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Quest Magazine September 2025

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SEPTEMBER 2025

FALL FASHION ISSUE

NATASCHA SCHUETZ WEARING RALPH LAUREN PHOTO BY JULIE SKARRATT

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ARTIST’S CONCEPTUAL RENDERING


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The Ritz‑Carlton Residences, West Palm Beach are not owned, developed or sold by The Ritz‑Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. 1717 N Flagler Drive Venture, LLC uses The Ritz‑Carlton marks under license from The Ritz‑Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This Condominium is developed by 1717 N Flagler Drive Venture, LLC (“Developer”) and this offering is made only by the Developer’s Prospectus for the Condominium. No statement should be relied upon if not made in the Prospectus provided to you by the Developer. Locations and layouts of windows, doors, closets, plumbing fixtures, balconies, patios, views, as well as structural, architectural, and design elements may vary from concept to actual construction and are not guaranteed to be as depicted. Images and renderings of appliances, plumbing fixtures, countertops, cabinets, soffits, floor coverings, lighting, furniture and décor may depict features not included with a UNIT purchase, but which may be available for purchase for an additional charge. The Ritz‑Carlton® is the registered trademark of Marriott International, Inc., but The Ritz Carlton Residences, West Palm Beach is not owned, developed, or sold by Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates (“Marriott”). Developer uses the Ritz Carlton® marks under a license from Marriott, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made about the project. Pursuant to license agreements, Developer also uses the trade names, marks, and logos of: (1) The Related Group; and (2) BH Group, each of which is a licensor. In the event the license of Marriott should terminate or not be renewed, the names and logos of Ritz ‑Carlton® can no longer be used. The managing entities, hotel, artwork, designers, contributing artists, interior designers, fitness facilities, amenities, services, and restaurants proposed and referred to herein are accurate as of this publication date; however, Developer does not guarantee these and reserves the right to change or to make modifications, revisions, and changes it deems desirable or necessary as a matter of code compliance or otherwise. Developer does not control off site attractions and there is no guarantee that any off‑site attractions such as shopping venues, restaurants, or other activities, services, and destinations referenced will exist or be fully developed, as depicted, when the Condominium is completed or thereafter. Consult the Prospectus for all terms, conditions, and unit specifications and to learn what is included with purchase. This Condominium is not oceanfront; the sight line of the tower depicted is conceptual and situated with frontage along Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. This document is summary in nature regarding The Ritz‑Carlton Residences, West Palm Beach and Developer’s contemplated features and amenities. Your eligibility for purchase will depend upon your state or territory of residency. The Developer is not incorporated in, located in, nor a resident of, New York. This offering is not directed to any person or entity in New York or to any resident of a jurisdiction in which this offering is prohibited by law. 2025©1717 N Flagler Drive Venture, LLC with all rights reserved.


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CONTENTS Fall Fashion Issue

102 AN ELEGANT ESCAPE For our annual fashion shoot, Natascha Schuetz models fall looks at The Lowell in New York. Produced & Written by Elizabeth Meigher, Photographed by Julie Skarratt

114 INSIDE THE WORLD OF COCO CHANEL A new book from Flammarion offers unprecedented insight into the designer’s complex and enigmatic life. by Brooke Kelly Murray

118 THE MOST FASHIONABLE OF QUEENS At month’s end, London’s Victoria & Albert Museum will unveil the UK’s first exhibition dedicated to the stylish Marie Antoinette.

120 DIOR: THROUGH THE ARTISTIC LENS In October, Rizzoli will release Niedermair, Dior: Drawing / Photography, showcasing Brigitte Niedermair’s powerful collaboration with the house of Dior.

126 QUEST STYLE A look at style icons and fashionable families through the decades. by Elizabeth Meigher

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A S P R E Y. C O M

T H E M E D I T E R R A N E A N VA S E C O L L E C T I O N

6 7 8 M A D I S O N AV E N U E B E T W E E N 6 1 S T & 6 2 N D S T R E E T S , N E W Y O R K , N Y 1 0 0 6 5 , T E L + 1 2 1 2 6 8 8 1 8 1 1


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CONTENTS Columns 30

SOCIAL DIARY Another month on the social circuit. by David Patrick Columbia

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HARRY BENSON

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TAKI A review of The Last Alpha Male, a memoir from Passage Press by Taki Theodoracopulos.

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QUEST @ HOME Reflections on John F. Kennedy Jr. and a love story. by Jayne Chase

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ART Memories and sketches from a recent trip to Italy. Written & Illustrated by Duncan McLaren

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ENTERTAINMENT The Southampton Playhouse reopens after an extensive renovation. by Jayne Chase

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OPEN HOUSE A look inside Residence 408N at 2100 S Ocean Blvd, Palm Beach.

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FRESH FINDS Apparel, accessories, and jewelry for fall. by Brooke Kelly Murray & Elizabeth Meigher

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WEDDINGS Quest nuptials in Watch Hill, Southampton, and the UK. by Brooke Kelly Murray

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FASHION A conversation with couturier Kim Hicks. by Brooke Kelly Murray

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JEWELRY TAMARA COMOLLI’s latest color story, ‘Aurora,’ pays homage to one of nature’s greatest wonders.

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BEAUTY A new force in luxury skincare, Eighth Day’s philosophy is rooted in science.

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RETAIL J.McLaughlin’s fall catalogue, photographed in New York, captures the elegance of everyday dressing.

Models Collen Osbourne, Peggy Moffitt, and Sonia Pugin pose in New York, 1967.

100 SOCIAL CALENDAR Upcoming September fêtes and a look ahead to October. 132 YOUNG & THE GUEST LIST PYTs partying in the Hamptons. by Brooke Kelly Murray 136 SNAPSHOT Looking back at the unique art of the designer bow. by Alex Travers

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Clockwise from bottom left: The cover of The Last Alpha Male and its author, Taki Theodoracopulos, 1970; behind the scenes with Julie Skarratt photographing Natascha Schuetz at The Lowell; Columnist Jayne Chase with her husband Chris happily together in 1985; John F. Kennedy during an interview with Jay Leno, 1998; Contributor Duncan McLaren’s sketch of Ponza, Italy.

WITH MIXED feelings, and even more baffling weather, Summer’s end has come. Like many readers, I believe that the real New Year begins with Labor Day. When once we were headed back to school ... we’re now headed into that sweet spot of the year - the final four months of the Gregorian (and social) calendar. For New Yorkers, the autumnal “reawakening” brings new cultural exhibits, inventive theatre, imaginative dining spots, and a dollop of fresh faces scattered throughout our famed and often notorious town. I’ve always thought the fall season is a renewal of sorts, bringing clear-eyed optimism to our daily lives and relationships. I’ll refrain from pontificating on the morass of City governance and looming elections, for as you loyal readers well know ... Fall in Manhattan can indeed be quite magical! Having abandoned our traditional summer haunts and watering holes, the Quest team is itching for our re-entry. Throughout this fat September issue, you’ll see fresh looks at fashion, design, and the performing arts, plus a nod to their historical underpinnings and personalities, e.g. Chanel, Dior, and even Marie Antoinette. Gracing our September cover is the ever lovely Natascha Schuetz, - photographed by Quest’s very own and incomparable Julie Skarratt, and brilliantly produced and styled by Editorial Director, Elizabeth Meigher. This fashionable and talented trio used the backgrounds of a resplendent Central Park morning, plus the subtle enclaves of The Lowell hotel, that chicly understated gem comfortably situated in the Upper East Side. Elsewhere in this chockablock issue, our fabled columnists and contributors have been in overdrive, dutifully wordsmithing their enlightened prose. Design Editor Jayne Chase shares her applause at the well received reopening of The Southampton Playhouse. And in the wake of CNN’s American Prince - JFK Jr., Jayne also recalls a fond memory of John Jr. that lead her (literally!), into the arms of her future, and still husband, Chris Chase. 28 QUEST

Joining our pages again is the artistically accomplished Duncan McLaren, who visually reports on a few of the more charming, but lesser known islands off of the much celebrated Amalfi Coast. And this very grateful pub has the honor of reviewing the outrageously funny and discerning memoir from Quest’s fabled and much beloved columnist, Taki. His thoughtful observations regarding “courage and grace” are alone worth the read. I leave you with sincere thanks, dear readers - for consistently sending along your kind and thoughtful words regarding Quest, which with Labor Day moves into its 40th year of publishing! Deserved or not, your continuous display of loyalty is hugely appreciated, allowing us to be more timeless than trendy - sustaining our credo of scarcity over scale, and legacy over liquidity. u

S. Christopher Meigher III

ON THE COVER: Natascha Schuetz wearing Ralph Lauren Collection at The Lowell in New York City. Photographed by Julie Skarratt.


Goodbye Summer 2025 Let The Real Estate Games Begin The Field Team Advantage Ashton Monroe, Dana Kirshenbaum, Daniel Y. Chang, E. Helen Marcos, Matthew J. Perceval, Benjamin Pofcher, Ian Ament, Andrew Harris, Mara Flash Blum, Nikki Field, Jeanne H. Bucknam, Silvia Wong, Camera Shy: Patrica A. Wheatley

Nikki Field Senior Global Real Estate Advisor, Associate Broker 212.606.7669 | nikki.field@sothebys.realty | NikkiField.com Photography by Jill Lotenberg. © 2025 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA

David Patrick Columbia

NEW YORK SOCIAL DIARY I’VE SPENT THE entire summer on the island of Manhattan. And most of the summer before that and before that. This has become a long time habit because I am one of those people who actually likes to stay home, as odd as that may seem if you read this column. It can seem even to me that I go out only so I can write.

all but if you’re For severa houseguest, at al years I went some point you down to Southmust comply out ampton on of courtesy with weekends. As their hospitality. nice as that was, Or stay home. I it eventually prefer the latter. seemed like three I first went out long rides (go- The Manhattan skyline from there when I was ing, while there, high above Harlem. and coming). I can under- just out of college and livstand the enthusiasm for it ing in New York in the ear-

ly-to-mid ’60s. It had a very special reputation as a kind of the successor to Newport for the latter’s younger generations. In its way, although it was very clubby and upper-crusty, it was cozy too — because everybody knew everybody and the only outsiders were often houseguests. It also had Irish Roman Catholics too. Like Henry Ford II.

THE REDWOOD LIBR ARY ’S SUMMER PART Y IN NE WPORT

Tripler Pell, Charles Burns, Ellen Koehler, and Fred Walsh

Sunny and Aaron Zweig

Austin and Mary Willis, Aliett Buttelman, and Parke and Will Leatherman 30 QUEST

Belinda Kielland and Elizabeth McMillen

Sheika Egan and Katy Duckworth-Schachter

J E S S I C A P OH L

Hailey and Max Hayes

David Thalmann and Dede Wilsey


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA ASPRE Y ’S GARDEN PART Y IN BRIDGEHAMP TON

Liana Werner-Gray and Cristina Cote

Alie Mitchell

Candace Bushnell and Sarah Cuyler

It wasn’t exactly a sleepy town in those days, but close. South Main on a Saturday mid-afternoon was quiet. Maybe a car or two or three and that’s it. People were at the beach. And “Day Trippers” were only in the Beatles’ song. In those years, real estate was at its nadir compared to today. There were quite a few large empty houses on the market, at prices that aren’t even credible today, like mid-five figures, if that. The estate section was Old Guard and families, and not so much new. These people all knew each other and 32 QUEST

Maria and Kenneth Fishel with Michele Heary

their mothers and their she went she had to park cousins. The longtime so she could continue moving forresidents all ward or have knew each s o m e o n e’s other as well, butler turn and their chilit around for dren and their her. All the parents. merchants in One of the town knew town summer about Adedoyennes was laide LeonMrs. Edgar ard’s driving Leonard who skills. She drove herself around with- When Southampton was in flower. was so used out a chauf- The new generation of the Old to pulling up feur (quite Guard, fathers of the Boomers: in front of Tommy Phipps with Hedy the Post Ofadvanced, it Lamarr at a golf tournament at fice and parkwas for her). Shinnecock, circa 1950. ing there that Mrs. Leonard, however, did not when she saw another car know how to put the car there one day, she asked in Reverse. So wherever who was taking up her

Kathy Reilly

parking space. The social life had begun to change there, as elsewhere, with a growing influx of weekend house-sharers (like this writer), college grads, Boomers coming of age and looking upward, who took a share in some house in the village or just outside or down 27 a couple of miles. What the place had to offer everybody was the beaches, some of the most beautiful on the continent. It was also the era in New York nightlife of the private discotheques like Le Club and L’Interdit (in the Gotham/ now Peninsula Hotel),

B FA

Jeffrey Bradford and Norah Lawlor

Othon and Kathy Prounis


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA the trendy Ondine and the stupendous Shepheards in the Drake. Out east in Bridgehampton summertimes there was Mitty’s General Store in what looked like an old wood clapboard farmhouse with a front porch, right on Route 27. Inside was a big bar, a large dining room of banquettes and a dance floor. I met a girl there one night who’d come in with another couple. After they were seated at their banquette I got up the nerve to ask her if she wanted to dance. She looked up at me like I was crazy, looked at her friends, looked back at me, and said “no.” I was so embarrassed I didn’t

know what to say so I Francis Carpenter had asked if I could sit down. a reputation for being And she said “yes.” A lit- quite the glamour girl in tle more than a year lat- the international jet set, known for doing what er, we got married. There was another she wanted and when she discotheque/nightclub/ wanted, and with whom she wanted, restaurant in and having the center of a good time Br i d gehampwhile she was ton called The at it. Bulls Head It’s in the Inn. The Bulls timing. The Head was bartender in a convertthe lounge/ ed two story Francis Carpenter bar was a lean, house with a large front porch, a bar outdoorsy sort of woman and lounge, a restaurant named Pat Hemingway. and a disco room. It was She was very laid-back, owned by a very glamor- dressed simply in a silk ous woman named Mrs. blouse hanging out over Francis (her “I”) Car- some jeans, a gold ring, penter who was mar- maybe some gold jangle. ried to a DuPont heir. Like an Ernest Hem-

ingway Hemingway, not a Mariel Hemingway Hemingway. No actual relation but she looked like she could have been on that fishing boat in Cuba, or on Kilimanjaro, or at the bullfights in Spain with Papa. She looked like his kind of woman. And she was friendly toward this very young and eternally curious customer, so I was charmed. In fact, my instincts were not off. She told us that Francis Carpenter had taken her all around the world and that it had been an amazing trip. She looked like she took that trip. I thought of Somerset Maugham. They were his characters.

