Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry

ACCENT

THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS

SPRING/SUMMER 2015

JEWELRY INSPIRATION

FROM THE

RUNWAY PLUS:

TRENDS THE NEW HEIRLOOMS

CATCHING UP WITH

KRISTIN CHENOWETH

DEAR FRIENDS I

t is often said that all of life is a journey. In the wake of a wonderful year in 2014, Lee Michaels moves forward on our journey, continually improving our business to provide you with the Extraordinary Experience you have come to expect.

While the economy has become challenging for some due to decreasing oil prices, Lee Michaels is comfortably showing sustained growth. We have found that expanding our footprint in all of our market areas has been a very successful strategy. And while we have enjoyed our home in Lafayette’s Acadiana Mall since 1985, after 30 years we are now expanding to a new freestanding store at Ambassador Crossing with Whole Foods. After breaking ground in February, we anticipate a grand-reopening in January of 2016.

Looking further ahead we are pleased to announce that Rolex has chosen Lee Michaels to be one of a very few select retailers to have a Rolex shop-in-shop.

The new space will be emerging in 2016 attached to our La Cantera store in San Antonio. The location will also see the addition of an enhanced David Yurman presence.

Throughout this year, our voyage will include trips all over the world, where we will search for the most appealing colored gemstones, diamonds and unique or one-of-a-kind jewelry and watches to offer you in your quest for the most perfect gifts. And no journey would be possible without the continued support of our loyal friends in each of our market areas. Since every Lee Michaels box has a story, we encourage you to share yours on our Facebook page, illuminating how we played a part in your journey.

Our family sincerely appreciates your support and we hope that you will FRQWLQXH WR MRLQ XV RQ RXU WUHN E\ PDNLQJ /HH 0LFKDHOV \RXU oUVW FKRLFH IRU DOO \RXU oQH MHZHOU\ QHHGV Best personal regards, Lee Michael Berg, Ryan Berg, Scott Berg and Chad Berg

CONTENTS

Spring/Summer 2015

BATON ROUGE 7560 CORPORATE BOULEVARD 225.926.4644 MALL OF LOUISIANA, 225.766.6000 NEW ORLEANS LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER, 504.832.0000 SHREVEPORT 6605 YOUREE DRIVE, 318.222.2929 LAFAYETTE ACADIANA MALL, 337.981.8071 JACKSON, MS RENAISSANCE AT COLONY PARK, 601.957.6100 SAN ANTONIO, TX NORTHSTAR MALL, 210.541.9575 THE SHOPS AT LA CANTERA, 210.699.9494 CEO LEE MICHAEL BERG CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER KENNETH S. GIKAS VICE PRESIDENT GREG JOHNSON VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER MALL OF LOUISIANA JOHNNY TATE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER JANE HARRINGTON ADVERTISING MANAGER AMY GRAHAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS LEE MICHAEL BERG BRENDA BERG CHAD BERG, GENERAL MANAGER RYAN BERG, MARKET PRESIDENT SCOTT BERG, MARKET PRESIDENT

FEATURES 1 Welcome Letter 4 Red Box Insider 6 American Gem Society Lifetime Achievement 8 From the Runways 14 Personalities: Kristin Chenoweth 20 All You Need is Love: Lee Michaels Couples 28 Culture: Fashion Facelift 30 Collecting: Time to Invest 36 Travel: Take Me Away 40 Trends: The New Heirlooms 42 Food: Celebrating Curaçao’s Cuisine 48 Gifts: From the Heart

CREATIVE DEPARTMENT AMANDA MAYO JAMES OSBORNE P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E B J I FA S H I O N G R O U P PUBLISHER STU NIFOUSSI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KAREN ALBERG GROSSMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR HANS GSCHLIESSER MANAGING EDITOR JILLIAN LAROCHELLE PROJECT MANAGER LISA MONTEMORRA PRODUCTION MANAGER PEG EADIE PRESIDENT AND CEO BRITTON JONES CHAIRMAN AND COO MAC BRIGHTON Prices are subject to change without notice and may vary depending on size, quality and availability. Copyright 2015. Accent® is published by Business Journals, Inc, P.O. Box 5550, Norwalk, CT 06856, 203-853-6015 • Fax: 203-852-8175; Advertising Office: 1384 Broadway, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10018, 212-686-4412 • Fax: 212686-6821; All Rights Reserved. The publishers accept no responsibilities for advertisers’ claims, unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or other materials. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers. Volume 13, Issue 1. Accent® is a trademark of Business Journals, Inc. registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. Printed In The U.S.A.

OYSTER PERPETUAL L ADY-DATEJUST

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oyster perpetual and datejust are trademarks.

