ICONIC LIFE Holiday 2022

Live Beautifully

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Any of these firms can be hired together or separately. Additionally, we design and build an appreciable amount of luxury homes throughout the nation.

i t h out a d ou b t t he Du ke of J a zz w oul d c o n s ide r Ell in g t o n H ei g h ts a su pe r b w o r k of a r t. Ne s tle d in the sun-kissed up p er c a n yon of Si l v e r le a f, the d esign f o r t his m ag ni f icen t e s t a t e c oll ec t e d ins p i r at i o n f r o m Roa r in g Tw en t ies e r a, a n d t ha t ene r g y is ma g ni f ie d t o d a y in t his A r t D ec o -ins p i r e d 17,000 plu s s q ua r e f o o t e s ta t e w i t h v i e w s t h at go f o r e v e r. In fu se d w i t h hi s t o r y, y e t t h o r oug h l y m od e r n , t hi s I C O NI C e s t a t e is a dese r t g em t o b e t r e a s u r e d .

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celebration

Visit our newly renovated Showroom in Scottsdale where more than 16 local designers and cabinet companies collaborated on the space built to inspire you throughout your kitchen project – from planning with our product experts to making delicious memories in your home. Newly Renovated

By Sam Micatrotto

ICONIC LIFE

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A Diamond in the Desert Celebrating 60 years.

Renee M. Dee Publisher

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

With the holidays upon us, it’s my loving wish for each of you to be sur rounded by the ones you love and the ones who love you. In this hustle and bustle time of year, the greatest gift we can give ourselves is a little peace and the time to be present with the joys of the season.

For me, that is spending time with, as Julie Andrews says, “A Few of My Favorite Things.” (By the way, I typically play “The Sound of Music” in the background of my baking, wrapping and table setting multiple times each December…and if I’m alone, I’ll belt out every word of every song.)

What I love doing this time of year is making my home beautiful. I unpack a full holiday install of accent pillows, throws, arrangements and accessories to really bring the season alive. Then I visit the tree lot with my son, and we take joy in selecting a live tree that will make the house smell amazing! I love baking for friends, as I feel homemade treats are heartfelt expressions of gratitude for the year that has just gone by.

On Christmas Eve, my favorite tradition is to entertain with a full presentation of caviar and all the accoutrement. I use my mother-of-pearl spoons and scalloped dishes. I bring out the crystal and the fine linen, and my favorite sterling silver champagne bucket holds a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé. Twinkling lights and lots of candles make this evening the most romantic of the year.

As the end of 2022 comes to a close, it will be again time for me to spend time in my annual goal-setting ritual to start the New Year off right. It’s been a tradition of mine for almost three decades, and it makes me feel grounded and so grateful. If you want to join me this year, I share my process on pages 140 to 141.

I look towards 2023 with great excitement…we have a special issue celebrating all that is fun and exciting about luxury living in Arizona for visitors who will enjoy everything from the Barrett-Jackson car auction to the WM Phoenix Open to the Big Game that is in our town this year.

As this year concludes, I am so very grateful for my amazing team at ICONIC LIFE, for my dear, dear friends and my son, who keeps me humble and always joyously amused. I am so grateful for the opportunity to Live Beautifully, and you all keep me stretching to tell the stories of those who are leading the way.

Wishing you a lovely holiday season no matter what you are celebrating and great joy, health and happiness in the New Year.

With Gratitude, Renee M.

Publisher

Dee

Thr o u g h o ut the d e c a d e s , in c lu d i n g the fab ‘ 70 s , Cam e l o t Hom e s has emb o di e d luxury livin g in t h e Sou t hwest. T imeles s d e sign s f o r h o t clima t es, c oo l p e o ple and beau t iful mom e n t s .

Thi s is D e ser t F abulou s ™ . This is C amel ot H o mes .

Interiors That Inspire Greater Wellbeing

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To that end, Bonnie innovatively designs inspiring, personalized, comfortable, functional luxury interiors.

Bonnie has earned 38 international, national, and regional design Excellence awards in 9 years, including an ASID 2021 “Best of Show,” “Overall Best” from NAHB Remodelers, and an HGTV People’s Choice Award. She was 1 of 32 in the U.S. selected as a 2020 “Innovator Honoree” by Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Design Meets Technology

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Building Homes...Building Relationships

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THE LIST

By Carlye Klick

$5,995 via Neiman Marcus.

VALENTINO

Mini Vsling Handbag with Sparkling Embroidery, $5,100 via Valentino.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

‘Tis the season to sparkle as handbags are blinged out with show-stopping crystals.

JIMMY CHOO

Black Crystal Mesh Bag With Velvet Bow, $2,295 via Jimmy Choo.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

Gunmetal Swarovski Mini Tro Bag, $4,990 via Oscar de la Renta.

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Loubi54 Small Metallic Crystal Clutch Bag, $4,190 via Neiman Marcus.

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BAKING IT BIG

By Bailey Badillo

When the reviews rave about the most delicious macarons and perfectly flaky croissants ever had, you know you’ve come across a “must-try” bakery.

Essence Bakery offers tempting staples like pies, tarts and comforting chicken pot pie, along with weekly specials that are always a surprise. The bakery’s excellent food is a result of a secret ingredient— award-winning Chef Eugenia Theodosopoulos’ passion.

Eugenia’s love for baking and delicious eats started at age 13, when she worked at her father’s locally famous eatery in Ohio, which dates back to 1931. Following her passion, Eugenia moved to France to study and work at the renowned Ecole Lenôtre Paris, and then she started her own cooking school and catering company in Paris.

Eugenia has served foreign diplomats, embassies and international executives, and was inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame

and awarded Pastry Chef Extraordinaire. She opened Essence Bakery Cafe in Phoenix in 2007, and her talent was immediately recognized as it only took nine months to be named “Best New Restaurant.”

“I still have so much to learn and countries to visit to experience more about baking,” Theodosopoulos says. “I continually challenge myself to make new products, recently I added cookies and cream croissants, Valrhona chocolate raspberry croissants and my favorite, lemon brioche feuilleté.”

The croissants are buttery, flaky and every layer of the dough beauti fully visible. Need we say more?

The pastries, food and especially croissants continue to receive acco lades and awards, and it’s no wonder. Next time you’re in Arcadia, stop by Essence Bakery Cafe and indulge in award-winning culinary delights that feel like a warm hug.

Award-winning chef Eugenia Theodosopoulos’ Essence Bakery rises to the top.

Photograhy courtesy of Essence Bakery

CALIFORNIA

FASHIONED

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Add ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir to combine and chill. Strain into a double old fashioned rocks glass filled with rock ice. Express the oils of an orange peel over the glass, rubbing the peel around the rim. Add peel into the cocktail along with an Argonaut Amarena cherry.

METHOD

Stir ingredients in a rock glass. Add a large ice cube and garnish with an orange peel.

METHOD

46 ICONICLIFE.COM

WONDERFUL WINTER COCKTAILS

Driving DESIGN

From the esteemed car brand Bentley Motors, Bentley Home asks you

By Brionna Farney

To enjoy the same sought-after thrill felt behind the wheel of a luxury car from the comfort of your own home, look no further than Bentley’s furniture collection. Bentley Home is the luxury motor company’s signature furniture brand, defined as “a space where luxury and customization take shape, amidst the finest materials.”

Collaboration between Bentley Home designers and the design team at Bentley Motors ensures a cohesiveness between their

collections.

cars and luxury home furniture collections. As a result, similar materials, motifs and shapes inherent to Bentley cars are ingrained in their unique furniture pieces.

Bentley Home Atelier introduced two new luxury home furniture collections during Design Week in Milan—Solstice and 2022.

Solstice is Bentley Home’s first outdoor furniture collection, designed to celebrate open-air outdoor living. Bentley Home designer Carlo Colombo spearheaded the design of the collection, placing an impor tance on incorporating “Bentley design DNA” into each piece.

The trademark front matrix grille found on Bentley’s modern car lineup inspired a key furniture detail. The stainless steel that wraps around the Solstice Sofa, Armchair and Loveseat is “super-mirror”—a highly polished steel created by the highly skilled craftspeople at Bentley Home.

Outdoor furniture must withstand the outdoor environment—the

weather-proof velvet, chenille and satin fabrics available in the Solstice collection are all treated for outdoor use. Achieving such durability required sophisticated research into each of the premiere textiles.

A sustainable fabric option is also available— the exclusive MARM \ MORE® fabric, which is made from waste marble powder. The final fabric option is made from hemp and is also resistant to outdoor elements.

2022 is a collection of indoor furniture that finds the perfect balance between nature and futuristic architecture—an ode to what is and what will be.

These collections are showcased at the recently opened Bentley Home Atelier— Bentley’s first luxury home furniture showroom, located within the colonnaded courtyard of the late 19th-century Palazzo Chiesa and complete with a view of the Milan skyline. The unique space features a contemporary feel with stone, mirrors, and leather that complement Bentley Home’s one-of-a-kind furniture collections.

to test drive its newest

Photography courtesy of Bentley

MUST HAVES

By Carlye Klick

Paws-itively GIFTABLE

Give your four-legged fur baby a taste of the luxe life this season with the most beautiful, practical and extravagant gifts to celebrate the holidays in style!

MY WOOF

The Pupsicle, $25 via My Woof.

GUCCI

Large Herbarium print pet bowl, $615 via Gucci.

