VOLUME X / ISSUE IX / SEPTEMBER 2026
GSTAAD HUBLOT GOLD CUP · MARYLAND POLO CLUB · SOTOGRANDE COPAS DE ORO Y PLATA • MONTEREY CAR WEEK
A FINAL TOAST TO DOLLY PARTON
HOW TO EURO-SUMMER LIKE AN A-LISTER
CLASSIC CARS FLOOD MONTEREY FOR THE GRANDEST WEEK ON FOUR WHEELS
SUCCESSFULLY TREATING PTSD WITH PSYCHEDELICS LOUIS VUITTON & SINGER
HOTELS UNDER $250 WE'D ACTUALLY STAY AT
TAKE "THE ART OF TRAVEL" TO PORSCHE
THINK ABOUT RECOVERY TIME AS A STATUS SYMBOL
"I HAD MY BLOOD WASHED AT A MED SPA IN GERMANY"
MAX MARA TRANSLATES AN ICON INTO A FRAGRANCE
CLAIMS TO POWER & PRIVILEGE
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EUROPE'S EX-ROYALS
VOLUME X / ISSUE IX / SEPTEMBER 2026
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CULLINAN II SERIES
Sophisticated force. Graceful power. The journey and the destination.
R O L L S - R OYC E LO S G AT O S www.rollsroycelosgatos.com
VOLUME X / ISSUE IX / SEPTEMBER 2026
Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher
Joshua Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Michael J. Snell
Lifestyles & Luxury Automobile Contributor
William Smith
Copy Editor & Wine Contributor
Claire Barrett
Joey Velez Wellness Contributor
Raabi Benadada
Head of Photography
Polo Contributor
Dana Romita
Raphael K. Dapaah
Amritlal अमृत
Dr. Michael J. Snell - NYC Miriam P. Owens - NYC
Polo Photographers
Contributing Photographers
Luxury Real Estate Contributor
Art Contributor
Brand Representatives
Monarch Visionary Contributor
Katerina Morgan Justine Jacquemot Irina Kazaridi Helen Cruden Pascal Renauldon Kathrin Gralla K. Kerley
Xavier Merchet-Thau Aubrey Chandler Eric Carré Eva Espresso Rob Miskowitch Margarita Crotto
Polo Lifestyles is a publication of HT Polo Publishing Co. Created in the Polo Lifestyles Design Lab Concord, Calif., U.S.A.
Cover photo shot of Dolly Parton Courtesy Dolly Wines Content Copyright © Polo Lifestyles 2026 All Rights Reserved. For information or to advertise Contact marketing@pololifestyles.com Read online at www.pololifestyles.com On Instagram & Facebook @pololifestyles A proud partner of Issuu, U.S. Polo Assn., USPA, Global Polo Sports, The Impression and Mixam
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WWW.PO LO WW W. P O L O L ILFIFES E S TTYYLES L E S ..COM COM
LA PALMERAIE MOROCCO The Autumn Cup PATAGONES POLO CLUB Inglehart Cup Outback Cup DOMAINE DE CHANTILLY Tournoi des Legendes HURLINGHAM POLO CLUB Coronation Trophy Cowdray Park Gold Cup The Queen's Cup ST-TROPEZ POLO CLUB SANTA BARBARA POLO CLUB Whittier Trust Silver Cup America's Cup U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open HAMPTONS POLO CLUB Continental Cup Monty Waterbury Cup GREENWICH POLO CUP East Coast Open
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COCKTAIL COLLECTION AVAILABLE AT PIAGET BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE
A vibrant invitation to celebrate life's golden moments. Flamboyant jewels, a blend of festive audacity and timeless PA G E 15 sophistication, brightening every day.
VOLUME X / ISSUE IX / SEPTEMBER 2026
SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS
GSTAAD HUBLOT GOLD CUP
FAVORITES FALL AND LAPLACETTE SHINES
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POLO LIFESTYLES EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS
Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand
Josh Jakobitz
Claire Barrett
Publisher Polo Lifestyles @haiti_polo_captain
Editor-in-Chief Polo Lifestyles @joshuajakobitz
Claire Barrett Photography
Eric Carré
Eva Espresso
Katerina Morgan
Photographer EC Photography @ti_carre
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Photographer
Eva Espresso Photography
@eva.espresso
Head of Photography @clairebarrettphoto
Polo Photographer Horse Polo Art Gallery @horsepoloartgallery
William Smith
Copy Editor & Contributor
May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
@willismith_2000
Amritlal अमृत
Ascension Contributor Monarch Visionary @monarchvisionary
Raphael K. Dapaah Art Contributor Dapaah Gallery @dapaahgallery
Joey Velez
Wellness Columnist
Velez Mental Performance
@velezmentalhealth
Michael J. Snell
Lifestyles & Luxury Automobiles Contributor @agnello_1
Dana Romita
Real Estate Contributor Douglas Elliman @danaromita
W W W. P O L O L I F E S T Y L E S . C O M
Treating PTSD with psychedelics, page 115
The would-be kings and queens of Europe, page 120
The Grandest Week on Four Wheels, page 62
Dolly's wines are a win, page 180
A FINAL TOAST TO DOLLY PARTON
1946 - 2026 PAGE 132
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T
HE MOMENT THAT I HEARD ABOUT DOLLY PARTON’S DEATH, I THOUGHT ABOUT OUR WINE CONTRIBUTOR, WILLIAM SMITH. YEARS AGO, HE NOMINATED DOLLY TO OUR WOMEN+POWER ISSUE. A LOGICAL AND FITTING INCLUSION, BUT ONE I HAD NEVER CONSIDERED.
Truth be told, I didn’t know much about Dolly; besides being able to pick her out of a crowd. I think I knew the chorus from “9 to 5,” and I knew she was the hairdresser in “Steel Magnolias”. What I learned about her surprised me: her philanthropic causes and generosity, her support and connections to her hometown, and her long-time marriage to Carl. Most shocking of all, I learned that Dolly had forgone becoming a billionaire by choice – electing, instead, to give away tens of millions of dollars to charities, schools, projects and communities. In this day and age, that says a lot about a person; quite possibly, all you need to know. Dolly Parton didn’t apologize for who she was and she didn’t change her tune with the times. She loved people of all backgrounds and persuasions. Her selfdeprecating humor will live on in 1,000 memes and reels. May her soul rest in peace.
Josh Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief josh@pololifestyles.com
VOLUME X / ISSUE IX / SEPTEMBER 2026
@poloislandrealty
@le1ercrew
@mercedesbenz
@robbreport
@diamond_world_magazine
@schiaparrelli
@culted
@piaget
@timtadder
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Click and comment on our choices... Tag @pololifestyles. We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.
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GSTAAD HUBLOT GOLD CUP
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FAVORITES FALL & LAPLACETTE SWEEPS IN GSTAAD
T TOOK FOUR FINALS FOR THE MEIER BROTHERS TO FINALLY LIFT THE GIANT WATCH, THE TROPHY OF THE HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP GSTAAD. PLAYING UNDER THE COLORS OF ALBINATI AERONAUTICS, THE TWO SWISS PLAYERS DEFEATED KIELDER AGRO GROUP (8–7) AT THE END OF A FINAL THAT REMAINED UNDECIDED FOR MUCH OF THE MATCH. ALONGSIDE THEM, ADRIAN LAPLACETTE DID EVEN MORE THAN WIN: BEST PROFESSIONAL PLAYER, LEADING SCORER OF THE TOURNAMENT AND RIDER OF THE BEST PLAYING PONY, THE ARGENTINE ALMOST SWEPT THE BOARD. It’s about time! That was essentially the feeling shared by the Meier brothers and Adrian Laplacette at the end of a final that reflected the tournament as a whole: fiercely contested from start to finish. After Saturday’s two semi-finals had both been decided by a single goal, one of them in overtime, it was difficult to imagine the final being any different. And it wasn’t. Albinati Aeronautics and Kielder Agro Group remained locked together for much of the match. It was 2–2 after the first chukker and 3–3 at half-time, with neither side able to gain a real advantage. It was not until the end of the third period that Albinati finally found an opening and established the first significant gap of the match (6–4). Kielder, of course, had not said their last word. Led by a very active Juan Pepa, whose long-range hitting from midfield regularly put the opposing defense under pressure, Saturday’s golden-goal semi-final winners came back to threaten Albinati once again in the final period. But this time Fabio and Luca Meier’s team held onto their advantage, preserving until the final whistle the slender one-goal margin worth a Gold Cup: 8–7. It was also a victory that rewarded perseverance. For Adrian Laplacette, this was his third appearance in Gstaad. The PA G E 27
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Argentine had already experienced the bitter taste of losing a final here two years ago. The Meiers had been chasing this trophy for even longer. “I really wanted to win it. For me, it was my third time playing here and I had already lost a final two years ago. So to finally win it is incredible. And the guys had already played four finals: at the fourth attempt, they finally did it! It shows that you have to keep trying, keep going.”
Finally the Gold Cup… and almost everything else And as this was very much Adrian Laplacette’s day, the individual honors were added to the trophy. The Argentine was named Best Professional Player of the tournament, while Ombucito El Padrino, whom he rode in the second half of the third chukker of the final, received the Best Playing Pony award as the outstanding horse of the final.
A philosophy reminiscent of the famous maxim attributed to William the Silent: “It is not necessary to hope in order to undertake, nor to succeed in order to persevere.” This time, perseverance paid off.
With 17 goals over the course of the tournament, Laplacette also finished as the leading scorer of this edition, ahead of Gonzalito Pieres with 16. A statistic that sums up his influence throughout the week and adds even greater significance to his first victory in Gstaad.
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On the other side, Juan Pepa did not leave empty-handed. Outstanding throughout the tournament, particularly for his defensive work and long clearances from the back position, the Kielder Agro Group captain was named Best Amateur Player.
PIERES SALVAGES THIRD PLACE A few hours earlier, Gonzalito Pieres ended his first appearance in Gstaad with a victory. Beaten by the narrowest of margins in Saturday’s semi-final by eventual winners Albinati after a remarkable 11–10 battle, the three-time Argentine Open winner led Hublot to third place with a 7–5 victory over Gstaad Palace.
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Trailing 2–1 after the first chukker, Hublot gradually took control, moving 4–3 and then 6–4 ahead before maintaining their two-goal advantage until the final whistle. Once again, Pieres was the driving force behind his team, scoring five of Hublot’s seven goals, including one penalty. Hublot thus repeated their opening-day victory over the same opponents and allowed their Argentine star to leave
Gstaad on the podium. With 16 goals in three matches, Gonza more than lived up to expectations on his first appearance in the Saanenland.
GSTAAD EVEN ORDERED THE SUNSHINE The favorites fell, matches were decided by the finest of margins, the final by a single goal, and the identity of the tournament’s leading scorer remained
undecided until the final day: the 2026 edition maintained the suspense right to the very end. And around the cancha, the atmosphere matched the sporting spectacle. Bright sunshine, a large crowd and the green mountains of the Saanenland as a backdrop: after the concerns caused by occasionally capricious Alpine weather, tournament president Pierre Genecand could finally relax. The one major conPA G E 31
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cern he had expressed before the event had disappeared when it mattered most. And so the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad 2026 comes to an end. Four days of sport, suspense, horses and encounters, with that special atmosphere that
makes Gstaad a place people come to as much for the polo as for everything surrounding it. The horses can now leave this unique cancha, set alongside Gstaad Airport. But the dates are already set for 19–22
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August 2027, for an edition that is certain to be special: the 30th. Thirty editions of history — and already the promise of a new chapter waiting to be written.
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MARYLAND POLO CLUB SUMMER SEASON
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SOTOGRANDE COPAS DE ORO Y PLATA SOTOGRANDE POLO CLUB
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SOTOGRANDE COPAS DE ORO Y PLATA SOTOGRANDE POLO CLUB
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HIGH SOCIETY
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THE GRANDEST WEEK ON FOUR WHEELS MICH AEL SNELL, PHD / LUXURY & AUTOMOTIVE CONTRIBUTOR
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THE GRANDEST WEEK
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ON FOUR WHEELS MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2026 BROUGHT TOGETHER THE RARE, THE REVOLUTIONARY AND THE REMARKABLE FOR 10 DAYS OF AUTOMOTIVE SPECTACLE ALONG CALIFORNIA’S MOST CELEBRATED COASTLINE
E
ACH AUGUST, A REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION TAKES PLACE ALONG CALIFORNIA’S MONTEREY PENINSULA. THE WINDING ROADS CONNECTING MONTEREY, CARMEL-BYTHE-SEA, CARMEL VALLEY AND PEBBLE BEACH BEGIN TO RESEMBLE A ROLLING MUSEUM, POPULATED BY MACHINERY THAT UNDER ALMOST ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BE ENCOUNTERED ONLY BEHIND VELVET ROPES.
Pre-war Bentleys share the road with contemporary Bugattis, Ferrari F40s appear outside neighborhood cafés, and meticulously restored competition cars make their way toward events with little ceremony beyond the unmistakable sound of their engines. For those 10 days, the automobile is not merely present on the Monterey Peninsula; it becomes part of its cultural landscape. Monterey Car Week 2026, held August 7 through 16, provided an especially significant edition of this annual gathering. The week brought together historic racing, international concours competition, manufacturer premieres, private hospitality, auctions, design presentations and an increasingly elaborate collection of luxury activations, culminating with the 75th anniversary of the
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. More than 400 historic competition machines participated in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, more than 200 automobiles gathered for The Quail, and 218 collector cars representing 14 countries and 30 American states ultimately assembled on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach. Those figures, however, reveal only part of what makes Monterey so compelling. Car Week has evolved far beyond the boundaries of a traditional automotive gathering. It is simultaneously a celebration of history, a marketplace for some of the world’s most valuable collector cars, an international design forum and one of the luxury industry’s most important annual social occasions. Manufacturers now use the week to introduce important new models, collectors arrive with automobiles that may not have appeared publicly for decades, and luxury brands construct temporary worlds around the clientele who descend on the peninsula. The result is a week unlike anything else on the automotive calendar.