E AST HAMP TON EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT LUNCHEON

Dawn Carfora, Fotini Tsiramanes, Louise Phanstiel, and Heather Getz

Libby Fitzgerald, Shelley Carr, and Ros L’Esperance

34 QUEST

Debbie Druker, Allegra Kelly, and Susan Jones

Mary Margaret Trousdale, Aerin Lauder, Liz Lange, and Jill Davis

Virginia Schwerin and Joyce Moss

M ARK S AG L I O C C O ; B FA ; E L L E N G R AH A M

Mary Jane Brock and Charlotte Moss


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA G U I L D H A L L’ S G A L A I N E A S T H A M P T O N

Yan Assoun and Polina Proshkina

Keith and Alena Allman

Toni Ross and Florence Fabricant

The lounge at the Bull’s Head had a pianist who sang named Hugh Shannon, who was well known in cabaret circles in the ’50s. He was famous for one called “Nina Never Knew.” I once asked the muchmissed Nina Griscom if she knew of it. Nina, who took a question like that with a suspicious grin, said she did but wasn’t impressed. Shannon started his gig about 8 or 8:30 as the dinner hour was beginning. He was an older guy (probably 40 to these 36 QUEST

Charlotte Ferguson

Carrie Rebora Barratt and Marty Cohen

young eyes) with dark very rich South Amerblonde hair, a ruddy com- ican — the man said to have given plexion that Aristotle might have Onassis his come from the start — Albooze if not the beach, and berto Dodero. The Dohe had a light deros were touch and a gentle delivery very popular and the toast of a songbook of internaof American tunes. tional society. And then Somewhere Betty met in the 50s, Nina Griscom Hugh ShanHugh. Nina non caught the eye of a never knew and neither South American social- did Betty. She divorced ite named Betty Dodero. Alberto (with whom she Betty was married to a had a family) and mar-

Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan

ried Hugh. Did they live happily ever after? I don’t know. Alberto, however, died shortly thereafter, leaving his billions NOT to Betty. One more before I go. Then there was another discotheque, the really cool one, in an old converted barn down a dirt road in the woods somewhere east of Bridgehampton. It was called L’Oursin. A nothing looking place when you arrive. Plain wood exterior, surrounded by pine woods. Inside, however, it was a nautical theme

PATRI C K M C M U L L AN

Kristin Eberstadt and Louise Phanstiel


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA straight out of a Hollywood set, over a weathered barn interior with a big dance floor and tables and banquettes by the side. Hanging down over the center of the big dance floor was a massive crystal chandelier, the kind that you see only in a palace. It was said to have been a gift to the owners by the Maharajah of Baroda, who I guess liked Southampton too. Could you get into these places? There was no one working the rope. There was no rope. If there was room, you were in. There was no reason to keep anyone out.

The Waldorf is now, as Studio 54 was still years it was when it first came away. And so were we. Meanwhile, on a sun- into existence in 1893, ny August weekend with one of the city’s grandest hotels. It temps in the was on land 80s and into that originalthe 60s at ly held two night, with Astor famithe city very ly mansions quiet. Suthat two san Gutfrecompeting und invited relatives built me to meet two hotels — her at the the Waldorf Waldorf Asand the Astoria which toria — on recently The Bulls Head Inn 34th Street reopened after an extensive and ex- and Madison Avenue. You may have read tended renovation of this history on the grand hotel – keeping all its NYSD, about how one of the best parts.

the Astors, William Waldorf, was furious with his Aunt Lina, the Mrs. Astor, for calling herself just that and nothing else on her calling card. His young wife also had a Mrs. Astor in her life. This was in an age before the telephone, when calling cards for women were proper and required. He’d asked his aunt if she’d please add her husband’s name to her calling card to differentiate between the two. She ignored his request. Her response annoyed him so much that he had his mansion torn down, and on the plot he built a

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Andrew Mullen and Frank Slack

Greg Van Schaack and Charles Holmes

Sophie and Jacalyn Egan 38 QUEST

Leah Rush Cann and Elizabeth Griffin

Robin Warren and Mary Chiles

J U L I E S K ARR AT T

Ross Cann

Charles Holmes and Sarah Rodgers McNeill


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DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA CINEMA SOCIET Y’S SCREENING OF UNICORNS IN NEW YORK

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12-story hotel so that his aunt would have to look at every time she looked out at her garden. And he — Waldorf Astor — as he was known with more than one William in the family — moved to London where more than a century later the Astor family today is a titled British family. The Astor mansions were on a plot between 33rd and 34th and Madison Avenue. It was a time when Manhattan was still greatly undeveloped and moving from its original center at the foot of the island below what is now 40 QUEST

Ben Hardy and Jason Patel

Jennifer Rubio, Don Lee, and Eileen Matias

Andrew Saffir, Sophie Sumner and Daniel Benedict

Kim Director and Mick Szal

same plot he built anothCanal Street. Mrs. Astor was no er hotel right next to his doubt greatly annoyed cousin’s, which he named by her nephew’s “cruel” The Astoria. The two activity. Howcousins evenever her son, tually merged persuaded his hotels creatmother to let ing the new him build her, and luxurious and his new Waldorf Aswife and son toria at 34th Vincent, a Street and double manMadison Avesion farther nue. In 1929, uptown at The original Waldorf Astoria the properties 65th and Fifth Avenue, a new residen- were acquired and taktial development. When en down and what beit was finished, JJIV tore gan building on it was down his mother’s origi- the then-tallest building nal mansion and on the in the world, the Empire

Emilia Jones

Dominic Augustin

State Building. In 1929, an entire empty block was acquired on Park Avenue and 49th Street, and the new Waldorf Astoria — then the tallest hotel in the world — was constructed. Completed in 1931, The Waldorf, always a luxury hotel, was standing 47 stories tall. It was always known to the public in general for its lavish dinner parties and charity galas. Herbert Hoover when he retired as President lived in the tower suite for 30 years, and several other Presidents have followed suit.

B FA

Abigail Spencer and Tyler Lain


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA Among those who also took up residence in the suites were Cole Porter, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, General Douglas MacArthur, Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra and various heirs and heiresses and tycoons and multi-millionaires who liked keeping a place available at a moment’s notice. The hotel has been renovated more than once in its almost century in existence, keeping it the grand hotel that it remains today. In 2014, the Anbang Insurance Group of China purchased the Wal-

dorf Astoria New York for $1.95 billion, making it the most expensive hotel ever sold. Anbang closed the entire building in March 2017 for extensive renovations, and converted the upper stories into 375 condominiums and retaining 375 hotel rooms on the lower 18 floors. The Dajia Insurance Group took over the Waldorf Astoria when Anbang went bankrupt in 2020, and, after several delays, the hotel has finally reopened in July. And because of all that history, it’s fascinating that this fabulous hotel

has re-opened. When I met Susan in the fabulous lobby, I’d thought we were going to be dining at a restaurant there, although it was a little early for dinner. The hotel has three restaurants: Peacock Alley, Lex Yard, and Yoshoku. However, her invitation was entirely to give me a sense of what the extraordinary hotel is today. And the fun of it was sitting with Susan who’s been visiting frequently since it opened, just to watch the crowd approaching—while having a cocktail or, as I couldn’t resist, sliders

(the BEST!)—and taking in the life surrounding us, along with the music on the 1907 Steinway piano which belonged to Cole Porter in the three decades that he was in residence. In the Peacock Alley Lounge which is just off the main lobby, two pianists were playing on the Porter Steinway— the very piano on which he composed many of his 800 songs, including “Anything Goes” and “Night and Day,” during the 30 years he lived in a private apartment in the hotel’s tower. Meanwhile, Newport,

E V E LY N A L E X A N D E R W I L D L I F E R E S C U E C E N T E R ’ S G E T W I L D ! G A L A I N S O U T H A M P T O N

Kathleen Mulcahy and Zelda Penzel

Missy Hargraves

Pamela Dove and Henry Buhl 42 QUEST

Ulrika Parash with Millenium

Jane Gill

Leesa Rowland

L I S A TA M B U RI N I

Don Latham with Vlad


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DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA IYRS GALA IN NEWPORT

When Fashion Meets Interior Design

Before rising to prominence in interior design, Walsh’s creative roots ran through fashion, theater, and set design. “I started in fashion, then worked in the theater doing set and costume design,” she says. “Eventually I realized interior design encompassed everything I loved—art, theater, fashion—and that’s where I could build a life.” Today, her fashion background continues to influence her interiors. Like assembling the perfect outfit, Walsh layers each space with texture, color, and narrative—always guided by proportion and emotional resonance. This fall, as fashion embraces structured tailoring, saturated jewel tones, and tactile fabrics, Walsh brings those same inspirations into her designs. Whether styling a room or an ensemble, Walsh believes true beauty lies in intention. The most memorable designs—like the most striking wardrobes—are deeply personal, expressive, and undeniably chic.

GWIFL.COM

@GILWALSHINTERIORS

Colleen Burns and Tim Jermaine

Eleanor Hamilton

Bill and Elizabeth Kahane

Rhode Island, the “Queen of Summer Resorts,” is once again living up to its name with a spectacular social and equestrian event. This highly anticipated spectacle, which takes place only once every three years, is a celebration of the city’s rich history (and history of its rich) and it creates an atmosphere of excitement unlike any other. The procession of authentic 19th-century coaches wound its way through town, stopping at both private residences and historic sites, before culminating in a driving skills demonstration on the back lawn of The Elms on Saturday morning at approximately 10:30 a.m. This was an opportunity to get a

Peter Duncan

Sam Hamilton, Anne Hamilton, Suzett Hamilton, Meredith Foote, and Maggie Conrad

close-up, an extended look at each of the teams, and to hear details about the horses and the history of each coach as their whips (drivers) guide them around the back lawn. The tradition of coaching grew out of the 18th- and 19th-century mail runs in England, which later made their way across the Atlantic to the United States. The horse-drawn mail coaches were eventually replaced by railroads, but nostalgia led to the development of coaching as a sport. The Coaching Club of New York was formed in the latter part of the 19th century, eventually becoming part of the social fabric of Newport in the summer. The Wetmores, the Bells, the Vanderbilts, and the Belmonts were all active mem-

RU TH C L E G G

As the seasons shift and fall fashion ushers in richer textures and moodier hues, we’re reminded of the art of transformation—a concept that designer Gil Walsh knows intimately. Based in the heart of Palm Beach, Walsh leads Gil Walsh Interiors, one of South Florida’s most esteemed interior design firms, celebrated for its seamless blend of classical refinement and bold expression.


