ISSUE 1 | VOLUME 2 | SPRING ‘19
THE WELLNESS ISSUE TROORAMAGAZINE.COM
2019 Range Rover VELAR Supreme refinement, sophisticated technologies and outstanding capabilities
Trystanne Cunningham Creative Director Style Curator/Founder
Daniella Schoeman Travel/Wellness Contributor
Alex English Writer
Jannely Espinal
Mathew Paul Robinson
Contributor
Fashion Contributor Writer
Rare Luxury Living Magazine LLC A Fortunest Group Company 1530 Yosemite Avenue San Francisco, CA 94124
(833) 755-7556 Mail To: PO Box 152 Brisbane, CA 94005
Inquiries@rareluxuryliving.com rareluxuryliving.com
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Karma Bennett
Photographer
Social Media Strategist
Diane Presler
Jeanette Smith
RareTribe
Graphic Design Consultant
Morghan Medlock Culinary Contributor
Copy Editor
CONTENTS Cultivate Lasting Wellness
95
120
Practice Self Love At Luxury Yoga Retreats
Birdsong - Rustic Elegance
34
Winter Tips For Glowing Skin
95
Luxury Solo Travel
Senreve - The Beauty Is In The Bag
48
76
Rare Luxury Living 13
13
Spectrum
Paint Colors To Promote Wellness
22
Polished
Winter Tips For Glowing Skin
93
Vigor & Vitality
Cultivate Lasting Wellness Habits
106
Giving Back
Our Favorite Charities
106
Rare Affairs 154
ARTICLES
DEPARTMENTS
Contents
Yoga Saved My Life 64
You’re More Than A Size
14 Rare Luxury Living
86
Wellness Trilogy 100
34
Luxury Solo Travel With Special Interest Groups 48
The Beauty Is In The Bag Senreve 76
Practice Self Love Luxury Yoga Retreats 118
CREDITS
Photographers Images & Content: Heather Lockwood Photography (Birdsong) Arblaster & Clarke Tours ALE & Christopher Michel Iain Rudkin Russ Hepburn Leslie Wicks Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas The Latin America Travel Company Ibrahim Asad Noel Hendrickson Pascal Gertschen Levi Xu Mikita Krasion Tyler Nix Suliman Sallehi Alfredson JR Nina Uhlíková Ana Paula Nardini Hessey Sossah robbie Larsen Bady QB Max Van den Oetelaar Jessica Felicio Storsten DederichsRiccardo Bresciani Erik Madigan Heck (Sotheby’s Diamonds) John Lee Matt Montgomery
R
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LUXURY LIVING
FEATURES
Rustic Elegance Birdsong
Rare Luxury Living 15
birdsongsf.com
S pe ctrum
C
olor can be a wonderful tool for making your home less stressful and more calming — and it can have a significant impact on your mood and well-being. In Feng Shui, colors are used to bring different types of energy into the home, whether it’s passionate red, energetic yellow or restorative green. The most calming colors are usually in the blue family, but muted, dusty shades of other colors can also be soothing. Science says that looking at colors can relax you. That’s right, colors have an enormous impact on us, psychologically, emotionally and even physically. If you are feeling overly stressed, you can use color as a stress management tool. With that in mind, we picked 4 of the most relaxing colors you should choose for a stress-free life. Written By: Trystanne Cunningham
Rare Luxury Living 23
A RUSH OF SWEET PINK GRAPEFRUIT TAKES YOUR SENSES TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
1oz / 30 ml Belvedere Pink Grapefruit 1oz / 30 ml Lillet Rose Pink Grapefruit & Rosemary
Combine all ingredients in Belvedere Spritz Glass over ice.
Garnish with wedges of pink grapefruit and sprigs of fresh rosemary. Top with equal parts of sparkling water and tonic
BELVEDERE Pink Grapefruit Spritz
B IRD SO N G 34 Rare Luxury Living
Written by: Daniella Schoeman
S
Chef Chris Bleidorn with wife and partner Aarti Shetty
an Francisco, a city known for its fine dining and increasingly high concentration of Michelin Stars, has just gained another gem—Birdsong Restaurant. Taking over the old AQ space in Soma in San Francisco, Birdsong blends flavors of the Pacific Northwest with the chef’s East Coast childhood upbringing. This highly
anticipated restaurant was so well received by the local community that it quickly gained international recognition. With a remarkably talented team and excellent cuisine, this high-end restaurant earned its first Michelin Star only seven months after opening its doors to the public. This is quite the accomplishment. Especially in a fine-dining market as flooded as San Francisco.
