MARCH-APRIL 2023 FASHION ISSUE

THE FASHION ISSUE

ICONIC DESIGNER NAEEM KHAN - THE ALCHEMIST OF DREAMS

California Lifestyle Collection

Magnificent Belvedere Waterfront Home with Stunning Views of Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco

4 Beds | 5 Baths | 1 Half-Bath | ±8,131 sq. ft

Price Upon Request

Featured in Architectural Digest, this world class residence showcases panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco and Sausalito. A magnificent masterpiece in a dramatic setting, this property has a most prestigious location and is comprised of a ±8,131-squarefoot home on a ±0.67-acre lot. It features 4 bedrooms, 5 full and 2 half baths. This work of architectural art was designed by the world-renowned architect Charles Gwathmey and boasts spectacular outlooks from every corner of the expansive floor plan. The primarily vertical organization of this house takes advantage of its sloped site on the Southern coast of Belvedere Island. The uppermost level contains a 3-car garage, an elevator descends to a courtyard where you will find a detached 1 bedroom, 1 bath guest house and a wine cellar. The main house’s is situated between two large retaining walls which follow the site’s natural contours and splay outwards toward the Bay. An interior circular staircase winds around an elevator and forms a cylindrical focal point. A barrel-vaulted ceiling articulates the living and dining room at

Featured in Architectural Digest, this world-class residence showcases panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, the entire city skyline of San Francisco, and Sausalito. This magnificent masterpiece in a dramatic setting on the most prestigious location is comprised of a ±8,131 sq .ft. home on a ±0.67 acre lot, featuring 4 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. This architectural work of art was designed by architect Charles Gwathmey, with spectacular outlooks from every corner of the expansive 4-level o or plan. The primarily vertical organization of this house takes advantage of its sloped site on the southern coast of Belvedere Island. The uppermost level contains a 3-car garage with glass doors, an elevator which descends to a courtyard, a detached one bedroom, one bath guesthouse and a spacious wine cellar. The remaining levels of the main house are situated between two large retaining walls, which follow the natural contours of the site and splay outwards towards the Bay. The house’s compact organization within the precinct formed by

the retaining walls ensures privacy. An interior circular stair winds around an elevator and forms the cylindrical focal point of the house’s massing. A barrel-vaulted ceiling articulates the living and dining room at the entry level of the main house, and a large deck projects towards the Bay to extend the space into the landscape. 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a study and a two-story entertainment room occupy the intermediate oors, while a media room, a beautiful wet bar, a full bath with steam shower and sauna on the lowest level open onto a spacious outdoor terrace with a pool, whose “in nity edge” of water establishes a poetic connection to the Bay. The interior oors are limestone and wide plank, Bubinga wood and cabinets are lightly stained maple. The exterior is clad in gray stained cedar, with a curved standing seam zinc roof. All exterior windows, doors and decks are teak, all terraces are beige/gray amed limestone pavers and the retaining walls are painted warm white stucco. More photos and information can be found at: 445BelvedereAve.com

the entry level, and a large deck projects towards the bay, extending the space into the landscape. 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a study, and a two-story entertainment room occupy the intermediate floors, while a media room, a beautiful wet bar, a full bath with steam shower, and a sauna fill the lowest level which opens onto a spacious outdoor terrace with an infinity pool on the edge of San Francisco Bay. The interior floors are limestone and wide plank Bubinga wood, and cabinets are lightly stained maple. The exterior is clad in gray stained cedar and a curved, standing seam, zinc roof. All exterior windows, doors, and decks are teak; all terraces are paved in beige or gray-flamed limestone; and the retaining walls are painted a warm white stucco. The home is a state-of-the-art smart house within walking distance of the San Francisco Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club, and downtown Tiburon where you will find ferry services to San Francisco and Angel Island and dozens of fine restaurants, including Michael Mina’s Bungalow Kitchen, and French Bistro Left Bank.

More photos and information can be found at: 445BelvedereAve.com

Two Prime Lots with Panoramic Views Belvedere, CA

Two Prime Lots with Panoramic Views Belvedere, CA

Two Prime Lots with Panoramic Views

2 Lots | Approx 1 Acre

2 Lots | Approx 1 Acre

$18,995,000

$18,995,000

111-117 Belvedere Ave, Belvedere, CA

2 Lots | Approx 1 Acre

111-117 Belvedere Ave, Belvedere, CA

$18,995,000

Located on the prestigious Belvedere Island’s South side, these 2 rare waterfront lots total one acre with boathouse and boat dock have magnificent views from San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito to Mt. Tam with ever changing views of sailing yachts, sparkling

111-117 Belvedere Ave, Belvedere, CA

Located on the prestigious Belvedere Island’s South side, these 2 rare waterfront lots total one acre with boathouse and boat dock have magnificent views from San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito to Mt. Tam with ever changing views of sailing yachts, sparkling

Located on the prestigious Belvedere Island’s South side, these 2 rare waterfront lots total one acre with boathouse and boat dock have magnificent views from San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito to Mt. Tam with ever changing views of sailing yachts, sparkling

evening lights, stunning sunsets and a level area at water’s edge with unobstructed panoramic views. This is a very rare opportunity to build a waterfront estate with privacy, and accessible by both water and land. Price includes two parcels 060-181-34 and 060-181-35 totaling approximately 1 acre.

evening lights, stunning sunsets and a level area at water’s edge with unobstructed panoramic views. This is a very rare opportunity to build a waterfront estate with privacy, and accessible by both water and land.

Price includes two parcels 060-181-34 and 060-181-35 totaling approximately 1 acre.

For More Information, Call or Text Olivia Decker at 415.720.5915

For More Information, Call or Text Olivia Decker at 415.720.5915

evening lights, stunning sunsets and a level area at water’s edge with unobstructed panoramic views. This is a very rare opportunity to build a waterfront estate with privacy, and accessible by both water and land. Price includes two parcels 060-181-34 and 060-181-35 totaling approximately 1 acre. For

Olivia Hsu Decker | SanFranciscoFineHomes.com

California Lifestyle Collection

Fabulous Tiburon View Home Tiburon, California

Fabulous Tiburon View Home Tiburon, California

4 Beds | 2 Baths | 1 Half-Bath | 3,878± sq. ft. $7,995,000

4 Beds | 2 Baths | 1 Half-Bath |

This fabulous residence is a perfect contemporary design with high ceilings and wall to wall windows to showcase the magni cent panoramic views from Bay Bridge, San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Belvedere, downtown Tiburon and Sausalito. Located in a premier Tiburon location, with every room oriented towards the awe-inspiring view and natural light, this newly remodeled stylish 3,878± sq ft 4 bedroom home is an entertainer’s dream! The spacious living room with replace and wetbar, huge family room with replace and attached deck, the dining room with open beam high ceiling and 2 story windows overlooking the breathtaking views o er a dramatic dining experience. The stylish kitchen features ne Quartzite countertops, large center island, breakfast area, Spanish handmade tile oor and top-of-the-line appliances. The double oven is

This fabulous residence is a perfect contemporary design with high ceilings and wall to wall windows to showcase the magni cent panoramic views from Bay Bridge, San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Belvedere, downtown Tiburon and Sausalito. Located in a premier Tiburon location, with every room oriented towards the awe-inspiring view and natural light, this newly remodeled stylish 3,878± sq ft 4 bedroom home is an entertainer’s dream! The spacious living room with replace and wetbar, huge family room with replace and attached deck, the dining room with open beam high ceiling and 2 story windows overlooking the breathtaking views o er a dramatic dining experience. The stylish kitchen features ne Quartzite countertops, large center island, breakfast area, Spanish handmade tile oor and top-of-the-line appliances. The double oven is

equipped to be preheated from anywhere using the app. Primary bedroom features a large sitting area with wall to wall windows for perfect views and primary bathroom has a steam shower and state-of-the-art heating system and Quartzite vanities with walk-in closet. Bathrooms are equipped with brass faucets and tile oor handmade by Italian artisans. Other features include an o ce, a spacious laundry room with sink and 2-car garage. The close proximity to downtown Tiburon’s shops, restaurants, waterfront pathways, Angel Island and San Francisco ferries, the prestigious Corinthian and San Francisco Yacht Clubs gives every resident the remarkable sensation of vacationing at home!

equipped to be preheated from anywhere using the app. Primary bedroom features a large sitting area with wall to wall windows for perfect views and primary bathroom has a steam shower and state-of-the-art heating system and Quartzite vanities with walk-in closet. Bathrooms are equipped with brass faucets and tile oor handmade by Italian artisans. Other features include an o ce, a spacious laundry room with sink and 2-car garage. The close proximity to downtown Tiburon’s shops, restaurants, waterfront pathways, Angel Island and San Francisco ferries, the prestigious Corinthian and San Francisco Yacht Clubs gives every resident the remarkable sensation of vacationing at home!

More photos and info available at 23Venado.com

More photos and info available at 23Venado.com

California Lifestyle Collection

California Lifestyle Collection

41.76± acres Vineyard Estate with 30± acres of High-Quality Vines

41.76± acres Vineyard Estate with 30± acres of High-Quality Vines

41.76± acres Vineyard Estate with 30± acres of High-Quality Vines

3265 Soda Canyon Road Napa

5 Beds | 4 Baths | 41.76± Acres | 5,487± sq. ft. Residence

5 Beds | 4 Baths | 41.76± Acres | 5,487± sq. ft. Residence

Napa, California

Napa, California

Napa, California

Offered at $14,999,000

Offered at $14,999,000

Entering the stately iron gate and tall Italian cypress tree-lined driveway, you will nd this enchanting private vineyard estate prominently sited on 41.76± acres in the Atlas Peak wine region with 30± acres of high-quality vineyard with the best soil. Complexed wines grow on Soda Canyon peak, known for the best rocky soil with undulating elevations. The vineyard includes 18.45± acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.23± acres of Merlot, 2.88± acres of Malbec, 1.33± acres of Zinfandel, 1.98± acres of Sauvignon Blanc, 0.87± acre of Tempranillo and 1.42± acres ready for replant. This spacious 5,487± squarefoot residence with timeless wine country architecture features ve bedrooms, four baths over three oors with large windows in each room facing the panoramic views of vineyard, hills, natural and beyond, and the bright sunlight shines through every room and brings the warmth and charm of wine country living. The open kitchen features the nest materials with a large granite countertop island with a dining bar. The formal dining area faces the magni cent view of the vineyards, a perfect place for hosting dinner events

5 Beds | 4 Baths | 41.76± Acres | 5,487± sq. ft. Residence

Entering the stately iron gate and tall Italian cypress tree-lined driveway, you will nd this enchanting private vineyard estate prominently sited on 41.76± acres in the Atlas Peak wine region with 30± acres of high-quality vineyard with the best soil. Complexed wines grow on Soda Canyon peak, known for the best rocky soil with undulating elevations. The vineyard includes 18.45± acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.23± acres of Merlot, 2.88± acres of Malbec, 1.33± acres of Zinfandel, 1.98± acres of Sauvignon Blanc, 0.87± acre of Tempranillo and 1.42± acres ready for replant. This spacious 5,487± squarefoot residence with timeless wine country architecture features ve bedrooms, four baths over three oors with large windows in each room facing the panoramic views of vineyard, hills, natural and beyond, and the bright sunlight shines through every room and brings the warmth and charm of wine country living. The open kitchen features the nest materials with a large granite countertop island with a dining bar. The formal dining area faces the magni cent view of the vineyards, a perfect place for hosting dinner events

Entering the stately iron gate and tall Italian cypress tree-lined driveway, you will nd this enchanting private vineyard estate prominently sited on 41.76± acres in the Atlas Peak wine region with 30± acres of high-quality vineyard with the best soil. Complexed wines grow on Soda Canyon peak, known for the best rocky soil with undulating elevations. The vineyard includes 18.45± acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.23± acres of Merlot, 2.88± acres of Malbec, 1.33± acres of Zinfandel, 1.98± acres of Sauvignon Blanc, 0.87± acre of Tempranillo and 1.42± acres ready for replant. This spacious 5,487± squarefoot residence with timeless wine country architecture features ve bedrooms, four baths over three oors with large windows in each room facing the panoramic views of vineyard, hills, natural and beyond, and the bright sunlight shines through every room and brings the warmth and charm of wine country living. The open kitchen features the nest materials with a large granite countertop island with a dining bar. The formal dining area faces the magni cent view of the vineyards, a perfect place for hosting dinner events

and gatherings. Enjoy a glass of wine in the living room, with replace and attached large deck showcasing the panoramic vineyard view and the dramatic vistas of the sunrise and sunset over vineyards. The Master bedroom located at the end of the hall on the second oor features a marble bathroom, walk-in closets, replace, and large windows facing the dramatic view of vineyards and beyond, bringing privacy, peace, and tranquility. The two guest bedrooms located at the other end of the hall on the second oor each feature a bathroom. Two more bedrooms on the third- oor feature vaulted ceilings and panoramic views of the hills and vineyard. There is a wine cellar, 2-car garage and a laundry room. There is also a separate red barn which serves as an o ce building for vineyard manager and sta . The home is equipped with AT&T Fiber high speed internet and security cameras in front and back of the house, as well as the basement. The grapes produced at this vineyard are sold to prime wineries in Napa Valley.

Offered at $14,999,000

and gatherings. Enjoy a glass of wine in the living room, with replace and attached large deck showcasing the panoramic vineyard view and the dramatic vistas of the sunrise and sunset over vineyards. The Master bedroom located at the end of the hall on the second oor features a marble bathroom, walk-in closets, replace, and large windows facing the dramatic view of vineyards and beyond, bringing privacy, peace, and tranquility. The two guest bedrooms located at the other end of the hall on the second oor each feature a bathroom. Two more bedrooms on the third- oor feature vaulted ceilings and panoramic views of the hills and vineyard. There is a wine cellar, 2-car garage and a laundry room. There is also a separate red barn which serves as an o ce building for vineyard manager and sta . The home is equipped with AT&T Fiber high speed internet and security cameras in front and back of the house, as well as the basement. The grapes produced at this vineyard are sold to prime wineries in Napa Valley.

3265 Soda Canyon Road, Napa | 3265SodaCanyon.com

3265 Soda Canyon Road, Napa | 3265SodaCanyon.com

and gatherings. Enjoy a glass of wine in the living room, with replace and attached large deck showcasing the panoramic vineyard view and the dramatic vistas of the sunrise and sunset over vineyards. The Master bedroom located at the end of the hall on the second oor features a marble bathroom, walk-in closets, replace, and large windows facing the dramatic view of vineyards and beyond, bringing privacy, peace, and tranquility. The two guest bedrooms located at the other end of the hall on the second oor each feature a bathroom. Two more bedrooms on the third- oor feature vaulted ceilings and panoramic views of the hills and vineyard. There is a wine cellar, 2-car garage and a laundry room. There is also a separate red barn which serves as an o ce building for vineyard manager and sta . The home is equipped with AT&T Fiber high speed internet and security cameras in front and back of the house, as well as the basement. The grapes produced at this vineyard are sold to prime wineries in Napa Valley.

3265 Soda Canyon Road, Napa | 3265SodaCanyon.com

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IT’S OUR ANNUAL FASHION ISSUE AGAIN! MY EDITOR TERESA AND I made our New York Fashion Week trip on February 9 through 14 and got a lot of fashionable articles. To start, we visited the atelier and showroom of Naeem Kahn and had a great exclusive interview with him for our cover story. Teresa also attended his fabulous fashion show on February 14. We hung out with and interviewed 27-year-old designer Andrew Kwon at the exquisite Baccarat Hotel. He booked the whole hotel for his fashion show. We attended the amazing, 45-outfit Carolina Herrera show, toured her atelier, attended the VIP reception, and chatted with young artistic director Wes Gordon of Herrera fashion brand.

In addition, we feature Louis Vuitton’s 2023 Spring/Summer Collection of women’s fashion (pages 58-67) and introduce Christian Dior’s New Lady 95.22, a renaissance of the classic Lady Dior bag almost three decades after its debut (pages 74-83). We also interviewed three of the Bay Area’s style mavens who offered stylish advice. There are a designer shopping guide and articles on fashionable hotels.

For Haute Events, we cover the San Francisco Ballet’s Gala which opened the company’s 2023 season on February 19. We report the exclusive Breakfast at Tiffany’s Experience generously donated by Tiffany & Co. to the San Francisco Opera Guild’s annual fashion show fundraising auction. I was the winning bidder and enjoyed this unique event with 10 of my New York friends. We also share with you the romantic Valentine’s Day concert with Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito. The concert was presented by the Olivia Decker Power of Music Series with Festival Napa Valley.

Please don’t miss reading our ambassador articles on luxury cars, health and wellness, beauty and skincare, and fashion icons. This is a glamorous and fashionable issue that you will want to read from cover to cover. The only sad news in this issue is the passing of my mother on February 28. She was a stylish woman who lived to nearly 100 years old (my memoriam on page 119). Her death reminds me to live every day to the fullest, as we only live once!

PUBLISHER

Olivia Hsu Decker Olivia@HauteLivingSF.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Teresa Rodriguez

Teresa@HauteLivingSF.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Michelle Restante Michelle@HauteLivingSF.com

DIGITAL EDITOR

Laurie Jo Miller Farr Laurie@HauteLivingSF.com

COPY EDITOR

Karen M. Smith henhousepublishing@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jennifer Boden, Laurie Jo Miller Farr, Adrienne Faurote, Becca Hensley, Steph Keay, Fran Endicott Miller, Robert B. Richards, and Sharon Seto

ABOUT TOWN AMBASSADOR

Aubrey Brewster

HEALTH & WELLNESS AMBASSADOR

Lydia Graham

BEAUTY & LIFESTYLE AMBASSADOR

Karen M. Horton, MD, FACS

LUXURY AUTO AMBASSADOR

Tim Lappen TL@JMBM.com

SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES

Olivia Hsu Decker Olivia@HauteLivingSF.com

AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE Cindy Pelland Cindy@HauteLivingSF.com

Haute Living San Francisco Visit us at www.HauteLivingSF.com

Follow us @HauteLivingSF for your guide to all things haute

ON

Chef Nicolas Delaroque and wife Andrea share a taste of French culture via their modern épicerie and café, Nico Maison.

20 HAUTE SHOPPING

Find the most au courant fashions in the 19th century neighborhood of Jackson Square.

22 HAUTE CUISINE

Hospitality and simplicity reign at Ernest, the dining experience where chef Brandon Rice is king.

26 HAUTE GIFTS

Bay Area fashionistas go giddy over these stylish wardrobe accents.

28 COVER STORY

Naeem Khan’s life reads almost like a fairy tale, and he brings that magic to fashion design.

HAUTE PROFILES

36 Young, dynamic fashion designer Andrew Kwon aims to give women fabulous “red carpet” moments.

40 The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival boasts international icons in modern literature: Isabel Allende, Hugo Vickers, Dave Barry, and Abraham Verghese. Here’s what they have to say.

HAUTE TRAVEL

46 The utmost in getting away from it all is Wailea: relax, enjoy, learn, refresh.

50 Every fashion designer has a distinctive flair, and you know which designer best fits you. A luxury hotel suite paying homage to your favorite designer is like visiting an old friend. Check out these establishments where you can do just that.

54 HAUTE HOTEL

After touring NYC’s art museums, immerse youself in the artful and art-filled luxury of the Baccarat Hotel New York.

HAUTE TRAVEL

HAUTE FASHION

CONTENTS

HAUTE FASHION

58 Louis Vuitton flirts with the past in the spring/summer 2023 Icon collection of women’s fashion.

68 Embrace the power and creativity of couture fashion at these events held around the globe.

70 Messika, Oscar Heyman, and Verdura speak to the inspiration and innovation of their iconic jewelry.

74 Introducing the New Lady 95.22, a renaissance of the classic Lady Dior bag almost three decades after its debut.

84 Three Bay Area style mavens—Elyse Walker, Helen Lyiall, and Heidi Sabelhaus Myers—offer advice for the always stylish.

HAUTE EVENT

88 The annual SF Ballet Gala opens the company’s 2023 season with excerpts from the next@90 festival and a world premier.

90 After a 3-year hiatus, the San Francisco Symphony celebrates the Lunar New Year in grand style with a vibrant Asian influence.

91 Better than the movie, an exclusive Breakfast at Tiffany’s Experience exceeds expectations.

92 The Olivia Decker Power of Music series sponsors a Valentine’s Day concert with tenor Pasquale Esposito at The St. Regis.

94 HAUTE MOVES

Tim Lappen puts the supercharged supercar, the Pininfarina Battista, through its paces and wins.

98 HAUTE BEAUTY

Haute couture comes to cosmetics. These fashion designers have you covered from eyeshadow to polished toenails.

100 HAUTE WELLNESS

Seven of the nation’s top creative minds share their tips for sustaining their creative output.

104 HAUTE RESIDENCE

This family home on Belvedere Island meets every requirement for privacy, exclusivity, and quality, plus panoramic views.

HAUTE AMBASSADOR

108 Lydia Graham exhorts us to live long and stay young through a habit of lifelong learning.

110 Man-about-town Aubrey Brewster reminisces on his favorite fashion icons.

114 Nonsurgical skin improvement options help you refresh yourself for spring.

116 Art After Dark in Napa illuminates streets, buildings, and minds with sculptural displays of illuminated art.

118 IN MEMORIAM

Our publisher, Olivia Decker, writes a moving tribute to her mother.

HAUTE FASHION

HAUTE BEAUTY

TERESA RODRIGUEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Five years ago this month, Olivia and I went to dinner to discuss the future of Haute Living, San Francisco. Olivia envisioned reviving the national brand in Northern California to showcase the luxury lifestyle while focusing on the community, charities, and change-makers. I was honored that she chose me to join her on this journey of thousands of words. Ironically, there’s an inside joke in the publishing industry: “Working for a magazine is like being Sisyphus.” Let me refresh your Greek Mythology 101. Sisyphus is the guy who pushes a boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down. Then he gets to do it again and again for eternity. That’s the nature of the magazine industry. The moment we get a magazine on the press, we’re rolling another boulder up the editorial hill. I’ve spent nearly two decades working for magazines and wouldn’t have it any other way. For every issue, we get to dream, discover, brainstorm, and create content that will inspire you.

Regarding inspiration, Olivia and I were about to return to New York City for Fashion Week. We haven’t been since COVID-19, so it was wonderful to reconnect with our friends in the fashion industry. One of our highlights was spending time with iconic designer Naeem Khan. He is an international sensation, an extraordinary designer, and a fascinating gentleman. We spent an afternoon with him in his atelier 48 hours before his fashion show, and it was a testament to what a generous and insightful person he is. You can read all about Naeem Khan in our cover story on page 28.

Another highlight of Fashion Week was my interview with up-and-coming fashion designer Andrew Kwon, thanks to Vicki Winston Maloney, a personal stylist at Neiman Marcus. We met at the famed Baccarat Hotel. I’m excited to watch his rise in the fashion world, and I feel so lucky to have an exclusive with him (page 36).

While I adore fashion, my heart beats for books, and authors are the blood that runs through my academic veins. So, when I got the rare opportunity to interview some of my favorite bestselling authors, I was overjoyed. You can read about their lives and latest book projects on page 40.

Planning on traveling and want more fashion? On page 68, Laurie Jo Miller Farr shares the best upcoming fashion-related museum exhibitions worldwide. Becca Hensley takes us on a tour of the spectacular Baccarat Hotel, a hot activity spot during Fashion Week (page 54). Finally, for some delicious dining in San Francisco, join Fran Miller as she dines at Ernest, the elevated-casual restaurant from star chef Brandon Rice (page 22).

To get the latest in society news, cuisines, and travel delivered weekly, sign up for our newsletter at HauteLivingSF.com.

Have a wonderful spring,

Counterclockwise From Top Left: Baccarat Hotel New York; Ernest San Francisco; Dior Lady 95.22 bag

BECCA HENSLEY

A bon vivant journalist who believes travel is the ultimate celebration of life awash with lessons waiting to be learned, widely-published, Texasbased Becca Hensley is travel editor for New Orleans Bride and editor-at-large for Insider’s Guide to Spas In a career spanning three decades, she has contributed to scores of magazines and newspapers, including Architectural Digest, Elite Traveler, Global Traveler, Conde Nast Traveler, and the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @beccahensley.

SHARON SETO

A graduate of Golden Gate University and serial entrepreneur, Sharon loves the excitement and creativity of the business world and its people. Her addiction to business ventures began with the acquisition of the El Cid Building, site of the famous SF Jazz Mural. She has served as a board member, fundraiser, and event chair for nonprofit organizations, including the SF Symphony Board of Governors, City College of San Francisco Foundation Board, Red Cross Board, National Colorectal Cancer Alliance Board, SF Ballet, and Dress for Success.

JENNIFER BODEN

Jennifer is a freelance wine, food, and travel writer based in beautiful Sonoma County. She has an extensive career in journalism. She contributes to KRON 4 News San Francisco, ABC 10News San Diego, and others. Prior to her writing career, she worked for several network affiliates as a news anchor and executive producer. She earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University’s prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

CLAUDIA ROSS

Rooted in California and having earned her degree at UCSB, Claudia Ross is living her best life in Knights Valley after leaving behind a career in public relations as the founder of Cross Marketing and former director of Harper’s BAZAAR and Marie Claire. She has worked with the world’s most iconic luxury brands. The owner and vintner of Ross Ranch, a working farm and vineyard producing a farm-to-table experience, Ross now enjoys sharing thoughtful insights into the world of wine country life, both socially and agriculturally.