GWIFL.COM WIFL.COM

At Gil Walsh Interiors, design is a soulful dialogue between space, story, and human experience. PALM BEACH | MARTHA’S VINEYARD PALM BEACH | MARTHA’S VINEYARD

GILWALSHINTERIORS GILWALSHINTERIORS


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA bers, bringing their coaches together to go to the races, the polo games, and the Casino. Beverly Little, Chairman of Coaching Weekend and the Breakers Dinner Dance, describes the event: “For almost 60 years there has been a triennial coaching weekend in Newport. Eleven historic coaches from all over the country participate in carriage drives around the island that culminate in lunches and dinners at several summer cottages. My family has been involved from the beginning, organizing the drives, inviting the whips

to participate and hosting glasses. Men wear a coat and tie with a grey top the dinner dance.” Beverly has also shared hat, panama, or boater.” The festivities continue the nuances of the proper attire for the privilege from morning ’til night of riding atop one of as the coaches return to the road these hisfor an evetorical vehining cavalcles: “When cade. These riding on a are a spirited coach, womand sociaen wear a ble group of dress, not sportsmen too fitted and women. so they can Beverly climb up and down, with Tucker Johnson leading Newport’s noted, “The Coaching Weekend. evening drive a hat, ideally stiff so that it doesn’t is black tie with Coaching flap in the wind, closed- Club members donning toe shoes for safety, short their green tailcoats. Lawhite gloves, and no sun- dies wear an evening dress

with white opera gloves and a fascinator. I leave a lot of hats and gloves in the living room in case people need them.” The Coaching Dinner Dance, in honor of the Whips, is the most elegant and popular event of the season. Held in the Breakers, adorned attendees dine, dance, and celebrate under the stars this magnificent weekend of history and philanthropy. The Dinner Dance is vital to fundraising for the Preservation Society, to ensure the treasured tradition of Coaching Weekend will continue for generations to come. ◆

SAYA WOOLFALK’S V ISION O PENS AT T HE MU SEUM OF AR T S AND DE SIGN IN NE W YORK

Cheryl Riley and Nejma Beard

Sylvia Hemingway

Michele Gerber Klein and Janna Bullock 46 QUEST

Eileen O’Kane and Tim Rodgers

Bruce Horton, Barbara Tober, and William Ivey Long

Han Feng and Grimanesa Amoros

PATRI C K M C M U L L AN

Bettina Prentice, Nicole Miller, and Dana Boll


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA S O U T H A M P T O N H O S P I T A L’ S S U M M E R P A R T Y

Flip and Kingsley Crawford

Jacqueline Mitchell and Michael Goldstein

Jamee and Peter Gregory

Ann Bezamat and Peter Thomas Roth

Sarah and Andrew Wetenhall

Rudy and Lydia Touzet

Stephanie Hessler

48 QUEST

Nicole Noonan and Rebecca Frost

Sarah Kylhed and George Wambold

B FA

Vanessa Gordon


“

Emmy award winning television journalist and coach, Jane Hanson:

When I anchored the News on WNBC in New York, I was always concerned about getting the story right and reporting on the most important events of the day. But like most women, when I got home, I was concerned about ensuring that my family and I received the very best healthcare.

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DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA ASPEN ART MUSEUM’S GALA

Claire Gogel and Sterling McDavid

Jamie Tisch and Janet Crown

Aime Iglesias Lukin, Álvaro Enrique, and Stefanie Hessler

Melony Lewis, Deborah Scott, Jody Post, and Meredith Darrow 50 4 QUEST

Glenn Ligon and Mickalene Thomas

Sarah Arison and Nicola Lees

Rona Citrin and Madeline Almen

Jen Rubio and Afton Vechery

Don Kaul, Nicola Lees, and Barbara Bluhm-Kaul

B FA

Amnon and Katie Rodan


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA O SCAR DE L A REN TA’S FA SH ION SHOW AT L AKE TAHOE

Eugenia and Emma Jesberg

Melissa Mayes, Sophy Kohler, and Kelsi Mellor

Christine and Steve Perry

Alex Bolen, Fernando Garcia, Laura Kim, and Eliza Bolen

Lisa Bain and Martha Neighbor

DREW ALTI Z E R P H OTO G R AP H Y

Lauren Katherine

Jim and Katie Lee

Rachel Hardie and Jane Mudge 52 4 QUEST

Marina Greenwood

Rochelle and Steve Bochner

Savannah Vold


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA PRE SERVAT ION SOCIE T Y OF NE WP OR T ’S NE X T GEN E V EN T

Lawrence and Hilary Slocum with Kristen and Patrick Smith

Priscilla Bright, Isabella Hogan, and Laura Bergemann

Helen Burham, George Jacobs, and Morgan Burnham

Sean and Julia Driscoll with Robert Devine and Patrick Dolat 54 QUEST

Antonia Chapman, Ally Grace, Anna Auersperg, and Felicia Mannix

Anne and David Ford

Anne Baker, Lizz de Villegas, and Emily Leonard

DAV I D H AN S E N / C O U R TE S Y OF TH E P RE S E RVATI ON S O C I ET Y OF N EWP OR T C O U N T Y

Octavius and MK Prince with Molly and Nick Mele


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA ASPEN ART FAIR

Chris Kernes and Monica Vidal

Zesty Meyers and Trevyn McGowan

Darlene Pérez, Lorna James, Sue Hostetler Wrigley, and Nancy Crown

Thomas Kelley and Deborah Scott 56 QUEST

Laurel Henley and Bob Chase

Becca Hoffman and Christine Mack

Holly Huffines and Nan Illmer

Nancy Hoffman, Lyn Winter, and Jody Guralnick

Nikki Goss and Andrew Skews

B FA

Daniel Dugan and Skye Weinglass


DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA P L AY F O R P. I . N . K . M I L L B R O O K L U N C H E O N

Kira Wizner and Kristin Hettinger

Kathleen Marsal and Cortney Marcin

Cindy McKean, Nella Habsburg, Janet Olshansky, and Deanna Mulligan 58 QUEST

Michelle Schwadron, Willy Anderson, and Ashley Mitchell

Donna McKay, Mitchell Schrage, and Daria Myers

Molly Hurley and Lorna Graev

Sylvia Langlois, Sarah Colley, and Wendy Calle

Peter Krulewitch, Deborah Krulewitch, and Grace Jones

F I V E F O OT P H OTO G R AP H E R

Meghan Klopp, Natasha Blodgett, and Allegra Coryell


M A D I S ON W ORT H AR CH ITECTURE

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DAV I D PAT R I C K C O LU M B IA HO PE FOR DEPRE S SION RE SE ARC H FOUNDAT ION’S DINNER IN SOU T H AMP TON

Bridgette and Tim Moran

Catherine Hormats and Robert Hormats

James and Teresa Remez 60 QUEST

Simone and David Levinson

Martin, Audrey, and Joshua Gruss

Stacey Pashcow

Chuck and Ellen Scarborough

Tatiana and Campion Platt

E RI C S TRI F F L E R

Lis Waterman and Candace Hamm


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HA R RY B E N S O N

IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY

THE SWINGING ’60S... A slightly overworked phrase that tells it all. The rise of The Beatles in the ’60s not only changed the music industry—it swept in a change in almost everything, including the way people thought, behaved, and dressed. After deciding to stay in New York rather than return to London, I began working a great deal in Los Angeles, as photographs of glamorous American movie stars fascinated the London audience, while equally glamorous models became the new superstars 62 QUEST

in America. Peggy Moffitt had become famous for appearing in Women’s Wear Daily wearing Rudi Gernreich’s topless bathing suit, called the “monokini.” In 1967, I photographed Moffitt wearing knickers and a necktie, with models Coleen Osbourne in Bermuda shorts and Sonia Pugin in a miniskirt with an avantgarde hooded cape. All three outfits were of the moment. Nearly 60 years have flown by, and it is fun to look at them again. Thinking of the ’60s always makes me smile. u


Collen Osbourne, Peggy Moffitt, and Sonia Pugin in New York in 1967, photographed by Harry Benson.

SEPTEMBER 2025 63


NTA AM K IE

A LIFE (INCOMPARABLY!) WELL LIVED BY CHRISTOPHER MEIGHER

Clockwise from left: Taki and Alexandra with their two children, Mandolyna and John-Taki, at home in Gstaad, 2010; Alexandra with best men, famed editor and mentor Clay Felker and Christopher Buckley, writer and son of William F. Buckley, Jr.; the cover of Passage Publishing’s The Last

HAVING JUST finished The Last Alpha Male, a riveting “tell all” by Taki, I’m jealously grinning over the amorous escapades and ludicrous capers from the pen of Quest’s most revered and best read columnist. As a sampler, let’s begin with his personal Forward to readers; says the author: “I have tried pretty much everything I desired, and I can state 04 6 0 QUEST

with authority that the unlived life is one I know nothing about.” Indeed, our venerated columnist remains the all-time poster boy for the life well lived. One needs only to read the chapter headings for a quick education in his 89 years of artfully balanced hedonism: “What is One to Do, Live like a Monk?”; or “The Way to a Woman’s Heart (and Bed)”;

or still better, “The (Ever Horny) Romantic.” Yet, there’s consistently the stabilizing Ying to his much celebrated Yang, as in the chapter: “Honor - The First Manly Virtue.” Taki’s credo of “courage and grace” rings throughout his tome. This candid memoir from one of life’s genuine gents is a terrific read - as insightful as it is hilari-

P H OIT TH TAK O ECOD R EOR D I AC T GOP O EUSL OS H E/RPAE S S AG E P U B L I S H I N G

Alpha Male.


TA K I

Clockwise from above: Alexandra and Taki at Maxim’s, Paris, 1972; Taki’s first wife Cristina de Caraman, daughter of the Duke de Caraman, as Deb of the Year, cover of Paris Match, 1962; Taki at age 21, with Joan Collins at El Morocco nightclub, New York, 1957;

P H OIT TH TAK O ECOD R EOR D I AC T GOP O EUSL OS H E/RPAE S S AG E P U B L I S H I N G

Belgrade, 1978.

M AY 2 0 2 3 0 0


Clockwise from top left: A holiday card and notes from Princess Diana thanking Taki for the various dinners he hosted to introduce her to friends in the press, 1996 and 1997; a letter from President Richard Nixon, 1985; a Davis Cup victory, 1967; Brigitte Bardot and Taki at a

TAK I TH E OD OR AC OP U L OS / PA S S AG E P U B L I S H I N G

Saint-Tropez nightclub, 1968.

66 QUEST


TA K I

Clockwise from above: Winning a polo match in Parc de Bagatelle, Paris, 1970; demonstrating a flying karate kick for the idle rich aboard Atlantis, 1975; unknown girl picked up off the Greek coast

TAK I TH E OD OR AC OP U L OS / PA S S AG E P U B L I S H I N G

for a ride on the first Bushido, 1970.

ous, told by a maestro journalist whose “High Life” column at The Spectator spanned four-plus decades, along with sustained stints at the National Review, Esquire, Vanity Fair ... and thirty uninterrupted years (every month!) at Quest. In contrast to today’s uncouth and myopic male pretenders (who are convinced they know it all), Taki earned his correspondent chops under William F. Buckley, Jr. ... his female-savvy skills from Gianni Agnelli ... his gambling strategy from John Aspinwall ... his keen taste for literature via the prose of “Papa” Hemingway and F. Scott

... and his polo training (and night owl erudition) under the legendary Porfirio Rubirosa - this last tutor having served as Best Man in Taki’s earlier marriage to the still dazzling French Countess, Cristina de Caraman. Most men dreamed of such mentors; fewer still could appreciate the subtle nuance of said sound counsel. Taki graciously acknowledges their sage advice, quite literally drinking it all in. And don’t miss the picture assemblage in the book’s middle, many of the images appearing on the pages you hold. The pics of Taki’s pals and patrons visually tell the tale, and the handwritten mis-

sives - from Richard Nixon’s awkward text to the “come-hither” notes from Princess Diana - span a life in full. Felt throughout this revealing life story is Taki’s admitted romanticism, fueled by his signature approach to life: the glass is more than half full, and generously shared with honest friends, lovers, and colleagues - some less fortunate, and many moreso - but each willing to tag along as a confidante and loyal wingman. u The Last Alpha Male is published by Passage Publishing and is available on business.amazon.com. SEPTEMBER 2025 67


QUEST @ HOME

A LONG TIME AGO, CAMELOT LED ME TO LOVE

MY FIRST JOB out of college was working for Senator Edward Kennedy during his 1980 presidential campaign against the incumbent, Jimmy Carter. I had just moved to New York City with a degree in political science from a small liberal arts college and dreams of becoming a television reporter. But I wasn’t eager to pack up and move to a remote market to “pay my dues,” so—thanks to a few well-placed calls from my father, a respected businessman 08 6 0 QUEST

RON E LELLAL /AGGETETT TY YI M RONG AL G AL I MAG AGEESS; ;GGETETT TY YI M I MAG AGEESS; ;RON RONGGAL ALEEL L LAA/ /RON RONGGAL ALEEL L LAACCOL OLL LEECCTITION ONVVI AI AGGETETT TY YI M I MAG AGEESS

BY JAYNE C HA SE


From above: John F. Kennedy, Jr. during an interview with Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show,” May 14, 1998; Jayne and Chris Chase happily together in 1985. Opposite page, clockwise from left: John F. Kennedy, Jr. at Hyannis Beach in Hyannis, Massachussetts on August 30th of Labor Day Weekend, 1980; John F. Kennedy, Jr. strolls past 1045 Park Avenue in New York City circa 1975; JFK Jr. (right) with his cousin Anthony Radziwill at the Rainbow Room in

PH DI T /GNOE H ET E RE C H OTO RI S HCARE S TON B CS/ G T Y I M AG E S ; C OU R TE S Y OF JAYN E C H A S E

New York City, August 27, 1976.

and bipartisan political supporter—I found myself working for the Kennedy campaign. I was the youngest and most inexperienced member of the staff—and one of the only women. Fortunately, growing up with an older brother, in a house filled with his friends and educational degrees from a women’s prep school and college, I knew how to hold my own. Needless to say that campaign was more than a crash course in politics— it was a front-row seat to the last days of Camelot. Though Senator Kennedy never made it to the White House, what struck me most was his unwavering commitment to social justice, particularly healthcare. Despite the weight of the Kennedy legacy and the shadow of Chappaquiddick, he possessed a depth of empathy that was both surprising and sincere.