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
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Birdsong is Chef Chris Bleidorn’s first restaurant, but his
Chef de Cuisine Brian Limoges has spent time at Quince and
impressive fine-dining background hails from a number of other
Atelier Crenn. Other team members include Pastry Chef Harry
superb establishments. He has sharpened his knives at famous
Flager, Head Sommelier Freddy Foot, and Service Manager Bianca
institutions like Saison, Benu, Atelier Crenn, and Chicago’s Alinea.
Ishikawa. With such a highly-esteem background, Bleidorn is
Of course, his hand-selected team boasts equally impressive
a well-respected name in the Bay Area restaurant world. With a
credentials. Bleidorn’s cooking partner and wife Aarti Shetty came
fantastic team behind him, Bleidorn has set his sights on using
from experiences with Benu, Monsieur Benjamin, and In Situ. She
Birdsong as a way to revolutionize how people experience fine
also played a large role in the creation of Birdsong Restaurant.
dining. Their ambitious attempt has been deemed an instant
This duo has finely tuned their work, which is evident through
success by all who have visited this fine establishment.
their success.
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
Left to right: Chef de cuisine Brian Limoges, Chef Chris Bleidorn
LUXURY SOLO
Travel Written by: Daniella Schoeman
Photograph Credits: Photgraph Credits: Arblaster & Clarke Tours ALE & Christopher Michel & Iain Rudkin & Russ Hepburn & Leslie Wicks Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas The Latin America Travel Company Suliman Sallehi Nina Uhlíková Ana Paula Nardini
W SpecialIinterest ith
G
s p u o r
Rare Luxury Living 49
D
L uxurious Solo Travel
o you long to travel but have no one to join you? Why
The added costs of traveling alone (e.g. single supplements)
not take a solo trip with a special interest group tour?
and safety concerns are other factors that make people hesitate.
The number of people traveling solo has tripled over the
However, there is nothing quite as effective as traveling alone
past year, but research has shown there are still a number of
to make you feel like the badass you are. The enlightening
factors that stop people from booking a solo trip. Human beings
experience will leave you feeling strong, confident, independent,
are sentimental by nature, and studies show that not having
and full of self-love. CONTINUED
someone to share travel memories with is the biggest reason people avoid solo travel.
Aristi Mountain Resort
50 Rare Luxury Living
Inca Trail
The Benefits of Special Interest Group Tours Solo travel is a huge trend and shows no sign of slowing down in 2019 which is why we’ve put together this guide. Traveling as part of a special interest tour group means that everyone is on the tour for the same reason: a shared interest. This built-in community of potential friends with similar interests is a great introduction for people new to solo travel. Other perks of small group tours for novice solo travelers include having a knowledgeable guide or group leader.
South Pole
Also, the convenience of a planned itinerary and not having to worry about the logistics means you can relax and enjoy the experience. Finally, being a solo traveler within a group means you can still be independent without safety concerns. We scoured the world for the most exclusive, luxurious, and unique experiences offered by tour companies who make solo travel a blast… plus you get to share those memories with your new friends. Make travel a priority in 2019 by booking your first solo trip with one of these luxury special interest group tours. CONTINUED
Le Ponant
YOGA
SAVED MY LIFE Written by: Alex English
I
know, I know. It sounds extreme. How can something as
among those who feel overwhelmed by life. And it’s been
simple as twisting and folding your body around on a foam
doing this for hundreds of years. Yoga is meditation. Yoga is
mat make such a significant difference in someone’s life?
mindfulness. Given a talented and intuitive instructor, yoga
Well, during the most challenging, emotional, and hopeless days
can be a form of emotional and spiritual therapy. Yoga also
of my life, I turned to yoga and found salvation. Each time I felt
encourages an attitude of gratitude.