TIM LAPPEN

A lifelong petrol-holic, mechanic (cars, motorcycles, boats), and automotive journalist since penning a column for his high school newspaper, internationally recognized attorney Tim Lappen is a partner at a major Los Angeles-based law firm where he chairs the firm’s Family Office Group and its Luxury Home Group and is, of course, a member of its Motor Vehicle Group. He can be reached at tlappen@gmail.com or visit LifeInTheFastLane.org

AUBREY BREWSTER

Aubrey, a bon vivant and manabout-town, is a product of his environment. His affinity for cooking, fashion, and entertaining was inherited from summer vacations shared in Charleston, West Virginia with his southern belle model-turned-hostess grandmother. It should come with no surprise that he followed in his grandmother’s footsteps, with an inherent talent for hosting legendary parties. He is often listed among San Francisco’s best dressed. Aubrey is a San Francisco native, traveler, and food and lifestyle blogger (aubreyabouttown.com). He resides in San Francisco with his husband, Edward. Aubrey can be found enjoying afternoons lunching with friends at Neiman Marcus and some of San Francisco’s favorite haunts when not hosting or attending events.

Lydia is an enthusiastic advocate and explorer of healthy living. She has launched and positioned health and wellness companies, products, technologies, and organizations receiving more than 100 awards nationally and internationally. Her favorite focus is on healthy living and healthy longevity. She sits on the board of the Buck Institute for Research and Aging whose mission is to eliminate the threat of age-related disease for today’s and future generations. Like the scientists at the Buck, Graham envisions it will be possible for people to enjoy life at 95 as much as at 25. She reminds us in her articles that what we do each day matters in our journey to achieve optimal wellbeing.

LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

Laurie is a US/UK dual citizen and dedicated urbanite who loves walkable cities. As a San Francisco-based travel writer, she enjoys views from its crazy, signature hills following half-alifetime promoting her two hometowns—a couple of oh-so-flat places: New York City and London. Laurie’s byline is found in USA Today , CBS, Where Traveler , Haute Living , Epicure , Fast Company , Napa Valley Life Magazine , Food & Travel Magazine , Eater , Google Touring Bird , and other major media titles. She was awarded Yahoo Contributor of the Year and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers.

Fran Endicott Miller is a luxury-focused freelance feature writer for a variety of lifestyle publications and websites, editor-atlarge for JustLuxe.com, and California editor for luxury travel concierge service Essentialist. Prior, she held positions in the fields of politics, television, and professional sports. She is proud to have established the Golden State Warriors’ first community relations department and programs. When not traveling, she can be found walking her Northern California neighborhood with her beloved golden retrievers, Reggie and Nate.

Steph Keay is a Canadian freelance and technical writer currently based in Silicon Valley. After completing her Bachelor of Commerce in her hometown of Calgary, Alberta, she spent a summer in Croatia assisting The Yacht Week with events management on the islands of Hvar and Vis. Formerly in PR/marketing, she has also placed stories for a variety of clients—including tech leaders, international artists, and acclaimed actors and musicians—with ABC, FOX, NBC, San Francisco Chronicle, The Mercury News, American Way, and others. In her spare time, she enjoys adventuring, photography, and travel—all of which she documents on on her website, StephKeay.com.

LYDIA GRAHAM

FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

STEPH KEAY

EVENTS CALENDAR

MARCH

THROUGH MAY 1

Asian Art Museum | Color Trip: Yoshida Hokada’s Modern Prints

Fifty colorful works by an influential Japanese artist from a family famed for travel and nature prints blending Japanese and Western artistic styles, this is a first-ever U.S. solo exhibition by Yoshida Hokada. exhibitions.asianart.org

THROUGH MAY 14

Legion of Honor | Sargent and Spain

Churches, coastlines, gardens, royal palaces, dancing—vibrant works by the prolific artist John Singer Sargent (1856–1925). Immerse yourself in the rich culture of Spain in this exhibition’s exclusive stop on the West Coast. famsf.org

3

Women Behind Wente

Featuring Food Network chef Kathy Fang of Chef Dynasty: House of Fang, a 4-course dinner paired to limited release wines, to benefit Dress for Success San Francisco Bay Area. 5050 Arroyo Rd., Livermore. wentevineyards.com/events/womenbehind-wente-dinner

3–5

Barrel Tasting Weekend

See you in the cellars. This annual 3-day event is an opportunity to buy “futures” in wine while learning about the process directly from winemakers representing 60-plus Sonoma County wineries. WineRoad.com

5

Wine Country Women Brunch & Wine Tasting Margareth “Maggie” Henriquez, newly appointed CEO of French luxury glassmaker Baccarat, is the keynote speaker at the inaugural International Women’s Day event, an intimate fundraiser to benefit Wine Country Women scholarships. Held at Stanly Ranch, an Auberge Resort Collection property. winecountrywomen.com/product/ womens-day-brunch

9–12

SFJAZZ | Women’s History Month Celebration

Female artists: Trumpeter Kate Williams makes her debut as a bandleader; singer and harpist Destiny Muhammed returns with her latest project; Oakland bassist, composer, and creative catalyst Caroline Chung leads Citizens Jazz; and singer Lori Carsillo sheds new light on the American Songbook. sfjazz.org

“In like a lion, out like a lamb.” The proverb reminds us that spring brings a robust season of galas, events, music, dance, film, theater, and more. Note: Recognized by the United Nations since 1977, Women’s Day is March 8 and Easter Sunday falls on April 9.

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

Alanis Morissette

A Yoshida Hokada print at the Asian Art Museum

16–26

Oakland Restaurant Week

Explore, indulge, dine in, or take out. Special offers, custom menus, and unique menu items created especially for Oakland Restaurant Week. Enjoy neighborhood gems, favorite food trucks, Michelin star restaurants, and everything in between. visitoakland.com

18

18th Anniversary Gala, Dress For Success

Casino Royale is an evening of fun festivities to celebrate 18 years and the more than 11,000 women served by Dress for Success San Francisco. 6 p.m. Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery. sfdress.org/ fundraising-events/casino-royale-gala

18 through Oct. 15

de Young Museum | Kehinde Wiley: An Archeology of Silence

The first U.S. institution presenting the artist’s meditation on violence against Black bodies, a collection of 26 large-scale works. Kehinde Wiley is also known for her official presidential portrait of Barack Obama. famsf.org

20

Opera House Tour

In a once-a-year event, book to go behind the scenes. Dennis Hudson, former SF Ballet master electrician, escorts a tour of the War Memorial Opera House, a 1932 Beaux-Arts building. 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. 455 Franklin St. sfballet.org/ productions/opera-house-tour

22–26

26th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival

Dive into the best in film, food, wine, and fun. The nonprofit event is dedicated to promoting independent film, supporting filmmakers around the world, and inspiring film lovers—all in a walkable setting in downtown Sonoma. SIFF|Devour! Chefs & Shorts Dinner on 3/23 with special guest and honoree, chef Martin Yan; chef Joanne Weir’s Wine Country Cooking Luncheon on 3/25. sonomafilmfest.org

22–26

Golden Gate Theatre |

A heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and timeless traditions around faith and family. The original production has won 10 Tony Awards, including one for the longest running Broadway musical of all time. 1 Taylor St., broadwaysf.com

24

28th Annual American Red Cross Gala

In support of its humanitarian mission, “Hope in a Changing World” is the theme for this year’s signature fundraiser for 300-plus notables and honorees. Haute Living, San Francisco is a proud media sponsor. California Academy of Sciences. redcross.org/redcrossgalasf

24–25

San Francisco Symphony | Films With Live Orchestra

In 2018, Marvel Studios’ Black Panther became a global sensation. Anthony Parnther conducts the symphony orchestra in Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar®-winning score. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. sfsymphony.org

24–26

17th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival Say cheese! Three full days of tasting, education, and celebration bring together artisan cheesemakers, farmers, chefs, brewers, winemakers, distillers, and cheese enthusiasts for events throughout Marin and Sonoma counties. artisancheesefestival.com

25

14th Annual ‘Notes & Words’ Benefit Grammy-award winning musician Alanis Morissette headlines as musicians and bestselling authors gather for an evening of entertainment with 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. At the historic Fox Theater, Oakland. notesandwords.org/tickets

31 through Jul 10

Asian Art Museum | Beyond Bollywood: 2000 Years of Dance in Art

For the first time in a U.S. museum, audiences can experience the critical interplay between visual arts and dance in the Indian cultural sphere, from ancient rituals to the glamor of Bollywood. exhibitions.asianart.org

PHOTOS: AMERICAN RED CROSS GALA (LEFT), , TEMPLON, PARIS

BRUSSELS

NEW YORK. PHOTO/ UGO CARMENI (RIGHT)

American Red Cross Gala

Sleep by Kehindl Wiley

APRIL

2 SMUIN

The contemporary ballet presents an afternoon family style luncheon catered by The Girl & The Fig and followed by a private performance. Fundraiser at The Barrel Room, Roche Winery, 22097 Bonness Road, Sonoma. classy.org/event/friends-of-smuinapril-2023-fundraiser/e460414

3

Stanford Live | Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott

After a chance meeting in 1978, acclaimed pianist Kathryn Stott and renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma continue their decades-long collaboration. Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford University. live. stanford.edu

7 San Francisco Ballet | Nite Out

The future of ballet is coming NEXT@90 to celebrate the Ballet’s 90th anniversary. A longstanding celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, Nite Out is a Cinderella-themed drag ball that follows an evening dance performance of Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. sfballet.org.

11–23

Golden Gate Theatre | Come from Away Broadway’s hit musical from Canada takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. 1 Taylor St. broadwaysf.com

14

San Francisco Performances | Emerson String Quartet

In a final tour, one of the world’s great musical ensembles closes out 40-plus years with a program featuring Purcell/Britten, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Herbst Theatre. 401 Van Ness Ave. sfperformances.org

19

SFMOMA | Art Bash

To support the museum’s education and community programs, this year’s party kicks off with cocktails, dinner, and an art auction. All seven floors of the museum provide surprising encounters, musical performances, and immersive art experiences until 1 a.m. sfmoma.org/event/series/artbash

20–23

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay | Global Cuisine Series

Chef Rachel Haggstrom of The Restaurant at Michelin-starred JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles collaborates with Navio’s chef de cuisine Francisco Simón. exploretock.com/navio

25–30

Orpheum Theatre | Pretty Woman: The Musical

Based on the hit 1990 movie, the contemporary romantic story comes to life on the live stage following a record-breaking run on Broadway. 1192 Market St., broadwaysf.com.

26

The Commonwealth Club | Saving the City

Ron Blatman in conversation with author George Hammond, Conversations with Socrates, focuses on urban development in an effort to create better places. “You will never look at cities the same way again.” 110 The Embarcadero. commonwealthclub. org/events

27–30

San Francisco Symphony | Joshua Bell

Plays Sibelius

Two of the composer’s perennial favorites include Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, one of the greatest showpieces of all time. Celebrated Grammy Awardwinning violinist Joshua Bell performs in a program led by Dalia Stasevska in her local debut. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. sfsymphony.org

28–30

6th Annual Sonoma Authors Festival

Stimulating the mind, nurturing the soul. A 3-day weekend lecture series brings people together to hear authors from a variety of literary genres. Main tent speakers include Isabel Allende, Dave Barry, Frank Brown, John Hering, Ada Limon, Bill Milliken, Abraham Verghese, and Hugo Vickers. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. svauthorsfest.org

29 through May 29

44th Annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase

The West Coast’s premier design showhouse event is renowned for featuring the work of the region’s top interior and landscape designers. Proceeds benefit the University High School financial aid program. 625 El Camino Del Mar, Sea Cliff. decoratorshowcase.org

Isabel Allende

Pretty Woman

PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) BOB STENDE, BROADWAYSF.COM, JURGEN FRANK, PHILLIP KNOTT

The Emerson String Quartet

Joshua Bell

APRIL 28-30, 2023 -

APRIL 28-30, 2023 - FAIRMONT SONOMA MISSION INN &

APRIL 28-30, 2023 - FAIRMONT

APRIL 28-30, 2023 - FAIRMONT SONOMA MISSION INN & SPA

SONOMA MISSION INN & SPA

APRIL 28-30, 2023 - FAIRMONT SONOMA MISSION INN & SPA

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS*

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS*

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS*

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS*

A Wine Country Weekend Like No Other

A Wine Country Weekend

A Wine Country Weekend

A Wine Country Weekend

A Wine Country Weekend Like No Other

Like No Other

Like No Other

Like No Other

Discover a 3-day weekend lecture series that features over 20 authors from a variety of literary genres as well as talks by leaders in science, technology, and medicine. Curated to stimulate the minds and nurture the souls of readers and those who love to learn, the Festival is held at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, a beautiful, welcoming sanctuary that treats guests with warmth and genuine hospitality at the healing site of geothermal mineral springs. *

Discover a 3-day weekend lecture series that features over 20 authors from a variety of literary genres as well as talks by leaders in science, technology, and medicine. Curated to stimulate the minds and nurture the souls of readers and those who love to learn, the Festival is held at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, a beautiful, welcoming sanctuary that treats guests with warmth and genuine hospitality at the healing site of geothermal mineral springs. *

Discover a 3-day weekend lecture series that features over 20 authors from a variety of literary genres as well as talks by leaders in science, technology, and medicine. Curated to stimulate the minds and nurture the souls of readers and those who love to learn, the Festival is held at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, a beautiful, welcoming sanctuary that treats guests with warmth and genuine hospitality at the healing site of geothermal mineral springs.

Discover a 3-day weekend lecture series that features over 20 authors from a variety of literary genres as well as talks by leaders in science, technology, and medicine. Curated to stimulate the minds and nurture the souls of readers and those who love to learn, the Festival is held at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, a beautiful, welcoming sanctuary that treats guests with warmth and genuine hospitality at the healing site of geothermal mineral springs.

Discover a 3-day weekend lecture series that features over 20 authors from a variety of literary genres as well as talks by leaders in science, technology, and medicine. Curated to stimulate the minds and nurture the souls of readers and those who love to learn, the Festival is held at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, a beautiful, welcoming sanctuary that treats guests with warmth and genuine hospitality at the healing site of geothermal mineral springs.

More details: svauthorsfest.org

More details: svauthorsfest.org

More details: svauthorsfest.org

More details: svauthorsfest.org

More details: svauthorsfest.org

Isabel Allende Abraham Verghese Dave Barry

Ada Limón John Hering Stacy Schiff

Erich Schwartzel

Hugo Vickers

Danielle Feinberg

Isabel Allende Abraham Verghese Dave Barry

Ada Limón John Hering Stacy Schiff

Erich Schwartzel

Hugo Vickers

Danielle Feinberg

SPA

Isabel Allende Abraham Verghese Dave Barry

Ada Limón John Hering Stacy Schiff

Erich Schwartzel

Hugo Vickers Philip Taubman

Soyoung Lee Stephen Kotkin

Danielle Feinberg Jeffrey Brown

John Dalton Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

SONOMA MISSION INN & SPA

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS*

Isabel Allende Abraham Verghese Dave Barry

Ada Limón John Hering Stacy Schiff

Erich Schwartzel

Hugo Vickers

Philip Taubman

Soyoung Lee

Stephen Kotkin

Danielle Feinberg

Jeffrey Brown

John Dalton Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

Jeffrey Brown / Erik Larson - 2022

Isabel Allende Abraham Verghese Dave Barry

Ada Limón John Hering Stacy Schiff

Erich Schwartzel

Hugo Vickers

Philip Taubman

Soyoung Lee

Stephen Kotkin

Danielle Feinberg

Jeffrey Brown

John Dalton Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

The Main Tent

Walter Isaacson - 2021

Jeffrey Brown / Erik Larson - 2022

Your’e the RAISIN I SMILE.

BY SHARON SETO

I’M SUCH A LUCKY GIRL, LIVING NEAR NORTH BEACH WHICH is steeped in rich history and home to vibrant restaurants, bars, and a ton of cafés and cool establishments. I often hum happily as I step out the door to enjoy my “hood” in the city. Nestled here is a neighborhood gem, one of my favorite places to go for the most delicious French pastries—Maison Nico.

Nicolas Delaroque is a Michelin-starred, classically trained French chef and the owner of Maison Nico, a modern épicerie and café specializing in the traditional French culinary art of pâté en croûte (pâté in a pastry crust), viennoiserie, Parisian-style pastries, sophisticated French pâtés and aspics, wines, and other imported artisanal items.

With familial roots in Normandy, France, Delaroque was raised in Paris where he completed his culinary training and restaurant management degree. At the age of 23, he left France to travel and work in various countries throughout the world, learning English along the way.

Delaroque and his wife, Andrea, opened their first restaurant, Nico, in November 2013. The restaurant quickly earned critical acclaim, including a rave review from the San Francisco Chronicle and a coveted place on the Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurants in its

first year of operation and each year thereafter. He was named a “Rising Star Chef” by Robb Report magazine. In 2015, Nico received its first Michelin star, which it kept until the restaurant closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fall 2020, the Delaroques undertook a “pandemic pivot” and converted Nico to Maison Nico. Maison Nico is a grocery concept offering pâté en croûte, aspic, viennoiserie, and Parisian-style pastries along with a curated wine selection and imported items. The épicerie is the first and only one of its kind in San Francisco.

“I wanted to open an épicerie for years and to bring a concept to San Francisco that felt quintessentially Parisian and captured the charm of the little shops found in all the nooks and crannies throughout France. The pandemic accelerated the plan,” says Delaroque. “I also love the flexibility: the ability to provide a spot for both sweet and savory items where people can pop in at any time of day and enjoy a bite of something tasty and a coffee, buy a bottle of wine, or pick up something for later. It’s versatile and allows us to be creative in what we offer.”

At Maison Nico, Delaroque’s cuisine reflects his love of cooking, precision, and imagination, while honoring classic French culinary traditions. The inspiration for his menu derives from a

mixture of sources: travel, French heritage, farmers’ markets, and the bounty of each changing season. The menu uses products from local California farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and purveyors as well as artisanal products imported from France, including Roellinger spices, Provençal olive oil, and cornichons.

HL: My husband and I work together as you both do. I love seeing husband-and-wife teams who are amazing as a couple on and off work. Please tell us your love story …

AD: We met 14 years ago when Nico came to my birthday party with a mutual friend, so I always tease him that he was a partycrasher! He had recently moved to San Francisco, and I had been in the city for about three years. Although we had not met before, secretly, I had noticed him a few times prior to that evening, so I wasn’t too disappointed that he arrived unannounced. After our first couple dates, Nico stopped by one morning on his way to work and presented me with a blood orange tart. It was unexpected and the most lovely and delicious tart I’d ever tasted! A year later, we were engaged in Paris and married six months after that.

Since then, we’ve opened a restaurant, I stopped practicing law (because a restaurant is a lot of work), we got a dog (Roxy, our 10-year-old Golden Retriever), had a little girl (Madeleine, eight years old), weathered a pandemic, and pivoted to Maison Nico. We’re a team the whole way! I think our partnership works so well because our skill sets are different. Nico has all the creative and culinary expertise, and I handle the operational details. Even though we spend the day together, we don’t see each other very much because we’re both doing our own things. In the evenings we are home together with Madeleine and Roxy.

HL: What inspired you two to name the venue Maison Nico and to create this gem of a place?

ND: The inspiration for Maison Nico comes from a desire to create a little piece of France in San Francisco. The Bay Area is home to so many talented chefs and exceptional restaurants. But, we didn’t have anything quite like a French épicerie where you could walk in and enjoy your morning viennoiserie and coffee, come back later for an afternoon slice of vanilla flan, and pop in for apéro hour with pâté and wine and enjoy something both savory and sweet. We also really felt like people would enjoy pâté en croûte It’s sort “old school” French and highly technique-driven, but it’s also come a long way from the traditional recipes. Now, we make modern versions with much leaner meats and clean flavor profiles. It’s also beautiful to look at, and it’s rewarding to introduce guests to something they may not have tried before.

The name was mostly a practical move. We pivoted from the restaurant, Nico, during the pandemic, and it made sense to keep that identity since we had enjoyed a great relationship with our guests. But we wanted to differentiate it a bit and make it more casual. Adding maison, the French word for home, felt like a nice way to welcome a new concept, new guests, in a way that feels casual and inviting.

HL: What is your favorite go-to meal at home?

ND: Roasted chicken and salad. You can never go wrong with a good roasted chicken, and it never gets old. We change the seasonings, but the key components stay the same—classic and simple.

HL: What do you two like to do on your days off?

ND: Sometimes it’s tough to find that balance with true days off, because it always feels like there is something we should be doing. The past couple years, we’ve made it a priority to take time for ourselves to relax and spend time away from the business, even if it’s only a day or two. Our typical days off are spent outside if it’s nice. We live in Sausalito and love to head to Rodeo Beach or up to Sonoma for the day, especially in the summer when it’s foggy at home. For bigger breaks, we try to get to France at least once a year, and in the winter, skiing is definitely a favorite.

HL: Any funny or bizarre, food- or restaurant-related story?

AD: Ever since our daughter, Madeleine, was born, Nico has spoken French to her. So, at a very young age, she had a decent vocabulary in French. Fortunately, she also has a good appetite and eats almost everything. Several years ago when Madeleine was about two years old, we had a funny experience at a petting zoo. We visited the goats and the chickens, fed all the animals, and were enjoying ourselves quite a bit. At the end of the visit, we passed the pig enclosure. For some reason, Madeleine immediately registered pigs as “food” and started pointing. She shouted “Cochon! Cochon!” and “Mange! Mange!” Of course, in English she was saying, “Pig! Pig! Eat Eat!” Needless to say, we hustled out of the petting zoo before we were perceived as a threat to the pigs!

Pâté de campagne

INGREDIENTS

CANELÉ

Yield - 12 canelé

(Use a scale to measure ingredients.)

~ 2 teaspoons vanilla powder

~ 500 grams milk

~ 250 grams sugar

~ 2 eggs

~ 2 egg yolks

~ 50 grams butter

~ 100 grams all purpose flour

~ 100 grams dark rum

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat milk and vanilla powder and set aside.

2. Melt butter and set aside.

3. Whisk together sugar, eggs, yolks, and melted butter.

4. Add about ¼ of the warm milk to the sugar and eggs mixture.

5. Add flour and continue mixing until combined.

6. Slowly add the remaining milk then the rum.

7. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes with high fan.

8. Drop the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and continue baking for 45 minutes with low fan.

(Note: baking time may differ with different ovens and fans)

TIPS

Copper molds tend to yield the best result. Coat the molds with clarified butter to prevent sticking.

INGREDIENTS

FINANCIER

Yield - 12 financiers

(Use a scale to measure ingredients.)

~ 310 grams powdered sugar

~ 20 grams honey

~ 100 grams almond flour

~ 30 grams hazelnut flour

~ 345 grams egg whites

~ 335 grams brown butter

~ 140 grams flour

~ 3 grams baking powder

~ Pinch of salt

~ ½ vanilla bean

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Brown butter: In a small saucepan, heat the butter on low, occasionally swirling the pan until it begins to turn golden.

2. Remove the pan from heat when the butter turns golden brown.

3. Whisk the egg whites until lightly frothy.

4. Whisk in the dry ingredients and add hot brown butter.

5. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden.

Add a crumble of your favorite nuts to the top of each financier prior to baking.

RETAIL THERAPY IN JACKSON SQUARE

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

In the shadow of the Transamerica Pyramid, stumble into a 19th century flashback: the mini-neighborhood known as Jackson Square. Not a square at all, it’s an intimate collection of former brick warehouses in Italianate and classic revival styles on a handful of pretty, tree-lined blocks. This laidback destination with all the right vibes for retail therapy is focused on sustainable quality in classic wardrobe pieces for a lifetime of wear.

PHOTOS: 733 FRONT (TOP), ZIMMERMANN (BOTTOM)

Zimmermann

FASHION SHOPPING

“Stylish” and “off-the-beaten-path” describe the independent vibe of Jackson Square fashion retailers. This is the place to wander without crowds and seek out international flair, trendy footwear, quality leather goods, even customizable, American-made watches.

ALLBIRDS

Founded in San Francisco, this is the original home to the hip flagship store for ultracomfortable, casual (and machine washable), eco-friendly shoes made from natural fibers. As a tribute to the city’s iconic summer fog, the sustainable shoes come in a custom San Francisco gray color.

57 Hotaling Pl. Allbirds.com

ANINE BING

Scandinavian sensibilities inspire designs which are thoughtfully sourced from the highest quality fabrications and materials, including leather, silk, linen, cashmere, and jewelry in 14 karat gold. The brand’s product line is focused on everyday wardrobe essentials and investment pieces for modern women. Connect with an in-house stylist.

412 Jackson St. Aninebing.com

A.P.C.

Born from a French flair for classic raw denim in the 1980s, the brand now encompasses a casual, essential look for a ready-to-wear line in both the women’s and men’s collections. From a perfect white T-shirt to a classic trench, there’s a lot to love in great fabrics like waterproof Italian cotton gabardine, Oxford shirting, chambray, and linen.

407 Jackson St. apc-us.com

ATELIER LAN JAENICKE

Find exceptional tailoring and a zeal for perfection in highly collectible modernist statement pieces, all handcrafted. Simplicity is key to the designer’s vision. Signature coats and jackets are elegantly sculpted of 100 percent woven cashmere. Participate in the design process in this strikingly unique heritage space, by appointment only. (A second store location is at 3307 Sacramento St. in Pacific Heights.)

431 Jackson St. Lanjaenicke.com

DANIEL GEORGE CUSTOM SUITS

If James Bond needed new threads, he’d probably book an appointment with an expert tailor at Daniel George. “Inspired by British sartorial tradition and European style” and built on successful Chicago roots, the custom suit brand expanded into San Francisco in 2018. It’s recommended to book three weeks in advance for a personal appointment in the contemporary, two-story premises with a fully stocked wet bar. 515 Pacific Ave., floor 2 danielgeorge.com

ISABEL MARANT

Explore a range of Parisian luxury, ready-towear in clothing, shoes, and accessories. The Isabel Marant Étoile collection is a dependably eclectic mix of separates; Isabel Marant Woman features must-have items from outerwear essentials to iconic silk dresses. The shoe selection has everything from espadrilles to suede cowboy boots.