THE PENINSULA BECOMES THE PADDOCK Part of Monterey’s appeal comes from the fact that Car Week cannot be contained within a convention center or single concours lawn. Instead, it spreads across the entire peninsula. Hotels become manufacPA G E 65
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turer headquarters, private estates host invitation-only unveilings, golf courses become temporary museums and the tarmac at Monterey Jet Center becomes an evening destination where automobiles and private aircraft provide an appropriately extravagant backdrop. Even the journey between events becomes part of the experience. During Car Week, traffic through Carmel can contain a collection that would otherwise command an entire museum exhibition. A vintage Alfa Romeo may be followed by a Porsche Carrera GT; an early Ferrari might appear several cars ahead of the latest Lamborghini. Owners drive cars that, elsewhere, would rarely leave climate-controlled collections. That accessibility creates an unusual sense of intimacy around extraordinarily valuable machinery and helps distinguish Monterey from the traditional international auto-show model. It also explains why manufacturers have increasingly chosen Car Week for major introductions. Rather than unveiling an exclusive automobile beneath the fluorescent lights of a convention hall, a marque can reveal it at a private residence, a golf course or PAGE 66
an elegant dinner before an audience that includes many of its most important existing and prospective clients. In 2026, that approach was evident throughout the peninsula. Aston Martin, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Cadillac, Acura, Defender, Gordon Murray Automotive, RUF, Hennessey, Czinger and other manufacturers and specialists used Monterey to showcase new automobiles, concepts and highly individualized commissions. Among the most-discussed was Lamborghini’s Revuelto SV, which advanced the performance proposition of the company’s electrified V12 flagship. Bugatti, meanwhile, continued the resurgence of bespoke coachbuilding with the Destrier, a one-of-one creation developed through its Programme Solitaire. Based on the technical architecture of the Bolide but transformed into something distinctly individual, the Destrier made its public debut at The Quail before appearing again on the Concept Lawn at Pebble Beach. Porsche approached exclusivity through its expanding Sonderwunsch program.
Its Flachbau RS, created in collaboration with Manthey, transformed the 911 GT2 RS into a highly individualized road car inspired by the legendary Porsche 935/78 “Moby Dick.” The marque also introduced a North America-exclusive Carrera S equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, an interesting counterpoint to an industry increasingly dominated by electrification and automation. The enthusiastic response reinforced something Monterey repeatedly demonstrates: technological progress has not diminished the desire for mechanical engagement. Defender drew on competition rather than nostalgia with the road-legal Defender Dakar, derived from the D7X-R that won the 2026 Dakar Rally on its debut, while Cadillac presented the dramatic V-One track-focused concept. Across these introductions, a common theme emerged. The most compelling contemporary automobiles are increasingly positioned not simply as transportation, but as future collectibles— machines defined as much by rarity, story and personalization as by outright performance.
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THE NEW LANGUAGE OF AUTOMOTIVE LUXURY The growing importance of manufacturer hospitality was equally visible in 2026. Monterey Car Week has become one of the rare environments where automotive, fashion, travel, fine dining, watches, private aviation and luxury real estate naturally converge. Brands therefore no longer regard their presence as simply an opportunity to place cars on display. Instead, they create experiences around them. Bentley expanded its Monterey program PAGE 68
with multiple events and experiential presentations, while Range Rover returned with its exclusive Range Rover House, using residential hospitality to create an environment around the marque rather than a conventional showroom. Throughout Carmel and Pebble Beach, private dinners, cocktail receptions, drive experiences, design conversations and invitation-only previews filled calendars from morning until late evening. Motorlux offered perhaps the clearest expression of this convergence. Set at the Monterey Jet Center, the event placed
significant automobiles alongside private aircraft while guests moved between displays, culinary experiences and hospitality areas. The juxtaposition felt entirely natural in Monterey, where the automobile is increasingly presented as one component of a broader luxury lifestyle. This evolution is important because it reflects how the modern luxury consumer engages with brands. Product alone is no longer enough. Context, access and experience have become equally important. A guest may encounter a new automobile at an intimate preview, drive another model the following morning, attend a
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marque-hosted dinner that evening and then see a historically significant predecessor competing at Pebble Beach later in the week. Heritage becomes part of contemporary brand storytelling, while hospitality becomes an extension of product education.
HISTORY AT FULL THROTTLE Long before the champagne appears on the concours lawns, however, Monterey begins with noise. At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion remains one of the most visceral
components of Car Week because its historically important automobiles are not presented as static objects. They are raced. More than 400 competition machines participated in the 2026 gathering, spanning multiple generations of international motorsport. Watching historically significant racing cars attack Laguna Seca—particularly its famous Corkscrew—provides an entirely different understanding of them than viewing the same cars in a museum. Their engineering becomes audible and physical, and the imperfections that accompany
historic machinery only add to the experience. The 2026 Reunion included an especially strong celebration of Japanese motorsport. Honda brought machinery representing decades of international competition, including the 1986 Williams-Honda FW11 Formula One car and the 1996 Team Kunimitsu NSX GT2, alongside important motorcycles and cars from IndyCar, IMSA, MotoGP and Dakar competition. The weekend also reunited six living 500cc motorcycle Grand Prix champions—Kenny Roberts, Freddie Spencer, PA G E 69
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Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jr.—adding another dimension to a program that increasingly acknowledges the full breadth of motorsport history. Laguna Seca provides an important philosophical counterpoint to the rest of Car Week. At Pebble Beach, preservation and perfection are paramount. At the Reunion, the scars, sounds and mechanical realities of competition are celebrated. Together, the two experiences demonstrate the different ways automotive history can be preserved.
ELEGANCE IN MOTION By Thursday, the tone shifted from racetrack to concours. The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance presented by Rolex remains one of the week’s most beautiful traditions, taking many of the automobiles entered in Sunday’s Concours onto the public roads of the Monterey Peninsula. More than PAGE 70
150 Concours entrants typically participate, traveling through Del Monte Forest and along stretches of the California coastline. The Tour serves a practical purpose by demonstrating that the automobiles remain roadworthy, and completion can even become a deciding factor when two cars receive equal scores during Concours judging. More importantly, however, it gives the public an opportunity to see exceptional collector cars doing precisely what they were created to do. There is something particularly satisfying about watching an automobile worth millions of dollars navigating an ordinary stretch of road. Engines warm, brakes squeak and drivers contend with the realities of machines built decades ago. The experience briefly removes these automobiles from the abstraction of value and provenance and returns them to their original purpose, they become cars again.
FRIDAY AT THE QUAIL If Pebble Beach remains the formal pinnacle of the week, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, has developed an identity that is decidedly more contemporary. Held Friday, August 14, at Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel Valley, the 23rd edition gathered more than 200 automobiles and hosted an extraordinary 22 automotive debuts. The Quail succeeds because it combines the atmosphere of an elegant garden party with the significance of an international motor show. Historic competition cars, modern hypercars, concept vehicles and significant collector automobiles occupy the same manicured landscape, while automotive designers, executives, racing personalities and collectors circulate between them. Several of the 2026 featured classes captured important changes occurring within the collector market. A celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Route
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66 explored the cultural mythology surrounding America’s most famous highway, while the Legacy of Japanese GTs acknowledged a category whose significance and values have increased substantially over the past decade.
admiring the supercars of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s are now shaping the market, and the automobiles of their youth increasingly occupy the same conversations as traditional postwar and prewar classics.
Two of the defining supercars of the late twentieth century received particularly dramatic treatment. Approximately 30 Lamborghini Diablos assembled on the lawn, producing a remarkable panorama of Marcello Gandini-influenced wedge-shaped design, while a gathering of Ferrari F40s celebrated an automobile that has moved decisively from bedroom-wall poster to blue-chip collectible.
At the same time, The Quail has become an important launch platform for contemporary manufacturers. Bugatti’s Destrier, Lamborghini’s Revuelto SV, Cadillac’s V-One and new creations from Hennessey, RUF, Czinger, Gordon Murray Automotive, Gunther Werks, Eccentrica and others created an almost continuous series of premieres throughout the day.
That generational transition is one of the most interesting developments visible at Monterey. Collectors who grew up
Yet when the final award was presented, history prevailed. The Rolex Best of Show went to Bruce Meyer’s 1957
Ferrari 625/250 Testarossa, a beautifully proportioned Scaglietti-bodied competition Ferrari with significant racing provenance. In a field surrounded by some of the newest and most technologically advanced automobiles in existence, a nearly 70-year-old Ferrari still commanded the greatest attention. It was a fitting conclusion to an event built around the conversation between automotive past and future.
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At Concorso Italiano, the peninsula takes on an unmistakably Italian character. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and De Tomaso are represented in extraordinary numbers, producing an environment that feels less like a formal concours than an exuberant celebration of Italian design and enthusiasm. The 2026 gathering included more than 50 Alfa Romeo Duettos marking the model’s 60th anniversary, surrounded by machinery ranging from approachable Italian classics to contemporary supercars. Away from the lawns, the auction houses were simultaneously conducting another of Car Week’s most closely watched competitions. The 2026 Monterey auctions reportedly generated approximately $760 million in sales, with more than 140 automobiles crossing the million-dollar threshold. Among the headline transactions was a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, PAGE 74
which sold for approximately $42.9 million. A McLaren F1 reached approximately $34.7 million, while a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport achieved $18.7 million. Broad Arrow’s first sale as The Quail’s official auction partner generated $97.4 million, led by a Ferrari Enzo at $10.675 million. Beyond the extraordinary figures, these results reveal an important change in collector behavior. Modern supercars are increasingly being treated as established investment-grade collectibles. The McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT and Ferrari F40 are no longer simply modern exotics competing for attention beside older classics. They have become an integral part of the blue-chip market themselves.
SUNDAY AT PEBBLE BEACH Headlights emerge through the coastal darkness as cars make their way toward the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. Collectors, judges, photographers and spectators gather for the
ritual known as Dawn Patrol, watching as the field gradually transforms from empty grass into one of the world’s most extraordinary temporary automotive museums. In 2026, the occasion carried additional importance. The 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance marked the Diamond Jubilee of an event that began in 1950 and has since developed into perhaps the most prestigious collector-car competition in the world. A total of 218 automobiles assembled for the anniversary edition, including 33 international entries representing 14 countries and 185 American entries from 30 states. The word “elegance” can sometimes obscure the seriousness of the competition. Pebble Beach is not simply a beauty contest. Automobiles are examined for authenticity, provenance, restoration quality, historical accuracy, technical merit and presentation. Preparing a significant car for Pebble Beach can involve
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years of research and restoration, with specialists examining everything from original bodywork and mechanical components to finishes, materials and period documentation. A class victory can dramatically enhance an automobile’s stature. Best of Show can define an entire collection. The 2026 field also illustrated the Concours’ continuing evolution. While the great European and American marques remained central to the event, Pebble Beach introduced a Japanese Motorsport class for the first time in its 75-year history. Its inclusion reflected a broader reassessment taking place throughout the collector world, where Japanese competition and performance automobiles are increasingly receiving recognition equal to their historical importance. Nearby, the Concept Lawn offered the opposite perspective. Contemporary design studies and future production automobiles were displayed only steps away from machines created generations earlier. It remains one of Pebble Beach’s most compelling juxtapositions: the history of the automobile is presented not as a closed chapter, but as an ongoing conversation.
bile: the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster, shown by collector Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, Ohio. One of only two short-wheelbase supercharged SSJs ever created, the car possesses the combination of mechanical importance, rarity and provenance that defines the highest level of collecting. Its original owner was Hollywood legend Clark Gable, while the other SSJ is famously associated with Gary Cooper. The two automobiles therefore occupy a remarkable intersection between American engineering, Hollywood glamour and the extraordinary personalities of the prewar era. For Yeaggy, the victory carried additional significance. He had pursued the automobile for decades before finally acquiring it and returned to the top of Pebble Beach 19 years after previously winning Best of Show with another Duesenberg. The 2026 victory represented the eighth Pebble Beach Best of Show for Duesenberg and seemed particularly appropriate for the Concours’ 75th anniversary. Against the Pacific Ocean, the SSJ stood as a reminder that American automotive design at its greatest could rival anything produced by the European coachbuilders of the same period.
AN AMERICAN MASTERPIECE TAKES THE CROWN
WHY MONTEREY STILL MATTERS
By late Sunday afternoon, the attention of the field turned toward the awards ramp as the class winners began their procession. The final announcement belonged to an extraordinary American automo-
Taken individually, Monterey’s events are exceptional. Together, they explain why Car Week has become something far greater than an automotive festival. It is a marketplace, design summit, mo-
torsport reunion, concours, social season and luxury gathering compressed into ten extraordinary days. More importantly, it provides an unusually clear view of how the meaning of automotive luxury is changing. The automobile industry may be entering an era increasingly defined by electrification, software and automation, but Monterey demonstrates that the qualities creating lasting desire remain remarkably traditional. Collectors value provenance. Drivers value engagement. Luxury customers value craftsmanship, rarity and individuality. The most compelling automobiles—whether built in 1935 or 2026—are ultimately those capable of creating an emotional response. That explains the renewed importance of coachbuilding and bespoke programs. It explains why manual-transmission sports cars continue to generate enthusiasm. It explains the dramatic rise in value of analog supercars from the 1980s and 1990s, and why manufacturers are increasingly creating limited-production contemporary cars with their future collectibility already in mind. Monterey also demonstrates that preservation and progress need not exist in opposition. On Friday, a 1957 Ferrari could be surrounded by 22 new automotive debuts at The Quail and still emerge as Best of Show. Two days later, a 1935 Duesenberg could sit within walking distance of futuristic concepts and ultimately claim the highest honor at Pebble Beach. PA G E 75
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The newest hypercars will eventually become historic automobiles themselves. Some of the cars attracting crowds on the Concept Lawn today may return decades from now to occupy the 18th fairway. Monterey allows those two ends of the automotive timeline to exist together. PAGE 76
Perhaps that is the enduring appeal of Car Week. The spectacle is certainly part of it—the auctions, parties, private dinners, multi-million-dollar machinery and remarkable concentration of wealth are impossible to ignore. But beneath all of it remains a genuine appreciation for the
automobile as an object of engineering, design, culture and personal expression. For ten days each August, that appreciation takes over one of the most beautiful stretches of the California coast. The cars change. The technology advanc-
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es. Collector tastes evolve and auction records continue to fall. Yet Monterey’s central attraction remains remarkably consistent: the world’s most extraordinary automobiles, brought together by the people who care deeply about preserving, driving and celebrating them.
