “the BODY,” Brooklyn based celebrated the performance artist, human form’s role brought an avantin creating art garde show to the through time-based gala. The artist first performance, appeared as a wolf on painting, sculpture, all fours and proceeded and video. Dozens of to strip down to a artists from around masked, doll-like the world created figure with clown Sergio Nicolosi, Afsaneh edgy art installations shoes. The artist Akhtari throughout the center’s eventually went full Photo: Rob Rich/Society grounds and wood frontal, albeit with a Allure lands. The honorary faux fur to cover her chairs for the evening nether regions. included Willem Dafoe, Things turned interesting Sharon Stone, Philip Glass when she extracted a and Annie Leibovitz. The seemingly endless pale blue proceeds from the night and ribbon from “down there”. auction went to The Byrd She proceeded to tie helium-filled balloons to the Hoffman Watermill Foundation, which supports ribbon and attach the ribbons to poles throughout their year-round programing and artist-in-residency the room. She eventually programs. The night was pulled the balloons back to presented by Van Cleef & her and sat on them Arpels. watermillcenter.org crushing them until they popped. Some theorized the Hamptons Concours performance was about Sergio Nicolosi, Greg giving birth and cutting the Matthews and Bradford umbilical cord and then Rand, of RAND Luxury, hatching her cubs. The young crowd cheered her on hosted the annual while some of the older folks “Hamptons Concours” at a private estate in ran for the bar. The Parrish Bridgehampton. The has gotten cool and edgy. I exclusive, Invitation-Only can’t wait to see how they’ll top this next year. parrishart. Concours benefitted the Southampton Animal org Shelter, the leading “No-Kill” shelter on Long Island, The Watermill and The Breast Cancer Center Research Foundation, Robert Wilson, which is dedicated Calvin Klein, to finding cures Tatiana & Campion Platt Aleksandra Mark, were among the Dr. Kenneth Mark Photo: PMC hosts of The
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Dennis Basso, Kelly Ripa Photo: Andrew Werner
for cancer. in Watermill. Guests, The evening including began with a animal lively cocktail advocate hour with Georgina mermen in the Bloomberg, pool and was writer/editor followed by a “Best Devorah Rose, of the Hamptons” plastic surgeon dinner with bites Dr. Lyle Leipziger, from Almond, Duryea’s Consuelo Vanderbilt, and Kerber’s Farm. The attorney Daniel Stock, annual event was Sunny Akhtari and launched in 1998, to help dermatologist Dr. Ken support programs for Mark, checked out the LGBTQIA+ youth perfectly preserved throughout the summer vintage and new luxury months. HMI is the motorcars. The collection nation’s oldest of vehicles was estimated LGBTQIA+ youth to be worth over $100 organization serving Million. The event queer and trans youth, featured new cars from primarily of color, the top between the ages of 13 manufacturers, and 24. The evening, Including Ferrari, sponsored by Aston Martin, Nordstrom, United McLaren, Porsche, Airlines and Douglas Lamborghini and Elliman, raised a Bentley. A select record breaking group of automotive $620k. Hmi.org connoisseurs and judges, led by Chief Holiday House Judge Glenn Simon, Hamptons reviewed nearly 80 Iris Dankner’s Holiday handmade Italian House hosted the masterpieces during opening of their the contest. The Best Summer 2023 in Show went to a lime Bonnie Designer Lautenberg Photo: PMC green 1992 Porsche Showhouse 964 Turbo. event in randluxury.com Bridgehampton. Co-chairs Kenneth Hetrick-Martin Alpert, Campion Institute Platt, Andrea Stark Kelly Ripa, Mark and Ashley Stark Consuelos, Don Lemon, were among the 450 Marci Klein, and Thom guests in Filicia all came out to attendance. support Hetrick-Martin Designers included Institute’s (HMI) annual Katie Brandt, Amy School’s Out Fundraiser Storm, Ashley Stark,
Barbara Ostrom, Lola Tucker, Melanie Roy and Brianna Scott. Photographer and artist Bonnie Lautenberg, recent work, a photograph of Paul Newman from
Andrea Grover, Leo Villareal, Renee Cox, Joanna Grover Photo: PMC
“Hud” juxtaposed next to Andy Warhol’s famous silk screen of Elvis Presley in jeans holding a gun and wearing a holster, was the talk of the Showhouse; the limitededition piece was literally sold off the wall to a savvy collector. Lautenberg will have a show at Carlton Fine Arts on Madison Avenue on October 11th. Ted Hartley, the husband of the late actress Dina Merrill, was one of the 30 artists, including Dankner and Patti Grabel, who painted surfboards that were auctioned off to benefit The Ellen Hermanson Foundation.