455 Jackson St. Isabelmarant.com

SHINOLA

In the historic Hotaling Whiskey Warehouse, this Detroit brand embraces a stylish heritage. Made-in-America, handcrafted quality is the hallmark of design-forward Shinola watches, jewelry, handbags, and small leather goods for men and women who make a bold statement in accessorizing an outfit.

53 Hotaling Pl. Shinola.com

THOM BROWNE

Evolution: First there was the Thom Browne “uniform” conceived in the West Village, NYC in 2003, and now there’s a global brand with more than 50 stores. And, of course, there was First Lady Michelle Obama dressed in Thom Browne for the 2012 Presidential Inauguration. Men and women, boys and girls, bags, leather goods, footwear, eyewear, fragrance, and accessories are incorporated into the whimsical product line. 432 Jackson St. thombrowne.com

ZIMMERMANN

Think floaty, floral, feathery, and feminine styles from sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, the Australian label founded in 1991. Then see how they’ve expanded on that vision. Filling out the line are jumpsuits and playsuits, swim- and resort-wear, plus shoes and accessories. (Pictured: Runway Spring 23 Collection.) Clothing is thoughtfully displayed in a delightful, airy space. 458-460 Jackson St. zimmermann.com

SHOPPING BREAK

Californian contemporary cuisine at Quince

Because convivial conversation enhances any shopping spree, take a break for food and drink without leaving Jackson Square. Some of San Francisco’s most charming and delightful restaurants are right here, and fun spots for a coffee or a cocktail are within steps.

QUINCE

470 Pacific Ave. quincerestaurant.com

COTOGNA

490 Pacific Ave. cotognasf.com

KOKKARI ESTIATORIO

200 Jackson St. Kokkari.com

BIX

56 Gold St. Bixrestaurant.com

15 ROMOLO

15 Romolo Pl. romolo.com

COMSTOCK SALOON

155 Columbus Ave. comstocksaloon.com

VESUVIO CAFÉ

255 Columbus Ave. Vesuvio.com

JACKSON PLACE CAFÉ

633 Battery St.

PHOTOS: ZIMMERMANN (LEFT), QUINCE (RIGHT)

Zimmermann

Ernest San Francisco Defines Destination Dining

Chef Brandon Rice establishes his own voice and distinct culinary style, the root of which is simplicity.

BY FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

Ernest, the elevated casual restaurant from star chef Brandon Rice, is not exactly centrally located. It’s neither positioned along any sort of thoroughfare nor does it attract foot traffic. Those who fill its twolevel industrial space, night after night, venture to the outer Mission address with purposeful intent: to enjoy creative and playful flavors never before experienced. Ernest’s nearly instant popularity is due to what should always be a restaurant’s success barometer: unbelievably delicious food.

It helps, too, that management intuitively keeps the energy level high with curated soundtracks that echo the night-to-night vibe. A “come as you are” dress code reveals everything from hoodies to high heels. And the wall of waving miniature maneki neko kitty-cats serves as more than charming décor; below each is a brass plaque featuring the name of a crowdfunding donor whose contribution helped to ensure the restaurant’s opening during one of the hospitality industry’s most dicey time periods ever.

Opened in March 2021, Ernest is the first solo restaurant from the Michelin-recognized Rice, who named his venture after his food-loving grandfather. Rice realized early on that cooking was his calling; at age 13 he started working in professional kitchens in

Chef Brandon Rice

his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. After receiving his associate’s degree in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, he worked under the tutelage of Ken Oringer at Boston’s Clio, during which time he traveled to Europe where he staged in three Michelin-starred kitchens, such as Quique Dacosta in Spain and Noma in Copenhagen. After his year abroad, Rice returned to his work with Oringer before moving to the Bay Area where he first worked at lauded Coi before spending more than five years as the chef de cuisine at Rich Table, earning the contemporary California restaurant its Michelin star.

With Ernest, Rice has established his own voice and distinct culinary style, the root of which is simplicity. He utilizes the freshest seasonal ingredients to create within his open kitchen distinctive dishes with worldly influence, such as his signature beef tartare featuring rich beef from Olivier’s Butchery on a bed of plump sushi rice topped with succulent ikura. His market-driven, ever-evolving menu features food that is fun and approachable, yet refined and elegant. He effortlessly layers familiar flavors in new, unexpected ways, such as the hi-low Kaluga caviar and tater tots. Dishes, like the succulent pork neck char siu with Barhi date and hot mustard and the Dungeness crab fried rice with ginger and scallion, are meant to be mixed, matched, and shared. (Choose the “Let the Kitchen Cook For You” menu option to explore the full extent of the menu. At $97 per person, it’s a fantastic deal.)

Dessert alone is reason to book a table or belly-up to the entrance level, backlit bar. A mound of mascarpone-slathered affogato shaved ice seems insurmountable until the first bite of the light and airy confection melts convincingly in the mouth. The nearly foot tall vanilla soft serve, drizzled tableside with gourmet “magic shell” chocolate sauce, is an Instagrammer’s dream. And the creamy, caramelized-crusted Basque cheesecake rivals (and, dare I say, exceeds) the GOAT, originated by San Sebastián’s La Viña restaurant.

A fairly extensive, eclectic, and primarily European wine list features under-the-radar gems, and a smaller by-the-glass list highlights perfect matches to specific menu items. Bespoke cocktails include selections like the Daiquiri Bolognese with Amaro Montenegro, lime, and whipped pineapple; the seemingly simpleyet-complex Black Walnut Manhattan with bourbon, apple, nocino, and several other unnamed ingredients; and an incredibly decadent looking espresso martini topped with whipped gelato.

Ernest, 1890 Bryant St., Suite 100, San Francisco

PHOTOS: ALANNA HALE

ROADWORTHY STYLE BY GUCCI STYLE

You’ll be the king or queen of your realm when donning this jaw-dropping Lionhead Ring, an essential design theme in the House of Gucci. This one, crafted with 18 karat gold, tanzanite, and diamonds will turn heads. Price upon request. gucci.com

GENDER-NEUTRAL JOY

Louis Vuitton® transcends borders with this new addition to its captivating LV Volt jewelry collection. With fresh iterations of the LV motif, this LV Volt Upside Down Play bracelet for men features interchangeable black cord and 18 karat yellow gold braided elements. $2,690 LouisVuitton.com

SNAPPY DRESSING

diamond engagement ring in white gold manifests a scintillating brilliance encircled by a gleaming halo of pavé diamonds—just as radiant as your love. Price upon request. graff.com

CRYSTAL GLAM

Complete your outfit with David Yurman crossover wrap stud earrings with crystal and pavé diamonds, gorgeous chunks of clear crystal wrapped with individual strands of sterling silver and sprinkled with glittery diamonds for a look that can be worn all day and into the evening. $1,600.00 davidyurman.com

GIFTS FOR FASHIONISTAS

BY BECCA HENSLEY

Take it from Michael Kors who said, “I’ve always thought of accessories as the exclamation point of a person’s outfit.” A little bit in the right place is what brings your personal style to completion. Here are a few for your closet.

VINTAGE VERVE

Channel your favorite Bond girl when you hit the slopes for spring skiing in this one-piece, retroinspired ski suit by TaraShakti, a new, women-led winter active wear brand. Stay warm and stylish whether skiing, snow shoeing, or sipping Champagne. $1,150 tarashakti.com

DANCING SHOES

Who knew sneakers could be so divine? Sport-inspired Courser marries fashion with performance with its over-the-top, customized, hitech sneaker for men and women. Crafted in Italy—of course!—these stunning shoes can go from the gym to Paris for fashion week. $535 courserworld.com.

SHOO FLY

For those of us who want to look chic during every adventure, even when swarmed by mosquitoes on safari or while glamping in one of the United States’ glorious national parks, look no further than Shoo For Good, a conscientious scarf company. Made in Ethiopia under World Fair Trade Organization guidelines, these handspun, hand-dyed, hand-woven cotton scarves not only accessorize your outfit, but repel insects with advanced, EPA-registered, anti-bug technology. Choose from four styles in a variety of colors. $160 shooforgood.com

HOLLYWOOD CHIC

Slip on Joan by Serengeti® eyewear, round instruments of confidence and glamor, sure to charge up the femme fatale quotient. $320 serengeti-eyewear.com/us/

SUSTAINABLE TOPPER

Barefoot casual just got better with Beach Road hats, hailing from the Florida Keys. Named for the founders’ daughters, the chic hats come in four fetching styles crafted by a renowned milliner from sustainably sourced straw. Coordinate with your favorite pet with Beach Road’s matching accessories for fur babies. $375 beachroadus.com

HAUTE HOME WEAR

Slip into Hawaiian-inspired OluKai®’s chic shoes for at-home style created to be worn indoors or out. Shearling wrapped, the sandal-like Kipe’a Heu brandishes non-marking, wet grip, rubber bottoms. $120 olukai.com

VOILA! VOIE FERREE

And you thought watch bands were merely functional? Slip on this bit of black Nappa leather, studded with pavé diamonds set in 14 karat white gold bars from canny Chalonne. Made in France, each strap boasts a unique serial number.

$4,650 chalonne.com

NAEEM KHAN THE ALCHEMIST OF DREAMS

BY TERESA RODRIGUEZ

IT’S EASY TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC AND SYNCHRONICITY after spending time with the world-renowned fashion designer and artist Naeem Khan. His life story reads like a fairytale entwined with a historical novel.

He invited us to meet and talk about his fascinating life at his vibrant atelier during New York Fashion Week. Between model fittings and answering important calls, Khan was kind enough to take an hour out of his hectic schedule to sit down with us and share his life story, his passions, and his vision for the future. Priceless moments like these with great people inspire us to be the best versions of ourselves.

From his humble beginnings in India to the school he supports in the Dominican Republic, we relished this rare opportunity to learn more about this multidimensional man and talented designer who dresses queens and first ladies.

HL: Let’s start from the beginning. Tell us about your childhood. NK: I grew in a very interesting family of artists and poets. I was born in a small town in northern India called Bareilly, which is not on any maps. I was born at home, and the date of my birth was never recorded. In those days in India, the culture did not allow women to go out, so, the men in the family were responsible for registering my birth. They never did. Years went by and my family moved to Mumbai. I was supposed to go to school. The school asked for my birth certificate. Since I didn’t have one, my grandfather got a fake one.

HL: Did you ever find out your actual birth date?

NK: I had to go back to that village and find all my father’s friends and call them over for dinner. I asked them what they were doing when I was born. My dad’s best friend is a watchmaker, and he was the one who said, “Well, it was Thursday; I was off; the year was ...” So, I used my calculator and computer to figure out the day I was born. My mother said it was somewhat early in the morning. My birth date is like Indian cooking: there’s no measurement. It’s like this much cumin and that much coriander, and some onions.

HL: So, what day were you born?

NK: I was born the 21st of May.

HL: Tell us about your family.

NK: I grew up in a family in which my father had poetry readings every other weekend. Poets came from different parts of the country and recited poetry. As a child, I listened to how words were put together and how meaningful they became. I think there is something about a child’s mind that gets developed when you are exposed to all this. My mother and father also loved cooking and had amazing chefs who flew in from different parts of India to cook, because cuisine in India is very diverse. The food in northern India and southern India is different. So, being exposed to that kind of life set the base for me.

HL: What was your family’s profession, and did it influence you?

NK: My family makes textiles. We have been producing textiles for 120 years. I’m the third generation, and my sons are fourth generation. We made textiles for the royal families.

So, my family does embroidery. We used to embroider for the royal courts of different countries. I remember my grandfather making stuff out of gold—pure gold, pure hand-beaten metal—and creating piets by hand and sewing it all to create these fantastic flowers and things like that. So, I grew up with them.

All the fashion magazines, like Harper’s BAZAAR and Vogue, inspired me and my family. As a kid, I used to browse through all that and think, “Oh my God, I want to be one of these people!”

I told my father I wanted to be a fashion designer. As a young kid in India, I was always into sports, like cricket and soccer. I didn’t pay much attention to my education. My parents said, “You need to be either a fashion designer or a doctor.” You know, it’s an Indian family, so I had to be educated.

HL: How did you end up coming to New York?

NK: Well, I got into too much trouble in school in India. I was not a good boy, running off with girls, playing too much, and not putting time into education. My dad was coming to America for business, so my family said, “Send him to school in America, and he will be away from all the bad influences and friends here.” So, I came to America with my dad. I was supposed to sign up for school at FIT, get all my papers in order, and start school. But I went to a meeting with my father before all that, and my fate would turn that afternoon.

HL: What happened?

NK: My father had a meeting with Halston, and I tagged along. I sat there. There was Halston in the most incredible offices that I have been to. I had a big afro at that time. Halston had broken up with his boyfriend who looked like and older version of me. So, not knowing of that resemblance, I was hired to be his assistant. We went back to India.

My dad didn’t want me to work for Halston; he wanted me to go to school. I also had to convince my mother and told her, “Mom, I’m not going to school. I hate school. I hate the teachers. I want to work for Halston.”

Halston sent telegrams asking my parents when I would be ready to come to America. Halston got my visa, and I arrived in America at the age of 18. My father had no idea how important Halston was. Anyway, my dad let me go, and I started working with Halston.

HL: Tell us about working with Halston.

NK: Halston was the best teacher in the world and became my mentor. I designed costumes for Martha Graham. Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol would come by Halston’s office. Andy and I became great friends. I bought five paintings from him for $1,000 each, and he gave me four as gifts.

HL: Is there a mantra that he instilled in you?

NK: There were so many, not just one. First of all, it was ethical work. He was so dedicated to his job. There was never a Monday or a Saturday or a Sunday. We were literally working every day. His other mantra was “party.” Yeah, it was like, you partied hard and worked hard.

One day, it was Warhol, him, and me sitting together late one evening. It must have been like eight or nine o’clock. There was a bunch of orchids on the table, and Warhol said, “What do you see?” I said, “I see flowers.” He said, “That’s not what I’m asking you. Look beyond, keep looking beyond. Suddenly, things start to appear. You begin seeing shade. You start seeing color. You start seeing so many things within that thing. Otherwise, you just think it’s a flower.” That really taught me to look beyond just what you see.

There is so much more to it, but it’s about the mind and how the mind can actually create. If you go within, you can see so many other things beyond what you are looking at.

Another thing he taught me: one day, he said, “Do dresses come in your dreams?” I said no. He said, “When dresses come in your dream, you will have reached a very good point.” And it did.

I understood much later when I started my own business, when I was so obsessed with it. Working for somebody else is very different. But when you have your own company and your mission is your name, when you don’t sleep at night. At three o’clock, something tells you that is the path you need to take. That means your mind has reached a certain self-awareness. Now, I create subconsciously. It just comes.

HL: Are there moments when you are not in that space?

NK: Yes, there are times of disturbance. For me, if I fall in love, that’s a disturbance. I mean, it’s a great thing, but it takes me away from my art, then I can’t create.

HL: Really?

NK: Well, or I can create. Amazingly. It depends. Sometimes when I’m sad, I’m so troubled I can create much better. It’s so weird how the mind works, yeah.

HL: What did you learn from Halston?

NK: You know, Halston was the most incredible teacher, but it was not just he who taught me, but everybody who surrounded him. Designing for Martha Graham is an example, just doing costumes for her dances. How does everything move with jersey when she moved her leg? How should I cut the dress? It was just so incredible to take some fabric and understanding the fabric and what fabric does to you.

In the beginning, I did not understand fabrics because I didn’t know there were so many types of fabrics. He taught me that when you look at fabric, you play with fabric, you handle fabric and put it on the mannequin. The fabric must talk to you. The fabric will tell you what it what you should do to it. You try to do something else

with the fabric, it will never work. And you have to be intuitive, have a relationship with the fabric. Even now, sometimes I’ll get a bolt of fabric that I’ve designed and meant for a dress that I’ll show you. It would lie here for six months, then I would pin it up. And I wouldn’t say, “Oh my God, what am I going to do with this material, because it’s so stiff in one side and because it’s woven with metal?” One day it came to me that if I cut it on the bias and twisted it, I could create these odd shapes. It’s on the form in the back. It’s just incredible.

So, I took a small piece and I cut it on the bias. Then we twisted and turned it. That’s amazing. You can see if you feel it. There is metal on the edge like this is the real grain of the fabric. When you cut it on the bias, it does different stuff. Now I can mold it; I can twist it.

So, the art of making clothing is not just cutting a cloth, but understanding the cloth.

HL: Is there a style of dress that you’re drawn to create?

NK: Well, you know I like glamorous clothes. So, I wouldn’t say a type of dress. I want my clothes to be like pieces of art. It’s not the clothes that make a statement. My clothes change something in you. What I mean by that is it’s important how a dress makes you feel. You have to feel elevated. You have to feel like you are the most beautiful person in the room. Those kinds of dresses I design.

I’ll tell you a crazy story. I was at a trunk show at Neiman Marcus, and a young woman came up to me. She said, “I had to come and meet you, because you changed my mother’s life.” I said, “Like, why?” She said—I swear I cried—to me, “My mother turned 83, and on her birthday, she wanted to wear a Naeem Khan dress. So, we came to Neiman’s and we had a dress made for her with your atelier for her birthday. Then, she wrote in her will that she felt so amazing wearing that dress that, when she dies, she must be buried in that dress. She said she wanted to meet her maker in that dress.”

HL: That is such a beautiful and powerful story.

NK: You know how a dress can make you feel. I mean, it’s so important what happens to you when you wear a dress or you look good when your hair is right. You feel like you’re on top of the world, you’re unstoppable. I want this to be the most magnificent thing that I can dream of. And that comes from my mother.

At the airport when I left India at the age of 18, she was crying. She said to me, “You’re going to work for Halston. I don’t know who Halston is, but he’s a great American designer. We come from a family who worships our art. It’s not about money. You go and make the most beautiful things, and you will be the most successful man ever. Don’t think about money; think about making the most beautiful things.”

In the end, I’ve remained true to that philosophy. I am not owned by anybody. I don’t have any investors, nobody in my company. I own 100 percent of what I do, and I just keep it small like a jewel box that I have. And that’s my story.

HL: Is there a piece of advice you would give somebody just starting out?

NK: Fashion is following a passion, because if you don’t follow passion, you cannot be in fashion, right? But there is much more than that. You have to dedicate every cell of your body to this art, because this art is not just painting a canvas, this is an art that is commercial. There are so many layers to it. You know you have to understand the woman you’re designing for. Who’s your client? You have to understand how commerce is done. You have to understand how to conduct yourself with the women that you create. You cannot be just designing clothes and sitting at home.

Halston was an image. Fashion is bought by the person who looks up to you; so, you yourself have to become a brand that people look up to and you become. You know, in a way it’s like being a movie star. You become a personality, and people buy personalities. So, a young person coming into fashion needs to be interested in many things. You just cannot be about fashion: you have to be interested in nature, and you have to be interested in art, museums, movies. You know, what is society doing? You have to understand culture. You have to be all that in order to be a successful fashion designer. It’s as simple as that.

HL: Are there any trends that you’re seeing or following this season that are influencing your art?

NK: I get influenced by what is the new food, or it could be by something that I’ve read, or it could be the movies I’m watching. So, you can say it’s those things in which I follow trends, but I don’t follow fashion trends. I follow the trends of culture and society in order to create my clothes.

HL: Have you done clothes for movies?

NK: Of course. I designed the gowns for the finale for Dreamgirls. I made them all in titanium. It would be great to design clothes for a Bond girl. You can take any of my designs and put them in a movie.

Costume designer Sharen Davis asked Naeem Khan to create the titanium chainmail dresses that the trio wear in the closing number of the movie. Each dress weighed about 12 pounds.

HL: So, what is it like to see queens and the first lady wearing your creations?

NK: It’s so amazing, I cannot tell you. Let me go back to when I was 14 years old. Iwas sitting and chatting with a girlfriend on a bench one day and said to her, “One day, I’m going to design a dress for the first lady of the United States.”

Fast forward to the first state dinner during the Obama Administration. I got a call and the representative for Mrs. Obama who said she couldn’t give me her measurements. So, I figured it out. I looked at a photo. Because of my art background, I know that a face is usually 11 or 12 inches. So, I started dividing the whole body. We undid the entire body, and I made a dress for her. There was not an inch that needed to have altered. Can you imagine? The biggest opportunity I dreamed about on a park bench when I was 14 years old and now that dream happened.

HL: Tell us about the amazing dress you designed for her.

NK: There were a lot of sleepless nights. I kept thinking, “What am I going to make for my first dress for the first lady? It has to be my history. Where do I come from? What do I do? This is not just a dress.” So, my years at Holsten came into focus: simplicity of form and clean. Then a vision of my grandfather when I was a child came to me. The workshop where sequins were made had 150 men sitting on the floor beating metal. It was pure silver, pure gold to a certain gauge. And they cut each sequin by hand. So, these guys were hammering and the sound of that noise— tick-tock, tick-tock—of cutting the metal rang in my ears, reminding me of my grandfather’s technique to swing the silver into the textile.

I said, “That’s what it is.” Then I recalled my days with Warhol. “I’m going to take the poppies and I’m going to manipulate them.” So, I put all the poppies I handle on the dress, on the fabric. I used the same technique my grandfather used to create the flowers which were made of pure sterling silver. The shape was Halston, and the craftmanship was my family’s heritage. I took my years of all my skills and talents and put them into one dress.

HL: Tell us about the school that you support for underprivileged children.

NK: I’m part of a foundation called the MIR Foundation. MIR. The school is in the Dominican Republic, and there are 2,000 children. Every year I raise money for the school. They have a fashion school. We pay for their tuition through the money that I raise. These kids in the Dominican Republic … you don’t have any idea how poor they are. These are kids who are left on the doorsteps of churches. They have no parents, or their parents are so poor they don’t have food to eat, so we provide them with food and education as well as teach them how to become functioning members of society. Fashion is one of the programs that I’m a part of, and I raise money for these guys to make this into something substantial.

HL: You are truly amazing, Naeem. Can you share a bit of your magic with us?

NK: Sometimes I feel that you imagine things, and that imagination can be reality. I wanted to dress the first lady and it became a reality. How did I know when I was 14 that it was going to be true? You have to put the energy to make your dreams a reality; but first, you have to always have a dream. Without a dream, your dreams cannot come true.

Naeem Khan was mentored by the fashion icon and man-about-town, Halston. Under Halston’s guidance, Khan learned the fine art of cutting and draping fabrics and was introduced to New York’s royalty, including Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liza Minnelli.

“WITHOUT A DREAM, YOUR DREAMS CANNOT COME TRUE. ”

RED CROSS

Gala

HOPE IN A CHANGING WORLD

Celebrating its 28th year as one of San Francisco’s most iconic events, the Red Cross Gala returns March 24 in a new venue, the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, to raise funds for local Red Cross programs and services.

This signature event is SOLD OUT but you can still support our mission and provide the gift of hope: redcross.org/redcrossgalasf

GALA HONOREES

BRIANA TAYLOR AND

Philanthropic Company of the Year

$26M donated towards disaster response and relief

Red Cross partner for 33 years

Humanitarian Volunteer of the Year

15 disaster response deployments

Red Cross volunteer for 17 years

GALA SPONSORS

Gold Sponsors

Kathryn W. Holmes

Silver Sponsors

Diane B. Wilsey

Bronze Sponsors

Nichole S. Jordan The Stephanie Block Fund

ANDREW KWON

The newest and brightest star in the fashion galaxy

BY TERESA RODRIGUEZ

HAUTE LIVING, SAN FRANCISCO SCORED AN EXCLUSIVE interview with New York’s newest fashion designer, Andrew Kwon, after his much-anticipated fashion show at the famed Baccarat Hotel. This young designer is taking the fashion world by storm. At only 27 years of age, he is on a meteoric track to becoming one of America’s most beloved designers in the next few years.

HL: Is this your first runway show at New York Fashion Week?

AK: Yes, I started my line a few years ago, but this is my first runway show.

HL: So, let’s look at the beginning and how you decided to become a fashion designer.

AK: From a very young age, I always looked up to my mom. Growing up, I saw her hardships with my family and my dad, but she always had her hair together and her makeup done, and even how she dressed, even if it was not the most expensive thing. She always looked so put together. I saw this confidence in herself, and I think it manifested in me subconsciously. I wanted to do that for other women one day.

HL: What else inspired you when you were a child?

AK: I love fashion and watching the red carpet. There are so many things about the red carpet in the world of couture that made me fall in love with fashion repeatedly.

HL: Did you study fashion in college?

AK: No, I studied architecture and interior design. I majored architecture.

HL: How did your studies help you with designing clothes?

AK: There is definitely architecture in the lines and structure of clothing. I loved a lot of architects, such as Peter Marino. Designs come to fruition in many ways, because you’re really designing them digitally or just a small 3D model. Fashion is very hands-on, and you can make the clothes in person, unlike a building that takes years. I feel, with fashion design, I can see my designs come to life.

HL: Tell us about breaking into the gown market at such an early age.

AK: I think it’s a very niche market, but it is saturated with so many talented designers already. They said that it would be a difficult market to break into, because you need to get to that level of not just being a fashion brand but a fashion house, especially with something like evening and bridal wear. So, it’s not just having talent, you need to have talent and connections, and now you must have social skills to socialize and network.

HL: What was your strategy?

AK: One of my goals was to connect with a celebrity stylist. I remember I e-mailed and reached out to Micaela Erlanger who is Lupita N’yongo’s stylist. My professors kept asking, “How are you going to possibly get in contact with them?” And guess what? I got a reply from her, and she gave me a lot of advice. And that’s when I first realized the power of connecting with people over social media or cold calling or emailing them.

HL: When did you start your fashion label?

AK: I graduated in 2019 and launched my first collection in 2021, on Valentine’s Day.

HL: You launched a high-end gown and bridal collection during COVID?