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utumn at Lee Michaels was packed with exciting events in-store and around town! Personal appearances by the vivacious designer Konstantino in Baton Rouge, San Antonio, Shreveport and New Orleans were a big hit. We also hosted designer Gurhan for the o UVW WLPH LQ %DWRQ 5RXJH $V ELJ VXSSRUWHUV RI WKH -XQLRU Leagues in all of our markets, we participated in many holiday marketplaces and helped the Leagues raise money by GRQDWLQJ D 5ROH[ WR UDIp H -HZHOHUV IRU &KLOGUHQ D QDWLRQ wide charity organization, held a contest for local charities to win a $10,000 grant. We were thrilled when we nominated WKH -XQLRU /HDJXH RI %DWRQ 5RXJH DQG WKH\ ZRQ 7KH FKHFN Lee Michael Berg with designer Gurhan Orhan. for $10,000 was presented by Lee Michaels to the League at their annual membership meeting. Our Bocage location in %DWRQ 5RXJH XQYHLOHG D &DUWLHU ( VSDFH DV ZHOO ZKLFK ZH DUH thrilled to have in that market. As you can see, our fall season was full of fun and giving back to our communities.

Scott Berg with ladies of the Baton Rouge Symphony League at the Bocage location &DUWLHU ( VSDFH XQYHLOLQJ HYHQW

7RQ\ 6DQGHUV &KDG %HUJ DQG /HLJK 5HHYHV at Mistletoe Marketplace.

A guest takes her chance at the roulette wheel during the Viva Lee Michaels event.

-RKQQ\ 7DWH SUHVHQWV .RQVWDQWLQR DQG KLV daughter, Phaedra, with a framed print by Louisiana artist Stacey Uffman Blanchard.

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Sharon Poirrier with designer Gurhan Orhan.

Š 2015 John Hardy Limited

One of a kind. One at a time. Each by hand.

Lifetime

ACHIEVEMENT

D

uring the Circle of Distinction dinner on July 29, 2014 at the historic Plaza Hotel in New York City, Lee Michael Berg, CEO of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, was awarded with the American Gem Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor is given to individuals who KDYH PDGH VLJQLo FDQW FRQWULEXWLRQV WR WKH LQGXVWU\ WKURXJK RXW WKHLU FDUHHUV /HH V HQWLUH IDPLO\ DWWHQGHG WR FHOHEUDWH DQG honor him, as did many friends in the industry. /HH V VRQV ZHUH TXRWHG DV VD\LQJ k'DG LV WUXO\ WKH FRQVXP PDWH SURIHVVLRQDO ZLWK WKH XWPRVW LQWHJULW\ DQG H[HPSOLo HV what the American Gem Society represents. He has always strived for excellence in the industry as a whole, whether as a OHDGHU RI DQ LQGXVWU\ RUJDQL]DWLRQ RU LQ RXU RZQ IDPLO\ EXVL ness. He truly cares and wants people to succeed, and helps PDNH D GLIIHUHQFH E\ VKRZLQJ WKHP WKHLU WUXH SRWHQWLDO y 7KH DZDUG ZDV SUHVHQWHG WR /HH E\ -RKQ *UHHQ DQG (G %ULGJH WZR ORQJWLPH IULHQGV DQG EXVLQHVV DVVRFLDWHV LQ WKH jewelry industry. Lee accepted the award not only for himself EXW RQ EHKDOI RI WKH HQWLUH /HH 0LFKDHOV )LQH -HZHOU\ )DPLO\ VWDWLQJ k<RX NQRZ LQ OLIH LW V QRW DERXW RQH SHUVRQ RU RQH man or one woman doing anything. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a matter of a team effort doing it all. In our case we have 200 employees all pulling the rope in the same direction trying to make it KDSSHQ y Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family and the associates of Lee Michaels were proud DQG GHOLJKWHG WR EH SDUW RI KLV DFFHSWDQFH VSHHFK IRU WKH ZHOO GHVHUYHG DQG SUHVWLJLRXV LQGXVWU\ KRQRU

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lee is a revered industry leader and a mentor to many.â&#x20AC;?