Seventy-five years after the first Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the automobile remains the star. And for one extraordinary week each summer, there is still nowhere in the automotive world quite like Monterey. PA G E 77
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J U S T I N F E N N E R/S P E C I A L TO P O LO L I F E S T Y L E S
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I HAD MY BLOOD WASHED AT A MED SPA HERE'S HOW IT MADE ME FEEL
A
HOW BLOOD WASHING AND CURATED 750-CALORIE MEALS AFFECTED US OVER SEVEN DAYS.
S THE FIRST DROPS OF FRESHLY CLEANED BLOOD REENTER MY VEINS, I AM TUGGED INTO A VIVID OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE. IT’S AS IF I’M FLOATING ABOVE THE ROOM: I SEE MYSELF LYING ON A HOSPITAL BED, AN IV PLUGGED INTO EACH ARM. I’M CHATTING WITH MY NURSE—A MODELESQUE FORMER FASHION PUBLICIST WHO SAW THE LIGHT AND SWITCHED TO A CAREER IN HEALTH CARE—AS SHE ADJUSTS MY BLOOD-PRESSURE CUFF AND SUPERVISES THE PROCESS. Inuspheresis—colloquially known as blood washing—is the newest therapy available at Lanserhof Tegernsee, selected for its ability to filter a wide range of unwanted substances from your plasma. And I am watching myself become its latest convert. Thanks to the three minutes it has spent outside of my venous system, though, the newly washed blood feels cold. So acute is the temperature, it shocks me back into a more corporeal form of awareness— and forces me to reflect not only on this experience but on everything I’ve learned about my health over the past eight days.
I wanted to come to Lanserhof ’s hightouch medical retreats because I’d heard so many fascinating things about them. In addition to the original location in Austria, opened in 1984, there are two sites in Germany and another slated to open in Marbella next year. I chose Tegernsee, about an hour’s drive from Munich, because its mountainous setting—complete with vegetable and herb gardens, grazing livestock, and a beautiful lake—is famously peaceful. Every detail is engineered to keep your pulse low and your tranquility high. Even the views from the hotel rooms are framed to make you feel better. My suite, called the Elysium Loft, has three balconies and its own sauna. Less comfortable but equally effective is the program’s fasting protocol, based on physician F. X. Mayr’s pioneering method developed in the early 20th century. His theory was that modern diets damage the gut and undermine the various systems connected to it. As a remedy, he prescribed his patients restrictive diets and plenty of rest. Clinicians here expanded on his work to create the Lanserhof Concept. After a detailed intake questionnaire, a meeting with a dedicated physician, and a battery of diagnostics, your doctor will devise a bespoke roster of treatments that can incorporate everything from physical therapy to facials to sessions with a psychiatrist.
As it turns out, I’ve got a lot that needs fixing. My heart and arteries look healthy during an ultrasound exam, but other test results reveal a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol. I’m told I should avoid gluten and dairy. I wonder why my primary-care physician in New York never told me any of this, and I make a note to interrogate her upon return. Over the course of the week, I sweat through four personal-training sessions; get my spine realigned by a chiropractor twice; endure three minutes of viciously frigid cryotherapy; undergo a lymphatic-drainage massage; and have my skin covered in various algae-rich muds before being lowered, dim-sum style, into a steam bath. All in the name of detoxification. The pace of this schedule might be enough to distract you from what many food lovers struggle with here: the menu. The food in the modernist dining hall is delicious, but sparse. At the lowest level, Phase 0, you get as few as 100 calories a day—mostly vegetable broth. The highest, Phase 4, is about 1,700 calories of vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. For what it’s worth, I spend most of my time on a Phase 2 regimen—roughly 750 calories a day—and somehow never really feel hungry. Part of that is because you are encouraged to chew each mouthful of food 30 to 40 times in order to aid digestion. On day two, one of the servers PA G E 81
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tells me earnestly that a bowl of vegetable soup, consumed properly, should take about half an hour to finish. The company also helps. Visit Lanserhof with a partner or family member, and you’ll dine together. Travel solo, and you’ll be paired with strangers. My table includes a young mother with an Ivy League law degree, a political consultant from the Carolinas, an expat Moroccan businessman, a creative from a famed Spanish fashion house, and a jewelry dealer from the American Northeast. (They tell me I missed an effervescently charming African beauty queen by just one day.) PAGE 82
Fortunately, if you do get your blood washed, you’re served a substantial dinner the night before and a relatively big breakfast prior to the procedure. It’s an invasive treatment, so you need the calories. Despite this, after two hours of Inuspherisis, I’m so woozy that my nurse asks the kitchen to make me a protein shake. I’m even exhausted enough to take a nap, which I never do under normal circumstances. When I wake up and look in the mirror, I notice that my skin looks positively backlit. But the real win is the absence of mental
static I experience not the next day, but the day after. After a week of rest and relaxation in the hills of southern Germany, I realize I’ve been so overstimulated for so long that being calm feels almost like being drunk. For once, the hangover never arrives. A few weeks after returning home, I get a good reason to go back. The fashionable Spaniard emails me after completing her own detox, asking about my reentry into the real world. In her sign off, she asks, “P.S. Did you pet the sheep on the farm?” I didn’t. But she was right about one thing: It was exactly what I needed.
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HOW TO EURO-SUMMER LIKE AN A-LISTER
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RACHEL YEHUDA/SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES
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E
URO SUMMERS HAVE BASICALLY BECOME AN UNSPOKEN RITE OF PASSAGE AMONGST A-LISTERS.
spent their annual Mamma Mia-esque Greek holiday at One&Only Aesthesis on the Athenian Riviera, and so on and so forth.
Almost ritualistically, the season kicks off each May with the who’s who of Hollywood flocking to the South of France for the Cannes Film Festival, followed by yachting from the Monaco Grand Prix along the French Riviera in June. Then, just like clockwork, the second wave arrives in July, ready for even more fun in the Mediterranean sun.
Now that the group chats have quieted down, the private jets have landed, and everyone’s back to posting to their own Instagram feeds instead of being spotted by paparazzi, I’m looking back on Euro summer 2026 and rounding up the A-list-approved hotels that hosted the stars. Read on to see where the Biebers, Jennifer Lopez, and more booked a stay this season.
For the celebrity set, these vacations tend to fall under the quiet luxury aesthetic, embodying the essence of famous European flicks with dreamy, slow-paced stays at some of the continent’s most beautiful hotels. This summer proved to be no exception: Selena Gomez celebrated her 34th birthday at Il Borro in Italy like a scene straight out of Under the Tuscan Sun, while Kate Hudson’s family
Selena Gomez spent her 34th birthday with husband Benny Blanco in the rolling hills of Tuscany this July. The pair stayed at the Ferruccio Ferragamo family estate, Il Borro, hosted by Salvatore Ferragamo Jr, who runs the estate’s wine and hospitality operations, and his sister Vittoria, who heads sustainability and farm-to-table dining.
I’ve spent enough time in Tuscany to say this stretch of Valdarno, halfway between Florence and Arezzo, is the real deal – quiet, hilly, and less crowded than Chianti. The five-star resort was bought by the Ferragamo family in 1993, and includes a restored medieval village on 2,718 organic acres, with 40 suites and four restaurants overseen by chef Andrea Campani. Selena’s birthday agenda included a pasta-making class – cacio e pepe and stuffed courgette flowers – followed by horseback riding and a wine tasting. Julianne Hough spent the back half of July on a girls’ trip in Sardinia alongside professional surfer Brianna Cope and jewellery designer Drew Ginsburg, founder of the label Dylan Lex. The trio based themselves at Hotel Capo d’Orso, perched on the island’s northern coast near the Costa Smeralda. A five-star refuge tucked inside a private seaside park,
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Capo d’Orso has direct access to secluded coves and its own marina, plus L’Incantu Thalasso & Spa, where continuously sourced seawater fills outdoor pools with hydromassage jets. Julianne’s days were a mix of movement and relaxation: a spa treatment at L’Incantu, mat workouts with her friends, and a Poseidon Charters boat trip out to the La Maddalena Archipelago, where the group explored the islands and nearby coastal towns in between cliff jumps. Kate Hudson kicked off her family’s annual vacation to Greece in early July with a stop at One&Only Aesthesis, the newest star on the Athens Riviera. It was a full Hudson-Hawn-Russell affair: Kate brought kids Bingham and Rani, while Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, and a couple of other grandkids convened on the coast before the family’s usual Skiathos leg. Aesthesis opened in 2023 on 128 acres of protected pine forest in Glyfada, reviving the Athenian Riviera’s 1960s golden-age glamour. Guests stay in private PAGE 88
bungalows and villas along the coastline for added privacy, several with private plunge pools. The Hudson clan’s days at the hotel looked easy and unhurried: books read poolside, bike rides through the pine forest, padel matches, and sessions in the sauna, plus a family boat day on the Mediterranean. Hailey and Justin Bieber slipped quietly into Greece in late July with son Jack for a family getaway at Amanzoe, Aman’s hilltop resort above the Peloponnese coast near Porto Heli. Amanzoe leans into its ancient Greek surroundings architecturally – natural stone, marble accents, columns nodding to antiquity – with buildings spread across a rise overlooking olive groves and the coastline. Each of the 38 guest rooms is a freestanding pavilion with its own private plunge pool, and the property has an open-air amphitheater plus eight spa treatment rooms and a Watsu pool for anyone chasing the full reset. The Biebers kept things low-key, but locals clocked them on a day trip to nearby
Spetses, where they strolled the alleyways and grabbed lunch at a fish tavern. Between quiet mornings at the resort and lattes in Porto Heli, Hailey and Justin kept this family vacation refreshingly wholesome. Jennifer Lopez went straight from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden to Paris Haute Couture Week in early July. She checked into La Réserve Paris with her sister Lynda, using the trip to celebrate both of their birthdays as well (Lynda’s is in June; Jennifer turned 57 in July). La Réserve, a Haussmannian mansion off the Champs-Élysées, is the smallest hotel in Paris to hold an official “Palace” rating, with 40 butler-serviced rooms in damask silk and Carrara marble. There’s also the three-Michelin-starred Le Gabriel downstairs, in case you get hungry. Jennifer greeted fans from the hotel balcony in a white strapless gown before rotating between Fashion Week looks from Michael Kors and Chloé. The sisters marked the trip with dinner at Siena and
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front-row seats at the Zuhair Murad and Celia Kritharioti shows, then went on to London for Wimbledon and Sicily for Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda show.
pedigree, Dua and Callum enjoyed a screening of the 1948 neo-realist classic Bicycle Thieves, projected onto one of the palazzo’s walls.
Newlyweds Dua Lipa and Callum Turner made a stop at Palazzo Margherita in June during their multi-hotel honeymoon through Southern Italy—a fittingly cinematic pick, given the property’s owner. Francis Ford Coppola bought the nine-suite palazzo in the hilltop town of Bernalda – the birthplace of his grandfather, Agostino Coppolain – in 2004, and spent six years restoring it.
Emily Ratajkowski made her return to Mallorca in mid-June—the island she’s called her favorite since summering there as a kid—with a stay at Belmond La Residencia, in the hills above the artists’ village of Deià. Mallorca’s north coast has a completely different energy than the party-forward south, and La Residencia captures it well. Built around two manor houses dating to the 16th and 17th centuries, set amongst olive and citrus groves below the Tramuntana mountains, the hotel’s 67 rooms are individually decorated with antiques, and it keeps its own art collection in step with Deià’s bohemian reputation – reason enough to book a room of your own.
The 19th-century estate is a family project through and through, with hand-painted frescoes sweeping the ceilings, original marble floors carefully relaid, and a historic garden where the property hosts cooking lessons and Aglianico wine tastings for guests. True to the Coppola PAGE 90
Emily’s stay was equal parts poolside lounging and old-school Mallorca tradition, including a seafood lunch of fried squid and octopus at Ca’s Patró March, the cliffside restaurant overlooking Cala Deià. Heidi Klum brought her signature chaotic-but-glam energy to the 79th Cannes Film Festival in May, checking into the Art Deco icon that is Hôtel Martinez with her husband Tom Kaulitz (and her dog Fritz) in tow. Opened in 1929 and reborn in 2018 after a $173 million renovation under The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, the 410-room hotel is a Cannes institution: ivory façade, Neo-Deco interiors, a garden pool, a Carita spa, and a private beach club and pier out front for anyone chasing the same sun-soaked glamour. Heidi was photographed strolling both
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the hotel hallways and La Croisette (the city’s famous boulevard) with Fritz. Her Cannes run stretched multiple days, as she attended the annual Jury Dinner at
Hôtel Martinez, the Opening Ceremony, the Electric Kiss premiere, and the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Dinner honoring Jane Fonda and Gong Li.
