Q Magazine Winter 2026 by QUEST Magazine

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KRISTIN CLOTILDE HOLBY

BY BRUCE WEBER

RALPH LAUREN, 1981

New Continental GTC Mulliner

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LIVING LEGEND: KRISTIN CLOTILDE HOLBY Elizabeth Quinn Brown celebrates the 74-year-old model and actress who famously helped lead Ralph Lauren to the apex of fame throughout the 1980s with her fresh-faced look.

58 SLOPE STYLE Alexander Hankin discusses the evolution of ski fashion since the late 19th century

A LIFE IN SPLENDID EXCESS: ANN LECONEY’S FOUR DECADES OF TIMELESS DESIGN Clay LeConey draws on lifelong exposure to his mother’s work, process, and creative circle to share a compelling tribute.

BRIGITTE BARDOT: UNSEEN Brooke Kelly Muray profiles Assouline’s rare, deeply personal portrait of one of France’s most iconic actresses. The book captures moments between Bardot’s glamorous life in Saint-Tropez and the unforgettable films that helped define her legacy.

BIG SKY DREAMING Big Sky Resort, a focal point in the Gallatin National Forest’s scenic wonderland, has redefined the American ski experience and rivaled the world’s top ski destinations.

THE SIGNATURE RED OF MAISON VALENTINO A tribute to the late desiner celebrating his iconic, proprietary shade of red—a blend of 100% magenta, 100% yellow, and 10% black— that has appeared in every Valentino collection since 1959.

EVERLASTING WINTER DESTINATIONS Winter destinations, from Lyford Cay and Lake Placid to Round Hill and the Bahamas. A medley of favorites that stand the test of time.

COVER

Kristin Clotilde Holby photographed by Bruce Weber for Ralph Lauren, 1981 (image generated with partial AI for formatting).

DEPARTMENTS

NOSTALGIA A retrospective of stylish moments in the snow, on and off of the slopes.

JEWELRY “You can’t cry on a diamond’s shoulder, and diamonds won’t keep you warm at night. But they’re sure fun when the sun shines.” —Elizabeth Taylor

COATS Layers to keep you looking sharp while keeping warm.

OUI! PARISIAN SECRETS FOR A DREAM WEDDING Celebrity wedding-dress designer Delphine Manivet divulges her step-by-step tips for planning a chic wedding.

ACCESSORIES The art of completing an outfit.

CLUTCHES AND HANDBAGS Clutches and carryalls for every occasion.

42 BOOTS Sleek footwear for the frigid days ahead.

Q FOCUS The hottest parties as of late, from Palm Beach, Florida to New York City, New York to Aspen, Colorado.

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BEAUTY The best beauty products to keep skin and hair hydrated in cooler months.

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SHOPPING INDEX Where to find the pieces featured throughout these pages.

DAVID PATRICK COLUMBIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ELIZABETH MEIGHER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

BROOKE KELLY MURRAY MANAGING EDITOR

TYKISCHA JACOBS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ROBERT BENDER CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

JULIE SKARRATT PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE

HILARY GEARY SOCIETY EDITOR

JOANNA BAKER CO-FOUNDING EDITOR

Quest Media, LLC

S. CHRISTOPHER MEIGHER III PUBLISHER AND C.E.O.

KATHLEEN SHERIDAN ASSISTANT TO THE C.E.O.

LUWAY LU NOCITO ACCOUNTING MANAGER

BOARD OF ADVISORS

CRIS CONDON

JOHN CREGAN

JED H. GARFIELD

KIRK HENCKELS

PAM LIEBMAN

DANA KOCH

MICHAEL LORBER

WILLIAM LIE ZECKENDORF

LISA

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

ELIZABETH QUINN BROWN

ELIZABETH KURPIS

JAMES MACGUIRE

JAYNE CHASE

TAKI THEODORACOPULOS

ROBERT JANJIGIAN

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

HARRY BENSON

BILLY FARRELL

MARY HILLIARD

PATRICK MCMULLAN

ANNIE WATT

CAPEHART PHOTOGRAPHY

It was the mid-1980s and I was ten going on eighteen. At the time, Saturday night sleepovers were determined by one thing—a little blue-and-yellow card with the word “Blockbuster” written on it. Without that, you could forget it. A wellplanned sleepover also required making sure the babysitter situation was covered—meaning someone who would let us rent what we wanted to see (likely something rated PG-13 or R). This usually came in the form of a foreign babysitter who didn’t understand the ratings system, or a “cool” babysitter willing to turn a blind eye (ah, the ’80s!). One movie I remember watching over and over again was Trading Places (I can hear Eddie Murphy’s laugh as I write this). It never got boring—and possibly got better every time.

The film is pure genius. Eddie Murphy (as Billy Ray Valentine) and Dan Aykroyd (as Louis Winthorpe III) are brilliant because they are both hilariously ridiculous and genuinely intelligent, with distinct personal styles that clash and then acclimate, creating real character development. They’re complemented by unforgettable secondary characters—Jamie Lee Curtis as the savvy, kind-hearted sex worker Ophelia, and Denholm Elliott as the loyal, drolly contemptuous butler, Coleman. Louis’s shallow, high-society fiancée is perfectly named Penelope Witherspoon. Played by Kristin Holby, she whines to Louis in utter naïveté, “What do those stupid old crop reports have to do with Mumsie’s party?” The whole film nails it in every sense, and while her role is brief, Penelope leaves a lasting impression.

As it turns out, Holby was more than just a 1980s actress—she was also a prominent model throughout much of the decade, spearheading campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, and L’Oréal, among others. The Norwegian beauty helped skyrocket Ralph Lauren to fame in the mid-1980s with her deep-set blue eyes, creamy complexion, and shock of chestnut hair. Kristin “Clotilde” Holby is not the only 1980s reference in this issue. As Clotilde was earning her keep before the cameras, another young woman’s career was beginning to blossom in the world of interior design. Drawing on lifelong exposure to his mother’s work, Clay LeConey delivers a touching and honest tribute to Ann LeConey’s career in interior design.

Managing Editor Brooke Kelly Murray profiles Assouline’s Brigitte Bardot: Intimate, offering a rare, deeply personal portrait of one of France’s most iconic actresses. The book captures moments between Bardot’s glamorous life in Saint-Tropez and the unforgettable films that helped define her legacy.

Counterclockwise from top right: Brigitte Bardot: Intimate; ‘Relaxing in Lech” by Slim Aarons; J.McLaughlin Jenna Suede Tote; Kristin Clotilde Holby; Monogram Mary Large Engravable Heart Necklace in 14k gold; interior deigner Ann LeConey; Akris Delia Suede Single-Breasted Utility Jacket; Asprey Imperial Jadeite Bangle With Diamonds; glamorous ski attire; Ralph Lauren Collins Burnished Leather Tall Boot; Kristin Clotilde Holby in a scene from Trading Places; Asprey Port and Starboard Salt and Pepper Mills; Céline Triomphe 06 Sunglasses in Gradient Havana.

Kelly also celebrates the anniversary of Yves Saint Laurent’s first runway show, sharing the news that a series of installations conceived by the Fondation Pierre Bergé are on display through May at six of the most prestigious fine arts museums in Paris. The exhibition, Yves Saint Laurent aux Musées, pays homage to the extraordinary creative talent of the late French couturier and the art that inspired him.

While Winter Q delivers a special selection of key pieces from the latest jewelry and accessories collections, when it comes to great taste, look no further than Kristin Clotilde Holby—her look is just as on point today as it was 40 years ago. Now that’s style.!

CONTRIBUTORS

Elizabeth Quinn Brown > Elizabeth Quinn Brown is a freelance writer and editor, covering culture, design, travel, and style. Her work has appeared in publications like Architectural Digest, Billboard, Grazia UK, GQ, and The Wall Street Journal. She resides in Connecticut with her family and her French Brittany, Gemma. The former features editor of Quest and Q returns this issue to celebrate the career of Kristin Clotilde Darnell. Often known simpy as “Clotilde” throughout her top modeling career, she appeared in 1983’s Trading Places as stuffy Penelope Witherspoon.

Clay LeConey > works in asset management and lives in Palm Beach, Florida with his wife, Christina, and their two toddlers, Carolina and Matias. He contributed this article as the son of interior decorator Ann LeConey, drawing on lifelong exposure to her work, process, and creative circle. His perspective reflects familiarity with the homes, clients, and collaborations that have defined her career, as well as an appreciation for traditional design and craftsmanship.

Tykischa Jacobs > Tykischa is the Creative Director for Quest and Q magazines. She uses her creativity to bring this captivating Winter Issue of Q to life, designing all of the editorial pages. One of her standout layouts this season was the Valentino feature. Beyond her professional pursuits, Tykischa enjoys exploring the outdoors, attending concerts and immersing herself in the rich cultural history of libraries and museums.