Ruth Batson, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories

from the

RUNWAYS

CHAIN LINK COUTURE

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14K rose gold necklace with round brown diamonds bezel set throughout a 57” length, $11,500 14K white gold necklace with round diamonds bezel set throughout a 51” length, $11,500 Gucci 18K yellow gold horsebit ring, $2,340 Marco Bicego 18K yellow and white gold open link ring with pavé diamond bars, $1,210 18K yellow and white gold link bracelet with four pavé diamond links, $13,500 MOSCHINO RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY OF ACCESSORIES DIRECTIONS

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ARCHITECTURAL ATTITUDE

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18K yellow and white gold aquamarine earrings with pavé diamonds, $6,500 Penny Preville 18K white gold necklace with pavé diamond “V” bar on an 18” chain, $1,685 Penny Preville 18K yellow gold necklace with one round diamond on a 16” chain, $1,290 Roberto Coin 18K yellow and white gold chain link bracelet with alternating pavé diamond links, $11,000 John Hardy Dot Collection 18K gold and sterling silver two-row coil bracelet, $1,995 Penny Preville 18K yellow gold open bangle with round and pavé diamonds set on each end, $2,995 Penny Preville 18K yellow gold open bangle with pavé diamonds set in a square design on each end, $2,500 BIBHU MOHAPATRA RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY OF ACCESSORIES DIRECTIONS

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POIS MOI COLLECTION

SORBET SHADES

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Konstantino 18K yellow gold, sterling silver and sea blue agate and pearl pendant, $2,120 Sterling silver round wheat chain, $90 Marco Bicego Lunaria Collection 18K yellow gold and aquamarine earrings, $3,140 David Yurman Starburst Collection sterling silver and blue topaz necklace, $750 18K yellow gold opal and diamond earrings, $8,500 18K white gold opal and diamond ring, $12,500 ZUHAIR MURAD RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY OF ACCESSORIES DIRECTIONS

personalities

Right: Chenoweth’s 2014 CD release of career favorites.

Diminutive

Diva

Kristin Chenoweth’s big voice and bright smile have been lighting up stages and screens for decades.

BY BRIAN SCOTT LIPTON

W

hat Kristin Chenoweth lacks in height she makes up for in vocal power, acting ability and fashion sense.

The 4'11'', 46-year-old superstar has thrilled Broadway audiences with her work in such shows as You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (which earned her a Tony), Wicked and Promises, Promises. She’s also a frequent TV and film actress, best known for her roles as Annabeth in The West Wing, Courtney in Four Christmases, Olive Snook in Pushing Daisies (for which she won an Emmy) and April in Glee. And did we mention she regularly sells out concert halls and major arenas?

Last fall, Chenoweth released her latest CD, Coming Home, a concert version of which also aired as a PBS special. She’s currently appearing on Broadway opposite Peter Gallagher as

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From top: Chenoweth in The Good Wife; with Peter Gallagher in On the Twentieth Century; in Glee; as Glinda the Good in Wicked.

tempestuous 1930s film star Lily Garland in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of the hit musical On the Twentieth Century.

Accent recently caught up with Chenoweth to chat about her career, her fashion choices and her favorite pieces of jewelry.

The character of Lily Garland in On the Twentieth Century has long been on your radar. How does it feel to finally get the chance to portray her on Broadway?

It’s definitely been on my bucket list. The composers, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, told me before they passed away that I was the next rightful owner of that role. I’ve always kept that in the back of my mind, and it seemed like now the time was right. And here I am doing it! I’m very nervous, because it’s a difficult score to sing, and there’s some major physical comedy.

When you play a character like Lily, who is a bit of a diva, which parts of your personality do you draw from?

I guess there is strength in me that I can only see at times when I’m being pushed to the limit, and Lily is a push-to-thelimit type of character. And vocally she’s a soprano, so that is right in my wheelhouse.

The character you’re best known for may be Glinda from Wicked. Do you ever get tired of singing songs from that show at your concerts?

Sometimes I wonder if the audience really wants to hear Popular again, but they prove me wrong every time. They always do!

How did you choose which songs to record for Coming Home?

It’s a culmination of songs I’ve been singing my whole life, so it’s more of a career record. Gospel music is a big part of my life, so I included a song I grew up singing, Little Sparrow, which is a tribute to Dolly Parton. There’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which I’ve been singing since I was itty-bitty. And I Could’ve Danced All Night from My Fair Lady shows my vocal training. Everything I do is represented on that album.

What are your favorite things to do off-stage?

When I need to get away, I like to go to Cabo San Lucas and lie by the pool and drink margaritas and hang out and eat. I also like to just stay in bed and watch TV. Tell us about your sense of fashion, both in real life and on the red carpet.

I keep it pretty simple. I think simple is better when you’re petite. And I like to mix and match. If I get a dress from Zara, then I’ll pair it with Christian Louboutin shoes.

Do you have a surefire look for attracting attention?

I don’t think cleavage ever hurts.

How do you use jewelry to complete a look, and what are some of your favorite pieces?