AK: Yeah, I launched at the peak of COVID. In 2019, I graduated, went to Paris, and represented Parsons in the annual Supima Design Competition against seven other fashion universities across the U.S. When I was in Paris, I went to the Hermès show, met some people I always admired and adored, and messaged them on Instagram. We all stay connected. With the the advice from them and many others, I began to pursue the establishment of my own brand. Although I had a love and passion for evening wear and the red carpet, there really were no events that were going to be taking place for a while. It did not make sense as a business to launch something so niche like that during COVID, but I followed my instincts and thought bridal felt appropriate right then. The business model was fabulous: there was less overhead, less wasted production, and everything in the collections could be timeless—as long as you were able to reproduce and create the fabrics and materials needed in that specific style. But a luxury bridal collection from a new designer during the pandemic? I know it sounds nuts, but I was observing the world closely, and saw that women were still getting married in micro settings and sometimes larger settings in very private areas. And another thing, many people get stuck at a company for years and years, and all that creativity and energy is just really pulled out of you. And so, that’s something I always thought about as well, so during the pandemic, I pivoted from red carpet and evening wear and switched to bridal.

HL: Why bridal?

AK: I really connect to bridal, because when brides walk down the aisle, it’s their red carpet moment. So many women’s red carpet moments are on their wedding day. I saw it when my mom got remarried: I saw a lot of the emotions on her face and how powerful that type of moment of dressing could be. And, you know, I want to have that type of impact on other women and bring out those types of emotions because I love creating stories.

HL: What brands did you work for before you launched your label?

AK: I interned first at Chloe—more on their marketing side—so, it was interesting seeing how market and buyer appointments go. Then I went over to the corporate side. It was a fast fashion company. I saw where the money comes from in fashion. That wasn’t super exciting to me, but it was good to see that from a business standpoint. I’ve always loved the red carpet, so I had to go to Marchesa. I learned the most there. I got to work on some of the most incredible dresses. At some point, I worked on Octavia Spencer’s dress. We only found out who it was later. And so many amazing, beautiful wedding gowns as well.

HL: You’ve studied architecture, interior design, and did these internships. How did you decide to go into fashion and gowns?

AK: I’m a go-with-my gut type, and I felt it was time and [I was] ready to design gowns specifically. I remember many people telling me in the beginning: “Why don’t you work for a company for a few years, for three or four years?” I felt the tension from some parts of the industry. There is a way to take that tension and use it to reach the next level and put yourself out there. My type of energy attracts positive people like what you’re putting into the world. I had a lot of support from my parents. My stepdad is not in fashion, he’s in real estate, but he gave a lot of good advice. My mom and stepdad are my two most prominent supporters, and they were also my two biggest supporters switching out of architecture to fashion.

HL: Let’s talk about your latest collection.

AK: This collection is another chapter of what I see in modern red carpet experiences. I went over the top on some of the gowns, and there are pieces that I’ve tried with new fabrics that I’ve never played with before, and that seem like a lot of people’s favorites. And so, I want to design for galas and events like the opera, not just red carpet moments. But, if you’re creating a real business, it’s about sales and creating sellable and wearable pieces. Seeing a 20-footlong train for a show or red carpet is great, but it’s learning how to give the second option of cutting the train a little shorter or making the bow a little smaller. And so, you’ll see that in the collection that there is room to customize a lot of that. I can customize colors as well. But it stays true to the brand’s DNA.

HL: Tell us about your inspirations for this dazzling collection.

AK: A lot of the collection was inspired by some of my favorite flights. The first flight I ever took was in middle school to L.A., and I think it was the first time, you know, growing up in Colorado and looking out that window. I saw a lot of these moving lights. The lights were highways. And remember, I was so captivated by that, because I grew up in Colorado Springs before that, which didn’t have highways like those. The other flight I took that inspired this collection was transferring flights somewhere in Colorado. I remember how dark it was looking out of the airplane, but then I would see little pockets of these little slivers of lights. I like to create stories in my head. So, I imagine seeing the northern lights. And so, when you see the collection, you’ll notice some of these beautiful emerald and plum colors that remind me of the colors of the aurora borealis.

HL: Is there somebody you have your eye on dressing for the red carpet?

AK: Nicole Kidman. I fell in love with her when I was in the second grade and first saw the Chanel No 5 commercial she was in, directed by Baz Lurhmann. She’s running down the red carpet in a pink feathered gown. Then she falls in love with someone who’s clearly not from the same world as hers. When she returns to her fabulous celebrity life, she’s walking up the steps in a sleek black gown. When she turns around, there’s this little diamond necklace that swings with the No 5. Perfection. There was something so masterly cinematic about every single part of that commercial. And those cinematic moments are what I create with my collections and shows.

Exclusive interviews with four international bestselling authors

BY TERESA RODRIGUEZ

AUTHORS’ WORDS, LIKE GENIES, TRAPPED WITHIN THE PAGES OF THEIR BOOKS LAY DORMANT UNTIL WE OPEN THEM, RELEASING THE GLORIOUS SAGAS THAT RESIDE IN THEIR SENTENCES.

Authors invent alternative realities. They have the incredible ability to create mysterious, tragic, and humorous tales that transport us to other worlds. They help us find hidden truths and sometimes let us get lost in the fantasies they create. We become attached to their fictitious characters as if we know these people. Who hasn’t walked past Tiffany’s and thought about Holly Golightly or wanted to throw a party as extravagant as Jay Gatsby? The best part is that we get to enjoy these adventures, love stories, mysteries, and historical sagas as often as we want simply by picking up a book and reading.

April in Sonoma is splendid; it is also when the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival takes place at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. For one spectacular weekend, some of the world’s most beloved authors gather and share their artistry.

I had the rare opportunity to meet with four bestselling authors who are attending the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival. Each author gave me a glimpse into their fascinating lives and shared their true tales with creativity, humor, and passion. I must admit, at times I was in awe and a bit overwhelmed with the task of writing about them. After all, what words do justice to the individuals who have shaped our understanding of the world and given us stories that inspire?

Since 1982, Isabel Allende has set the literary world ablaze with her tomes of triumph and tribulation. Her revolutionary words resonate throughout 27 books written and over 73 million copies sold. Speaking with her felt like attending a political rally with a steadfast sage whose books pages capture her life story and passions. Her legacy as a writer is profound. She was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2016, and received Chile’s National Literature Prize in 2010. In addition, President Barack Obama awarded her the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Allende’s writing weaves in subtle hints of myth and her profound life story. Her family’s deep political involvement comes to light in her work, and even today, she holds strong views on immigration and women’s rights. In 1996, she created The Isabel Allende Foundation to pay homage to her beloved daughter, Paula, who passed in 1992. “During her short life, Paula volunteered in poor communities in Venezuela and Spain, offering her time, dedication, and skills as an educator and psychologist. She cared deeply for others. When in doubt, her motto was: What is the most generous thing to do? Based on her ideals of service and compassion, my foundation was created to continue Paula’s work.”

I asked Allende how she could write a bestselling novel every few years. She said she keeps a rigorous writing schedule. She starts all her books on January 8 and writes every day except Sunday. “I want to spend some time with my husband. I would write every day if I didn’t have a husband, because this is my life.”

Allende rises at 5:30 or 6 in the morning because she feels that days are too short. She is not one to linger in pajamas. Instead, she has her cup of coffee and is ready for the day. She trains daily from 9 to 10, then she goes to the office to write. She shares, “I have a private place. I love it. I love the silence, the solitude, the time. It’s wonderful.”

At the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival, she is considered the grande dame of the event. “I love it. By the way, it is the only festival I attend. I have not been traveling for work for three or four years now. I do a few fundraisers for particular causes if it does not involve traveling, and I go to the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival. It’s a happy event that is not very big. It’s organized in such a way that you can listen to almost every speaker. I also get to learn about and meet other authors I know of, but have not been able to listen to in person.”

She praised the festival: “I have read Billy Collins’ poetry. But when you listen to him, he’s very funny. On the other hand, Dave Barry, whom you think

of as an amusing person, can be really, very deep. So, you get to see the different personalities of the writers beyond just reading their books. Jeffrey Brown and I have a chat and don’t prepare anything. We don’t even know what we’re going to talk about. We know each other so well that we talk as if sitting in the kitchen. I love it. It engages the audience very much because it’s not a planned interrogation. There is time for the audience to ask questions, there is dialogue, and we interact. Then, during dinner and lunch, we sit with the attendees, move from one table to another, and meet people.” I asked her about sharing advice with people who want to become authors. She clarified that writing is not a hobby, but a real profession and needs to be treated as such. “Writing is like training for a sport. People think you can sit down and write the Great American Novel in one sitting. No, you write and write and write, and for every 1,000 pages you delete or throw away, there’s one that might be good enough to publish. Yeah, it’s work, and you must love the process. The best advice I heard was from Elizabeth Gilbert. She said don’t expect your writing to give you money or fame, do it because you love the process. You do it and do it, and nothing can stop you.”

Allende has a new book coming out in June, titled The Wind Knows My Name. Allende shares, “This book is about immigration. I wrote amid the pandemic, and I was in touch with all these people doing extraordinary work at the border. We only hear about the horrors at the border, but we don’t hear about the thousands of people doing great. So many of them are pro bono and all are women. Women do all this work. I learned about these women who are capable, prepared, professional, and [who] give their lives to help others.”

Allende is not only a great writer, but she is also a patient listener. We had met before, and she asked me about my daughter. At our first encounter, she gave me the most profound advice I had ever received as a single mother. Her words became my mantra and improved how I reacted to situations dealing with my child.

Don’t let her petite stature and melodic voice fool you. Allende is a force of nature. Well into an age when most people would settle for a condo on a golf course or retirement, she has no plan to stop. Her energy, drive, and momentum inspire me a better writer and mother. Her books, stacked on my bedside table, dog-eared and highlighted, remind me that I, too, can be a warrior for positive change and a better writer. You can meet Isabel Allende at the Sonoma Authors Festival in April. To support her foundation, visit isabelallende.org.

With a list of accolades as long as some novels, it’s hard to fathom where Abraham Verghese finds the time to write bestselling books. For one, his titles include MD, MACP, professor, and Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor, and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine at the School of Medicine at Stanford University. He is a physician known for his gentle bedside manner and care. With the introduction of technology, many physicians need to remember the gracious act of focusing on the patient versus relying on the data without engaging the patient. The noble calling of medicine is massive commitment on its own, without the writing which brought him into the spotlight, particularly his epic novel, Cutting for Stone. He received the Heinz Award in 2014 and was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in 2015.

I had to know how this brilliant man straddles today’s data-driven, scientific world of medicine and the ambiguous creativity of writing with such ease. Verghese shares, “Well, that’s funny, you know. I don’t think of them as two separate professions. I know that sounds disingenuous, but the writing comes from my stance on medicine. Medicine is deeply meaningful, and it’s from that place that I begin to have the impulse to write.”

It took Verghese 10 years to write Covenant of Water, and he shares why, “This one took almost a decade, partly because it was just a long process. I’m not one of these writers who knows the whole story before they start. I know some of the story, and then I start writing, and then things reveal themselves, but, unfortunately, they often reveal themselves in the wrong direction for six months. Then I find out and, hundreds of pages later, I return to something else.”

“I often say that I write in order to understand what I’m thinking.”

“The muse of the right brain begins to speak, and it is mysterious. I had a unique experience recently. I’m recording the audiobook of my latest book, The Covenant of Water, and while doing this, I’ve begun to see connections in the book that I swear I hadn’t planned. And, you know, so it’s like your subconscious is just putting things in there that you didn’t even know. It’s mysterious.”

Verghese’s writing spoke to me on such a visceral level that I wanted to know if he practiced any faith. He shared a story about a recent church visit: “In Fremont, there is the same Saint Thomas Christian community church that I was raised in, and the service was in the Syriac language. And I

had goosebumps, I tell you, because it was just all my childhood ritual. Even though I didn’t understand it; my parents didn’t. But they’re memories, and my mother had just passed away. So, it was very powerful. So, you asked me if I’m spiritual, well, faith is the absence of proof.”

I wanted to know what he learned about himself when writing, and his answer was profound. “Every book, especially my first two nonfiction books, I thought I was writing about something I observed, whether HIV in Tennessee or the phenomenon of doctors and drug addiction. But, inevitably, I became a character in the book. Because you’ve got to turn the camera on people so intensely in a nonfiction book, when the camera wants to swing towards you, you can’t shut the reader out. You know, writing a memoir was interesting, but also painful. I was ’fessing up to things that I didn’t feel all that comfortable ’fessing up to you, but I’m not standing up on Oprah and jumping on the couch and confessing things. The reader has to do me the honor of reading my book to learn this stuff about me. With fiction, it’s much more subtle in that you’re picking a subject without you knowing why you’re picking them. Some recurring themes occur in both my fiction novels, one being abandonment. I feel like I didn’t do justice to my older two boys, and I’m still atoning for it.”

Verghese has written another novel which will debut at the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival, The Covenant of Water. We spoke about his experience writing that novel during a pandemic. Verghese explains, “I was writing it during COVID, but I was writing about the era between 1900 and 1970 in Kerala where there was a lot of pain, suffering, and illness. The book is very medical, and it just seemed to me striking how in illness and suffering, whether we live in the 21st century or back then, we reach for the same thing. We’re looking for meaning; we’re looking for faith to sustain us. And then, when we find it, when we find redemption of some sort; we know, even if it’s inadequate, we find it from the same things. We find it in our relationships, faith, and human connections. So, I’m learning all the time about humanity, about medicine, about writing, about forgiveness, and myself.”

What’s so ironic is that books inspired Verghese to become a physician. He shared his journey with me: “For me, the novels that led me to medicine were The Citadel and Of Human Bondage.”

Decades and continents later, Verghese found himself in the HIV era because of this training in infectious diseases. He was practicing medicine in

the small town of Johnson City, Tennessee, where everyone said he would see one HIV patient every other year because it was an urban condition. But in a short time in that small town of 50,000, that one patient every other year increased to about 100 patients a year.

Verghese continues, “It’s crazy how quickly it became apparent that this was a tremendous American story of migration. It was a story of young men leaving their homes for jobs and education, but also because they were gay. They didn’t want to live their lives under the scrutiny of their families. So, they spent decades in the big city. Often their partners got sick first and died, and now they were coming home because they were ill. And so, there I was at the tail end of this migration. I wrote a scientific paper describing this. But even as I read the paper, it felt like the language of science didn’t capture the heartache of those families. It didn’t capture the nature of the voyage. It didn’t capture my grief. I was also getting burned out by the intensity of HIV, so rather than take a sabbatical, I applied to the Iowa Writers Workshop intending to tell this story as fiction.”

Verghese attended the workshop, and soon after, his story was published in The New Yorker. When the editors learned of his background—a foreignborn physician and a small southern town dealing with HIV—they invited him to write an outline for a long nonfiction piece. As a result, he was drawn into writing two nonfiction books, My Own Country and The Tennis Partner

Regarding his career as a fiction writer, Verghese shares, “I always wanted to write the kind of novel that would do what those other books did for me: bring a young person to medicine with a sense of the romantic, a passionate pursuit that will satisfy the reader.”

“There is a saying that character emerges when people make decisions under pressure. In medicine, I got to see that over and over again. It is very touching and tragic sometimes.”

If you haven’t read Cutting for Stone, treat yourself to a multisensory journey where Verghese’s words transform into scents, textures, and emotions that pull you into his epic tale. Attend the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival, meet Dr. Verghese, and pick up a copy of The Covenant of Water, another spectacular saga that early reviewers have raved about in Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, and which received a great mention by Ari Shapiro in The New York Times

Speaking with Dave Barry puts a perpetual grin on my face. First, he is a very funny man. Second, I love his style. It is easy to feel intimidated by the world-renowned, bestselling author who has had movies made from his books and the sitcom Dave’s World based on his books, Dave Barry Turns 40 and Dave Barry’s Greatest Hits. However, his jovial demeanor is reassuring, and I relished our conversation which happened while I was rushing around Fashion Week in New York. It was nice to kick off my stilettos and laugh with him about subjects most fashion editors take too seriously. We joked about when the Miami Herald sent him on assignment to cover Fashion Week. Barry shares, “It was the easiest humor piece I’ve ever written. All I had to do was describe it!”

A master of the art of humor, Barry can find humor in the most mundane subjects. For example, his 2004 hit, Boogers Are My Beat, includes titillating topics such as the scientific search for the world’s funniest joke, RV camping in the Walmart parking lot, and elections in Florida. (“You can’t spell Florida without ‘duh.’”) While he’s known as “the funniest man in America,” Barry also has a thoughtful, intuitive side. When dealing with the challenges of getting older, Dave shares humorous anecdotes about Lucy, his dog, on how one can live their best life while aging. In addition, subjects like “Make New Friends” and “Don’t Stop Having Fun” give readers gentle advice on how to move into midlife with some fun. Unfortunately, Lucy was napping when Barry and I spoke, so I didn’t get to meet her. This will be Barry’s third time at the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival. He says about coming to Sonoma, “My wife and I have a great time there, and we enjoyed it. It’s small enough that you get to meet everybody, and you know the readers who attend are great to meet, and you get to have meals with them. I’ve come, met other writers, and seen them talk. I enjoyed that, too. It’s just nice, small, cozy, and very intimate. It’s a smart, friendly group. Ordinarily, I don’t know that I would have made it to the April one, but I have a book coming out, so I will present my new book, Swamp Story: A Novel Publication is May 2, and my publisher will send copies to the festival. Sonoma is beautiful, and people are so nice out there.”

Swamp Story: A Novel is set in South Florida and is his fourth adult novel. Barry clarifies, “Not to say ‘mature,’ but ‘adult.’ Children should not read it.” His books are always set in South Florida, and he tries to make the story something that could happen in South Florida. “Which really is not very limiting, because almost anything could happen. The everglades is a very unusual place with very unusual people who live out there, and all kinds of weird things happen. So, I wanted to bring the readers into that world of strange everglades phenomena. The story is built on the idea of these guys trying to invent a monster, and then there’s a love story of lost treasure and some other things that happen,” Barry adds. Along with humor, Barry has excelled in the young adult fiction category with the series he wrote with his friend, Ridley Pearson. Barry explains, “We wrote a series of books for Disney. It’s called the Starcatcher Series. They’re prequels to Peter Pan.”

A prolific writer with over 50 books published, Barry understands the publishing world. So, I had to ask him to give our readers “Dave Barry’s 101” on becoming an author. He got serious for the first time in our conversation and spoke candidly: “I think the main thing is to be realistic. Look at what the actual job is and what the actual market is. So many people think they’ve got a book in them. They’ve never written anything in their lives. So, I’m very suspicious of somebody who gets to say, age 57, you know, and says, ‘I’d like to write a book.’ To me, that’s kind of like me saying I want to play in the symphony orchestra. I’ve never actually played an instrument. So, the main thing is, if you want to write, great, write because you want to write, you like to write, and you’re rewarded by writing. Don’t start from the assumption that you’ll get rich and famous, right? I hope you do.”

Time passed too quickly when talking with Barry, because his wit and self-effacing humor kept me laughing throughout our call. Amazingly, a man with his level of success and accomplishments could be kind, genuine, and funny. Barry will be at the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival, and you can meet the man who’s kept Americans laughing for decades.

PHOTO: SCOTT CHERNIS

When considering Britain, the royal family, and a resolute historian, it’s easy to conjure a man with a stiff upper lip and a serious demeanor. But I was pleasantly surprised by Hugo Vickers’ witty disposition and singsong one-liners. Along with his never-miss-a-beat humor, he is incredibly intelligent and passionately invested in Britain’s narrative. His career started on a fanciful whim writing about Gladys Deacon when he was 16 years old. His tenacity for interviewing, historical research, and storytelling led him to become one of Great Britain’s most respected biographers and broadcasters. His observations, as swift as a race horse’s cadence, are filled with historical relevance and intriguing facts. He has written biographies of the Queen Mother; Gladys Deacon, the Duchess of Marlborough; Cecil Beaton; Vivien Leigh; a study of Greta Garbo; and Alice, Princess Andrew of Greece. Vickers’ book, The Private World of The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, was illustrated with pictures from their collection. His book, The Kiss: The Story of an Obsession, won the 1996 Stern Silver Pen Award for non-fiction.

When speaking with Vickers, I waited anxiously for his next witty line punctuated by his delightful English accent. Some of his clever quips would make great sayings on mugs and pillows, in particular his assertion: “I am the only person you will ever meet who can earn an honest living in bed.” When asked about becoming a writer, he shares, “I don’t really believe that something’s happened until it’s been written down on a piece of paper. The real reason that I became a writer was that I wanted to tell a particular story. When I was about 16, I read about Gladys Deacon. She was married to the Duke of Marlborough, and I thought she sounded fascinating. Then she seemed to have completely disappeared into smoke. I finally found her, and she was in a psychogeriatric ward of a hospital. I went to see her and gradually made friends with her and was able to talk to her for two years. And this completely altered my life.”

Through a serendipitous chain of events that commenced with the Deacon’s unfortunate death, he got a publisher in New York. Hugo had written her obituary for the London Times. It was published and then printed on the front page of the Herald Tribune in Europe. Next, it was printed in the New

York Times. Meanwhile, Vickers got a new agent. His agent sent the synopsis to an American editor who had circled the obituary in the New York Times and thought Deacon looked interesting. “Then the synopsis arrived, which seemed awfully in tune with what he wanted, so he commissioned it!” Hugo recounts with delight.

I asked him why he focused on biographies which can be challenging to write, especially when the subject is still alive. “I’m interested in people and like things to be within living memory. It’s as if I appear after the play: the curtain has dropped, and everybody’s back in the dressing room. That’s when I go and talk to them, and I try to piece it all together. You know, I’ve been very lucky. When Cecil Beaton asked me to do his biography in 1979, it was an opportunity to meet everybody extraordinary at the time, from Truman Capote and Audrey Hepburn, Julie Andrews and the Queen Mother—it was an unbelievable cast of characters.”

Vickers published his diaries about all this called Malice in Wonderland, which is about him meeting these characters. “If you had your photograph taken by Cecil Beaton, it was like going up a ladder rather than coming down the snake, you know. I mean, you could argue that people like Mick Jagger didn’t need to be photographed by Cecil Beaton, but that certainly didn’t do any harm. And so, Truman Capote in the late ’40s was rather adopted by Cecil Beaton and, through him, met lots of interesting people in England.”

Vickers started writing biographies before the internet, so I asked him how he got his information.

“You’d go off to some foreign country to visit a library. There might be just three letters, which meant nothing. You know, you never know what you’re going to find. But in Gladys Deacon’s case, every time I picked up a stone, there seemed to be a diamond underneath it. The more I found, the more interesting it became.”

It seems an oxymoron that a writer could be close to the royals. After all, he’s a writer, and they’re … well … royalty and somewhat untouchable. But Vickers is one rare gem whom they respect and trust. So, I asked him how he got so close to the family.

“Well, it all takes time. All these things … everything goes right back to my earliest days. I was at school at Eton, just over Windsor Bridge. So, I used to come

across the bridge, go to Windsor Castle, go to St. George’s Chapel, and explore every Saturday and Sunday from when I was 12 to 18 years old. I have written several royal books, and I’ve been lucky they like what I wrote. I just recently wrote a book with the Duke of Kent, the Queen’s cousin, and I managed to include interviews with eight royal family members in the book.”

Just last June, Vickers was given 15 minutes with Queen Elizabeth II. “I had met the queen about 40 times in my life. But after the Jubilee, I was worried that I wouldn’t see her again. She had come to Prince Philip’s memorial service, which I went to. I had written an introduction to a book of photographs of the queen in Windsor. It was ready on 24 June. She had been riding that morning, and her groom asked if the photographer and I could come and present her with the first copy. I was so lucky. Her radiant smile was still so evident, and you can talk about lots of things in 15 minutes. A wonderful memory.”

With the coronation of King Charles around the corner, Vickers’ dance card is filling up. When asked about his upcoming projects, he said they might include the queen’s or Prince Phillip’s biographies. “Those would be exciting to do. I know a lot about both of them, and I wrote a book about Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice, and worked closely with him, his sister, and his office on that project. She was a fascinating woman. She hid a Jewish family in Athens during the war. She was very extraordinary.”

He wrote a book about the coronation 10 years ago, which he has revised. It is now been republished. Regarding the coronation of King Charles, Vickers remarks, “I’m easing myself into the position of being the expert on the coronation.”

Of course, I had to ask him for advice for new writers, and he shared his sage wisdom. “If you want to do it, you have to do it, don’t you? I advise young writers to keep a diary, because then you’re turning reality into the written word each day. Just try and get anything published anywhere. Start writing reviews, put your thoughts into words, and get your written words out there.”

Hugo Vickers will be speaking at the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival, and I look forward to more of his witty prose.

Destination Wailea

Sink your toes into the sand on beautiful Maui.

BY JENNIFER BODEN

THINKING ABOUT MAUI, MY MIND ALWAYS RESTS ON WAILEA. PERCHED ON THE SOUTHWESTERN TIP OF THE island about 30 minutes from Kahului Airport, Wailea boasts luxurious beaches, stunning golf courses, resorts, activities, and easy access to Maui’s endless attractions. It’s the perfect vacation waiting to happen. A Maui experience is all about embracing the aloha spirit which extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. The warm tropical climate and abundance of luxury options lend themselves to pampering. The teams at Maui resorts are seasoned at making visitors feel at home and like family. The high percentage of repeat visitors to Maui speaks for itself.

Hotel Wailea is a peaceful retreat nestled within a lush tropical hillside perched 300 feet above the ocean.

PHOTO: JOHN RUSSO

Relaxing at Hotel Wailea

One of the finest resorts on the island, Hotel Wailea offers a luxurious, adults-only space that easily meshes with the island vibe. The location itself is sublime, with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and three other Hawaiian islands. On top of that, it’s the only Relais & Châteaux property in Hawaii, meaning it offers excellent food to match the gorgeous surroundings.