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LOUIS VUITTON'S
"THE ART OF TRAVEL" TAKES ON A CLASSIC
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BY CYNTHIA SASS, MPH, RD / SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES
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OUIS VUITTON IS TAKING ITS ART OF TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY ONTO THE OPEN ROAD THROUGH A LANDMARK COLLABORATION WITH SINGER, THE CALIFORNIA-BASED SPECIALIST KNOWN FOR RESTORING AND RE-IMAGINING CLASSIC PORSCHE 911S.
The project brings together the two companies’ respective expertise in craftsmanship, engineering, leatherwork, watchmaking, and personalization through two highly customized automobiles: a Porsche 911 Re-imagined by Singer – Classic and a Porsche 911 Re-imagined by Singer – Classic
Turbo. The partnership represents the first co-branded creation in Louis Vuitton’s history, as well as a first for Singer. The collaboration began on a considerably smaller scale. Louis Vuitton was initially approached to create a dashboard clock for a car re-imagined by Singer, leading La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton to develop a detachable mechanical timepiece inspired by the House’s Tambour watch. From there, the project expanded into a comprehensive reconsideration of the vehicle’s interior, including its speedometer, rev counter, gauges, switches, vents, leatherwork, and other functional details. Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking codes informed everything from dial graphics to polished and satin-finished metal components, while PA G E 95
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Singer translated the House’s material language into a functional automotive environment. The first car, a Porsche 911 Re-imagined by Singer – Classic, takes a particularly graphic approach. Its saffron and cobalt-blue palette connects Louis Vuitton’s historic packaging with Singer’s own automotive vocabulary, while details including bright yellow saddle stitching, cobalt demonstration tires, an LVpatterned rear grille, and natural leather inspired by the House’s VVT leather extend the dialogue throughout the vehiPAGE 96
cle. Inside, diamond-pattern embossing references the malletage found within Louis Vuitton trunks, while Monogram flowers appear across ventilation eyelets, headrests, and other details. Even typically utilitarian components have been reconsidered, replacing conventional plastic fittings with individually finished metal elements informed by fine watchmaking techniques. Louis Vuitton’s historic relationship with luggage makes the partnership particularly convincing once the project moves beyond decoration. The Classic is
equipped with a bespoke roof rack capable of carrying a trunk, surfboard, or skis, while custom luggage has been shaped specifically around the architecture of the car. A coordinating capsule extends the concept to its driver through a leather racing jacket, jeans, driving shoes and gloves, helmet, key holders, and travel accessories. Rather than simply placing Louis Vuitton branding onto a Porsche, the project revives the House’s early role in designing luggage around emerging forms of transportation: Georges Vuitton was already creating automobile-specific
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trunks by the end of the 19th century. The second vehicle gives Nicolas Ghesquière a more personal canvas. The Artistic Director of Women’s Collections conceived the Porsche 911 Re-imagined by Singer – Classic Turbo as an ivory-white cabriolet combining automotive and nautical references. Calcaire Lutétien-inspired bodywork is paired with natural leather, gold-toned details, and extensive woodwork recalling the decks of classic motorboats. The wooden rear luggage compartment, leather hood straps, centrally positioned Tambourinspired clock, Noé-referencing gearshift trim, and bespoke luggage create
an unusually coherent environment in which fashion, product design, and automotive engineering overlap. Ghesquière also designed a corresponding capsule encompassing a made-to-measure parachute-silk suit, LV Sneakerina, driving gloves, sunglasses, helmet, Tambour Automatic watch, and specialized luggage. What gives the collaboration weight is the extent to which both partners have resisted treating the automobile as another surface for recognizable logos. Louis Vuitton’s contribution reaches into the functional architecture of the cars, while Singer’s engineering require-
ments force the House’s familiar codes into unfamiliar territory. The result feels less like luxury-fashion merchandising than an unusually elaborate exercise in applied design, one that reconnects Louis Vuitton’s contemporary ambitions with a surprisingly relevant piece of its own history. From custom automobile trunks in the early 20th century to two comprehensively re-imagined Porsche 911s today, the mode of transportation may have changed, but the underlying proposition remains remarkably consistent: if the journey matters, everything surrounding it can be designed accordingly. PA G E 97
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"I am a St. Regis regular. A Four Seasons snob. A Luxury Hotels of the World aficionado. But sometimes the budget doesn't support four-figures-a-night-times-multiplerooms. So to the Internet I go... 19 of the world's best hotels under $250/night."
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INTRODUCTION BY JOSH JAKOBITZ / COMPILED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF / PHOTOS COURTESY INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES
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I
19 HOTELS UNDER $250 WE'D ACTUALLY STAY AT
AM A ST. REGIS REGULAR. A FOUR SEASONS SNOB. A LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD AFICIONADO. BUT SOMETIMES THE BUDGET DOESN'T SUPPORT FOURFIGURES-A-NIGHT-TIMES-MULTIPLE-ROOMS... SO TO THE INTERNET I GO. Finding very-nice hotels that work with my budget is a Herculean task. My email inbox is constantly bombarded by new, luxury openings regularly; all lovely, but it can sometimes seem as though affordable hotel options are few and far between, or in some cases, non-existent. But there are smart and budget-friendly hotels out there – and we’ve made it easy by scouring out editor-approved hotels from around the world and picking the ones with the best-value price tag. Of course, the concept of affordability is subjective and depends on lots of factors – including the destination you’re traveling to. Here, we’re not rounding up the cheapest hotels in the world – rather our favorite places to stay where you won’t compromise on style, design and facilities but don’t need deep pockets to check-in.
HOTEL ROCHECHOUART, PARIS Strolling through the Pigalle neighborhood and into this eight-story Art Deco relic, there’s a distinct sense of a time when the Twenties roared. A latenight hotspot on Boulevard Marguerite
de Rochechouart, the hotel’s Jazz Age incarnation drew in traveling artists, intellectuals and a smattering of stars. It’s now part of Orso, a new collection of hotels run by industry veterans Louis and Anouk Solanet (also behind Hotel Wallace below), and the sultry theatrics of the era make a welcome comeback. Upstairs, 106 rooms were given an autumnal, woody touch with shades of bronze, ochre and terracotta. Decorative details, from the burl-wood headboards to the curved armchairs and alabaster suspension lamps, thoughtfully whisk guests to another time. The Sacré-Coeur looms large from northern-facing bedroom windows (and in some cases, balconies) but is visible to all from the rooftop bar. On the ground floor, an old-
world brasserie with plush banquettes serves up comforting Parisian classics, from chicken-liver pâté to roasted pork belly with crisp frites and the signature crêpe cake – a family recipe guests invariably try to coax out of the staff. One floor underground, the old Mikado club of the 1920s has returned as a dimly-lit speakeasy, where a trendy set sip cocktails on plush velvet sofas while a DJ spins electric beats in the corner. Next door, blue-hued Citrons et Huîtres is where locals perch at red metal tables on the pavement, throwing back fresh oysters from Brittany and chilled Champagne. Prices: Rooms from around £120 per night.
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POD CAMPS BAY, CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA A Cape Town hotel round up wouldn’t be complete without a Camps Bay option, and Pod is my pick, not least for its location – set back but walking distance from the restaurants and bars that line Victoria road, with a great views of its pretty palm-lined beach (albeit not entirely unobstructed). There is also the matter of design. In a suburb known for white tiles and ostentatious bling, this clean-lined modernist box, softened with timber detailing, is very pleasing on the eye. Compact well-considered spaces, like the fabulous pool deck and bar – a vibey place to watch the sunset – and great amenities in even the smallest rooms, including a well-stocked minibar. Breakfast is the only meal prepared on-site but the hotel has teamed up with three local restaurants: Bo-Vine (a great steakhouse), Kauai (casual health food) and Col’Cacchio (wood-fired pizzas) deliver to your set table; you just sign on arrival and settle on departure. A happy team at your disposal, everyone is geared to ensure guests enjoy a memorable stay; as one guest succinctly put it: “Location was the reason we chose you but staff and service is why we’ll come back”. Price: Rooms from around £150 per night.
NUMO IERAPETRA CRETE, GREECE This adults-only village-like retreat sits on a black-sand beach that hugs the Mediterranean coastline on the southern side of Crete, a lesser-known, alluring side of the island that holds just as much beauty as the north but with fewer visitors. Rooms are dotted across the resort, some equipped with a private pool and terrace, all offering a sense of privacy. And while the final touches could improve, the soft color palette and laidback design offers a sense of serenity. Numo’s real strength lies in its swimming pool and beach club, where Crete’s rugged landscape is on full display. Daybeds seamlessly transition from pool to beach, giving you endless opportunities to awe at the unmatched blues of the Mediterranean – which I did endlessly. PAGE 102
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Be sure to order an ice-cold Mythos and Greek Sandwich from your lounger to soak up every last minute of sun. Of the three main restaurants, Menoa is the stand out, bringing Peruvian and Asian cuisine to the Greek Islands. A buffer breakfast and dinner is on offer at Tamarisk, while lunches are a la carte – fresh Greek salads, perfectly (and I mean perfectly!) seasoned octopus, and mezze platters make for the ideal beach break. Make time for a sunset supper at The Coast by Tamarisk, Numo’s fine-dining spot serving meaty scallops drenched in garlic butter, rich lobster spaghetti and a melt-in-your-mouth red velvet molten cake that I’m still dreaming about. Price: Rooms from around £160 per night.
ESMÉ MIAMI BEACH MIAMI The first new hotel to grace South Beach’s storied Española Way in decade, the enchanting Esme Miami Beach is all about the boutique hotel charms. Rather than replicate the easy, breezy, sand-in-yourtoes style of South Beach’s grand dames, this restored enclave (which comprises eight buildings connected by charming paseos) offers a well-placed base from which to explore South Beach. You know you’re in for a unique experience as soon as you walk in the door; the lobby is outfitted with thick crimson carpeting, Moroccan-style benches and accents of brass and dark green, setting the tone for the Moorish influence on decor throughout the property. The rooftop pool is
small-but-striking (and not really made for anything other than dipping) but it’s a perfect spot for catching sun under the connected peach and white striped daybeds that line the deck. Price: Rooms from around £145 per night.
LIME TREE HOTEL LONDON Wedged between Belgravia’s swishest boutiques, The Lime Tree Hotel occupies two charming townhouses a stone’s throw from Victoria Station. Its prime location places you a short stroll away from some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, making it our go-to recommendation if sightseeing is top of your agenda: from the hotel’s doorstep, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Tate Britain all unfold in PA G E 103
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various directions. Room types cater to all kinds of travelers, whether you’re going solo or arriving in groups of up to three: all are thoughtfully decorated with touchy-feely fabrics (think soft cashmere throws and velvet headboards in soothing shades of blue and pink) along with funky, floral wallpapers – while ensuite bathrooms feature smartly tiled showers and Bramley body lotions. Fuel up for a day of playing tourist at the in-house brunch café, The Buttery, where guests and locals rub shoulders over breakfast in a relaxed, sunlit setting. Hearty full Englishes are served up with fresh, seasonal produce from the hotel’s own allotment, and beans roasted by The Gentlemen Baristas make for expertly poured flat whites. During the warmer months, the café’s doors open onto a secluded, foliage-framed garden, which might just be one of London’s best kept secrets. Price: Rooms from around £200 per night.
TOGGLE HOTEL SUIDOBASHI, TOKYO, JAPAN Toggle is the operative word: Guests can customize their experience, moving between the hotel’s different moods and room setups. It’s a big design swing that hits – bold pastels, compelling branding, and lofted furniture enliven these small-budget hotel rooms. The yellow and black stripes will grab you as you zoom by on the commuter train. Inside, the swatch book of eye-popping hues continues as purples and blues coat the common spaces and rooms. Hallways sliced down the middle by different shades of paint make for particularly fun Instagramming as you toe the line between two brash commitments to color. It’s worth combing through the website to pick your palette pattern before you arrive as a full spectrum of colors means you could end up with lemon-wedge yellows or deep coats of sapphire in your bedroom. Beds lofted above couches are particularly fun, and try for a room facing away from the commuter traffic for maximum quiet. Brandon Presser Price: Rooms from around £80 per night.
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THE VINTAGE, LISBON, PORTUGAL The Vintage may well be one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in – there, I said it. An understated elegance, style, and attention to detail leave guests fully satisfied following their stay. The surroundings immediately feel special – a roomy lobby with mid-century touches provides an ideal place to chill or to set up your out-of-office email. The rooms are a delight – the themes are ‘inspire, relax, and play’. ‘Play’ is rendered in a deep, relaxing terracotta that nods to Lisbon’s rooftops. Pops of color come with Bauhaus-esque
wall art and an old-school telephone that rings down to reception. All rooms have one-off vintage chairs and trolley bar carts with a complimentary gin and tonic kit, including a sachet of botanicals. A small yet charming rooftop bar has a great sunset view over the city, and in the basement, you will find a pool, steam room, and spa using Portuguese brand Claus Porto products, French brand La Sultane de Saba and Italian brand Comfort Zone. An a la carte breakfast is served downstairs – I recommend the omelette. Price: Rooms from around £170 per night.