I don’t do a lot of big jewelry unless I’m on stage. Personally, I like smaller stacked necklaces and rings. I have a brand-new pair of broken arrow earrings that my friends gave me knowing I’m from a little town in Oklahoma called Broken Arrow, so currently those are my favorite.

Have you inherited any family jewelry heirlooms that mean something particularly special to you?

There is a black onyx ring that my grandma had. She gave it to my mom and my mom, not too long ago, gave it to me. That’s one of my prized possessions. So is another ring that my grandma had throughout her life; it’s an opal with diamonds around it. Those are the kind of things on which you can’t put a monetary value.

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“Sometimes I wonder if the audience really wants to hear Popular again.. . they always do!”

1954

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Mr. & Mrs. Peter Gregory (Tracey Taylor) December 13, 2014 • Jackson, MS

All you need is Every Lee Michaels box has a story. Knowing we’ve played a part in the special story of these customers’ lives energizes us and continues to give us the passion to deliver extraordinary symbols of emotion and life’s experiences. Every day momentous occasions occur in our customers’ lives, and we are prepared to make the moment your Lee Michaels box is opened an unforgettable one.

Mr. & Mrs. Clifton Leblanc (Morgan Honore) May 23, 2014 • New Roads, LA

Mr. & Mrs. James Holland, Jr. (Amanda McCann) October 18, 2014 • Baton Rouge, LA

Mr. & Mrs. Harold Simmons, Jr. (Jeanette Sabolyk) October 4, 2014 • Metairie, LA

Mr. & Mrs. Keith Terrell (Lindsay Honore) November 14, 2014 • Baton Rouge, LA

Mr. & Scott Hodgins (Amanda White) January 24, 2015 • New Orleans, LA

Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Brown (Hannah Mitchell) March 28, 2014 • Baton Rouge, LA

Dr. & Mrs. Timothy Lacy (Jill Street) June 21, 2014 •New York, NY

Mr. & Mrs. Furnell Andrus (Tammie LaFontaine) July 21, 2014 • 18th Anniversary Vow Renewal • Montego Bay, Jamaica

Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Lero (Victoria Cribb) May 2, 2014 • Baton Rouge, LA

ADD THE NEXT CHAPTER

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culture

Italy’s designers step up to preserve cultural landmarks.

BY ROBERT HAYNES-PETERSON

L

ast spring, in the wake of crippling recessions, Matteo Renzi, Italy’s newest (and youngest) prime minister, called on the private sector to help fund emergency restoration of collapsing structures in the ancient wonder that is the buried city of Pompeii. Heavy rains and flooding had caused severe damage, and the government was unable to cover the whole bill. Now the program is expanding to the country’s museums, fountains and other icons, particularly in Rome. And its fashion giants—including Fendi, Bulgari and Tod’s—are stepping up to the plate.

While corporate sponsorship of public projects is nothing new in the U.S., it’s fairly unprecedented in Italy, where there’s a resistance to mixing private and government programs. “The ideological refusal to permit the private sector to intervene—as if only the public sector could guarantee the guardianship of heritage—must end,” Renzi announced last March.

Soon after, luxury jeweler Bulgari said it would put $2 million toward an extensive refurbishment of the storied Spanish Steps in the Piazza di Spagna, where decades of heavy traffic have taken a toll on the 290-year-old structure. Scheduled to begin this year, it will help celebrate Bulgari’s 130th anniversary as a “special gift from

Roberto Cavalli held a runway show beneath Milan’s Arch of Peace and donated $120,000 towards its restoration.

GETTY 1; RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY OF ACCESSORIES DIRECTIONS

Fashion Facelift

Bulgari to its city,” CEO Jean-Christophe Babin said in a statement.

These gestures are not completely without precedent: In 2010, Roberto Cavalli presented his collection beneath Milan’s Arch of Peace in exchange for a $120,000 donation toward its restoration. What’s changed is the scale—and the ability to do some branding during construction.

Tod’s, the shoe company famous for its elegant driving moccasins, announced it is helping to finance a series of projects at Rome’s 2,000-yearold Colosseum. Plans for the $30 million comprehensive restoration have been in the works since 2012. (They met with some controversy, since part of the agreement involves promotional opportunties for Tod’s in exchange for the funding.) A series of restorations of the site’s arches, facades and entrances will keep the famous amphitheater partially shrouded in scaffolding for over two years. In the end, though, the city should be able to enjoy its massive monument for another few millennia.