anxious or like my life was spiraling out of control, I took the step
With a central focus on pharmaceuticals and chemical medicines,
to click “reserve spot” at an evening yoga practice near my home,
our modern culture and times have made us forget that the body
and I am so happy I did.
and the mind are inextricably tied, one influencing the other and
Yoga, I’ve learned, is much more than stretching and power
vice versa. In 2017, I was hospitalized with what I thought was a
poses. In fact, it’s not at all about getting aerobic exercise. Its
bad flu. In reality, I was allowing stress and negativity to consume
value lies in the way it impacts your mind and soul.
me, and it had begun affecting my heart and liver.
Yoga encompasses many trends that are growing in popularity
Rare Luxury Living 65
BEAUTIFUL
YOGA MATS & ACCESSORIES
LIVE.
BEAUTIFUL.
Written by: Alex English
The beauty is in the Bag
I
was passing through New York ahead of a weekend in rural
It required surveying hundreds of women about their handbag
Connecticut. A friend I went to business school with lives in
preferences—down to the length of handles and straps, placement
Brooklyn. Could I crash on her couch? Of course, I could.
of pockets, and closure method. Senreve was then conceived by
Her Bushwick flat was spacious and had that New York high-
a team of New York designers, some alumni of major fashion
ceiling, exposed-brick charm. Only one problem. The hour-long
names like Céline and Alexander Wang.
trek into Midtown for her consulting job meant packing all her
In the rolling hills outside Florence, the bags found their three-
necessities for a twelve-hour day in a handbag and a backpack.
dimensional form. With nuances and unique specs differing
This was hardly the most elegant solution for a 30-something,
greatly from the typical handbag shape, it took a few trials before
modern woman making well over six figures.
a reliable manufacturing partner was found.
Later, as I sat down to get acquainted with Senreve’s Maestra bag,
Today, Senreve has twelve bag models. The Maestra is perhaps
I thought to myself, this is exactly what she needs! Something
the most businesslike, while the Crossbody and two styles of Belt
elegant and grown up enough to carry alongside her pant suits
Bag were clearly made with the weekend in mind. All the bags
and pencil skirts, while also being deceptively utilitarian.
and accessories are made in Italy using sturdy textured leather in
The San Francisco brand Senreve was launched due to a desire
a few variations.
for accessories with a polished design and true functionality. It’s for the woman who has to pack for an entire day without looking sloppy. This is no simple task, as co-founder Coral Chung quickly discovered. 76 Rare Luxury Living
Maestra
Coral Chung & Wendy Wen
You r’e More than a Size
Written by: Matthew Robinson
L
et me get right to the point. What you’re looking
There you are in the fitting room, mildly (if not completely)
for in fashion should be way more than what’s on
defeated. Immediately you start asking yourself, “did I gain
a size label. A size 2 isn’t a size 2—it could be a
weight? What’s going on?” The answer is, you didn’t and
size 8 or maybe a 0 depending on what brand you’re buying
nothing’s going on; it’s just the brand. Instead of focusing
from. Your focus should be on silhouette, fit, color, print, and
on the number, get the size that makes you look the most
proportion.
ravishing.
If you’re focusing on the number, you are sure to drive
The people who walk into a room and dazzle every corner of
yourself mad and possibly spiral down the path of self-
it are usually wearing clothes that fit them well, regardless
consciousness. Remember, in fashion, looking your best and
of the size of that clothing. They choose outfits after carefully
finding your true style will come from being your own icon,
considering their own body type, skin color, hairstyle, and
making your own rules, and dressing for your body type.
personality. For fashion-minded folks, watching a fellow
Dressing well is like having good manners; it’s essential to
stylista strut around in a perfectly curated ensemble is magic,
one’s life. Yet, designers and retailers don’t always make it
and self-love radiates off her. Continued
easy to find the right size. Visit any department store and you may end up buying two or more completely different sizes of clothing. Many shoppers have the same experience of trying on an item that should be their size and it isn’t. 86 Rare Luxury Living
When I think of iconic women in fashion, I think of Iris Apfel, Joy
In the chiffon trenches of fashion, real self-love is buying clothing
Bianci, June Ambrose, Margie Plus, GabiFresh, and the like. These
that fits regardless of the numbered or lettered size assigned to
women literally define style—they make their own rules. Their
that garment. Fit is always the most important factor (which is
style is a reflection of their self-acceptance. Fashion, for these
where a good tailor comes in handy). You may not be the size you
women, is not only a way of expressing who they are, but also
used to be or wish to be and that’s perfectly fine. Seriously, it’s
a way of inspiring other women to dress as their hearts desire.
