Polo Lifestyles - Haiti January 2018

POLO LIFESTYLES VOLUME II / ISSUE I / JANUARY 2018

POLO IN THE CITY LAUNCHES

WORLD SERIES POLO

THE EXTRAVAGANZA SPANNING ACROSS AUSTRALIA

GET FIT NOW

Ten Fat-Burning Facts

JANEK GAZECKI The Don of Urban Polo

AUSTRALIA

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Proud presenter of Haiti Polo Team in the World Series Polo in Australia

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Proud sponsor of World Series Polo in Australia page 5

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POLO LIFESTYLES Haiti T H E M AG A Z I N E

L’ÉQUIPE:

Claude-Alix Bertrand

President/Executive Editor

Josh Jakobitz

SVP Marketing/Editor

Lucy Crabtree Copy Editor

Oksana Toussaint-Vig

Senior Global Fashion Curator

Trystanne Cunningham

Senior Global Style Curator

Christelle P. Pierre

Style Contributor, Port-au-Prince

Mark Wine

Fitness Columnist

Joey Velez

Featured Columnist

Wendelle Theodore

Style & Culture Contributor, Paris Desk

Contributing Photographers

Joe McInally Matias Callejo/AAP Irengbam Momocha Singh Yungling Fang Jean-Luce Huré Wendelle Theodore Luc Castel Polo Lifestyles is a publication of HT Polo Co.

280 Old County Road, Suite 152, Brisbane, CA 94005

All rights reserved.

For information or to advertise, Contact editor@htpolo.com Read online at www.pololifestyles.com On the cover: Haiti Polo Team’s Ric McCarthy in Adelaide, Western Australia Cover photo credit: Joe McInally

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ARE YOU GOING?

Joe Barry Cup International Polo Club Palm Beach Wellington, FL January 3-21 H.H President of UAE Polo Cup Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club Abu Dhabi UAE January 5-19 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo Gold Coast, Queensland Australia January 7 www.magicmillionspolo.com.au Thai Polo Open Thai Polo & Equestrian Club Chonburi January 10-20 www.thai-polo-club.com 16th Bendura Bank Snow Polo Cup Münichauer Wieses Kitzbüheler Staße Austria January 11-14 www.kitzbuehel.com The Ezra Global Tour Black Bear Polo Club Lower Bolney Farm, Henley-on-Thames January 20-21 Thai Polo Master Thai Polo & Equestrian Club Chonburi January 25-28 www.thai-polo-club.com 34th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz St. Moritz Lake Switzerland January 26-28 www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com McLaren Cup Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club Dubai, UAE January 26 - February 9 www.dubaipologoldcup.com page 9

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CONTENTS Yves Saint Laurent Tributes and treasures of the fashion revolutionary pg. 38

Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Ava at Le Bal des Débutantes, pg. 34 POLO LIFESTYLES EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS

Ambassador ClaudeAlix Bertrand, Executive Editor of Polo Lifestyles

Josh Jakobitz, SVP Marketing and Editor of Polo Lifestyles

Copy Editor Lucy Crabtree lent her editing expertise to our Millennial profile section, pg. 92

Functional Muscle Fitness CEO Mark Wine on power foods to eat in the morning, pg. 120

Indian photographer Irengbam Momocha Singh captured the allure of Manipur World Cup, pg. 30

Journalist and TV host Christelle Pierrette Pierre talks to Raphael Mendonça, pg. 96

Trystanne Cunningham expanded her role this month to coordinate advertising.

Oksana Vig brings haute couture Dior and YSL fashion houses into the pages this month.

Mental health coach Joey Velez on working through disappointments to mold your mind, pg.116

Style blogger Wendelle Theodore spent an afternoon in Paris with Joanna Jean, pg.105

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Dior Haute Couture exclusive photos, page 64

Destinations Down Under, page 76

Alfredo Bigatti joins big leagues, page 99

Best foods for fat loss in 2018, page 120

Australia World Series Polo pg. 44

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COMMENTS TO THE EDITOR The December issue and our lavish Gift Guide generated social media activity.

Here’s what you were saying...

“Best issue yet, looking forward to January” “All I see is positivity (representing) Haiti” “This is great positive visibility for Haiti.”

“Never knew (before) that Haitians play polo!”

“Congratulations” “You said it right!”

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Gratitude was a recurring subject of a dinner party I attended recently. Let me tell you how refreshing it was to stray away from the normal gossip and banter and to hear a friend explain, how, in a very difficult circumstance, far from home, he experienced gratitude, which resulted in joy. Joy – in the midst of what could have been an otherwise very unpleasant experience. How inspiring and perfectly seasonal.

This time of year is all about joy. We see it in advertising and marketing, within the pages of Polo Lifestyles, in greeting cards and heart-warming GIFs we text to each other. It’s on the radio in the car and music speakers in hotel lobbies. As the decorations come down and the lights are turned off for another 11 months, how will we keep joy relevant all year long? It’s an essential part of the human experience; after all, joy unites us when our favorite polo team wins, when we celebrate a success, when we get good news after a long wait, and many times, when we’re least expecting it.

We have big plans in store for Polo Lifestyles this year, and we’ll be rolling them out to our readers and team fans over the course of the next few months online, in exclusive clubs and hospitality areas and polo tournaments. We are so grateful for the encouragement from our readers, advertisers and supporters as we expand our lifestyle brand and presence in polo communities.

This month, the start of a new year, we thought it appropriate to feature up-and-coming “Millennials”: designers, equestrians, artists, athletes, and creative souls, among others. Our Millennial profiles are the collaborative effort of the editorial staff, without whom the magazine would be only advertising and photo recaps from tournaments. All of them, who fit into the Millennial category themselves, are scattered across nine time zones. They keep me up at night and wake me up too early in the morning; but, to them, specifically, this new year, I send my warmest gratitude, thanks and well wishes. You all have amazing instincts and killer work ethics. You make me proud of this publication.

Very grateful, Josh Jakobitz josh@htpolo.com

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Reposted FOR THE RECORD Curated Instagram posts from November

chique_le_frique Favorite time of the year at Cafe Pushkin

w.m.th “We have sell the dream before we sell the clothes”

Fireworks over Verbier, Swiss Alps, prior to New Year’s Eve

deuce_staley Star Wars: The Last Jedi is released one year after Carrie Fischer’s death

telegraph Drummers from Spark! perform during a parade in South Shields

lindaburneymp Aussie Legislators celebrate the passing of the Marriage Amendment Bill

telegraph HM the Queen and Head Groom Terry Penury riding at Windsor Castle

mrswanda Happy holidays from blogger-extraordinaire and PL contributing writer

Crazy upside-down action at Aquabike Grand Prix of Croatia

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verbier

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Click and comment on our choices... tag @pololifestyles We will share noteworthy comments with you next month

folhaturismo A child bonds with a camel during the Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival

metadio

The 8th Edition of the Nautical SUP Paris Crossing stand-up paddle competition

iam_queenroe Lola Monroe in @jidawatteyewear on the streets of Washington, D.C.

beirut.city Lighting of trees in the Lebanese coastal city of Byblos

duchesskatefan Official engagement portraits Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released

dominkparis Snowboarders compete in FIS Snowboard Cross Women World Cup

cristiano Cristiano Ronaldo receives his fifth Ballon d’Or

karencivil At the seventh annual #LiveCivilBrunch in Weho to support women

soulpick What are you clearing out for 2018? #soulpickfam #soulpicknightchat page 17

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Scoreboards & Cocktails

TOURNAMENTS & ACTION IN NOVEMBER

Land Rover Polo in the City Adelaide, Western Australia December 15

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Opposite page: Haiti Polo Team fights Australia for control of the ball in the championship round; top left: Johann du Preez drives the ball; top (middle) left: the VIP marquees; top right: local fashionistas having fun under the sun; bottom: the Land Rover hospitality area, the presenting sponsor of Polo in the City page 19

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Land Rover Polo in the City Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide

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Opposite page, top left: beauty queens on hand to throw the balls in; top right: Team Asahi drives the ball; bottom: fans dash down the field for prizes. This page, top: Andrew Fraser-Scott of Haiti Polo Team snaps a selfie of exuberant players and fans following the Haiti Polo Team win; bottom: Team Asahi moving the ball down the field page 21

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124th ARGENTINE OPEN La Dolfina defended its fifth-consecutive title against arch-rival Ellerstina on December 9

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124th ARGENTINE OPEN La Dolfina defended fifth-consecutive title against arch-rival Ellerstina December 9

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124th ARGENTINE OPEN La Dolfina defended fifth-consecutive title against arch-rival Ellerstina December 9

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11th Manipur Polo World Cup

Imphal Polo Grounds ♦ Nov 23-29 Sixteen teams competed for the title India-B defeated Argentina 7-6

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The 11th Manipur Polo World Cup saw India B Team defeat Argentina 7-6 in the finals for the title. The tournament and cultural events surrounding it will be highlighted in next month’s edition of Polo Lifestyles with an expanded photo section by young Manipuri photographer Momo Irengbam.

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Le Bal

Paris ♦ Nov 25 The partners of le Bal: The Peninsula Paris, the hotel of le Bal Payal New York, the jeweler of le Bal Renault, the car of le Bal The charities of le Bal: Seleni and Enfants d’Asie Shoes: Christian Louboutin Make up: M.A.C Cosmetics Hairdresser: Alexandre de Paris

Left: Ananya Panday wears Gaultier Paris and jewelry by Payal New York; top: HRH Princess Charlotte de Nassau wears Georges Hobeika HC and jewelry by Payal New York; top right: HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, Maharaja Narendra Singh and Princess Guaravi Kumari of Jaipur; above: Lori Harvey wears Elie Saab HC and jewelry by Payal New York wit her cavalier Wynton Harvey. All photos by Yunling Fang page 34

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Top: Wynton Harvey, Lori Harvey in Elie Saab HC and jewelry by Payal New York, and Marjorie Harvey; top right: The opening of Le Bal with Ava Philippe and her cavalier HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur; above: the final photo of the night of the dĂŠbutantes.

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SAINT LAURENT

PARIS MUSEUM HONORS THE GLORY YEARS OF THE GREAT DESIGNER Oksana Toussaint-Vig oksavig@gmail.com

In a building with three floors, the whole world has the opportunity to discover the professional life of this fashion genius from 1958 to 2002 – a little more than 40 years of revolution, innovation and creativity.

In 1953, Yves Saint Laurent participated in the “International Wool Secretariat” competition and he won beating two of his closest friends: Spanish designer Fernando Sánchez, who is known for his provocative lingerie collections, and Karl Lagerfeld, the German designer who is currently the Creative Director of three fashion houses: Chanel, Fendi and his own namesake brand.