And last summer, Fendi announced it would dedicate almost $3 million to a restoration of the Trevi Fountain, the Neptune-and-chariot adorned destination built in the 18th century and made famous in the films La Dolce Vita and Three Coins in the Fountain. While tourists might lament visiting the site while it’s drained and under scaffolding, it’s also possible they’ll catch Fendi’s creative genius Karl Lagerfeld, who loves photographing Rome’s fountains. For Fendi, restoring the city’s fountains (more projects are planned) makes sense. Insists Silvia Venturini Fendi, creative director of accessories and thirdgeneration designer, “It’s our duty to pay tribute to the city of Rome which has given us so much.”

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collecting

time to

invest

Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMTMaster II, 40mm in stainless steel with rotatable black and blue ceramic bezel and Oysterlock bracelet.

Watchmaking history appeals to a new generation.

BY WILLIAM BUCKLEY

P

hilatelists collect stamps and numismatists collect coins, but watch collectors, in the grand scheme of things, are a relatively new breed.

Seismic shifts—from pocket watch to mechanical wristwatch to quartz and atomic movements—indicated the fading of each previous technology into obscurity. But by the end of the 1980s, manufacturers realized that there was a market for mechanical wristwatches both as timepiece and work of art. A new generation of consumers was excited by the craftsmanship of traditional horology, and the watch collector was born.

Edward Faber, one of the leading experts on vintage watches and founder of the Aaron Faber Gallery in New York, explains, “Before 1930 watches were essentially pocket watches retrofitted to the wrist. With the advent of World War I, huge advances in technology were made in all areas, from automobiles to aviation, and watches soon followed suit. The nuances of jeweling and modern technology enabled watchmakers to integrate features like chronographs and moonphase calendars, and mechanical wristwatches entered their element.”

But with the “quartz revolution” came a level of timekeeping accuracy that changed daily life. What began in 1929 with the quartz clock took 40 years to miniaturize, but in a few swift years mechanical watches began to look like they would become obsolete. “We’ve learned in this industry to fear new technologies, and for good reason,” explains Michael Friedman, historian for Audemars Piguet. “What we could accurately call the quartz revolution was known to many as the quartz crisis because it essentially wiped out the industry as we knew it; it took many years to evolve past that.

But interestingly, what the quartz era in the 1970s really did was to liberate the watch industry. We’re now in an era of experimentation and expressionism largely because the accuracy problem was solved when the quartz watch debuted.”

With smart watch production numbers in the tens of millions, manufacturers like Apple and Samsung are investing in the future of timekeeping. And whether or not smart watches become as ubiquitous as the quartz and mechanical movements before them, increased interest in traditional craftsmanship has secured the future of mechanical watches. “To connect with a timepiece, which may have plus or minus a few seconds per week but is part of horological history, is a strong statement,” insists Faber.

“People in their 20s and 30s are looking at vintage Rolexes and IWCs and they’re excited to collect them, they’re excited to buy them. When they buy vintage watches, they’re also buying the stories behind them.”

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Patek Philippe Ref. 5170G Men’s Chronograph with pulsometric scale. White gold with silvery white dial.

Featuring Caliber CH 29-535 PS Mechanical manually wound movement.

WHAT COLLECTORS LOOK FOR Brand: This is the number-one consideration. Currently Patek Philippe and Rolex are most coveted.

Papers and Presentation: Watches with their original papers and boxes in good condition are worth more.

Metal: With only a few exceptions, platinum is number one, followed by rose gold, then yellow gold, then steel.

Complications: Chronographs, moonphases, tourbillions etc. can increase a watch’s collectability.

Rarity: The more mass-produced a watch is, the less desirable it is to a collector.

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Located on the Piazza 17101 La Cantera Parkway 210.251.3542

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Full service off-site catering Mid-week power lunches

P I AT T I . C O M

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On-site banquets & events

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FA C E B O O K . C O M / P I AT T I R E S TA U R A N T

REWARD â&#x20AC;˘ RECOGNIZE â&#x20AC;˘ REPRESENT

C O R P O R AT E G I F T S & AWA R D S The Lee Michaels Corporate Gifts & Awards Division offers a full range of distinctive products for companies and organizations celebrating essential milestones. We communicate the right message to clients, employees, peers and communities.

Our competitive service and commitment to excellence guarantee that everyone will enjoy the Reward, Recognition and Representation of your business.

For customer service, please contact Lindsay Chustz Guerin at 225-368-3641 or lindsayg@lmfj.com

travel

Take Me Away

Escape your everyday routine and experience self-discovery during a yoga retreat. BY ELISE DIAMANTINI

Left: Open-air meditation session in Nicaragua during a Yoga for Bad People retreat. Right: Scenes from the juice cleanse retreat in Montauk, NY.

