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from the publisher
Welcome. Springtime is upon us in Chicagoland! Once again we are thrilled to bring you LX Chicago, a coffee table magazine. Love and beauty run throughout this issue. Sharon Naylon’s story “I Still Choose You” is fantastic encouragement for us to appreciate our spouse and to make sure that they know how much we love them. In our Q & A with James Ambler we explore his “Paparazzi Proposal” service Pap the Question. As jewelers, there is nothing that pleases us more than a truly memorable proposal with a beautiful diamond ring. You will love this idea! “My Mother’s Wedding Dress” is a beautifully written story about memory, reflection, loss and looking to the future. As you will see, most of the stories in this issue center around life’s special moments. At James & Sons, helping you celebrate your special moments is what we do best. We look forward to seeing soon. All the best, John Sunderland & Jim Sunderland
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Orland Park | Schererville | Lincoln Park
Features
inside
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Lifestyle 19 I Still Choose You 57 Awesome 8:
A Golfing Adventure
Wealth 23 Longevity and the
Value of College
Photography 11 Capturing the Moment of Truth 28 Honey Moon and Stars 50 Mermaiden: Photos by
Capturing the Moment of Truth
Women’s Runway Report: Bridal
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Zena Holloway
Arts & Culture 15 The Color of Opera 26 My Mother’s Wedding Dress 46 pARTners Spotlight:
Christo and Jeanne Claude
Jewelry & Fashion 35 Hearts on Fire: Gift Guide 39 Runway Report: Bridal 43 Runway Report: Men’s Libation 63 Pomegranate Wine
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pARTners Spotlight: Christo and Jeanne Claude
on the cover
Publishers John Sunderland Jim Sunderland Editor Jon Roberts Art Director Chelsie Roberts
Featured on the cover is a striking image by Russian bridal photographer Marina Danilova. Her work has been published in Russia, Europe, Indonesia, Brazil and the United States.
Graphic Designer Angie Halter Graphic Designer miguel salgado
LX: a coffeetable magazine LX® Magazine is published by Luxury Avenue, LLC, 500 N. Michigan Avenue, Ste. 300, Chicago, Illinois 60611. LX® accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. LX® reserves the right to edit, rewrite, refuse or reuse material, is not responsible for errors or omissions and may feature the same content on lxmagazine.com, as well as other mediums for any and all purposes. Copyright © 2012 Luxury Avenue, LLC. All rights reserved. The entire contents of LX® are protected by copyright© and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part or storage in any data retrieval system or any transmission by any means therefrom without prior written permission is prohibited. LX® and LX® Magazine are trademarks™ of Luxury Avenue, LLC. 8
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Orland Park | Schererville | Lincoln Park
Capturing the
Moment of Truth By John Sunderland • Photos by James Ambler
The moment of truth, she’s thought about this moment since she was a little girl. He probably has only thought about it after he decided she was the one. As a jeweler, I always ask the young men (some not so young anymore) how they plan to pop the question. Most respond “I don’t know”. We like getting them thinking about it, because its such an important moment in both of their lives AND it centers around the beautiful diamond we just helped the groom select. The better it goes, the better entire wedding process goes, including their experience with James & Sons. So when James Ambler stepped into our store in Chicago and explained his “Paparazzi Proposals” we immediately loved it. I have heard of no business or idea that highlights this important moment as well as Pap The Question. I sat down with James a few weeks ago to discuss his photos and his passion for capturing these memories. www.lxmagazine.com
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About James Ambler, owner of Pap The Question "I started taking photographs when I was 15 because I loved documenting people going about their everyday jobs. Soon I was traveling extensively around Thailand and Nepal and found my love of photographing faces! From here, I studied in the UK obtaining a BA Honors Degree in Photography. I started working for local newspapers and over the course of four years, worked my way up to the big national papers in the UK, covering anything from the London Bombings to features for the papers. It was during this time I started assignments for celebrity stakeouts and the Paparazzi in me was born! I moved to New York and began working for the biggest celebrity agency, Splash News. I had a wild three years chasing celebrities all over the world. I had a lift from Angelina Jolie, was one of the official photographers of Anna Nicole Smith's funeral and spent a long time in Panama, Bermuda and the Bahamas sneakily snapping celebs. We launched Pap The Question just under a year ago and our Paparazzi Proposals are becoming a huge success all over America."