It won’t take long to understand why dining is such an attraction at Hotel Wailea. Overseen by executive chef Bryan McMahon, the food options range from casual to fine dining. The Treehouse definitely falls into the latter category. This intimate private experience is held in an elevated outdoor dining room surrounded by foliage and includes a 7-course meal with wine pairings. It’s luxury in a tree house.

Though less intimate, The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea offers its own outstanding dining experience. Feast on local seafood and produce and take in the lovely view. For cocktails, visit the Birdcage, the hotel’s open-air lounge. Unique drinks complement the incredible views.

But dining is just the start. Take advantage of in-suite spa treatments—ideal for couples—and the open-air fitness studio for yoga and other athletic pursuits. Or take the resort’s Surf Safari tour, learning to surf at some of the island’s most renowned breaks.

When you’re ready to lounge by the ocean, their luxury vehicle service whisks you away to enjoy Wailea’s white sand Polo Beach, a small and secluded enclave to enjoy the warm air, sand, and water. It’s a great place to snorkel in summer and watch whale migrations in the winter.

Treehouse dining at Hotel Wailea

Hotel Wailea’s Birdcage Bar features sunset views and sophisticated sips.

PHOTO: AARON SCALES (TOP), SURF PLEASE (BOTTOM)

Fairmont Kea Lani is another choice place to stay on your Maui sojourn. This resort boasts lush gardens and a just-completed major transformation referred to as Ho’omaka Hou (a New Beginning). The multifaceted project enhanced 413 one-bedroom suites and 37 two-story villas in ways that evoke stories of the island’s rich cultural heritage.

On the dining side, executive chef Aris Aurelio oversees Kō (Hawaiian for sugar cane), a farm-to-table fusion restaurant that features Korean, Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, and other cuisines. The seasonal menus will delight your palate.

For breakfast, wander down to the Kea Lani Restaurant and eat breakfast al fresco Enjoy the bounty of their extravagant buffet which includes an omelet station, smoked salmon, or standard bacon and eggs. The Makana Market and Café offers house-crafted pastries, fudge, pizzas, sandwiches, tuna poke bowls, salads, and more.

For relaxation (and to entertain the kids), the resort boasts two lagoon-style pools with waterslides. There are hot tubs as well as shallow pools for small children. There’s also a quieter adults-only pool. I definitely recommend renting a cabaña where you can cool down and enjoy a refreshing cocktail like their popular Kea Lani Mai Tai, (Bacardi rum, tropical juices, float of Bacardi black rum) or the Moana Mist (Ocean vodka, basil, strawberry, lemon, agave syrup, soda). Or order any beverage with a “Tropic Like It’s Hot” twist, served in a fresh pineapple!

Fairmont Kea Lani also offers ample opportunities to sample Hawaiian history and culture. The Hawaiian Canoe Experience takes you out on the water in an outrigger. There are also hula and ukulele lessons, a torch lighting ceremony, and a seedling planting in the resort’s greenhouse to help restore the island’s forests.

The beauty of Maui is that it’s not one thing—it’s many things— which is what makes it so ideal for a family vacation or couple’s getaway. Swim, dine, tour, shop, play. It’s all there.

Fairmont Kea Lani

THE BEAUTY OF MAUI IS THAT IT’S NOT ONE THING— IT’S MANY THINGS...

A newly transformed living room at Fairmont Kea Lani.

PHOTO: FAIRMONT KEA LANI (TOP LEFT, CENTER AND BOTTOM RIGHT), MATTEOʻS OSTERIA (TOP RIGHT)

Dining Around Wailea

Resorts are great to provide an all-encompassing experience or simply as a home base to venture out. Wailea offers a wide range of excellent restaurants just a short drive away.

Matteo’s Osteria is an intimate and well-loved Italian restaurant featuring nightly specials with house-made pasta and an awesome wine selection.

Gannonʻs is one of the top outdoor restaurants in the U.S. Chef Beverly Gannon helped create the Hawaii Regional Cuisine Movement which features local meats, fish, produce, and other ingredients. It’s farm-to-table, Hawaiian style.

Paddle boarding in Maui

Matteo’s Osteria’s gnocchi gorgonzola

Kō Restaurant

Designer Suites

Stay in a hotel created by your favorite fashion designer.

BY BECCA HENSLEY

AS ANYBODY WHO WEARS DESIGNER CLOTHING WILL TELL YOU, FINE ATTIRE TRANSCENDS HIGHER QUALITY fabric, status symbols, and investment pieces. In fact, finding the right designer is more akin to forming the perfect friendship. Like dancing a choreographed pas de deux with you, your ideal designer matches and enhances the qualities of your body type, lifestyle, and personality. Thanks to these artists of form and cloth, we become the best versions of ourselves. So, imagine what happens when we have the chance to be surrounded with the work of our favorite fashion designer while staying in a luxurious hotel? It’s like that little black dress on steroids, not just wearing the dress, but being part of it—a true fashionista’s fantasy. Are your bags packed? We’ve rounded up a slew of designer-conceived hotel suites and common areas sure to invoke stylish dreams.

CHRISTIAN DIOR

At St. Regis New York, discover Parisian glamor and elegance in the Dior Suite, a homage to Christian Dior, the French designer renowned for revolutionizing the women’s fashion industry. Summoning the chic of the Dior ateliers in Paris, this grand residential suite, complete with marble foyer, living room, and king bedroom, features 24-hour St. Regis butler service. marriott.com/en-us/hotels/nycxr-the-st-regis-new-york

KARL LAGERFELD

Two diverse hotels in France exhibit the canniness of Karl Lagerfeld’s talents. Revered as the creative genius behind the modern reimagination of the iconic Chanel® fashion house, Lagerfeld designed Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo’s Odyssey, a sought-after rooftop pool expanse. Hip and studded with private cabañas, Odyssey has a verdant garden anchored by a one-of-a-kind, etched glass mural conceived to celebrate the designer’s muses.

In Paris, Hôtel de Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel, commissioned the designer for its Les Grands Apartments by Karl Lagerfeld, the property’s pièces de résistance. Manifesting his love for the palatial hotel and its history, Lagerfeld shaped a lavish haven of oversized crystal chandeliers, handmade velvet sofas, huge marble soaking tubs, unique wooden walls (painted in seven layers, then sanded), and artwork that honors his beloved cat, Choupette. metropole.com; rosewoodhotels.com/en/hotel-de-crillon

Concorde bathroom at Les Grands Apartments

Rooftop pool at Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo’s Odyssey PHOTO: C. LARIT

PHOTO: LES GRANDS APARTMENTS

RALPH LAUREN

Time-honored Round Hill opened in 1953 to quickly become a storied Jamaican getaway for beau monde American and European travelers—including Sir Noel Coward and Oscar Hammerstein. Check into the Pineapple House, an intimate section of the retreat with 36 rooms overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Designed by Ralph Lauren, an advocate for everyday sophistication, the accommodations combine organic flourishes, such as bamboo poster beds, white stone floors, and Egyptian cotton sheets for a crisp, clean, tropical vibe. roundhill.com

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

It might be enough that The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills boasts the largest hotel suite in Los Angeles, stretching a mindboggling 11,000 square feet. Add in this expansive hideaway was also inspired by the recently deceased Vivienne Westwood, beloved for her provocative designs. The result? A fashionista’s treasure trove, ideal for parties. Revel in the 10th floor penthouse, accessed via a private corridor. Its 6,000 square feet of boldly designed interiors opens to a 5,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with bedazzling, panoramic city views. thelondonwesthollywood.com

FORTUNY

Art and fashion design commingle in the work of Mariano Fortuny, the Spanish designer who worked in Venice, still the home for his eponymous, more-than-a-century-old design house. Most esteemed for his opulent fabrics and jewel-toned, pleated gowns, the designer’s production secrets have been closely guarded for decades. Evoking Fortuny’s 1930s showroom in an array of texture and color, the lobby and staterooms of the new S.S. Venezia, one of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ newest super ships, enchants all who gaze upon it. Elements such as pops of Murano glass and brass-inlaid floors conjure both the craftsmanship of Venice and Fortuny’s own classic point of view. uniworld.com

The Grand Salon at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills

The Ralph Lauren Villa at Round Hill

Suite on the S.S. Venezia

FENDI®

Synonymous with outrageously opulent furs, innovative eyewear, eye-catching handbags, and fetching leather goods, this Italian fashion house was established by Adele and Edoardo Fendi in Rome in 1925. Today, Fendi fans can not only shop at the House of Fendi’s flagship boutique in Rome, but they can sleep there, too. Book one of the seven exclusive Fendi private suites, members of small luxury hotels of the world. Stunning hideaways set on the third floor of Palazzo Fendi, just steps from the Trevi Fountain. Expect superlative attention to detail from every angle, including pampering Mako cotton satin sheets and Diptyque products. slh.com/hotels/fendi-private-suites

TODD SNYDER

New York-based menswear maven Todd Snyder huddles near the coast of Maine at Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport for repose and inspiration. Follow his lead among the birch and fir forests that inspire him at a hotel he calls home. Just launched in June, The Bungalows by Todd Snyder present three Maine-inspired design concepts: Countryside, Mountainside, and Seaside. Fusing Snyder’s approachable (but ever dapper) style with Hidden Pond’s bucolic chic, The Bungalow celebrates Maine’s cozy largesse with premium textures and fabrics, vintage memorabilia, and a custom Spotify list. hiddenpondmaine.com

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

As a tribute to his native Dominican Republic, dignified designer Oscar de la Renta, whose fashion house continues to conjure magic in the evening wear category, reimagined Tortuga Bay Hotel at Puntacana Resort & Club in 2014. The retreat, situated on a private sandy crescent, vaunts 30 suites and 13 villas kitted out with Oscar de la Renta fabrics. Tropical woods—mahogany, wicker (from willow), and rattan (from bamboo)—add decorative ballast among the graceful airiness of his textiles and the suites’ jaw-dropping views. tortugabayhotel.com

Tortuga Bay Hotel at Puntacana Resort & Club

The Countryside at The Bungalows by Todd Snyder

PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) FENDI, DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN, BJORN WALLANDER

Art Lovers Haven

Base at the Baccarat Hotel New York for your next artsy foray in the Big Apple.

BY BECCA HENSLEY

IF YOU’VE EVER ATTEMPTED AN ART MUSEUM VISIT with a toddler, you know you have to lower your expectations. Generally, that means seeing one gallery, not 50, in one afternoon—perhaps even fleeing fast when those little hands try to touch the Rembrandt or when the inevitable tantrum strikes. So, it was with some trepidation—plus much joy and a modicum of optimism— that I planned an art-replete, three generation visit to New York’s Museum of Modern Art with my daughter and granddaughter, followed by a stay in the spellbinding Baccarat Hotel New York, a verifiably habitable piece of artwork itself. With the hotel stay as—let’s call it dessert—even if time spent at MoMA was cut short (and it was), we’d just scurry across the street to bijoux Baccarat to continue our aesthetic immersion beneath its 17 custom chandeliers, sleeping in its chandelierembossed jacquard sheets at night, perusing its captivating wall of glasses—a 20-by-25 foot assemblage of more than 2,000 iconic crystal glasses—and enjoying, at a toddler’s pace, its museum quality 250 works of beguiling art displayed throughout the property. Of course, we’d also sip from 15,000 mixed-and-matched Baccarat crystal stemware, both classic and custom, as one does when the hotel bears the name Baccarat. I’d even imagined us standing among the topiary, Baccarat flutes in hand (no, not the toddler’s hand!) at the hotel’s seasonal Le Jardin terrace which overlooks MoMA. There, we could reap the fanciful aesthetics of the 250-year-old crystal brand, founded by tastemaker extraordinaire King Louis XV himself, under the cover of its first flagship hotel while being imbued by Magritte and Matisse vibes, artfulness radiating from the museum galleries at MoMA to our artsy safe place, New York’s most scintillating, sophisticated, and original hotel.

MORE ON THE BACCARAT HOTEL NEW YORK

Subtle and understated from the street, the interiors of Baccarat New York shimmer and glow. From the 4-foot fireplace in the entry lobby to the custom designed, red enamel mini bar complete with Baccarat glasses in the suites to the posh Grand Salon with its lush platinum and champagne palette, this hotel has theatrical appeal. Throughout, a French pied-à-terre ambiance prevails, though it’s spiced with some Manhattan-fueled buzz. Hand-pleated silk wall coverings, mica-coated ceilings, panoramic windows, silver-leafed boiserie, glittery shimmer everywhere, and service as priceless as the Baccarat chandeliers themselves set the mood. Don’t miss the sultry bar with crimson velvet seats and a double barrel vaulted ceiling, a nod to the stables at Château de Versailles, which conjures another time.

Its clever new cocktail menu, “L’ Art du Cocktail,” engages epicurean drinkers and art aficionados alike in a poetic romp of wordplay, art interpretation, and drink offerings inspired by the room’s most evocative works. For self-care, the serene La Mer Spa, the brand’s first in the United States, brings top level treatments. A state-of-the-art fitness center and indoor lap pool, edged by Cote d’Azur-style cabañas, supports fitness regimens. Don’t miss gastronomic satiation from two-Michelin-star chef Gabriel Kreuther, who serves as the Baccarat’s culinary director. He brings his chic, French rustic cooking ethos as inspiration for meals served in the Grand Salon and for in-room dining. We highly recommend premuseum omelets and berries with whipped cream before attempting your art museum onslaught with a toddler.

MORE ON MOMA

Touted as one of the most immense, definitive, and influential museums of modern art in the world, The Museum of Modern Art sits in Midtown on 53rd Street, just off Fifth Avenue. New exhibits on view through summer 2023 include Francis Bacon, Masters of Popular Painting, and Ornament and Abstraction. While visiting, pay homage to some classic mainstays: Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh; Campbell’s Soup Can by Andy Warhol, Water Lilies by Claude Monet, Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair by Frida Kahlo— among others. moma.org

FOUR OTHER SOUL-SATISFYING MUSEUMS FOR AN ART-FILLED FORAY

New Museum

For modern art and museum lovers who have limited time, the Lower East Side’s New Museum offers a refreshing portal to contemporary art on a smaller scale. Take one of the daily, complimentary, docentled tours, a 45-minute exploration of current exhibitions with riveting artist insights. Like most museums, it has a well-curated gift shop; this one full of hard-to-find books. newmuseum.org

Neue Galerie

Located on the Upper East Side, this small-enough-to-do-in-afew hours jewel box of a museum displays works by artists of the Austrian Secession movement, such as Gustave Klimt. Designers from the Wiener Werkstatte (Vienna Workshops), a design movement that led to modernism—as well as works by Bauhaus and Expressionists from Schiele to Dix—are also showcased. After perusing the galleries, stop for cake and coffee in the museum’s gilded café. neuegalerie.org

Frick Collection/Frick Madison

One of the globe’s most riveting small museums, the Frick is currently closed for renovations. But travelers in the know can see its collection at a temporary pop-up museum space, Frick Madison. With a permanent cache of glorious Old Master paintings and European decorative and fine art, the museum displays works by Titian, Rembrandt, Goya, Vermeer, and others. frick.org

The Met Cloisters

In Upper Manhattan’s Washington Heights, The Cloisters sits in Fort Tryon Park, overlooking the Hudson River. A trove of European medieval art and architecture and awash with pieces from the Gothic and Romanesque eras, it can be enjoyed in small bites of time and never overwhelms. Opened in 1938 as a division of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the galleries are incorporated into unique architecture where five medieval cloisters meld into a contemporary structure and provide passageways between art-filled rooms. metmuseum.org

PHOTO: BACCARAT HOTEL NEW YORK

Louis Vuitton is a fashion house of codes: a house built on innate design rules that are undeniably Vuitton. For the Louis Vuitton Spring-Summer 2023 Icons collection, Nicolas Ghesquière, the artistic director of women’s collections, reveals the dynamic persona of the Louis Vuitton lady. Ghesquière whisks us away into the effortlessly feminine personality of Louis Vuitton through airy silk crepe de Chine gowns and whimsical prints while also calling on the sophisticated character with tailored blazers and posh Peter Pan collars. The Louis Vuitton lady also likes to have fun; she is reinvented through the new Sparkle Pump and is carefree with classic handbags like the Capucines in a summer white and the Twist in a plush baby pink shearling. And above all, the Louis Vuitton lady is a lady true to the rules of the house.

FASHION DIRECTOR: ADRIENNE FAUROTE

PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK SQUIRES

STYLIST: ANNY CHOI

HAIRSTYLIST: TERRI WALKER AT THE VISIONARIES USING KEVIN MURPHY

MAKEUP ARTIST: SIMON RIHANA AT ART DEPARTMENT USING TOM FORD BEAUTY

MODELS: LEILA GOLDKUHL AT NEXT MANAGEMENT

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: ZACK HUGHES

SHOT ON LOCATION IN LOS ANGELES

ALL CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES BY LOUIS VUITTON

INTERNATIONAL FASHION EVENTS CALENDAR

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

TRAVEL PLANS? ATTENDING THE MET GALA®? NEW MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS FEATURE A Karl Lagerfeld show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a Christian Dior retrospective in Tokyo, a Gabrielle Chanel display at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, and more.

In recent years, attendance spikes at museums indicate the widespread appeal of fashion-related exhibitions. Fashion that never goes out of style is presented at current and upcoming museum exhibitions around the world through 2023 and into 2024.

DIVA: Maria Callas in Verdi’s La Traviata at the Royal Opera House, London, 1958 Courtesy V&A

V&A Exhibition, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto

NOW THROUGH MAY 7, 2023

Brooklyn Museum of Art – NYC | Thierry Mugler Retrospective: Couturissime Fascinating, theatrical, and edgy, Mugler established himself as one of the most daring and innovative designers of the late 20th century. His bold silhouettes and unorthodox techniques and materials—including glass, Plexiglass, vinyl, latex, and chrome—made their mark on fashion history. A first-ever retrospective of the French creator of “glamazon.” brooklynmuseum.org/ exhibitions/thierry_mugler

NOW THROUGH MAY 14, 2023

Musée Yves Saint Laurent – Paris | GOLD

From the very first buttons adorning his pea coats to dresses that appear entirely fashioned from gold, no collection escaped the couturier’s “golden” touch. The exhibition presents gold through some 40 haute couture and ready-to-wear dresses, selected accessories, and objects and displays jewelry essential to the Yves Saint Laurent silhouette. museeyslparis.com/en/exhibitions/gold

NOW THROUGH MAY 28, 2023

Museum of Contemporary Art – Tokyo | Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams

Following its success at the Musée des Arts

Décoratifs in Paris and after having traveled the world from London to New York, this iteration of the exhibition celebrates the sincere, singular ties between Dior and Japan. e-tix.jp/mot/en

MAY 5 – JULY 16, 2023

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – NYC | Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty

Focusing on the designer’s stylistic vocabulary as expressed in aesthetic themes that appear time and again in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019, the posthumous show spotlights the designer’s unique working methodology. Lagerfeld’s sketches accompany most of the approximately 150 pieces on display. In celebration of the show’s opening, the Costume Institute Benefit (also known as the MET GALA) takes place on May 1, 2023. metmuseum.org/press/ exhibitions/2023/karl-lagerfeld

JUNE 24 – NOV. 12, 2023

Museum of Fashion & Lace – Calais, France | Yves Saint Laurent: Transparencies

Through 60 models, the exhibition reveals how the couturier overturned the codes of unveiling the female body. Accessories, drawings, photographs, and videos demonstrate how Yves Saint Laurent used the effects of the transparency of fabrics to propose a new, powerful, and sensual female figure. The exhibition will continue at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Paris in 2024. cite-dentelle. fr/en/home/Exhibitions/Coming+soon/ temporary-exhibitions

JUNE 24, 2023 – APRIL 7, 2024

Victoria & Albert Museum – London | DIVA

DIVA will celebrate the power and creativity of iconic performers, exploring and redefining the role of “diva” and how this has been subverted or embraced over time across opera, stage, popular music, and film. vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/diva

SEPT. 16, 2023 – FEB. 24, 2024

Victoria & Albert Museum – London |

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel: Fashion Manifesto Dedicated to the work of French couturière Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, this show charts the evolution of her iconic design style and the establishment of the House of CHANEL, from the opening of her first millinery boutique in Paris in 1910 to the showing of her final collection in 1971. It features over 180 looks, seen together for the first time, as well as jewelry, accessories, cosmetics, and perfumes. vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/gabrielle-chanel-fashionmanifesto

NOV. 29, 2023 – APRIL 28, 2024

Musée des Arts Décoratifs – Paris | Iris Van Herpen

The exhibition of Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen, now recognized as one of the most avant-garde figures of her generation, brings together 100 dresses seeking new forms for femininity and challenging our notions of haute couture. madparis.fr/Iris-vanHerpen-2305

Thierry Mugler

Karl Lagerfeld for House of CHANEL, fall/winter 1986 – 87

GOLD: Loulou de La Falaise in YSL

Crown Jewelers

Get to know a few of the icons and innovators in haute joaillerie today

BY STEPH KEAY

Verdura

“Verdura … was always in the right place at the right time,” says managing director Jim Haag of the company’s founder and celebrated man-about-town. Born into Sicilian aristocracy, Duke Fulco di Verdura became a tastemaker for high society in 1920s Paris, Golden Age Hollywood stars, and the crème de la crème of ’40s and ’50s New York.

His early collaboration with Coco Chanel resulted in the Maltese cross cuffs, an enduring design that initially turned heads for its daring use of multicolored gemstones and the classical motif. “It was considered a stylistic revolution in jewelry, as they departed from the deco trend that was marked by the ubiquity of platinum and diamonds,” shares Haag. “Verdura brought cuffs into the modern era by making them accessible and talismanic. Their boldness belies their easy wearability.”

Verdura’s list of clients later included icons such as Greta Garbo, Rita Hayworth, Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Cole Porter—a close friend who also helped to finance the opening of his jewelry salon on Fifth Avenue in 1939. The duke-turned-designer rose to renown for his bold yet sophisticated design aesthetic, becoming the first to set colored gemstones in gold for everyday wear. Today, the company is headed by Ward and Nico Landrigan, stewards of the brand committed to bringing Verdura’s timeless designs to a new generation.

“Our mission is to help a client create their own unique, personal style,” says Haag. “The team at Verdura has put a focus on the personalization and customization of jewelry: timeless jewelry that displays our clients’ sense of style and confidence.” The designs draw from the company’s archives, which contain nearly 10,000 original sketches, while adapting to contemporary tastes. Each one is also created in limited production. Favored by trailblazers across fashion and film for nearly a century, Verdura continues to showcase the power of style with high jewelry pieces that are sophisticated but unpretentious, striking yet understated— reimagining heritage designs that will capture the attention of collectors for years to come.

Fulco di Verdura and Coco Chanel admire a Maltese cross cuff in 1937

The Ravenna pendant brooch, inspired by one of Verdura’s earliest designs

Known as “the jewelers’ jeweler,” Oscar Heyman is an iconic, familyowned institution that has endured for over a century. As one of the workshops behind some of the most venerated jewelry houses worldwide, its craftsmanship was trusted for decades by Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Tiffany before the label evolved into its own brand.

One of its crowning achievements came in 1969, when Cartier commissioned Heyman to produce a setting for the famed 69-carat diamond Richard Burton purchased for Elizabeth Taylor. With less than a week to complete the lofty task, Heyman’s team sourced 67 stones of equivalent shape and quality, working around the clock to create what would become the legendary Taylor-Burton diamond necklace.

“Our aim is to create the finest, most beautiful handcrafted jewelry in the world using the finest gemstones and the finest manufacturing techniques,” says CEO Tom Heyman, a third generation member of the founding family. Designed to stand the test of time, styles such as its guard rings—which have been sold since its founding in 1912—have maintained their popularity throughout the decades.

While the company still turns to its archives for inspiration, the designs shift with the times. “Today we proudly stamp our own trademark on the pieces we create for customers who desire Oscar Heyman jewelry, in part due to the reputation we earned creating jewelry for others,” says Heyman. One classic design adapted for modern tastes is the company’s cornucopia bracelet, a strand of diamond-encrusted links originally designed as an evening watch strap in the late 1940s. This has been reimagined as a stackable tennis bracelet for everyday wear, available exclusively at Neiman Marcus.

Its model of relying on its retail partners to sell their jewelry allows the company to focus exclusively on sourcing the finest precious gemstones and creating these exquisite pieces. Oscar Heyman carries on its namesake’s legacy, proving that designs focused on exceptional gemstones underscored by extraordinary craftsmanship will never go out of style. As Oscar himself once said: “Jewelry should transcend time like a fine painting, never losing its appeal.”

Oscar Heyman

Oscar Heyman guard rings, a timeless classic that showcases a variety of precious gemstones

Elizabeth Taylor in the iconic Taylor-Burton diamond necklace

“OUR AIM IS TO CREATE THE FINEST , MOST BEAUTIFUL HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY IN THE WORLD USING THE FINEST GEMSTONES AND THE FINEST MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES. ”

–TOM HEYMAN, CEO OF OSCAR HEYMAN

Messika

Featuring diamonds fit for a queen, Parisian jewelry house Messika launched Beyond the Light at a star-studded runway show during Paris Fashion Week last September. The dramatic new collection comes from Valérie Messika, daughter of renowned diamond dealer André Messika.

“I loved working alongside my father and sharing our common passion for diamonds, but I was missing the creative aspect,” she says. Messika founded her eponymous jewelry maison in 2005, becoming a household name whose pieces are worn by the likes of Julia Roberts, Venus and Serena Williams, and Beyoncé. Chic yet timeless, as evidenced by its appeal across generations, the brand also aims to celebrate women and embolden them to wear diamonds for any occasion.

“When I founded Messika, there was a real fear and apprehension around diamonds,” she says. “Most women only really wore the

diamond for their engagement ring or for very traditional evening wear.” As a result, she started Messika to break down these outdated style barriers. “My desire is to create a new way of wearing jewelry. I want my designs to be worn every day, not just on certain occasions.”