< Alexander Hankin Alexander Mason Hankin of Bucks County, Pennsylvania is a third-generation real estate developer at Hankin Management Company, as well as an art world aficionado. Hankin’s passion for the arts has led him to take on leadership roles in major art institutions, including the Museum of Arts and Design and Aspen Art Museum. Hankin has been a contributor on art in various publications, including Philadelphia Style Magazine, Gotham, and Guest of a Guest, and is now thrilled to be contributing for Quest. For this issue of Q, he discusses the evolution of ski fashion since the late 19th century.

< Brooke Kelly Murray Brooke is the Managing Editor of Quest and Q magazines. In this issue, she reviews Brigitte Bardot: Intimate (Assouline) and takes us on a tour of Big Sky, Montana. Not to be missed are Brooke’s selection of accessories, and her coverage of the hottest parties-from New York City to Palm Beach and beyond; or her roundup of the best new beauty products. In her free time, Brooke enjoys playing golf, traveling, and spending time with her British Blue cat.

Photo

Snowmass Après Ski A group of well-dressed skiers enjoys an après-ski party on the slopes of Aspen’s Snowmass ski resport, captured by Slim Aarons in 1968. (Slim Aarons/Getty Images).

This page: 1. First Lady Jackie Kennedy and her two children, Caroline and John Jr., on vacation in Gstaad, Switzerland, January 16th, 1966. 2. A party of skiers including Alexander Cushing adjourns for drinks on a Squaw Valley mountaintop in California, photographed by Slim Aarons, 1961. 3. Swedish actress Camilla Sparv on the set of Assignment K, 1968. 4. Two women stop for a chat in Vail, Colorado, 1964, photographed by Slim Aarons. 5. A skier smiles from a gondola while traveling up the slopes of Sugarbush ski resort in Vermont, photographed by Slim Aarons, circa 1960. > Opposite page: 1. Swedish actress Britt Eklund, 1972. 2. Relaxing in the sun outside of Austria’s Gasthof Post Hotel in Lech, 1960, photographed by Slim Aarons. 3. The Ski Queens of 1970s St. Moritz were the wives of bankers and industrialists who brought maximum style and glamour to the slopes. 4. Nicole Graham-Johnson, Glamour fashion editor, hits the slopes in a white swimsuit and a white crochet chin cap, photographed by Sante Forlano in 1964. 5. Glamorous ski attire in hooded brown and white fur circa 1963.

her jewelry collection, Taylor once said “We are only the guardians... You can’t cry on a diamond’s shoulder, and diamonds won’t keep you warm at night. But they’re sure fun when the sun shines”.

Large Engravable Disc Necklace in 14k gold on a 16 bead

partnership with The King’s Foundation) Large Diamond Set Cuff Earrings in 18ct Oyster, 40 mm, in Oystersteel Imperial Jadeite Bangle With Diamonds, price upon request at asprey.com. 5. WEMPE Memories Bracelet of 18K rose gold and 40 brilliant-cut diamonds, $36,875 at wempe.com. 6. SHREVE, Art Deco Style Flower Clip Earrings (White Gold) of diamonds set in white gold, $12,500 at shrevecrumpandlow.com. 7. SHREVE, CRUMP & LOW Emerald & Diamond Ring (Two-Tone) with a dazzling 10.18 carat emerald and brilliant-cut diamonds, $375,000 at shrevecrumpandlow.com.

Winter Wraps

Mia Farrow rose to prominence in the 1960s with a delicate, unconventional beauty that set her apart in Hollywood. Best known for her haunting perfor mance in Rosemary’s Baby in 1968, she built a career defined by daring roles. Here, she is seen wearing a white mink Paco Rabanne coat with metal links, pho tographed by David Bailey for Vogue, 1967.

1. BURBERRY Long Canvas Trerose Trench Coat in Tundra beige; $3,150 at us.burberry.com. 2. GORSKI Loro Piana Double-Face Cashmere-Blend Coat with Detachable Merinillo Shearling Lamb Collar in black; $4,500 at bergdorfgoodman.com. 3. VALENTINO GARAVANI Fauve Eclat Spotted Wool Cloth Coat in Animal print; $11,000 at valentino.com. 4. AKRIS Akris Delia Suede Single-Breasted Utility Jacket in Warm Brown; $5,290 at bergdorfgoodman.com. 5. MONCLER Fulmarus Faux Fur-Trimmed Hooded Long Down Jacket; $2,720 at moncler.com.

David Bailey/Getty Images

A Parisian Guide to the Perfect Wedding

What city is more synonymous with romance than Paris?

In Flammarion’s Oui!: Parisian Secrets for a Dream Wedding , designer Delphine Manivet invites brides into her world, shaped by two decades of guiding women through one of life’s most

Clockwise from left: Dessert during the reception; the venue; bridesmaids’ outfits; the Parisienne. Opposite page: The bridal party; cover of Flammarion’s Oui!: Parisian Secrets for a Dream Wedding (inset)

at a post-wedding brunch, she shares the small decisions that make a celebration feel unforgettable. Illustrated with her own watercolors and mood boards, this charming book is a love letter to weddings done with intention and a distinctly Parisian sense of style. u

Signature Pieces

Marie-Hélène Arnaud was one of the defining French fashion icons of the 1960s, celebrated for her elegant, modern beauty. A muse to designers such as Hubert de Givenchy, she embodied the era’s shift toward clean lines and understated glamour. Arnaud also appeared in several films. Here, she is seen posing for a photo for Marie Claire in Mademoiselle Chanel’s apartment wearing her black suit accented with white cuffs, and a bow and white camelia in her hair, 1959.

1. ASPREY This Pill Box, expertly crafted in a heart shaped design, is engravable and equipped with a lift-off lid for easy access to your essentials; $330 at asprey.com. 2. SAINT LAURENT SL 775 Acetate Cat-Eye Sunglasses in brown; $390 at bergdorfgoodman.com. Polo Bear Aran-Knit Wool-Blend Scarf in Cream; $448 at ralphlauren.com. 4. KRUG Rosé 29th Edition Champagne is perfect for a Valentine’s Day celebration. $450 at select liquor stores. 5. VACHERON CONSTANTIN This watch in 18k 5N pink gold reveals a dial with a pleated motif, similar to a Haute Couture fabric, created using the tapestry technique. The piece is illuminated by a bezel set with 58 round-cut diamonds. Call Vacheron Constantin’s Worth Avenue boutique in Palm Beach for availability at 561.815.1416. 6. SHREVE, CRUMP & LOW This charming turtle design from Tiffany & Co. is crafted in 18 karat rose gold and can be worn as either a pin or a pendant; $9,100 at shrevecrumpandlow.com. 7. J.MCLAUGHLIN Khloe Leather Belt in Dark Brown; $128 at jmclaughlin.com. 8. THE COLONY EDIT Colony X Petite Plume Women’s Pima Cotton Stripe Short Set; $145 at thecolonyedit.com.

Mick Jagger is one of the most electrifying and influential frontmen in music history, known for his unmistakable voice, magnetic stage presence, and enduring cultural impact. As the longtime lead singer of The Rolling Stones, he helped define the sound and spirit of rock and roll for more than six decades. Here, he is seen reading newspapers while traveling between concerts in the Rolling Stones’ private jet during their 1975 Tour of the Americas.

1. KITON Hand-Knit Tie with Micro Pattern Burgundy; $295 at kiton.com. 2. RAY-BAN Aviator Max in Polished Arista Gold frame with blue lenses; $202 at ray-ban.com.

ASPREY Port and Starboard Salt and Pepper Mills in Sterling Silver; $6,960 at asprey.com. 4. PAOLO MARTORANO BESPOKE Paolo Martorano represents a new tradition in fine tailoring - combining the highest standards of the artisanal tradition with an eye for contemporary style. Visit paolostyle.com. 5. ROLEX The brand has introduced its very first ceramic dial on an 18 ct white gold version of the Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II; price upon request at rolex.com. 6. STUBBS & WOOTTON

Navy Velvet Slippers; $625 at stubbsandwootton.com. 7. RALPH LAUREN

LABEL Ascot Smooth Calfskin Belt; $495 at ralphlauren.com.

was not only a member of the British royal family, but an enduring global fashion icon whose style resonated far beyond palace walls. Whether in sweeping ball gowns or relaxed, off-duty looks, Diana had an effortless ability to captivate. Here, she appears in a sparkling red dress while holding a clutch at the Royal Opera House in London on

1. BOTTEGA VENETA

The Eviana Clutch is a pearlized acrylic oval shaped clutch with an abstract gold top closure and removable chain strap; $398 at cultgaia.com. Featuring a a unique, magnetic tiger closure, the Keaton in Dark Brown is a wildly chic spin on the wicker clutch; $198 at jmclaughlin.com. neimanmarcus.com.