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She’s thought about this moment since she was a little girl. JS: Your proposal photographs are beautiful! They really capture the emotion involved. What type of photography is your background? JA: Paparazzi! I have not hung up the paparazzi job, but I put it on hold for the moment. I have been in the states for nearly six years as a paparazzi photographer and in the United Kingdom for four years doing paparazzi work. About three years ago when I proposed to my now wife, that is where the whole concept came about. I am from England and my wife is Australian and we got engaged in Central Park in New York. Afterwards we spent every day for the next few weeks phoning friends across the world telling them about our exciting news and being a photographer the first thing everyone asked is if we have pictures, and embarrassingly we did not and that was one thing I didn’t really think about. That is where the concept of the business came about because I would have loved to have pictures of the buildup and of our picnic in central park; it was a beautiful day. It would have been lovely to have had it recorded, but we didn’t want a photographer standing two feet away when it was a very intimate moment between me and my now wife. JS: Do you have a favorite proposal story? JA: Some guys like to keep the photographs as a surprise, so they can surprise her the next day. But we had one guy who didn’t tell her for the whole engagement and on the wedding day actually revealed the pictures to her! JS: That is as romantic as it gets! From the jewelers stand point, the woman is more likely to love the ring if it’s presented in an exciting, well thought out way and I think your process gets the men thinking about it and taking it as seriously as it should be taken in the first place. JA: Exactly. And so now we have really tailored this service to being more about helping guys plan their proposal, we can be the independent party that really helps out with any kind of logistics whether it’s flowers to be delivered or certain things that need setting up. You don’t want to rely on friends and family because you obviously don’t want them involved because it is so close to your fiancé to be. So this service now that we are offering is this whole proposal planning,
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photography, video ideas, consultation. The idea is to really help guys, if they want to come up with something wild and elaborate, whether it is flash mobs or graffiti (we have done graffiti murals) we can help cater to that, but the other idea is that we really just want to let guys know that the romantic gesture of getting down on one knee should speak a thousand words. It is such an iconic gesture getting down on one knee and holding up this beautiful sparkling ring and that in itself can be very romantic and we would love the opportunity to be there to document it. JS: And as far as planning for the proposal and locations is that sort of up to the groom? Or is that something you guys handle? JA: Well it all depends; we never want to change a guy’s proposal. It is his idea, it is his unique angle and we want to make sure that it is accessible for us to photograph. What we always try and do, which is why the consultation is key to every engagement, is spend a lot of time talking with the groom and finding out what it is about the proposal that is special and close to him and his fiancé to be. From that we can offer suggestions and ideas, whether it is family orientated or having the family waiting in a nearby bar for a glass of champagne and surprise the newly engaged couple. It is the little things that we offer for every engagement. JS: What are some of your favorite Chicago proposal spots? JA: I mean anywhere and everywhere is great. The parks are really popular especially with summer coming up. We can do things like having your clients set up with a bottle of champagne on ice on a blanket in the park or out on the shoreline. Chicago is such a beautiful city, I have spent so much time there shooting and chasing celebrities, I love it every time I get the opportunity to come there! JS: What kind of packages do you offer? JA: The starting packages consists of a full consultation, so we can sit down with the guy and talk about how exactly he would like to propose, where he would like to propose, an ideas and any logistics that may need extra organizing. We would then like to do a run through at the actual location so the guy can
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get an idea of where he’s going to be and where we will be with the cameras. It is important that he is position in the right place so that when we capture the moment we are getting her face and her reaction. There are also a few little tips we give them like when you walk away afterwards you always make sure you hold her right hand so when you walk away she will be looking at that rock on her left finger. The client then will receive a CD with all of the pictures and everything will be put up online so they can share their memories. Our next package includes the rent-a-paparazzi section along with the paparazzi proposals. Say the couple were going to go out on the lake for a cruise or a glass of wine and wanted to make more of a day with it, we can follow them around sneakily throughout the day capturing their many hours to really create a memorable experience followed by the proposal. The largest package we offer includes full professional videography. We can mic up the guy need be, have hidden cameras that we can put into pens that the guys can carry. We really try and create this video and audio experience so that they can relive it in years to come. For the guys every package is flexible and adjustable to fit their needs, no two engagements are ever the same, so if it is something they would like to change we can adapt and make any package to their needs. JS: What kind of lead time does the planning take? JA: Well, we ask for a minimum of thirty-six hours. As you know most guys are pretty useless when it comes to preparations. So we do get a lot of guys coming to us saying they are proposing tomorrow and asking if we can do it. And we can, we have a great team and a very flexible team, but obviously the longer we have the more preparation we do, the better the pictures, and better the proposal. JS: You reached out to James & Sons a few months ago at our store in Lincoln Park and I loved the idea. I believe this is a one-of-kind service. JA: Well thank you, it’s certainly a novel idea I don’t think there are many people out there that are offering the service that we are offering. For more information and to capture your proposal visit www. PapTheQuestion.com. 14