Immediately after winning this competition dedicated to discover young talented designers, Michel de Brunhoff, who was then editor-in-chief of Vogue France introduced the sketches of Saint Laurent to Christian Dior. Since Brunhoff encouraged and supported young talent, he encouraged Saint Laurent into a career as a designer.

Fascinated by the talent of the young designer, Dior hired him right away. In 1957, a few months before the death of Dior, Saint Laurent, who was only 21 years old, was chosen

by Dior himself to replace him at the fashion house.

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Saint Laurent designed his first collection for the French Haute Couture house, which saved Dior from bankruptcy. But, the fall collection of the same year was not so successful. At the same time the young designer had the heavy responsibility to draw the wedding dress of Farah Diba for her wedding to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shahbanu of Iran.

For the independence war of Algeria, Saint-Laurent was conscripted to serve in the French army; three weeks after enlisting he was diagnosed with severe depression and stress from hazing and was hospitalized. In the meantime, he was fired from Dior. Upon leaving the hospital, he opened his own fashion house with his partner, Pierre Bergé.

In this great museum dedicated

to his career as an independent designer, we find at the entrance his most famous and mythical works that revolutionized fashion, such as the tuxedo suit for women, the Mondrian, and the Saharan.

Upstairs, there is a 15-minute documentary about the life and sources of inspiration of Saint Laurent. On the top floor, we find the wedding pieces. It is here that his famous heart brooch with ruby he drew in 1962 is found. There is an identical replica of his studio with a desk, notes written by hand, bills, and his glasses.

In the basement, there is the backstage of Saint Laurent where we find the testimony of all his former collaborators who speak of his inspirations. For his jewels, Saint Laurent was against the assortment and tone on tone. He liked to combine metal, wood and glass. For his shoes, he was against flat heels because he said that a woman’s shoes should have heels, while being comfortable. His biggest revolution was the tuxedo since it gave women the opportunity to wear trousers or suits.

All these great moments in the history of fashion are exposed to this museum inaugurated last September just a few days after the death of Pierre Bergé, the lifetime partner of Saint-Laurent.

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Haiti Polo Team fighting for control of the ball during the championship match of the World Series Polo in Adelaide, Western Australia on Dec. 15.

WORLD SERIES PO TOP-SHELF ACTION DOWN UNDER page 44

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OLO page 45

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WORLD SERIES POLO Any polo tournament or series is expected to indulge our urges for luxury and glamor. It is, after all, called the Sport of Kings for a reason. From champagne toasts to after parties that last until dawn, chef-prepared appetizers and craft cocktails under VIP tents, and the chance encounter with a polo star in the hotel lobby, we all have our “must-haves” when deciding which tournaments to follow. If you chose to attend this year’s World Series Polo in Australia, you weren’t disappointed – read on to trigger a hundred memories. If you didn’t have the chance to attend this year – read on – and pencil it in your agenda for 2018. World Series Polo, organized by the national Polo in the City management team, put on a world-class show from beginning to end of the fiveweek, five-city extravaganza.

Haiti Polo Team, playing for their first time Down Under, finished first runner-up in the series, notably upsetting the home team in Brisbane, which was called “the single

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most-exciting polo match ever played in Australia,” by event organizers. The win thrust them in the limelight in Australia and had the Aussie fans talking about Haiti rather than against Haiti.

Sydney Far from home, Haiti Polo Team set up base first in Sydney at the Bondi QT Hotel. Squeezing in training sessions between photo shoots for World Series Polo media, the team stayed fit following the on-the-road schedule prepared by Functional Muscle Fitness coaches.

During an invitation-only welcome party aboard the super-yacht Galaxy I in Sydney Harbor, World Series Polo was officially launched with a champagne toast to the excitement ahead. It was here that players and sponsors alike mingled and relaxed before the competitive nature of the game set in. In attendance were represen-

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POLO IN THE CIT(IES) FIVE CITIES OVER FIVE WEEKS 8,718 KILOMETERS TRAVELED 25,000+ FANS UNKNOWN NUMBER OF SELFIES TAKEN ON THE SIDELINES

BRISBANE

PERTH SYDNEY ADELAIDE

MELBOURNE

page 47 Johann du Preez moves the ball skillfully around his opponent and toward the goal.

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Far left: Miss Australia queens were on-hand to begin chukkers by throwing the ball into play.

Left, this page: Pol Roger Champagne was the exclusive champagne of the series and the presenting team sponsor of Haiti Polo Team.

tatives from Pol Roger Champagne, Somersby Australia, Politix Menswear, Asahi, and namesake sponsor Land Rover to name a few. While the mood was predominately in support of the home team, Australia, Somersby Australia representative Camilla Kuzon became an instant Haiti Polo Team fan, posting “Go Haiti” on her Instagram account along with a photo of Team Captain Claude-Alix Bertrand.

The media fanfare continued to follow Haiti Polo Team, comprised of Captain Bertrand, South African Johann du Preez, Argentine Juan Uranga, Ric McCarthy and Andrew Fraser-Scott. Daily press calls ranged from national ESPN and E! Network broadcasters to the largest daily newspapers and polo magazines in Australia to international press platforms. Before and after the matches, meet-and-greets with enthusiastic fans kept players busy for hours.

The up-close-and-personal relationship with fans continued during matches. The fields in Australia were purposefully smaller (460 ft x 180 ft) than regulation polo fields (990 ft x 330 ft) in order to bring the fans into that action. Thousands of fans packed the Somersby Polo Lounges each weekend, where between chukkers and matches, fans played games, sampled products, had their makeup touched up, and enjoyed cold cider. On the VIP side, sponsors erected elaborate marquee lounges and bars for companies, large groups of friends, UPA members and VIP ticket holders.

The set ups were different in each of the five cities, from a glamorous black marble bar to plush furniture and red carpets with towering floral arrangements. Pol Roger Champagne, the exclusive champagne of the tournament, flowed into fans’ flutes, offering a refreshing respite from the Australian summer heat.

Brisbane From Sydney, the team advanced to the second World Series Polo host city Brisbane, practicing on polo fields in Ipswich. Home base was the Mantra Richmont Hotel, near Dorrington Park, site of the Brisbane match on Saturday, Nov. 25.

The 5,000+ crowd heavily favored the home team, but Haiti Polo Team wasn’t deterred. Intense stick-andball practices, time on horses and in the gym all were about to pay off.

It was here that the combined team of Bertrand, du Preez, McCarthy and Fraser-Scott came together to defeat the home team, 4-3 in penalty shoot-outs. Fraser-Scott scored the winning penalty shot to the delight of the Australian crowd, which surged the sidelines for the penalty shots chanting “Haiti! Haiti!

Haiti! Haiti!”

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Above: Haiti Polo Team’s Johann du Preez, Tex Webster, team captain Claude-Alix Bertrand and Ric McCarthy lift flutes of Pol Roger Champagne in celebration of their first runner-up finish in the World Series Polo in Adelaide, Australia on Dec. 15. Right: Polo Ambassador Natalie Decorte throw the ball in to start one a chukker; lower right: fans on the sidelines in Adelaide.

ny in Brisbane. That evening, Haiti Polo Team appeared at the after party to pop the first bottle of Pol Roger Champagne to the delight of party-goers. The posh atmosphere that dominated the sidelines VIP marquees and fan areas transcended to the after party as old and new polo enthusiasts gathered to dance the night away.

Melbourne From Brisbane, the action moved on to Melbourne, where torrential rains soaked the polo grounds, making it impossible for the Melbourne tournament to be held. Following expert analysis, event coordinator Janek Gazecki made the difficult decision to cancel the Melbourne match. That didn’t mean it was time off for Haiti page 50

Polo Team, however. Practices and riding in Werribee, training in the onsite gym of the accommodations in downtown Melbourne, and continued press calls and mingling with fans kept the team members busy.

The after party at The Vincent Hotel was converted into a day-long party.

After a raucous night of partying for the fans, came a brief respite from the rain and the return of the Australian sunshine on Sunday Dec. 3, giving the team a chance to escape to Trigg Beach for a few hours of relaxation while fans nursed their hangovers on brunch in the city.

News of Haiti Polo Team’s success reached all the way to France where President of Haiti Jovenel Moise was traveling on official business.

Soon the president’s office was

personally involved in the press regarding the national Haitian polo team. Stories appeared in Le Nouvelliste, Haiti’s oldest daily publication; Ticket Magazine, which covers sports and culture; Loop Haiti, a Caribbean syndicate news platform; and L’Union Suite, the largest social media network for Haitian-Americans with over 3 million readers.

Perth While all this was happening around the world, 19 time zones away, Haiti Polo Team was trying, unsuccessfully, to travel to Perth for the fourth of five weekend matches. Virgin Australia finally managed to route the team from Melbourne, back to Sydney and then to Perth, turning a four-hour flight into a day-long or-

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deal. The team arrived in Perth exhausted but welcomed at the Quest East Perth. The Perth match at Langley Park on Saturday, Dec. 9 was covered en masse by the newspapers and media. In a nail-biting, fight-to-the-finish showdown between Haiti Polo Team and Perth Polo Team, Haiti fell to Australia 7-6. Though it wasn’t a win, it was enough points to push them into the finals in Adelaide.

Adelaide Now firmly in a position of strength and fully adjusted to the climate and time zone, Haiti Polo Team flew from Perth to Adelaide for a few days of training and preparation before the championship match on Friday, Dec. 15. Preempted by media calls, the team members faithfully made the media rounds, giving interviews and appearing for publicity photo shoots. They were able to mount horses and train several afternoons at Luke Rowley’s polo grounds in Mt. Barker thirty minutes outside of the city.

Prior to the championship match, His Excellency President Jovenel Moises, tweeted the team his best wishes on behalf of the Haitian people, “From the Haitian people, I wish the best of luck to Haiti Polo Team as they compete in the championship match of the World Series Polo for the title in Adelaide today.”

A change in the team roster for the Adelaide match caused Haiti Polo Team to scurry to blend the new player into the established camaraderie.

Best-dressed contests (opposite, top left) and games (this page, top left) engaged fans, while the Range Rover Velar bar (opposite, lower left) served refreshing Pol Roger Champagne. Mist in Sydney (above) damped the field but not the spirits. page 53

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The Somersby Australia Polo Lounges provided food and beverage, DJs, games, photo booths, page 54 and experiential services for ticket-holders.