Audrey Hepburn remains one of the most enduring icons of Hollywood. From Roman Holiday to Breakfast at Tiffany’s, her performances captivated audiences around the world. Off-screen, she devoted much of her later life to humanitarian work with UNICEF. Here, she is seen wearing a fur coat and Louis Vuitton bag during a visit to the ski championships in France with husband Andrea Dotti in 1971.

1. GRAZIA & MARICA VOZZA Jewel Shoulder Bag in Brown with Pearls; $1,950 at viacoquina.com. 2. RALPH LAUREN The Ralph Calfskin Tote in black; $3,600 at ralphlauren.com. 3. LORO PIANA Bale Small Softy Leather Top-Handle Bucket Bag in Black Sun; $3,180 at bergdorfgoodman.com. 4. J.MCLAUGHLIN Jenna Suede Tote in Saddle; $398 at jmclaughlin.com. 5. ASPREY The 167 Small Handbag in Sienna is made from red python, and adds an eye-catching touch to any outfit; $13,950 at asprey.com.

1. MONCLER Drawing from the brand’s alpine spirit, the Peak Après Suede & Shearling Boots bring the mountain to the city; $1,600 at moncler.com. 2. MANOLO BLAHNIK Tomosa Suede Cozy Ankle Boots in black; $1,385 at neimanmarcus.com. 3. GABRIELA HEARST Aura High Heel Stiletto Tall Boot in Dark Sand Suede; $1,970 at gabrielahearst.com. 4. JIMMY CHOO Hali 60 Suede Shearling-Collar Ankle Boots in Chocolate; $1,395 at bergdorfgoodman.com. 5. SAINT LAURENT Jill Smooth Leather Knee-High Boots in Noir; $2,050 at bergdorfgoodman.com.

Frosted Footwear

Cindy Crawford rose to fame in the late 1980s and 1990s as one of the original supermodels, defining an era of glamour with her signature beauty mark and all-American appeal. A runway and cover star for decades, she seamlessly

Arthur

Elgort

Model Kristin "Clotilde " Holby walks beside a horse in a Ralph Lauren advertisement, circa 1980. Opposite: Holby photoraphed by Bruce Weber for Ralph Lauren Polo Spring/Summer, 1984.

Living Legend

Kristin Clotilde Holby

Clotilde’s aristocratic looks defined American glamour in the late 1970s and 1980s. To some, Clotilde’s name isn’t recognizable—but everyone remembers the fashion model’s chestnut locks and high cheekbones from the Ralph Lauren ads. Clotilde’s career was less than a decade but it came naturally, as she shared with the Chicago Tribune in 1983: “Your friends are around. There’s a lot of good music and a lot of good food, and it’s fun. I realize modeling is a fleeting career, it’s kind of short, and I just want to enjoy it.”

Kristin Clotilde Holby, or “Clotilde,” was born on November 9, 1951, in Oslo, Norway, to Aase-Grethe Hall. Her mother, Aase-Grethe, was active in Norway’s Resistance during the Second World War, for which she was imprisoned for 18 months in a German concentration camp.

Clotilde was raised in Larchmont, New York. Her father, Warren Holby, was one of the first developers in Westchester County. Clotilde’s four siblings

include Grethe Holby, who is a renowned figure in American opera (she directs and produces). She is married to photographer Arthur Elgort—with whom she has raised children Sophie Elgort, Warren Elgort, and Ansel Elgort.

Grethe shared with Fashion Week Daily in 2016: “My sister was a famous supermodel, Clotilde. She was Ralph Lauren’s muse and one of the first contract girls with Jerry Ford. She was going out with someone who [wanted to introduce me to Arthur]. We met at a Ford disco party—I’d never been to a disco. […] It was definitely our love of dance and music that brought us together. We’ve been married for 33 years.”

Clotilde graduated from the American Overseas School of Rome before studying at the Philadelphia College of Art. She interned for fabric designer Susan Nevelson in Florence, Italy, and then returned home to design for Concord Fabrics in New York, New York. During this time, she enrolled at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Soon, she became bored with fabric and curious about the more glamorous side of fashion: modeling. And, so, she cabbed to a modeling agency, where she was quickly signed. (It helped that she was gorgeous.) Within weeks, she started modeling

From top left: Kristin Holby's Mamaroneck High School Yearbook photo, Class of 1969; Holby photographed by Bruce Weber for Ralph Lauren, 1980; Ralph Lauren 1979 Resort Collection featuring Kristin Clotilde Holby and Karen Bjornson; Clotilde modeling for Ralph Lauren circa 1984. Opposite page, clockwise from lower left: Ralph Lauren Spring 1980 Ready To Wear Advance Preview Photoshoot for WWD , November 14, 1979; Clotilde models for Ralph Lauren, 1982; Kristin Holby pairs a French braid with an Herve Bernard parka, an AMG Imports for Pringle of Scotland cashmere turtleneck, and J.G. Hook

corduroy pants.

“I realize modeling is a fleeting career, it’s kind of short, and I just want to enjoy it.”

—Kristin Holby

RALPH LAUREN

Kristin Clotilde Holby reclines in a field wearing a vintage Chaps by Ralph Lauren Southwestern-style knit cardigan. Opposite page: Clotilde models feminine tweed for Ralph Lauren, 1979.

for Mademoiselle magazine, posing for photographers like Patrick Demarchelier and Elgort (who would become one of her in-laws).

In the fall, she was tasked with choosing between returning to Providence, Rhode Island, or heading to Paris, France—where she would be hired to walk the shows in Paris Fashion Week. Clotilde chose La Ville Lumière

Clotilde flew to Paris, booking shows with the most iconic designers of the late 1970s, including Hubert de Givenchy, Karl Lagerfeld, and Yves Saint Laurent. Soon, she was signing énorme contracts—like the campaign for Yves Saint Laurent’s Rive Gauche perfume (“It means Left Bank, where they invented love in the afternoon!”).

The most famous contract came in the 1980s, when she signed exclusively with Ralph Lauren. She started earning six figures as the face of the famous American fashion house, sharing with the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1986 that she had “Maybe 30, maybe 35 days of shooting a year. Then there are the shows. […] It’s great. Basically, I’m paid not to work.”

Ralph Lauren, himself, shared with the Chicago Tribune in 1983: “At the time, I had always been associated with blond models.

Clockwise from top left: Kristin Holby for Ralph Lauren Fall/Winter 1983; Ralph Lauren Classifications Spring 1986; Ralph Lauren 1979 Resort Collection Advance featuring Kristin Clotilde Holby and Karen Bjornson. Opposite page, clockwise from lower left: Ralph Lauren with his leading model; backstage at Ralph Lauren Resort, 1979; Ralph Lauren dipping Kristin Clotilde Holby during the Ralph Lauren Resort 1979 presentation.

Kristin Clotilde Holby and a young boy model for Ralph Laure in 1984. Holby by John Bright for WWD , August 16, 1979. Opposite: Kristin Clotilde Holby for Ralph Lauren Resort 1986-1987.

Clotilde was an unexpected twist. I chose her not because of this but because she has a timeless, classic beauty with a high quality of simple elegance that complements my clothes and cosmetics. It is her timelessness that lends itself so well to the many themes, such as the tweedy, English hunting look or the Santa Fe prairie collection, my modern cashmere theme or the forthcoming Victorian safari mood. […] I guess what I appreciate most about Clotilde is her genuine sense of style, a natural style on camera and off.”

The successful model made her big-screen debut in 1983’s Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. The film is a satirical look into class and wealth, as Aykroyd’s Louis Winthorpe III and Murphy’s Billy Ray Valentine, well, trade places between a financial firm and the Philadelphia streets. Clotilde played Penelope Witherspoon, embracing the role of the debutante with a bouncy, perfect lob—and a lockjaw. Candidly,

Trading Places is worth rewatching for a few reasons, but especially for Clotilde’s perfectly comedic lines, like: “How could the man I loved, whose children I wanted to have and breastfeed, be a heroin dealer?”

In 1984, Clotilde married Sebastian White, a nuclear physicist. Together, they had three children: Duncan White and twins Phoebe White and Camilla White. Clotilde was born to be a mom, sharing in a “Model Mommies” feature around this time: “The day [Duncan] was born, I felt I was living for the first time.”

And so, she dove, fully, into mothering and retired from fashion and film. Well, after signing an autograph or two for the nurses. Clotilde shared with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in 1987: “I was in the recovery room after I had my son, and a night nurse came in at 4 a.m. for his feeding. She brought in all these pictures of me to autograph. That was the first time I realized how much people associate me with Ralph Lauren. I just couldn’t believe it.”