POTATO HEAD, BALI A sustainable stay in Bali might conjure up images of bamboo ceilings and rice field surroundings, but at Potato Head Suites, forward-thinking hotelier Ronald Akili takes a boldly different approach. As part of Desa Potato Head, an eco-minded creative village in the heart of glitzy Seminyak, this tropical modernist boutique hotel has sustainability embedded into its DNA. It shows everywhere: the facade from 1.8 million hand-pressed bricks, baked locally with only coconut shells; local textiles from plant-based dyes; and smart water- and PA G E 105
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electricity system that helped the hotel gain an UN-approved Climate Neutral certification. Rooms are furnished with teak trimmings by local artisans and Akili’s collection of mid-century modern furniture, plus wall-spanning cocktail stations to shake, muddle, and mix your own mojitos. As a guest, you’ll have first dibs on daybeds at the hot-ticked Potato Head Beach Club, hidden behind a wall of recycled window shutters next door. Plus, access to the Desa’s other features – including a jamu bar, eco-innovation lab, and a New Age-y wellness center with ice baths, sound healing experiences, and guided breathwork sessions. Price: From about £165 per night
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THE STANDARD, SINGAPORE Tucked off buzzy Orchard Road, the Standard, Singapore, gives mid-century modern a tropical twist by setting the scene with bold colors, retro-inspired decor, and lush greenery. Art pops everywhere, from Eric Tobua’s surreal reception-desk diorama to Samuel Xun’s larger-than-life floral courtyard sculpture. The 143 rooms keep it playful with bright yellow tiled bathrooms, timber-ribbed canopies, and fun, personalized touches like handwritten messages on your mirror. Nicholas Cheng, the chef of Kaya, a modern izakaya, spotlights low-waste cuisine with a punchy menu built around
pickling and fermentation, while Kaya Bar serves Asian-inspired cocktails. With its planned cultural talks, fashion takeovers, and poolside parties, the Standard, Singapore, is a stylish playground for the country’s cool crowd. Price: Rooms from around £170 per night.
BORNETA, BARCELONA, SPAIN Beautifully renovated and ever-so cozy, with a location in the most charming neighborhood in Barcelona, Borneta has that genuine home-away-fromhome vibe that most hotels aspire to, but few achieve. Rooms range from The Classic to The Superior, The Signature,
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The Corner and The Terrace, up to the Borneta suite. Many have small balconies; some have private terraces overlooking sights like Passeig de Picasso or Park Ciutadella – you can even spot the Sagrada Família from the top-floor suites that come with exclusive rooftop access, a well-stocked complimentary minibar full of locally-inspired treats, and spacious terraces. Less famous than Gaudí’s Park Güell, Ciutadella Park is often (and sadly) overlooked by visitors. It is set across the road from Borneta, so there’s no excuse not to check it out. Don’t miss the recently restored iron greenhouse, built for the 1888 Universal Exposition.
Price: Rooms from around £160 per night.
THE HOXTON, FLORENCE, ITALY Set on the northern limits of Florence’s Centro Storico The Hoxton occupies two very different buildings. One – a late-Renaissance palazzo complete with vaulted portico and original frescoes – was built for the aristocratic Ricasoli family while the other is a 1980s modernist structure. With two very distinct design styles and in keeping with the brand philosophy, the 158 rooms are functional yet hip and divided into the five standard Hoxton categories with names like Snug, Biggy, and Studio (the largest). Some rooms have terraces with outdoor bathtubs;
others look onto Brunelleschi’s iconic dome. Rooms in the striking wood-slatted Branzi building are inspired by the architect’s post-modern design ethos and come in bold pastels (pink, apricot, baby blue, grey) with custom-made furnishings in steel and lacquered wood and jazzy textiles. Price: Rooms from around £130 per night.
HYDE MELBOURNE PLACE, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA This striking rust-colored 191-room hotel built from local bricks, concrete, and hardwood is a distillation of what makes this thrumming city tick. The debut hotel
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by sought-after Melbourne-based architecture and design studio Kennedy Nolan, is chock-full of head-turning details, which start at the linen-draped check-in desk with its supersized video-art installation by Australian artists and continue upward to the guest lounge blanketed in a retina-popping fuchsia carpet. The suites are light-flooded showstoppers tricked out in timber, burnt orange, and terrazzo with triple-height floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor terraces with immense views of the cloud-busting peaks of skyscrapers. The rooftop, with its bar and retractable-rooftop restaurant Mid Air, is encased by a soaring brick wall and feels like a floating fortress with dramatic portholes that look like giant eyes watching over the city. It’s here where everyone from guests to locals gather, casually lounging on sofas and seated at tables, with some of the best views across the city. Price: Rooms from around £170 per night.
THE SOURCE HOTEL, MARRAKECH This hip and friendly hotel is set in five hidden acres off the dusty road to Orika. Its rock-star theme was dreamt up by music-loving French owner Laurent Cohen, and his concept extends to a recording studio (with in-house technicians) and every conceivable instrument to play around with. The rooms (including two villas with private pools and an air-conditioned Berber tent) are imaginative and fun, with a stylish mix of handcrafted furniture. Each is different: the baroque, scarlet-walled Rolling Stones room; the Jimi Hendrix with a four-poster and a bath hidden behind a latticed wooden mashrabiya; the flashy silver Backstage artist’s lodge, or even the powder-pink Pompadour. All of which may sound over the top, but is elegant and wonderfully laidback. The good vibes continue at the white-on-white spa with treatments that include the Sound of Silence (using resonating Tibetan bowls) and the Forever Young (an anti-ageing massage with argan oil and prickly-pear essences). The garden restaurant, surrounded by citrus trees, serves soups, Moroccan salads and chicken and lamb tagines, with skewers
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of fresh fruit and honey pastries for pudding. If you can tear yourself away from the pool (where local musicians jam at sunset) or the dramatic views over the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, the clamor of Marrakech is just a 20-minute drive away. Price: Rooms from around £150 per night.
THE HOXTON, NEW YORK, USA The Hoxton is loved for many things, not least the suburbs its contemporary, design-focused city hotels sit in. Its New York outpost is exemplary. The towering building can be found in the heart of Williamsburg, the cooler-than-cool neighborhood a bridge walk from touristy midtown and bustling Manhattan. As with most of its properties, it’s got a rooftop restaurant with impressive views across the city, and it celebrates locality with its food and beverage offering, as well as the artwork that spans its internal walls. Quirky details make all the difference: postcards by reception come printed with the kind of recommendations you’d get from a friend, and cover what to do, eat, drink and see, as well as how to get there. Rooms are small (as with most inner-city hotels), and breakfast is a croissant-in-a-brown-paper-bag situation, hung outside your door on request. The perfect base for an explorative trip, it’s comfortable, stylish, and excellently located. Price: Rooms from around £200 per night.
SALT OF PALMAR, MAURITIUS With its hipster poolside crowd supping local Flying Dodo IPA and Memphis movement-style murals adorning the walls, blink and you could be in Miami or Tulum. The zenned-out paddleboarders in the bay and sun-kissed patrons congregating around the slow-drip coffee machine give it the air of a zeitgeisty surf hotel (without the surf). Designer Camille Walala has crafted a new narrative around this adults-only hangout, basing her motifs on the islands’ technicolor houses and emerald-green sugarcane fields. Its locavore and sustainable credentials pervade all elements of the hotel. The store’s roughhewn ceramics are turned by the hand of local artisan Janine – one of the many trips on offer is a morning spent in her studio. The peachy-hued dining space houses communal tables under rattan lamps, where no beef is served (very un-eco as it has to be imported) and 35 per cent of food is vegan. Native vegetables such as jacuma and christophine slumber in pickling jars on shelves. Next door, the bar offers barrel aging classes – we would cross continents again for a sip of their Oaktini, a rocket fuel meld of Bougainvillea rum, Drambuie, cinnamon syrup and Angostura bitters. Prices: Rooms from around £170 per night.
137 PILLARS SUITES & RESIDENCES BANGKOK, THAILAND This urban offshoot from the beloved 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai is a bold departure from the nostalgic look of its northern sibling. Instead of rattan and teak, contemporary Thai art and chrome accents set the scene in the hotel’s snug, living room-like residences taking over a gleaming tower in the central Phrom Phong district. But it’s the suites you’ll want to book. Spread over the top half of the building, they feature separate bedrooms and marble-trimmed bathrooms with bowl-shaped tubs the size of plunge pools. Suite guests also have access to the Baan Borneo Club on the 26th floor for intimate breakfasts and complimentary sundowners, plus exclusive use of one of Bangkok’s most spectacular infinity rooftop pools on the 38th floor. Price: Rooms from around £95 per night.
LAZURE HOTEL AND MARINA, BAY OF KOTOR Lazure Hotel and Marina is set on the coast against the background of the Orjen mountain range and next to historic Herceg Novi, with its three fortresses and pretty old town that cascades down the hillside to a small port. Centered around a sensitively restored 300-year-old Venetian Republic lazaretto
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or quarantine station with its own small chapel and covered piazzetta, the hotel has 128 rooms and suites in two buildings, all of which echo the hotel’s calm, neutral palette, encouraging an atmosphere of tranquility throughout the property and its grounds, where stone-paved paths intersect the shade cast by mature palms and pines. The hotel’s private sandy beach has a 35-metre outdoor pool and a separate children’s pool, and the seasonal beach bar and restaurant offers sophisticated takes on contemporary street food, specialty pizzas, and delicious salads. In the Atmosphere Spa and Wellness Centre, a luminous 19-meter indoor pool looks out onto the sea, and guests can enjoy a large selection of saunas, steam and salt rooms, massages, and treatments. The à la carte Augusto Terrace and Rosemarine restaurants serve beautifully prepared international cuisine with a Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian slant, as well as a variety of sushi and sashimi, while the stylish Rocco bar in the central lobby is the place for a coffee, cocktail or glass of wine, and the Baguetteria patisserie and wine bar is a great spot for a light bite during the day. Breakfast is a lavish buffet with regional specialties in the larger modern building. Beyond the hotel, leisurely private guided hikes on lofty Mount Orjen provide breathtaking views. Montenegro’s only coastal winery, Savina, is just a five-minute walk from the hotel and offers tastings in a stunning environment. Price: Rooms from around £170 per night.
THE HARI, HONG KONG Surrounded by an eclectic mix of street markets, herbal tea parlors, busy restaurants and ding-dinging trams, this impressive boutique hotel has become a part of Wan Chai’s rich fabric since it opened in late 2020. The Hari’s annual art prize (open to self-taught artists and new graduates), regular pop-up exhibitions and fascinating Chronicles talks (most recently on the role of neon signs in Hong Kong cinema) have made the hotel popular with the city’s creative crowd. As has The Hari’s sociable terrace bar, overlooking the hustle and bustle of Lockhart Road. Then there are the two restaurants PAGE 110
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– Lucciola (Italian) and Zoku (Japanese) – which have been consistently serving terrific food for the last five years. The Tara Bernard interiors only add to the appeal, blending a sophisticated palette of sage greens, nutmeg and cinnamon with mid-century modern furniture, touchy-
feely textures, open bookshelves and a rotation of artworks, including some Hari Art Prize finalists. Rooms start on the small side, as is the norm in Hong Kong, but have been cleverly designed with semi-open-plan Arabescato marble bathrooms, banquette seating and
bronze accents which give the spaces a sleek residential feel. The three Penthouse suites are knockouts, with cocktail bars and private terraces with neon drenched city views. Price: Rooms from around £175 per night.
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PSYCHEDELICS FOR TREATING PTSD
PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS SUCH AS PSILOCYBIN AND MDMA MAY HELP REPAIR THE BRAIN’S INSULATING MYELIN LAYER, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH
N
EW RESEARCH BY ELSEVIER SUGGESTS THAT PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS COULD HELP REPAIR DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN’S INSULATION SYSTEM, POTENTIALLY SUPPORTING LONGER-TERM RECOVERY IN PEOPLE WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD). The study indicates that treatment with psychedelics may trigger large-scale changes in brain network activity by remodeling myelin – the protective layer that insulates nerve cells. Scientists say the findings point to a new biological mechanism that could help ex-
plain how psychedelic-assisted therapies deliver lasting benefits for conditions like PTSD. FROM TEMPORARY EFFECTS TO LASTING CHANGE Drugs including Psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) are known to produce rapid clinical improvements in people with PTSD. However, researchers have been unsure how the brief psychedelic experience leads to more durable changes in brain function. The new study suggests myelin may provide the missing link between the short-term effects of these drugs and longer-term stabilization of neural circuits.
Scientists found that psychedelics stimulated activity-dependent oligodendrogenesis – the creation of specialized brain cells called oligodendrocytes that produce myelin. This process appeared to remodel the brain’s communication networks and restore healthier rhythms between circuits involved in threat detection and memory. “The focus of psychedelic and MDMA research has been the effects of these drugs on neurons and neuroplasticity. This work has largely ignored a potentially important role for other cell types in the neurobiology of their therapeutic effects,” said John Krystal, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry. “Oligodendrocytes play a number of
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roles in the brain, which produce the myelin that insulates neurons. Subgroups of oligodendrocytes take up glutamate and contribute to glutamate homeostasis, protecting the brain from neurotoxicity. Another group of oligodendrocytes is involved in immune and inflammatory functions in the brain.” RAT STUDY REVEALS BIOLOGICAL CHANGES To investigate further, researchers used a rat model of contextual fear conditioning. The animals were given repeated low doses of psilocybin or MDMA before undergoing behavioral testing. Scientists monitored anxiety-like behavior and exploration patterns while also analyzing learning and memory performance. The results showed a clear reduction in anxiety-like behavior. This behavioral shift was accompanied by significant PAGE 116
changes in oligodendrocyte biology and genetic activity linked to myelin remodeling in the dentate gyrus – a region within the hippocampus that plays a central role in memory. “To test whether myelin integrity was simply associated with behavioral change – or actually required for it – we combined the drug interventions with models that either damaged brain insulation (demyelination) or chemically enhanced it (promyelination) to see how these changes affected recovery,” said lead investigator of the study Dr Mehmet Bostancıklıoğlu from the Department of Physiology at Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine. SUPPORTING PSYCHOTHERAPY RATHER THAN REPLACING IT The researchers also observed that psilocybin and MDMA reduced astrocyte reactivity, which is usually connected to brain inflammation.
However, the authors emphasize that boosting myelin repair would not replace psychological therapy. Instead, they suggest it may help consolidate the positive neural changes that occur after a psychedelic treatment session. “We often talk about psychedelics as ‘opening a window’ for brain plasticity. Recent work emphasizes that these drugs can acutely loosen entrenched network patterns and then leave a sub-acute period in which experience can reshape circuits,” said Dr Bostancıklıoğlu. “What we show here is that myelin-producing cells may be an underappreciated part of that story – helping translate a transient window into longer-lasting circuit change, at least in a fear-based rat model.”