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At breakfast at the Hilton Adelaide before the match, team members chatted with fans and journalists who staked out the hotel looking for a scoop and a photo. The team took to the field at Victoria Park for the championship under perfect weather and on excellent horses. Haiti Polo Team came out strong, scoring two goals in the first 30 seconds of the first chukker. The Australian team was a well-oiled machine that came back from a deficit to win 7-5, sealing the championship for Australia; Haiti Polo Team finished first runner-up in the World Series Polo.

The excitement from the match, post-match interviews and awards ceremonies translated into the official after party given by Hilton Adelaide.

No one at the Hilton slept early that night! Finally able to relax and enjoy the country, Haiti Polo Team members spent a few more days in Adelaide, cruised the gulf of Adelaide and dropped anchor in Brighton and flew over Western Australia in an “experimental” plane with friend and pilot Scott Bradley. Returning home before the holidays, and feeling proud of the finish in the World Series Polo, team members will return to training and reconvene at the end of January for a snow polo match to be announced.

In addition to promoting the team, Bertrand, who is also Ambassador UNESCO for Haiti, represented tourism, sports’ and humanitarian interests of Haiti while on the tour in Australia. Each weekend, the tournament hosted a silent auction to benefit Project St. Anne, an organization in Camp-Perrin, Haiti, that works with families and school children.

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Left: Nikki Phillips arrives on the VIP side in polo style; this page, top: Celebrate! Following the Haiti Polo Team victory in Brisbane, the bottles of Pol Roger Champagne were sprayed and consumed on the podium to the cheers of the crowd; this page, bottom: the men sprint barefoot down the polo field for the chance to win prizes.

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Crowds in Adelaide, Western Australia.

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Top left: Awards ceremony in Brisbane; middle left: Scott Bradley in Adelaide; bottom left: Camilla Kuzon of Somersby Australia snaps a quick photo for social media in Adelaide; this page top: Haiti Polo Team’s Johann du Preez, Claude-Alix Bertrand and Ric McCarthy pose with Jessie Coles, who traveled from San Francisco to watch her son, Claude-Alix, play in Australia; this page bottom: action in Adelaide.

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DIOR 70TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION IN PARIS Oksana Toussaint-Vig oksavig@gmail.com

Until January 7, the public will have the opportunity to visit the exhibition “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams “commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Haute Couture House of Dior, organized by the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris.

More than 300 dresses from different periods since the reign of Christian Dior in 1947 through those of Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons to the present day with Maria Grazia Chiuri - the first female to hold the post of Creative Director of a French Haute Couture House - exposed themselves.

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The exhibition is not only accented on the dresses, but also on accessories created by the House of Dior --- bottles of perfumes, hats, handbags, jewels, and shoes.

Also on display are original and authentic materials of all Creative Directors such as skits, dedicated notes, illustrations, messages written between Christian Dior and his father about Cathérine (the sister of the French designer). page 66

Emblematic pieces such as the original bottles of perfumes Miss Dior created in 1947 by the most prestigious French designer of all time, the first fragrance for men “Wild Waters” created in 1966, Poison launched in 1985 and J’adore in 1999. There is also the famous Lady Dior bag created in 1995 by Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano’s saddle bag, and jewelry-couture like authentic pieces by Victoire de

Castellane.

At the entrance of the exhibition, is the story of the life of Dior.

An iconic dress created in 1947 breathtaking the renewal of beauty and happiness of women after long years of war, a red dress that renews the elegance and lightness.

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Thanks to that red dress, Dior became a household name.

And right next to it, there is the magic switch of Dior, a centerpiece of his workshop.

Plexiglas boxes containing pieces mark the life of the French designer, a lot of cards, his gold lucky star and relics of a secular

saint. There are also busts, paintings from the Renaissance period, sculptures and sketches of the various designers of the House of Dior.

Apart the dresses created by Dior himself, are the creations of John Galliano that attract and captivate the eyes of all. Note that Galliano is the designer who has had the greatest success and fame at

French Haute Couture House in the history, and he totally revolutionized the House of Dior.

A very interesting exhibition encasing class, magic, elegance and creativity of all the greatest designers in one and the same place.

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THE DON OF URBAN POLO

JANEK GAZECK, THE FUTURE OF POLO Josh Jakobitz | josh@htpolo.com

For 12 years, one man has worked tirelessly - and sometimes madly - to bring polo - the sport of kings -to the masses in mainstream Australian households, businesses and media. The concept of “urban polo” in 2005 was met with such resistance that one critic likened the concept of bringing 60 horses into Centennial Park in Sydney as “pie in the sky.” Janek Gazecki, a Sydney lawyer and polo player, is the force behind Urban Polo. His chic series – there are now three – Polo in the

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City, Polo by the Sea and Polo in the Vines - span the entire continent and garner 25,000+ fans per series.

This year, Gazecki launched the World Series Polo in Australia with Haiti Polo Team, transforming urban polo from a national pastime into a global tournament.

Offering exclusive, glamorous daytime experiences on the sidelines of the smaller-than-regulation polo field facilitating an intimate view of the match. Paired by incredible afterparties, Urban Polo’s popularity in Australia has grown wildly. Gazecki

and the Urban Polo Association (UPA) throw “the best party of the year” says the Adelaide Advertiser. “Official kick-off to the summer party season,” raves the Sun Herald.

Spectators at Urban Polo are much closer to the players, horses and balls than usual, given the smaller size the field. Reaching out and high-fiving the players after a match is a tradition dating back to the first years of Urban Polo. To accommodate the proximity to fans, the ball is also larger and lighter than a regulation ball. It doesn’t shoot as far, posing less of a risk of contact with

IS HERE spectators, although flies straight, unlike arena polo balls.

To pull off the incredible series, as well as play in the matches each weekend, the logistics and coordinating require tremendous vision. Never far from his mobile phone, he works constantly, rearranging details and make last-minute changes to schedules. The early summer weather always poses challenges for the matches, and this year, Gazecki was forced to cancel the Melbourne event and refund tickets to spectators, due to torrential rains. Since the tournaments are played in public parks, a production team sets

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Above: Event director Janek Gazecki with wife Natalie Decorte and two of their children; left: Team Asahi on which Gazecki played during the Urban Polo Series; opposite page: Gazecki lines up with his team in Sydney; below: Gazecki’s assistant Britt

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up the entire field and sidelines for each location, part of the massive logistics undertaking of a five-weekfive-city series. Tents, parking, toilets, back-up power sources, on-site kitchens, bars, lounges, selfie-stations, and red carpets are all laid out to uniquely suit each city’s site and regulations, as well as expected crowd capacity.

Regulations and differing codes from city to city often play a challenging role in the execution of tournaments. Once, local police officers ticketing cars on UPA-rented grounds found themselves in an awkward confrontation with Gazecki and his private security concerning the interpretation of the city’s contract with the UPA. Ponies, vital to the game, pose another challenge to Urban Polo.

Horses and the city don’t exactly go hand-in-hand. The UPA coordinates horses for players from city to city.

Horses are sourced from outlying ranches and stables, checked, approved, and leased. As international players are involved, practice are needed and required. In some cities, players traveled 1-2 hours for practices between matches.

Behind Gazecki is UPA member and his partner, Natalie Decorte, who directs the publication associated with Urban Polo. The Polo Project

is an annual online magazine that coordinates with the official event program. Taking a definite editorial approach to polo, The Polo Project covers equestrian fashion and art, but more importantly, explains the intricacies of polo in a smart and humorous manner that resonates with the young audience. On-site for the matches, Decorte directs the fashion competitions, the supermodels and Miss Australia representatives who are present to throw in balls, marking the start of chukkers with style and panache. Often with their three children in tow, she smiles for the cameras and poses with fans for selfies. She’s an unofficial polo ambassador for the UPA, giving her a platform to promote the family business.

Gazecki and Decorte rely on social media, and Gazecki favors the sky-is-falling approach to garner attention and likes online. “After 12 years of a perfect record, this year arrest rates at Sydney’s Land Rover Polo in the City inexplicably went up, primarily among the male demographic. Pictured above is Ric McCarthy, one of many casualties (who) fell afoul of the law that day,” he posted on Facebook along with a photo of McCarthy, seemingly handcuffed and surrounded by two female police officers. That’s not his only social media tactic; there are plenty of beautiful-people photos:

sipping champagne or cider, cheering from the sidelines, divot-stomping, running down the field barefoot for prizes, or clinging to each other, arguably under the influence of ample Champagne. The official program references “an international clash between Haiti Polo Team and Team Australia; “ the two teams had never faced each other prior to the Urban Polo series. While a clash created reality-tv-style drama between Haiti and Australia on the field and sidelines, the UPA quietly organized silent auctions to benefit the charity Project St. Anne in Camp-Perrin, Haiti, in support of their 2017 Christmas Toy Drive for schoolchildren whose Christmas celebrations might otherwise be grim. Over $1,500 was raised to support the deserving charity’s initiative.

As World Polo Series grows from its infancy and looks to mature in Australia, attention to fine-tuned details and complicated logistics will become more demanding; not less.

Urban polo, now a global tournament, must make the adjustments to meet global expectations and standards in accommodations and transportation. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

The future of polo has arrived. It is smaller, faster, and every bit as modern as the world we live in. page 73

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Travel

ADVENTUROUS AUSTRALIA

SIGHTS, SCENES, AND TASTES

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Great Australian Bight

ADVENTUROUS AUSTRALIA

SEVEN DON’T-MISS DESTINATIONS Lush forests, rocky cliffs, The Eyre Peninsula windswept beaches and With its bountiful sea life, a leisurebarren deserts – a road ly road trip across the beautiful stretch of land connecting Western trip through Australia’s and South Australia is nothing is not spectacular. In Whyalla, snorkel diverse, wildlife-rife giant cuttlefish and its landscapes could be the alongside family friendly dolphins, then head road trip of a lifetime. for Cowell to sup on fresher-thanWith an ideal exchange fresh oysters, served whichever way. At the peninsula’s southernrate and world-class most peak, Port Lincoln offers an destinations and service, amazing swimming experience great white sharks. Then head Australia is a great place with in to town for whiting fillet or westto book your next esern king prawns, a specialty of the area. Wrap up the journey in the cape. page 78

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Sunrise at Uluru, Australia’s spiritual heart

charming surrounds of Streaky Bay to get a look at the imposing pink granite boulders of Murphys Haystacks or to cast a line at a number of sublime angling spots.

ONCE PEOPLE COME TO AUSTRALIA, THEY JOIN THE TEAM.”

The Savannah Way

Conservation Reserve for stunning panoramas of weathered sandstone pillars and a bucolic watering hole well-populated by kingfishers, brolgas and herons.