VALENTINO

Rockstud Pet Leash, $470 via Valentino.

TIDELLI

Pet Bed, Price Upon Request via Tidelli.

VALENTINO

Rockstud Pet Collar 12 MM, $295 via Valentino.

BAREFOOT DREAMS

CozyChic® Abstract Camo Pet Sweater, $48 via Barefoot Dreams.

It’s All About Who You Align Yourself With

Michelle Sarocka got her start in the finance arena, where she counseled clients on significant investments. Today as a luxury real estate agent, she has a passion for working with clients on the most important investment they’ll make. Michelle is approachable, experienced and eager to bring all the pieces together professionally for an outstanding experience.

Who are you aligned with? It matters.

Michelle Sarocka

DESIGN ICON

Photography courtesy of Elyse Walker

Fashion-Forward

FOUNDER

By Kaitlyn Beickel

Elyse Walker, the founder of the successful eponymous luxury apparel company, had her first taste of the industry at a young age while working on the sales floor of her mother’s shoe store—but she didn’t have an immediate passion for fashion.

“I went to college and I studied mathematics and I really thought that I could see myself working on Wall Street,” Walker says. “At that time, my mom got ovarian cancer and passed away when she was 42. I helped her with her stores when she was sick, which I knew like the back of my hand; I knew all the customers and I knew all the staff.”

“I inherited my small-but-mighty little family business that had a nice following, so I have been in fashion since 1983, but I opened my first store when I was 20-years-old in 1987,” she added.

Following Walker’s early success in the fashion industry, she started her renowned company elysewalker in 1999, which has since expanded to seven stores in California, two soon-to-be opened stores in New York City and a newly launched digital store, elysewalker.com. The elysewalker store features curated apparel, jewelry and accessories from the top luxury brands and fashion designers.

Despite her success in style, Walker says she doesn’t take fashion too seriously—but she loves her job and that it provides her with a unique opportunity to help people feel and look their best.

“I don’t take fashion that seriously, yet, I think it’s such a powerful tool,” Walker says. “If you walk into a meeting, you’re hosting a luncheon or you’re just going out on a Friday night, you could be wearing your frumpy jeans or you could be wearing a new high-rise flare and it can make a difference.”

“I’m ignited by the idea that you can actually make someone feel really good, and when they feel good it can open doors for them,” Walker says. “It’s something I’ve been doing my entire life and it’s not all glamorous, but I know social media tends to make the fashion industry look very glamorous.”

While beautiful dinners, runway shows and feathered sequin handbags are certainly a glamorous part of her career, there are also hard moments, like styling someone who is going through a tough time in their life.

“Sometimes, people are in a slump, sometimes they’re going through a divorce, sometimes they’re unfortunately going through cancer, there’s lots of reasons to style and help someone with their wardrobe, it’s not just the red carpet,” Walker says. “It keeps me going, it keeps me waking up every morning super excited to take on the new day.”

To stay up-to-date on the latest trends to share with her customers, the fashion-forward founder attends the New York, Paris and Milan fashion shows each year, and she recently attended the runway at New York Fashion Week’s fall event.

“It was the best New York Fashion week I have ever experienced in my life. I know that’s a big statement, but I really believe it,” Walker says. “It was so full of energy, the restaurants were hopping, there were people on the streets. I’m a New Yorker, so I love it there.”

“Everyone was warm and friendly, it was collaborative, I saw people dressing up on the street because it was New York Fashion Week and people being photographed all over the place. I think that what I saw is that people are out there so happy to be out of their homes and they’re so happy to be going to events and dressing up again and that a lot of fashion from New York was very celebratory,” she added.

When it comes to dressing up, the New York-native says you can look at the trends, but ultimately, you should wear what works best for you and makes you feel good.

“We’re seeing new excitement on basics, oversized blazers, citrus colors, wide leg pants, a lot of velvet, texture and some classic silhou ettes,” Walker says.”People like to say to me and my team, ‘does that mean I need to put my skinny jeans away?’ and the answer is no, if you love your skinny jeans and you feel that you look good in them and you’re comfortable in them, and if you don’t feel good in a big wide leg and then you shouldn’t wear it.”

Elyse Walker shares her start in fashion, her fashion point of view following New York Fashion Week and her love of helping women feel and look their best.

Swiss-sational CHOCOLATES

World Chocolate Master and Head of Läderach chocolate focuses on using the best ingredients—and expanding the luxury brand worldwide.

By Bailey Badillo

Läderach chocolate is a gift you can give—and maybe indulge in yourself—guilt free. Not only does the legendary chocolatier use high-quality, real ingredients but the company also supports diversity and sustainability.

MAKING SOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST CHOCOLATES

These chocolates are the world’s finest because the company procures ingredients from only the best sources. It starts in South America, where the company personally visits the growing areas, and partners with the Rainforest Alliance to ensure the farmers are paid above market price.

Photography courtesy of Läderach

After sourcing the perfect quality cacao beans, it’s time to bring them to Switzerland where these exquisite works of art are exclusively made.

“Only the best is good enough,” is the mantra on the Läderach site, and it’s apparent in the quality and taste of their confections.

From the Rainforest to the Alps, the Swiss culture is found within the style and transforming from bean to a delectable indulgence. Each product is made by hand because, as they say “In order for it to be beautiful, it has to be unique.”

“What makes us unique is that we can control the whole supply chain, that’s very important for us, it helps us to get freshness to the customers and we don’t compro mise on quality,” Elias Läderach, Head of Innovation & Production and 2018 World Chocolate Master, says.

“Just one example, with the hazelnuts, we only use the piedmontese hazelnuts that are from Piedmont, Italy. They cost many times as much as other kinds of hazelnuts, but it’s just the best you can get.”

LÄDERACH VEGAN

CHOCOLATE LINEUP

Continuing in the tradition of the chocolatiers of making chocolate for everyone, Läderach just launched a vegan line of chocolates.

Here are a few ICONIC picks of vegan chocolate available now to order:

• Creamy Vegan Cashew Popcorn

Crunchy, creamy and caramelized, this vegan cashew popcorn is perfect for a movie night in with friends or family. Made with coconut blossom sugar and cashew drink powder, this is a delicious treat you can munch on without feeling the post-indulgent guilt!

• Creamy Vegan Cashew Tablet

A completely plant-based alternative to the classic milk chocolate bar, the Creamy Vegan Cashew Tablet has a luscious aroma and a full-bodied, nutty taste, making it taste-approved and for everyone.

• FrischSchoggi Pistachio Dark

The FrischSchoggi is a popular product at Läderach, and thank goodness they included it in their vegan lineup, because it is to die for. This vegan FrischSchoggi made from the finest dark chocolate is folded with gently roasted pistachios and is available in a quarter, half or as a whole chocolate slab. When gifting, keep in mind that it is freshest within the first 2-3 weeks.

• Small Vegan FrischSchoggi Pouch Having trouble deciding? Try them all! With this small pouch, you get a variety of all the best FrischSchoggi nutty vegan chocolates Läderach has to offer. This

pouch includes the dark varieties Grand Cru Brazil 70 percent, almond, black berry, orange-almond and pistachio. All the varieties are plant based and free from dairy.

If vegan chocolate isn’t your thing, Läderach has an amazing lineup of more traditional truffles, dark and milk chocolates, with many already beautifully packaged for a convenient gift. There are more than 40 locations worldwide.

To give the ones you love (including yourself) a delicious gift this holiday season, head to Laderach.com.

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Wining & Dining in NAPA VALLEY

Tor Kenward isn’t your ordinary Napa Valley vintner—he’s taken a nearly 50-year journey through the burgeon ing wine industry, from the mid-70s when there were less than 50 wineries in Napa, to the present with more than 400 wineries in the area today.

By

Photography

In his new book, Reflections of a Vintner: Stories and Seasonal Wisdom from a Lifetime in Napa Valley, Kenward shares his experience of watching Napa Valley become a world-class wine destination. He also shares stories with legends like Julia Child, Andy Beckstoffer, Robert Mondavi and his good friend Thomas Keller. It was the ICONIC Keller and Child who worked with Kenward to make Napa Valley a foodie’s dream destina tion, too.

With decades of experience in Napa Valley, Kenward watched as it blossomed into the bustling wine country and now foodie mecca it is today.

Kaitlyn Beickel

by Bob McClenahan and Mark Hartman

As an ICONIC winemaker today with his own TOR Wines, Kenward has written, taught and lectured on wine most of his adult life. He didn’t come from a family with a background in the wine business either— he pursued his successful career in wine based on his own passion.

“I was going to college at the University of California, took a quarter off to be a backpacker in the Sierras, and I came back to an invitation to go to Vietnam from the government,” Kenward says. “I did Vietnam for a year, and then I came back with a vow that the rest of my life would be really focused on projects that really move the needle for me personally.”

He then started a popular jazz club in Southern California in the late 60s, where Kenward met many prominent people who were really into excellent wine and food.

“I became like many people, very obses sive about it, so I had to read everything that there was and befriended some people who had a couple wine stores in Southern California and they asked me to go up to Northern California to to scope out what was happening in Napa and Sonoma at the time,” he says.

After hiring an immensely popular jazz pianist to play a couple of shows at his club, Tor saved up enough money to head to wine country.