YOGA FOR BAD PEOPLE Don’t be alarmed by the name: Yoga for Bad People is bad in a really good way. This traveling retreat company is the brainchild of NYC-based yoga instructors Heather Lilleston and Katelin Sisson, who provide guests with the perfect combination of yoga asana, meditation and fun-filled activities in beautiful settings all over the world. Lilleston describes the retreats as “not too much granola, not too much discipline, but just enough structure to give you an outline within which your own personal flavor of R & R can flourish. We like to think we have mastered the art of having a good time, rather than mastered the handstand or shoving our feet behind our heads.

That can be fun too, but mainly we want the experience to feel inclusive.”

Yoga for Bad People travels the globe to find gorgeous locations in countries like Nicaragua, Brazil, even Cuba. Yogis on retreat can expect a led meditation in the morning followed by a vinyasa yoga class, brunch, midday activities (like tanning, surfing, hiking, shopping, relaxing, etc.), an evening yoga class (generally more restorative), dinner and then time to chill out or explore the city’s nightlife. Yoga classes are focused on alignment and therapy, and as Lilleston says, “The practice reflects and balances out the

group dynamic, personal needs and the local environment, as well as offers a physical challenge. We make sure to give plenty of hands-on assists throughout a class. Led meditations are always optional, but those who have committed to them for the duration of the retreat have often been able to continue the practice at home.”

Another thing that makes Yoga for Bad People unique is the music.

Lilleston and Sisson say you’ll hear anything from Outkast to Cat Power to Led Zeppelin to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. “It’s not uncommon for the vibe of the class to feel like you have one foot on the mat and one foot on the dance floor,” she explains. “Bottom line: we like to have a good time.”

LUXYOGA Imagine this: an all-inclusive retreat at a private villa in the South of France with two daily yoga classes taught by master instructors, a personal chef who cooks delicious food using healthy local ingredients, and luxurious personalized service. When you book a LuxYoga retreat, this scenario becomes your reality. Benjamin Sears, who is trained in Bikram, Forrest and Dharma Mittra yoga, as well as meditation and pranayama, created LuxYoga as a high-quality yoga immersion and luxury vacation. “We offer a yoga

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program where teachers get to know the students in a space where they will reflect and grow,” explains Sears. “Plus, it’s really nice to do some challenging yoga and know that after the class our concierge will be waiting with fresh-pressed juice and a beautiful lunch. This is a deep yoga retreat for real people. We want to create not only a vacation, but a transformative experience. We try to get people to dig a deep well and really enjoy themselves.”

Each retreat, specializing in either Bikram or vinyasa yoga, has no more than 15 people and two expert teachers. In addition to daily classes, students can attend in-depth workshops—photo analysis, lectures and clinics—that provide a deeper understanding of the practice. All levels are welcome, from beginners who want to learn more to certified teachers who want to refine their knowledge. “We want to make people feel safe and

EXOTIC YOGA RETREATS

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xotic Yoga Retreats is exactly what its name implies: vacations with an emphasis on yoga in non-touristy locations, where students can experience “luxury travel, blending yoga and inner discovery with sensory experiences of visual beauty, healthy sumptuous cuisine, cultural enrichment and outdoor adventure.” Founder Gayle Olson, author of The Yoga and Fitness Guide for Women, is also a 20-year veteran teacher of vinyasa, Iyengar and Hatha yoga styles. She personally scouts locations in order to provide guests with “a deeply relaxing and inspiring setting [in which] to unwind, enjoy a little healthy indulgence, connect with themselves, with nature and with other interesting people from around the world: to enjoy simple pleasures in life, wrapped in a little luxury!”

Upcoming 2015 retreats include trips to Croatia, Bali, Bhutan and Provence.

Practicing handstands in Cambodia on an Exotic Yoga Retreat.

Yogis sharing a locally sourced meal during a LuxYoga retreat in the South of France.

“We want to create not only a vacation, but a transformative experience.” comfortable, and offer them a way of life that they can re-create at home.

We do journaling exercises and meditation to promote self-reflection. And while I care about the asana and I want people to improve, I’m more concerned with people than poses. The poses are just tools to help people.”

Sears says that while each activity at LuxYoga is optional, guests are typically inspired to take part in every aspect of the retreat. “And it’s not a Kumbaya situation, it’s a really special experience: yoga facilitates the bonds people make, but the bonds are not forced. It just happens that people form lasting friendships.” In addition to the quality of yoga and small classes, Sears says something that sets LuxYoga apart is the convivial atmosphere of the villa. “For example, our concierge will remember if someone likes mint tea and pick fresh mint flowers for them.

“And the villa itself is something you have to see to believe. We have this incredible unobstructed view of the French Riviera. I wanted to create my ideal vacation: practice yoga in a beautiful place and share wonderful meals with soulful people.”