His compassion was real. He cared deeply for those who had less, and that passion shaped my early understanding of public service. In many ways, it was my first glimpse into the true meaning of what Camelot stood for; an idealism and a deep belief in a better and fairer world for those who needed it most. Not long after that experience, I found myself at Condé Nast, where my twenties unfolded in the swirl of the city’s most glamorous names and faces. I worked at various magazines during that happy time, as models, actors and celebrities floated in and out of the building daily—Cheryl Tiegs, Kim Alexis, Jennifer Grey, Sigourney Weaver, Willem Dafoe, to name a few. It all blurred into a kind of an unusual normalcy. That said, when a handsome young John F. Kennedy Jr. asked SEPTEMBER 2025 69


QUEST @ HOME

In 1988 People Magazine named John F. Kennedy the “Sexiest Man Alive”. In 1989 Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from NYU School of Law. He failed the New York bar twice before passing on his third try in July of 1990. He worked as an assistant district attorney at One Hogan Place, the location of the District Attorney’s office for New York County, from 19891993. On August 29, 1991, Kennedy won his first case as a prosecutor. By the summer of 1992, Kennedy had also

AP P H OTO

begun working as a journalist.

00 QUEST 7


A M E RI C AN P H OTO ARC H I V E / AL A M Y ; C O U R TE S Y OF JAYN E C H A S E ; A M E RI C N P H OTO ARC H I V E / AL A M Y

me to dance at a party one night, it wasn’t unfamiliar territory. The party was in a cavernous loft on West 22nd Street, a farewell gathering hosted by two brothers—one, a recent Harvard grad, and the other soon to graduate from University of California—their mother was preparing to remarry and vacate the space (their father had worked in The Kennedy administration). Both brothers had grown up in New York City and attended The Collegiate School, where they befriended John. I remember him as charming and friendly—and being acutely aware that all eyes were always watching. I was grateful when a tall, striking man approached and ever so smoothly cut in, whisking me away from the small and conspicuous group that had assembled to dance together, including John. That man, who immediately caught my attention, would later become my husband. Years passed. Life happened. I married that tall, striking man and we had two sons. One summer in Sagaponack, our paths would once again cross with John’s again. He was often out East visiting his sister, Caroline, whose children played on the same beach with ours and so many others. I never mentioned the dance we’d shared years before or the moment Chris had intervened, but I did take the opportunity to witness who John really was—a regular guy. And despite his lineage, his fame and the expectations that lay before him, he was disarmingly warm. He had that Kennedy magnetism: elegant, self-deprecating and charismatic, but without a hint of arrogance. He had a gift for quickly putting people at ease quickly. Flower historian

Clockwise from top left: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr., along with their dogs Wolf, White Tips and Blackie, at Brambletyde House on Squaw Island, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, 1963; Jayne and Chris Chase’s sons, Ben and Matt, enjoy a day at the beach in Sagaponack as litle boys; President Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline and John F. Kennedy, Jr. play in the White House Nursery, November 1963.

and former reporter for CNN, Jill Brooke, had a weekly tennis game with John and fondly remembers him as being, “Simultaneously cool but also approachable. He enjoyed people and cared about them.” Jill recalls, “Clearly others knew who he was but no one bothered him. He would have made a great Senator, as was his path.” In those small, everyday moments, John carried the quiet elegance of Camelot, one full of grace and promise. And although, my brief encounters were long ago, it’s never lost on me that if it weren’t for Camelot, I might never have met the love of my life. ◆ SEPTEMBER 2025 71


A SOUVENIR OF SUMMER ’25 Capri, Ischia, and Ponza

WRI T T EN & ILLU S T R AT ED BY DUN CAN MCL AREN

FIRST A COMMENT on Capri. There is a wonderful museum devoted to the work of Diefenbach, a Symbolist painter of German descent, who left his life’s work to the town and he endowed a gallery to house it. It is closed on a Monday which is why an admirer of his work has yet to visit this place. In the Gaetà Gulf, 18 nautical miles from Naples, lies the Island of Ischia. Volcanic and inhabited by Greeks, Etruscans, Phoenicians, and because of iron deposits it was home to 5,000 – 10,000 people in 700BC. What a thought. Absorbed into the Eastern Roman Empire it was ransacked in 813AD by the Saracens, who plagued the area, as the Vikings did to Ireland at the same time. Occupied by Roger II, a Norman invader to Sicily in 1004 and related to the early boat people whose land grab is known as the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, he made another Norman Count d’Ischia. The changes of fortune are endless. Suffice it to say, it was taken by the Bourbons in 1734 and by the 19th century it was a popular place to go for the European Nobility and is now a part of Italy. Today it remains a magic and peaceful island to visit, with German, Russian, and the British as foreign residents. William 72 QUEST

Walton, the classical composer, with his wife created a magnificent garden in their hilltop home at Forio, designed by the distinguished landscape gardener Russell Page in the ’50s. Many films were filmed in full and in part during the summer months. They include Purple Noon with Alain Delon and Marie Laforêt; Avanti! with Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills; a part of Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor; then the American film And While We were Here with Kate Bosworth. It has a magnificent castle on its own rock outside the town of Ischia and is known for its exceptionally high mountains, cliffs, and dense woodland, gulls, and sea birds. A place always to return to again and again. And be certain not to miss dinner at Il Focolare, a family restaurant atop Ischia that’s famous for its incomparable rabbit stew. Ponza is the largest island of the Italian archipelago and rests in the Tyrrhenian Sea, such a beautiful thought and name. It is in the Lazio Region and is thought to be named after Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea of Jesus fame. No one is sure. Legend


ART

also says it was originally called Tyrrhenia, a much a larger island that vanished and Ponza is now the only part of the island that remains, like Capri. Colonized by the Etruscans, heavily forested, now all gone. It is also supposed to be the island of Aeaea in Homer’s Odyssey. Well, what do you know. It was abandoned in the Middle Ages due to the constant raids of the Saracens and Barbary pirates who, it is believed, captured and sold off 1,000,000 slaves in the Mediterranean at that time. The slaves were of every race and color, mainly white. In 1552, the massive Ottoman fleet led by the brilliant former pirate and commander under Suleiman the Magnificent, Turgut Reis known as Dragut, defeated the Spanish fleet of Emperor Charles V of Spain under the command of Admiral Andrea Doria of Genoa near Ponza. It became a part of Italy when the New Kingdom was formed in the late 19th century and is now, since 1946, part of that Republic. The island served as a prison for the opponents of the Fascist Mussolini who himself was a prisoner on the island when his dictatorship fell. Now its sandy beached, cliffs, coves, and blue grottoes created by the Etruscans lure the lucky passerby. The mines on the island produce kaolin and Bentonite used for medicine and in the manufacture of porcelain. The main town of Ponza is a fishing and boat port which we were lucky enough to visit and to swim in the bays close by. Not so many tourists so extra special with just the Italians at home in the bright sunshine of July. ◆ SEPTEMBER 2025 73


SOUTHAMPTON’S CULTURAL CORNERSTONE

GRAB YOUR bucket of buttery popcorn and an extralarge soda, then settle in to enjoy your favorite summer blockbusters, thought-provoking lectures, or a deep dive into the history of film at the newly renovated Southampton Playhouse. Located in the heart of charming Southampton Village, the Playhouse is once again set to become a “dynamic gathering place showcasing both current blockbusters and independent films.” Following an extensive renovation, the beloved theater preserved its nostalgic history and legacy and is poised to reclaim its role as a central hub of pop culture. Maria A. Ruiz Botsacos, the dynamic Executive Director and former Vice President of Film at Lincoln Center, enthusiastically shares her excitement in spearheading the historic theater’s long-anticipated return. “The Southampton community has a rich history with cinema, with the original Southampton Theater opening in 1932, and it is a joy to carry that history into the 21st century. In addition to exciting additions such as our new IMAX theater and our 35mm projection, through intentionally curated programming for all ages, we are working to create a constant dialogue between the past 04 7 0 QUEST

and present of the moving image as well as its relationship to society as a whole. Since our opening in February, the East End community has been incredibly welcoming and receptive to our programming, and we are excited to continue the legacy of cinema in Southampton. Our aim is to offer an elevated moviegoing experience.”

C O U R TE S Y OF S O U TH A M P TON P L AYH O U S E ; F R AN K OU DE M AN ; AU DREY A M E L I E

BY JAYNE C HA SE


E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Clockwise from above: The Southampton Playhouse; Eric Kohn, Maria Angellines Ruiz Botsacos, Andrew Fox, Caroline Hirsch, and Jack Heller; audience; Jessie Eisenberg and Eric Kohn. Opposite page, from above: Southampton Playhouse Marquis;

PCHOOTO U R TECSRE Y DI OFT SGOOE U TH S H A EMRE P TON P L AYH O U S E ; F R AN K OU DE M AN ; AU DREY A M E L I E ; C A M E RON B U R TON

Caroline Hirsch, John Davis, and Eric Kohn.


E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Clockwise from above: Rally at East Point, Car Show 2025; inside the Southampton Playhouse; Maria Ruiz, Jack Heller, Sims Lansing, Charlie Rosen, Southampton Mayor Bill Manger, Jr. Opposite page, from above: Eric Kohn at the

C O U R TE S Y OF S O U TH A M P TON P L AYH O U S E ; C A M E RON B U R TON

Summer Kickoff for JAWS in IMAX; Eric Kohn and Tony Gilroy.

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C O U R TE S Y OF S O U TH A M P TON P L AYH O U S E ; C A M E RON B U R TON

And elevate they did! Under the direction of 1100 Architect PC, Fisher Dachs Associates, Boyce Nemic Design, and the Southampton Architectural and Historic Review Board, the group was able to keep the original 1932 façade while breathing new life into the building’s interior. A new double-height lobby, “designed to evoke the open, airy feeling of a gallery — clean, expansive white walls, stainless steel, terrazzo, and natural white oak create a bold contrast to the vintage exterior — while a series of interactive digital installations and displays for movie promotions enliven the space. An updated concessions area, advanced ticketing system, and expanded lounge areas” make the lobby more inviting for all those attending performances. Modernized, ergonomic seating in all four auditoriums for comfort and durability, along with a state-of-the-art IMAX system, make movie-watching and other film-oriented performances enjoyable for the whole family. Author and Southampton and Palm Beach resident Jennifer Ash Rudick, who sits on the theater’s advisory board, worked hard, along with other members, to ensure the renovation and new programs appealed to all ages within the community. “As a nonprofit,” she shares, “we’re really focused on meaningful programming that connects everyone. Recently, one friend’s family went to our vintage car meetup with complimentary coffee, another took his grandchild to see Fantastic Four, and that same night, we had a live feed of Dead & Company performing at Golden Gate Park in our IMAX theater. That’s three generations, three different experiences, all in one day.” ◆ For more information, visit southamptonplayhouse.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter, written by Artistic Director Eric Kohn. SEPTEMBER 2025 77


PERCHED HIGH above the pristine shoreline at Sloan’s Curve, Residence 408N at 2100 S Ocean Blvd in Palm Beach is a masterclass in contemporary coastal living. This stunningly reimagined three-bedroom, three-bath apartment has been renovated to absolute perfection, with every finish, fixture, and furnishing thoughtfully chosen for both style and comfort. From its coveted southeast exposure, the residence offers the most far-reaching panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Palm Beach’s sandy shoreline — the kind of vistas that take your breath away each morning and captivate you until the last shimmer of twilight. The open-concept floor plan flows effortlessly, allowing light to cascade through every corner of the home. Step out onto the oversized terrace — so spacious it feels like the deck of a private yacht — and you’ll find yourself equally suited for lively entertaining or peaceful sunrise solitude. Inside, the sleek, custom renovation leaves nothing unchecked. Beyond the residence itself, this offering includes a renovated poolside cabana, perfect for midday escapes, and two 78 QUEST

garage spaces for convenience. Set within the exclusive Sloan’s Curve community — known for its attentive service, first-class amenities, and direct beach access — this home invites you to embrace Palm Beach living at its most luxurious. u 2100 S Ocean Boulevard, 408n & Cabana 9n, in Palm Beach, Florida, is listed for $8,950,000. For more information, contact Dana Koch at 561.379.7718 or dana.koch@corcoran.com.

C O U R TE S Y OF C ORC OR AN

HIGH ABOVE THE SHORE AT SLOAN’S CURVE


O P EN NA H MOE U S E

Clockwise from above: Living room; oversized terrace; pool and cabanas for residents; beach access; master bedroom. Opposite page, from above: View of 2100 S Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach; Dana Koch.


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Fresh Finds B Y B R O O K E K E L LY M U R R AY & ELIZABETH MEIGHER

FALL IS HERE, and the social calendar is filling fast! Step into the season in style with our edit of standout jewels, statement fashion, and polished accessories. From black-tie evenings to casual cocktail hours, here’s everything you need to make an entrance at any autumn affair.

Ralph Lauren Collection’s Cashmere Cardigan ($3,490), Cotton-Silk Voile Blouse ($2,790), Wool Pant ($1,290), Leather Double Prong Belt ($500), Leather Bootie ($1,690), and The Ralph Shoulder Bag ($2,800). Visit ralphlauren.com.