“That allowed me enough money, which was just a few thousand dollars at that time, in my back pocket to go and throw everything in the car and see if anybody will hire me up in the Napa Valley,” Kenward says. “I got a call back from the winery two days later saying we have a job for you. I took the job and I ended up staying there for about 25 years. It was like getting aboard a rocket ship and the world completely changed around me, and certainly my world.”

He was hired at Beringer Vineyards, California’s longest continually operating

winery, where he became the vice president after a few years.

“My unofficial title was ‘Vice President in Charge of all the Fun,’ because they sent me to Europe every year to sit down and study winemaking with greats in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Spain and Portugal, and Italy of course, and I got paid for that, which was mind boggling,” Kenward says. “And then I came back and worked with the winemaking team on shaping the private reserve pro grams and other high end programs for the wineries that we were building and buying at that time.”

During his time at Beringer, Kenward watched as Napa Valley changed and grew into the bustling wine scene it is today.

“It’s Disneyland for foodies and people that love wine, wine and food,” he says.

There was a revolution in food in the region, evolving into a mecca not only for great wines, but also for excellent food.

“Julia Child became a good friend of mine and I spent a lot of time with her,” he says. “Her love for French cuisine and cooking obviously is legendary, and rightfully so. She, along with a handful of others, started the American Institute of Wine and Food, launched in the early 80s, and she asked me to be on the board.”

“It was a really interesting board of people that were very influential in the food industry at that time, but you watch that as of the early waves that were crashing on the shore and changing things,” he added.

After gaining valuable experience at Beringer and watching as the wine brand went public and transferred between different ownership, Kenward started his very own winery.

interesting when I look back on it and I feel fortunate that it took me that long to be able to do that financially, because it gave me an education that I could never afford, 25 to 30 years of experience in the wine industry.”

Today, TOR Wines embraces Kenward’s four decades of experience in Napa Valley to understand exactly what makes an excel lent wine, with a focus on single-vineyard Cabernet, Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines, cuvées and Bordeaux varietals. To share a taste of TOR Wines, the winery is offering a holiday gift set that includes a copy of Kenward’s book, a bottle of 2019 Tierra Roja and a bottle of 2019 Oakville, retailing for $300, available for purchase through Gary’s Wine & Marketplace.

When a critic rates a wine with 100 points, it means that they thought the wine was absolutely perfect—and TOR Wines

Black Magic Napa Valley Red Blend 2018 earned that coveted rating four times, making it a “400 point wine.” This makes it a very rare unicorn in the world of fine wine. TOR wines have earned ten 100 point scores.

In 2021 the team that arranged the original Paris Tasting in 1976, decided to pit French Bordeaux once again against great wines from outside Bordeaux. This tasting was again blind and the judges hand selected on their experience and expertise. When the wines were judged and revealed, the #1 Bordeaux blend red wine was TOR 2016 Beckstoffer To Kalon.

“It was extremely heartwarming, because I had a lot of my peers in the same room, so it was fun to sort of share that moment with a lot of my neighbors and friends and other winemakers,” he says.

If you’re headed to Napa Valley to sample some great wine, Kenward recommends only seeing two in one day and focusing on the smaller, harder to find wines.

“Study the small, independent ones,” he says. “Actually meet the winemakers, meet the owners of these properties, try to under stand what their passion was and why they did what they did to get involved.”

Featuring: The Ordervs, Tasty Morsels of Music

Enjoy and sing along to your favorite songs with this 3-piece ensemble.

Cost: Free to attend Where: Dreamweavers Patio

Winter Wonderland

Featuring: Raun Alosi and Friends Holiday Show

Live music, entertainment and surprises!

Cost: Free to attend Where: Dreamweavers Patio

DECEMBER 23 6:30p-9p

Kierland After Dark

Featuring: Raun Alosi and Friends Holiday Show Live music, entertainment and surprises!

Cost: Free to attend Where: Dreamweavers Patio

Arizona

Agave spirits in every soul.

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DEAR

to an Architect’s HEART

By Sam Micatrotto Photography courtesy of Julianne Palmer / Pearl Blossom Photography

Scottsdale-based custom architecture firm Candelaria Design, founded in 1999 by award-winning architect Mark Candelaria, was built on the principle that home design needs to be a collaborative process. The Candelaria team works closely with each client, designer and vendor from start to finish to ensure the final product fully encompasses what a dream home should be. The Spiekerman home, a traditional ranchstyle home in the highly-desired Arcadia area, was no exception.

Even with the firm’s dedication to personal customer service, Meredith Thomson, Director of Architecture Design and Production at Candelaria and lead architect on this project, had an even closer connection to this project than most. The Spiekerman home was designed for Thomson’s best friend’s sister, a connection she has had since high school.

The values of Candelaria Design combine with collaboration and Meredith Thomson brings a dream home to life.

Thomson is an Arizona native, she has lived in other states through out the years but in the end, made the move back to Arizona. She says projects like this one are a great example of why she moved back home—being able to work with clients in a place near and dear to her heart.

“Each project is always so different because the client also has a different idea of what a home is. This house is special to me because people I consider close and dear friends will raise a family there, and have family holidays and parties there, which means the world to me,” Thomson says. “That the house is truly a home with many beautiful memories already being made.”

We asked Thomson what the process is like when it comes to balanc ing client’s requests and the vision that Candelaria has in mind. Her response was simple: listening first and advising second. As with all working relationships, Thomson says, “communication is key, and it’s important I really work hard at pulling out of the client what is important to them.”

She emphasized that when clients hire the Candelaria team, it’s because they trust the team’s ability to apply their knowledge of flow, light, scale and overall design to bring the vision to life.

And most importantly, Thomson says that when it comes to beginning a project for a luxe residential home, and for this home specifically, the most important thing is how it functions for the family.

“It is important to listen to the client and understand what is critical to them. For this house, it was flow that was important for their family,” she says. “There are spaces for community and spaces for each of them independently. Size and scale relating to each were thought out so they never felt too far away from each other.”

This speaks greatly to Candelaria’s mission of keeping every project a collaborative process between the team and homeowner. Thomson says a huge factor to the success of this project was due to another important collaboration, that with Rick Stark, contractor with Starion Custom Residences.

This recently completed collaboration is filled with modern features that are complemented by the natural light shining in throughout the house and the breathtaking views that surround the property. The Spiekerman residence’s modern farmhouse style coupled with the dark accents that can be found throughout its 5,091 square footage, brings a cozy ambiance despite the rather large size. Every detail from floor to vaulted ceiling brings together all of the elements that truly make a house a home.

The Spiekerman home also has a couple of what some might call “unique” features that happen to be Thomson’s favorite aspects of the home—the dining room and butler’s bar. Not many newer homes have formal dining rooms anymore, but Thomson loves the way the Spiekerman dining room turned out, “it welcomes you in and connects so well with the rest of the house.”

The dining room opens to the front courtyard fireplace, a very popular feature in the Arcadia area, and has the butler’s bar right off of it, which then leads back into the kitchen.

Adding to the uniqueness of the Spiekerman home, this project initially started as a remodel. The family fell in love with the original ranch home, but it was soon determined that there was too much demolition required to make the upgrades needed to modernize it.

Thanks to the expertise and dedication of the Candelaria team, they were able to keep the basic footprint of the house, but started with a clean slate and ended up with a house that this family will love for a lifetime.

COCOA COZY

What’s more dreamy than a decadent cup of hot chocolate to share by the fire? Here are some decadent recipes you can whip up all season long.

By ICONIC LIFE

LAVENDER ORANGE BLOSSOM HOT CHOCOLATE

MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH

INGREDIENTS

1 head fresh lavender

2 cups whole milk

2/3 cup cream

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

3/4 cup dark chocolate, finely chopped

1 drop orange blossom water

METHOD

Cold steep a head of fresh lavender flowers in the milk and cream overnight. Remove the lavender and add the brown sugar; heat until boiling. Pour hot milk/cream over the chocolate, which has been previously chopped. Allow the chocolate to melt, then whisk smooth. Add a drop of orange blossom water and whisk vigorously until frothy. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream, then add lavender flowers and orange slices for garnish.

CHEF’S FAMOUS HOT CHOCOLATE WITH WHIPPED CREAM

JACQUES TORRES CHOCOLATES

INGREDIENTS

1 cup heavy cream, chilled (for the whipped cream)

2 cups whole milk*

50g (about 1/2 cup) milk powder

3g (about 1 tspo) cornstarch

150g (about 1 cup 60% dark chocolate, in disks or coarsely chopped)

*Note: This hot chocolate is very rich. If you like it slightly thinner, use 3 cups of milk.

METHOD

First make the whipped cream: Pour the heavy cream into a medium mixing bowl and put it in the freezer for 5 minutes. (If you don’t have room for the bowl, just put the heavy cream in the freezer.) Take the mixing bowl of cream out of the freezer and whisk with a large whisk until soft peaks form.

For the hot chocolate: Bring milk to a boil in a medium sauce pot over medi um-high heat. Lower the heat to medium then add the chocolate, whisking vigorously until the chocolate is completely melted. Add the milk powder and cornstarch, still whisking, until everything is dissolved and the mixture is smooth and thick.

To serve, divide the hot chocolate among four mugs or glasses, then garnish each with a large dollop of whipped cream.