Adventurous traveler will relish the opportunity to hit the 3,700 km route linking Cairns and the historic township of Broome. Along the way, stop at the rain forest-fringed village of Kuranda, home to a variety of wildlife sanctuaries brimming with colorful birds, butterflies and reptiles. In and around scenic Mareeba, indulge in a steaming cup of freshly roasted coffee, straight from the plantation, or get the ultimate bird’s-eye view of the awe-inspiring Atherton Tableland aboard a hot air balloon. Watch the dramatic waterfalls and glimpse Lumholtz’ tree kangaroos at Tully Falls National Park then visit the Caranbirini

- TONY ABBOTT

Red Centre Way Wind your way southwest from Alice Springs for a once-in-a-lifetime road trip across some of the country’s most iconic landscapes.

Witness the peaceful quietude of the sheltered gorges and picturesque swimming holes at West MacDonnell Range National Park, and spot black-footed wallabies on its rocky slopes. Behold quintessential orange sunrise vistas of Uluru, Australia’s spiritual heart

(pictured above). Not far, visit the majestic Olgas, or Kata Tjuta, a colossal rock formation made up of 36 domes reaching heights of more than 1,000 meters. Make a pit stop at the Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve, the land site of a massive meteorite some 4,7000 years ago

The Nullarbor A desolate, 1,700 km stretch along the Eyre Highway, it’s a lonely dusty, journey from Norseman in Western Australia to Port August in South Australia. Latin for “no trees,” it may come as a surprise that this barren brush landscape harbors within it a wealth of stunning attractions, form the stark beauty of the Murrawijinie Caves, with their crystal-clear pools and ancient aboriginal artwork, to the Konnalda Homestead, an eerie car graveyard-cum-campsite in the middle page 79

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The Top End, Australia

of nowhere. Next to rare glimpses of wild camels, dingoes and emus, the head of Bight offers a stellar perch from which to observe southern right whales calving each winter.

perlative waves at Scotts Head, or to kayak and snorkel at Byron Bay, Australia’s boho-chic backpacker’s hub.

The Pacific Coast

The one-time cattle route spans 660 km through the abundant Kimberley countryside. Not far from the diminutive village of Derby, with its boab-tree-fringed streets and photogenic wharf, crocodile-spotting along Lennard River is the order of the day at Windjana Gorge National Park, whose freshwater pools are perfect for refreshing dips after drawn-out walks through its fossil-lined gorges. The warm waters of Zebeedee Springs offer similarly rejuvenating swimming opportunity in the shade of towering palms trees and oversized rock formations, while the striking waterfall at Emma Gorge is a postcard-worthy spectacle you won’t soon forget.

Departing from the buzz of the city in Sydney, it’s an impressive odyssey up the sunny Pacific Coast to Queensland’s humming capital, Brisbane. Gourmands will want to make a delicious stopover in Hunter Valley, where you can pick up exquisite cheeses and handmade olive oils, or indulge in seasonal fare at the world-class eateries peppered across the region’s rolling green hills. Meanwhile, animal lovers will welcome a sidestep to Port Stephens for a look at its 200-strong colony of bottle nose dolphins, or Port Macquarie for its world-renowned Koala Hospital; the actively included shouldn’t pass up a chance to surge the supage 80

Gibb River Road

The Top End The siren call of the Top End (pictured above), at the crest of the Northern Territory, is a loud one indeed. Kick off the adventure in the slow-moving town of Darwin, where an abundance of can’tmiss experiences – from cruising the harbor at dusk and crocodile-watching to carefree evenings in the lively suburb of Nightcliff – await. It’s a slower-paced scene at the UNESCO-listed Kakadu National Park, whose millenniums-old rock art galleries and wildlife-rife wetlands are a major draw. Further inland, Katherine’s traditional bush tucker dishes, hot springs and the formidable Nitmiluk Gorge are on the menu, as it riverside angling for barramundi or strolling through a rarefied labyrinth of fascinating flora at Jurassic Cycad Park, whose namesake plants are living remnants of the prehistoric era.

Adapted from Departures Magazine

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On the Market

STONEBRIDGE WHISTLER ESTATE PERFECTLY POSITIONED ON MOUNT SPROATT, WITH ACCESS TO SLOPES AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS Listing Price: C$25,950,000 Listing agent: John Ryan Personal Real Estate Corporation +1604-932-5538

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Arguably one of the most sought after addresses in Whistler, this property within the exclusive estate offers unparalleled views of the resort. From its elevated site one can take in the entire valley at a glance, looking across forested slopes to Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains with Alta Lake below.

Set in 8.3 acres of landscaped grounds, the 10-bedroom, 11-bathroom residence offers privacy and protection, a place to retreat from the world and host friends and family in a spectacular natural setting. The property is within a short drive of amenities with access to three championship golf courses, alpine lakes, hiking trails, fine dining restaurants and some of the best skiing terrain in the world.

Both house and gardens were extensively renovated in 2016.

The outdoor living areas were expanded with the addition of an exterior pavilion, pizza oven, BBQ area and outdoor fireplace. Indoors extensive mill-work, light grey stone and a minimalist palette are softened by curved windows and elegant drapes, with dark metal accents providing contrast and an atmosphere of understated luxe. Panoramic windows line the main living room. Extensive remodeling of master bedrooms and bathrooms was accompanied by a complete upgrade of home technology from heating and cooling to new communications, security, AV and lighting systems

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Knight Frank www.knightfrank.com COASTAL LIVING IN AUSTRALIA 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths 2 Stall Garage Modulus Bellevue Hill 1 Birriga Lane Bellevue Hill NSW 2023 Asking Price AUD $5,800,000

Property Ref: 3469853 Call to book your appointment: +61 (0) 430 222 269 page 84

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ELEGANT HOME IN THE HEART OF CHELSEA 6 Bedrooms 33 Wellington Square London, United Kingdom Listing Price: ÂŁ6,000,000 33 Wellington Square is a much-loved family home extending some 2,646 square feet, benefiting from a stunning first floor drawing room with French doors opening onto an ornamental balcony overlooking the garden square.

An elegant Grade II listed stucco-fronted townhouse on the west side of this beautiful quiet garden square in the heart of Chelsea. The house provides flexible accommodation to suit an incoming purchaser›s needs.

Wellington Square is a non-through square, ideally located to the south of Kings Road, with all its shops, boutiques and restaurants and a few minutes walk from Sloane Square Underground.

MLS# CSD170249 / call +44 207 6297 282 to view

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GALLOPS OF MOROCCO In less than three months’ time, over 100 horsemen from all over the world will be heading for the Moroccan desert, in the Drâa-Tafilalet region, amid the high and wild sand dunes of Merzouga, for a raid and adventure that resembles no other.

Even though it will be physically hard for horses and riders, the track will be unforgettable for all, with the discovery of unknown and breathtaking landscapes, encounters and special moments with horse riders from all sorts of places and disciplines: up to 12 countries are represented so far!

The adventure began a few months ago with route surveys and the preparation of logistics. It is an amazing human story for the organizers and participants, made possible with the implication of the Moroccan National Association of Equestrian Tourism and its parent company, the Morocpage 88

can Federation of Equestrian Sports.

Through its partners organizations of the 2018 Gallops, two Moroccan teams will take part in this raid, which is not a race in itself, but a course that includes regularity tests over 200 kilometers, divided into six phases of 25–40 kilometers to be completed within an ideal time frame.

Alongside the Moroccan teams sponsored by the SOREC, other countries already committed themselves, such as the Sultanate of Oman, representing its sponsor, the Royal Cavalry.

Oman is the place where the adventure first began in 2014, with the first edition of the Gallops (of Oman), which marked all, filling the minds of participants with incredible visual and human memories. Alongside the host and founder nation, two other nations from the Gulf are represented: Kuwait and Qatar. The organizers registered teams from Indonesia,

America, Luxembourg and Ireland.

Naturally, France, which brought the highest number of participants in 2014, will take part with over 40 horsemen. The party spirit of the first edition will be rekindled in the forthcoming raid: it will sparkle every night in camp with great Moroccan gastronomy and parties will continue with traditional Moroccan shows and animations inspired from movies. Celebrations will be highlighted, namely with the unforgettable White Party under the desert stars and the adventure will end at the hotel Kasbah Xaluca at the desert’s gates.

In short, a festive and original adventure around the Barbe horse and Arab Barbe horse, staged in the magical desert of Merzouga from February 25 to March 4, 2018.

Source: Benoit Perrier, co-founder, Gallops of Morocco

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www.twigagallery.com 3333 Sacramento St San Francisco CA +1415-292-8020

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MILLENNIALS

THE FUTURE IS HERE

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FAMN MÒN:

SOPHIA DEMIRTAS mother’s village. Sophia paid close attention to their broad knowledge of traditional recipes and medicinal herbs. When she left Haiti at a very young age, she kept in mind the value of these fanm mòn and understood that their knowledge was a natural and unique gift.

In her designs, Sophia particularly appreciates embroidery that adds a touch of elegance and innovation to her creations. The final result is stunning.

Sophia’s style represents the feminine essence. As a result, she opted for a style more focused on length; not mini dresses. She focuses on the fluid movements of a dress worn by a woman, breathing freedom, with flowers, patterns and bright colors.

Nature is the greatest source of inspiration for the designer.

Christelle Pierrette Pierre christelleppierre@gmail.com

Fanm Mòn is a symbol of femininity, a mix of modernity, age and freedom, favored by celebrities Laurynn Hill, one of the twin sisters Wonder, TK, and recently Morgan Stewart.

This young brand launched in 2013 under the creative direction of Sophia Demirtas, originally focusing on making unique and creative jewelry.

Sophia later changed the focus to the women’s ready-to-wear line.

The name Fanm Mòn, a reference to Sophia’s Haitian roots, is significant to the designer. Meaning “peasant women” in Creole, the term is used loosely and at times in a derogatory sense. As a young woman in Haiti, Sophia was directly in contact with “fanm mòn” peasant women in the open-air markets near her grandpage 94

Born in Haiti and currently living in Turkey, Sophia is heavily influenced and nurtured by Turkish culture. She juxtaposes these two worlds to play an important role in her creative ideas. She uses natural fibers—flax, and cotton and silk -- at the request of her customers.

She works closely with her husband, who is in charge of administration and the business side of Fanm Mòn, which helps Sophia focus solely on the creative side of the brand.

Sophia balances her ideas and creativity with a solid business spirit.

Ultimately she produces not only to meet her personal expectations but those of her buyers as well. International fashion bloggers and influencers and social networks have played a direct role in brand expansion, and the brand is taking note and interacting positively to deliver returns.