Greenleaf & Crosby’s Buccellati 18k Gold Diamond Rombi Button Earrings. $11,500 at greenleafcrosby.com.

Gold Ribbon Convertible Clutch Shoulder Bag in black by Alexis Bittar. $678 at thestore. madmuseum.org.

Shreve, Crump & Low’s vintage Tiffany & Co. Diamond Trellis and Leaves Necklace by Jean Schlumberger. Visit shrevecrumpandlow.com or call 203.622.6205.

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BMW updated the 2 Series Gran Coupe in 2025 with a more muscular façade, a nice bump-up in horsepower, new tech, and driverassistance features. Currently offered as the 228 xDrive and the more powerful M235 model, 2026 inventory is available now at BramanBMW.com.

J.McLaughlin’s Mccown Blazer in Camel/Dk Brown Houndstooth ($698), Club Shirt in Claret/White Bengal Stripe ($148), Taylor Pants in Khaki ($178), Michael Belt in Brown ($118), Men’s Scarf in Mahogany Palace Pictorial

Asprey’s beautifully crafted

($258), and Oskar Belgian

Connoisseur Wine Decanter is

Loafers in Brown ($328).

made from 30% lead crystal

Visit jmclaughlin.com. Rolex’s new metal

with a hallmarked sterling silver

bracelet, named Settimo,

integrated collar and handle.

was created exclusively for

$2,660 at asprey.com.

the 2025 Perpetual 1908 and is presented on a version of the watch in 18ct yellow gold with an intense white dial. Price upon request at rolex.com.

Grown organically on Created in partnership with Hand & Lock London, Stubbs & Wootton’s Martini Midnight Velvet Slippers feature the iconic martinis brought to life in gold bullion. $900 at stubbsandwootton.com.

the volcanic soils of Pritchard Hill and aged 20 months in French oak barrels, the 2022 OVID Napa Valley offers layered aromas of blackberry, cassis, and dark plum, with elegant hints of graphite and bay laurel. $425 at select liquor stores.


Fresh Finds

On October 10th through October 11th, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas will host its 3rd Annual Food & Wine Festival in the Dominican Republic. Enjoy cooking demonstrations by renowned celebrity chefs Hubert Keller, Scott Conant, Michael Mina and Ines Paez, La Chef Tita, wine and spirit tastings, special dinners under the stars, and much more. For more information, visit casadecampo.com.do.

Oscar de la Renta’s Crystal Cluster Embroidered Dress in Silver/Black. $7,290 at oscardelarenta.com. TAMARA COMOLLI’s MIKADO Delicate Necklace in ‘Aurora’ in 18K rose gold with Amethyst, London Topaz, Green Tourmaline, and Diamond Pavé. $12,100 at tamaracomolli.com.

Developed by dermatologic surgeon Dr. Antony Nakhla, Eighth Day’s Ultra-Rich Intensive Moisturizer volumizes and hydrates skin at the cellular level. $290 at eighthdayskin.com.

Striking pair of metal giraffes set in a rich bronze patina hand rubbed over brass. Beautifully crafted with serene expressions and realistic coat markings. This pair makes an impressive statement as a centerpiece or decorative highlight, and is the perfect gift for animal Claire Florence’s Cuff Bracelet in 18k gold. $16,000 at claireflorence.com. 82 QUEST

lovers, travel enthusiasts, and adventure seekers! $3,500 at LindaHorn.com.


Marisa Berenson collection 2025 Champagne Gold Sequin and Crystal Gown with Built-in Corset. Price upon request. Visit kimhicks.com or call 646.613.0514.

brings together glamorous, vintage, and contemporary pieces from around the world, spanning from Morocco, India, and Nepal. Rare and unique treasures form a vibrant fusion of colors, precious materials, and stunning gemstones. Mother-of-pearl leaves, feathers adorned with butterfly in silver-toned metal necklace, embellished with sparkling cystals; peacock-shaped pendant in silver toned metal, with sparkling crystals. $2,700 at lampedia@gmail.com.

Barton & Gray Mariners Club offers an assortment of membership options. Members enjoy a lifetime of yachting with the ability to adjust their membership and take advantage of the ever-expanding harbors and new yachts being added to the club. Visit bartonandgray.com.

Masterpiece Portrait Setting 15.46ct Nigerian Tourmaline Pendant in 18ct Yellow Gold. $86,300 at pragnell.co.uk.

A sculptural statement with seaside charm, this playful Origami Nautilus Clutch is designed to echo the elegant curves of a seashell—an homage to ocean escapes and coastal glamour. $395 at thecolonyedit.com.

Nestled in Via Mizner on Worth Avenue, Renato’s Palm Beach impresses in every way, making it the perfect restaurant for any special occasion. Visit renatospalmbeach.com.


Katherine Ann Johnson & George Harrington Shepherd June 21, 2025 j Watch hill, Rhode island PhotogRaPhed by eRic dush PhotogRaPhy Katherine and George were married before 200 guests at Watch Hill Chapel — a deeply sentimental venue for the bride, whose parents wed there in 1989, her aunt and uncle in 2006, and where her family has worshipped every summer for six generations. She wore a custom Sareh Nouri gown with a 19th-century family tiara, her grandmother’s debutante pearl necklace, a pearl cluster ring from her paternal grandmother, and her mother’s cathedral-length French lace veil. A diamond bracelet and the traditional family sixpence in her shoe were both loaned by her maternal grandmother, while the groom gifted her an aquamarine tennis bracelet. Her father, David Collins Johnson, walked her down the aisle. Following the ceremony, a bagpiper led guests to a nearby club for dinner, dancing, and a Vesta Bakery cake adorned with white buttercream, blue hydrangeas, and a miniature of the groom’s cavalier King Charles spaniel — who also served as ring bearer. The couple’s first dance to “Old Time Rock & Roll” by Bob Seger was performed by the Alex Donner Orchestra, with the night concluding at an afterparty at St. Clair Annex. The weekend’s festivities included a bride’s sailboat race, a bridal party tennis round robin, croquet for the bridesmaids, golf for the groomsmen, and a welcome party. The newlyweds enjoyed a mini-moon in Bermuda and will travel to the Southern Hemisphere in December for their honeymoon.

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WEDDINGS


WEDDINGS

Francesca Fairbairn Segura & Ryan Walter Bickett June 21, 2025 j Southampton, new York j photographed bY SaSithon photographY Francesca and Ryan were married before 170 guests in the garden of a private club. The bride wore a gown by Oscar de la Renta, carried a bouquet of peonies crafted by Arthur Golabek, and adorned her hand with her late grandmother’s sapphire ring — a cherished family heirloom inherited by her mother and lovingly passed among her cousins and aunts for each of their wedding days. She was escorted down the aisle by her parents, Jacqueline Derrey Mack and Spencer Francisco Segura. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed dinner, dancing, and cake. The couple shared their first dance to “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne. The weekend concluded with the newlyweds departing for their honeymoon in Paris and the South of France.


SEPTEMBER 2025 87


Clementine Pamela Boyle & George McAllister Cook May 10, 2025 j Wiltshire, United KingdoM PhotograPhed by rebecca goddard PhotograPhy Clementine and George were married before 140 guests at St. John the Baptist Church, Hindon. The bride wore a Phillipa Lepley gown paired with her great-grandmother’s veil, and was escorted down the aisle by her father, Richard Boyle. Following the service, guests enjoyed a Champagne reception in the 17th-century walled garden at Hatch House, before moving to a marquee on the upper lawn for dinner and dancing. The couple shared their first dance to “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin. Two cakes were served: a five-tier wedding cake by Lisa Notley Cake Design, and a traditional fruit cake depicting a snowy Val d’Isère scene — where the couple first met — baked by the bride’s mother, Suzanna Bingham. In a nod to family tradition, the cakes were cut with Clementine’s great-grandfather’s sword. The evening ended with the couple singing “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra, a tribute to the groom’s hometown. The celebrations continued the next day with a luncheon featuring Pimm’s, barbecue, and croquet. Immediately after the weekend, the newlyweds departed for their honeymoon in St. Lucia.


WEDDINGS

SEPTEMBER 2025 89


DRESSING THE DREAM: KIM HICKS COUTURE

KIM HICKS has made a name for herself in the world of Couture by embracing timeless glamour, meticulous craftsmanship, and a deep reverence for tradition. A graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York, Hicks’ passion for fashion was sparked in childhood, sewing her own prom and homecoming dresses and raiding her mother’s wardrobe for inspiration. “It was really my mother’s style and her beautiful clothes—and wedding photos— that inspired me,” she recalls. “The styles of the late ’60s and ’70s were great.” While she once dreamed of becoming a doctor, a high school pamphlet about Parsons set her on a new path. By the time she 90 QUEST

graduated, her designs had already been featured in renowned magazines, sold at Henri Bendel, and earned her the prestigious Golden Thimble award for a hand-painted organdy evening gown. Hicks honed her Couture sensibility under the legendary Arnold Scaasi, designing for style icons like Elizabeth Taylor, Brooke Astor, and Nina Griscom. Later, she worked with Badgley Mischka before launching Kim Hicks Couture in 1997. Her very first gown was commissioned by Sara Goodman, granddaughter of the Bergdorf Goodman founders—a relationship that led to more than a decade of selling through the famed retailer. Today, Hicks sees clients by private appointment at her Ateliers

J U L I E S K ARR AT T

B Y B R O O K E K E L LY M U R R AY


FA S H I O N

Clockwise from top left: Black and white embroidered ball gown, lined with Chantilly lace and pleated tulle skirt; sage green French mousseline gown adorned with 3D floral crystal embroidery, featuring a built-in corset and a full, multi-layered empire silhouette; Nude silk organza ballgown, crafted from handcut petals and embroidered with crystals in varying shades of Nude. Opposite page, from left: Red floral-embroidered cocktail dress, lined in French Chantilly lace (left) and red racerback gown with floral embroidery, lined in red Chantilly

J U L I E S K ARR AT T

lace and finished with an Italian crepe skirt (right); Kim Hicks.

in New York and Paris. Her designs are known for their classic silhouettes, feminine details, and exceptional tailoring. “My aesthetic is classic, elegant, timeless, feminine, and Couture,” she says. “Something you can wear many times—not just once.” Hicks draws inspiration from old films, flea markets, her clients, and above all, Paris. “I just saw the Worth exhibition at the Petit Palais. He was the one I studied at Parsons who made me want to be a Couturier.” Kim Hicks designs for women who value beauty, quality, and confidence. “I actually design for myself,” she says. “And that has translated into what other women love, too.” u


LIGHTS IN THE NIGHT SKY Introducing TAMARA COMOLLI’s Latest Color Story, ‘Aurora’

THE TAMARA COMOLLI Color Story has always been the heart and soul of the jewelry brand, bringing together colorful combinations of gemstones and playing with trends and themes. The latest Color Story, ‘Aurora,’ which launches this month, is the latest addition and pays homage to one of nature’s most incredible wonders. 92 QUEST


C O U R TE S Y OF TA M AR A C O M OL L I

JEWELRY

‘Aurora’ was born from a moment of playfulness while Creative Director Kate De’Ath was experimenting with different color combinations in the TAMARA COMOLLI workshop. Bringing together tonal blues, greens, and violets from the gemstone ‘vault’, she felt a new Color Story instantly emerge: a palette that is cool and sophisticated, one that completely embodies the spirit of the brand’s vibrant world. Set in 18K rose gold, this Color Story features hand-selected, cabochon-cut gemstones including Amethyst, London Topaz, Peridot, Green Tourmaline, and – fresh from the TAMARA COMOLLI archives – Iolite. Also known as the ‘water sapphire,’ Iolite is a violet blue stone, used by the Vikings to help them navigate the northern seas and is called the ‘Viking Compass Stone’ in Nordic folklore. According to the legend, looking through thin slices of Iolite reduced glare and provided polarizing filters that helped these ancient mariners locate the sun on cloudy days. ‘Aurora’ is so named as it evokes the Northern Lights – Aurora Borealis – a natural phenomenon that occurs in the night skies around the world, but especially in the Nordics. Displaying dynamic patterns of light that appear as curtains, rays, swirls, and flickers across the night sky, the Aurora Borealis exhibits some of the most striking colors that TAMARA COMOLLI best captures in its iconic MIKADO Flamenco Bracelet. When worn, this design moves with elegance and the light dances across the gemstones. The striking colors of ‘Aurora’ are also displayed in a trio of TULIP Rings, featuring Tanzanite, Green Tourmaline, and Violet Tourmaline, and each accented with a delicate line of Diamond Pavé on the 18K rose gold band. Stacked together, these rare, oneof-a-kind gemstones enhance each other and practically glow against the skin. Fresh and modern, ‘Aurora’ serves as a reminder that the hopeful promise of light is ever around the corner, and that beauty will always find its way through the darkness. ‘Aurora’ is also available in the MIKADO Flamenco Charm Bracelet, in three MIKADO necklaces of varying lengths, and in two styles of BOUTON Earrings. ◆