THE BOOZY BOURBON PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE

HEARTH 61, MOUNTAIN SHADOWS RESORT

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces of finely chopped semi sweet Ghirardelli chocolate

4 ounces of steamed (or hot) milk

2 ounces of heavy cream

1.5 ounces Makers Mark Bourbon

¼ tsp peppermint extract

Garnish with fresh unsweetened whipped cream and crushed candy cane.

METHOD

Put the chopped chocolate in an Irish coffee mug. Pour the steamed milk and heavy cream into the mug and let stand for 2 minutes, then stir with a spoon until smooth. Add Bourbon. Garnish with whipped cream and crushed candy cane.

We’ve Got SPIRITS! Yes we do.

Photo courtesy of Handle

By Kaitlyn Beickel

There’s an on-going myth that Utah is a dry state, yet a burgeon ing distillery and bar culture is revealing the truth. I traveled to Utah to get to the bottom of it.

Utah is continuing to make serious strides toward modernizing its liquor laws, and is home to more than 10 distilleries and numerous high-quality bars. While some of the state’s liquor laws are the same as anywhere else in the US, Utah has a few uncommon laws that you need to know about.

One of the most unique liquor laws in the state of Utah relates to the difference between restaurants and bars. When you go to a restaurant, you can order a drink, but it has to be ordered with food—even if it’s just a side of french fries. Whereas, if you go to a bar, tavern or brewery, no food is required, if you just want a drink.

When you go to order at the bar, don’t expect an over-pour—there are limits on how much spirit can be added to each person’s cocktails. You can order two at a time, but the alcohol between the two drinks can only equal two and a half ounces of total alcohol. For example, you could order a specialty cocktail (with one and a half ounces of alcohol) and a shot (with one ounce of alcohol) at the same time.

Before 2019 in Utah, you could only purchase beers on draft or at grocery/ convenience stores with four percent alcohol or less, but a new law upped that percent age to 5, opening the door to a much wider variety of beers available. Beer is the only drink you’ll find for sale at the grocery store—if you want bottles of spirits and wine, you have to purchase them exclusively at a Utah state liquor store.

Don’t believe the myth that Utah is a dry state— here are our favorite watering holes to get a drink in Park City, Utah.

Photo courtesy of Park City Chamber Bureau

Now that you know the laws around spirits, head to the beautiful Park City, Utah, to try some of our favorite spirits and excel lent cocktails.

“Since there are certain restrictions on how a beverage can be made, our bartenders here are really clever about figuring out how to make that beverage a unique and delicious cocktail,” Dan Howard, Vice President of Communications for Park City, Utah says. “Park City has so many bars, saloons and restaurants where it’s expected that these beverages are world-class. I’m really proud of the bartending community here.”

Ready to grab a drink? Here’s are our favorite places in Park City, Utah (and a couple of Salt Lake City gems) to enjoy spirits:

THE EATING ESTABLISHMENT

Opened in 1972, The Eating Establishment, now owned by comedian and “Modern Family” star Ty Burrell, is a beloved spot in Park City, Utah by both locals and visitors alike. It was featured on Food Networks star Rachael Ray’s “Rachel’s Vacation,” as the oldest ‘joint’ in Park City and a local favorite.

The breakfast-all-day diner was upgraded with the addition of a bar in 2017, and they now are known for their delicious bloody Marys, craft cocktails and sizable beer list.

ALPINE DISTILLING AND ALPINE PIE BAR

A multiple ‘Best Casual Eatery’ and ‘Craft Distillery of the Year’ award-winner, Alpine Distilling and Alpine Pie Bar is a can’t-miss spirit experience for gin and whisky lovers. Alpine offers four different types of premium whisky and two varieties of gin that are “100 percent vapor extracted from naturally gluten-free, corn ethanol.”

Alpine Pie Bar is also home to Alpine Distilling’s custom gin experience where you can blend your own custom gin. If you love pie, get there early—Alpine Pie often sells out of their daily pie allocation, which they serve fresh in a speakeasy setting.

Photo courtesy of The Eating Establishment

HIGH WEST SALOON

Founded in 2006, High West Distillery has made a name for itself as a favorite Sundance stop among celebrities. Park City was selected as the home for this whiskey distillery for two key reasons—founder David Perkins’ love of the Old West and the surprisingly rich history of whisky in Utah. High West also puts an emphasis on sustain ability—all of the distillery’s waste goes into an anaerobic digester that produces electric ity to power the grid.

High West began as a small whisky opera tion, and has grown to be an internationally recognized and award-winning brand. When you want a delicious whisky cocktail, head to Park City, Utah’s High West Saloon, “the world’s first and only ski-in gastro-distillery.”

Photo courtesy of High West, Photo courtesy of Alpine Distilling + Pie Bar

STEIN ALPENGLOBES AT STEIN ERIKSEN LODGE

If you’re an avid fan of winter sports, you are likely already familiar with Stein Eriksen Lodge. Atop the deck of the luxury ski resort are six life-size Alpenglobes, used as climate-controlled outdoor seating for fine dining at Stein Alpenglobes. The fully-enclosed unique clear domes give an awe-inspiring panoramic view of Deer Valley while you dine or lounge.

Enjoy the award-winning culinary options and your favorite drink as you take in the beauty of nature around you.

Photo courtesy of The Lakehouse at Deer Creek, Photo courtesy of Stein Eriksen Lodge

THE LAKEHOUSE AT DEER CREEK

If lake views and great drinks are what you seek, The Lakehouse at Deer Creek has the breathtaking ambience you are looking for. Helmed by celebrated chef Tamara Stanger, who was featured on Food Network’s “Chopped,” The Lakehouse puts an emphasis on local ingredients and small farms. And when we say local, we mean it—Chef Stanger forages for local ingredients herself.

You’ll find these foraged ingredients in the food, and as an ingredient in the delicious craft cocktails—like a freshly-picked flower or flavorful berries. Plus, you can enjoy a sunset cruise around the lake on a private charter before you dine.

SCION CIDER BAR

If you love hard ciders, this is the place for you. Scion Cider Bar has an ever-changing lineup of draft ciders, as well as a wide selec tion of craft cider in bottles and cans. Rio Connelly, the cider bar’s general manager, has an impressive history in Utah’s craft beer scene. With over 10 years experience in the industry, he was a co-founder Proper Brewing and assistant production manager in the early days of Epic Brewing. From sweet to funky, Connelly can help you pick a cider that pleases your palette.

HSL RESTAURANT

Using the freshest, local ingredients is the key to Chef Briar Handly’s delightful culinary cre ations at HSL Restaurant—and the drinks are no exception. The restaurant is an evolution of Handly’s first restaurant, Handle, in Park City, Utah. Touting their interesting wines and thoughtful cocktails, almost everything you have at HSL will be locally sourced— making it that much more enjoyable.

Photo courtesy of Scion Cider Bar, Photo courtesy of HSL Restaurant

VIEWS DAYS for

By Sam Micatrotto Photography by Kevin Brost

With views as stunning as these, it’s no wonder the family wants to enjoy the desert oasis right from the comfort of their own home.

You know what they say, “Location, location, location.” But we’re here to say that location means nothing if you don’t have a spectacular view, which is why we’re in awe of the desert oasis that is the Views For Days home in Cave Creek, Arizona.

Kaitlyn Wolfe, Owner and Principal Designer of Iconic Design + Build, and the firm’s interior design team worked with the homeown ers to transform the home into something not only inspirational but also functional.

After making the move to Arizona from California, the homeowners reached out to the team at Iconic Design + Build with one goal in mind—to take the contemporary home and make it more comfort able and kid-friendly. And, with the views that this home features, it’s understandable that the family would want to enjoy them as comfort ably as possible!

Wolfe and her team were ready to bring the vision to life.

“Whenever we are brought in to design the interiors of a home that has just been remodeled, we need to ensure that it aligns with the aesthetic we are bringing in,” Wolfe says. “We changed lighting fixtures throughout, however, we wanted to make sure the majority of the hard surfaces would work for the design.”

“Between the light tile floors, walnut cabinetry and white walls, we knew it would be a great base layer to the design.”

The Iconic Design + Build team incorporated many colors and textures into the home, finding their inspiration from the surround ing desert.

The clients’ impeccable taste in classic Mid-Century Modern design also played a big part in the overall look. They had some pieces reupholstered that they wanted to incorporate into the home’s

new look, bringing some personalization to the project. The Iconic Design + Build team also had some of the clients’ artwork profes sionally framed to curate gallery walls and art moments throughout the home as a way to showcase all of the beautiful art they have collected over the years.

The home’s primary bedroom, on the other hand, was given more of a moody interior design edge. The room’s concrete walls were executed with plaster and the team added sconces over the vintage nightstands to tie it all together.

But, it’s no doubt that the most breathtaking room of all is the one with the best view.

“It’s so hard to beat the great room because of the views of the negative edge pool overlooking the desert,” Wolfe gushed. “When the doors are wide open, you feel immersed in nature. The living room furniture is so comfortable that it’s just a place you want to hang out and relax.”

NEW YEAR in the

The holiday season is here, and we’re shining bright with all that glitters— diamonds, crystals and sequins.