Inspired by the mysticism of ancient Egypt, Beyond the Light reflects Messika’s message of female empowerment. “Cleopatra was a legendary woman, and her memory is still as fascinating as ever,” she says. “The ancient Egyptian woman resembles the Messika woman: bold, courageous, and self-confident.” Messika is turning tradition on its head with an approach that envisions diamonds as a symbol of femininity and self-assurance. No longer only for special occasions or serious engagements, Messika asserts the belief that diamonds—like fashion—can be playful and dynamic.

OSCAR CHRIS COLLS, COURTESY OF MESSIKA PARIS (INSET)

“THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN WOMAN RESEMBLES THE MESSIKA WOMAN : BOLD, COURAGEOUS , AND SELFCONFIDENT.”

–VALÉRIE MESSIKA

The Akh-Ba-Ka set from the Beyond the Light collection

The hero diamonds featured in the set are cut from the same 110-carat rough diamond

RUSTIC ELEGANCE MEETS ENTERTAINER’S PARADISE

55 Starmont Lane, Danville CA 94526 | www.55starmontlane.com

Escape to a world of rustic elegance, breathtaking views, and an unparalleled sense of peace and privacy in this extraordinary 4-bed, 4.5-bath custom home. With over 6,400 sq. ft. of living space, including a guest cottage and a magnificent open-concept design, this residence is the epitome of comfort and style. Main home is approx. 5500 sq. ft. and ADU just under 1000 sq. ft. Picturesque barn that could be an additional ADU or car collectors dream garage. Indulge in stunning panoramic views of Mt. Diablo and relax in the lush serenity of fully-gated surroundings.

Step inside to find a home that feels like a single-story dream, with formal living and dining rooms, a library, and a great room that boasts oversized windows to take in the breathtaking views. Entertain guests in the fully-covered outdoor living area, complete with a sparkling pool, spa, tennis/basketball court, viewing pavilion, soccer field/driving range and putting green - all of which add to the endless outdoor amenities. Over $5mm in upgrades to exterior infrastructure, highest quality landscaping, fully drivable and golf cart accessible.

Elevate your California lifestyle with this sports lover’s paradise, conveniently located just 1.5 miles from the vibrant downtown Danville and its abundance of dining, shopping, trails, and award-winning schools. From the moment you enter this rare and expansive home, you’ll know you’ve found a private sanctuary that combines stunning views, privacy, and outdoor amenities for the ultimate living experience.

THE RENAISSANCE GREAT

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

This page and opposite: Dior Lady 95.22 bag, price upon request; available at select Dior boutiques nationwide and 1-800-929-3467

Dior Lady 95.22 bag, price upon request; available at select Dior boutiques nationwide and 1-800-929-3467

Symbolic of time, the Lady 95.22 handbag’s name combines the year of its birth (1995) with the year it was created (2022), ultimately becoming a modern iteration of the handbag that has withstood fashion’s test of time. Originally getting its name from the late Princess Diana, the Lady Dior handbag has transcended being just a handbag and has become a design phenomenon. While Dior Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s reinterpretation of the bag takes on a new, elongated silhouette, it remains timeless. Ahead, Haute Living gives an exclusive look into the incredibly rare and exceptional savoir faire behind the new Lady 95.22 bag.

From conception to design execution, the handbag is crafted with the utmost attention to detail at the Dior ateliers. At first glance, one instantly recognizes the signature “Cannage” quilting pattern — perhaps the most notable design motif — on a macro scale. Achieved through an innovative high-frequency embossing technique in which meticulously sourced leather is cut by hand before wave energy is used to fabricate the perfect volume, the Macrocannage pattern instantly modernizes the style.

Perfected at the maison’s ateliers, the traditional technique of “piqué retourné,” or inside-out stitching mounting, is used in order to assemble the bag. This process requires unparalleled craftsmanship, extreme attention to detail, and patience. In fact, the bag itself takes three times longer to craft than the former Lady Dior, requiring intricacies that can only be mastered by hand due to the complexity of both the assembly of the Lady 95.22 as well as its new, distinct design details.

Dior Lady 95.22 bag, price upon request; available at select Dior boutiques nationwide and 1-800-929-3467

Dior Lady 95.22 bag, price upon request; available at select Dior boutiques nationwide and 1-800-929-3467

A handbag destined to last forever, the Lady 95.22 marks a new era for the maison that echoes the pride of the past as it ushers in the present.

Dior Lady 95.22 bag, price upon request; available at select Dior boutiques nationwide and 1-800-929-3467

The Wardrobe Wizards

These couture confidants keep their clients stylish and self-assured.

BY FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

THE BAY AREA’S BEST DRESSED POSSESS THEIR OWN EYE for fabulous fashion, though it’s likely that many routinely receive a bit of help in defining their looks. Assistance might come in the form of an astute clerk at a large department store or a chic best friend with a particularly keen sense of style. Inspiration can be found within the pages of magazines or by perusing the accounts of social media fashion influencers. But nothing beats a personal relationship with a high-end boutique and a staff that fulfills its clients’ best fashion interests.

These three boutique owners (and their teams) do just that. Each is a couture confidant and a trusted source for the best in the latest and greatest trend-setting clothing and accessories. Elyse Walker has a talent for mixing unique, high-end designer pieces with moderately priced items from new and emerging designers. Helen Lyall is known for her “stand out in a crowd” outfits, and Heidi Sabelhaus Myers is forever exploring new trends and designers as style directions change course.

Helen Lyall

Helen Lyall is known for elaborate fashion shows that reflect Hollywoodlike productions, such as those she stages annually for San Francisco’s Saint Francis Yacht Club and the San Francisco Yacht Club in Tiburon, each of which support various charitable organizations. Well into her 90s, she is an iconic role model for generations of clients: grandmothers, mothers, and daughters.

Her Helen Lyall Clothes for Women boutique in downtown Napa carries unique lines and styles that reflect the lifestyles of her globetrotting customer base. (Her son, Scott, oversees an adjoining retail store for men.) Her favorite labels include Alice & Olivia, Zenia, Autumn Cashmere, Kokun, and LaMarque Leathers.

One of fashion’s most powerful retailers and an authority on premium curated apparel, jewelry, and accessories, Elyse Walker learned about the fashion business as a young girl working in her mother’s shoe store, which she eventually inherited. She opened her first eponymous boutique in 1999 in Pacific Palisades and today oversees seven elysewalker stores throughout California, two in New York City, and a robust online business. Her St. Helena boutique is a favorite of stylish Napans.

The magic of Walker’s retail power transcends the clothing. She and her team create, establish, and maintain client relationships, helping to build wardrobes that suit personalities and lifestyles.

“We are very lucky in that we have been working with some of our clients for almost 20 years. We not only know them very well, but we know their lifestyle,” said Walker, whose personal everyday outfit is a blazer, soft denims, a platform boot, and copious jewelry. (For evening, she simply swaps out her tote for an evening bag.) Her current closet favorites are her Zip Boots from The Row. “I call them my ‘sneakers’ because they’re the most comfortable shoe I own,” said Walker. “I have every color and wear them almost every day— on the plane, at the office—they’re my perfect shoe.”

Walker’s loyal clients love the personalization and customer service that she and her team provide. “Elyse and her team have been styling me for a few years, and they know what’s in my closet better than I do,” said Leslie Frank, founder of Frank Family Vineyards. “They know my taste, and I love that they sometimes push me out of my fashion comfort zone. They understand style and trends and have a talent for tying in new pieces to my existing wardrobe. No matter what the occasion or where I’m traveling, I can rely on Elyse and her team to help me sort out my fashion needs.”

Walker believes in wardrobe staples—pieces that are timeless and can be styled with the latest trends. “A great way to stay on trend are seasonal updates, styling your basics with the season’s latest looks,” said Walker. “For this season, we are really loving minimal maxi skirts in denim, jersey, or silk and platform sandals, because who doesn’t want to be a little taller!”

Lyall herself shops the European and U.S. markets to bring her clientele the most current fashion trends. For her, quality is of the utmost importance. “The fabric, the tailoring, the ease of wear: this is what matters most,” said Lyall, whose own go-to outfit for everyday is leggings, a cashmere sweater, and a leather jacket—though she touts a pair of black pants as the most indispensable item that every woman should have in her closet. Her own pair are leather trimmed; she wears them with a splash of the dramatic, such as a unique sweater, a piece of statement jewelry, or a shawl.

Like Walker, Lyall learned about fashion commerce at a young age; her family owned a store that sold everything from fabric to work boots and moccasins to confirmation gowns. She opened her own boutique 35 years ago and since has continued to provide personal service and wardrobe coordination for her loyal clients.

For spring and summer, Lyall forecasts fringe as well as see-through fashion, halter and cropped tops, and soft print dresses. When asked for one suggestion for updating a closet or a look, the vivacious Lyall recommends thinking young and living life to its fullest.

Elyse Walker

PHOTO: LAURA LARSON

Helen and Scott Lyall

Heidi Sabelhaus Myers

As requests from family and friends for style advice became more frequent, Heidi Sabelhaus Myers decided to open her own boutique where she could gather all her favorite lines and pieces in one place. Now 21 years in, HeidiSays has been a Fillmore Street mainstay boutique, carrying labels such as Tibi, Nili Lotan, Ganni, Ulla Johnson, Apiece Apart, Vanessa Bruno, and Malene Birger.

In addition to shopping the New York and Los Angeles trade shows, Myers sources from Paris and Milan; new designers often reach out to her directly. “Our list of designers is fluid, and we are always exploring new trends and designers as style directions change course,” said Myers, who derives great satisfaction in helping customers find their voice through their style. “Dressing our clients from head to toe and completing their outfits is one of the most rewarding parts of owning the boutique.”

“Heidi is my saving grace when it comes to creating a business and casual wardrobe that is both timeless and current,” said client Valerie Houts. “I rely on her as my ‘style North Star,’ charting a totally reliable course toward all I need to look and feel my best at every occasion filling my calendar. I trust her immensely and love working together!”

Quality, fit, and style relevancy are Myers’ three most important factors in choosing her collection. “It’s my responsibility to offer my customers well-edited styles and trends. Many enjoy taking risks with their looks and want to creatively express themselves through new shapes, textures, and colors. I want to make our clients feel pretty, confident, powerful, and tasteful. I am very purposeful in my job, and I truly spend time and effort considering what our clients need.”

For her personal, every day, go-to outfits, Myers reaches for a monochromatic silhouette—for instance a navy cashmere sweater with navy trousers or, for summer, a white blouse paired with white denim and quality accessories such as a statement pair of shoes or belt. For date night, she loves anything leopard. Her own closet “go-tos” are a Brazeau Tricot cashmere slouchy black sweater, Malene Birger leather pants, a Ganni leopard dress, and leather booties from Tibi.

She recommends that every woman own one or two crisp, slightly different white blouses that fit perfectly, one pair of flattering black pants, and a high quality, well-fitting black blazer. And for a quick closet update, she suggests studying the new denim shapes, investing in a few pairs that best fit your figure, and exploring new heel and toe shoe shapes to update your look. “In the end, fashion and trends are creative, but investing in classic shapes and a few quality pieces can always make a woman feel well-dressed.”

Heidi Sabelhaus Myers

Once in a lifetime opportunity

Located within Seadrift, a gated enclave in Stinson Beach, this one of a kind home offers the ultimate in waterfront living. Bordering the Bolinas Lagoon and foothills of Mt Tamalpais, you will be amazed at the everchanging views. The balance between nature and the comforts of this home is unparallel. The great room juts out over the lagoon with a wall of glass to capture the sweeping views. Vaulted ceiling, beautiful pecan flooring, fireplace and built-in cabinetry creates an inviting space year round. The primary suite, with tranquil views opens onto a sheltered patio connecting the main house to the guest house. The guest house has currently been used as an office, includes a murphy bed and has its own separate entrance, patio and garden area.

Truly a rare offering, perfectly situated to enjoy the spectacular nature setting along with the convenience of being 45 minutes from San Francisco.

Ushering in San Francisco Ballet’s 90th Season

BY TERESA

SAN FRANCISCO’S SOCIETY WAS ABUZZ AT THE SAN FRANCISCO Ballet’s Gala. Joyful anticipation and guests wardrobed in lavish gowns and colorful tuxedos filled the gilded theater. The launch of the season was extra special because the San Francisco Ballet was celebrating its 90-year legacy with a non-traditional twist.

The program included excerpts from their next@90 festival, plus a world premiere by choreographer-in-residence Yuri Possokhov and danced by principal dancers Yuan Yuan Tan and Aaron Robison. The event marked artistic director Tamara Rojo’s first SFB Gala at the organization’s helm and featured other selections from the 2023 season.

Each exhilarating excerpt exhibited a delightful morsel of creativity and left the packed house wanting more. The lucky patrons’ exquisite evening continued at City Hall where they were treated to a festive feast and limitless libations. Many guests danced away the night with a live band performing crowd favorites of the seventies and eighties.

It was not all ball gowns and disco moves. Guests were also on a mission to support the ballet for another 90 years. The San Francisco Ballet Gala raised an impressive $2.75 million throughout the night.

“The future of ballet starts here at San Francisco Ballet. We know that ballet has the power to transform our culture and change the world for the better. Together, we will ensure that the impact of our first 90 years is just beginning and that our dreamed exciting future becomes a reality.”

– Tamara Rojo

RODRIGUEZ PHOTOGRAPHY DREW ALTIZER

Clockwise from top left: Elisabeth Smith, Louisa Basarrate, Betsy Linder, Holly Thier, Courtney Dallaire, Pam Preston, Rochelle Lacey, Jill McNay, Michelle Harris, Ali Sievers, Evie Simon, Irina Matijas, and Claire Kostic; Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi; Danielle St.Germain and Tamara Rojo; Yurie Pascarella, Jack Calhoun, and Yuan Yuan Tan; Krista Giovara, Lisa Zabelle, Roman Gronkowski, Barbara Brown, Chip Zecher, and Pam Preston

Davies Symphony Hall Celebrates the Lunar New Year

Year of the Rabbit: February 5, 2022

BY CLAUDIA ROSS

AFTER A 3-YEAR HIATUS, THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY CELEBRATED THE LUNAR

New Year’s Year of the Rabbit at Davies Symphony Hall with an array of entertaining displays depicting vibrant Asian traditions past and present at the 23rd anniversary of the Symphony’s signature event. Top donors were invited to start the evening with a private, elegant reception attended by Lunar New Year co-chairs—Tiffany Chang and Thao Dodson; San Francisco Ballet’s Yuan Yuan Tan; San Francisco Symphony’s CEO, Matt Spivey—the evening’s honoree, Gorretti Lo Lui; and San Francisco’s new chief of protocol, Maryam Muduroglu. Guests were then treated to an intimate concert with guest conductor Earl Lee, followed by a celebratory banquet. Lee, dressed in a bespoke conductor’s tuxedo made in the Sochi district of Seoul, South Korea, led the orchestra with An-Lun Huang’s energetic and vibrant “Saibei Dance” from Saibei Suite No. 2. Soon to follow, award winning Grammy soprano Sumi Jo, wearing Korean haute couture designer Dénicheur, led the orchestra with“Three Wishes of a Rose” by composer Huang Tzu. Lee then closed the program with Huan-Zhi Li’s Spring Festival Overture as an encore.

The evening concluded with a glamorous post-concert Lunar New Year banquet in Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall with over 400 in attendance. During the banquet, co-chairs Tiffany Chang and Thao Dodson welcomed guests by honoring the many Asian traditions exemplified throughout the evening. What a great evening!

Gorretti Lo, Maryam Muduroglu, and Rosina Sun

Georgina Yu and Jennifer Wu

Yuan Yuan Tan

Tiffany Chang, Thao Dodson, Gorretti Lo Lui, and David Chou

Matt and Denise Spivey

Exclusive Breakfast at Tiffany Experience

BY OLIVIA DECKER

I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA GUILD’S board of directors since 1995, and I support their annual fundraising event at the Spring Fashion Show and Auction, hosted by Neiman Marcus, by purchasing one particular auction item: a trip to New York Fashion Week to attend an iconic fashion designer’s show, take a tour of the atelier, and interview that designer for my magazine.

This year, the auction package included an exclusive “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” experience at Tiffany & Co.’s store in New York. I was a fan of the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. As a little girl, I dreamed of going to Tiffany’s in New York one day. My exclusive Breakfast at Tiffany’s experience was far better than the movie.

I invited my friends in New York, including three Broadway performers: Christina Maxwell, who is an actress and singer, and pediatric oncology arts therapist for the nonprofit RipRap, providing intensive one-on-one music and art therapy sessions for pediatric oncology patients; Lance Horn, the Emmy Award-winning composer, pianist, and lyricist who performed for President Obama and Queen Elizabeth; Jelani Remy, stage actor, Broadway singer, and cast as Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King; Lorrie Erlick, a luxury event planner at Colin Cowie Lifestyle known to produce mega VIP events, including Jennifer Lopez’s wedding, and a co-producer and investor of the newly opened Broadway Museum.

My magazine’s editor-in-chief, Teresa Rodriguez, invited her friend Heidi Pettit, a principal of Vie PR and Pettit Consulting, and Nicole Rodriguez and Janet Vasquez of Day One ad agency. Christina invited

her two dear friends, Brigitte Norton, a sculptor based in New York, with her husband, Christopher Norton, CEO of Equinox Hotels and mother of the brilliant late artist and writer, Charles W. Norton, and Laura Day Webb, the director of partnerships, programming, and events at High Line Nine Galleries in New York City. Webb is also an independent curator, art consultant, and development officer for the Immigrant Artist Biennial.

This was a group of interesting and hard-to-impress guests. The breakfast at Tiffany’s did not disappoint. It was held in a lovely room on the top floor of the flagship store, overlooking Fifth Avenue, surrounded by Tiffany’s fabulous jewelry in glass cases. Servers brought non-stop champagne, chocolate croissants, assorted pastries, aged gouda frittata with sugar snap peas and baby spinach, and gourmet coffee. The exquisite table setting with beautiful flowers, delicate porcelain dishes, and napkin rings made of silver and stone resembled a piece of Tiffany’s jewelry.

We started the breakfast with each person saying something about their recent activities, and the conversation got active from there. With three Broadway stars at the table, we could have started a concert or at least a rendition of “Moon River.” The display cases surrounding us grabbed our attention for shopping. The fantastic breakfast lasted three hours, and it was a truly magical experience to share with a great group of friends.

I thank Tiffany & Co. for their generous donation of this event to the San Francisco Opera Guild’s spring fundraiser and Tiffany’s director of client relations, Chrissy Vassar Raus, and her fantastic team for hosting this event which gave us a truly priceless, unique experience.

Jaleni Remy and Olivia Decker

Olivia Decker and Christina Maxwel

Olivia Decker Power of Music Valentine’s Concert

BY OLIVIA DECKER

LOVE WAS IN THE AIR AT THE ST. REGIS SAN FRANCISCO ON Valentine’s Day as acclaimed Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito performed an enchanting program of romantic ballads and arias as part of Festival Napa Valley’s Olivia Decker Power of Music series. Fine sparkling wines from Domaine Carneros and small bites from The St. Regis’ culinary team made the evening even more enjoyable as Esposito shared classics such as “Besame Mucho,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “La Vie en Rose” with the sold-out audience. Decker arrived just in time on a flight from New York to catch the opening remarks of Festival President and CEO Rick Walker as he welcomed guests, including Oran and Maryam Muduroglu, Lawrence and Gorretti Lui, Iraj and Fariba Zolnasr, Lili Samii, Afie Royo, Romana Bracco, Dave and Amy Ko, Bill Urbach and Janet Effland, Bryan and Heidi Pay, Mike Khalesi and Maxime de Treglode. The St. Regis’ newly renovated, beautiful restaurant and bar provided a post-concert spot for the event’s attendees to complete the romantic evening.

Pasquale Esposito was born and raised in Naples, Italy and emigrated to the United States in 1998 to pursue his passion for music at San Jose State University, receiving his degree in vocal performance in 2009. He made his San Francisco Opera debut in 2015 in the world premiere of Two Women. He has been an international touring and recording artist with 11 studio albums and four DVDs from his PBS specials, entertaining audiences around the world.

In 2012, Pasquale established Notable Music and Arts Organization (NMAO), a nonprofit organization producing music programming for public television and promoting music education for the underserved by giving individual voice lessons to students and providing outreach

programs in public schools. Current NMAO and San Jose State University student Victoria McDowell performed with Pasquale. Their duet of “The Prayer” and a rendition of “I Will Always Love You” à la Whitney Houston was a highlight of the concert. McDowell has been studying with Pasquale since she was 11 years old and participated in his second PBS special. With her amazing voice and impressive stage presence, she is sure to be a future superstar!

NMAO has produced four PBS specials, including the 2015 Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso. Filmed in the historic Castello Giusso on the Amalfi Coast, this “docu-concert” paid homage to Enrico Caruso by taking the audience on a musical journey through Italy, highlighting the life and songs that made Caruso an international star. In 2018, Pasquale released his next PBS special, Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Italian Piazzas, accompanied by the Orchestra Talenti Napoletani. It was a unique musical journey of culture, art, and tradition performed in the prestigious Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples. In 2020, Pasquale filmed two more PBS specials in Naples at the historic Teatro Politeama: In the Spirit of Christmas, and Il Tempo (Time) Currently, Pasquale is on a project to bring classical opera to students in primary schools. The pilot program, Opera ABC 123, will provide kindergarten through sixth grade students with an introduction to opera and its history. Pasquale has developed an approach to engage young learners with the rich tradition of the bel canto technique through a multimedia presentation that also includes live performance. For information, visit http://www.notable-music.org/. For upcoming Olivia Decker Power of Music concerts, visit https://festivalnapavalley.org/ programs/olivia-decker-power-of-music-series/.

Victoria McDowell and Pasquale singing a duet

Clockwise from top left: Oran and Maryam Muduroglu; Dave Ko and Amy Ko of Fiduciary Trust International; Brian and Heidi Pay, COO of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty; Olivia Decker and Pasquale Esposito; Karen Walker, Bill Urbach, Jenet Effland, Afie Royo, Iraz and Fariba Zolnasr; Nick Rosita and Madison Preciado

2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom

The crowning achievement.

BY TIM LAPPEN

ROLLS AND ROYCE. TWO INDIVIDUALS WITH THE NAMES CHARLES ROLLS and Henry Royce joined together in 1904 and created an automobile business. Soon, their names became inextricably bound in the annals of luxury automobile makers. No doubt that, upon seeing their names in the heading of this story, you’ve immediately conjured up some images. Perhaps those images include visions of Daddy Warbucks’ car, old photos of Hollywood stars arriving at premieres or award shows, or magazine articles lauding the winners at international concours events. You may even have envisioned a customized Rolls-Royce being used for such disparate tasks as ferrying Sir Lawrence of Arabia around the desert sands and carrying shahs going out to hunt tigers in India. Yes, Rolls-Royce is a storied name and has continued to burnish its well-deserved reputation during the 116-plus years since the company was founded.

For the past year or so, the company has focused on making just three models: the Phantom (the headliner of the brand and the largest of their cars); the Ghost (a four-door vehicle that, though a full-size sedan, is still quite a bit smaller than the Phantom); and the Cullinan (Rolls-Royce’s large SUV, which has been a hit for the company). However, not long before press time, Rolls-Royce announced the Spectre, its first production car to be fully electric — touted as the “world’s first ultra-luxury electric super coupe” — with customer deliveries set to commence later this year. Today, we are focusing on the Phantom.

The flag-bearer Phantom nameplate was first introduced in the mid-1920s and is now in its eighth generation, with Phantom VIII being introduced in 2017. One thing’s for sure: the Phantom is a B-I-G car: about 227 inches long (for the standard wheelbase car; the extended wheelbase car is over 8 inches longer); approximately 80 inches wide; about 65 inches tall; and over 5,700 pounds in weight (and several hundred pounds more for the extended wheelbase edition).

The cabin is ultra-quiet and amazingly luxurious — every surface is smooth and a pleasure to touch; everything that can be seen has been polished, painted, plated, or otherwise completed to an astounding level of perfection. All of the materials are of the highest caliber and feel substantial and well thought out. The vaunted heating and air conditioning duct ends are commented on by virtually everyone, as they feel as though they were carved from pure platinum. And that

may be one of the most apparent reasons that make Rolls-Royce the pinnacle of beauty and quality — an attention to detail that is so rarely seen these days.

Despite the Phantom’s considerable weight and noticeable proportions, the performance of this luxury supercar is exemplary — the 563 HP, twinturbocharged, 6.75-liter V-12 can motivate this stately vehicle from zero to 60 MPH in just over five seconds. Its top speed is about 155 MPH. Many people today think of Rolls-Royces, and especially Phantoms, as the wheels of cruising “boulevardiers” of the first order, but these cars can go, stop, and … wait for it … handle well, especially as their suspension systems are so sophisticated. They have rear-wheel steering, which makes the car surprisingly maneuverable, even when parking, and adds to the élan when driving at higher speeds.

High-tech features include the GPS system, which analyzes the location of the car as well as the speed in order to assist with smooth gear changes. Also, the Phantom’s camera system predicts the adjustments necessary to provide the most comfortable ride, as it can adjust spring rates, the suspension dampers, and even the active anti-roll bars. The amount of technology in the Phantom is both impressive and far beyond what one would find in most other vehicles.

The base price of the new Phantom is $475,000, but “mine” was so tricked out that the sticker price ended up being $628,300. What was added? An “iced bonnet” (satin-finished hood), special pinstriping, veneered fold-down picnic tables in back, a champagne refrigerator accessible from the rear seats, 22-inch forged rims, and more. In “Iguazu blue” with black wheels, it was stunning.