Clockwise from top left: BOUTON Long Earrings in ‘Aurora’ ($14,800); MIKADO Long Necklace 100cm in ‘Aurora’ ($36,400); MIKADO Flamenco Charm Bracelet in ‘Aurora’ ($11,400). Opposite page, from left: MIKADO Flamenco Bracelet in ‘Aurora’ ($72,900); TULIP Rings with Diamond Pavé in 18K rose gold - Green Tourmaline ($11,500), Violet Tourmaline ($10,000), and Tanzanite ($13,500). SEPTEMBER 2025 93


EIGHTH DAY: THE SCIENCE OF RENEWAL A NEW FORCE in luxury skincare, Eighth Day is redefining how we think about beauty and regeneration. The brand’s philosophy is rooted in science rather than hype, with a focus on harnessing bioidentical ingredients—peptides, amino acids, and growth factors—that mirror those naturally found in the skin. The result is a line of high-performance formulations designed to repair, restore, and renew. At the helm of the brand is its founder, Dr. Antony Nakhla, a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon. His career has centered on skin cancer treatment, Mohs micrographic reconstructive surgery, and wound healing, but his concept of beauty extends beyond the clinic. “I work with both reconstructive and cosmetic patients, guided by the belief that people look best and most naturally beautiful when they look like themselves,” he explains. “That principle became the foundation for Eighth Day.” The idea for the brand was born from his work in medicine. “The science behind Eighth Day was conceived when I made the connection between the bioidentical dressings and bandages I use to heal open wounds for my skin cancer patients and the transformative effects these same bioiden94 QUEST

tical ingredients could have on skin regeneration,” says Dr. Nakhla. “Treating aging skin is like treating wounded skin, only it is wounded by the sun, the environment, and the passage of time. My goal was to create formulations that support the skin’s innate ability to renew and repair—a brand built on the science of renewal, not hype.” Even the brand’s name reflects that ethos. “The cycle of time is measured in seven; Eighth Day is synonymous

C O U R TE S Y OF E I G H TH DAY

B Y B R O O K E K E L LY M U R R AY


B E AU T Y Clockwise from above: The Regenerative Serum; Eighth Day's patented formula powered by the highest concentration of proprietary Peptide-rich Plasma®—with 24 potent bioidentical actives that speak the language of skin, stimulating its innate ability to renew, restore, and regenerate. Opposite page, from above: Founder Dr. Antony Nakhla; The Ultra-Rich Intensive Moisturizer ($290). For more information and

C O U R TE S Y OF E I G H TH DAY

to purchase products, visit eighthdayskin.com.

with renewal. It’s about defining what’s next—for the future of skincare, and for your skin’s next chapter.” At the heart of Eighth Day is its proprietary, patent-pending technology, Peptide-Rich Plasma®. “It is composed of 24 bioidentical peptides, amino acids, and growth factors—the building blocks of your skin’s health,” explains Dr. Nakhla. The patented Regenerative Serum, powered by the highest concentration of this technology, has been clinically proven to improve firmness and elasticity, while the newest Ultra-Rich Intensive Moisturizer addresses dryness and volume loss with next-generation

VolumatrixSubQ™ biotechnology. As for the Eighth Day customer, Dr. Nakhla describes her as “someone who looks for results above all else, but she also appreciates a great experience—beautiful textures that feel great when you put them on… and she has a busy life, so she looks for products that multi-task.” Looking ahead, Nakhla sees regenerative skincare moving hand in hand with longevity science. “We’re essentially giving the skin the precise building blocks it needs to repair and renew itself,” he says. “That will always remain the foundation of the brand.” ◆ SEPTEMBER 2025 95


R E TA I L

FALL FOR J.McLAUGHLIN

On her: Anwen Jacket in Coffee Herringbone ($478), Miris Blouse in Egret White ($228), Liv Belt in Dk Brown ($128), Calder Pants in Dk Brown ($198), Sarita Scarf in Olive/ Brown Neo Scylla Corner ($248). On him: Fieldston Suede Jacket in Fawn ($898), Club Shirt in Claret/White Bengal Stripe ($148), Parker Pants in Chocolate ($198), Michael Belt in Brown ($118), Harris Wingtip Coun-

C O U R TE S Y OF J . M C L AU G H L I N

try Boots in Dk Brown ($428).


C O U R TE S Y OF J . M C L AU G H L I N

THIS SEASON, J.McLaughlin captures the elegance of everyday dressing with pieces that move effortlessly from gallery strolls to corner café catch-ups and evening soirées. J.McLaughlin believes great style—like great conversation— should never be dull. This season brings together refined classics, rich textures, and a wink of personality for every New York moment on your calendar. The Fall Collection is inspired by the city’s shifting palette—burnished gold leaves along the Park Avenue median,

the deep sapphire of twilight on the Hudson, and the crisp neutrals of stone townhouses under an autumn sky. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to transition seamlessly through your day, balancing polish with comfort. Think soft cashmere wraps for brisk morning walks, tailored trousers that flatter and move with you, and silk blouses in prints as artful as an uptown gallery wall. Layering is key this season— structured blazers meet cozy

Above left: Reid Reversible Coat in Charcoal Solid/Plaid ($548), Arlette Turtleneck in H. Gray ($178), Sloane Shirt in Spring Blue ($198), Domino Jeans in Med Denim Blue ($198), Melanie Loafers in Baltic Navy ($278), and Una Bag in Merlot ($278). Above right: Reid Coat in Coffee Solid/Multi Color Mini Check ($548), Arlette Turtleneck in H Brown ($178), Watson Pants in Dk Chocolate ($198), Arlie Loafer in Brown ($278), and Una Bag in Dk Brown ($278). Below: Anwen Jacket in Coffee Herringbone ($478). SEPTEMBER 2025 97


C O U R TE S Y OF J . M C L AU G H L I N


R E TA I L turtlenecks, while lightweight outerwear offers just the right amount of warmth for those unpredictable fall afternoons. Accessories add a subtle spark: heritageinspired scarves, handcrafted leather belts, and versatile handbags that carry you from office meetings to evening theater. Whether you’re brunching in Brooklyn, shopping in SoHo, or toasting the night in the West Village, the Fall Collection invites you to dress for the moment—and every beautiful, bustling moment after that. u

Genevieve Blazer in Navy ($498), Arlette Turtleneck in Egret White ($178), Riley Pants in Winter Navy ($178), Cecily Loafers in Dk Brown Crocodile ($288). Opposite page, counterclockwise

C O U R TE S Y OF J . M C L AU G H L I N

from right: Winifred Poncho in Brown/Cream Plaid ($428), Jamey Sweater in Egret White ($158), Lenni Pants in Egret White ($198), Eden Tall Boots in Dk Brown Crocodile ($448); Madeline Blouse in Dk Brown/Brown Neo Tanzania ($248), Deanne Pants in Ivory ($198), and Lara Belt in Black/Cork ($128); best-selling Arlette Turtlenecks ($178 each).

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CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

On September 25th, New York Philharmonic will host its Opening Gala at David Geffen Hall honoring arts leader and philanthropist Vera Blinken and the memory of long-time Board member Ambassador Donald Blinken. For more information, visit nyphil.org.

3

FIT LUNCHEON

The Museum at FIT will present its 2025 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion to Olivier Rousteing, Creative Director of Balmain, at its luncheon at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center at 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit fitnyc.edu.

14th. This Fall event, set in a stunning location, offers even more reasons to visit. Surrounded by grand coastal scenery, historic sites, trendy boutiques, and world-class restaurants,

it’s the perfect opportunity to combine your passion for boating with the charm of Newport and the beauty of New England in the fall. For more information, visit newportboatshow.com.

6

41ST HARRIMAN CUP

The 41st annual Harriman Cup will take place in Old Bethpage, New York. For more information, visit harrimancup.org.

11

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

New York Fashion Week will be held through September 16th. Designers will showcase the Spring/ Summer 2026 collections. For more information, visit nyfw.com. NEWPORT BOAT SHOW

Newport International Boat Show will take place through September 100 QUEST

14

THE BRIDGE IX

The Bridge IX car show will be held in Bridgehampton. Taking place at the private golf club that sits on the hallowed grounds of the original Bridgehampton Race Circuit, the namesake classic car exhibition pays tribute to the historic racing that took place on the site for nearly half a century. The exhibition is primarily focused on post-war sports and competition cars that raced or would have been eligible to race at The Bridgehampton Race Circuit during its glory years. More than 200 cars of great provenance are featured every year. For more information, visit thebridgehamptons.com.

17

PLAY FOR THE PARK

On September 3rd, the Museum at FIT will present its 2025 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion at its annual luncheon at Lincoln Center. For more information, visit fitnyc.edu.

The Women’s Committee and Playground Partners of the Central Park Conservancy will host its annual Play for the Park tennis tournament at the Central Park Tennis Center. The tournament features morning


CALENDAR

Grammy Award-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant – one of the most captivating jazz singers of our time. For more information, visit nyphil.org.

OCTOBER 3

HAMPTONS FILM FESTIVAL

Through October 11th, Hamptons Film Festival will present screenings across two weekends. For more information, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.

8

NYC BALLET FASHION GALA

On September 21st, the Metropolitan Opera will hold its Opening Night Gala. For more information, visit metopera.org. and afternoon sessions, with a lunch reception and open play in between. For more information, visit centralparknyc.com.

Pulitzer Prize–winning novel. For more information, visit metopera.org.

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NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC

NEWPORT WINE & FOOD

25

New York Philharmonic will host its Opening Gala at David Geffen Hall

honoring arts leader and philanthropist Vera Blinken and the memory of longtime Board member Ambassador Donald Blinken. The evening will feature a cocktail reception, an elegant dinner attended by NY Phil artists and VIPs, and a one-night-only concert headlined by

New York City Ballet will host its 13th annual Fall Fashion Gala; an extraordinary evening to benefit the company where the worlds of ballet and high fashion converge in a celebration of creativity, elegance, and artistic excellence. This tradition is an opportunity to witness groundbreaking new choreography and visionary collaborations between choreographers and designers. The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception hosted by Ruinart Champagne, followed by the performance at 7 p.m., and will conclude with an elegant night of dinner and dancing on the Promenade of the David H. Koch Theater with company artists in attendance. For more information, visit nycballet.com.

Through September 21st, the 20th Annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival will take place at Rosecliff and Marble House. The three days will include educational seminars, tastings, dinners and the fan-favorite Sunday Jazz Buffet Brunch. Celebrated Chef Marcus Samuelsson will join as host of the elegant Vintner Dinner and as featured guest for a conversation in the Rosecliff Ballroom. For more information, visit newportmansions.org.

21

MET OPERA GALA

The Metropolitan Opera will hold its Opening Night Gala at 5:30 p.m. The evening will celebrate the Met premiere of Mason Bates’s exhilarating new opera and the opening of the 2025–26 season. Enjoy cocktails before curtain and a post-performance gala dinner with the cast and creative team, including Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and director Bartlett Sher, who has created a dazzling production for this riveting adaption of Michael Chabon’s

From September 11th through September 14th, Newport International Boat Show will take place in Rhode Island. For more information, visit newportboatshow.com. SEPTEMBER 2025 101


AN ELEGANT ESCAPE ON A CRISP New York City morning, as the leaves were just beginning to turn, we joined Natascha Schuetz at the The Lowell Hotel, where she tried on the latest looks from Fall’s 2025 runways, along with sparkling jewels and accessories to match. Natascha is not only lovely to look at (of course she is a model!) but she has an equally charming personality—as we discovered she is the owner of numerous rescue dogs—parents and their pups (Natascha had us at, “Hello”). We had so much fun trying on all of the clothes, accessories and jewelry, not to mention exploring The Lowell. A five-star, luxury landmark hotel tucked away on a picturesque block on East 63rd Street, walking into The Lowell PRODUCED & ST YLED BY ELIZABETH MEIGHER W I T H B R O O K E K E L LY M U R R AY PHOTO GR APHED BY JULIE SK ARR AT T HAIR BY MARCO MARANGHELLO FOR ELIUT SALON MAKEUP BY OSCAR CABALLERO WITH FORD ARTISTS

Natascha arrives at The Lowell wearing Ralph Lauren Collection’s Lambskin Moto Jacket ($5,990) and Chiffon Skirt ($2,490) while holiding The Ralph Calf-Suede Top Handle ($3,200). She pairs the look with Belperron’s Small 18k Yellow Gold Tube Link Necklace ($12,600) and Verdura’s Gold, Platinum and Diamond “Infinity Knot” Bracelet ($28,500).


is similar to walking into a private club. A gentleman named Tony has been on board for nearly 30 years and he will get you anything (literally anything) you need. The ladies at the front desk are ever-smiling as they hand you your room key (yes, an actual brass key—attached to a silky tassel). The lobby is just off of the library, also known as The Club Room, where the soft glow of lamps and the hum of conversation feel like an old friend’s warm embrace. Velvet armchairs, nail-headed leather and a tranquil atmosphere are reminiscent of Mad Men and American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Moving into Jacques Bar (also known simply as, “Jacques”), while sipping a drink, literary giants from the past seem to tap dance along the marble floors (we recommend ordering The Hemingway: Havana Club Rum, Luxardo, Lime, Grapefruit). While making our way from the Club Room into Jacques, we

ran into none other than, Pierce Brosnan! The Irish actor and producer, who famously played James Bond from 1995 to 2002, was in town on tour for his new Netflix film, Thursday Murder Club. Moving on to The Lowell’s Penthouse Suite (a threebedroom apartment with four private terraces, a living room, a kitchen and a dining room, among other amenities), Natascha slipped into a look from Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2025 Collection that fit her like a glove and captured the essence of our shoot: a floor-grazing, button-down, silk taffeta shirt-gown. Embellished with hand-made lace, the dress was simple and feminine with a touch of rugged—slung with a black leather belt and paired with knee-high, black leather boots. Finally, we walked a number of steps from The Lowell to Central Park, where the leaves were still green but on the ground hints of fall had just begun to appear. Our perfect day in NYC was complete.◆

Lounging in The Lowell’s swish Club Room. Natascha wears Ralph Lauren Collection’s Satin Jumpsuit ($5,290), Velvet Sandal ($1,250), and Leather Belt ($500). Around her neck she wears Shreve, Crump & Low’s Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Necklace set in white gold ($45,000). On her left hand, she wears Wempe Classics 18k white gold ring of 164 brilliant-cut diamonds ($13,145). Asprey’s 167 Mini Handbag in Lizard rests on the table before her ($15,300).