holidayhousehamptons. com
Kim Heirston, Alice Hope, and 300 others more or less just like them. “Artists lead us,” said the organization’s popular Executive Director Andrea Grover. The evening raised $1.1 million in support of the institution’s 200 yearround interdisciplinary programs. guildhall.org
Guild Hall Gala Producer Jordan Roth served as the witty MC of Guild Hall’s inspirational gala at Mulford Farm, one of America’s most important English Colonial farmsteads. The night Southampton honored Hospital Gala museum Audrey and Martin Gruss trustee Ken were honored at Wyse for his Southampton Hospital’s outstanding 65th annual Gala. The leadership and support. The event benefit, dubbed “A Night at The Colony Hotel,” was started with a made possible by Sarah viewing of Leo and Andrew Wetenhall, Villareal’s stunning the owners of the iconic installation, CELESTIAL GARDEN, a hotel in Palm Beach. Event co-chairs included monumental light Renee Rockefeller, Dayssi sculpture over ten feet Olarte de Kanavos, high and twentyAshley McDermott, eight feet wide. Laura Lofaro Also on display in Freeman, Joey the newly Wölffer, Ros renovated L’esperance, and building was the Stacey Bronfman. critically hailed After dinner the exhibition, young set Renee Cox: A streamed in and Proof of Being. danced until the Leading the lights went on. perfumed pack into Over $2 million the tent, that had was raised to been dramatically Martin Gruss, Gruss help provide transformed into a Audrey Photo: PMC access to blue and white healthcare for everyone oasis by Anthony on the East End. Taccetta with theatrical southampton. lighting by Bentley stonybrookmedicine.edu Meeker, were Julian Schnabel, Ross Bleckner, Yvonne Force, Florence Join me on the Fabricant, Cynthia following pages for Rowley, Janna Bullock, a look back at the Lisa Perry, Barbara Tober, season’s best parties.
Sofie Mählkvist Photo: PMC
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SOCIAL SAFARI Harrison Ball, Molly Ringwald & Zac Posen
Nicky Hilton Rothschild & Fernando Garcia
R. Couri Hay & Janna Bullock
The Event
NEW YORK CITY BALLET GALA
Christy Turlington
The Story
Patti LuPone, Vanessa Williams and Joshua Henry lent their incomparable talents to the New York City Ballet’s Opening Gala at the David H. Koch Theater. The acclaimed artists performed songs by George Gershwin, while the company’s renowned dancers performed in fussy costumes designed by Wes Gordon, the Creative Director for Carolina Herrera, that would have been more suitable for the cocktail party than the stage. The magical evening, part of the Company’s 75th Anniversary season, honored NYCB’s co-founding choreographers George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. The company’s artistic directors are to be commended for going back to the basics, featuring master works by the company’s co-founders. Chairs of the evening included Sarah Jessica Parker, in mismatched, but oh so trendy and chic Manolo Blahnik heels, one in powder pink and one black, Georgina Bloomberg, Andy Cohen, Laverne Cox, Claire Danes, Hugh Dancy, Jill Kargman, Diane Kruger, Jordan Roth, Lizzie Tisch and Naomi Watts. Parker, who is the NYCB Board Vice Chair, launched the annual fashion gala in 2012 and it has been a phenomenal smash hit year after year. The night was sponsored by Vacheron Constantin, Wells Fargo and The Macallan. The yummy and lively Dom Ruinart Champagne reception around Lincoln Center’s monumental fountain gave the bright young things time to see and be seen. The night raked in over $3.75 million to fund NYCB’s programs. Brava! nycballet.com
Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick
Vanessa Williams, Joshua Henry & Patti LuPone
PMC
Carolina Herrera & Wes Gordon
Naomi Watts
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Barbara Vogelstein, Vera Blinken & Hillary Rodham Clinton PHOTO BY CHRIS LEE