From above: Kristin Darnell (née Holby) as Penelope Witherspoon in 1983's Trading Places ; Kristin Darnell (née Holby) in character as Penelope Witherspoon in Trading Places ; Kristin Clotilde Holby for Vogue , October 1979; Clotilde holding a lion cub in a photo for Ralph Lauren's Safari campaign, photographed by Bruce Weber, Hawaii, 1984. Opposite: Kristin Clotilde Holby in a scene from Trading Places , 1983.

In the decades that followed, she was committed to her children, returning to Larchmont. She would divorce and remarry—again, to a scientist. She wed James Darnell, a biologist who has made significant contributions to RNA research. In 2017, Clotilde opened a dress store called Clotilde, encouraging moms to dress up. It has since closed and Clotilde tried her hand at children’s books (as author and illustrator) with the “fashion adventure” series about Bonnie Beloved.

The Chicago Tribune described Clotilde in 1983 as having “that kind of beauty. With her luminous skin and fine bones, she looks more like the girl-next-door, if you happen to be living in English hunt country […] In her current ads for Lauren’s cosmetics, for example, she doesn’t smile at all. Rather, her perfect, oval Madonna face is poised with patrician reserve, wide-set teal eyes looking directly into the. camera from under straight, dark brows. Clotilde has tone.” And she still does. But, it seems, she feels that she has more to appreciate in her life than her looks. Only the Good [Retire] Young! ◆

in an advertisement for

Kristin Clotilde Holby for Ralph Lauren RTW FW 1985; Ralph Lauren for Echo Scarf Fall/Winter 1984. Opposite page, clockwise from lower left: Kristin Clotilde Holby

the skincare brand, Orlane; Clotilde and her twin daughters, Camille and Phoebe, photographed for

feature in Victoria Magazine, June 1993; with husband James E. Darnell at the Hope Funds For Cancer Research Awards Gala, 2011.

Skiing: Fashion’s Downhill Runway

by A lex A nder H A nkin

The North Face , Gucci, Rossignol, Balmain, Moncler... too many to count. Ski culture has created a new avalanche of designer skiwear brands and styles. Skiing has always been considered something of sport for the elite, with mountains notoriously hard to get to, admission and lift tickets pricey for most, and multitudes of equipment required. Now, more recently, even the clothes are tailored for this class of adventurist.

Clockwise from top left: A Moncler advertisement from the 1980s; a look from Moncler’s Fall/Winter 2022 Collection; skiing in Lake Geneva; vintage ski shot, circa 1910. Opposite page, clockwise from above: Diana, Princess of Wales in Klosters, 1986; Grace of Monaco, Prince Rainier, Albert and Stephanie on a skiing holiday, 1960; Roger Moore poses as James Bond on the set of For Your Eyes Only , Greece, 1981.

Ski outfits for the late 19th century and early 20th century were made simply of wool and durability trumped style. Women were seldom seen on the slopes, but those who did brave the elements did so donning heavy clothes and long skirts. It was not until the 1920s and 1930s that women’s style evolved, and female ski pants began to race down the mountains. With World War II came the boom of the modern commercial ski industry featuring new synthetic materials and the beginning of fashion in the industry.

One of the early pioneers of cold couture was Maria Bogner. In the 1950s, she introduced the concept of the stretch pant for women in skiwear—the first time a feminist was brought to the industry. Bogners’s designs quickly caught the ski world’s attention and on a 1955 trip to Sun

Maria Bogner. Opposite page, clockwise from above: An international team traversing the continent of Antarctica wearing Gore-Tex outerwear, 1990; vintage Marmot advertisement, featuring Gore-Tex outerwear; the French National Ski Team wearing Moncler, 1966.

Valley, she became a name known to all Americans. She was subsequently named designer for the 1956 Olympic Team USA uniforms.

Around the same time, the Gore family was developing a new breathable waterproof fabric that allowed for greater performance and versatility in the sport. The material became known as Gore-Tex and is still a feature of all high-end skiwear today.

The 1950s also saw the birth of another brand that would go on to become the epitome of ski luxury: Moncler. René Ramillon and Andrè Vincent began their company in Monestier-de-Clermont, a mountain village near Grenoble in France. The duo pioneered a high performance down jacket

that gained real attention on the athletic bodies of the French ski team in 1968. The brand dominates designer ski apparel to this day.

The 1980s saw the growth of mass consumerism of designer goods and with it came the intersection of design and skiwear. Known for its dayglow colors, sexy onesies, and tight fits, skiing had officially transformed into as much of a recreational sport as a fashionable one. Since then, stores like Chanel, Dior, and Prada have opened in ski towns from Gstaad to Aspen. Prada was one of the early adopters with a permanent ski line in the early 2000s. More recently, in 2018, Chanel launched its annual ski line with Coco Neige. Other French houses like Dior and Louis Vuitton have now made not just ski apparel but actual skis, snowboards, helmets, goggles, and boots for their winter collections.

In addition to apparel and accessories, ski shops have been transformed into luxury experiences. Gorsuch, which has been in business for more than 50 years, dominates the American high-end ski market. As a destination, its shops are akin to stores on Madison Avenue and Rodeo Drive.

Skiing today is just as much about fashion and luxury as it is about functionality—if not even more so the former. ◆

Clockwise from top left: Ski style, 1944; a look from the Chanel Coco Neige Fall 2022 Collection; Marianne Faithfull, 1968. Opposite page, from above: U.S. snowboarder Julia Marino showing off her Prada snowboard at the Beijing Winter Olympics, 2022; Dior ski boots; Louis Vuitton in Gstaad.

In the rarefied world of interior design, Ann LeConey stands out as a decorator who has spent forty years proving that traditional elegance and personal warmth never go out of style. Her rooms are vibrant tapestries of color and comfort, layered with history yet always livable.

As Architectural Digest once showcased and House & Garden applauded, LeConey’s work embodies what one profile dubs “splendid excess” – a confident maximalism that is opulent but never stuffy. From a Manhattan apartment brimming with antiques and whimsy to a Long Island estate reborn as a Colonial Revival sanctuary, LeConey’s career has been defined by timeless design and deeply personal client relationships.

From Wall Street to Mario Buatta

It might come as a surprise that this doyenne of décor began her career not in a fabric showroom, but in finance. In 1970s Manhattan, LeConey was a young banker with an economics degree – until she found herself rearranging friends’ living rooms after work. Her own apartment became a proving ground for her talent, and friends were so dazzled by the transformations that they urged her to go professional. Taking a leap of faith, LeConey quit Wall Street for the world of interiors.

She landed straight into the studio of legendary designer Mario Buatta, the flamboyant “Prince of Chintz” known for extravagant English coun-

both elegant and

practice forty years ago after

try-house style. Buatta became LeConey’s first mentor, and under his tutelage the fledgling decorator soaked up the magic of bold floral chintzes, tassels and tufting, and rooms layered with antiques. “I went to work for Mario Buatta – the crown prince of decorating… English chintzes, that is,” LeConey later quipped of those formative days. It was an apprenticeship filled with lessons and laughter. LeConey recalls how Buatta would ring a little bell on his red lacquer desk and jokingly bellow, “Slave! Come here!” One day he demanded two soft-boiled eggs. LeConey dutifully cooked them and served them with the shells still on, prompting Buatta’s howl: “Why are there shells in my eggs?” Her sweet-as-sugar reply: “Because you’re not my husband.” He never asked her to cook again. Such anecdotes illustrate the affectionate, prank-filled dynamic between LeConey and her mentor, and hint at the blend of humor and assertiveness that would serve her well in her own design practice.

Hungry to round out her education, LeConey next joined the venerable Manhattan firm McMillen Inc., training under the grande dame Bet-

Above: A classic and elegant dining room in Southampton, New York designed by Ann LeConey. Her work often features a love of color, a respect for tradition, and creating spaces that are

livable. Opposite page: Ann LeConey founded her own

working with Mario Buatta and Betty Sherrill.

From above: blending rustic elements, such as exposed wooden beams and a brick floor border, with refined furnishings; a white-walled landing in Palm Beach, Florida featuring Chippendale-style railing. Opposite page: A maximilist living room with high-gloss, deep purple walls and a gold-leaf ceiling, creating a dramatic and luxurious atmosphere.

ty Sherrill. “It was like design school,” she says of her time learning the nuts-and-bolts of drafting plans, sewing drapery and managing projects. If Buatta taught theatrical flair and “more is more” drama, McMillen taught discipline, craftsmanship and business acumen. By the mid-1980s, LeConey had earned her stripes – even adding the coveted ASID credentials after her name – and gained the confidence to strike out on her own. She launched Ann LeConey Interiors in New York over forty years ago, coinciding with a major life change: becoming a mother. “I quit my job at McMillen and went out on my own when I had my first son,” she has said. Balancing a newborn with new business, LeConey would often design late into the night after tucking in her three young boys. This personal juggling act imbued her work with a certain practicality – an understanding of how real families live – that would become one of her hallmarks.