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What better way to welcome fall than in a Herringbone Tweed Jacket and matching Ball Cap? Natascha perfectly blends sport and style in Ralph Lauren Collection’s Herringbone Tweed Jacket ($2,690) and Ball Cap ($495), Cotton Shirt ($790), Suede Pant ($3,490), Double-Buckle Calfskin Wide Waist Belt ($700), and Leather Boot ($1,890). Around her neck she wears Wempe BY KIM’s 18k rose gold necklace featuring one brilliant-cut diamond ($4,975), along with Wempe by KIM’s 18k rose gold ring featuring 62 brilliant-cut diamonds ($13,595) and Wempe by KIM’s 18k rose

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gold Helioro ring (left hand, $8,725).

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Gazing in the garden. On her left wrist, Natalie wears: 18k yellow gold and diamond bangle bracelet ($11,900); 18k white gold and diamond bangle bracelet ($12,900); 18k yellow gold and 5 diamond bangle bracelet ($6,500). She also dons a vintage Van Cleef & Arpels diamond and 18k yellow gold necklace (price upon request) and Fernando Jorge 18k yellow gold and diamond Sequence earrings ($19,950). On her right hand, Natalie wears a brilliant 33.62 carat emerald-cut diamond ring.

A 007 moment in the Club Room as Natascha runs into legendary actor Pierce Brosnan! Brosnan (who once famously played James Bond) was visiting The Lowell during a tour for his new Netflix film, Thursday Murder Club. Natascha wears Ralph Lauren Collection’s Satin Jumpsuit ($5,290), Velvet Sandal ($1,250), and Leather Belt ($500). Around her neck she wears Shreve, Crump & Low’s Tahitian P H OTO C RE DI T G OE S H E RE

Pearl and Diamond Necklace set in white gold, ($45,000). On her left hand she wears Wempe Classics 18k white gold ring of 164 brilliant-cut diamonds ($13,145). Asprey’s 167 Mini Handbag in Lizard rests on the bookshelf behind her ($15,300). M AY 2 0 2 3 0 0


“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Natascha wears Ralph Lauren Collection’s Velvet Jacket ($5,990), Velvet Skirt ($5,990), and Leather Belt ($500). Around her neck she wears Wempe’s Twist necklace of 18k yellow gold and 110 brilliant-cut diamonds ($16,975). On her right wrist, she wears Wempe’s Twist bracelet of 18k rose gold ($6,565) and on her left hand she wears Wempe BY KIM Sensual golden Bridge ring of 18k rose gold and 71

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brilliant-cut diamonds ($11,095).

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Drinks at Jacques. Natascha wears Carolina Herrera’s Boat Neck Column Gown ($4,990), Verdura’s Gold, Platinum and Diamond “Infinity Knot” Bracelet ($28,500), Shreve, Crump & Low’s Princess Cut Diamond and South Sea Pearl Drop Earrings set in white gold ($7,500), Wempe Classics ring of 119 brilliant-cut diamonds set in 18k white gold (left hand, $6,565) and Wempe Classics Gold Bangle of

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18k rose gold ($5,085).

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Relaxing in a banquette in The Lowell’s elegant library. Natascha sports Ralph Lauren Collection’s Fairisle Sweater Vest ($2,290), matching pant (price upon request), and Leather Boot ($1,990), while holding the The Ralph Flocked Denim Shoulder Bag ($2,800). The Mongolian Lamb Leather Coat (price upon request) rests at her side. On her right hand, she wears Wempe Classics 18k rose gold bangle ($5,085) and Wempe BY KIM Helioro 18k rose gold ring ($8,725). On her left hand, she wears Shreve, Crump & Low’s Piaget Polo Date Automatic Watch, 36 mm, cased in 18k rose gold and set with 60 brilliant-cut diamonds (price upon request), along with Wempe BY KIM’s Blu ring of 18k rose gold with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds (index finger, $13,595) and Wempe’s Twist ring of 18k rose P H OTO C RE DI T G OE S H E RE

gold with diamonds (ring finger, $17,750).

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Looking out over the cityscape from a dreamy terrace at The Lowell, Natascha wears Ralph Lauren Collection’s Silk Taffeta Dress ($24,000), and Leather Belt ($500). She pairs the look with Shreve, Crump & Low’s Diamond and Black Onyx Drop Earrings set in platinum ($46,000). She also wears Wempe’s 18k white gold necklace of 64 brilliant-cut diamonds (worn as a bracelet, right wrist, $7,135) and Wempe’s Serafino Consoli bangle/ring of 18k white gold and 93 brialliant-cut diamonds ($18,100). On her left hand, she wears Wempe Classics ring of white gold and 164 briallintcut diamonds (index finger, $13,145) and Wempe’s Serafino Consoli ring of 18k white gold/black rhodium-plated and 110 brilliant-

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cut diamonds ($13,550).

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Natascha sits at the Art Deco vanity in The Lowell’s Michael Smith-designed, three-bedroom Penthouse apartment, complete with four private terraces, a living room, study, kitchen and deluxe bath, among additional amenities. She wears Carolina Herrera’s Embellished Strapless Column Gown ($10,900), paired with BY KIM Lucky earrings of 18k rose gold ($5,655) and BY KIM diamond ring of 18k rose gold and 40 brilliantcut diamonds ($28,275), along with a vintage Patek Philippe Ellipse watch from Shreve, Crump & Low. She admires a tray of assorted rings from

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Shreve, Crump & Low and Wempe.

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Natascha leans agaist the canopy bed in The Lowell’s light-filled penthouse apartment. She wears Carolina Herrera’s Embellished Strapless Column Gown ($10,900), a vintage Patek Philippe Ellipse watch from Shreve, Crump & Low, and BY KIM: Lucky earrings of 18k rose gold ($5,655), Sensual Cocoon bracelet of 18k rose gold and 75 briliant-cut diamonds ($32,875); Sensual Cocoon ring of 18k rose gold and 67 brilliant-cut diamonds ($11,325) and ring of 18k rose gold and 40 brilliant-cut

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diamonds ($28,275).

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Drinks at Jacques—the ultimate Upper East Side “pre-dinner drink” (we recommend the Hemingway). Natascha wears Kim Hicks’ Black Leather Flower and Crystal Embroidery Halter Gown with Velvet Bow and Skirt (price upon request). She pairs the look with Shreve, Crump & Low’s Diamond Chandelier Style Drop Earrings in White Gold ($39,000) and (right hand): Wempe’s V-shaped ring of 18k white gold and 21 diamonds ($7,995), Twist bangle of 18k white gold, 3 emerald-cut diamonds and 128 brilliant-cut diamonds ($16,875), and Serafino Consoli ring (made into a bracelet) of 18k white gold/black rhodium-plated and 110 brilliant-cut diamonds ($13,550). On her left hand, she wears Shreve, Crump & Low’s Cartier Baignoire Mini White Gold Watch with diamonds (price upon request) and Wempe’s: floral-like ring of 18k white gold and 131 diamonds ($10,075) and Spotlight ring of 18k white gold and

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60 brilliant-cut diamonds ($12,475).

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Autumn in Central Park! Natascha channels Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour wearing Ralph Lauren Collection’s Wool Dress ($2,890), Cotton Shirt ($990), Leather Boot ($1,990), and Leather Belt ($500). On her ears, she wears Wempe Spotlight earrings of 18k white gold and 170

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brilliant-cut diamonds ($16,775).

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I N TI M ATE W ORL D, F L A M M ARI ON

© J EAN M OR AL © B RI G I T TE M OR AL S AI F PARI S , F RO M C H AN E L : H E R

INSIDE THE WORLD OF COCO CHANEL


Clockwise from top left: This coat in embroidered black silk crêpe (from the Fall–Winter 1922 collection) was crafted in the Kitmir workshop of Grand Duke Dmitri’s sister, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna; the unlined gold lamé evening suit in a leafy motif and with a matching long belt that Coco Chanel wore to receive the Neiman Marcus Award in Dallas in 1957; the cover of Flammarion’s Chanel: Her Intimate World, featuring Coco Chanel in her suite at the Ritz, circa 1938. Opposite page: Coco Chanel sought inspiration, especially for her jewelry, from art books and magazines. She wears her eternal little yellow ring, one of her talismans, as well as a bracelet in gilt metal and pâte de verre by François Hugo.

C H AN E L / P H OTO AN TOI N E D U M ON T, F R AN C I S H A M M ON D, C ON DÉ N A S T F RO M C H AN E L : H E R I N TI M ATE W ORL D, F L A M M ARI ON

B Y B R O O K E K E L LY M U R R AY

DURING HER LIFETIME, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was more than a fashion designer — she was the embodiment of the modern working woman. With her sharp eye for timeless color palettes, impeccably structured fabrics, and discreet yet decisive detailing, she redefined what it meant to dress for a life in motion. From the founding of her house in 1910 to her death in 1971, Chanel’s designs spoke to women like herself: independent, ambitious, and unwilling to be constrained by the dictates of the past. She introduced the world to a sporty, chic femininity in the wake of World War I, dismantling corsetry in favor of fluid, confident silhouettes. Over the course of her six-decade career, her vision expanded beyond couture to include fragrances, leather goods, and fine jewelry, cementing her status as one of the most influential designers of the 20th century. This October, Flammarion invites readers into the private realm of this extraordinary woman with Chanel: Her Intimate World, a richly illustrated biography by Chanel authority and historian Isabelle Fiemeyer. Drawing from exclusive interviews with the designer’s closest family members and deep archival research, Fiemeyer reveals a side of Chanel S E P T E M BJ E U RL Y2 022052 31 0 10 5


of the group, flanked by Countess Étienne de Beaumont, Countess Moretti, and Madame Chiesa. Coco Chanel wears a set of the beach pajamas that she pioneered. Below: The ruby, pearl, and emerald necklace given to Coco Chanel by Paul Iribe, which she wore faithfully from 1934 onward, lying on her Tyrian purple-lined jewelry purse. 116 QUEST

C O U R TE S Y OF C H AN E L , F RO M C H AN E L : H E R I N TI M ATE WORL D, F L A M M ARI ON

Above: Venice Lido, 1929. Coco Chanel and Misia Sert stand in the center

© P RI VATE C OL L E C TI ON / P H OTO F R AN C I S H A M M ON D / © P RI VATE ARC H I V E S / RI G H TS RE S E RV E D.

rarely glimpsed by the public: her fascination with symbolism and poetry, her enduring romantic attachments, and her profound devotion to her nephew, André Palasse, whom she raised as her own son. His daughter, Gabrielle Palasse-Labrunie — Chanel’s goddaughter and only direct descendant — offers her own intimate recollections and opens the door to her great-aunt’s treasured personal collection of fashion, jewelry, and art. Organized into five chronological chapters, the book guides readers through Chanel’s life with rare and revealing artifacts: gifts from her great love, Boy Capel; favorite jewels and talismans; elegant furnishings; meticulously preserved garments; and candid family photographs. One of the most arresting sections, “Alias Coco,” expands upon Fiemeyer’s earlier research to share newly discovered documents from the French Secret Service archives, illuminating Chanel’s shadowy role during World War II and her connections to the Resistance. u


In 1955, Coco Chanel created the quilted chain shoulder bag that was to become an icon of the Chanel style, like

© P H OTO F R AN C I S H A M M ON D, F RO M C H AN E L : H E R I N TI M ATE W ORL D, F L A M M ARI ON

the famous tweed suit.