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EUROPE'S EX-ROYALS W
CLAIMS ON POLITICS, POWER AND PRIVILEGE
HAT DO THE DESCENDANTS OF DETHRONED MONARCHS HAVE TO OFFER THE CONTINENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY? One peculiarity of European aristocrats is that their names pile up, like snowPAGE 120
drifts. It’s lunchtime in Tirana, the capital of Albania, and I am about to meet Leka Anwar Zog Reza Baudouin Msiziwe Zogu, crown prince of the Albanians. The Albanian royal residence is easy to miss, tucked away on a quiet side street behind the national art museum. While Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, including 188 staff bedrooms, 19 state-
rooms, and 78 bathrooms, the Albanian residence would be among the smaller, more understated houses in a wealthy American suburb. Its front gate opens onto a yard where the country stores its unwanted Soviet statues: Lenin, Stalin, and the Albanian Communist leader Enver Hoxha all gaze with stony fortitude at a generic Stakhanovite maiden. Lenin has no arms. Hoxha’s nose is missing. The
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gate is guarded by an elderly manservant for whom the term faithful retainer might have been invented. Because I am British, his thinly disguised irritation at my presence makes me feel right at home. And here is the prince: 39 years old, more than six feet tall, with a sandy beard, navy blazer, and soft South African accent, saying goodbye to his wife, Crown Princess Elia, and their 1-year-old daughter, Princess Geraldine. The pair are about to go to the park—without bodyguards— and Prince Leka II takes me inside, to the drawing room, where the faithful retainer brings me an espresso. Next door is a room devoted to Albanian history (“what a lovely scimitar,” I find myself exclaiming, my reserves of small talk inadequate at the sight of the family’s sword collection), and beyond that is a cozy lounge with a leather sofa, its domesticity slightly compromised by the bows and arrows hanging on the wall.
Leka’s cosmopolitan name tells the story of his family. Zog is for his grandfather, an Ottoman bey, or chieftain, who became prime minister of Albania in 1922 and upgraded himself to president three years later, then to king in 1928. That arrangement lasted for 11 years, before Mussolini invaded, in 1939, and made Albania part of the Italian empire. Zog fled to Greece, along with his wife, Geraldine, and two-day-old son, whose name would later be styled Leka I. The family subsequently moved to Turkey, then France, then London, then Egypt, and then back to France, where Zog died, in 1961. His widow and son moved to Spain and then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) before ending up in South Africa. Leka II’s other names pay tribute to the leaders who helped the royal household in its long exile: Anwar is for Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat; Reza is for
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last shah of Iran; Baudouin is for Boudewijn, an uncle of the current king of Belgium. Msiziwe is a Zulu honorific, derived from the word for “helper,” a reminder that when Zog’s grandson was born, in South Africa, the government symbolically designated the maternity ward as Albanian soil. Prince Leka grew up in the last days of apartheid. He has a strong childhood memory of visiting the beach at Durban and asking why the family’s Zulu driver could not join them. “It was a white beach,” he says. Then he looked across at the Black children playing in their segregated area and wondered why he couldn’t play with them. “Do you ever watch Trevor Noah?” he asks me. “I resonate with his ideas, his philosophy,” he says, leaning forward in his chair. “If we don’t recall our legacy and the torments of the past, it’s nothing good for the future.” PA G E 121
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Leka is a paradox—a royal prince living in a democratic republic. His position is lonely, as the only son of an only son. He has assigned himself an immense task: to act as a unifying figure in a poor country with a febrile political system still scarred by half a century of authoritarianism, in a region marked by religious violence. And the tools available to him are few: a resonant name, a gentle manner, and a handful of social-media accounts. Leka is active on Facebook and Instagram, and occasionally drops into Twitter, where his unverified account promises to share a “combination of personal and official happenings.” Across Europe, royal families are variously seen as tourist attractions, embarrassing artifacts, spiritual leaders, and symbols of national identity. Several countries that exiled their monarchs in favor of fascism, communism, or military rule—Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and of course Albania—have now allowed their royal families back home, making uneasy pacts with history. They are royal but not royal, monarchs without PAGE 122
thrones, caught between the past and the future. A surprising number of them have gone into politics. What do their countries want from them? Leka lives modestly; the original royal palace was confiscated by the Communists in 1946, and the royal household today receives no funding from the state. He has no constitutionally recognized role. And he has only a minuscule chance of regaining the throne. In some ways, his story is quintessentially Millennial: In previous generations, a crown prince could look forward to a secure, permanent job, with a salary and great benefits. Instead Leka is performing royal duties for “exposure,” in hopes of being hired full-time. Think of it as an unpaid internship in monarchy. The history of Europe can be told through its royal dynasties—the Habsburgs, the Bourbons, the Romanovs, the Stuarts, the House of Hohenzollern, the House of Orange. Some kings were imported: The great powers of Europe
decided that Albania needed a monarch, so in 1914 they sent over a German army captain to do the job. (He lasted six months before being forced into exile.) Some kings were elected: The PolishLithuanian Commonwealth’s laudable attempt to widen the monarchy’s applicant pool led to repeated wars. Some kings were executed: Charles I of England lost his head to an ax and Louis XVI to the guillotine. Europe has 12 remaining monarchies, including three principalities and a grand duchy. But the continent is also lousy with dethroned or exiled royals, many of whom have returned to their ancestral homelands. King Michael of Romania was kicked out by Communists, but his daughter Margareta, custodian of the Romanian crown, is back there, and has co-founded a charitable foundation. Constantine II, a former king of Greece, flew his family to safety in Italy after a coup in 1967. He now lives a quiet life in a Greek resort town. Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia was born in a suite at Claridge’s in London after his father
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fled Yugoslavia during the Second World War. He now lives in the royal palace in Belgrade. Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a former king of Bulgaria, spent 50 years in exile. He served as the country’s prime minister soon after he was allowed home, in 1996. The further royals get from power, the odder the whole business seems. There are three main claimants to the French throne. One of them—Jean-Christophe Napoléon Bonaparte, who works in private equity—has a LinkedIn profile. Another, Jean d’Orléans, count of Paris, is six generations away from the last king of France, Louis-Philippe, but feels the need to keep the monarchist presence alive on the internet. “In the last 30 years, the politics of our country has completely altered our social bonds through its hedonistic individualism,” he explains on his website. “It therefore seemed important to me to accompany my commitments with appropriate communication.” (For the record, this is also why I tweet.) The third claimant goes even further. Louis de Bourbon, duke of Anjou, has the type of spicily partisan Twitter presence more usually associated with Substack writers. The self-styled Louis XX has spoken out against gay marriage and backed the “silent majority” of France’s “yellow vest” protesters. In 2020, after an activist removed the hand of a royal statue in Kentucky during racial-justice protests, he tweeted: “As the heir of #LouisXVI, and attached to the defense of his memory, I do hope that the damage will be repaired and that the statue will be restored.” Americans were unimpressed. Many of the 8,000 quote-tweets ran along the same lines: “Your family has never been particularly good at reading the room have they,” said one. “You act like that’s the worst body part Louis XVI ever lost in front of a crowd,” offered another. The French public has greeted the jostling among the three pretenders mostly with indifference or contempt. But other former kingdoms have taken a softer stance toward their aristocrats. Leka’s presence in Tirana is a signal that the intolerant, paranoid days of communism are over. Although his father’s politics were rightwing, he is resolutely nonpartisan, and
his patchwork family—Anglican mother, Catholic grandmother, Muslim grandfather, and Orthodox wife—is a model for a country trying to resist the divisions that have long plagued the Balkans. He presents himself as the answer to a question: If a country does not define itself by a religion or an ideology, does it need another focal point, a symbol of national unity? “We are lacking role models,” says Grida Duma, a member of Parliament for the center-right Democratic Party. “From Byzantine times, we have had the luck and the misluck to be in the middle of cultures—and being small, as a country in the middle of cultures, it’s very hard to create identity.” “I can’t believe it’s 20 years since I’ve been back,” Leka tells me as we drink our coffee under a picture of his grandparents’ wedding ceremony, rescued a few years ago from a shop run by two little old ladies. I tell him that the worst part about approaching 40 is that you realize you are, indisputably, a grown-up. “We’re getting old,” he agrees. “And as you reach the age of 40, you ask yourself: What have we achieved? ” After the family’s return, the young Leka fashioned for himself a course in kingship. Like his father, he attended Sandhurst military academy, England’s equivalent of West Point. He studied international relations in Kosovo, and Italian in Perugia, Italy. After returning to Tirana, he worked for the Albanian government, spending three years as an adviser in the ministry of foreign affairs, then three years in the ministry of the interior and a year in the president’s office. Still, Leka is right to wonder: What has he achieved? When his father died a decade ago, Leka inherited a crown that doesn’t exist. He has a job that very few people in history have ever held—but what exactly is it? He does charity work through a foundation named after his grandmother Queen Geraldine. Sometimes he acts as a kind of diplomatic wingman: In 2019, he accompanied the Albanian president on a visit to Monaco. He also receives pleas for help in navigating Albania’s labyrinthine (and corrupt) bureaucracy and legal systems. PA G E 123
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“You have to understand, it’s a very difficult country,” Leka says. “And a lot of people feel that they are disenfranchised or neglected; they have issues.” The mysterious, enduring glamour of monarchy means that nonprofits, international organizations, and politicians take his calls. And then there is his unofficial ambassadorial role, improving the international reputation of a country that was closed to outsiders for half a century. When other Europeans think of Albania at all, many imagine it as an exporter of drug dealers and criminal gangs. This casual prejudice was the reason Leka accepted an interview request out of the blue from a British writer at an American magazine. “You’re five times more likely to be robbed in London than Tirana,” he tells me. “We have 375 kilometers of pristine coastline, the Ionian Sea, the Adriatic Sea … The potential which Albania has is quite incredible.” He is right; this is a country with medieval ruins, wild mountains, and not a single McDonald’s. One of the greatest functions of royalty is simply to be seen. That is why medieval monarchs held royal progresses, touring their lands, touching the sick, and hearing the grievances of the poor. They sent portraits of themselves to be displayed PAGE 124
in cathedrals and countinghouses. They put their face on coins. The modern version of this is social media, and Leka has become a sort of, well, prinfluencer. His wife, Elia, is particularly popular on Instagram—she was a member of the Albanian answer to the Spice Girls before marrying him—and he posts photos of himself with extravagantly bearded religious leaders or in black tie at the weddings of fellow royals, and the occasional selfie at the beach with baby Geraldine.
KARL VON HABSBURG Karl von Habsburg has entered the Zoom. The 61-year-old head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine would today be the leader of the AustroHungarian empire, if there were an Austro-Hungarian empire left to lead. Instead, he is fiddling with his microphone and talking to me. Karl’s father, Otto, was the last crown prince, born in 1912. His given names were Franz Joseph Otto Robert Maria Anton Karl Max Heinrich Sixtus Xavier Felix Renatus Ludwig Gaetan Pius Ignatius, and his titles included king of Hungary and Bohemia, margrave of Moravia, and grand prince of Transylvania. It was the assassination of Otto’s great-uncle Archduke Franz
Ferdinand that triggered the First World War—and in turn the dissolution of an empire that covered parts of modern-day Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, and the Czech Republic, among other nations. Otto von Habsburg was a child when he became an ex–crown prince, and he had to find a new path. He learned seven languages, and he remained active in politics, earning a doctorate in political and social sciences and opposing the rise of the Nazis. He fled to the United States after Austria was annexed by Hitler. Otto devoted himself to “pan-Europeanism,” pragmatically renouncing the throne in 1961 and spending 20 years as a member of the European Parliament instead—not as fancy as being an emperor, admittedly, but the expenses were generous and there was less chance of being assassinated. Otto helped organize the Pan-European Picnic of 1989, on the border between Austria, in the free-market west of Europe, and Hungary, part of the communist east. It was described in his Guardian obituary as “one of the events that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Soviet communism.” Four of Otto’s children also became
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politicians: Karl is a former member of the European Parliament for Austria, Walburga was in the Swedish Parliament, Gabriela was the Georgian ambassador to Germany, and Georg is the Hungarian ambassador to France. “What people tend to forget is that my ancestors were for 800 years professional politicians,” Karl tells me. “Yes, the circumstances have changed slightly … but you’re stuck with the bug.” The “bug,” in Karl’s case, means a genuine and lifelong advocacy for pan-Europeanism, which is an unfashionable sentiment in an age of rising nationalism. What can an old family like the Habsburgs offer 21st-century Europe? “A sense of history,” Karl says. “If you want to understand or do any prediction on what might theoretically be happening in the future, you have to base it on something.” Like other shadow royals, he performs an informal diplomatic function, as a kind of ermine-clad back channel. When the funeral of King Hassan II of Morocco was being arranged in 1999,
Karl tells me, “I was in a rather advanced position compared to the representative of the Austrian state, because there’s a personal relationship there also between his family and my family.” No one I met in Albania believed that Leka would ever be king. In the 2021 elections, the right-wing monarchist party, the PLL, won just a single seat. When I asked about succession, Leka told me he would ask Princess Geraldine, when she turned 18, if she wanted to be his heir. “Legally, according to the Albanian royal constitution, it would go directly to the first male,” he said. But the rules can be fudged, not least because Zog’s laws were overhauled by the Italians, and then the Communists, and the constitution has no legal standing. At the time, Leka’s statement seemed like a sweet endorsement of gender equality and personal choice. It was only later that I realized choice is antithetical to monarchy. The whole point is that you get whomever you’re given.