Sophia also designs children’s clothing and, at the request of her cus-

tomers, men’s shirts will be available in Spring 2018.

Sophia says she has a great admiration for Tory Burch and she truly feels honored to contribute to the emancipation of women in her sartorial comfort. “Women do not have to be afraid of, or intimidated by, their choices or their preferences, and do not have to wear black consistently to feel sexy,” she said.

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RAPHAEL MENDONÇA LIVING EVERY MOMENT Christelle P. Pierre christelleppierre@gmail.com

There’s a checklist of a star’s life: living every moment, desires always met, lives full of follies, fantasies, and a job we love—a wonderfully perfect life that inspires others and illuminates their days. Raphael Mendonça can check off all the tick marks.

Handsome, young and rich, he is a genius with class, talent and a dream life. The current Creative Director of Vogue Brasil counts among his friends the richest and most powerful people of Saõ Paulo and the fashion industry. Fashion Designer in Chief at Maison Alexandrine and fashion stylist to the biggest personalities in the world, he is indisputably one of the most influential names in the fashion universe. He attends the Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent, Balmain, Valentino and Elie Saab shows on the regular. He is invited to every events: the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Miss Universe, Christmas Lunch of Roberto Cavalli and Unitas Gala, to name but a few. page 96

Raphael’s days begin at 7:30 a.m. with a beauty ritual: ice cubes on his face, then he makes Muaythai with his personal coach, then a work out, and after that, he is ready to start another aspect of his day with his fashion team at Maison Alexandrine. He directs photo shoots and fitting sessions for fashion campaigns with celebrities and high-profile clients. In the evening, he usually devotes himself to dining with customers or friends, or attending major red carpet events. Every day is an extremely busy schedule.

“I don’t know, and I don’t want to know who I manage this schedule,” he said. “But I love this life.”

During the weekdays, Raphael enjoys taking breakfast at home where his maid knows what to prepare to please him: pancakes, scrambled eggs and other small succulent and healthy dishes. On weekends, he usually has breakfast with his friends.

He is more flexible when he is traveling, especially when in Paris, his favorite city and breakfast place: Hôtel Bristol. Raphael loves travel-

ing and is often on the go for work.

He leads a hectic but interesting and exciting life. Summer is the ideal season for him to travel and it is especially in this period that he takes the opportunity to take a vacation to Europe. For a man as neat as he is, perfection is always his goal; his travel musts include his shoes and beauty products. “At the airport, I always have a lot of luggage to board,” he said.

Raphael has a lot of friends in the City of Light. He never misses the opportunity to visit the numerous Parisian museums as well as the superb exhibitions that make this city unique. His love for the exotic countries is as great as the heavenly expanse: his favorite beach is Alamangou, located in Mykonos, a small Greek paradise island. But the ideal city for Raphael to spend a very good weekend is definitely New York City, where he lived for a while. He suggests The Hamptons hotel, which offers him the comfort he always demands. Of all the countries he has visited around the world, Morocco has particularly

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impressed him and his favorite hotel is none other than the Royal Mansour in Morocco, Marrakesh. “It is such a unique place to visit because anyone can have a private Riad with a private butler who is on call 24/7.

Butlers wear white gloves and cook amazing treats for them. If someone wants to feel like a king in a castle, this hotel is the best place to visit,” he said.

In the fashion industry, Raphael has a tight friendship with Vogue Japan’s editor-at-large, Anna Dello Russo; the Victoria’s Secret supermodel Barbara Fialho; and one of the most famous Brazilian top models, Izabel Goulart. Raphael likes to go clubbing with Daniel Urzerdo and Elen Capri.

On the professional side, Raphael is experiencing the best moment of his career. He dresses Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus and Renata Keurten, and he considers each a personal friend. One of the most influential fashion stylists in Brazil, he cares for the image of the greatest personalities, taking pleasure in doing so, and the most important thing for him is to respect and understand the body of each woman, making

her feel fabulous and sure of herself.

He became close to Barbara Fialho because he started working with her when she was just starting her modeling career, and fell in love with her personality and her kindness. He has won many contracts for her and it’s been 15 years since they started collaborating, which has strengthened their impeccable friendship.

Raphael is part of the Dolce & Gabbana family, working with them on countless projects. “No one else in this world could create the unique atmosphere that Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana always offer,” he said.

His wardrobe boasts all major luxury brands from Dolce & Gabbana to Yves Saint Laurent and Armani, and he is currently creating a new clothing line for men that will come out in his last collection for Maison Alexandrine. The latest fashion trends to find in his lair are the kimonos. He innovates by creating tuxedos with cuts of kimonos, which he shares on his Instagram account, @raphamendonca. Highly anticipated by fashion critics, he loves to show off and the perfect opportunities for him to do this are the biggest fashion events

of the year: the Oscars red carpet and Vanity Fair after party or the gala of Elton John Aids Foundation, the Met Gala, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Raphael embraces his luxurious lifestyle. Moreover, his way of life contributes enormously to his success. To keep his image flawless, he regularly consults his private dentist based in Saõ Paulo, Dr. Andre Paes, who adapts to the schedule for his prestigious clientele by giving appointments even on Sunday evenings. Raphael entrusts his skin to his long-time dermatologist, Dr. Amilton Macedo, whom he has been confiding in for 18 years. The latter works for many Brazilian celebrities.

Raphael’s hair is jet-black and shiny, and he takes care of it at the Spa Dios in Saõ Paulo, which has also a clinic in Rio de Janeiro. He would like to work one day with a great American star who has marked his youth: Madonna.

A positive person addicted to work, curious about discovering new things, a globetrotter devoted to his muses and his friends—Raphael Mendonça is undoubtedly an example to follow.

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JIDA WATT

VICTORIAN-ERA EYEWEAR

Oksana Toussaint-Vig | oksavig@gmail.com

Thirty-year-old Jidapa Watsotok went to France to study eyewear design and making handmade eyewear. She launched her own brand Jida Watt, a shorter version of her Thai birth name, because it was her dream to create something unique to the world under her own name.

“It’s still quite amazing when I see a pair of sunglasses with my name on them – it’s even more incredible when I see someone wearing them,” said the designer.

Why eyewear? It’s simple, she says. “I love eyewear. It’s the same as finding Mr. Right. You can’t explain why you love your husband but you know well that you love him and he is the right one for you. Eyewear is Mr. Right Guy for me.”

While success didn’t come easily, Jida pursued her dream nonetheless. “I didn’t want to end up being an old lady regretting something I loved that I should have done when I was able. I want to be an old lady telling my grandchildren how I followed my dream and made it come true,” she said. “I don’t have a Plan B in my life. When you have only one plan, you’ll fight for it and not waste your imagination on a Plan B. Jida manufactures her eyewear in Japan, which is one of few countries that can produce eyewear by hand at the same standard as a machine. “They’re the best at what they do,” she said. “I’m thrilled every time I see the prototypes. They’re honest and the perfect partner.

Japanese standards are exceptional and famous throughout the world of eyewear.”

“We’re debuting our titanium collection in the same Victorian era fashion as always,” Jida said.

“Titanium is the best material for metal eyewear, plus it’s strong and light-weight.” Jida will add special details that really reflect the delicacy of the handmade eyewear.

Jida’s secret to success is reading. “I’ll read as many books as I can to broaden my vision. It’s very important. You must read to know more.

I adapt the knowledge I’ve read into my work, such as marketing and human thinking and creative process. Usually I start each day reading a book in the morning and running in the evening.”

Jida Watt is sold in Marc Le Bihan Shop in Galleries Lafayette in Paris and also stores in Bangkok as well as online. Social media plays an important role in branding. “Our brand couldn’t get this far if not for social media. It’s cheap, fast and effective. I really couldn’t imagine running my business without social media.”

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ALFREDO BIGATTI POLO DREAMS Oksana Toussaint-Vig oksavig@gmail.com

On Tuesdays and Thursdays after Chascomús school let out, Alfredo Bigatti’s father, or sometimes his mother, took him to Open Door in Buenos Aires so that the teenager could practice polo at La Cañada club. Saturdays were different.

Alfredo slept over near Open Door, in Pilar, to play again on Sunday and then return home. The week’s total: 1,200 kilometers every seven days for four training matches.

A fan of horses and breeding first, and polo second, Bigatti inherited his passion for horses from his father, who was involved in the

equestrian world and introduced him to Gonzalo Bunge, a wellknown polo referee. Bunge invited Bigatti, then a young boy, to learn how to play polo at Open Door. So he did, tracing and retracing 1,200 kilometers per week. Once he had his driver’s permit, he eased the task of the commute and drove himself. “To play polo, I did everything (it was) crazy, but it made me happy,” Bigatti said.

Although he frequented Open Door, he hardly knew the Novillo Astrada club. The link was formed this year when Bigatti planned to contest the Chamber of Deputies Cup for Las Monjitas. An injury affecting Eduardo, the soul of La Aguada, changed the plan. Bigatti joined a quartet that lost only a single official match in the season and was very close to eliminating then-champion Ellerstina, in Hurlingham.

Bigatti, now 26 with a handicap of 7, debuted at the Argentine Open Championship, substituting for Eduardo Novillo Astrada. Bigatti had a good first half in the 13-10 match against Albertina on Court 1.

“I used to take a ticket to come and see polo,” he said. “I’ve done (that) my whole life, it’s a little crazy. Now, as a player, I can give tickets to family and friends who come to support me,” he said.

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Alfredo Bigatti in Argentina

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LEO FARIA THE KING OF STREET STYLE Oksana Toussaint-Vig oksavig@gmail.com

The soft accent does not deny the origins – Leo Faria is a son of Uberlândia, Brazil. Passionate about photography, as a teenager he studied Graphic Arts and followed with training in Advertising. page 102

It was in college that he had the first and only contact with photography in a more formal and technical way. But truly, he is a self-taught in photography, which guarantees the freedom of language and personality of his photos.

Before the photography came into

his life he worked in seven advertising agencies, as the head of his own agency, and he also taught Creative and Photography classes to university students. Spending time behind the camera was a result of successive frustrations with photographers who did not meet his expectations.

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It was, therefore, that 15 years ago, he opted to dedicate himself exclusively to photography. Fashion had always been present in his publicity work and throughout his solo career in photography, but four years ago, in a kind of schizophrenic fusion between the fashion universe and the streets, street style photography came into his life and started a real revolution. The unpredictability of the streets created a virtuous cycle between the contradiction of the mundane and the complexity of fashion and allowed him to move between campaigns for brands and editorials for magazines and more recently in experiments with the world of art.

and this is a recipe that has guaranteed us good results.