okay. Love yourself enough to buy the best clothes that you can
Show the world your confidence through what you put on every
afford and remember, you’re more than a size. END
day. Make people notice you, stand out in a crowd, and wear what makes you happy.
Iris Apfel
Joy Venturini Bianchi
Margie Plus
n o i h s Gabi Fresh
June Ambrose
Fa C O N S I
POLISHED
Written by: Trystanne Cunningham
W
inter wreaks havoc on our skin. The effects of the harsh winter months with the bitter cold, biting wind and dry heat blasting indoors, if there was ever a moment for some skin pampering… this is it. We’ve rounded up our favorites of the world’s best luxury facial treatments. CONTINUED
Rare Luxury Living 93
CALIFORNIA
Vigor & Vitality Written by: Daniella Schoeman Photgraph Credits: Arblaster & Clarke Tours ALE & Christopher Michel & Iain Rudkin & Russ Hepburn & Leslie Wicks Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas The Latin America Travel Company Suliman Sallehi Nina Uhlíková Ana Paula Nardini
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Rare Luxury Living 107
H ow toC ultivate LastingWellness Habits T
here is something magical about the start of a new year. We all feel blessed with the blank slate, fresh start, and 12 months’ worth of opportunities that lie before us.
be repeated each day and maintained for a lifetime.
Invest in Your Wellness
Although this is an opportunity for rejuvenation and enhanced
Your wellness journey is a personal and subjective experience;
motivation—the perfect catalysts for change—we often fall short of
one that you actively need to be a part of. Therefore, in order to
our goals.
cultivate lasting wellness habits, you need to invest time, money,
Research has shown that most successful behavioral changes
energy, and resources into the process. Investing your energy is a
occur during times of novelty (e.g. a new year), meaning this
great first step, but often difficult. Investing in wellness products
is the best time to create new habits. However, even with the
can also be helpful and is considerably easier.
power of novelty, change can be challenging and is difficult to
As a society, our focus has shifted, with great importance being
maintain over time if the right foundations weren’t implemented.
placed on personal wellness. Many forward-thinking companies
The habits we possess directly reflect in the quality of our lives.
and brands understand that and have created products with the
Good habits help to propel you forwards while bad habits tend
sole purpose of helping you live your best life. Invest in your
to hold you back. Aim for the future when you use these tips on
wellness habits by using products that make the process easier,
cultivating lasting wellness habits for your health and longevity in
more practical, and most of all, fun.
2019 and beyond.
Rethink Your Resolutions
Healthy Foundations We tend to overcomplicate the wellness journey when, in actual
The problem with resolutions is that they are limited and focused
fact, you can guarantee your health by focusing on the basics. This
on a one-year deadline. But a wellness-based lifestyle should
year, ignore the fads and the too-good-to-be-true programs and
be a long-term pursuit. Studies have proven that 80% of New
stick to the healthy foundations of eating well, exercising often,
Year’s resolutions fail before February, which is due to a number
meditating, and getting enough rest. If you really give them a
of factors. First, we attempt to make too many resolutions. To
chance to work their magic, you will be amazed at the results.
succeed, we should focus on one habit at a time. Secondly, we focus on the end result and not the steps needed to reach that result. Habits are formed through routines, steps that are repeated consistently until they become a natural part of our lives. This year, let go of your resolutions, and instead, use the energy of the new year to cultivate wellness habits that can easily 108 Rare Luxury Living
M indfulness
Move Your Body
Our bodies are designed to move but the population is becoming increasingly sedentary. We spend our lives sitting in front of the computer at work or in front of the television at home and then wonder why our health is failing. Studies show that only 20% of the population meets recommended daily physical activity requirements. Exercising regularly is a huge part of wellness as it improves sleep quality, enhances cognitive function, and relieves stress.