I loved my time with this Phantom. Even on short trips, it was a delight to be coddled, comforted, and luxuriated in the car’s cocoon-like environment. The seats are both supportive and supremely comfortable; the heating and air conditioning system is efficient and very unobtrusive; and the sound system is terrific. Merging onto the freeway certainly is no challenge, and cruising at higher speeds all day is not the least bit tiring.

Rolls-Royce co-founder Henry Royce is often credited with creating the motto for the company: “Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it.” Sir Henry, you would be proud of the Phantom created by the company that you helped build over a century ago.

2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 580

Top of the line.

BY TIM LAPPEN

THOSE FAMILIAR WITH AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY WILL TELL YOU THAT Wilhelm Maybach was a very talented engine designer who went on to create great things during his lifetime (mid-1800s until 1929). His engines (some developed with Gottlieb Daimler) powered boats, automobiles, and even Zeppelins (the rigid “blimps” of the past). In current times, the name will be remembered as the ultra-luxury sub-brand that Mercedes-Benz debuted about 20 years ago. Those cars did not sell well, so the name and sub-brand were retired in 2013. The name was resurrected a few years later, and today it is used on the nameplate of the parent brand’s most elegant machines: the MercedesMaybach S 580 and S 680 and the Mercedes-Maybach GLS luxury SUV.

The Mercedes-Maybach is similar to the Mercedes S 580, though it is longer, more powerful, faster, and more expensive. The Maybach S 580 has a twinturbo, 4-liter V-8 engine assisted by an electric motor, with a combined 496 HP. The base price is $184,900. On the other hand, the S 680 sports a V-12 motor pumping out 621 HP and a base price of $229,000.

“My” Mercedes-Maybach was an S 580 painted in a luxurious two-tone of onyx black below “Kalahari gold” above the beltline and on the roof. I wasn’t too enthusiastic about the color when I read what I was getting, but in person, it is gorgeous. Offset by 21-inch “Champagne Flute” wheels ($1,300), the car has a great stance and is a real eye-catcher, especially as it is about 7 inches longer than the standard body on the S class. Other notable options on my S 580 were special aluminum and walnut interior trim ($3,200); special

champagne flutes with their own holder inside the trunk’s wine refrigerator (accessible from the back seat), a $3,200 option; and special leather seating ($8,000). All told, the $184,900 base price rose to $231,100 on my Maybach.

Due to its increased weight (over 5,200 pounds for the S 580 compared to 4,775 pounds for the standard S-class), the Maybach has the coveted ride that only a heavy car can achieve, since mass is so effecti ve at smoothing out the bumpy rides most cars experience on roads with rougher surfaces.

But don’t assume that the smooth ride and extreme comfort lead to a hohum performance, as the Maybach has the chops, too. The 0-60 MPH time is 4.7 seconds, and the top speed is 155 MPH. The car handles well, too, in a way that belies its heft, thanks to Mercedes-Benz’s well-known ability to create suspensions that are at once supple and high performance.

Driving the Maybach (which, by the way, is pronounced “my-bach”) is a pleasure. Acceleration is sharp and responsive; the ride is smooth and quiet; the sound of the engine is subdued but pleasant; and the driver’s comfort is terrific. The sound system is great, too, no doubt assisted by the copious amount of insulation and other sound-deadening technology that keep the mechanical noises at bay.

Coupling an attractive design with outstanding performance and a beautiful and commodious interior, for the Mercedes-Maybach S 580, it’s clear that the second time is a charm.

JIMMY CHOO™

You wouldn’t dare wear your Jimmy Choos with a bad pedicure. Enter the fashion house’s head-to-toe beauty products created to make sure you look as good all over as the sculptural shoes you don. Go for the perfume bottle-like nail polish collection with four color options, including a sparkly one. us.jimmychoo.com

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ

This iconic designer relishes understatement and elegance. In that mode, his new scent, an ode to modern femininity, Music Noir Rose, seduces with a voluptuous bouquet of tuberose highlighted by pink peppercorn and top notes of Italian bergamot oil. narcisorodriguez.com

COUTURE CATWALK

BEAUTY BY FASHION DESIGNERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW

BY BECCA HENSLEY

TORY BURCH

Designer Tory Burch revels in her mission to inspire everyone to live with character, beauty, and confidence. To wit, her new fragrance collection, Essence of Dreams, features her favorite scents from nature—florals and botanicals, awakened with wood, spices and honey—to instill optimism and joie d’vivre. toryburch.com

Cosmetic couture? It’s real. We’ve known for a while about fashion houses and their perfume products. After all, who hasn’t enjoyed dabbing on a bit of Kenzo or Chanel behind our ears to fit our mood. But in recent years, a slew of high fashion brands have debuted full-on beauty lines. Each day we see new fashion houses launching makeup and skincare verticals. From La Perla’s silky lipsticks in an array of reds to Jimmy Choo’s vibrant nail polish offered in elegant glass bottles, designers are bringing their fans brand awareness and a spot of stylish pampering that costs much less than a Birkin bag or an evening gown—but still exude style. Expect runway-worthy packaging, high-end ingredients, and au courant color and fragrance trends. We’ve rounded up some for you to ponder—and use.

HÈRMES®

Some say if you can’t have a Birkin bag, an Hèrmes lipstick will suffice. Inspired by the color of the handbags, these lipstick hues feel organic, poetic, and rich. Designed by Pierre Hardy, they are refillable and packaged in captivating lacquered, brushed metal tubes. hermes.com

GIORGIO ARMANI

The makeup that launched a thousand steps on the red carpet, Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation, reigns as a celebrity favorite. Both invisible and offering full coverage, the complexion enhancer is beloved by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Gigi Hadid. Check out the eye tint, a velvety, long-lasting, crease-proof eye shadow. giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

CAROLINA HERRERA

The incarnation of glam, Carolina Herrera’s packaging feels like a glittery accessory. Featuring tassels and jewelry-like, refillable compacts and lipstick holders complete with charms and more, these goodies project the ultimate swagger. carolinaherrera.com/us/en/makeup/

GUCCI®

Gucci Makeup’s sincerely retro packaging and motifs bedazzle lovers of vintage design, but there’s nothing old school about the products and the science behind the products. Incorporating everything from eyes to nails, the line’s enchanting and shiny face gloss may stand alone. It illuminates every part of the face, effusing a halo-like glow. gucci.com

ICEBERG®

Italian luxury fashion design house Iceberg is best known for knit sportswear, but their new masculine fragrance Change The Flow brings a spicy blend of bitter orange, ginger, and saffron to play. Unexpected packaging details—such as a gold cap against a silver collar—remind us that fashion means breaking the rules. iceberg.com

Seeking Creativity

These designers live well to boost their creativity.

BY BECCA HENSLEY

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BEING CREATIVE boosts brain power, improves concentration, strengthens problem solving skills, benefits mood, and supports well-being. The flip side is that when creative people don’t work (we all have the capacity for creativity) and don’t avidly practice self-care, a devastating funk may ensue. Depression can send our lives into a tailspin. Perhaps that’s why so many artists, writers, fashion designers, interior designers, musicians, and other creatives have turned to wellness as the rocket fuel that keeps them on track.

The path to well-being varies for everyone. It might include spending time with children, playing pickle ball, drinking green juice, getting enough sleep, being in nature, or following a specific diet. The goal is to figure out the recipe that gets you to your harmonic happy place. We talked to a few vibrant creatives to find out what they do to stay mentally and physically well. Their answers will inspire you.

JAY JEFFERS, INTERIOR DESIGNER AND OWNER AND DESIGNER OF THE BOUTIQUE HAVEN THE MADRONA IN HEALDSBURG

Fun facts: On ELLE Decor’s A-list, he’s best known as founder of Jay Jeffers Inc., the auther of two design books, and the designer of luxuriously livable interiors.

I always find time to prioritize my wellness routine. I’m a big fitness buff. I’ve got a personal trainer in San Francisco whose office is about a mile away. Sometimes I run to my workout for added cardio. When at The Madrona, we do our workout on Zoom in the boutique hotel’s gym. I love the Peloton strength classes on their app—particularly the bodyweight core classes. I enjoy doing them on The Madrona’s private gym deck for an added sunshine boost. This year, I’ve added some additional dynamic stretching into my routine. For stress reduction, I aim for “sofa puppy time” with my two cavalier King Charles spaniels for at least an hour each evening.

Jay Jeffers

Nicole Miller

LANE MCNAB, INTERIOR DESIGNER AT LANE MCNAB INTERIORS, BERKELEY

Fun facts: Lane McNab Interiors specializes in homes, boutique retail spaces, and larger projects. Her forte, incorporating contemporary elements to historical architecture, has been widely touted.

On top of it being a new year, I am turning 50 in a couple of weeks, and taking time for myself is essential. I start every day with a meditation/wellness podcast. My current meditation is on abundance. I try to really visualize where I want my business and life to go in the coming years. The other thing I’ve been doing consciously is working on strengthening my female friendships. I have a lot of amazing women friends, but I am making a conscious effort to spend more time with them and to nurture and cultivate those relationships. It’s the best kind of self-care.

NICOLE MILLER, FASHION DESIGNER, NEW YORK CITY

Fun facts: Renowned for her colorful fabrics, bodyclinging cocktail dresses, and neckties, this fashion designer also boasts her own wine label.

My favorite exercise is spin class. I go several times a week. I feel like I get both cardio and upper body in one session. I didn’t get to work out as much during COVID, since so many places were closed, but now things are back to normal. I prefer to work out in the morning and not after work.

There are so many exercise options in Tribeca, and I do go to Pilates as well. I am also very into sports: I ski, ice skate, water ski, wakeboard, and roller skate. I am rarely sitting still. I think it’s really important to keep moving and walk when you can and make sure you are active. I only have one coffee a day in the mornings. My diet is pretty much a French idea: only eat things that taste good and don’t overeat. I love having fresh juice in the morning, especially grapefruit. I try not to deprive myself, but I don’t really have a sweet tooth, so one bite of dessert is usually plenty for me. Also, I get on the scale every day and have always maintained the same weight. That pretty much sums up my routine!

Lane McNab

STEPHANIE GOTTLIEB, JEWELRY DESIGNER, NEW YORK CITY

Fun facts: Garnering a huge celebrity following and 400,000 Instagram followers, diamond expert and trendsetting jewelry designer Stephanie Gottlieb creates sophisticated, fun-to-wear pieces with distinction. Look for them on Bethenny Frankel, Kyle Richards, and Abby Wambach, among others.

Self-care for me is a fun day with my husband and kids, followed by a bath, an eye mask, and a glass of red wine, and then three hours of trashy TV to follow.

JOHANNA PRESTON, SHOE DESIGNER, CO-FOUNDER OF PRESTON ZLY, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Fun facts: An integral figure in the Australian fashion scene with a global presence, Johanna Preston began Preston Zly in a small warehouse workshop in Fitzroy. Her bespoke, hand-crafted shoes, comfortable, edgy and stylish, have been featured in thousands of fashion shows and photo shoots around the world.

In terms of self-care, I have spent many years struggling with anxiety, so I rarely drink anything with caffeine—even my tea is decaffeinated. When I am particularly anxious, I find that grounding myself by engaging all five of my senses calms me down. We really like to go camping over the summer months, away from phone or internet coverage. I like getting out into nature and letting my bare feet touch the earth. We have recently stopped drinking alcohol—as we find ourselves going pretty hard at times—and are determined to keep it up for at least a year. This has had a huge impact on the quality of my sleep. I aim to get at least seven hours of good quality sleep a night. And I love good sheets, so it’s great quality linen that helps me achieve this!”

“I LIKE GETTING OUT INTO NATURE AND LETTING MY BARE FEET TOUCH THE EARTH .”

- JOHANNA PRESTON

Stephanie Gottlieb

Johanna Preston

MELISSA BOWER, INTERIOR DESIGNER, ART CONSULTANT, AND STYLIST, NEW YORK

Fun facts: Now with clients as delicious as Sonia Rykierl, Miami Beach’s Faena District, and Helmut Newton, Melissa Bowers started her career in fashion as a visual merchandiser for Katayone Adeli in the 1990s. Recently, she has become the go-to interior designer for a bevy of restaurants and bars in New York City.

I practice Vedic meditation twice a day for 20 minutes with a mantra. I’ve been doing it for six years. I meditate within the first hour of sunrise and the same in the evening at sunset. There is no better way to clear the head and get into a creative state. My wellness routine includes a meditation, a workout, or a run (client Anna Kaiser’s are my favorite workouts). Every few weeks I visit Healing Arts New York (healingartsnyc.com) for vitamins and supplements.

HOLLY A. KOPMAN, INTERIOR DESIGNER AT HOLLY A KOPMAN INTERIOR DESIGN, MILL VALLEY

Fun facts: Based in Mill Valley, Holly’s style epitomizes rebellious glamor with pops of color and artistic riffs throughout. Marin Magazine dubbed her Marin County’s best designer this year.

I am an avid downhill skier, so during the week in winter, I do HIT (high intensive training) training three to four times a week. I have to move my body every morning. It’s the answer to my job stress. HIT is very intense. The days I don’t do that, I work out with a personal trainer.

“I MEDITATE WITHIN THE FIRST HOUR OF SUNRISE AND THE SAME IN THE EVENING AT SUNSET .”

- MELISSA BOWER

Melissa Bower

Holly A. Kopman

BY OLIVIA DECKER

FEATURED IN ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST, THIS WORLD CLASS residence showcases panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the entire skylines of San Francisco and Sausalito. A magnificent masterpiece in a dramatic setting, this property has a most prestigious location and is comprised of a ±8,131-square-foot home on a ±0.67-acre lot. It features four bedrooms, five full baths and two half-baths. This work of architectural art was designed by the world-renowned architect Charles Gwathmey and boasts spectacular outlooks from every corner of the expansive 4-level floor plan. The primarily vertical organization of this house takes advantage of its sloped site on the southern coast of Belvedere Island.

The uppermost level contains a 3-car garage with glass doors, an elevator which descends to a courtyard where you will find a detached one-bedroom, one-bath guest house and a spacious wine cellar. The main house’s three remaining levels are situated between two large retaining walls which follow the site’s natural contours and splay outward toward the Bay. The house’s compact organization within the precinct formed by the retaining walls ensures privacy.

An interior circular staircase winds around an elevator and forms a cylindrical focal point. A barrel-vaulted ceiling articulates the living and dining room at the entry level of the main house, and a large deck projects toward the bay, extending the space into the landscape. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study, and a two-

story entertainment room occupy the intermediate floors, while a media room, a beautiful wet bar, a full bath with steam shower, and a sauna fill the lowest level which opens onto a spacious outdoor terrace with an infinity edge pool. The “infinity edge” of the water establishes a poetic connection to the San Francisco Bay.

The interior floors are limestone and wide plank Bubinga wood, and the cabinets are lightly stained maple. The exterior is clad in gray stained cedar and a curved, standing seam, zinc roof. All exterior windows, doors, and decks are teak; all terraces are paved in beige or gray flamed limestone; and the retaining walls are painted a warm white stucco.

Perched at the water’s edge of the San Francisco Bay with magnificent, panoramic views of the Bay Bridge, San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, and Mt. Tam, this exquisite home offers extremely high quality materials and state-of-the-art smart house features. It is within walking distance of the San Francisco Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club, and downtown Tiburon where you will find ferry services to San Francisco and Angel Island and dozens of fine restaurants, including Michael Mina’s Bungalow Kitchen, French Bistro Left Bank, an Italian restaurant at Café Acri, Sam’s Café, Caprice, and the upcoming Malibu Farm. This beautiful tip of Belvedere Island is known to be private and safe, and it boasts one of the best views in the world. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to acquire such a unique residence. Details and pictures on www.445BelvedereAve.com.

Lydia is a passionate advocate of healthy living. She has launched and positioned many health and wellness-related companies, products, technologies and organizations receiving more than 100 awards nationally and internationally. Her focus in the health sector is specifically on healthy living, aging and longevity. She is a partner and investor in several recognized national brands. She sits on the board of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging whose mission is to eliminate the threat of age-related disease for today’s and future generations. It is the only independent research organization globally dedicated to extending the healthy years of life. Like the scientists at the Buck, Graham envisions it will be possible for people to enjoy life at 95 as much as at 25. To support Buck’s mission, please visit www.buckinstitute.org.

Lifelong Learning May Help You Stay Younger and Live Longer

Be epi-curious and have more fun along the way!

BY LYDIA GRAHAM

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY PARENTS INSTILLED A PASSION FOR learning I’ve carried with me through adulthood. Learning is not just a verb. It’s an attitude—one of curiosity about the world around us. I call it “epi-curious”—an epicure of curiosity about continually noticing and paying attention to what interests us and brings us joy. What that is for each person is unique.

Being around young children, it’s impossible not to notice their unbridled enthusiasm and sense of wonder for everything around them. Or better yet, have you met someone in their 80s who still has that spark and twinkle in their eyes? I don’t know about you, but I want to be that person. Their secret may be they are lifelong learners.

As we journey through adulthood, it’s easy to muddle through and become hammered by life’s bigger responsibilities and ever-demanding schedules. We lose ourselves in busy-ness. Many of us had this realization during the pandemic (one of its few silver linings). Rediscovering a sense of wonder not only brings more fulfillment, it may help you live more healthfully and maybe longer.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE

The old saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” was meant for … well … dogs. It is not true for humans. Take the case of Doreetha Daniels. She received her associate degree in social sciences at the ripe age of 99. In fact, a video on the internet about her inspired this article. Her goal was to earn a college degree before she turned 100. She met her goal in 2015, despite being faced with some physical difficulties from her advanced age. She earned her degree and lived to be 103. That is enough to put most of us to shame.

In a university press release, she said she “wanted to finish her education to better herself.” Bettering oneself is exactly what lifelong learning does. We become more vital, interesting, and healthier human beings. While some of us may be inspired to seek higher educational learning opportunities, here we will focus on personal learning.

THE PASSION OF THE EXPLORER

What motivates lifelong learners? Learning is about experiencing, acquiring, or discovering “new” knowledge or applying one’s existing knowledge in a new way. Researchers at the Deloitte Center for the Edge found life learners tended to exhibit “the passion of the explorer.” This had three key elements: “a long-term commitment to achieving impact in a specific domain that excites them, an excitement to face unexpected hurdles, and when met with new challenges, they have an immediate desire to seek out and connect with others who can help them.”

You don’t have to be Jacques Cousteau or Jane Goodall to be an explorer. Nor do you have to do it alone. It is something you can practice every day in the here and now.

THE BENEFITS OF LIFELONG LEARNING

According to Pew Research, as a lifelong learner I’ve got plenty of company these days. In fact, it seems we are becoming a country of lifelong learners: “73% of Americans consider themselves lifelong learners and 74% are what we call personal learners.” For personal learners, the study cited a number of benefits:

• Helped them feel more capable and well-rounded (84%)

• Opened new life perspectives (69%)

• Connected them to their local communities (58%)

• Encouraged them to get involved in volunteer opportunities (43%).

Engagement and a sense of connection to community have been established as vital to aging well and documented in numerous studies, including those of the Blue Zones around the world. Over the years, some of my strongest friendships have come from learning situations that were social or place-based. It is easy to bond with new people when you are in a class or a workshop focused on a shared interest. Such environments are usually non-threatening, as people are more open and relaxed. Additionally, these bonds tend to be more authentic.

And you don’t have to enjoy these opportunities alone. Sharing these experiences with a friend or partner can deepen your relationship by having a new experience together.

There are many overall health and well-being benefits of learning throughout one’s life. A paper published in the Oxford Review of Education summarizes the many health and well-being benefits of learning throughout one’s life: “Participation in lifelong learning had effects upon a range of health outcomes; well-being, protection and recovery from mental health difficulties, and the capacity to cope with potentially stress-inducing circumstances including the onset and progression of chronic illness and disability. These effects were mediated by relatively immediate impacts of learning upon psychosocial qualities, self-esteem, self-efficacy, a sense of purpose and hope, competences, and social integration. Learning developed these psychosocial qualities through extending boundaries, a process which is quintessential to learning. However, not all educational experiences had positive effects upon health outcomes. Provision that generated positive health outcomes matched the interests, strengths and needs of the learner.”

TAKE RISKS

While finding the things that match our interests and needs is important, sometimes it requires exploration. We tend to stick to what we do well, the known quantity. Maybe we do these things because we were told we were good at them by parents or teachers. Maybe it’s time to explore “The Road Not Taken” and see what happens.

There are plenty of examples in which someone wrote a first novel or achieved notoriety as a painter later in life. Think about the things you never tried but wanted to. Stretch a little. It is humbling to learn new things. Giving in to “beginners mind” requires courage. What it gives us in return is a youthful attitude toward life—a sense of openness and discovery.

LEARNING CHALLENGING TASKS IS ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR BRAIN HEALTH

By learning something new, our brains develop neuroplasticity, meaning we build new pathways neurologically, and maybe even new neurons, instead of staying in the same grooves. As defined by Joyce Shaffer, Ph.D., of the University of Washington Seattle, neuroplasticity, “the capacity of brain cells to change in response to intrinsic and extrinsic factors, can have negative or positive influence at any age

across the entire lifespan.” In other words, our brains are not static after childhood as once thought years ago. Practice makes perfect, because as we learn a new skill, these pathways become stronger.

We have all heard it is good to learn to speak a new language, play a musical instrument, etc. Many opportunities exist beyond these overused examples. Anything that causes your brain to work in completely new ways is fair game.

Beginning a new hobby—if it’s a challenging one—can also do the trick, according to Dr. Denise Park, a neuroscientist at the University of Texas at Dallas. Her study randomly assigned 200 older people to different activities. “Rather than just comparing them to people who did nothing, we compared them to a group of people who had fun but weren’t mentally challenged as much. The results showed ‘only people who learned a new skill had significant gains.’” She continued, “We found quite an improvement in memory, and we found that when we tested our participants a year later, that (improvement) was maintained.”

“By strengthening the connections between parts of your brain,” says cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, “challenging activities strengthen entire networks in the brain” compared to brain games which “improve a limited aspect of short-term memory.”

The net takeaway for all of us is that the benefits of learning challenging new things far outlasts the short-term act of learning the task.

NEW EXPERIENCES EXPAND OUR HORIZONS

Sometimes the best education is what we learn beyond the classroom. Recent years have seen an increasing focus on experience-based travel, such as art tours, cooking classes, cultural immersions, and even domestic or international volunteer projects. Lindblad Expeditions is one company that embraces the world as a classroom. Avid traveler Lesley Miller of Carmel sums up her experience: “My travels with Lindblad have given me the best education and experiences I have had over the past 40-plus years! These are expeditions, not cruises; the level of knowledge and experience the staff have and share is remarkable. The naturalist, historians, underwater specialists, etc. are a wealth of information.” Lesley has taken more than 30 expeditions, culminating in quite an expansive and worldly education.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ARE EVERYWHERE

Every major university has both online and offline continuing education classes. Sites like Coursera offer massive open online courses (MOOCs) as well as the self-paced “Great Books” which features vast libraries catering to almost any interest. Churches, spiritual, meditation, culture/ art/cooking, and fitness centers are yet more great resources as are retreat destinations like Easlen and Miraval. There is also learning for “do it yourself” projects, gardening, and crafts. The world is your oyster.

MAKE THE TIME

There is no shortage of opportunities; the key is not to be overwhelmed. Choose one. You are not committing to any of these for life. Have fun learning what inspires you. Make yourself a priority with the gift of time. That’s easier said than done for most of us, right?

Be an epi-curious explorer!

Aubrey Brewster, a bon vivant and man-about-town, is a. product of his environment. His affinity for cooking, fashion, and entertaining was inherited from summer vacations shared in Charleston, West Virginia with his southern belle model-turned-hostess grandmother. It should come with no surprise that Brewster followed in his grandmother’s footsteps, with an inherent talent for hosting legendary parties. He is often listed among San Francisco’s best dressed. Aubrey is a San Francisco native, traveler, and food and lifestyle blogger (aubreyabouttown.com). He resides in San Francisco with his husband, Edward. Aubrey can be found enjoying afternoons lunching with friends at Neiman Marcus and some of San Francisco’s favorite haunts when not hosting or attending events.

AUBREY ABOUT TOWN

Life in Fashion

BY AUBREY BREWSTER

FOR MANY (AND I SPEAK FOR MYSELF, TOO), FASHION IS A MEANS of expression. So much can be conveyed with what you wear and how one projects himself or herself. Since childhood, I have used fashion to both project my feelings and to hide my insecurities. Whatever the case may be, I have always subscribed to the belief that, no matter what, you should put an effort in appearance.

Though my style is my own, through the years I’ve taken note and inspiration from those I consider my own personal icons in not just looks and appearance, but in the way I walk through life. These icons exhibit a style, grace, and attitude made them … well … iconic to me. As Haute Living, San Francisco celebrates its fashion issue, I’m overjoyed to share with you what motivates my style and cannot help but to celebrate and share my affections for some of those who inspired some of my most talked-about looks.

As a kid, the little fashionisto within would daydream about the glam-rock imagery of the generation before me. David Bowie was a god, and I lived for the visual presentation as his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust. He gave permission to be who you are. His androgynous look continued even when he hung up the lightning bolt for his preppy, new wave image in the mid to late eighties. He exuded class, glamor, and chivalry. To this day whenever I wear bold colors, I’m reminded of him. His death back in 2016 hit me hard. I recently found a lavender and brown Valentino outfit that somehow reminded me of both the Ziggy and Bowie personas merged into one. From time-to-time, I check in on his equally exquisite widow, supermodel Iman, through her social media posts just to see how she’s doing, as if channeling him.

DAVID BOWIE

Aubrey Brewster in Pink PP coat, Valentino Fall/Winter 2022-23 collection

Iman and David Bowie, 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards

VISIONARY PIERPAOLO PICCIOLI

Creative director of Valentino, the 2018 and 2022 Fashion Awards’ designer of the Year, and father of three, Pierpaolo Piccioli’s casually confident aura is rich and chic without pretention. Often garbed in all black and smoking a cigarette in typical Italian form, Pierpaolo’s the sort of man who walks into a room and you can’t help but want to know more about him.