OV: Do you think that every photographer should have a manager?

LF: Undoubtedly. This is extremely important, indeed, not just a manager, but a whole team of good professionals. Professional photography must be seen as any other business and thus, it depends on professionals from different areas.

In 2016, he received the April Award for Journalism for Best Fashion Photography of the Year.

He frequently shoots editorials for Elle Brasil magazine and in 2017, he won his first solo exhibition during SPFW at the São Paulo Biennial with the Equals series, his major work on street style.

LF: My father is a photographer.

The great hobby of his life has always been photography and it was from him that my passion for photography arose.

OV: There is a huge difference between having passion for photography and building an empire. You are building a legacy thanks to the management of Vagner Fernandes who prioritized the business side of your vocation. How has Vagner structured your career?

LF: Vagner is responsible for all commercial strategy, partnerships and projects and I am responsible for the creative part. That is, we are a pair and we depend on each other. Vagner and I are extremely active, and while one creates, the other makes everything happen

OV: For the first time after 24 years, Saõ Paulo Fashion Week has just innovated by offering the public a large exhibition of your works.

LF: This invitation brings me great joy, especially because of the exhibition being from a series that I created with the intention of criticizing super exposition and egocentrism in these digital times.

This is a series that has surprised me every day, after the Saõ Paulo Fashion Week I have been looking for art galleries wanting to market this seriously. This was something I never imagined for my career.

OV: If there are two things that everyone mentions about you, it’s your humility and your kindness.

Why have you never changed in spite of all your success?

Senior Global Fashion Curator Oksana Vig recently sat down with Faria to discuss his successes, his routine (he doesn’t believe in routine), his business model and the fashion industry.

OV: Where does your love for photography come from?

LF: I do not like labels. I am a photographer who likes the streets and for that reason most of my photos I do in the streets, but this is not a focus, but a preference. I also take a lot of photos in my studio, and I do the same in other circumstances.

LF: Maybe it’s because I do not believe in success.

OV: Today, what is the biggest challenge facing photographers in the business of fashion?

LF: Being original and copyrighted.

Nowadays, I see many technically trained professionals, however, doing the same thing that other consecrated photographers have already done. The vast majority of the images seem to be copies of things seen in the past or very close re-readings. It seems to me that people get lost looking for references and stop creating.

OV: Usually, what is your favorite place to take photos?

LF: Any place that has people.

OV: In the fashion industry, you are nicknamed “The King of Street Style”. Why did you focus on this category?

OV: You have a tattoo that pays tribute to someone very special in your life. Who is this person? Why did you decide to honor her memory?

LF: I have a tattoo in honor of my Grandmother. It was and always will be my great love story and it was certainly the greatest loss I’ve ever had in my life to this day.

OV: You are firmly committed to the fight against cancer…

LF: It is impossible not to be sensitive to everyone’s story. Children are the ones that shock me the most.

OV: What are your travel essentials?

LF: In my suitcase, my Power Bank battery backup is never missing… and at least two cameras and four lenses. All the rest I (that’s missing) I arrange along the trip. page 103

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ANCHOR & CREW’S CHRIS WARNER

ters studio located in a part of Great Britain that once saw Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood and Jonathan Ive emerge as iconic international designers. Located in one of East Midland’s former Industrial-era brickbuild workshops and with all the authenticity that accompanies this, Warner’s more recent Satori & Scout is a mirror in dedication toward progressive product design.

Oksana Toussaint-Vig oksavig@gmail.com Chris Warner, brand director of Anchor & Crew and lifestyle brand Satori & Scout, discovered a passion for all design fields from a very early age. Now a leading men’s jewelry brand, Anchor & Crew’s humble beginnings evolved into a headquarpage 104

“(My brother) Andrew and I grew up working in retail jewelry with over 100 brands from across Great Britain and Europe. We attended world-leading trade Baselworld in Switzerland, Inhorgenta in Germany and International Jewellery London,” said Warner.

His passion for jewelry comes from the industry’s attention to detail and age-old craft. Having studied architect in university, applying attention to detail comes naturally for him.

“The shift from designing entire

city-centers (as an architect) to the micro-design of jewelry was both a challenge and a truly fantastic transition for me,” he said.

“Men’s jewelry is relatively small in terms of male-female jewelry brand ratio, and we’re happy to be a part of the growing trend,” Warner said.

Males aged 23+ were the initial intended clientele, and demographically similar to Warner. Though the brand has evolved into being unisex and seemingly appealing to a nondescript age audience, it still enjoys the original target-market as core market.

Now launching into quality goods such as apothecary candles, leather accessories and various apparel lines, Anchor & Crew is diversifying away from jewelry. The brand can be found in boutiques and leading stores around the world.

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JOANNA JEAN

STRENGTH & FITNESS GOALS Wendelle Theodore audemay.w@gmail.com On the first weekend of December, in Biarritz, in the south of France, the World Fitness and Bodybuilding championships were organized by the IFBB. The event attracted tourists who enjoyed the warmer weather of the city the view of the sea, the chocolate shops and the numerous historical and tourist attractions. But, most importantly they had the chance to see women and men compete in all fitness categories (body fitness, bikini fitness and wellness fitness) for two days.

Among the competitors, Joanna Jean, a young Haitian, who has built herself a solid platform. With more than 25,000 followers on Instagram, she is known in Haiti, Canada and the USA. It was in Montreal where she first discovered that she had the potential to be a body builder. Joanna won the local, regional and national overall figure championship which gave her the legitimacy to compete internationally and represent Canada.

On December 3, she posted a picture on Instagram explaining to her fans why she only took 9th place of the championship. And because we appreciated her modesty, honesty and humility, we decided to follow her for a week in Paris, away from the stress of the competition and discover her on a new angle.

While getting ready for her photoshoot next to the Eiffel Tower, she explained to us how it is necessary to not let the idea of fitness and workout frustrate us. It is important to eat well (she eats something every 2 hours), focusing on protein, glucide and vegetable intakes. “If I have 30 minutes a day and only three days a week to work out,” she said. “I would dedicate the first day to her upper body, the second day to her lower body and the third day to cardio. You do not have to do it all, you just have to do it well.”

When asked how being a body builder has affected her life, relationship and image of herself, she said “Nothing has really changed beside the attention and popularity,”

which pushes her to stay humble.

While visiting several historic sites with Jean in Paris, it was evident that the body builder is a very joyful person. She laughs, makes jokes, goes out and enjoys time with family and friends. She confessed to us that it has been quite challenging to have a social life specially when she is training for competition.

“Being a female body builder puts you in the spotlight, as people will judge you for being very muscular and therefore minimize the work you have done to obtain such achievements,” she said.

When not talking about body building, Jean spends hours talking about life, music and politics. Despite the fame, she barely posts on social media. She is very down-toearth and lives life in the moment.

On her way back to Montreal, Jean is already thinking about the projects she will be working on for the upcoming year. And on top of the list, she puts, “Bring back the trophy.”

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MATEO COLES HAITIAN JOCKEY Christelle P. Pierre christelleppierre@gmail.com

Mateo Coles, a young sportsman aged 17, is imbued with an indelible love for horses and equestrian sports. When he was very young, his parents introduced him to riding horses at the equestrian center Les Samans, where he started with his coaches Romy Tchudy and Daniela Roy. Horse riding has always been a page 106

theme of the Coles’ family life, especially for Mateo’s brother, who unfortunately suffered a concussion after falling from a golf car and was forced to stop riding horses. The Coles family exchanged equestrian sports for tennis. Mateo lived in the world of tennis until the summer of 2013 when he rediscovered the experience of riding horses, his passion and the synergy that exists between him and the beautiful animals. He knew immediately that he wanted to start a professional

career in equestrian sports, specifically in jumping, and from there his adventure began.

For Mateo, there must be a unique complicity between the rider and the horse—an extremely important relationship, especially at the competitions. Horses are his best friends. He compares them to human beings: there are some idiots, and some very intelligent. Mateo has two, AJ and Willy, but his favorite is AJ, who comes directly from

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Germany, and who Mateo describes as smart, nice and super strong.

or many times finishes in second or third place.

Show jumping is a discipline requiring technique and precision.

The young rider knows he has to give himself, body and soul, if he wants to reach the highest level.

He devotes himself to rigorous training, accompanied by several experienced coaches. He trains four hours a day on weekdays and six hours a day on weekends, which allows him to work on his strengths, weaknesses and technique.

Mateo does not want to regress because he plans to do regional competitions in Guatemala, Tryon, North Carolina and Kentucky, and he returns to Germany in the summer of 2018 for the Olympic Junior Games and hopes to win medals in his category.

This summer, the young and talented show jumping competitor took part in the German Friendship, an international competition, and shone brightly among his peers.

After this extraordinary experience, he engaged in a more intensive training with his personal coach in Weston and participates every weekend in competitions in Wellington, Palm Beach, where he wins

As a sportsman his diet is restricted; he must take food with important nutritional values, including lots of protein for constant energy gain, and fruits and vegetables. He cannot sacrifice his guilty pleasure, Nutella, though. He exercises to maintain a good physical condition and also tries to meditate 15 minutes a day to strengthen himself mentally and to remain 100 percent focused and determined. When he is in the arena, his goal is to win.

Mateo wants to represent his country, Haiti, with dignity in internation-

al competitions and it is important for him to float the two-colored Haitian flag high.

Mateo Coles is involved as a Haitian sportsman in the social sphere; for him it is a responsibility, a civic duty.

He has allied with the Kay Père Juste orphanage, located at Wharf Jérémie, which takes care of 600 children and is also a school. Mateo joins his parents in social work and every year they organize a Christmas party for these children and distribute gifts to them.

The young competitor in Haitian jumping has his follies and his hobbies: he plays tennis, football, ping-pong and video games. His favorite brand is Vince. This fiery and talented sportsman is very ambitious and has specific goals that he intends to achieve. He believes in work and discipline, and recognizes the ultimate chance he has to represent his country.

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MODEL BEHAVIOR:

ANDREEA SASU

Oksana Toussaint-Vig, Senior Global Fashion Curator | oksavig@gmail.com

Andreea Sasu considers herself to be a very private person from Romania. On her social media, she shares moments with friends, her work, the things that she likes, the books she reads. As a child, her dream was to join the police force; when she was only 18, she won her first beauty contest, and her life moved in a very different direction. She moved to Milan, to start her modeling career, competing constantly in beauty competitions.