The Product: Keeping track of your movement and fitness levels is a great way to monitor your overall wellness. Bellabeat is a fashionable wellness tracker that allows you to sync with your own body and mind. Bellabeat creates beautifully designed technology that will help you become the best version of yourself. Their gorgeous wellness trackers will fit with any outfit and collect vital data that can be used to adjust your lifestyle. Bellabeat has a new Leaf Chakra tracker made with natural crystals, hypoallergenic stainless steel, and a wood composite. Since the tracker has no buttons or screen, it looks great however you wear it. You can choose between rose quartz or onyx crystals for enhanced healing properties. The Leaf Chakra tracks activity, sleep, meditation, and more. Bellabeat provides you with beautiful smart jewelry that will aid your wellness journey and inspire you to move your body.
wrong when you choose natural products, remedies,
Alternative Therapies
When it comes to health and wellness, you can’t go
and therapies. Many alternative therapies and healing
techniques are great tools to supplement your wellness journey. One easy-to-implement alternative therapy is aromatherapy using essential oils, which will greatly
improve your experience of cultivating wellness habits.
The Product: MONQ stands for Modifying One’s Natural Qualia, and they offer a range of personal, portable aromatherapy diffusers. These small, easy-to-use and practical diffusers were created by an orthopedic surgeon who wanted to do something positive for the world. He designed these personal diffusers as a holistic approach towards healing. The MONQ diffusers have supportive and healing properties that can soothe pain, improve sleep, balance moods, relieve stress, and boost energy. Essential oils are versatile and can enhance wellness in many unique ways. These aromatherapy diffusers have specific blends and can be administered depending on your own personal needs. Only a few small breaths will have you feeling better and improve your wellbeing in the long run.
Beauty Sleep
Getting enough sleep is vital to our health and wellness. Sleeping is the only opportunity our bodies get to reset, repair, and recharge. When it comes to our wellbeing, we tend to underestimate how important sleep is. Research has shown that over one-third of the population is sleep deprived due to insomnia, stress, or work. In order to optimize your health, you need to get enough sleep each night. This, in turn, will positively affect your energy level, stress hormones, weight, mood, and cognitive function.
The Products: Above all else, to get a good night’s sleep you need to be comfortable. Avocado Green Mattress creates safe, healthy, and luxurious organic mattresses and pillows to help you catch up on your Z’s. Each of their high-quality products is handmade in the USA with natural and organic materials. Their mission is to create products that help you get better rest. Both their mattresses and pillows are a great way to make sure that you are comfortable and sleep well. For an even better experience, pair your Avocado Green pillow with an organic silk pillowcase. The Silk Lady produces luxurious silk pillowcases made from the purest silk. Each pillowcase is incredibly smooth and free of any harmful chemicals. Silk pillowcases are the best organic skincare and anti-aging solution. They are not only good for your hair and skin, but they also improve your sleep. Beautiful, practical, and comfortable, The Silk Lady pillowcases will ensure the ultimate beauty rest.
Mindfulness Wellness trends over the last few years can be described with one word—mindfulness. Although mindfulness is a habit that needs to be cultivated (just like any other), it is an essential part of your wellness success. By becoming more mindful of your thoughts, actions, and intentions, it will be easier to cultivate the other habits on this list. Being mindful of the way you perceive and experience things is the key to living a happy and healthy lifestyle.
The Product: There are plenty of useful apps and programs that can help you become more mindful. However, until now there was no physical mindfulness training product. Komuso Design is an elegantly simple product that promotes mindfulness, improves your breathing, and shifts you into the present moment. The concept of the flute-like instrument is based on the Japanese Komuso monks that practiced the discipline of blowing Zen (through a flute) to feel good. Komuso Design has replicated this in their beautiful products that are expertly designed and aimed at increasing happiness. Their items will help you be your best self by bringing you into the present moment. The pretty ‘flutes’ can be worn as a necklace and used whenever you need to shift back to the present. It will train you to quiet your mind and change your relationship with your thoughts so that you can live a happier and more positive life. Rare Luxury Living 113
Clean Eating
Clean eating does not mean going on a diet, but it does mean being conscious and mindful about what you consume. Clean eating means real food—food that is life-giving, energizing, mood-boosting, and anti-aging. Nature has provided us with everything we need to live a long, healthy, and happy life. Unfortunately, about 50% of the average diet consist of processed food that has no nutritional value and contains toxic, artificial additives. In order to thrive, our bodies need nutrient-rich, whole foods that give us vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. This means more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, proteins, and healthy fats.