By ICONIC LIFE

FRINGE WITH BENEFITS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Renee Dee, PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sacro, LIGHTING: Kyle Finley, STYLING: Jackie Rose, HAIR & MAKEUP: Charlotte Tilbury Beauty—Adam Harwood and Celina Mata-Valle, MODEL: Allison from Women Management Los Angeles, ICONIC LIFE TEAM ON SET: Carlye Klick, Kaitlyn Beickel, LOCATION: Laguna Beach Estate. Interior Architecture And Design—Aria Design, Arianna Noppenberger. Design Architect— Horst Architects, Horst Noppenberger. Builder—McKeehan Construction, SPECIAL THANKS: A special thank you to South Coast Plaza

Alexander McQueen Denim A-line Skirt, Leather Buckle Point-Toe Mules and Bangle, Oscar de la Renta necklace.

RED HAUTE

Lanvin Long Wrap Dress, Oscar de la Renta necklace and Silver Leather Mini Tro Bag, Simon G earrings.

MAGICAL MOMENT

Oscar de la Renta Strapless V Neck Crystal Embroidered Gown, Simon G necklace, Saint Laurent heels.

SEE & BE SEEN

Oscar de la Renta Sequin Embroidered Skinny Pant and Floral Strapless Sequin Top, Simon G ring and earrings, Saint Laurent shoes and clutch.

ICE QUEEN

Oscar de la Renta Strapless Crystal Flower Embroidered Gown, Simon G earrings, ring and necklace.

WINTER WILDFLOWER

Oscar de la Renta Floral Threadwork Embroidered Cocktail Dress, Jimmy Choo shoes.

STAR-STUDDED

Lanvin dress, Alexander McQueen Graffiti Mini Jewelled Satchel and Leather Buckle Point-Toe Mules.

INSPIRATION

It’s time to pull out your bold red lipstick and your favorite sparkly dress. Winter is here and so are dazzling dresses, blinged bags and festive shoes that are perfect for helping you ring in the new year. For our holiday fashion shoot, we were inspired by the magical delight of the season, complete with elegant evening gowns and glam makeup.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY BEAUTY

Using the power of makeup, Charlotte Tilbury believes that everyone deserves to look and feel like their most beautiful self—this belief is evident in all of the Charlotte Tilbury products that were selected for our glam holiday fashion shoot.

For the face products, we used the Beautiful Skin Foundation and Concealer, Airbrush Brightening Powder and Pillow Talk Beautifying Face Palette, and for the beautiful lip shades we used Pillow Talk Lip Cheat and Lipstick, Kiss N’ Tell Lip Cheat, Tell Laura Matte Revolution Lipstick and KISSING Lipstick in Nude Talk and Runway Royalty.

To play up the drama on the eyes, we picked the Supernudes Eye Palette, Pop Shot Single Eye Shadow in Diamond Eyes, Rose Gold and Cosmic Rocks and the Exaggereyes Double Ended Eyeliner.

When the MICHELIN STARS ALIGN

By Fran Miller

To auto aficionados, the name Michelin likely conjures images of fat black tires burning rubber through the streets of Le Mans. After all, Michelin, upon its founding, was first and foremost an automotive industry company. But to the world’s gourmands, the name Michelin prompts visions of stars—Michelin stars, the culinary equivalent of an Academy Award.

Both versions of the Michelin name are correct, but it’s the cui sine-focused Michelin Guide, featuring thousands of recommended eateries throughout the world, that resonates deeply with a food-lov ing public and talented chefs who reach for those stars. Make no mistake, in the restaurant world, a Michelin star matters. Orange County is home to three spots that carry the distinguished title of Michelin star restaurants, including Knife Pleat, Taco María and Hana re.

The culinary equivalent of an Academy Award, a Michelin Guide star denotes quality, creativity, consistency…and the promise of a really great meal.

Photography courtesy of Michelin, Grand Hotel

Villa Serbelloni, Knife Pleat and Jarad Gallagher

The Michelin Guide as culinary authority happened organically. Originally conceived in Clermont-Ferrand, France at the end of the 19th century as motivation for motorists to get out and drive, its founders Andre and Edouard Michelin (sibling proprietors of the tire company) strove to help tourists create personal itineraries by pro ducing the small red guide that included tire-changing instructions and gas station locations.

For 20 years their guide was gratis. In 1920, they started charging seven francs for an expanded version that included Paris hotel and restaurant lists. Success dictated additional growth and the brothers recruited a team of inspectors to visit and review restaurants anony mously. In 1926, the guide initiated its single star system—five years later, they added the one, two, three star ranking system for which the guide continues to be known to this day.

The Michelin Guide rating system is now present in 39 destinations throughout the world, with stars awarded annually for outstanding cuisine. A Michelin Guide-covered destination can be a city, a region, or a country which inspectors visit regularly to appraise local restau rants before drawing up their annual selection.

A one star establishment is defined as “a good place to stop on your journey, indicating a very good restaurant in its category, offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard.” Two stars indicates “a restaurant worth a detour, indicating excellent cuisine and skill fully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality.

And a celebrated three stars is “a restaurant worth a special journey, indicating exceptional cuisine where diners eat extremely well, often superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients.” Worldwide, the number of rated restaurants includes 2,658 one-Michelin-Star restaurants, 482 two-Michelin-Star restau rants, and 137 three-Michelin-Star restaurants.

“The decision whether to award one or more Stars to a restaurant is a collaborative effort among the Michelin Guide’s anonymous inspectors,” Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides, says.

“When the inspectors are considering awarding a Star, they always visit the restaurant multiple times, with different inspectors each time, to ensure consistent quality and the satisfaction of our five criteria: 1) quality products, 2) harmony of flavors, 3) the mastery of cooking techniques, 4) the personality of the chef in the cuisine, and 5) con sistency between each visit.”

“These five criteria of the Michelin Guide are always the same worldwide, and this is what gives our method and our recommen dations its strength. The decision to award Stars is always a collegial one. Moreover, there is no set rule for how many times inspectors must visit a restaurant, and our inspectors do not have quotas. Coming from a wide range of countries and backgrounds, they are open-minded to any kind of culinary propositions a destination offers,” Poullennec added.

Inspectors, each of whom shares a passion for food and an eye for detail, are prohibited from communicating with the media and are even encouraged to keep their line of work secret from friends and family.

“Our anonymous inspectors are constantly on the ground to monitor the culinary landscape,” Poullennec says. “The decision to introduce a selection in a destination is made by the inspectors when a destina tion represents a remarkable gastronomic potential. We are always looking into bringing the Michelin Guide to new destinations and discovering new types of cuisines and gourmet concepts.”

Restaurant ambiance cannot be denied as a factor in a lovely dining experience, yet ultimately for Michelin, it’s what’s on the plate that counts. The theme of a restaurant and its level of for mality have no bearing.

“Though caviar, foie gras, and Wagyu beef are certainly luxurious ingredients that many people love to eat and which chefs creatively prepare at their Starred dining rooms, the perception that Michelin Stars are awarded only to formal or fancy restaurants is a common misconception,” Michelin Guide’s anonymous chief North America inspector says. “Regardless of the atmosphere – be it formal or casual – Michelin Stars are awarded solely for the food on the plate. Michelin Stars are awarded to restaurants offering a variety of cuisines in various settings – the key word being variety.

Some interesting and delicious examples of the range of Michelin Stars include tapas at Casa Mono in New York, Korean-style noodles at Jeju Noodle Bar in New York, Middle Eastern live-fire cooking at Maydan in Washington D.C., and a Californian take on “dim sum” at State Bird Provisions in San Francisco. Globally speaking, Michelin Stars have even been awarded to street food stalls in Bangkok and Singapore.”

“In the eight years that my restaurant consistently earned a Michelin star, I never knew who the inspectors were or when they visited,” Chef Jarad Gallagher, formerly of contemporary French restaurant Chez TJ in Mountain View, California, a one Michelin star restau rant, says. “My team and I were always on the hunt – every moment and every second we were aware that we were possibly being evalu ated. This not knowing actually makes the dining experience better for everybody. We were always on our toes.”

Gallagher, who now owns Spanish-focused Mediterranean restaurant Broma, also in Mountain View, feels that Michelin is a supportive company, and he greatly admires the inspectors, whomever they are.

“They are smart, and they know that Michelin representing a restau rant means that the restaurant represents Michelin,” Gallagher says. “But trying to define the essence of Michelin is futile, though we do have enough data from those star-awarded establishments to see some generalities. Michelin star restaurants are consistent; the chefs tend to know and understand their product, delivering it in a way that’s informed and enjoyable. As a Michelin restaurant chef, you need to have a voice, and you need to work really hard at developing and maintaining that voice. Michelin does not give passes.”

Another Michelin misconception? That a star automatically trans lates to business and attention and that once awarded, a restaurant automatically gains mythic status in the food industry. “No doubt it’s a huge advantage for a brand and for a chef,” Jan Bucher says, general manager of Lake Como’s Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and its one Michelin star Mistral Restaurant, whose executive chef Ettore Bocchia is considered the father of Italian molecular cuisine. “But it’s also an immense responsibility, as we have to work hard to preserve it. In our case, we invest in innovative cooking techniques and the quality of the raw materials, and we have some products that are really hard to find.”

“The Michelin star spotlight benefits restaurants in a significant way,” Bucher added. “For us at Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, the only luxury hotel in the entire Lake Como area with a Michelin star, the recognition presents an opportunity to share with guests our original approach. It’s a way to attract targeted guests looking for something really unique—the so-called Michelin experience.”