Yo-Yo Ma Performance PHOTO BY CHRIS LEE
The Event
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC OPENING NIGHT
Taryn Delanie & Alec Castillo
The Story
Hillary Clinton, Carolina Herrera and composer Karen LeFrak and her real estate mogul husband Richard LeFrak led the classical music lovers to the brilliant opening night performance of The New York Philharmonic. The elegant crowd, think Mercedes Bass dripping in diamonds and sapphires the size of tiny blue bird eggs, was dressed to kill and thrill, and that they did. This was not only a musical success story, but a social milestone. The Phil has crept up the gala ladder to become a highlight, if not the highlight, of the fall social season. This is the second opening night in the newly renovated David Geffen Hall, and I’m happy to report the acoustics and the décor get better every time I go back. This was $550 million well spent. Pay attention Mayor Adams. The benefit honored the Orchestra’s former President and CEO Deborah Borda and launched conductor Jaap van Zweden’s farewell season as Music Director, a position he has held since 2018. Zweden led the NY Phil in Beethoven’s elegant “Egmont Overture” and Tchaikovsky’s “Capriccio Italien.” He was joined by the incomparable cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The Met opera should be paying attention, the crowd couldn’t get enough of Ma and the Phill. The night’s impressive Co-Chairs included Bradley Cooper, Julie Andrews, Renée Fleming, Frank Gehry, John Paulson, Jaap van Zweden, John Williams and the afore mentioned LeFraks. Talk about a top tier mix! The truly memorable evening broke the record by raising over $4 million dollars! Bravo! The Phil is the oldest and arguably the best symphony orchestra in the United States; their season runs through June 8th, 2024. Run, don’t walk, to get your tickets! nyphil.org Carolina Herrera, Karen T. LeFrak, Daisy M. Soros & Deborah Borda PHOTO BY CHRIS LEE
JULIE SKARRATT PHOTOGRAPHY
Diana Wang & Ling Tian JULIE SKARRATT PHOTOGRAPHY
Barbara Tober & Veronica Atkins JULIE SKARRATT PHOTOGRAPHY
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SOCIAL SAFARI Gina Gershon
Hope Dworaczyk & Robert F. Smith
Patricia Clarkson
Ronan Farrow
The Event
CARNEGIE HALL OPENING NIGHT GALA The Story
Ever dapper Zac Posen, writer Ronan Farro, Ellen Burstyn, Patricia Clarkson, Gina Gershon, Liev Schreiber, City Councilmen Erik Bottcher and playwright Jeremy O. Harris were among the cognoscenti at Carnegie Hall’s 132nd Opening Night Gala in the Wu Tsai Theater. The night featured the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by the remarkable Riccardo Muti. The critically acclaimed violinist Leonidas Kavakos was the night’s soloist, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. The Chairs for the for the glamourous back-tie benefit were three of the city’s top cultural leaders: Mercedes Bass and Hope and Robert Smith. The committee included Josée and Henry Kravis, Beatrice Santo Domingo, Joan and Sanford Weill, Veronica Atkins, Len and Emily Blavatnik, Maral and Sarkis Jebejian, David Siegel and Dana Matsushita. PwC was the nights lead sponsor for the 20th consecutive season. Kirkland & Ellis underwrote the elegant dinner, which was held at Cipriani 42nd St. Over six million dollars were raised for Carnegie Hall’s artistic, education and social impact programs. carnegiehall.org
Elizabeth Segerstrom
Sophie Sumner
PMC
Taylor Neisen & Liev Schreiber
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Fern Mallis
Jean Shafiroff, Laurel Marcus & Evie Evangelou
Ali Wentworth
The Event
FIT COUTURE COUNCIL LUNCHEON
Ramona Singer
The Story