Showhouse Start and Signature Style LeConey’s big break as an independent decorator came from two deeply personal projects: her own homes. In the late 1980s, she poured her creativity into decorating a Manhattan apartment for her growing family and a rambling shingled “cottage” in

the Hamptons for weekends. Rather than mere experiments, these residences became shining embodiments of her design ethos – and magazine editors took note. House & Garden ran lavish spreads of both, instantly cementing LeConey’s reputation as a rising star. One 1980s profile tellingly titled “A Woman of Confidence”, chronicled how swiftly she tackled that eleven-bedroom Long Island retreat – completing it top-to-bottom in under six months. When last-minute guests were due, LeConey was known to pull decorating all-nighters; she once spent two late nights trimming dozens of hand-painted lampshades with bits of braid and fringe so that every detail was perfection. Such dedication and speed were virtually unheard-of in high-end design, and clients and editors alike were impressed.

LeConey’s Manhattan apartment, in particular, became a calling card for her style. Visitors to her home step into an entry hall theatrically painted with lush murals on the walls and even ceiling, framed by faux-marble moldings. The effect is bold and transporting, yet with a wink of whimsy – grand but not grandiose. Her living room unfolds as a collector’s paradise of pattern and polish: flowered chintz sofas, tiger-print velvet ottomans, Chinese export porcelains and old oil paintings all artfully arranged. Yet for all the finery, the space radiates warmth. “Fresh, gentle colors and generous seating” keep it comfortable and family-friendly, noted House & Garden editor Babs Simpson. In fact, LeConey’s three young sons would roam freely among the fragile porcelains and silk pillows “without damage (so far),” she once quipped, and her husband would joke that in Ann’s world “everything walks in but nothing walks out” – a nod to the steady stream of

antiques and treasures she layered into their home. Her own rooms embodied her philosophy that elegance should never preclude livability.

At the heart of LeConey’s look is an unmistakable blend of Anglo-American chic – the cozy, collected charm of English country-house tradition infused with a dash of American polish and practicality. This likely stems from her dual training: the unabashed Anglophile opulence learned from Buatta, tempered by the refined classicism of McMillen’s New York approach. In LeConey’s interiors, you’ll typically find high-quality traditional furnishings (think Chippendale chairs, skirted tables, tailored sofas) enlivened by harmonious color and dynamic pattern. She favors layered palettes drawn from nature – the celadon green of a palm leaf, the blush of a peony –against which she’ll introduce a twist of whimsy like an animal print or bold stripe. Mirrors, lacquered surfaces and well-placed lighting add sparkle so the rooms never feel dowdy. Above all, comfort is paramount: deep, cushy sofas invite conversation, family photos and beloved books are on display, and even a cheeky leopard-print pillow might find its way in (LeConey has long held that a leopard velvet is a neutral that goes with anything!). “Our philosophy is to bring your vision to life and enhance it in every way possible,” her firm’s mission states – a client-centric approach that explains why so many of her projects come via personal referral.

High-Profile Homes and Lifelong Clients

By the 1990s, word of LeConey’s talent had spread among those in the know. “Most of my clients came through referrals – I never advertised,”

she has noted. Indeed, her client list reads like a Who’s Who of business and society circles. One particularly fateful referral came mid-decade, when cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder (son of Estée) and his wife Jo Carole tapped LeConey to reimagine their seaside retreat on Long Island’s East End. The project became nothing short of legendary. Working closely with architect Anthony Di Sunno, LeConey transformed the formerly casual 1970s beach house into a gracious Colonial Revival home that Architectural Digest would soon feature on its cover. The August 1996 issue of AD showcased the estate’s airy new double-height foyer and elegantly expanded rooms, all decorated to feel as if they had always been that way. “The owners didn’t want the house to have a freshly ‘done’ look,” LeConey told AD, aiming instead for an “unstudied tone” that exuded ease and history. To achieve this, she blended in weathered architectural elements (the front door was salvaged from jazz legend Benny Goodman’s estate) and kept the color palette muted and sun-faded with blueberry blues, sandy beiges, and crisp whites. Rooms were furnished with plush but unfussy sofas and Americana antiques – from hooked rugs to folk art –giving the impression of a cherished family home gently evolved over generations. The result was a cover-worthy sanctuary that epitomized LeConey’s gift: delivering refined luxury that still feels personal and inviting.

The Lauder estate was far from LeConey’s only collaboration with that storied family. In fact, she became a trusted decorator to multiple generations of Lauders, including the incomparable Estée Lauder herself. Though Estée was famous for her own impeccable taste, she welcomed LeConey’s touch in refreshing some interiors of her homes. The partnership between the elegant cosmetics titan and the warm, down-to-earth decorator blossomed into a genuine friendship. LeConey still lights up recounting one late-night adventure with Estée in Palm Beach. She had flown down on Estée’s last-minute invitation

Above: a traditional-style sunroom featuring a distinctive green and white checkerboard floor, built-in white shelving, a carved wooden console table with a large, ornate mirror above it and sliding glass doors that open to an

area, blending indoor and outdoor

Florida

LeConey.

– “Darling, I need you here tomorrow” – to help zhuzh up the décor at Lauder’s Florida home. When it came time for LeConey to head back to New York, a violent thunderstorm descended, delaying her flight. Rather than simply send her decorator off with a driver, Estée insisted on accompanying LeConey to the airport. The grande dame of beauty then proceeded to camp out with her in a quiet corner of the nearly empty airport lounge as rain hammered down outside. For hours, past 11 p.m., Estée paged through her newly published memoir with Ann, narrating each photograph – the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Princess Grace, Andy Warhol – like a docent with an eagerly captive audience. They laughed and reminisced until finally, near midnight, Estée saw Ann safely off as the plane took flight. “Most people would’ve handed me off to an airport VIP lounge and left,” LeConey says. “Not Estée. She stayed until my plane finally took off.” That intimate, stormy night –two friends sharing stories over coffee and thunder – remains one of LeConey’s most treasured memories, a testament to the extraordinary relationships she’s formed through her work.

Estée’s personal warmth extended to touches of mentorship as well. Once, as Ann was leaving the Palm Beach house after a work visit, Estée suddenly called out, “Ann, stop!” – then gently admonished her

outdoor patio

spaces. Opposite page: a living room in a Palm Beach,

featuring striking lime-green walls, a signature of the designer’s work; interior designer Ann

to lower the hem of her chic navy coat-dress by two inches. “No one ever sees the back of their own legs, darling. A little mystery would be better,” she advised, sending Ann off with a kiss and a perfectly ladylike skirt length. On another occasion, after Estée’s beloved dog passed away, she tried to gift a new puppy to Ann’s young sons – an offer the boys, in their innocence, actually declined (“We want a big dog,” they told the famous Mrs. Lauder) to much amused laughter all around. These stories, equal parts humorous and heartwarming, illustrate the level of trust and friendship LeConey cultivates with her clients. Many who first hired her for a project ended up inviting her into their lives – and often back for multiple homes over the decades. Colleagues say it’s no surprise: despite her lofty résumé, Ann LeConey is known for being generous, unpretentious, and an exceptionally good listener. Perhaps her greatest professional honor is exactly that – the lasting friendship of her clients, evidenced by their loyalty through the years.

A Legacy of Timeless Design

As she enters the fifth decade of her career, Ann LeConey shows no signs of slowing down. She still helms her design firm – now a bicoastal operation with projects from New York and New England to Palm Beach and beyond – working seven days a week simply for the love of design. In recent years, even as modernist and minimalist trends cycled through, LeConey held the line for traditional character. In fact, today’s resurgence of “grandmillennial” style – young tastemakers embracing chintz, skirted

tables and vintage charm – feels like a vindication of what LeConey quietly kept alive through the minimalistic ’90s and mid-century modern 2000s. Ahead of her time or just steadfast in her vision, she has shown a new generation that classic decor can be fresh, inviting, even cool again. Her influence can be seen in designers who mix old and new with similar confidence.

LeConey’s legacy is not only in the beautiful rooms she’s created, but in the philosophy she championed: a well-designed home should feel deeply personal, richly layered, and above all, welcoming. As she often says, “If you love it, it works” – a favorite maxim borrowed from Buatta that she has made her own. In an industry obsessed with the next new thing, Ann LeConey’s career is a vibrant reminder of the value of enduring style and genuine human connection. Four decades on, her designs continue to delight, inspire, and envelop people in that special alchemy of comfort and elegance. Truly, the definition of timeless. ◆

Brigitte Bardot: Unseen

Assouline’s latest tome, Brigitte Bardot: Intimate , published just months before Bardot’s death, feels especially resonant now. An actress, singer, and model whose image helped redefine postwar femininity, the book offers something rare: Brigitte, unguarded, among friends, in the life she chose when the spotlight became unbearable.