Accommodations are luxurious, whether guests lodge in a boutique hotel, a lavish sailboat or an extravagant villa; food and wine is always local and organic. Yoga classes are intimate (eight to 12 students) with lots of hands-on adjustments by Olson and her experienced instructors.

She describes a typical day: “Mornings begin with fresh juice, a cappuccino or a healing Ayurvedic tea, depending on where we are in the world. A morning serenity walk on a tropical beach, in lavender fields, or through the rolling hills of Tuscany invites you to savor the tranquility and rejuvenating power of nature. We meet for yoga around 8 a.m., followed by a well-earned farm-to-table brunch on a beautiful terrace. Afternoons are for beach lounging, cultural excursions or other adventures. On touring retreats, there may be only one yoga class each day, with stretches along the way. But on most, we have sunset restorative, pranayama and meditation practices. Evenings are pure magic, as we savor the simple luxury of a healthy gourmet meal with fine wine and wonderful company!”

Pure magic indeed.

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trends

the new heirlooms

Today’s jewelry merges the best of past and present.

BY BETH BERNSTEIN

When considering buying fine jewelry, a woman should ask two important questions before making a purchase: Will the styles endure or at least make a comeback? And will they retain their intrinsic value? Renowned jewelry houses and savvy independent designers ask themselves these same questions before jumping on a new trend direction. For spring/summer 2015, the hottest jewelry styles possess these qualities and are part of an evolving trend we’ll call “The New Heirlooms.” This is jewelry that recalls the past with vintage silhouettes or antique details, but has been reworked with a current sensibility to appeal to today’s modern woman.

GO FOR THE GOLD

BRING ON THE BLING At the same time, we’re witnessing a return to Art Deco-inspired long, linear and ultra-clean shapes, many with fluidity of movement. These appear in white gold and feature varying cuts of diamonds, reminiscent of Cartier in the ’20s and ’30s.

Cabochon and sugar loaf cuts of emeralds, sapphires, spinels and rubies are also trending. The cuts are generally set in white gold or platinum and featured in flexible bracelets, large stone rings, lariat necklaces and tassel earrings, which flow and swing when a woman turns her head. Arm bracelets and hand and hair jewelry are renewing this category with the youthful spirit it needs to inspire a new generation of fine jewelry devotees.

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FROM TOP: ROBERTO COIN, MARCO BICEGO, IVANKA TRUMP, PENNY PREVILLE

At the auction and collector level, signed pieces by storied design houses (think Boucheron, Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels) have been fetching record prices. Inspired by the renewed demand for bold jewelry, chunky yellow gold styles are back in all of their adorning glory.

Retro looks from the ’40s and ’50s, including single bracelets with multiple charms and large, intricately designed links, are back. For a fresh look, they can be stacked with early antique serpent styles that wrap several times around the wrist, or ’70s-style buckle bracelets. Looks popularized in the ’80s by designers such as Elsa Peretti and Paloma Picasso are being rethought in modern forms: wider-than-wide cuffs, knuckle rings and pendants that dangle at 32” or longer.

Large hoop earrings in various oval, marquise, round and square shapes take on an organic feel, while stud earrings, stackable rings and bib necklaces all incorporate movement. Many also sport colored gemstones, which range from more muted varieties of labradorite and moonstone to fancy colored sapphires and various hues of tourmaline. There’s also a return to figurative Art Nouveau shapes with touches of enamel and intriguing color combinations.

THE

ESTATE JEWELRY COLLECTION

At Lee Michaels

Antique Design. Modern Perspective.

food

Shore restaurant at the Santa Barbara Resort in Nieuwpoort, Curaçao. Below, Chef Heinrich Hortencia.

LIONFISH WITH CARIBBEAN RATATOUILLE AND CHIMICHURRI OIL

Celebrating Curaçao’s Cuisine

Ingredients: 4 whole lionfish, fileted 4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into thick slices 1 ripe plantain, diced 1 red tomato, diced 1 eggplant, diced 1 green zucchini, diced 1 yellow zucchini, diced 1 onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 handful curly parsley 2 cups olive oil ¾ cup unsalted butter Sea salt White pepper

Chef Heinrich Hortencia is a Shore winner.

BY SHIRA LEVINE

H

aute cuisine is not the main reason people travel to the Caribbean. Swimming in the azure waters, snorkeling beside coral reefs and exploring the jungle are the real temptations that lure us to these exotic locales. Except, perhaps, in cosmopolitan Curaçao, where Chef Heinrich Hortencia of the Shore restaurant at the Santa Barbara Resort in Nieuwpoort uses A-list local and imported delicacies in his quest to put the “C” of the ABC Islands on the foodie map. “Everyone recognizes Shore for interesting presentations of ingredients at the fine dining level,” he notes. “I want to change the taste of Curaçao to represent our diversity.”