Gabriela Hearst, the creative director of her eponymous fashion brand and Chloé, received the Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion. Past recipients of the award include Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Karl Lagerfeld and Christian Louboutin. The award was presented by chef Daniel Humm and tennis superstar Maria Sharapova, who said “Gabriela represents so many women around the world. I think we got along from the very Maria Sharapova beginning because she trains like an athlete.” MFIT’s Dr. Valerie & Gabriela Steele and Dr. Joyce F. Brown welcomed Martha Stewart, Candace Hearst Bushnell, Audrey Gruss, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Yaz Hernandez, Jean Shafiroff, Kara Ross , Bethann Hardison, Julie Macklowe, Fern Mallis, Liz Peek, , Hal Rubenstein, Ramona Singer, NY assembly member Rebecca Seawright, Ali Wentworth and Nicole Miller. The benefit was co-chaired by Lara MeilandDr. Valerie Shaw and Melissa Mafrige Mithoff. Presented by Nordstrom, Steele & the event raised funds for The Museum at FIT, New York’s only Audrey museum dedicated exclusively to the art of fashion. fitnyc.edu Gruss
PMC
Julie Macklowe & Lara MeilandShaw
Candace Bushnell & Cameron Silver
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SOCIAL SAFARI Scott Snyder, Audrey Gruss, Clelia Zacharias & Tom Zacharias
Presentation Of The Patty Reynes Award To Katie Robinson (PHOTO BY KIND MEDIA)
The Event
THE HAMPTON CLASSIC The Story
ROB RICH/SOCIETY ALLURE
A celebration of the life of Patty Davis Raynes was held at the 48th Hampton Classic, where Patty rode every year. The intimate event attracted a society crowd, including a very pregnant Georgina Bloomberg, Cornelia Guest, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Candace Bushnell, Countess Luanne de Lesseps, Janna Bullock and Patty’s son Matthew Raynes. Patty’s pals, horse trainer Alex Hamer and Tim Wright, organized the party and announced a new annual award honoring her legacy, titled the ‘Patty Raynes Award.’ This inaugural year’s award was given to Katie Jacobs Robinson. For the classic’s main event, the Longines Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix, Michael Bloomberg took three ringside tables. The former mayor asked Chris Robbins, of Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs, to create an allAmerican buffet for his 42 guests, including his longtime girlfriend, Diana Taylor. The event attracted actresses Brooke Shields, Jane Seymour and Cornelia Guest, philanthropist Kimberly Paige Bluhm, and influencer Sofia Mählkvist. Bruce Springsteen’s daughter, Jessica Springsteen, rode as her mother Patti Springsteen cheered her on. Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Donna Karen, Calvin Klein, Christie Brinkley, Mathew Broderick, Steven Spielberg and Sigourney Weaver have all attended the Classic in the past. Robbins, who has catered the event for 28 years, fed over 7,000 people and poured over 10,000 glasses champagne. Daniel Bluman claimed the Hampton Classic Grand Prix title for the second time aboard his mount, Ladriano Z, winning $425,000. hamptonclassic.com Cornelia Guest, Hope Smith, Kimberly Paige Bluhm & Kelli Ford
Jessica Springsteen
Brooke Shields & Grier Henchy
Kiyan Kiumarsi & Countess Luann de Lesseps
David & Sybil Yurman
Jeffrey Lorber & Michael Lorber
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Maribel Lieberman
Consuelo VanderbiltCostin & Emilio Estefan
Model
The Event
CONSUELO VANDERBILT
LATIN IGNITION
Amy Shiels
@ THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM The Story