Edited in close collaboration with Bardot herself and written by Fabrice Gaignault, the volume is anchored by an extraordinary discovery: a suitcase of never-before-published negatives found in the attic of photographer Ghislain “Jicky” Dussart, one of Bardot’s closest friends. These images form the emotional core of the book, revealing a woman far removed from the cultural caricature she so often resisted.

Dussart’s photographs capture Bardot in the in-between moments of her life: sunbathing at La Madrague, dancing with friends, singing, caring for animals, or sitting quietly without makeup. Unlike the paparazzi lens Bardot deeply mistrusted, Dussart’s camera operated by invitation. Throughout the book, Bardot makes clear that her ease in front of his lens came from absolute trust, without performance or pretense.

Clockwise from bottom left: The cover of Assouline’s Brigitte Bardot: Intimate; Brigitte Bardot loved entertaining and throwing parties at her home, La Madrague, where she brought in the rhythms of bossa nova; Brigitte Bardot, her beloved dog Guapa, and the French actor Sami Frey. Opposite page: Brigitte Bardot and Sami Frey, in evening wear, in the 1960s.

From above: Brigitte Bardot goes snorkeling in the Mediterranean in the 1960s; Brigitte loved casually playing the guitar—one of her favorite pastimes. Opposite page, clockwise from bottom left: In Mexico, in 1965, Brigitte Bardot rescued a duckling. She fed it, and it followed her everywhere; with Patrick Gilles in the Bahamas; Brigitte Bardot and the film director Jean-Luc Godard, on the set of Contempt, in Italy, in 1963.

As Jean Paul Gaultier once observed, “It was like being near a magnet. She was attractive because she was unconventional. She unstitched her Repetto ballerina flats to allow glimpses of her toe cleavage—it was so much sexier. She knew it. She understood everything.”

Gaignault’s prose mirrors the intimacy of the photographs, weaving his own memories of Saint-Tropez into the broader story of a generation that transformed a modest fishing village into a cultural epicenter, with Bardot emerging as

“So long as I was in Saint-Tropez and I had La Madrague, my girlfriends, Guapa, my parents, I could strut my stuff. Nothing could really touch me.” In that simple declaration, Bardot captures the private sanctuary she fiercely protected—a world of chosen family, animals, and freedom, far from the demands of celebrity. u

From above: Brigitte Bardot in her dressing room during the taping of the television special Bonne Année Brigitte, in 1963; a splendid eulogy for Jicky, her lifelong friend, written by Bardot on June 7, 1996. Opposite page: A listening moment in the recording studio with Claude Bolling.

Ghislain Dussart; Artwork by Brigitte Bardot

Big Sky Dreaming

by B rooke K elly M urray

Courtesy of Gabe Priestley, Justine Esslinger, & Bob Allen Images/ Big Sky Resort

“My favorite state has not yet been invented. It will be called Montana, and it will be perfect,” proclaimed Abraham Lincoln after signing an act in 1864 deeming Montana a territory of the Union. To the former president, no word better described the area’s natural beauty. Twenty-five years later, after Lincoln’s passing, Montana officially became a state. Today, Montana is synonymous with the great outdoors, and Big Sky—a resort community nestled high in the Gallatin Forest about 45 miles from Yellowstone Park—is the state’s most popular destination, perfectly encapsulating the area’s breathtaking scenery and abundance of

wildlife, majestic mountains, and open skies. People are drawn to Big Sky’s vast array of outdoor experiences each year, from worldclass skiing at Big Sky Resort in the winter, to hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and swimming in the Gallatin River in the spring. The community’s welcoming spirit and tight-knit atmosphere further contribute to its allure.

Above: Ramcharger 8, the first eight-passenger lift in North America. Opposite page (bottom), left to right: Skiers explore Big Sky as the sun sets; dining at Everett’s 8800.

From above: Vintage photo of skiers in Montana; moose in the Montana wilderness. Opposite page: Fishing on the Gallatin River.

Assouline’s Big Sky, written by travel editor and local Barbara Rowley, celebrates this dream destination dating back to its early history and highlights the notable residents who currently call it home. In the late 1960s, retired newscaster Chet Huntley was the first to recognize the potential of the valley that would become Big Sky, but he faced an untimely death shortly before his resort opened. Everett Kircher, founder of Boyne Resorts and one of the best skiers of all time, purchased Big Sky Resort in 1976. “I had a romance with [the area’s] Lone Mountain after skiing it for the first time. It’s the finest ski terrain in

the country,” said Kircher. Since Kircher’s succession, the property has consistently improved, ensuring each visit is better than the last. When Kircher died in 2002, ownership of the resort was transferred to his children, keeping the business in the family. Today, his son, Stephen Kircher, serves as CEO of Boyne Resorts. “Chet Huntley wanted an economically viable resort destination in his beloved home state. My dad wanted a prosperous western ski resort for Boyne. When I wonder what they’d think of Big Sky today, it seems like they’d be proud of all it has become and as excited as we are about its future,” said Stephen Kircher. u

Night-skiing is a popular activity at Big Sky Resort; Stephen Kircher with his family in Big Sky (inset). Opposite page, clockwise from above: Mountain biker in Montana; rendering of the Eglise gondola and restaurant at Yellowstone Club; cover of Assouline’s Big Sky ; Big Sky town center.

The Signature Reds of Maison Valentino

Given the many ways fashion houses constantly reinvent themselves, it has become increasingly difficult for any single association to endure. Yet few designers have defied that trend as successfully as Valentino Garavani, whose bold and symbolic use of red has defined the maison’s identity for decades. In the wake of his recent passing, this signature feels especially poignant—a lasting expression of his singular vision and artistic legacy. That enduring relationship with color is the focus of Assouline’s Valentino Rosso, which explores the house’s striking visual language. Its origins trace back to Garavani’s formative 1990 trip to see the opera Carmen in Barcelona. “All the costumes on stage were red,” he recalled. “The women in the box seats mostly wore red dresses and stood out like geraniums on the balcony, and the chairs and curtains were red … I understood that there was no better color after black and after white.”

Pierpaolo Piccioli, who served as creative director from 2008 to 2024, continued to embrace and reinterpret this defining element. “I love the signature red of Valentino,”

Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2002-03, mod 164. Opposite page: Valentino Garavani in Rome with his models, circa 1999.

Piccioli has said, “not just as a symbol of power and glamour, but as something personal and romantic. Giving red a new perception it’s a good thing.” For Garavani, red was more than a design choice— it was a talisman, rooted in childhood memories of vitality and allure in Lombardy, Italy. This distinctive sensibility has shaped the maison’s use of red in unexpected and innovative ways. From couture gowns to ready-to-wear, the color appears across an array of fabrics and finishes, often in shades rarely seen in traditional fashion. “Red is a physical stimulant,” notes consultant Katie Smith. “It’s invigorating, intimidating, and it’s never boring.”

For Valentino, red was never merely a motif or a commercial signature. For co-founder Giancarlo Giammetti, it was deeply

Valentino Fall 2021 Couture. Opposite page: Valentino Des Ateliers Haute Couture FallWinter 2021-22, mod 43-U4 Monica, Nicola, Lucia, Maria, Stefano, Alice, Alessandro; Assouline’s Valentino Rosso (inset).

Valentino Fall 2021 Couture. Opposite page: Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2015, mod 11-A12, Sur la terre des Dieux .

personal. “Most of our statements came to be because we are romantic,” he once said. “We don’t like to throw away things we like or that bring good luck.” Through the book’s rich archive of vivid reds, one principle becomes unmistakably clear: authenticity, above all, was the foundation of Valentino’s enduring elegance. ◆

Everlasting Winter Destinations

I think it was our fabled New England laureate Robert Frost who once said, “You can’t get too much winter in winter.”

Having spent a good part of my academic years with snow and ice underfoot, I still have a wistful affection for this unkindest of “character building” seasons. Of course, not all Quest readers agree, so in the following pages we offer up some legendary locations and lifestyles that have allowed generations of swellegant families and friends to endure and enjoy the winter solstice. We’ve included some “sunny places for shady people” and even a few alpine peaks for those more Nordically inclined. Collectively, they share a certain geographic beauty and longstanding social patina—a rich combination of athleticism, extravagance, and opulent entertainment that borders just on the edge of temporary hedonism.