More than one year ago, she created an Instagram account to publicize her lifestyle, the public’s adoration was overwhelming. Her fans who follow her every move love her simplicity, her kindness and her humbleness despite her fame and wealth.

Andreea’s Beauty Regimen: One of her social media strategies is to make every day look different. She changes and try new things every day. When she is not working, she wakes up at 9 a.m., making sure she had at least eight hours of rest during the night. She takes a healthy breakfast right before going to training. After a quick lunch, she goes to the library looking for something new and interesting to read. She tries new recipes and shares new dishes with her followers.

She is a passionate equestrian. Growing up in rural Romania, she particularly felt love for horses. She rode every day by the time was around 7-8 years old. Today, wherever she is, she finds riding stables and gets a horse to go for a ride alone in the mountains or on the beach. “In these moments, I feel absolutely free,” she said.

Because she wears a lot of makeup for her work, to maintain her complexion, she uses a great natural face wash “Tea Tree Oil,” organic coconut oil and her smoothie to keep her skin glowing. She always put sunblock in the morning before her workout, which she does makeup-free. Apart sunblock, she uses a facial cleanser, serum and light moisturizer from La Prairie, La Mer and Valmount. She tries and shares new products every day. No matter how tired she is, Andreea never goes to sleep with her makeup on.

One of her beauty secrets is her dentist, Dr. Esposito, by whom she swears. Her dermatologist, Dr. Toffanetti, recommends the best skin preservation treatments and products. The team of Aldo Coppola is responsible for her hair. She’s particularly close to several of the top hairdressers on the team, considering them industry confidants and friends.

Andreea’s Favorites: She has a particular attraction for Italy, the country where she is living. Few countries receive as many accolades for their beauty page 108

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as Italy. The most inspiring cultural treasures, the bigger concentration of beauty.

Venice, Florence, Rome are varied by their architecture, the perfect naturalist painting that is the Amalfi Coast. Italy is history and romance. She thinks no country in the world offers as much beauty as Italy. She describes Venice “As one of those cities where even if you are the most cynical person in the world you won’t be able to help but fall prey to Venice’s romantic charm.”

Her favorite hotel in the world is Bel Air of Los Angeles. The stunning hotel is set in a paradise garden, surrounded by 12 acres with Hollywood style. Guests are treated as royalty during visits.

The Carnival of Venice is her favorite event of the year. It is where all social classes mingle, and the fact of wearing a mask offered an unique possibility to remain anonymous. Despite her deep love for Italy, her favorite place in the world is Monte Carlo. It has a little bit of everything: warm water all year long, the quality life, security, beautiful beaches, very fine dining and hot clubs – all the check boxes for the jet-set life. On the rare occasion that she goes to a club, she chooses Jimmy’z in Monte Carlo.

Andreea drives a Mercedes Benz CLA as her daily car. She wears Philipp Plein 90 percent of the time even though she likes anything that makes her feel comfortable, which is the key of her elegance. In the fashion industry, her personal friends are Domenico Dolce, Stefano Gabbana and almost all the crew working for Philipp Plein.

Andreea’s Closet: The main reason why almost all her wardrobe is Philipp Plein it is because Philipp Plein was her fiancé. She “loved him more than anyone” in her life. In addition, the brand is “cool, young, fresh, sexy and makes people feel extraordinary.” A look into her wardrobe, discovers the latest trends in fashion: velvet dresses, Paete blazers, slogan T-shirts, sneakers for every occasion, wide-leg pants, chain-strap bags, statement sleeves, vintage-style jeans, and lacy tops.

In a changing fashion world, where we have all-access to the person behind the makeup and photos, she believes firmly in using that platform to spread positivity and good energy. “It is extraordinary to be (yourself) in every way,” she said. page 109

VOLUME II / ISSUE I / JANUARY 2018

POLO DREAMS

ARGENTINE JUANI CILEA’S EQUESTRIAN PASSIONS

Oksana Toussaint-Vig | oksavig@gmail.com

Besides being a horse lover with a passion for polo, 31-yearold Juan Ignacio Cilea—Juani for short— is an exquisite equestrian sketch artist. He resides in Buenos Aires, in his family home and is one of three triplet brothers.

What inspires him to draw horses is the love he feels for them; he tends to every detail and every stroke so that it is the best possible. His greatest source of inspiration for this Argentinean polo amateur is his family, because they are the first to give their words of encouragement, correct him and give him the critical eye that is often difficult to find.

His love for polo is for the union of the horse and the player; he believes that the skill of both and the adrenaline of the matches make it something very exciting to watch and share with family and friends. His favorite team is La Dolfina.

He considers the 2011 team composed of Adolfo Cambiaso, Pablo Mac Donogh, Jean Martin Nero and David “Pelon” Stirling, which won the Triple Crown (Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo) the best team ever in the history of polo.

He usually shares quality time with Federico, one of his brothers who also shares the same love as Juani for polo; they always surround themselves with those who follow this same sport.

Their favorite events to attend are the Triple Crown and between the three best tournaments, Juani’s favorite it is Palermo because it is like the polo world cup. The final of Palermo is the best match— the best polo with the best players of the world.

Left and below: Juani’s passion for polo manifested in sketches.

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ENERGY TRANSFER

VALERIE NOISETTE Christelle P. Pierre christelleppierre@gmail.com

Valerie Noisette curates Kolektif 509 Contemporary Haitian Art exhibits at the historic gingerbread-style gallery “Villa Kalawès” in Pétion-Ville, Haiti. Polo Lifestyles recently caught up with her at the opening of “Elements of (de) Construction.”

CP: What prompts you to create your drawings?

VN: As an artist, I’ve gained a lot of experience in the last decade, I have reached a new level. Some things change over the years and bring new energy to my work, which we can see today compared to my

previous work. The energy that emerges is a part of you; the connection is established.

CP: Is this the best way to connect?

VN: I think there are a multitude of ways to share energies, and they come as I feel. You can bring energy through music, meditation or even personal motivational speeches.

CP: Of all these exhibits, do you have one in particular that makes you feel good?

VN: This is a very interesting question because when you create pieces of art, it’s like giving birth to a child. They’re all special so I cannot say I have a favorite piece.

CP: How do you think your art could contribute to bringing Haiti to a higher level?

VN: I want to use my work as a way to help artists express themselves better to others. Just like music invites you to meditate, my works push Renoir with their roots, the good energies.

CP: A message to our readers?

VN: For me, every person who exists is an artist. I learned over the years to paint my emotions, which were most buried in me. It’s never too late—I started when I was already an adult. Creativity is one of the best ways to express oneself through art.

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LUIZ ROCCA

ON SHOES, TRAVEL, COFFEE AND TRAINING HORSES

Oksana Toussaint-Vig oksavig@gmail.com

Shoe designer Luiz Rocca feels the creativity of designing footwear runs through his bloodstream. And that makes him believe in himself. It’s genetic! His parents knew how to pass on the legacy and the lifestyles his great-grandparents left.

“I’ve always enjoyed a luxurious life since childhood,” he said. “For me, being able to enjoy everything is living intensely.”

He has an affinity for Asia, where his travels have inspire him with ideas for color combinations and styles for his shoes. He likes to put into play in his productions what few have the courage to do. Luiz is a person with page 112

a hyperactive mind; his brain never stops working.

“My days are very hectic, with the next one beginning practically as the previous one ends. Even in bed, I am thinking about what to do the next day,” Luiz said. “It’s hard to have a very quiet night’s sleep because of this mental activity. I do my best when I can relax and enjoy my home, which is a paradise on earth.”

In the morning, he tends to his dog, Chow Chow, taking him for a walk and to do his physical exercises in their neighborhood.

Luiz is addicted to coffee. The Colombian cafe is predominant in

his area, but he particularly prefers the Brazilian one. In the morning, he generally takes his coffee and prepares a light meal to prevent his body from wasting energy in the digestion of food, helping his mind stay focused. “From the moment I leave for work, I put myself in a bubble to accomplish what I plan for the day. I do in the present what I want to achieve in the future, and the secret of this concept is emotional intelligence, the inner self.”

A self-proclaimed workaholic, Luiz thinks of work 25 hours a day even though there are only 24 hours in one. He does not usually have a normal routine because sometimes

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he spends weeks away from home doing business or he travels outside of the country, applying knowledge built on decades or even centuries of the Rocca family. “Every day I conceptualize my mantra by saying ‘I will conquer the world!’”

The love for horses comes from his family too; his grandparents had a ranch where they raised horses.

Taming horses got Luiz into the horse world, and it quickly turned into a passion for him. “I love horses and cannot live without them. For me, horses are the most precious animals in the universe. I use equine therapy to find peace with myself,” he said.

He considers himself an extremely vain man who likes to dress well and use the best products. He likes to make the connection between brands and products, in which they generate quality and well-being. He exercises to keep his mind focused and keep a medium-sized body. He does not like anything that is extreme; he likes balance. The part of his body he takes care of it the most is his hair by making some eccentric and daring cuts. He does not let anyone touch his hair besides Elias from SeuElias Barbershop.

A perfect smile is essential to Luiz, “I do routine treatments with the best dentist in Belo Horizonte, Dr.

Lucas Mendes,” he confided.

Luiz will turn 31 at the end of January and his brand is already 12 years old. As the CEO of a Brazilian luxury brand, he really supports all the brands from Brazil that offer very good quality products.

Luiz travels the world but he particularly enjoys France, Belgium and the United States. France for its matching of the beautiful paradisaical beaches, Belgium for its contemporary art, and the United States for its spectacular luxury spots. All these things inspire him in an unspeakable way, but Paris is a city that enchants him, with its high fashion and the best gastronomy in the world. San Pedro do Atacama in Chile is another city that he loves.

In fact, it is a very small place with attractive hotels and climates to rest an overactive mind. Luiz is a nature lover who, in a paradox, also whizzes around the city in a Ferrari. His ideal place to spend a good weekend is at the beach or at Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, where he can find luxury products and peace that he needs to rest. The event of the year that excites him the most is the AmfAR gala dinner.

The main reason why Luiz travels so often is that he uses his trips to rest his mind, acquire new inspirations and discover new cultures.

In the fashion industry, Luiz maintains a very tight friendship Bárbara Santiago, CEO of Santiago Tailor, the only Brazilian woman who designs luxury tailoring.

He likes the city of São Paulo very much and has many friends there.

He often goes with them to the club. When he travels the most important things he takes with him are footwear, clothing sets and enough money to spend at the best restaurants and tours.

During the weekend when he is in Brazil, he stays at the spa that he has in his house and drinks homebrewed beers. The latest trends filling his wardrobe are printed beach shorts, slippers, linen shirts, loafers and sunglasses.