Grammy winning producer Emilio Estefan, the husband of Gloria Estefan, and Consuelo Vanderbilt’s groundbreaking show, “Latin Ignition – The Magic of Art,” was held at the Guggenheim Museum. The edgy event was in held collaboration with Consuelo’s trailblazing social network, SohoMuse, which enables creatives to expand their networks, source top talent, and collaborate with other creatives. The show highlighted Latino artisans, including designers Alvin Valley, Laura Garcia, Nabys Vielman, and César Galindo. Since its inception, SohoMuse has supported the global community of artists by presenting experiential evenings, online master classes as well as symposiums, which showcase the multiple verticals of creativity and topical issues of today’s world. The platform also offers educational programs to nurture and mentor young talent, offering a wide variety of internships and job opportunities. In the mix was singer Natasha Bedingfield, DJ Hex Hector, Downtown Julie Brown, “Twin Peaks” star Amy Shiels, philanthropist Laine Siklos, fashion influencer and trend columnist Sofie Mählkvist, photographer and writer Nadja Sayej and Los Rabanes. sohomuse.com
Nadja Sayej
Downtown Julie Brown
BFA
David Belafonte, Serafina Belafonte, Amadeus Belafonte & Malena Belafonte
Sofie Mahlkvist
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SOCIAL SAFARI Alexa Goodrow & Erich Bergen
Neil Patrick, Harris- David Ludwigson & David Burtka
Carlin Smith & Samantha Altschuler
The Event
GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER
Marci Klein & Ross Bleckner
The Story
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka opened their far-flung Funhouse Farm in the Hamptons for God’s Love We Deliver’s 22nd Annual Midsummer Night Drinks Benefit. The property features whimsical touches, including a vintage Ferris wheel that sadly no longer works but perfectly fits the farm’s circus vibe. Burtka told me “We are growing vines up the Ferris wheel, so it looks like it’s been here forever.” Guests dining on carnival themed food and mingling around the unique round pool and the lavishly landscaped gardens included Nicky Hilton and her children, Nathan Lane, Alex Guarnaschelli, Kyle MacLachlan, Desiree Gruber, Derek Blasberg, Vicente Wolf, Jason Weinberg, Geoffrey Bradfield, Andrew Farkus, Andrew Saffir, Jeffrey Banks and Terrence Meck, the Board of Directors co-chair. God’s Love is the only provider of medically tailored meals for individuals living with severe and chronic illness, including HIV/AIDS, in NYC. Everyone left with a gift bag filled with Supergoop! products and, of course, “Chuck’s Famous Brownies.” Who else would tell you these things? glwd.org William Featherby & Geoffrey Bradfield
James Fairchild & Whitney Fairchild
PMC
Rachel Zoe & Kaius Berman
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FASHIONSAFARI SOCIAL Halle Berry
Rita Ora
Camila Alves McConaughey
Melinda Gate & Phoebe Gates
The Event
MICHAEL KORS NY FASHION WEEK The Story
Melinda Gates and her daughter Phoebe Gates, Blake Lively, Rita Ora, Vanessa Hudgens, Ariana DeBose, Tiffany Haddish, Olivia Wilde, and Halle Berry were among the stars who flocked to Brooklyn’s Domino Park to cheer on Michael Kors as he unveiled his new collection. The fashion mogul said he took inspiration from both his worldwide travels and his late mother, Joan Kors, who was once a Revlon model. “My mother truly was my ultimate muse, my ultimate supporter,” he confided. “She and I traveled the world together, and I have so many incredible memories of holidays with her.” In a sea of white, black, and brown garments, festooned with shimmering sequins and Michael metallic chains, the models sashayed Kors down the floral-lined runway in cotton shift dresses, miniskirts, and cable knit underwear. Kors said he wanted to create a collection his mother would have worn the 60s and 70s, saying, “She was woman who broke the rules. She wore hot pants to the office. I think she always had fun with fashion.” michaelkors.com
in a
Tiffany Haddish
PMC
Blake Lively
Olivia Wilde
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SOCIAL SAFARI
A Scathing Review by R. Couri Hay
Dead Man Walking
METROPOLITAN OPERA