THE MOST FASHIONABLE OF QUEENS B Y B R O O K E K E L LY M U R R AY

© V I C TORI A AN D AL B E R T M U S E U M , L ON D ON

THIS AUTUMN, the V&A will unveil Marie Antoinette Style, the United Kingdom’s first major exhibition devoted to the queen whose name has become synonymous with fashion. Opening on September 20th, the show—sponsored by Manolo Blahnik—brings together more than 250 objects to trace the origins, reinventions, and enduring allure of Marie Antoinette’s aesthetic. Rarely seen outside of Versailles, personal treasures such as the queen’s silk slippers, jewels from her private collection, and the final note she wrote before her execution will be displayed alongside furniture, porcelain, and intimate effects from her Petit Trianon. These historic objects are set in dialogue with couture by Dior, Chanel, Moschino, Erdem, and Vivienne Westwood; Manolo Blahnik’s shoes for Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette; and film costumes that have helped recast her image for new generations. Overall, the exhibition—which will be on display through March 22, 2026—will explore Marie Antoinette as both a woman of her time and an early modern celebrity whose influence on fashion and popular culture has lasted more than 250 years. “The most fashionable, scrutinised and controversial queen in history, Marie Antoinette’s name summons both visions of excess and objects and interiors of great beauty,” said Sarah Grant, Curator of Marie Antoinette Style. She continues, “The rare combination of glamour, spectacle, and tragedy she presents remains as intoxicating today as it was in the 18th century.” u

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AN D Z OETROP E C ORP. ; © V I C TORI A AN D AL B E R T M U S E U M , L ON D ON ; © G R AN D PAL AI S R M N ( M U S É E D U L O U V RE ) / M I C H E L U R TAD O

P I X E L F OR M U L A , S I PA , S H U T TE RS TO C K ; G ÖR AN S C H M I DT L I V RU S TK A M M ARE N / S H M ( C C B Y 4 . 0 ) ; C O U R TE S Y OF M AN OL O B L AH N I K ; I WAN T C AN DY L L C .

Clockwise from top left: Moschino show, Runway, Fall Winter 2020, Milan Fashion Week; wedding gown of Duchess Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta (later Queen of Sweden); Antonietta, 2005 by Manolo Blahnik; film still from Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette; the Sutherland Diamonds, comprising diamond necklace with two additional diamond-set sections; crystal flaskwith label ‘Eau de Cologne from the ‘Nécessaire de voyage’, belonging to Marie Antoinette. Opposite page: Dress, ‘robe de style,’ white organza with artificial flowers, France; portrait of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, in a court dress, Oil painting by François Hubert Drouais, 1773 (inset).

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DIOR: THROUGH THE ARTISTIC LENS

WHEN CHRISTIAN DIOR unveiled his first collection in 1947, the “New Look” instantly revolutionized fashion. With its sculpted jackets, cinched waists, and full skirts, Dior’s vision restored beauty and optimism to a postwar world, establishing his namesake couture house devoted to 120 QUEST

elegance, craftsmanship, and pure grace. Although Dior himself passed away in 1957, the house’s legacy continues to inspire—not only through its garments and accessories but also through the artists who reinterpret it nearly eight decades later.

C O U R TE S Y OF B RI G I T TE N I E DE R M AI R / RI Z Z OL I

BY NAME HERE


Clockwise from left: Soirée de Paris 1955, Dior

C O U R TE S Y OF B RI G I T TE N I E DE R M AI R / RI Z Z OL I

Héritage series, 2025, featuring evening dress, Fall–Winter 1955 haute couture collection; preparatory drawing for Soirée de Paris 1955, Dior Héritage series, 2025; Fall–Winter 2019 readyto-wear ad campaign. Opposite page, from above: Preparatory drawing for “Tough Love,” US Elle, September 2024, Fall–Winter 2024 ready-to-wear collection; the cover of Rizzoli’s Niedermair, Dior: Drawing / Photography.


Dior Milly Dentelle high jewelry collection, 2025, and the preparatory drawing, 2024. Opposite page: Cruise 2024 ad campaign and the

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preparatory drawing, 2023.


C O U R TE S Y OF B RI G I T TE N I E DE R M AI R / RI Z Z OL I

Among the most distinctive of these is Brigitte Niedermair, an Italian photographer celebrated for her crystalline compositions and hyper-constructed imagery. Over the past several years, Niedermair has collaborated closely with Dior, creating some of the house’s most striking contemporary visuals. Next month, Rizzoli will release Niedermair, Dior: Drawing / Photography, a richly illustrated volume that reveals, for the first time, the drawings, collages, and watercolors that underpin her creative process. “Nothing happens by accident,” she notes, and these preparatory works show how each photograph begins as a sketch before blossoming into the final image. Her inspirations—ranging from Renaissance painting and Surrealism to Morandi’s still lifes and De Chirico’s dreamlike architecture— mirror Christian Dior’s own devotion to art,

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C O U R TE S Y OF B RI G I T TE N I E DE R M AI R / RI Z Z OL I

gardens, and history as sources of couture. Whether capturing haute couture, ready-to-wear, or fine jewelry, Niedermair stages Dior’s creations in monumental tableaux that transform fashion into art. With text by Olivier Gabet, director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and an introduction by Dior CEO Delphine Arnault, Dior documents the symbiosis between a house built on timeless codes and an artist whose vision reimagines them for today. More than a collection of images, it is a meditation on elegance and invention—linking the founder’s vision with its contemporary reinvention through Niedermair’s extraordinary eye. ◆

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Lady Dior ad campaign, 2023, and the preparatory drawing, 2023. Opposite page: Dior à Versailles,

PCHOOTO G RI OEGSI THTE E RE U R TEC SRE Y DI OFT B N I E DE R M AI R / RI Z Z OL I

Pièces Secrètes high jewelry collection, 2018.

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BY ELIZABETH MEIGHER

“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” —Coco Chanel 126 QUEST

J U L I E S K ARR AT T / QU E S T P H OTO ARC H I V E S

Quest STYLE


Clockwise from above: Prince Harry, Prince William and Charles III

DAI LY M AI L / REX / S H U T TE RS TO C K ; B O U DEWI J N S M I T P H OTO G R AP H Y ; K EYS TON E P RE S S ; L E ON ARD M C C O M B E / TH E L I F E P I C T U RE C OL L E C TI ON / S H U T TE RS TO C K

with Housemaster Dr. Andrew Gailey on William’s first day at Eton, 1995; Dexia Bank advertisement photographed by Boudewijn Smit; Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip share a laugh during their visit to a military camp in Wales in 1963; Odile Rodin and Porfirio Rubirosa talking to Anne Slater during the Johansson-Patterson fight in Miami, Florida in 1961. Opposite page: Amanda Hearst wearing Ralph Lauren at The Highline Hotel photographed by Julie Skarratt for the September 2014 issue of Quest.

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Clockwise from top left: Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Diana Ross of the Supremes arrive at London’s Heathrow Airport, circa 1965; Julie Christie photographed by David Hurn, London, 1966; the Barrett family enjoys a rustic picnic in the Arizona desert, 1978; The Four Seasons Restaurant, 1959, which cost $4.5 million to open that year; Princess Caroline of Monaco’s husband, Philippe Junot, Princess Stéphanie, Princess

EV E N I N G S TAN DARD / G ET T Y I M AG E S / C O U R TE S Y OF RI Z Z OL I B O OK S ; DAV I D H U RN ; S L I M AARON S ; B ET T M AN N ; G O O G L E

Caroline and Princess Grace of Monaco, 1978.

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AN L / S H U T TE RS TO C K ; N I C H OL A S K AL I KOW ; RON G AL E L L A ; C ORN E L L C APA / M AG N U M P H OTOS

STYLE

Clockwise from top left: Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton (first row, right) with her second husband (to her left), Count Kurt Von Haugwitz Reventlow, circa 1935; a vintage Volkswagen Beetle with skis; Elizabeth Taylor, Guy de Rothschild and Marie-Helene de Rothschild attend Prix de l’Arc Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, October 6, 1968 (inset); George Plimpton, a founder of The Paris Review, hosts one of his legendary cocktail parties at his apartment on the Upper East Side, 1963. These gatherings were a staple of the New York literary scene, attracting prominent figures from the worlds of literature, publishing and popular culture (note author Truman Capote seated far left on the couch—who else do you spot?). SEPTEMBER 2025 129


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TH E ROYAL FA M I LY / I N S TAG R A M ; H A M I LTON WRI G H T ; M I C H E L D U F O U R / WI RE I M AG E ; G ET T Y I M AG E S , V I A TR AI N P H OTOS U K ; 2 0 TH C E N T U RY F OX / KOB AL / S H U T TE RS TO C K


Quest

STYLE

Clockwise from top left: Mrs. John Hay Whitney and Mrs. William Paley play golf in the Bahamas, 1968; French newsman Gilbert Graziani, Prince Radziwill, Lee Radziwill and First Lady Jackie Kennedy at a café in Ravello, 1968; Marisa Berenson strolls alongside Liza Minelli through the streets of Paris, 1972; Bertrand Querube Clark Clark and Grace Meigher walk side-by-side in Capri, 1990; sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac at the Cannes Film Festival, 1965. Opposite page, clockwise from above: a young King Charles III, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne, 1956; “Spaghetti on The S L I M AARON S / G ET T Y I M AG E S ; B ET T M AN N ; L AF ORET / G ET T Y I M AG E S ; C O U R TE S Y OF G R AC E M E I G H E R ; AP I M AG E S

Lake”, 1939; Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall happily together in Paris, 1983; Inside the ‘Jolly Tar’ Tavern Car, a real pub that ran on rails in London in the late 1940s; Frank Sinatra and Jill St. John star in Tony Rome, 1967.

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M U R R AY

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THE YOUNG & THE GUEST LIST B Y B R O O K E K E L LY M U R R AY

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Robin Thicke performing.


Clockwise from top left: Alexandra Daddario; Kate McEntee and Lisa Blanco; Christine Evangelista; Melissa Polo Landau and Melissa Gorga.

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NYC SECOND CHANCE RESCUE’S HAMPTONS BENEFIT

FOUNDED BY Jennifer Brooks and Lisa Blanco, NYC Second Chance Rescue hosted its 4th Annual Hamptons Benefit at the estate of Ken and Maria Fishel. The evening celebrated the inspiring animal advocacy of Christine Evangelista, welcomed special guest Melissa Gorga, and concluded with a show-stopping performance by Robin Thicke. Proceeds supported the nonprofit’s mission, which has saved more than 16,000 animals from an unimaginable fate. SEPTEMBER 2025 133


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RALPH LAUREN’S LUNCHEON IN EAST HAMPTON RALPH LAUREN brought a dose of New York City to the East End with a summer luncheon at Mulford Farm in East Hampton, presented in partnership with the East Hampton Historical Society. Beneath the Pantigo windmill, the historic grounds were reimagined as a seaside version of The Polo Bar. Guests toured the centuries-old farmhouse before enjoying a seated lunch. Fittingly, copies of Ricky Lauren’s The Hamptons: Food, Family, and History were on display. Guests included Naomi Watts, Lauren Bush Lauren, Aerin Lauder, David Lauren, and Molly Gordon, among others.

Meredith Hayden, Lilly Sisto, and Jake Musser

Naomi Watts, David Lauren, and Lauren Bush Lauren

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Zach Weiss Molly Gordon Olivia McDowell and Meredith Hayden 134 QUEST


GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER’S MIDSUMMER NIGHT DRINKS IN EAST HAMPTON IN LATE JULY, God’s Love We Deliver hosted its annual Midsummer Night Drinks at the home of Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka. Guests enjoyed lawn games, performance art, live music, seasonal bites, and cocktails, while presenting sponsors alice + olivia and Ford Bronco contributed a highlight of the evening: a one-of-a-kind, custom-wrapped Bronco inspired by alice + olivia designs, auctioned live. The benefit raised more than $500,000 for the nonprofit, the New York metropolitan area’s leading provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling for individuals living with serious illness. ◆

Bijou Philipps, Stacey Bendet, Terrence Meck, and Nicky Hilton Rothschild

S EAN Z AN N I

Maura O’Neill and Kevin Bentley

Sophie Sumner

David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris

Meghan Grimm, Kim Kaufman, Caren Pinto, and Tinx SEPTEMBER 2025 135


SNAPSHOT

ON JANUARY 29, 1962, Yves Saint Laurent presented the first haute couture collection for his own label. It’s a date I can’t forget, because the moment I finished Alice Rawsthron’s biography about the designer, I was hooked on fashion. She recaps the moment at the end of his show: “Two hours—and 104 outfits—later the show was over. The audience clapped and cried ‘Bravo.’ Yves was pushed out into the salon to take a bashful bow. Zizi Jeanmaire raced to embrace him and he collapsed in tears on her shoulder surrounded by scores of photographers.” There’s something deliciously glossy about a runway show: Actors flanked by “it” girls and fashion editors, all chatting with the usual coterie of the designer’s friends. Then the clothes come out, and you watch the designers express a 136 QUEST

range of emotion through them. But in a flash, it’s over, and out comes the creator—the human quality of the collection— whose gracious wave or humble gesture is met with applause. What must it be like for the designer in the moments leading up to the show? With the idea of Yves’ first show in mind, I ask one about his freshman runway experience. “It’s something that you thought that only other people did, and here I was now, the designer, doing it,” he said. “It was a thrilling feeling.” —Alex Travers This page, clockwise from top left: Tom Ford; Ralph Lauren; Michael Kors; Gilles Mendel; Karl Lagerfeld walking out with his army of models; Oscar de la Renta with model Karlie Kloss; Giorgio Armani; Carolina Herrera.

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Graduated Diamond Riviere Necklace, Circa 1900

The Greenleaf & Crosby Estate Collection

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