There’s a place here for everyone, even the purists who seek the first tracks on Whiteface, or the last wave off Baja. As Sinclair Lewis most defiantly said: “Winter is not a season, it’s an occupation.” Indeed! u

Baja, California / This page: Situated at the edge of the Baja Peninsula, The One&Only Palmilla resort affords extraordinary views of the Los Cabos landscape and beachfront access to one of the few swimmable beaches in the entire region. The Palmilla’s four-bedroom Villa Cortez embraces the chic design of a modern-day hacienda and provides guests the ultimate in privilege and privacy. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: A 1957 postcard of Mexico’s Hotel Penafiel; Las Ventanas Al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort in Los Cabos; a 1948 postcard of a Mexican street scene; Prince Charles on a tour of Mexico, 1993; a vintage postcard of Mexico’s Hotel Bahia; a luxury villa at the One&Only Palmilla resort.

Acapulco, Mexico / Clockwise from top left: A Slim Aarons photo of the pool at Las Brisas resort in Acapulco, Mexico, 1972; Banyan Tree Cabo Marques, a luxury resort in Acapulco; John F. Kennedy, Jr., and his aunt, Lee Radziwill, arriving in Acapulco in 1967; Las Brisas, a collection of 251 casitas spread over 40 acres above Mexico’s Acapulco Bay; a Slim Aarons photo of the bar at the Villa Vera Hotel Spa and Racquet Club in Acapulco, 1968; the pool at Villa Nirvana in Acapulco, 1971 (Old Acapulco can be seen across the bay).

Lake Placid / Clockwise from top left: A vintage poster from the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid; a current photo of the Olympic Jumping Complex at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid; The Crane School of Music was invited to serve as the official musicians for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., the second time the Adirondacks have played host to the Winter Games.

Lyford Cay, Bahamas / Clockwise from top left: Gloria Schiff, the twin sister of Consuelo Crespi, with her pet dog and pet birds in Lyford Cay in the Bahamas, 1963; guests sunbathing by the pool at the Lyford Cay Club on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, 1974; two women stand talking to a man on the edge of a tennis court in Lyford Cay, 1957; The Lyford Cay Club’s main clubroom; a depiction of Lyford Cay’s Ocean Club Resort, a 72-acre plantation-themed hotel at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

Miami, Florida / Clockwise from top left: New Year’s Eve at The Surf Club in Miami, 1954; a fashion show at The Surf Club, ca. 1945; the rooftop of 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach; a Slim Aarons

photo of an elegant garden party in Miami, 1970; a modern-day view of South Beach; English playwright Noël Coward (second from left) enjoying the company of his friends by the surf, 1953.

Mustique / Clockwise from top left: Seascape Villa in L’Ansecoy Bay in Mustique; Seascape Villa at The Cotton House, Mustique; Linda Ashland relaxes in a beach hammock on the island of Mustique in the Grenadines, 1973; Jacaranda Villa in Mustique; Villa Flomarine in Mustique; Pierre Vincent Marais holidays with friends on the island of Mustique in the Grenadines, 1989. Slim

Aarons/Getty Images

Round Hill, Jamaica / Clockwise from top left: John Rawlings on the beach in Montego Bay, Jamaica, 1950; Pineapple House’s 36 deluxe guest-rooms at Round Hill Hotel & Villas in Montego Bay, Jamaica, were redesigned under the careful direction of Ralph Lauren; Princess Grace, Prince Rainier, and their children in Montego Bay, Jamaica, 1967; the spa at Round Hill in Jamaica; Babe Paley, wife of CBS radio executive William S. Paley, photographed by Slim Aarons in their villa at Round Hill, Jamaica, 1959; Ralph Lauren and his wife, Ricky, at the Sugar Cane Ball at Round Hill Hotel & Villas, 2015; an interior photo of a

villa at Round Hill; Grace Kelly photographed by Howell Conant in Jamaica, 1955.

This page:

Cristina Macaya; courtesy of Cheval Blanc

St-Barth Isle de France.

Opposite page:

Slim

Aarons/Getty Images.

St. Barths / Clockwise from top left: Nicole Hanley aboard David Ray’s sloop “Sukania” off Gustavia in St. Barths; Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France; Nicole Hanley, dressed in her own designs (www.HANLEY.nyc), standing in the doorway of Villa La Pointe in St. Barths; sweeping views of Gustavia, the main town and capital of the island of Saint-Barthélemy, named after King Gustav III of Sweden.

Palm Beach, Florida / Clockwise from top left: An aerial view of The Breakers Hotel; Estée Lauder at home in Palm Beach; a modern-day view of Worth Avenue, Palm Beach; Worth Avenue in the 1930s; a modern-day view of Villa Artemis in Palm Beach; Mrs. F. C. Winston Guest (“C. Z.”) and her son, Alexander Michael Douglas Dudley Guest, photographed by Slim Aarons in front of their Grecian temple pool at Villa Artemis, Palm Beach, 1955; painter and sculptor Wendy Vanderbilt Lehman at her home in Palm Beach, 1964; Patsy Pulitzer (née Patsy Bartlett) rummaging in her bag on the seat of an open car parked by a plane belonging to the Everglades Flying Service in Palm Beach, Florida, 1955.

Q Focus

Aspen In late December, Diplo delivered an electrifying performance at The Snow Lodge, the winter counterpart to Montauk’s iconic Surf Lodge, set within The St. Regis Aspen. Each weekend, the seasonal pop-up hosts Après-Ski live performances in the hotel’s Fountain Courtyard as part of its Winter Concert Series. Drawing a crowd reminiscent of the Hamptons’ regulars, the evening welcomed guests including Sailor Brinkley-Cook , Jayma Cardoso , Zach Weiss , and more.

1. Morgan Alfia, Karsen Kloster, and Lauren Alexandra 2. Diplo 3. Zach Weiss 4. Gabby Westbrook and Sailor Brinkley-Cook 5. Shaun White 6. Kyra Kennedy and Jayma Cardoso 7. Fountain Courtyard 8. Bruna Petrillo 9. Santigold 10. Tinx, Patrick Ta, Kelly Anne Sewel, and Zach Zumb

Q Focus

Palm Beach

Founded in the Roaring Twenties, The Coconuts began as a circle of 25 bachelors who hosted a New Year’s Eve party as a gesture of thanks to the hosts and hostesses who had entertained them throughout the season. Over the decades, the group has maintained a tradition of fraternity-like discretion. This year, The Coconuts continued the ritual with their annual celebration at The Colony Hotel.

1. Poolside at The Colony 2. The Coconuts 3. Alex and Nickie Fanjul 4. Kane, Grace, and Mary Baker 5. Finley, JB, and Carrie Murray 6. Helena and Joe Cornell 7. Hilary Dick and Mark Gilbertson 8. Blakely and Lindsey Page 9. Amanda and Ted Mariner 10. Callie Baker Holt and Ted Cooney 11. Jeffrey Tousey and Bronson van Wyck 12. Wilbur Ross and Hilary Geary Ross with Suzanne and Woody Johnson

Q Focus

New York As a highlight of the fall social season, the New York Public Library hosted its annual Library Lions gala, honoring this year’s inductees into the Lions Hall of Fame. Each year, NYPL celebrates a distinguished group of cultural leaders by naming them Library Lions in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to literature, the arts, and public life. The 2025 honorees included Louise Erdrich, Daniel Kehlmann, James McBride, James Patterson, Shonda Rhimes, and Bruce Springsteen. The black-tie evening unfolded with a cocktail reception, a seated dinner, a surprise performance by Springsteen, and concluded with a lively “Young Lions” after-party.

Hortense le Gentil-Joly and Hubert Joly

Jason Beckman, Alex Tisch, Katherine Jenkins, and Andrew Levitas 3. Annette Gordon-Reed and Abby Milstein

Jon Landau, Barbara Landau, and Spike Lee 5. Lauren Santo Domingo and Alejandra Cicognani 6. Sarah Hyland

George Farias and Martha Stewart 8. James Patterson

Katharine Rayner and Joan Hardy Clark

10. James McBride, Daniel Kehlmann, and Tony Marx

Q Focus

Palm Beach To celebrate the launch of their new book, All the Cool Girls Get Fired: How to Let Go of Being Let Go and Come Back on Top, Kristina O’Neill and Laura Brown hosted an intimate dinner with Tory Burch at The Colony. The evening began with a conversation with the authors, moderated by the hotel’s CEO, Sarah Wetenhall. Guests then moved poolside to Swifty’s for dinner, where tables were set with pieces from the Tory Burch Home Collection.