“Since its founding in 1900, the main goal of the Michelin Guide hasn’t changed: It strives to choose the best places by providing honest and high-quality recommendations to culinary connoisseurs all over the world,” Poullennec says. “The Guide’s methodology (a Michelin Star has the same value in New York or in Tokyo) as well as the independence and anonymity of its inspectors are a major element of differentiation and confidence for the gourmets who use the guide when they are looking for a good restaurant.”

Journey to PATAGONIA

By David Rubin

Experience all that the vast region of the planet has to offer.

Photo courtesy of Awasi Patagonia

Enjoy stunning nature exploring Patagonia. Many discern ing travelers are now eager to visit Patagonia after watching the CNN docuseries, “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World.” Across six captivating episodes, audiences travel across Patagonia’s diverse and spectacular landscapes.

“Stretching for more than a thousand miles through Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is a place unlike any other—wild, isolated, pristine and unexplored. The region’s ICONIC wildlife—pumas, penguins, condors and killer whales—thrive in a rich diversity of habitats, and species new to science. Insects, birds and even mammals—are discov ered here each year,” CNN exclaims enthusiastically.

Our “best of the best” itinerary takes you there. Let’s fly into Santiago, Chile to explore and begin tasting the great Chilean wines in the nearby Maipo Wine Country.

PATAGONIA NATIONAL PARK, CHILE

Your exploration of Patagonia begins by flying south and traveling to Patagonia National Park’s Aysen Region in Chile. South of Puerto Montt, is the region of northern Patagonia called the “Carretera Austral” (Austral Route), named for the 769-mile-long dirt and gravel road that bends and twists through thick virgin rainforest, past glacial-fed rivers and aquamarine lakes. You will see jagged, whitecapped peaks that rise above open valleys and precipitous cliffs with cascading ribbons of waterfalls at every turn.

The scenery is remote and rugged. This is Chile’s quintessential road trip. Along the way there are also some of the country’s best fly-fishing lodges, one of the world’s top rivers for rafting, and awe-inspiring glaciers.

The next leg of your journey connects two of the most remote areas in the country by private plane. You will board a private plane to fly 1.5 hours over the glaciers and fjords between Patagonia National Park and Torres del Paine National Park.

TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK, CHILE

The spectacular 600,000-acre Torres del Paine National Park in Chile rises vertically more than 6,500 feet. The park was part of a large sheep estancia (ranch) before being designated as a national park in 1959. In addition to the surrounding mountain vistas above pure lakes and glaciers, the region is carpeted with beauti ful wildflowers and an assortment of bird species (condors, swans, ostrich-like rheas), and herds of guanacos (cousins to the llamas).

A highlight for many is puma tracking in Torres del Paine with expe rienced trackers and a specialized guide. This is considered the most popular and sought-after destination on Earth for watching and photo graphing pumas. The puma, also known as mountain lion and cougar in North America, is the fourth largest cat in the world, after the tiger, the lion and the jaguar. Males usually weigh 110 to 180 pounds and

Photo by Marianna Ianovska, Photo courtesy of Explora Patagonia Lodge

Photos courtesy of Awasi Patagonia & Awasi, Photo courtesy of Explora Salto Chico

SAMPLE ITINERARY

A “Best of the Best of Patagonia” recommended itinerary is a 20-night journey with luxury accommodations:

1. Two nights in Santiago, Chile at Magnolia Boutique Hotel, Singular Santiago Hotel, Ritz Carlton Santiago Hotel, Mandarin Oriental Santiago Hotel, or W Santiago Hotel

2. Three nights in Patagonia National Park, Chile at Explora Patagonia National Park

3. Three nights in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile at Explora Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia Camp, Awasi Patagonia, Tierra Patagonia, or The Singular Patagonia

4. Three nights in El Calafate, Argentina (gateway to Los Glaciares National Park) at Eolo

5. Three nights in Ushuaia, Argentina (gateway to Tierra del Fuego National Park and sailings departing for Antarctica) at Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa

6. Three nights in Bariloche, Argentina (gateway to the Lake District) at Llao Llao Resort, Golf & Spa or Villa Beluno

7. Three nights (or longer!) in Buenos Aires, Argentina at Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, Palacio DuhauPark Hyatt Buenos Aires, Faena Hotel Buenos Aires, CasaSur Palermo Hotel, or Alvear Icon Hotel.

Great expedition cruise add-on options include:

• Departing from Ushuaia, Argentina for an expedition sailing to Antarctica and South Georgia aboard Silversea Cruises, Abercrombie & Kent Cruises, Ponant Cultural Cruises & Expeditions, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Scenic Luxury Cruises, Quark Expeditions, National Geographic Expeditions, or Lindblad Expeditions

• In Chile, expedition cruising to explore the Patagonian fjords with Australis Patagonia Cruises or a private ship charter.

the females are 80 to 130 pounds. In Patagonia, some males can weigh more than 220 pounds. Adult male pumas grow 6 to 8 feet long and females average 5 to 7 feet. This excursion focuses on all the species that live in the area and involves spectacular nature photography.

Your visit to Torres del Paine provides fantastic hiking options and complete remoteness, stillness and inaccessibility to most humans. This is a place for adventure. The park has a network of trails which are regarded as some of the most scenic hikes in the world, and it is also a fabulous setting for horse riding, mountain biking and kayaking.

The three granite Towers that give Torres del Paine National Park its name are the dominant feature of the landscape and can be appre ciated from many different angles and many different viewpoints around the park. The Cuernos or ‘Horns’ are twin peaks of rock. A great viewpoint for the Cuernos is the Pehoé lookout point on the trail that runs between Lake Nordenskjold and Lake Pehoé.

A favorite spot is French Valley, one of the best places in Torres del Paine to enjoy a panoramic vista of the mountains. This theatrical view takes in all of the individual rock formations including the Blade, the Mask, the Sword, the Cathedral, the Shark’s Fin and the Fortress. Grey Glacier is one of Torres del Paine’s most ICONIC glaciers and best enjoyed on a boat trip on Grey Lake that weaves amongst free floating icebergs and tours up and down both of the glacier’s snouts.

Based on the area’s unpredictable weather conditions (and often biting wind!) please prepare several layers of adaptable clothing!

LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK, ARGENTINA

The next leg of your journey is a transnational transfer from Chile to Argentina and the city of El Calafate. El Calafate is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, an area of lakes, mountains and glaciers with astounding scenery that is best seen from one of the various boat tour options. Perito Moreno Glacier is the area’s main attraction. This is one of the few remaining glaciers in the world that is getting larger or advancing. It is grinding its way down the Andes range into a branch of the enormous Lake Argentino. For the more active, a glacier trekking experience over its millenarian ice field is highly recommended.

Another recommended excursion is a gentle hike to the Upsala Glacier Lookout Point. After a 20-minute walk on glacial erosion terrain, admire the imposing Upsala Glacier’s eastern front and the South Patagonian Continental Ice Field.

TIERRA DEL FUEGO NATIONAL PARK, ARGENTINA

The next leg of your journey is a flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Often referred to as ‘the end of the world,’ Ushuaia was once a penal colony. Now it is a busy port and the capital of Tierra del Fuego, the largest island in South America.

Ushuaia and its surrounding area are a Patagonian paradise with so much to offer visitors - including amazing wildlife, a rich history,

Photos courtesy of Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa,

treks and walks where you get up close and personal with beavers and unique birds, native to these woods, challenging trips for hikers and climbers, and the opportunity to hit the slopes depending on the season.

Explore Tierra del Fuego National Park to discover the secrets of this unique park. Here, the Andes are accessible from the sea and the fresh water of rivers and lakes mix with ocean water from the Beagle channel in pristine forests.

On a recommended excursion, arrive at Ensenada Bay and start a moderate 4.5 mile trek along the coast-line. Steamer ducks, upland geese and Magellanic woodpecker are some of the birds that you may spot during this three-hour walk. Then, go canoeing! Your guide will provide paddling technique and a safety briefing, rubber boots, over-pants, and lifejackets before rowing downstream on the Lapataia River in inflatable canoes. Floating at leisure down the Lapataia river will allow you to explore an area seldom visited and concentrate on every attraction the scenery has to offer involving ornithology, geology, ecology, and photography. After some ninety minutes of gentle paddling, you will arrive at Lapataia Bay.

BARILOCHE LAKE DISTRICT, ARGENTINA

On the next leg of your journey, you will fly to Bariloche, Argentina. Guarded by majestic mountains and Lake Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche stands proudly as the gateway to the stunning Lake District. Bariloche is one of Argentina’s most exciting resorts. It offers mountain resort activities and every season is distinctively charming. Summer is best for outdoor activities and sports such as trout fishing, horseback riding, rafting, trekking and hiking.

Enjoy lazy days at the lake at river beaches or more vigorous mountain climbing. In winter, Cerro Catedral is visited by increasing numbers of winter sports enthusiasts every year. It is the largest and most developed ski resort in South America with 1,482 acres of snow.

On one day, begin with a 50-minute hike through the forest with the opportunity to see the bluffs and valleys along the Nahuel Huapi Lake. For those who are a bit more adventurous, you will have the choice to rappel down the mountainside or hike down to meet your chef who will prepare lunch while you enjoy your surroundings. Complete the day with more hiking and the opportunity to see the native flora and fauna of Northern Patagonia.