During summer in Brazil, his morning beauty routine is taking a warm bath, trimming his beard, taking care of his hair and putting on the clothes that will accompany him and make him enthusiastic for the day.

As a fashion personality, he defines his lifestyle as something that balances luxury and simplicity. Luiz does what few have the courage to do and believes his followers have an overwhelming desire to use his creations. Luiz Rocca embodies the brand that offers an exclusive lifestyle. page 113

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CITADEL “LAFERRIÈRE” IN NORTHERN HAITI

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MOLD YOUR MIND Joey Velez | joeyavelez@yahoo.com

“The obstacle in the path becomes the path.

Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.”

—Ryan Holiday This quote was pulled from the book, “The Obstacle Is the Way,” by Ryan Holiday. If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it as Holiday discusses how to gain an advantage when faced with adversity.

Believe it or not, you are going to be faced with difficult challenges, countless obstacles, and various forms of adversities throughout your lifetime. Unfortunately, you never know when they are going to present themselves nor what form they will come in: fatigue during a page 116

performance/workout, having your identity stolen, losing your job, or receiving negative criticism, to name a few. These adversities are meant to test your character and your mettle. The key is to prepare for these situations, to be comfortable in the situations and to turn those negatives into your own personal gain!

Begin by developing an understanding of what you control: how you view your adversity, how you respond to your adversity and how well you can keep yourself composed during adversity. Start by changing your self-talk and how you approach these situations. For instance, instead of viewing these situations as a threat, view them as a challenge; instead of viewing them as a crisis, view them as an opportunity. Next, respond how you WANT to respond! No person or situation can force us to feel or react a certain way; we choose how we respond, and how you respond will determine how successful you will

be in overcoming or thriving in these situations. Finally, see the good in the situation! I am sure you have heard the old adage, “things happen for a reason.” Well, find that reason!

Recently, a small fire in our attic displaced my mother, step-dad, and me from our home for a month. Things could’ve been a lot worse—after all, we’re still alive! Instead of focusing on the damage the fire caused, we chose to see the good in the situation: we get new carpet, new electrical, new walls and new paint!

I played basketball all four years in high school, the last two at the varsity level. To this day, basketball is my greatest joy (other than my nephew) and words cannot describe how much the sport means to me. I made the varsity team my junior year, and I couldn’t have been more excited because I didn’t think I would make it, not to mention I would be playing with my five best friends. Life was good! During that season, I was pretty low on the depth chart and

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knew I wasn’t going to play that often. I took it upon myself to work as hard as possible in order to help my teammates improve, and I was the loudest cheerleader in the gym.

I was voted Most Inspirational that season.

Going into my senior year, I expected my playing time would increase drastically, but it didn’t. I was told after tryouts that there was a possibility I could start, but I didn’t.

I spent my senior year riding the bench, wondering what I was doing wrong and why I wasn’t playing. It all culminated in our sectional playoff game, where one of our starters was in foul trouble at a crucial point late in the game, and I thought, “This is my time.” Instead, my coach went with the unproven sophomore, who essentially caused us to lose

the game during those three minutes he played. I was devastated.

Not because my basketball career was over, but because all I wanted to do was play … but I never got my chance.

What was the adversity, you ask?

Well, I wasn’t able to play the game that I loved, and I let it have a negative impact on me. I would sulk after games; sometimes I would cry because I wasn’t playing. Many times I wanted to quit. Because I was focusing on what I was doing wrong, I missed out on the enjoyment of my senior year, playing with my five best friends, and I will never get that time back. Instead, when faced with the adversity of not playing, I should have chosen to focus on what I could do to help my team, much like I did my junior year. At the

first sign of adversity, I cracked and let it ruin my final season of playing organized basketball rather than making the most of my situation.

When we are faced with adversity, our tendency is to stop, quit and move on to something else. However, working through these situations is where we build character, confidence and mental toughness.

As Joan Borysenko, a best-selling author and leading expert on stress and the mind/body connection once said, “We emerge into the light not by denying our pain, but by walking out through it.” The next time you are placed in a challenging situation or faced with adversity, welcome it with open arms and use it to your advantage!

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TEN FAT-BURNING FACTS

By Mark Wine BA, CSCS, USAW, PT, PES, CES

With so many diets available today, how can you tell which one is right for you? First, if you go on a diet, you will surely go off a diet. As a result, you can expect fluctuations in your results (i.e. fat levels). Therefore, dieting is not recommended. Alter your lifestyle and current diet with simple adjustments. Let’s break it down into 10 diet facts.

Fact 1: Skipping breakfast will drastically reduce your fatburning capabilities.

Fact 3: Eating the wrong foods for breakfast will result in low energy levels.

which results in poor cognitive brain function and provides less physical prowess.

Studies have proven that individuals who skip breakfast have a higher body fat percentage.

Skipping breakfast keeps your body in starvation mode, resulting in fat storage of any ingested calories. On the other hand, eating breakfast will do the exact opposite. Eating breakfast allows your body to move from starvation mode to fat-burning mode (we will get into what to eat later on).

The first thing you eat in the morning is critical. Macronutrient content of food directly affects neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain. Neurotransmitters directly affect physical and cognitive functionality. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers within the brain that carry information from brain cell to brain cell, which is vital for cognitive functionality.

Fact 4: Eating simple carbohydrates for breakfast will result in blood sugar level elevation, which will increase fat storage and lead to crashing.

Fact 2: Skipping breakfast will immediately turn your body into fat-storing mode.

When you wake up in the morning, your body is in starvation mode from its night-long fast. If you sleep the recommended seven to nine hours, then you have not consumed any calories over that period of time. Your body is looking for anything it can use to use as energy (calories).

The first thing that is digested into your body in the morning, your body will want to store it as fat. Therefore, it is imperative to immediately get out of this mode by choosing a smaller portioned meal that has the correct balance of exact macro-nutrients (protein, fats).

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“Choose a smaller sized breakfast that will get your body out of starvation mode and kick-start your metabolism.�

Studies have shown that a highprotein and healthy fat meal, which is low-glycemic in nature, can extend cognitive performance, control blood sugar, and even enhance fat burning for hours and hours. However, waking up and eating carbs/sugars first thing in the morning (banana, OJ, cereals) will generate an insulin response by spiking blood sugar levels. As a result, your body will be in fatstoring mode and your energy levels will crash. A chemical named serotonin will be elevated,

As mentioned above, eating carbohydrates that are higher glycemic will immediately elevate blood sugar levels, which results in an increase in fat storage and low energy levels. Foods such as high-sugar cereal, bananas, OJ, lactose and fruit should be avoided first thing in the morning. If you are eating any one of these items, add protein, fat, and/or fiber to the meal.

These macro-nutrients will aid in slowing down the absorption of the food (i.e. reducing the glycemic value).

Fact 5: Eating too much in the morning, and too fast, will result in a sluggish feeling and fat storage.

As mentioned before, first thing in the morning, your body is in starvation mode from its overnight fast. Therefore, eating a larger portioned meal first thing in the morning can result in a significant rise in blood sugar levels. Instead, choose a smaller sized meal that

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Choose breakfast foods such as eggs, turkey, chicken, lean grass-fed beef, salmon, almonds, dark leafy greens, legumes (beans), almonds, Brazil nuts and walnuts. will help get your body out of starvation mode and kick-start your metabolism.

Fact 6: A high-protein breakfast will enhance cognitive and energy function.

Eating a high-protein breakfast, preferably from an animal source, will help you feed the neurotransmitters dopamine and acetylcholine, as well as BCAAs. These neurotransmitters are directly linked to increased mental focus

and energy, and are produced from amino acids (protein), the fundamental building blocks of muscle within the body.

The precursor for acetylcholine is choline (found in animal protein).

Beef, eggs, chicken, turkey and seafood all provide excellent levels of choline. These meats also contain BCAAs, which can help increase memory function, reduce post-exercise fatigue, enhance protein synthesis, and keep your body in an anabolic state (lean

muscle growth).

Fact 7: Healthy fats stabilize blood sugar levels and enhance cognitive function.

Nuts provide an excellent source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which significantly enhance brain function. Nuts aid in preventing blood sugar spikes and can help stabilize blood sugar levels for prolonged periods of time.

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Fact 8: Eating breakfast results in elevated Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC), which is directly linked to fat burning.

Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC) refers to the elevated levels in metabolism post-workout, once the body has recovered a bit. The amount of calories burned during a workout is minimal compared to EPOC. EPOC has a correlative effect to nutrition. EPOC is greatest after exhausting the anaerobic energy system. Therefore, fat loss is greatest after anaerobic energy system training (resistance training) when compared to aerobic energy system training (running, cardio).

Studies have shown that EPOC is elevated significantly more when people eat breakfast and work out than those who skip breakfast and perform cardio/work out.

Fact 9: Eating breakfast enhances workouts, particularly anaerobic workouts, which can burn significantly more fat.

As mentioned in Fact 8, anaerobic exercise results in greater levels of fat burning than aerobic exercise does. Eating breakfast provides you with greater energy to perform at higher levels.

Therefore, greater intensity during workouts results in elevated EPOC. It is also important to note that lean muscle growth is a major side effect of anaerobic training.

Higher levels of lean muscle mean lower levels of fat mass.

Fact 10: Everything you know about breakfast foods is wrong.

Choose breakfast foods such as eggs, turkey, chicken, lean grassfed beef, salmon, almonds, dark leafy greens, legumes (beans), almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and various other items in these categories.

Do not neglect starches and/or grains. Starches and grains play a key role in lean muscle growth and fat burning. However, choose a carbohydrate meal, preferably oatmeal with limited lactose, an hour or two post-breakfast.

Another option is to eat this meal pre-workout, roughly two to three hours before, in order to significantly enhance your workout capabilities (especially anaerobic).

Note: carbohydrates are not bad.

The problem that people run into is portion control. When choosing your carbohydrates, stick to whole grains and/or resistant starches (rolled oats). Choose smaller portions during a single feeding.

Spread out your carbohydrate intake over numerous meals.

Another great tip is to eat fats, fibers and proteins along with carbohydrates to keep the meal’s glycemic value low.

SOURCES 1. Eat and Heal; By The Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing ©2001, 2004 2. The Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning (3rd edition). By National Strength and Conditioning Association; Editors: Thomas R. Baechle and Roger W. Earle, ©2008, 2000, 1994 3. New Vitamin Bible - revised and updated; By Earl Mindell, Rph, PhD with Hester Mundis, © 2011 Mark Wine is the CEO of Functional Muscle Fitness.

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