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The Product:
Our fast-paced society often compels us to
consume processed junk food and we pay the price with our health. Clean eating is much easier when you have the right tools to make it a priority. NutriBullet is a smart blender that helps you eat better and even aids in weight loss. This superb blender extracts the nutrients and minerals from fruits and vegetables to ensure you get the correct daily serving of each. NutriBullet has evolved over the years and their latest release the NutriBullet Balance is like having your own personal nutritionist. The blender is equipped with Bluetooth SMART technology that can pair with your smart device and displays nutritional content as you build your blends. This takes the guesswork out of clean eating and is perfect for anyone focused on their wellness journey. 114 Rare Luxury Living
Yoga and Meditation
As a population, we are living in a world that causes chronic stress and we suffer from the consequences as we push ourselves to do more, be busier, and achieve more. A wellness habit that we can all benefit from is taking the time to slow down and breathe. Yoga and meditation
We l l n e s s are two practices that may seem
deceivingly simple but are unbelievably
good for your mind, body, and soul. Taking time to unplug, stretch your body, and
concentrate on your breathing is critical to a healthy and happy life.
The Product: Having the right equipment for your yoga and meditation practices is vital. Although you don’t technically need products to practice yoga or meditation, they can really enhance your experience. Setting yourself up with the right items is also a great way to increase enjoyment if you are still a beginner. Yoga Design Lab creates products that have innovative designs, impeccable quality, and best of all are sustainable. Their wide range of yoga products are highly functional while being aesthetically pleasing. Their yoga products are designed to get you excited about practicing yoga. Each and every product has fashion-forward design elements while still being functional in nature. Their products consist of a variety of mats (including travel mats), yoga pants, towels, stainless steel water bottles, and a range of props such as yoga wheels, straps, and blocks. Their gorgeous, highquality mats are made from natural tree rubber and are the perfect way to enhance your yoga and meditation practice. END
Practice Written by: Daniella Schoeman Photgraph Credits: Arblaster & Clarke Tours ALE & Christopher Michel & Iain Rudkin & Russ Hepburn & Leslie Wicks Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas The Latin America Travel Company Suliman Sallehi Nina Uhlíková Ana Paula Nardini
Self Love Rare Luxury Living 119
Practice
Self Love
YogaRetreat at a Luxury
W
e are a generation deeply concerned with wellbeing and longevity. As a result, the industry of wellness travel continues to evolve. Wellness
tourism is the fastest growing travel sector and currently represents a large proportion of travelers. One of the main wellness travel options is healthy retreats, many of which focus on yoga. A luxury yoga retreat is suited to everyone—beginner and experts alike. There is no shortage of amazing opportunities and you can find these unbelievable experiences throughout the world. Yoga retreats offer the ideal escape from everyday routine for both men and women. The practice of yoga as a tool for healing the mind, body, and soul originated in Asia. Thus, many of the best yoga retreats take place in the East. This year, choose to splurge on a getaway to Asia that will keep you active, help you reconnect, and leave you feeling rejuvenated.
Benefits of a Yoga Retreat Yoga is an excellent way to cultivate self-love and a yoga retreat is great for creating habits that last. Yoga retreats incorporate meditation, clean eating, immersion into nature, and more to encourage an internal journey of self-discovery and connect you with your true self. Regular yoga practice develops a deep reverence and pure love for your body. This year, we encourage you to take control of your emotions, create a lasting wellness habit, and make self-love a priority in your life by attending one of these luxury yoga retreats. Instead of letting self-doubt and insecurities rule your life, try yoga and learn to love yourself as you should. CONTINUED
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