My relationship as a client with Maison Valentino goes back two decades before Pierpaolo joined Valentino back in 2008, when he and Maria Grazia Chiuri jointly took the reins as co-creative directors. (Chiuri left the fashion house in 2016 and is now the creative director for Christian Dior, which is a amusing coincidence, considering that if I’m not in Valentino, I could be found wearing Dior. I’m in Dior as I type this.) Piccioli’s influence on Valentino could be argued as some of the house’s most innovative years, bringing whimsy, a youthful edge, and much success to the brand.

Through Piccioli’s visionary efforts, Valentino became the first luxury brand to partner with the Pantone Color Institute™ to brand its signature Pink PP hue, with fall and winter 2022–2023 being the first collection all in the vivid pink. Naturally, I had to have a Pink PP coat! Pierpaolo’s personal style of polished avant garde casual with sexy ruggedness resonates with me. I’m not one to copy someone’s look, but when I saw him in the UFO overcoat from Valentino’s Undercover collection (fall/winter 2019), the kind folks at Valentino San Francisco moved heaven and earth to find the last one!

Model Kristen McMenamy and Valentino Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli, the Fashion Awards 2022

Aubrey Brewster in lavender and brown Valentino

Aubrey Brewster in UFO coat, Valentino Undercover Fall/Winter 2019-20 collection

“YOU ARE MORE SPECIAL IF YOU ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS.”

- PIERPAOLO PICCIOLI

WILKES BASHFORD

I could not possibly write about fashion icons (especially as a native San Franciscan) without mentioning my friend, the late, great, and debonaire Wilkes Bashford. There have been moments throughout history when dynamic, charismatic, above-average, even divinely blessed individuals are born. They contain a golden aura and radiate love, elegance, and grace. These highly dynamic personalities move to the beats of their own drums, and others can’t help but dance with them: that was Wilkes Bashford.

It wasn’t necessarily Bashford’s unabashedly elegant San Francisco style that inspired me. We all know he exuded elegance or, as he would say, “chic as shit” (you know me, suits, no matter how beautiful, have never quite been my thing … yet), but it was his humor, grace, and class par excellence that influenced me greatly.

One standout memory from 2015 happened at my chinoiseriethemed birthday party at the now-defunct Crystal Jade Jiang Nan restaurant (currently Harborview Restaurant) in San Francisco. He had just arrived, and together, we worked the room. We inadvertently crashed a group of ladies gossiping about another guest at the party. These garrulous women turned to me and Wilkes

to include us in their chatter. Without skipping a beat, Wilkes looked them in the eyes and said, “You all look lovely this evening. It was a pleasure to meet you.” He then gripped me gently by the arm and led me away. It was the classiest move I ever witnessed.

I learned in that moment that the most fashionable accessory one can have is grace. Wilkes was so kind and met every day with an infectiously positive attitude. The inside of Bashford’s trademark bluelensed eyeglasses was pink. So, he literally saw life through rose-colored glasses, a metaphor to his beautiful existence.

Though these fathers of fashion have influenced aspects of my style, how I carry myself, and the way in which I convey emotion, ultimately one’s personal style should come from within and stand out from the masses, making you unique and true to you. To quote Pierpaolo Piccioli, “You are more special if you are different from the others.” And that works for me.

CORRECTION: In the last issue of Haute Living in the article “An Enchanting Dinner with Libertine,” I inadvertently listed the wrong name in the photo caption of Karen Kubin and Mark Sullivan and misspelled her name. I’d like to take a moment to extend to Karen my sincere apologies with the correct caption.

“THE MOST FASHIONABLE ACCESSORY ONE CAN HAVE IS GRACE. ”

–AUBREY BREWSTER

Aubrey Brewster and Wilkes Bashford, Aubrey’s Chinoiserie-themed birthday, Crystal Jade 2015

Aubrey Brewster in Dior

Wilkes Bashford and SF Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr.

Karen Kubin and Mark Sullivan, Libertine Dinner at Neiman Marcus SF, November, 2022

If using vanilla bean paste or extract, skip to step 2. Run a paring knife down a vanilla bean vertically to split it. Place the split vanilla bean seed side up on the counter, and with the back of the paring knife, scrape down from one end to the other to scrape out seeds. Repeat with the other half.

1. In a medium size bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until the sugar has dissolved and is fluffy and pale yellow. Set aside

2. In a large saucepan, whisk together milk, water, and cornstarch.

3. Place over medium-high heat and stir in vanilla bean and pods.

4. Stirring constantly, bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat to medium. Continue to stir for five minutes or until thickened and the mixture coats the back of a spoon.

5. Remove from heat, discard vanilla pod (save it for vanilla sugar in the notes below). Quickly whisk 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture (this will temper the eggs before adding to hot mixture).

6. Add the yolk mixture to the saucepan with the remaining hot milk mixture and whisk quickly so the egg yolks do not scramble.

7. Continue to cook over medium heat for eight minutes or until the crème pâtissière has the consistency of a soft custard.

8. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. Stir in the cubed butter (if using vanilla bean paste or extract, add it here) until melted and combined. Cover the pastry cream with plastic wrap and allow to cool completely.

9. For extra smooth pastry cream, press threw a sieve after it has cooled.

10. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for four hours or overnight.

AUBREY’S CHOCOLATE ÉCLAIRS

A quintessentially French original and the most fashionable of all pastries, these delectable classic pastries are easy to make and take not much more effort than cupcakes with twice the elegance. I broke down the steps into several small ones to simplify the process. I find it easier if I measure out the ingredients and have everything ready. Just trust the process, and you’ll be enjoying these chic and iconic French classics in no time.

INGREDIENTS

CRÈME PÂTISSIÈRE (PASTRY CREAM)

~ 4 cups whole milk

~ 1 cup granulated sugar

~ 6 extra large egg yolks

~ ¼ cup cornstarch

~ 3 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes

~ 1 whole vanilla bean or 1½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

PÂTÉ CHOUX (CHOUX PASTE)

~ 1¼ cups all-purpose flour (149g)

~ 4 extra large eggs (room temperature)

~ 1 cup water (227g)

~ 8 tablespoons salted butter (113g)

~ 4 teaspons granulated sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

11. Transfer crème pâtissière to a piping bag outfitted with a small 1/8-inch round tip or filling tip. Keep refrigerated until ready to fill éclairs.

2. PREPARE PÂTÉ CHOUX

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Line two 12-inch by 17-inch (two half-sheet) baking pans with silicone baking mats or parchment paper and set aside.

3. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water, salted butter, and sugar (or salt, if making savory) just to a boil.

4. Remove from heat and add flour all at once.

5. Vigorously mix with a wooden spoon until the flour is fully incorporated and the dough forms a ball.

6. Return to medium-high heat and stir constantly for 90 seconds until the ball loosens slightly and begins to take on a satiny gloss.

7. Remove from heat and stir occasionally, pressing the dough into the sides of the saucepan until the dough is no longer hot and is just warm to the touch.

8. Transfer the warm dough to the bowl of a standing mixer outfitted with the paddle attachment.

9. Turn the mixer to medium and add eggs one at a time, beating to fully incorporate between each egg.

10. Beat two minutes longer after the last egg has been incorporated.

11. Transfer the dough to a large piping bag outfitted with a ½-inch round pastry tip (pictured above) or a ½-inch star tip. Tighten the bag and use a twist tie to secure the opening.

3. FORM AND BAKE ÉCLAIRS

1. Pipe the pâté choux onto the two lined baking pans. Each sheet pan should hold 10 3-inch piped lines for small 4-inch éclairs.

2. To pipe lines for éclairs, hold the pastry bag at a 45-degree angle. Gently squeeze a ¾-ich by 3-inch line, pulling up into a little “tail” while releasing pressure. Moisten a fingertip with water and gently press the tail in to smooth it out. Repeat to pipe two columns of five 3-inch horizontal lines spaced two inches apart on each baking sheet.

3. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes or until a crust forms and they begin to puff. While keeping the oven door open for as little time as possible, quickly pierce one small hole in each éclair with a wooden skewer or toothpick. This little hole will allow excess steam to release while allowing it enough steam to puff further. Close oven door and bake 12 minutes longer until lightly golden brown.

4. Remove from the oven and allow the pastries to rest on the sheet pan for five minutes. Rotate each éclair on to its side and allow to cool completely to assure they keep their shape. Repeat with another sheet pan.

4. PREPARE THE CHOCOLATE GANACHE

1. Pour heavy whipping cream into a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 90 seconds (making sure not to scorch the cream).

2. Place chocolate morsels in a medium size bowl, cover with the hot cream, and stir until chocolate has dissolved and the ganache is streak-free and glossy.

3. Allow to cool while you fill the éclairs, giving it a stir from time to time. It will thicken as it stands (about 40 minutes). If it thickens to much before you have time to dip the éclairs, remelt it in microwave in 10 second intervals, giving a good stir in between.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

~ 12 ounces semisweet chocolate morsels

~ 1¼ cups heavy whipping cream

5. FILL THE ÉCLAIRS

1. Hold a pâté choux in the palm of your impeccably clean hand. With the other hand, hold the pastry bag filled with pastry cream by the base, making sure to tighten the bag by twisting base.

2. Gently press the pastry bag tip into the little hole you created with a skewer when they were baking. Give the pastry bag a gentle squeeze to fill éclair. You will feel a little resistance when éclair has filled. Wipe off the bit of pastry cream from the hole.

3. Place the filled éclair onto a sheet pan. Repeat until all 20 éclairs are filled.

4. Refrigerate filled éclairs for 30 minutes to chill.

6. DIP ÉCLAIRS IN CHOCOLATE GANACHE

1. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

2. Holding the éclair by the sides, dip the “hole side” into ganache halfway to coat the top.

3. Place dipped éclair onto lined sheet pan, ganache side up. Repeat with remaining éclairs. If you wish, sprinkle the tops with rainbow sprinkles at this time.

4. Refrigerate 30 minutes longer to set the ganache. Repeat the dipping process to double coat the éclairs.

5. Chill for 3 hours or overnight.

6. Serve chilled.

RECIPE NOTES

For best results, be sure that your eggs are fresh, extra-large or jumbo, and at room temperature. Try adding ½ cup of flaked coconut to the prepared crème pâtissière for coconut éclairs, and sprinkle the tops with more coconut. Or fold in ½ cup of melted chocolate for chocolate crème pâtissière. If you don’t care for chocolate, a dusting of confectioners’ sugar on top is all it needs.

1. PREPARE CRÈME PÂTISSIÈRIE

Dr. Karen Horton is an internationally Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in San Francisco, a fitness enthusiast, proud Mom to fraternal twin girls, and devoted wife of over 26 years. Hailing from Toronto, Canada, “Dr. Karen” relocated to San Francisco in 2005 for her final year of surgical specialty training. A surgeon’s daughter, she is proud to have built a successful women-focused boutique private practice in Pacific Heights. Featuring a brand new Quad A-certified fully equipped operating room, Dr. Horton offers her patients the highest level of aesthetic care, both surgical and non-surgical, in a modern, bright and discrete setting. She considers it an honor and a privilege to care for her patients! To learn more about Dr. Horton, visit www. drkarenhorton.com and follow her on social at @drkarenhorton.

Ready for a Spring Refresh?

BY KAREN M. HORTON, MD, FACS

AFTER A WINTER OF INDOOR RELAXATION, WARMER SPRING weather and sunshine motivate us to reemerge from our cocoons, making spring a perfect time for personal evaluations.

Let’s start with health: it’s no secret that physical well-being is paramount. So, spring is the ideal season to review nutrition and exercise habits. Are you drinking enough water? Are you consuming the recommended daily serving of green vegetables? Are you moving your body, either through gentle walks through hiking trails or via a more intense training program suited to your abilities?

Once you establish a basic physical health routine, perhaps it’s time to consider some aesthetic treatments.

I spoke with our asesthetic nurse practitioner, Emily Sespaniak, about some of the latest techniques that give our patients a naturallooking spring “beauty refresh.” Emily has been treating me personally as a patient for eight years now, including quarterly neuromodulators such as Botox® and Dysport® and annual fillers like Voluma® and Restylane® . Emily truly is an expert at evaluating patients’ personal skin conditions and developing personalized treatment plans to help them achieve their aesthetic goals. She also specializes in complex applications of Botox treatments for medical conditions such as migraines, excessive sweating, and teeth grinding and clenching, which involves a different skill set than just softening forehead lines. Through her aesthetic eye, knowledge of anatomy, and decades of experience, Emily has gained the trust of women and men in the Bay Area to deliver consistent, reliable, and beautiful results.

Assess your health and physical aesthetic during this season of renewal.

THE SPRING WEATHER AND SUNSHINE MOTIVATE US TO REEMERGE FROM OUR COCOONS, MAKING SPRING A PERFECT TIME FOR PERSONAL EVALUATIONS.

PHOTO: KATIE

HL: What are the latest trends in aesthetics?

ES: Plastic surgery is no longer taboo, whether it be minor or more extensive aesthetic procedures. These days, procedures are as customary as applying makeup or getting your hair done. The trend is more about upkeep and prevention than waiting to have extensive work done all at once.

HL: What if a patient isn’t ready for major plastic surgery?

ES: While Dr. Horton is an expert at more extensive procedures, for those who are not quite ready for surgery, I first like to advise patients on our less invasive yet highly effective, non-surgical aesthetic treatments. Options include laser skin rejuvenation, dermal fillers, injectable wrinkle reducers, and medical grade skin care products that provide great results without the downtime.

HL: What areas of the face should be considered for a bit of a spring recharge?

ES: The aim of any non-surgical rejuvenation procedure is to treat the noticeable features of aging to produce a brighter and refreshed look to the eyes, face, brow area, neck, chest, and skin. However, no treatment should ever change your appearance or make you look unusual or unlike yourself! The best minimally invasive rejuvenating procedures create beautiful, subtle, and natural results without looking surprised, frozen, or unable to move your face.

HL: Do over-the-counter products help stop aging?

ES: While some over-the-counter drugstore products can be a staple in a well-rounded skincare lineup, I recommend that patients start with a regimen of medical-grade skincare products once they begin to notice the visible signs of aging (like fine lines and hyperpigmentation). As devoted medical-grade skincare users, Dr. Horton and I can vouch for the efficacy of these products. While nothing from a bottle will turn back the hands of time, there are prescription and medical-grade products that can stimulate collagen and remove the visible signs of sun damage to create a smoother and more even skin tone.

HL: Can you tell us about dermal fillers?

ES: The goal of fillers is to restore some of the volume lost through the aging process to restore contour, minimize hollows, and smooth lines we cannot address with Botox or Dysport. The result is a softer, less harsh, and refreshed appearance. Depending on the type of product used and area of the face treated, fillers last about a year, so the maintenance is relatively minimal.

HL: Is Botox out?

ES: Injectable wrinkle reducers like Botox and Dysport aren’t going anywhere in 2023. In fact, the demand for these treatments is growing! A new FDA-approved injectable wrinkle reducer is hitting the market in late spring/early summer 2023, and it is expected to last longer than any of the injectable wrinkle reducers currently on the market. We are excited to be among the first to get our hands on it!

HL: What would you recommend for dull skin?

ES: Spring is an opportune time to start a Clear + Brilliant® laser treatment series. This treatment stimulates collagen to restore life to dry winter skin. Each session lasts about 30 minutes and involves targeted technology that produces a radiant glow. Another favorite skin rejuvenation treatments, called IPL, can address sunspots, age spots, hyperpigmentation, redness from rosacea, and broken capillaries. The most popular areas to treat are the face, neck, chest, and hands.

Emily Sespaniak, NP and Dr. Karen Horton

Rooted in California and having earned her degree in UCSB, Claudia Ross is living her best life in Knights Valley after leaving behind a career in public relations as the founder of Cross Marketing and former director of Harper’s BAZAAR and Marie Claire. She has worked with the world’s most iconic luxury brands. The owner and vintner of Ross Ranch, a working farm and vineyard producing a farm-totable experience, Ross now enjoys sharing thoughtful insights into the world of wine country life, both socially and agriculturally.

Let It Shine, Let It Shine, Let It Shine

Napa’s Lighted Art Festival: Art after dark

BY CLAUDIA CASTILLO ROSS

IT HAD BEEN A WHILE SINCE I CASUALLY MEANDERED through the streets of Napa. On that particular afternoon, the streets were crowded and festive with an infectious electric energy. It was the eve before the Chinese New Year. Street performers, drum troupes, and traditional Chinese dragons banged to the beat to celebrate the upcoming new Year of the Rabbit, symbolizing wisdom, power, and wealth. One couldn’t help but feed off the energy in the crowd.

Restaurants overflowed with customers, and the evening was crisp and cool. Thankful for the break in the weather, locals and visitors alike took to the streets in hopeful anticipation of what was to come. However, it wasn’t only the anticipation of good luck in the upcoming new year that brought everyone to town, it was also the annual Napa Lighted Art Festival, where artists from all over the world create 10 art installations using the town’s quaint buildings, historical sites, and walkways as a canvas to display their work. Each artist created their own vision of light. Perhaps, as Maya Angelou said, “Nothing can dim the light that shines within,” because each custom light work displayed light from its inner soul.

The evening started at Arena, where proprietor Michael Polenske and Julie Henry welcomed and introduced the artists who thoughtfully walked us through their visions behind their creations. Prior to viewing each exhibit, artists like Jacques Lesec described the creation of Poppy and Dahlia as the “reconceptualization of organic form.” Each floral ornament, large in scale, created illusions of effervescent light, glass, and an ethereal vision of delicate petals. Guests of all ages were mesmerized by the LED lights designed in petal form. As the reception came to a close, guests were encouraged to wander the Napa’s streets and be guided by the light for Art After Dark.

Covering the façade of Napa’s First Presbyterian Church, a team from Catania, Italy, mammasONica Studio’s design group presented

a feast of vision and sound, resulting in a stimulating light show that kept even the youngest audience members engaged. Named Hands of Time, the audiovisual presentation was described as “a journey into the phases of our existence, from birth to adulthood, celebrating the circle of life for a mysterious and positive message.”

Adjacent to Goodman Library stood Luminescence, a human form envisioned by the international design duo of Jason Myers and Scott Young and created by using recycled scrap steal from salvaged building materials. The team added neon lighting to create an impactful narrative. The subject, as described, is “a solitary figure weathered and worn, but bright and still standing strong.” The piece is a symbol for all who struggle with real life problems and situations: it isn’t how these problems affect you, it’s about how you deal with them.

As the evening progressed and for weeks to come, the art installations led town revelers and guests to follow the lights in pursuit of deeper inspiration. As I walked through the streets, I was awed by the intensity of each installation and its illumination. The significance of each work of art was inspiring in its meaning and intensity of light and how it was used and displayed.

Executed and designed by an international consortium of artists, the festival’s aura of light that can be visibly seen for blocks. The show’s most prominent piece, Seed of Dreams, was a 13-foot tall sculpture of a human head with its eyes closed in what the artist described as a “deep trance or dream state.” Located in Dwight Murray Plaza and designed by local Cal Berkeley alum Martin Taylor, the masterful combination of modern and metal aesthetics created a multi-dimensional face. A conglomerate of mirrored origami pieces designed in metal were assembled to resemble its paper counterpart.

Napa’s Art After Dark was a positively enlightening experience.

Seed of Dreams

Jewellery’s Voices

Hands of Time

Agua

A PERSONAL TRIBUTE TO Chih Chun Lee Hsu (1924-2023)

BY OLIVIA HSU DECKER

MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY ON FEBRUARY 28, 2023, JUST SHY of 100 years old. She was a woman of strength, a devoted Christian, and a great mother of five children. Her father was a successful textile merchant who moved from their native Fu Jiang Provence in China to Manila in the Philippines. Her mother had only two children: my mother and her older sister. Being a conservative Chinese man in the 1920s, her father wanted sons and left the family to be with a Filipino woman who produced those sons with him.

My grandmother decided to educate my mother and her sister like boys. She sent them to medical school, which was very rare in 1940s China when daughters were usually denied higher education. My aunt became a doctor in Shanghai and married a fellow doctor.

My mother was a nurse studying pre-med when she met my father at end of World War II. She worked at the hospital where he was being treated for battle injuries. They got married and moved to Shanghai where my father was the head of traffic police. He was an old-fashioned Chinese husband and didn’t want my mother to work. That ended her dream of being a doctor like her elder sister. After they moved to Taiwan, their family grew to three daughters and two sons. My mother never had the chance to hold another job.

My writing skills and passion for music came from my mother who encouraged me to read and write and enrolled me in church choirs. I was a writer for college magazine and local newspapers and

a classical singer during my school years. Mother was very religious and dragged me to church with her on Sundays. I remember singing “Ave Maria” and “Silent Night” and other church music as a kid. I performed in high school concerts, singing operatic arias.

My family lost their wealth in China, and we had no means to travel. My mother encouraged me to dream big. My school library cards always ran out of space. As I read many classical books, I dreamed of journeying all over the world. I remembered reading Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises and I dreamed of a journey in Spain. I read Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace and was immersed in Russia. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night took me to French Riviera, while Alexandre Dumas’ Le Comte de Monte Cristo brought me to France and Dante’s Divine Comedy transported me to Italy.

I was blessed with literary and musical riches from very young age. I listened to the radio for all sorts of music, not just operas. I could sing most of the songs of The Platters in 1950s and ’60s, all the songs of Lionel Richie in 1970s and ’80s, and the songs of Motown, the Bee Gees, and the Beatles. I remember having dinner in London with Lionel Richie a few years ago, and I burst into his songs “Hello” and “All Night Long” when he asked if I knew him.

My mother was a great cook. I never got the chance to cook; my task was to wash dishes. I would sing aloud like I was on stage while I washed dishes every night.

I left home at age 15 to attend boarding school and college, then moved to Japan and San Francisco shortly after college. My mother hung on to my brothers, but wanted her daughters to venture out to the world. We three sisters immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s. My sister Katherine has been living in La Jolla with her husband Barry for over 40 years, and my baby sister Angela, her husband Thomas, and their daughter Kimberley and sonin-law Eduardo all live in Belvedere near me. My nephew Geo lives in Singapore with his wife Angela and their two daughters. We are very blessed.

Sadly, my mother was disappointed that I never wanted children nor a husband, although I was married for five years. Her traditional definition of a successful woman was one with a good husband and a bunch of great kids. She never cared how many billions of real estate I sold or how many homes and chateaux I owned. But thanks to the traits I inherited from her, my childhood dream of owning a luxury lifestyle magazine with purpose and sponsoring the Olivia Decker Power of Music has taken off to great heights.

While she is in a better world with her God now, I hope my mother will forgive me for not giving her any grandchildren and be proud of me taking care of my clients like they were family and for spreading the power of music to the others.

Clockwise from top left: Mother with me and my siblings; My parents with my nephew in 1986 at Central Park in New York; Mother with me and my siblings; Mother at my niece Kimberley’s wedding at Harvard

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This waterfront showplace was a former home of award winning designer Martin Kobus which he fully renovated in 2011-2012. Known for creating calm, welcoming spaces that showcase his modern aesthetic, Martin reimaged this sunny bright home into a waterfront resort-like design with high ceilings and huge windows to enjoy the breathtaking San Francisco Bay views. Located on the coveted West Shore in Belvedere, this appx. 3,000 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 3 baths waterfront home features a state-of-the-art kitchen with a huge Caesarstone island, all bathrooms feature limestone floors and Caesarstone counters; living room with high ceiling, wall-to-wall windows and a large fireplace; family room with TV and built-in desk, dining room and kitchen combo sharing a large fireplace and large view windows; two bedrooms each with full bath on main floor with direct doors to Bay and garden. All main floor rooms have doors opening to the spacious 1,000 + square foot waterfront deck for gracious outdoor entertaining. Luxurious second full floor master

A spectacular high quality contemporary residence with panoramic views of San Francisco Bay from every room, this majestic ±7,693 sq ft 6 bedroom, 5 full baths and 2 half-baths mansion was built in 2006 on a ±0.94 acre lot adjacent to Tiburon open spaces with ample privacy. The interior features huge windows providing great natural light, the formal living room showcases 2- oor-high ceiling windows that frame the panoramic Bay views, a stunning chandelier, and a replace. The formal dining room with matching chandelier connects to a high quality designer kitchen with center island, dining counter for 6 seats, and ample cabinets. This open oor plan includes a butler’s pantry, spacious family room with replace, a wet bar and a temperature controlled wine cellar, all leading to the expansive entertainment terrace with an outdoor kitchen. The private and opulent master suite features a replace, a separate

suite with fireplace, walk-in closets, a cozy office area and a terrace overlooking the Bay. Wide plank hard wood oak floors through-out the entire home. Almost every room enjoys spectacular views of Bay, San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Mount Tam and beyond. There is a two car garage and a gated garden. West Shore Road is the widest street in Belvedere with ample off-street parking. Belvedere West Shore is known as the best yachting location on San Francisco Bay with easy access to Corinthian Yacht Club and San Francisco Yacht Club.

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sitting room, a luxurious bathroom with stunning views and a walk-in closet. 5 other bedrooms all have beautiful Bay views. There is also a deluxe library/ media room and a billiard room with a bar. The nearly one acre grounds feature a huge stone terrace with an outdoor kitchen, a bocce ball court, a golf putting green, terraced gardens, a marble gazebo with re pit, a pool site, a three-car garage, and a gated motor court with a marble fountain and space to park 10+ cars. Downtown Tiburon is just a few minutes away with 2 world class yacht clubs, Bayside bike path, ferry services to San Francisco and Angel Island, great restaurants such as Michael Mina’s Bungalow Kitchen, Malibu Farm, Caprice and Sam’s Cafe.

More details and photos at: 55WestShore.com

More photos and information available at 189GilmartinDrive.com.