Next, discover a favorite estancia or ranch. The pioneers of this land adopted the gaucho way to manage sheep and cattle. The heritage of more than 100 years of traditions are still alive. Here, you will enjoy a hidden gem within breathtaking nature on horseback (or hiking or by jeep), so saddle up for a two-hour ride along native woodland, mountain and valleys.

Also recommended is a full-day tour to discover Victoria Island, a universe of natural attractions. Travel by a boat across Lake Nahuel

Photos by Dudarev Mikhail, Villa Beluno and Llao Llao

GIFT OF GIVING

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) of Argentina is doing invaluable work. Among the most important ecoregions in Argentina are El Gran Chaco and La Patagonia, two ICONIC sites in Latin America. Here, environmen tal degradation represents a risk not only for the country, but globally. TNC provides nature-based solutions to address environ mental challenges in those areas providing a triple benefit to biodiversity, climate change and sustainable growth.

TNC in Argentina has three strategic pillars:

1. Freshwater—To help ensure water security through the conservation of watersheds.

2. Nature and Agriculture—To promote healthy agricultural systems that benefit nature and people.

3. Nature Conservation—To preserve strategic natural environments and promote land conservation.

To give a gift membership in TNC go to www.nature.org or to find out more email: argentina@tnc.org

Plus, to see gorgeous photos follow: @tnclatinoamerica

Photos by Dudarev Mikhail and Llao Llao

Huapi’s crystal clear waters to the island. Centenial cypress and coigue trees, and exotic fauna are found at every turn. Another part of the island is discovered on your way to Puerto Pampa before embarking for the 30-minute navigation back to Puerto Panuelo.

You will wave farewell to Patagonia as you fly to your international gateway city of Buenos Aires, Argentina….a personal favorite! Elegant, old-worldly, with a touch of Paris here, a touch of London there, a dash of New York cosmopolitanism, and a big splash of Italian exuberance, the city also has a strong Latin America personal ity. Plus, it has uniquely Argentine elements such as tango bars.

Here, everything is grand, on a scale fit for kings—Tourists pho tograph vast steaks at restaurants, Nueve de Julio avenue ranks as the world’s widest, a cemetery so fancy that it occupies one of the poshest parts of the most posh neighborhood, while the entire city fronts onto the world’s widest river. Buenos Aires never fails to impress. It is a perfect send off after your exploration of Patagonia, one of the most dramatically beautiful landscapes in the world.

READY TO GO?

To book your business and leisure travels worldwide, call on David Rubin and his team at DavidTravel. In 1996, David moved from a successful law practice, followed a deep passion for travel, and launched his travel company. For more than a decade, David has been on both the Travel + Leisure Magazine “A-List” and the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine “Specialist List” of the best travel advisors in the world. DavidTravel delivers unparalleled style, attention to detail, and insider access uniquely responding to each client’s goals, budget, interests, and dreams.

Photos by Henrik Dolle, Faena Hotel, Four Seasons and Park Hyatt Palacio Duhau

HOME HIGHCLERE FOR THE Holidays

By Dena Roché

Immerse yourself in the regal world of the real-life Downton Abbey this holiday season.

Put on your best frock, top hat and party like it’s 1920, and you’re holidaying with Netflix’s favorite family, the Crawley’s. At Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England, fans of “Downton Abbey” can experience the real life castle that was home to the Earl of Grantham in the popular series and movies. During December, the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, the real life aristocrats of Highclere Castle, even host a castle tour and showing of the most recent movie, “Downton Abbey: A New Era.”

HIGHCLERE HISTORY

It’s easy to see why Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes, set the ICONIC series at Highclere Castle. Dating back to the early middle ages in 749, Highclere Castle oozes history from every tower. The current Italianate Gothic façade was designed in 1842 by Sir Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament in London. Driving in on a road that feels miles long, the grandeur of the imposing castle soars into view.

During WWI, the castle was converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers and run by the 5th Countess of Carnarvon (a plot line woven into season two of the series), and in WWII, it was home to children evacuated from London.

In 1922, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, along with Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt. To commem orate the historic find, there is an ongoing Egyptian exhibit housed at Highclere Castle.

Highclere Castle boasts between 250 and 300 rooms on its 6,000-acre estate. Public tours take visitors to the main state rooms featured in Downton Abbey, as well as to several bedrooms, cellars, former staff quarters and the Egyptian Exhibit.

CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the theme for this year’s decorations is ancient Egypt. Holiday events are happening throughout November and December. Guests can enjoy

day castle tours and shopping at an onsite Christmas market, or evening castle tours with Champagne, canapes and Christmas carols.

Don’t miss picking up a bottle of Highclere Castle Gin as a holiday gift for your besties back home. The spirit is a collaboration between the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and Connecticut-based Onyx Spirits Co. distillery. The spirit is inspired by the gardens and botanicals on the estate including a lavender that was originally planted in the 9th century by the Bishops of Winchester.

LORD OF THE MANOR

For the die-hard fan, nothing beats extend ing your time at Highclere with a stay on property. While you can’t sleep in the castle, there are two lodges on the castle grounds available sporadically throughout the year for travelers to rent.

London Lodge was built in 1793, when Colonel Henry Herbert was named 1st Earl of Carnarvon by King George III. To celebrate he built London Lodge as an imposing entrance to his Park at Highclere. The building was completely restored and reconfigured as a cottage with two wings and one double bedroom.

Grotto Lodge was designed by the Victorianera architect, Thomas Allom, who was the assistant to Sir Charles Barry when he built the current Highclere Castle. It is a two-story lodge built like a turret that has a bedroom on each level.

If the Highclere lodges are unavailable don’t despair, the nearby Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire will still make you feel like royalty. The hotel is set in a restored 18th century manor and has more than 500 acres of bucolic grounds to explore.

For a romantic, throwback holiday that blends true royalty and Hollywood royalty, Highclere Castle is hard to beat.

Photography courtesy of Highclere Castle

WAN DERMust

Pique your travel desires with dreams of these faraway places that you MUST visit in 2023.

By Fran Miller

The world is once again a trav eler’s oyster. Take advantage of newly re-found freedom by indulging your wanderlust with a visit to one of these wander-must destinations. From Peruvian mountain peaks, to Adriatic Sea-fronting beaches, we’ve gathered intel on some of the globe’s most sought-after destinations, each of which is guaranteed to refresh, rejuvenate and inspire. What are you waiting for? There is no better time to turn your travel dream into a travel reality.

MACHU PICCHU, PERU

Those fortunate to have visited the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu claim it as a life altering experience. To catch the sun rising over Huayna Picchu as morning mists reveal the beauty of the Sacred Valley is spell-binding. This amazing, pre-Columbian, urban creation of the Inca Empire is one of the planet’s greatest architectural and artistic achievements.

Built in the 15th century and abandoned just a century later, it wasn’t until 1911 that the complex was discovered by a world enchanted with the mountain slopes, peaks and valleys that surround 200 struc tures—giant walls, terraces and ramps, all seemingly cut naturally into the landscape.

Despite the globe’s ongoing curiosity, many of Machu Picchu’s mysteries remain unre solved, such as its exact role in the Incas’ sophisticated understanding of farming and astronomy. At nearly 8,000 feet above sea-level, in the middle of tropical mountain forests, it’s not exactly easy to get there, but those who make the journey believe in its power to transform. While it’s possible to plan a do-it-yourself journey, the best way to experience the region is via a guided tour.

Companies such as Abercrombie & Kent or Tauck take the guess-work out of sometimes confusing logistics to provide not only luxe accommodations, but also insider access to Incan scholars and cultural activities, food tours led by local chefs, and expert guidance through necessary elevation acclimation.

CANOUAN ISLAND, CARIBBEAN

Described as the place where billionaires go to escape millionaires, Canouan (a Caribe word for ‘island of turtles’) is a mere 3.2 square mile island located in St. Vincent and The Grenadines. Remote and luxurious, this aptly named island where the turtles outnumber humans is the ultimate hideaway; most have never heard of the tropical paradise that is quickly becoming one of the most sought after luxury destinations in the world, thanks to its sumptuous full service resort, the Mandarin Oriental, where A list stars can be found lounging poolside.

Surrounded by Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada, the island features all of the welcome Caribbean clichés (think clear, turquoise waters, lush, green mountains, one of the largest barrier reefs in the region, and a luxury, super-yacht marina) and none of the annoying aspects (think crowds and hurricanes.) No expense was spared in the Mandarin Oriental’s impeccable detail. Elegant colonial style suites and Italianate villas are nestled along a white power stretch of Godahl Beach.

A collection of restaurants offers a variety of culinary options in settings that showcase stunning ocean vistas. A Balinese-inspired state of the art spa features the latest treatments. A large infinity pool overlooks the ocean. The water sports center features Hobie cats, wind surfers and kayaks, and a championship Fazio-designed golf course is the only 18-hole course in St. Vincent and The Grenadines. Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service includes private plane charters from Barbados.

Photography courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Canouan

CAVTAT, CROATIA

Croatia is having a moment. It seems everyone is traveling to this Central European Riviera where pebble-strewn beaches and dramatic mountains and cliffs are complemented by a rich history in which the Romans, Byzantines and the Hapsburgs figure prominently.

The most popular destinations within its thousands of islands are Dubrovnik (‘the pearl of the Adriatic’), the capital city of Zagreb, the romantic, Italian-esque Istria, cosmopolitan Split and the posh, jet-set ter island of Hvar. Venture beyond these spots to discover lesser known Cavtat, a charming harbor town offering a relaxed pace and a stunning waterfront promenade lined with palm trees and outdoor cafes.