Anne Hathaway, Jon Hamm, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Stiller, Al Roker, Sir Patrick Stewart, Angela Basset and Whoopi Goldberg led the perfumed pack to the Opening Night of the 140th Anniversary of the Metropolitan Opera. Although the stars helped elevate the night visually, in the end, it was a flop. Tradition finally cracked. For 139 years this, usually, grand night served as the opening night of the New York Social Season, but no more. What a tragic disappointment. The years when Mrs. Astor, C.Z. Guest, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, the Hearsts and Dead Man Walking at Metropolitan Opera Opening Gala Rockefellers would swan down the grand staircase in Charles James gowns, being photographed by the legendary society photographer Bill Cunningham, is long gone. Combat boots and ill-fitting dresses have taken over the red carpet. Sadly, it was La Boheme at the Dead Man Walking Set not a Grand Opening night of yore! Metropolitan Opera
Opening Night
The Good News & The Bad News
Luciano Pavarotti
Bill Cunningham
Here’ the Good News. My ticket cost a whopping $35 dollars! A perfect price considering what was on the menu. I already guessed I was not going to like “Dead Man Walking.” I saw the movie. Okay, Sean Penn! I’ve read the reviews from around the world, and I get it, but modern opera, sometimes, just doesn’t cut it for me. The bad news is I would have left “Dead Man Walking” virtually dead if I had stayed for the entire performance. The plot: it opens with a Tao Okamoto and Zac Posen rape and murder and ends with a lethal injection. It was more like an episode of “American Horror Story” than a thrilling night at the opera. The first and best 15 minutes of the night was actually a film sequence. The set was stark, the music was more interesting, and the libretto by Terrence McNally was direct but uninspiring. Leading the cast and doing the best they could with what they were given, were Grammy Award–winning singer Joyce DiDonato and Ryan McKinny. Sigourney Weaver
Mrs. William Randolph Hearst Jr. in the Four Leaf Clover gown by Charles James at the opening of the Metropolitan Opera
Angela Basset
The Twenty Million Dollar Question
The big question? Where are the majestic sets of Franco Zeffirelli? Where’s “La Bohème” and “La Traviata”? My guess? Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti are not amused. Why not bring back a new production of a classic for the, what’s supposed to be a glamourous, opening night? Not a Debbie downer of an evening. This is what the audience wants. How do I know? Well, from my perch in the last row, I looked down to see the audience was half empty. I’m telling you; the balconies were half empty! Luckily, for the Met, the orchestra was filled. Thank goodness there are still swells or at least want-to-bes who want to be seen at the opera and in the boxes. And there are still the very faithful Opera Club members, dear sweet masochists they must be to sit through this dud of a night. And, yes, we should support modern opera, but that does not mean I need to like them. It was, in a word, dead. The best music and moment was the singing of the national anthem when everyone stands up and puts their hand on their hearts and belts out “bombs bursting in air.” This was the benefit’s ultimate grand gesture. God bless America. The MET will run through June 7, 2024, and there will be wonderful nights. I will be back. I still love the Met! The night raised a bundle and boy do they need it! metopera.org
The Conclusion
Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas
Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center
If the Metropolitan Opera no longer holds the title of the opening of the Social Season, what does? In my opinion, it’s a horse race, between the opening of the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre’s Fall Gala. All stellar events, both culturally and socially,this year . More about those galas in the party pages that follow.
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T H E WATC H M A K E R O F WATC H M A K E R S
A N YA TAY L O R - J OY
REVERSO
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