Then again, maybe this kind of contradiction should be embraced. Albania is an experiment in multiethnic, multiparty democracy. A republic with an unofficial monarch, living in a plain house and taking his daughter to the park without armed guards? It sounds absurd. But while dictatorships are simple, democracy is not. And people do have a deep, almost spiritual hunger for leaders who are more than mere bureaucrats or legislators. We want symbols. Before I left the royal residence, Leka showed me something. Above the double doors in the reception room was a portrait of King Zog. It had been given to his father by a family who had hidden it for half a century in their basement, despite the great personal risk. As Albania’s ruler, Zog had been a tyrant and a modernizer, a viper and a visionary, intent on obtaining and holding power at any cost. His grandson will have to find his own way to be royal—or to be ordinary instead.
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MAX MARA TRANSLATES AN ICON INTO A FRAGRANCE
L
E PARFUM TRANSLATES THE HOUSE’S OUTERWEAR ICON INTO A WOODY FLORAL, WITH FLORENCE PUGH FRONTING MARIO SORRENTI’S CAMPAIGN
Max Mara will enter the fragrance category on September 1 with Le Parfum, a debut scent built around the design
language of its signature 101801 coat. Florence Pugh fronts the accompanying campaign, photographed by longtime house collaborator Mario Sorrenti. Arriving during Max Mara’s 75th anniversary year, Le Parfum extends the house’s tailoring heritage into beauty through a tightly controlled translation of an established brand code. The coat informs the fragrance concept, bottle design, material language, and
campaign imagery, giving the launch a direct connection to Max Mara’s core fashion business. Perfumers Fabrice Pellegrin and Marie Salamagne developed the woody-floral composition around sandalwood and cedarwood, layered with a creamy tuberose absolute. Vanilla and benzoin add warmth and depth, creating the enveloping quality behind Max Mara’s description of the scent as an invisible coat. The formula is certified vegan and contains 90 percent natural-origin ingredients. Its materials include natural cedarwood and Australian sandalwood essences, tuberoses sourced from Grasse and Guatemala, benzoin extract, and Italian lemon primofiore essence. Le Parfum’s bottle carries the fashion reference into three dimensions. Its architectural glass silhouette is wrapped with a lacquered central belt, echoing the construction of the 101801 coat. Camel coloring, gold accents, stitched detailing, and a button-shaped element on the spray cap reinforce the connection. The bottle will be offered in refillable 50 ml, 100 ml, and 150 ml formats. The campaign turns the invisible-coat premise into a visual narrative. Pugh appears wrapped in camel Max Mara outerwear inside a strippedback room, with Sorrenti using muted light and a
THE IMPRESSION
restrained composition to emphasize presence, texture, and physical ease. The coat appears as an extension of the body, mirroring the fragrance’s intended relationship with the skin. Pugh’s casting brings a contemporary cultural presence to a launch grounded in house heritage. Her direct gaze and composed posture support Max Mara’s established image of femininity as self-possessed, independent, and quietly assured. Sorrenti’s imagery keeps the focus on that character, using the camel coat as the campaign’s central visual device. The scent, bottle, and campaign form a cohesive brand-extension strategy. Each element draws from the same recognizable product asset, allowing Max Mara to enter fragrance with an identity anchored in its own design history. Le Parfum gives the house a new point of access through an intimate beauty category. The 101801 coat supplies immediate visual ownership, turning decades of fashion recognition into the foundation for Max Mara’s fragrance business.
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Explore the details of a new Bentley now
Visit your local Bentley dealer today and drive off in a new Bentley
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ONE FINAL TOAST TO
DOLLY PARTON 1946 - 2026
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DOLLY PARTON'S
LIFE OF PHILANTHROPY L
THE GENEROSITY THAT KEPT HER FROM BILLIONAIRE STATUS
EGENDARY SINGER AND ACTRESS DOLLY PARTON PASSED AWAY ON TUESDAY AT THE AGE OF 80. WHILE SHE WAS BEST KNOWN FOR HER ROLE IN SHAPING GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT AND, TO MANY, AS THE “QUEEN OF COUNTRY,” PARTON LEAVES BEHIND ONE OF THE BIGGEST PHILANTHROPIC LEGACIES EVER. DOLLY PARTON’S NET WORTH
At the time of her death, Parton was estimated to be worth $450 million. While
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this is a substantial amount of net worth built over a career, it also falls short of that of other entertainers of Parton’s stature and may surprise some that she was never a billionaire, a status she failed to reach due to her philanthropy. Forbes estimates Parton’s net worth at $450 million, with the majority made up of a 50% ownership stake in the Dollywood theme park, estimated at around $165 million. Parton also has product lines under her name, including Dolly Beauty, a makeup line launched in 2024. Unlike some singers who have sold away their publishing rights, Parton owned all of her music publishing rights, which
have provided a nice revenue stream over the years. Not hitting billionaire status would sit just fine with Parton if you asked her. “I always count my blessings more than I count my money. I don’t work for money. Never did. It was the art,” Parton said in a 2019 interview with CBS Sunday Morning. “I love the work, and I’ve done it well.” LIFETIME OF PHILANTHROPY One of the greatest examples of Parton putting philanthropy ahead of riches was the song “I Will Always Love You.” The song was a hit for Parton and later achieved further worldwide success
C H R I S K A TJ E / S P E C I A L T O P O L O L I F E S T Y L E S
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when Whitney Houston sang it for the film “The Bodyguard.”
Tennessee, according to the Associated Press.
Houston won a Grammy for her work and helped make the song the bestselling single by a female artist of all time.
“I think it’s important for everyone to do their share to help their fellow man,” Parton told the Associated Press in 2022.
Parton earned an estimated $10 million from the royalties from Houston’s cover version of the song. Those royalties were reinvested in the Nashville community, benefiting Black and poor communities.
Among the greater and well-known philanthropic efforts from Parton over the years are:
This included buying a Nashville strip mall and later paying for band uniforms for high school band students across PAGE 136
Donating $1 million to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in 2024 Donating $1 million to Vanderbilt
University’s Medical Center to help develop the COVID-19 vaccine with Moderna Inc. A $12 million fund for families who lost their homes in Tennessee fires in 2016 While there are many more philanthropic efforts from Parton, the one that may be most recognizable to people is the launch of Imagination Library, an effort the singer started in honor of her father. One of 12 children from a “dirt poor” family, as Parton said, she recalled her father struggling to read after previously
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dropping out of school to work on a farm. Parton wondered what her father could have accomplished if he had been able to read and write, an idea that sparked the launch of Imagination Library, which provided free books to children in the United States and several other countries. Children can receive free books each month from birth until they start school in many regions where the service is offered. The purpose was to boost childhood reading and literacy rates. An estimated 330 million books have been shipped worldwide since the program began. Parton once said Imagination Library “meant as much, if not more, to me than nearly anything that I’ve ever done.” Celebrating her generous philanthropic efforts and legacy, the Parton family asked that, in lieu of flowers, fans donate to the Imagination Library.
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FASHION & STYLE CHANEL HAUTE COUTURE
RALPH LAUREN LAUNCHES POLO BLAZE PARIS MEN'S WEEK STREET INSPIRATION PA G E 143
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C O N T E N T C O U RT E S Y O F T H E I M P R E S S I O N
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B
EANS, GOLDEN EGGS, CASTLES, BOOTS, CATS, DUCKLINGS, SWANS: THE SMALLEST DETAILS CARRIED THE STORY BEFORE THE BEANSTALK SET MADE IT VISIBLE. THAT FELT LIKE THE RIGHT METAPHOR FOR MATTHIEU BLAZY’S SECOND HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION FOR THE HOUSE.
Jack and the Beanstalk is a tale about belief before proof. A handful of beans must be accepted as magic before the castle in the clouds can appear. Couture asks for a similar faith: that a button can hold a world, that a lining can become a private story, that craft can turn the smallest gesture into something of enormous value. Blazy’s title, Gaby and the Beanstalk, made the premise personal. In the press notes, he asked whether Gabrielle Chanel’s life might itself be read as a fairy tale, and whether the ateliers could make garments that “tell stories like a book.” It is a strong question because Chanel’s history already contains its own mythology: self-invention, discipline, elegance, refusal, independence. The risk with fairy tales at a house like Chanel is that they can become too sweet, too decorative, too easily reduced to charm. Blazy avoided that by grounding the fantasy in the way clothes are made, worn, touched, opened, lined, fastened, and kept close to the body. That is also where the collection felt most connected to women. These were heroines
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with character, motion, wit, and interior lives. They carried books, wore talismans, gathered charms, and moved through the show as if their clothes contained private evidence of experience. The fairytale frame gave them a shared cultural language, yet it did not flatten them into princesses. It suggested something more generous: women reclaiming their own ideals through stories that have moved across generations.
That multi-generational quality mattered. Folk stories endure because they belong to everyone while still feeling as if they were told to us alone. They connect children, mothers, grandmothers, founders, clients, and viewers through a common rhythm of danger, luck, transformation, and belief. For Chanel, the idea became especially resonant because the story led back to Gabrielle’s own library. Blazy was building a bridge between the founder’s
imagination and the present, using references that are universal in memory and rarefied in execution.
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The central question, then, was quietly ambitious: can Chanel make us believe in magic again, starting from the smallest detail?
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C O N T E N T C O U RT E S Y T H E I M P R E S S I O N
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T
HE EQUESTRIAN-CODED COLLECTION ARRIVES AS HANDBAGS GAIN WEIGHT WITHIN THE COMPANY’S HIGH-POTENTIAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO.
Ralph Lauren is building a new accessories anchor for the Polo woman with Polo Blaze, a Fall 2026 handbag collection that translates one of the house’s deepest brand codes—equestrianism—into a scalable product family. Named for the white marking that runs down a horse’s face, Polo Blaze brings a more assertive shape to the label’s leather-goods offer. Long, curved shoulder bags sit alongside a compact top-handle style, with tumbled and moto-inflected leathers, contrast stitching, elongated straps, and distinctive hardware establishing the line’s visual identity. The result carries Polo’s heritage through a leaner, urban frame.
Three silhouettes establish the assortment: the Small Shoulder Bag, the Top Handle, and the Large Shoulder Bag. The collection spans black, chestnut, currant, ash, and petrol blue, with colors varying by shape.
ties the collection to a code Ralph Lauren already owns, while the hardware and repeatable silhouettes provide recognition. A tiered assortment gives the company room to extend the concept through color, fabrication, and seasonal updates.
Ralph Lauren has positioned Polo Blaze as a foundational handbag collection following its Paris Fashion Week debut. The designation places the launch within the company’s wider effort to develop handbags as a sustained growth category. In its fiscal 2026 earnings update, Ralph Lauren reported constant-currency growth above 20% across high-potential categories that include women’s apparel, outerwear, and handbags. Average unit retail increased in the mid-teens for the fourth quarter and full year, supported by product elevation, channel mix, and stronger full-price selling.
The creative direction supports that commercial aim. Chestnut and black establish continuity with the brand’s riding heritage, while currant and petrol blue add fashion currency. Long, low proportions and lived-in leather treatments place the bags in a modern city wardrobe, expanding Polo’s equestrian world for a customer whose entry point is personal style.
Seen in this context, Polo Blaze functions as a test of franchise building inside Polo’s women’s accessories business. Its name
Polo Blaze ultimately reflects Ralph Lauren’s broader strategy of converting durable lifestyle codes into recognizable, full-price product platforms. Its next measure of success will be repeatability— and whether one seasonal introduction develops into an enduring accessories franchise. PA G E 153
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Find a Home that Suits your Lifestyle
VOLUME X / ISSUE IX / SEPTEMBER 2026
MANSION OF THE MONTH
MONTECITO - UPPER VILLAGE 1140 EAST MOUNTAIN DRIVE MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA, 93108
$21,950,000 USD PAGE 166
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MANSION OF THE MONTH
BEDROOMS 5 | BATHROOMS 6 FULL AND 1 PARTIAL INTERIOR 9,711 SQ FT. | EXTERIOR 5.61 ACRES
From its gated hillside location on nearly six acres, this distinguished estate showcases dramatic, sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands, offering an alluring convergence of serenity, seclusion, and exceptional craftsmanship. Originally designed by architect Don Nulty and substantially renovated by its current owners, the 9,700+ squarefoot residence is beautifully appointed for both quiet respite and effortless entertaining. Throughout the property, desirable amenities abound, including a stunning infinity-edge pool, meticulously tended grounds, and a private shared well that sustains the estate’s lush landscaping. An olive-lined drive winds along the hillside, gracefully introducing the motor PAGE 168
court and stately front entrance. The home’s thoughtful floor plan operates comfortably on a single level, flowing naturally between grand entertaining spaces and intimate retreats, while offering generous accommodations for family and guests on the upper and lower levels. Inside the front doors, arched openings frame the foyer and draw the eye immediately toward the ocean beyond. The living room is both impressive and inviting, anchored by an oversized marble fireplace. An adjacent formal dining room features sculptural pendant lighting and direct access to the south-facing terrace. The spacious kitchen offers striking design, custom cabinetry and abundant countertop space, high-end
built-in appliances, and herringbone oak floors, with an adjoining breakfast area opening to an ocean-view patio. A cozy media room and a moody library with floor-to-ceiling built-ins and a fireplace offer more intimate spaces, while an office, a spacious laundry room, and an attached three-car garage complete the main level. Situated in its own wing of the home, the primary suite features dual en suite bathrooms of exceptional finish, dual custom walk-in closets, and views of the ocean and mountains. Two additional en suite bedrooms occupy the lower level, while an upper guest wing offers its own sitting room, ocean-view terrace, and en suite bath — ideal for family or guests seeking
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their own retreat. Outside, a south-facing terrace and loggia surround a spectacular oceanview infinity-edge pool. Multiple seating areas and an outdoor fireplace invite year-round enjoyment of the dramatic views extending to the Channel Islands
and beyond. Below the pool and terraces, the expansive grounds unfold across the hillside in carefully tended gardens of roses, lavender, native plantings, fruit trees, terraced seating areas, and winding gravel paths — all sustained by a shared private well.