1. Laura Brown and Kristina O’ Neill 2. Copies of All the Cool Girls Get Fired 3. Elizabeth Meigher and Courtney Leidy

4. Michelle Craig and Asha Walker 5. Ella and Gracie Greaton

6. Kelly Kempner, Roosmarijn de Kok, Marissa Montgomery, and Devon McCready 7. Roosmarijn de Kok, Laura Brown, Sarah Wetenhall, and Nick Mele 8. Nacole Snoep and Emme Parsons 9. Gigi Mortimer and Danielle Ganek

Q Focus

Palm Beach

Over the holiday season, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League hosted its 54th Annual Christmas Ball at the Sailfish Club.

Chaired by Pauline Pitt and Aerin Lauder Zinterhoffer, the evening opened with a heartwarming procession of 16 adoptable dogs greeting guests with wagging tails, before giving way to dinner and live entertainment. The festive affair raised more than three million dollars in support of the organization’s mission to save the lives of homeless, neglected, and injured dogs and cats.

1. Pauline Pitt and Aerin Lauder 2. Whitney and Ashley McGurk 3. Pepe and Emilia Fanjul 4. Denise and Dan Hanley 5. Dan Ponton and Candy Hamm 6. Mish Tworkowski and Jospeh Singer 7. Peggy Adams staff 8. Frank Steinhart and Kate Gubelmann 9. Lesly Smith and Danielle Moore 10. Steven and Stephanie Shafran

Q Focus

London To celebrate Halloween, Annabel’s transported members and guests back in time to the world of the Vikings. Guests arrived to find the façade transformed into a grand Viking ship, while the interior unfolded as a theatrical, Norse-inspired realm. The basement nightclub resembled an authentic longship, complete with dramatic décor. Attendees enjoyed Don Julio cocktails and music by Luciano and DJ Francis Mercier

1. Halloween façade 2. Heir 3. Marc Quinn, Adot Gak, and Richard Caring 4. Signature cocktail 5. Lisa King 6. Paul Forman and Daniel Fletcher 7. Yasmin Finney 8. Paloma Faith and Stevie Thomas 9. Sian Gabari and Rahi Chadda

1 9

Eye Lumière from Chantecaille’s Éclat Cristalline Collection is a lustrous liquid eye shadow that gives the lids a gleaming metallic finish; $45 at chantecaille.com. 6. NOBLE PANACEA

The Exceptional Repair Reset Cream visibly improves stressed skin by breaking down the over production of cortisol in skin cells around the clock, reducing redness and irritation, and softening the skin; $350 at noblepanacea. com. 7. DR. BARBARA STURM The GLOW CREAM is a rich, creamy moisturizer that imparts an immediate luminosity to the complexion and provides both instant and longterm hydration; $240 at drsturm.com. 8. SISLEY PARIS Sisleÿa L’Integral Anti-Age is an exceptional anti-ageing cream; $700 at sisley-paris.com. 9. GUERLAIN Abeille Royale Youth Repair Eye Care; $95 at guerlain.com.

Dior

4. CHANEL

5. CHANTECAILLE

1. MONIQUE CHEVALIER with Kenneth, photographed by Bert Stern for 1962. 2. MOROCCANOIL The Power Performance Ionic Hair Dryer delivers smooth, salon-quality blowouts in less time; $320 at moroccanoil.com. 3. DIPTYQUE Orphéon eau de parfum features Cedar, Tonka bean, Juniper berry, and Jasmine; $255 at diptyqueparis.com. Stylemax is an intelligent iron that auto-adjusts heat to your hair type and styling goals for glossy, frizz-free results with less damage; $180 at t3micro.com. 5. OAK ESSENTIALS butter for aging skin that visibly brightens and firms from the neck down; $68 at oakessentials.com. de Parfum; $395 at giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com. with La Prairie’s Exclusive Cellular Complex, Cashmere Body Cream awakens natural repair and renewal processes, enhancing the skin’s resilience; $300 at laprairie.com. at bergdorfgoodman.com.

cleanses, strengthens, and amps up texture for hair that’s full, bouncy, and styled to stay. Includes the Dallas Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner, Rodeo Start Thickening Style Foam, Balloon Dry Volume Spray, and Branded Holiday Bag; $98 at randco.com.

TWO WOMEN SHARE A SECRET IN A SHOPPING AISLE, 1960

A

> Aerin: aerin.com.

> Akris: 835 Madison Ave. or akris.ch.

> A La Vieille Russie: alvr.com.

> Alexandra Mor: alexandramor.com.

> Asprey: asprey.com.

B

> Badgley Mischka: badgleymischka.com.

> Belperron: 745 Fifth Ave., 212.702.9040 or belperron.com

> Bergdorf Goodman: bergdorfgoodman.com.

> Betteridge: betteridge.com.

> Bloomingdale’s: 800.777.0000 or bloomingdales.com.

> Bottega Veneta: 212.371.5511 or bottegaveneta.com.

> Brunello Cucinelli: brunellocucinelli.com.

> Bulgari: bulgari.com.

> Burberry: 877.217.4085 or burberry.com.

C

> Carolina Herrera: 212.249.6552 or carolinaherrera.com.

> Cartier: 800-227-8437 or cartier.us.

> Chanel: 800.550.0005 or chanel.com.

> Chopard: 212.223.2304 or us.chopard.com.

> Claire Florence: claireflorence.com

D

> Dennis Basso: 825 Madison Ave., 212.794.4500.

> Diane von Furstenberg: dvf.com.

> Dior: 212.931.2950 or dior.com.

> Diptyque: 971 Madison Ave., 212.879.3330.

> Dolce & Gabbana: 212.249.4100 or dolceandgabbana.com.

E

> EF Collection: efcollection.com.

> Elie Saab: eliesaab.com.

> Elizabeth Gage: elizabeth-gage.com.

> Emilio Pucci: 212.901.5004 or emiliopucci.com.

F

> Fabergé: 579 5th Ave., 646.559.8848.

> Fendi: 598 Madison Ave. or fendi.com.

G

> GANT: 646.367.5416 or us.gant.com.

> Gauhar Jewelry: gauharjewelry.com.

> Ghurka: 831 Madison Ave. or ghurka.com.

> Gianvito Rossi: gianvitorossi.com.

> Giorgio Armani: 877.361.1176 or armani.com.

> Graff: graff.com

> Greenleaf & Crosby: greenleafcrosby.com

> Gucci: 877.482.2430 or gucci.com.

H

> H. Stern: hstern.net.

> Harry Winston: harrywinston.com.

> Hermès: 800.441.4488 or hermes.com.

I

> Ippolita: ippolita.com.

J

> J.McLaughlin: 844.532.5625 or jmclaughlin.com.

> J. Mendel: 212.832.5830 or jmendel.com.

> Jimmy Choo: 877.955.2466 or jimmychoo.com.

> John Varvatos: johnvarvatos.com.

> Judith Leiber: judithleiber.com.

> Julia Amory: 308 South County Road, Palm Beach, FL, or juliaamory.com.

K

> Kotur: koturltd.com.

L

> Linda Horn: 1327 Madison Ave. or lindahorn.com.

> Loro Piana: At Bergdorf Goodman.

> Louis Vuitton: 866.VUITTON or vuitton.com.

M

> Maja DuBrul: 325 E. Hopkins Ave., Aspen, Colo., 970.920.1133.

> Manolo Blahnik: 212.582.3007 or manoloblahnik.com.

> Michael Kors: 800.908.1157 or michaelkors.com.

> Moncler: moncler.com.

N

> Neiman Marcus: 888.888.4757 or neimanmarcus.com.

> Nouvel Heritage: nouvelheritage.com.

O

> Orlebar Brown: At The Royal Poinciana Plaza in Palm Beach (561.328.3204) or orlebarbrown.com.

> Oscar de la Renta: 888.782.6357 or oscardelarenta.com.

P

> P. Johnson: pjt.com.

> Pragnell: pragnell.co.uk

R

> Ralph Lauren: 888.475.7674 or ralphlauren.com.

> Riedel: riedelusa.net.

> Rizzoli: 1133 Broadway or rizzoliusa.com.

> Roberto Coin: At Neiman Marcus or Roberto Coin, 800.853.5958 and us.robertocoin.com.

> Rolex: 800.36.ROLEX or rolex.com.

S

> Saint Laurent Paris: 212.980.2970 or ysl.com.

> Saks Fifth Avenue: 877.551.SAKS or saksfifthavenue.com.

> Salvatore Ferragamo: ferragamo.com.

> Shreve, Crump and Low: shrevecrumpandlow.com.

> Stuart Weitzman: 212.823.9560 or stuartweitzman.com.

T

> Tom Ford: 212.359.0300 or tomford.com.

> Tory Burch: toryburch.com.

V

> Van Cleef & Arpels: vancleefarpels.com.

> Verdura: 745 Fifth Ave. 212.758.3388 or verdura.com.

> Via Coquina 631.500.5920 viacoquina.com

> Vhernier: vhernier.com.

W

> Wempe: 212.397.9000 or wempe.com.