As Hortencia’s recent win on the Food Network show Chopped has proved, he knows how to deliver more than such white tablecloth menu staples as Lobster Thermidor, despite having spent 13 years cooking in Europe. While he initially returned to this colonial island of narrow winding streets and pastel building facades in order to spend time with his mother following his father’s passing, an edible agenda soon emerged: to elevate Curaçaoan cuisine from simple conch fritters to something worth traveling for.

Hortencia admits that Curaçao’s steady warm weather and smaller production of crops than he was used to in Europe provide a bit of a challenge. Nonetheless, part of his plan involves using the finest local ingredients from such purveyors as The Curaçao Ostrich Farm, which provides the bird’s lean meat and giant eggs.

Currently, Hortenica is on a lionfish kick. “There are too many lionfish around the island, so I am experimenting with preparations. That’s something I can’t do in Europe. We catch lionfish on this beautiful island and prepare it right here.”

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For lionfish: Ask your local fishmonger to clean and filet the lionfish for you. Safe handling is a priority because lionfish spines are very sharp and venomous.

Season filets with sea salt, then pan-fry in hot olive oil on the skin side until crispy. Flip filet onto other side and fry for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and set aside.

For Caribbean ratatouille: Heat pan with a small amount of olive oil. Fry half of the onion and half of the garlic. Add the plantain, then the remaining vegetables. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.

For sweet potato: Boil potato until soft. Take out and dry on paper towels. Pan fry in unsalted butter. Season with sea salt and set aside.

For chimichurri oil: Blend parsley, remaining garlic, remaining onion, olive oil, salt and pepper in blender.

On each plate, form a circle of Caribbean ratatouille, then top with a lionfish filet. Plate sweet potato beside the ratatouille, then drizzle chimichurri oil over plate.

Rewards Get more of what you love!

Every time you shop at Lee Michaels you will earn 2 points for nearly every $1 you spend. Also, we’ve partnered with your favorite jewelry designers to bring you special focus months, where you will receive 2 BONUS points (4 points total) for every $1 you spend on the featured designer of the month.

• Membership is free; all you need to sign up is an e-mail address.

• Purchases do not have to be made on a Lee Michaels credit card. Earn points with every form of payment: cash, check or credit card!

• Redeem points toward future purchases at Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry.

MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL SWISS ARMY KNIFE

gifts

from the HEART Notable moms on Mother’s Day, push presents and their most memorable jewelry gifts.

BY JILLIAN LAROCHELLE & JULIANNE PEPITONE

ROSIE POPE “I had my daughter, Vivienne, on Mother’s Day a couple of years ago. I would have to say she is my most memorable Mother’s Day gift! This year I am hoping for jewelry. Being a mom of four and running a business, I don’t have too much time to get ready in the morning. But with jewelry, I can throw earrings and bracelets on and feel a little more put together.

“My favorites are four bracelets my children gave me with their names written on each one. The best part about them: my oldest wrote all the names out and they stamped each into the metal, all in his handwriting. It was a special gift because it was a way of the kids welcoming our youngest, Bridget.”

HEIDI KLUM “I’m always loving to be surprised. My kids do beautiful art; we have an art teacher who comes to our house every week and guides them. They’ve done beautiful clay pots that they designed and painted. Last Mother’s Day my kids painted on canvases. I love art, so they’re always making something beautiful for me. So that’s always, for me, the best. I don’t want them to go and buy something; I’d rather they make something for me.”

IVANKA TRUMP “My first Mother’s Day was obviously memorable, but last year was my favorite. Arabella was old enough that we could really spend the day together doing our favorite ‘girl things.’ It was also my first Mother’s Day with two kids. It felt so complete.

“I have a special place in my heart for handmade gifts. I have Arabella’s artwork in my office and am always excited to add to my collection. That said, I think the best gift would simply be the day spent with my family—no phones, no internet, no distractions!—making breakfast, then exploring the city together.

“I didn’t get ‘push presents’ when my children were born—the children are the best gifts I could ever receive! My husband did give Arabella a necklace when she was born and I keep it for her. She knows when she is old enough it’s hers, and until then, I always ask her before I borrow it!

“The best jewelry I ever received was my engagement ring. It was purchased from my collection, which was a very supportive—and smart—move on my husband’s part.”

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© D.YURMAN 2015

LEE MICHAELS FINE JEWELRY ACCENT THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS

SPRING/SUMMER 2015