Located within a gated enclave of just three estates and yet just moments from Montecito’s Upper Village, 1140 East Mountain Drive is a rare and irreplaceable offering above one of California’s most beloved coastal communities.
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MANSION OF THE MONTH
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77 BEVERLY PARK LANE BEVERLY PARK CA 90210 PRICE UPON REQUEST
T
HE MOST PROLIFIC PROPERTY IN BEVERLY PARK. THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF PERFECTION, FROM ONE OF THE BIGGEST 2 ACRE FLAT LOTS IN BEVERLY PARK TO THE IMMACULATE GROUNDS, NOT INCLUDING THE 4 ACRE MOUNTAIN THAT SITS AT THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY THAT CAN NEVER BE BUILT ON, TO THE ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIORS, PAGE 174
AN ESTATE THAT EMBODIES THE VERY ESSENCE OF WHAT BEVERLY PARK STANDS FOR. THE ULTIMATE IN PRIVATE AND SECURE LIVING. This is why the titans of industry choose to call Beverly Park home. Privately set behind the guarded gates of one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious enclaves, 77 Beverly Park Lane is a masterclass in architecture by world-renowned William Hablinkski, offering extraordinary privacy and grandeur just minutes from the heart of Beverly Hills.
A dramatic arrival unfolds into interiors defined by soaring ceilings, refined architectural detail, expansive volumes, and millions spent on stones and finishes sourced from around the world. Walls of glass frame the surrounding landscape, filling the home with natural light and seamlessly connecting indoor living with the estate’s outdoor spaces. Designed for grand-scale entertaining and luxury living, the residence features a multi-million-dollar private theater, an extraordinary wine cellar that may never be completely filled, incredible gym, parking for over 50 cars across the property,
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and the latest and greatest amenities. Outdoors, multi-millions were invested in landscaping by the renowned landscape designer of San Ysidro Ranch. Resort-caliber grounds showcase manicured lawns, lush rose and vegetable gardens, and entertaining terraces with multiple fire pits, an outdoor kitchen, piz-
za oven, grills, and dining areas, creating a private oasis. 77 Beverly Park Lane stands as a true trophy estate and a rare opportunity to experience the pinnacle of privacy, prestige, and architectural excellence in Beverly Park. Properties of this caliber very rarely ever come up. Call for a private showing.
CONTACT Branden Williams The Beverly Hills Estates 310.776.0737 brandenwilliams@mac.com DRE# 01774287
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BLENDED WITH NATURE IN THE HEART OF SAGAPONACK
A STORYBOOK ESTATE IN THE HEART OF SAGAPONACK Set on three enchanting acres in Sagaponack, “Whimsy Farm” is a one-ofa-kind estate blending Hamptons farmhouse charm with French countryside elegance and Palm Beach flair. From the PAGE 176
original barn-turned-great room to the lush, sculpture-filled grounds, saltwater pool, dual kitchens and separate guest quarters, every detail invites relaxation, celebration and timeless style. PROPERTY DETAILS 790 Sagg Road, Sagaponack, New York
5 Bedrooms | 6 Bathrooms $6,995,000 Listed by Douglas Elliman Adam Hofer adam.hofer@elliman.com 631.236.8659
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One Last Toast to Dolly In Search of Solace
ONE LAST TOAST TO
DOLLY PARTON WILLIAM SMITH
@willismith_2000 COPY EDITOR & WINE CONTRIBUTOR
F
OR STARTERS, F*** CANCER. THE MANTRA HAS BECOME THE RALLYING CRY FOR THOSE GRIEVING THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES, FOR FOCUSING NEEDED RESOURCES ON PROMISING RESEARCH, FOR CELEBRATING THOSE WHO TAMED OR CONQUERED THE PLAGUE, AND FOR GIVING THE PROVERBIAL MIDDLE FINGER TO A DISEASE THAT CLAIMS TOO MANY LIVES – YEAR AFTER YEAR, PAGE 180
DECADE AFTER DECADE, AND CENTURY AFTER CENTURY. SO YES, F*** CANCER. AND IN LATE AUGUST, IT TOOK A NATION’S TREASURE. On August 25, the iconic Dolly Parton died from a brief battle with cancer. She is a woman from which legends are made. She was born “dirt poor,” something she referenced frequently and that served to keep her humble and grounded. Yet, from her genre-crossing success as a recording artist, to iconic roles in film, a turn on Broadway, to profoundly impactful philanthropy, she’s touched generations and hundreds of millions of lives. Not too shabby for a country gal from Appalachia. She was also a shrewd businesswoman and entrepreneur and in 2024, released her own line of wines called aptly, Dolly WILLIAM SMITH /WINE CONTRIBUTOR
Wines. Many celebrities have launched their own wine brands, become winemakers themselves, or lent their name to labels. But Dolly Parton? She explained a bit about the inspiration for her wines in a 2024 interview in Wine Spectator. “When you think about wine, you think about friends, fun and family. We know how music brings people together. I thought, why not have a nice wine to go along with all the stuff that we have?” Why not, indeed. Four different wines have been released by Dolly Wines – a 2023 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for the American market and a Prosecco and a rosé in the United Kingdom. The fruit for the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay come from California, while the Prosecco is just designated as Italy while the rosé is from Pays d’Oc.
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DOLLY WINES 2023 CHARDONNAY “Miss Dolly loves her Chardonnay,” proclaimed her personal sommelier. That love is translated into her 2023 California Chardonnay. And at a very accessible price point of just $14 a bottle, this is California Gold. Aromas of white peach, apricots, and toasted vanilla bean, on the palate it is bright and clean, with flavors of white stone fruits, honeydew, pink grapefruit, and just a touch of oak. The mouthfeel is lush and the finish lingering with pleasant fruity acidity. Wine Enthusiast’s Tonya Pitts called it “opulent” and that’s spot on. Super food friendly and would complement a lemony chicken piccata with smashed potatoes and a nutty wild rice medley. 12.5% ABV DOLLY WINES 2023 PINOT NOIR Another stellar wine at this price point with aromas of ripe raspberries jumping from the glass. On the palate, a more layered and refined wine unfolds with flavors of cassis, herbs (especially thyme), vanilla, and ripe red fruits. Medium bodied with some pleasant tension on the finish. I loved this wine on its own – a rarity for me for a Pinot. But it is also big enough in flavor profile to serve with barbecued and grilled meats, so find some for your end of summer al fresco dining. 13.7% ABV
“It has my name on it! If I’m going to sell it, you know it’s going to be pretty good. And at least I’m going to tell you the truth about whatever it is. I’m excited about this, and I’m hoping people really like it,” Dolly shared in the same 2024 interview. As one commenter on social media remarked, “I tried these when they were released and they were surprisingly good!” “Surprisingly” because in this world of crass capitalism, where everything is for sale, we have grown accustomed to the egomaniacal bent of those who would throw their name on absolutely anything if it garnered some coin for the coffer. But Dolly, being a person of integrity and character in all things, ensured that what her fans and admirers were to drink under her name
wasn’t junk. And it’s not. Sommelier Tonya Pitts, who leads California wine reviews for Wine Enthusiast, gave both the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay very respectable scores – 91 and 93, respectively. When I asked Tonya for her thoughts on these wines as part of this article, she responded, “[t]he wines are quite good. They are well balanced, thoughtful, [and] the fruit source was really good as well. They overdeliver for the price point… She wanted to produce products that that were authentic, well-priced, so that anyone could enjoy them. I think she succeeded.” Shortly after Dolly’s death, news came that the agreement for the production and distribution of her wine with Vinarchy, a global wine company based
in Australia, had been mutually terminated in June. As we go to press, it is not known if Dolly Wines will continue under a different arrangement. But the existing inventory will continue to be sold and can be found in many stores across the country. I was able to find both the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay at my local Total Wine outlet. While these may not be the best wines you’ll ever have, gather some friends and loved ones and crack open a bottle… I’m certain they might very well be among the most special of bottles you’ve ever had. And while you’re at it, make a toast to Dolly. Toast yourselves. And toast life. As Always, Salud! PA G E 181
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MOLD YOUR MIND RECOVERY AS A STATUS SYMBOL
WHY HIGH PERFORMERS PRIORITIZE RESTORATION COACH JOEY VELEZ
MENTAL WELLNESS CONTRIBUTOR @velezmentalperformance
I
N MANY HIGH-PERFORMANCE ENVIRONMENTS, THERE’S AN UNSPOKEN RULE: THE BUSIER YOU ARE, THE MORE COMMITTED YOU MUST BE. PACKED SCHEDULES, LONG HOURS, CONSTANT AVAILABILITY—THESE HAVE BECOME SIGNALS OF AMBITION AND DRIVE. In some circles, exhaustion is worn almost like a badge of honor, proof that you’re doing what it takes to succeed. This is a flawed form of thinking because busyness is not the same as effectiveness and, more importantly, it’s not sustainable. High performers who maintain excellence over time—whether in sport, business, or leadership—don’t just push harder. They recover smarter. They
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understand that performance is not built solely in moments of effort, but in the quality of restoration that follows it. Without recovery, effort becomes less efficient, decision-making becomes compromised, and eventually, performance declines. The hustle myth suggests that more is always better. But the reality is more nuanced: better is better. And “better” includes knowing when and how to recover. If you want consistency, longevity, and elite-level output, recovery isn’t optional. It’s foundational. UNDERSTANDING RECOVERY AS PERFORMANCE Recovery is often misunderstood as passive—a break from the “real work.” But for high performers, recovery is part of the work. It’s an active investment in future performance. Every demanding effort—physical, cognitive, or emotional—comes with a cost. Energy is depleted. Attention becomes strained. Systems that support performance begin to become fatigued. Recovery is how those systems reset, rebuild, and adapt. Without adequate recovery, the consequences are predictable: decision-making declines, your ability to process
JOEY VELEZ / WELLNESS CONTRIBUTOR
information, weigh options, and make sound judgments becomes impaired, you’re more likely to react impulsively or default to habits that may not serve the situation, focus deteriorates and sustained attention becomes harder to maintain, and the quality of your work drops—even if the time you’re investing remains high. The key shift is this: recovery is not the opposite of performance—it’s a component of it. When you begin to see recovery as something that enhances output rather than detracts from it, your approach changes. You stop treating rest as something you “earn” after pushing to the limit and start treating it as something you plan for, protect, and prioritize. In high-performance environments, this mindset becomes a differentiator. Anyone can push hard for a short period. Fewer people can sustain high-level performance over time. Recovery is often the difference. Strategies to Prioritize Recovery Like a High Performer If recovery is a skill, it can be trained. Like any other aspect of performance, it
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THOUGHTS MATTER " T H E M E N TA L B R E A K- D O W N " P O D C A S T I S N O W O N A L L S T R E A M I N G P L AT F O R M S
requires intention and consistency. The following strategies help build recovery into your routine in a way that supports both immediate and long-term performance. The first step is to protect your sleep. Sleep is the foundation of both cognitive and physical performance. It’s when your body repairs, your brain consolidates information, and your systems recalibrate for the next day. Yet, it’s often the first thing sacrificed in the name of productivity. High performers treat sleep differently. They don’t see it as negotiable—they see it as essential. Protecting sleep means creating boundaries around it: maintaining a consistent sleep and wake schedule, reducing screen exposure before bed, creating an environment that supports quality rest (cool, dark, quiet), and avoiding stimulants or heavy meals close to bedtime. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about priority. When sleep is compromised, everything else becomes harder. Focus, mood, energy, and decision-making all take a hit. On the other hand, when sleep is consistent and high-quality, it elevates every aspect of performance. If you’re looking for the highest return on investment in your recovery, start here. Next is to schedule time where you can detach from your environment mentally. One of the most overlooked aspects of recovery is mental detachment—the ability to step away from work psychologically, not just physically. You can be “off the clock” and still mental-
ly engaged, replaying conversations, thinking about tasks, or anticipating future challenges. This prevents true recovery because your brain never fully disengages. Deliberate mental detachment creates space for your mind to reset. This might include engaging in activities unrelated to your primary performance domain, spending time with people who don’t share your work environment, setting boundaries around when you check emails or messages, and creating rituals that signal the end of your workday. Research consistently shows that individuals who effectively detach from work during non-working hours return with improved focus, creativity, and productivity. This isn’t about avoiding responsibility—it’s about managing your capacity. When you give your mind time to recover, you enhance its ability to perform when it matters. Finally, you can use active recovery. Recovery doesn’t always mean complete rest. In many cases, active recovery can be even more effective. Active recovery involves low-intensity activities that promote restoration without adding significant stress. These can include light movement, such as walking, stretching, or mobility work, mindfulness practices, like meditation or controlled breathing, or reflection, journaling, or reviewing performance with a constructive lens. These activities help regulate your nervous system, reduce accumulated tension, and create clarity.
For example, a short walk after a demanding day can help shift your mental state and reduce stress. A few minutes of intentional breathing can lower physiological arousal and improve focus. Reflecting on your performance—without judgment—can turn experience into learning without adding pressure. The goal is not to do more, but to do what supports recovery. Active recovery provides a bridge between effort and rest, helping you transition more effectively and return to performance with greater readiness. FINAL THOUGHTS Recovery is often misunderstood as indulgence—a luxury reserved for when everything else is done. It’s a form of discipline that requires awareness to recognize when you need it, requires intention to plan for it, and it requires restraint to prioritize it, even when the pressure to do more is high. High performers don’t just separate themselves by how hard they work. They separate themselves by how well they recover because they understand something that the hustle myth overlooks: performance is not built on effort alone. It’s built on the balance between stress and restoration. When recovery becomes part of your identity—something you value and protect—it stops feeling like a break from performance and starts feeling like an essential part of it. And over time, that shift doesn’t just improve how you feel. PA G E 185
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