Poised to be the next “it” destination, Cavtat resembles a pre-crowded St. Tropez. With a lovely bay and beaches, and historical flair, Cavtat overlooks the picturesque waterfront and the beauti ful baroque Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas, home to valuable works by European artists. Nearby, Our Lady of the Snow Monastery is well worth a visit for its early Renaissance paintings. In the heart of Cavtat’s charming historic center is Hotel Supetar Cavtat. Housed in an original 1920s three-story private villa with an infinity edge pool, Hotel Supetar is a boutique retreat with 16 spacious, stylish and individually designed rooms with Mediterranean soul.

The hotel features a cozy restaurant and wine bar, but additional Cavtat dining options include Bugenvila, a Dalmatian Coast culinary trendsetter and a favorite of visiting celebs and presidents, and Leut, where the day’s fresh catches are always on display.

Photography courtesy of Shutterstock

BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Though a tenth of the size of Paris, Bordeaux features much of what makes the City of Light so beloved—architectural beauty, art, shopping and a cosmopol itan café society, all with the bonus of fewer tourists. This historic capital city of Aquitaine is often an afterthought for travel ers. But for wine lovers, Bordeaux is the holy grail. No other wine region on earth is more recognized as a source for important labels.

The name derives from ‘a bord de l’eau,’ meaning ‘along the waters,’ and to explore its right and left banks (as delineated by the Gironde Estuary and the Dordogne and Garonne rivers) is to delve into historic deliciousness. While a visit to the destina tion-worthy La Cite du Vin (an interactive museum about the world of wine) is indeed a goal, go a step further with a more immer sive and expert-led experience.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ Bordeaux Affair cruise is an all-inclusive week-long escapade through the best of Bordeaux. Featuring tours of Medoc, St. Emilion, Blaye, Cadillac, Sauterne and more, Scenic offers the opportunity to e-bike through some of the most famous vineyards in the world while sampling the vinous offerings of many a majestic chateau. The cruise also allows plenty of time for exploration of its port city. Don’t miss the 18th century Jardin Public and its 27 bucolic acres containing an arboretum, a library, a botanical garden and a museum of natural history.

And just across the historic Pont de Pierre bridge (commissioned by Napoleon and inaugurated in 1822), you’ll find the inspir ing, alternative urban community of Darwin where ecological innovators congregate in artistic harmony.

Photography by Dan Miller

SAN SEBASTIÁN, SPAIN

Food is an art form in San Sebastián, where Michelin stars are nearly as numerous as those in the night sky. This Basque region’s culinary craft is creatively displayed within its colorful and creative pintxos. Meaning ‘small snack,’ there is nothing miniscule about the culture surrounding the Spanish gastronomic mainstay.

Within the narrow and picturesque cobbled streets of San Sebastián’s Old Town, guests amble from one bar to another in search of convivial sustenance. Two pintxos and a glass of cider or wine, and it’s on to the next. Those seeking Michelin greatness can’t go wrong at the three-starred Akelarre where Executive Chef Pedro Subijana has helmed the kitchen for nearly 50 years.

Take advantage of the full experience with an overnight stay within one of Akelarre’s 22 luxuriously appointed rooms. The elegantly minimalist Relais & Chateaux hotel hugs the cliffs and offers dramatic coastline views. Back in the town center, a stay at Lasala Plaza Hotel’s La Concha Suite delivers panoramic views of the skyline and La Concha Bay. Beyond cuisine, San Sebastián is known for its art and culture; open air sculptures surprise and delight, and its annual film festival features star power that rivals Cannes.

Active visitors find plenty of motivation in the miles of sea and bay front walking paths, while surfers flock to Zurriola Beach, and swimmers and kayakers dot the calm waters of La Concha Bay.

Photography courtesy of Donostia San Sebastián Turismoa and Akelare

Creating MY 2023

This simple goalsetting practice can be a gamechanger in the New Year.

By Renee Dee Photography by Carlye Klick

The excitement of this fabulous new year is on my mind, and I am feeling the mojo of 2023 big time. I’ve talked to many of you who are feeling the same way—I love the promise of opportunity and all the creativity it bubbles up for me.

You know me as publisher of ICONIC LIFE magazine, but you may not know I am classically trained as an executive coach, which comes in handy when I need a coaching moment for my team or myself. Throughout my life I’ve leaned on this training, and I am going to share one of my favorite processes with you to inspire you to Live Beautifully in the New Year.

I’m not a believer in resolutions—they can be forgotten before the end of January. In fact, 25 percent of people who declare resolu tions in the New Year give up by the end of the first week. I am a believer in shifting your mindset, creating new habits and embracing a new approach.

These are long and lasting lifestyle shifts that can create the change you want. There are simple and effective goal-setting strategies you can take yourself through if you want to start making a plan for an even better 2023. I have been doing this for almost three decades. You may know it as the “MORE OF/LESS OF” coaching process.

GET STARTED

This is usually my New Year’s Eve ritual. You’ll need a blank piece of paper and a quiet place. Write down everything that happened during the year—the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the mem orable and meaningful.

Walk your brain down memory lane and freely list everything that pops into your mind—a great trip, an awesome meal, an idea you had, a pair of shoes that made you feel powerful; maybe even a chance encounter, a chat with a friend, or something that angered you. No matter how big or how small, include it on this list. Make this an event; take at least an hour to create your list.

You can:

• Brew some amazing coffee, sit in your favorite chair and get going.

• Take a hike alone, open your notebook and go.

• Meditate in your comfy clothes, drink some tea and go.

• Light a fire, open a bottle of wine and go.

The idea is to break a pattern so that you can see something new.

When you’re done, simply reflect. Take your time and look at what resonates with you. What feels good? What raises your blood pressure?

Using two different colored highlighters, begin sorting through which items you want “MORE OF/ LESS OF.” Be brutally honest with yourself. No one is checking your work, and this is a private document. When you’re completely honest with yourself, you’ll find your path and heart’s desire for the New Year.

THE NEXT STEP

When you identify what you want “MORE OF,” start journaling ways to do just that. Take your time, as the answers may appear slowly. As the wonderful Wayne Dyer always said, “Simply notice.” From here, you can write your goals or commitment statements to get you from where you are today to where you want to go. I encour age you to write three to five goals for yourself. Too many turns into a list you’ll never achieve. Focus is the friend of success.

Set proactive and effective goals for yourself. If you don’t set a goal, you can’t achieve it. If you write it down, you are 42 percent more likely to achieve it. Tell others about your goals, and that likeli hood to achieve your goal soars again. Report your weekly progress to a friend or accountability partner, and your success will be so close you can touch it.

A well-known Harvard study asked graduate students if they had clear, written goals for their future and plans to turn them into reality. Only three percent of the students had written goals and plans to accomplish them. Thirteen percent had goals in their minds but hadn’t written them down. A staggering 84 percent had no goals at all.

IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS DONE, YOU’LL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS GOTTEN.

Ten years later the same group of students was interviewed again, and the conclusion of the study validates the power of goal setting and writing them down. The 13 percent of the class who had goals, but did not write them down, earned twice the amount of the 84 percent who had no goals. The three percent who had written goals were earning, on average, 10 times as much as the other 97 percent of the class combined.

One last piece on goal setting: Remember to write SMART goals— Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Sensitive. When you have the specifics, the roadmap to success contains all the information you need, and when you get where you want to go, you’ll know you’re there.

Wishing you a beautiful life and all that you want in it for 2023.

ICONIC

By Sam Micatrotto

TANK

THE COMPETITION

While the Tank began as an homage to war, it is now an ICONIC symbol of sophistication and style, a timeless piece of fashion loved for decades.

From Prohibition and Pearl Harbor, to the first man in space and the unveiling of the Empire State Building, a lot has happened over the last 100 years. But while the world has changed in the last century, there was one constant—the Cartier Tank watch.

While the watch wasn’t a part of all of these significant events in history, it has remained a constant all this time. The design had not changed in more than 100 years, a testament to its timeless elegance. While the ICONIC watch may not have always been a part of history, it certainly was inspired by it.

In 1917, the Tank was created by Louis Cartier, who was inspired by World War I and the rugged, armored vehicles that lend the watch its name. The watch’s flat, vertical brancards hint at a tank’s treads, and the hands mimic a cannon’s barrel. These details, plus the sapphire cabochon, symbolize understated elegance and have captivated the world’s most astute minds since the design’s inception.

The 1926 film “Son of the Sheik” is to credit for the watch’s increased popularity. Rudolph Valentino, actor and star of the afore mentioned film, wore the watch while starring in the movie and the public took note.

Since then, Hollywood heartthrobs and well-known figures like Frank Sinatra, Michelle Obama, Andy Warhol, Princess Diana, Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, Muhammad Ali and John F. Kennedy, to name a few, have been seen wearing the watch, and it’s become somewhat of a red carpet staple.

The clean lines and streamlined design make it a watch that complements any outfit. The Tank comes in a variety of different finishes, sizes, complications and movements, making it easy to find your perfect match when you’re making this investment in your wardrobe. Our publisher has been wearing her double-diamond-be zel Tank daily for 22 years. That’s an iconic piece that stands the test of time.

For Generations To Come