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Opera
The Color of
by Sanaa Abourezk
Red is the color of passion, of powerful emotions that affect us all in our daily lives. It is a color that stands out, that doesn’t hide, that boldly announces itself. Nowhere is the power and drama of red clearer than in Italian opera, where the color explains all of the lofty feelings present in almost every libretto. Opera stories are never told without adding love, innocence, war and death. Innocence is displayed by the blush of the first kiss. A red heart is emblematic of love. Revolutionary wars are led by red-colored flags, the symbols of revolution. And operatic death makes scarlet blood flow on the stage. Red was the color used by the artists of ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, who employed it to emphasize chapter headings on the writings found on their papyrus, as well as to color the three thousand year old royal robes discovered in the tombs of the kings. Henna was used by the Pharaohs to stain fingers and toes to improve their awareness of the earth’s energies. When Julius Caesar sought to distinguish himself as first among equals in the Roman Senate, he wore a red toga, angering the other, white-clad Senators. The power of his red toga was part of the cause of his death at their hands. www.lxmagazine.com
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In a more recent political venue, the wives of American presidents and female U.S. Senators often wear dresses of a shocking red color in public appearances as a way of standing apart from the boring black and grey suits worn by their male colleagues. Never mind that a fighting bull is color blind, Spanish toreadors use a red cape to invite it to charge, creating the excitement and drama that has made bullfighting the country’s national sport. Red also adds drama and interest to food. Try to imagine a meal being served that is uniformly brown in color, a meal without some red vegetables garnishing a plate of otherwise possibly delicious but boring looking food. Food that is red not only enlivens the presentation of the dish but also adds powerfully to its taste and nutrition. Tomatoes spend most of their lives growing up green, but it is when they turn red that they are in great demand by food lovers.
Cherries and strawberries contain “phytochemicals” that have been shown to improve memory. Similarly, scientists have discovered the gene present in apples that makes them a perfect red color, a color that, according to surveys, increases the purchaser’s desire to buy. The compound that gives vegetables their red color is also an anti-oxidant, which helps resist cancer while maintaining healthy cell life in humans. Cherries and strawberries contain “phytochemicals” that have been shown to improve memory. Nutritionists and medical researchers constantly urge people to eat several servings of vegetables each day, and it is no accident that vegetables that are red in color are the ones most frequently suggested, such as cherries, red kidney beans, tomatoes, red peppers, watermelons, apples, beets, radishes and strawberries. Growing up in Syria, my sister and I were forbidden to wear makeup. We found a way around this rule, however, by employing a flower that grows in many countries, including Syria. Before bedtime, we rubbed it on our lips and added a smaller amount to our cheeks. We protected the pillow from the color with a special towel we kept hidden, and the next morning both our parents and our teachers tried in vain to erase the red color that we had applied the night before. We were ordered to wash our faces, but the pigment would not come off, and we explained to our teachers that the reason was because it was our natural color. I stopped applying the red flower as makeup when one day I overdid the color on my cheeks. As punishment I was forced go to school looking like an overly madeup clown and unwillingly demonstrate what I had done. That cured me of the desire to wear red makeup from that day forward. What color is used to welcome dignitaries such as movie stars to openings or presidents to a new city? We know the answer to this—the color of the welcoming carpet is always red, and never any other. For many reasons, from passion to politics, the color red deserves its celebrity treatment. And finally, here is a recipe for a spicy red dip that is a food specialty of restaurants and home cooks in Aleppo, Syria. 16
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Orland Park | Schererville | Lincoln Park 18
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I Still Cho o se yo u.
} or Writte n by Sharon Nayl os Images by MC Studi
Recapture the magic of your wedding day and tell your beloved “I still choose you” with a romantic wedding vow renewal celebration. Standing before one another, whether in a stylish designer gown and suit, or in bathing suits on a tropical beach, and speaking from the heart—telling your mate just how much more in love you are, how much you appreciate every moment, every gesture, every morning kiss and kindness—adds a depth to your marriage.
More wedding couples are choosing to renew their vows their way, whether in a grand wedding re-do at the country club with 150 guests and a masterpiece of a wedding cake, in their own backyard with their closest family and friends, or just the two of them at the ocean’s edge or in the church, synagogue or garden where they originally said their vows. They’re re-living the excitement of the wedding-planning (perhaps more enjoyably this time, without the input of ‘helpful’ parents,) touring ceremony sites together, tasting delectable cake sample bites, designing lovely bouquets and florals, selecting elegant invitations and of course, choosing their wedding vow renewal dresses and suits. A big trend now is to incorporate some element of the original wedding day into this celebration. Cher Floyd, who with her husband John has renewed their vows several times over the past twenty years, says of one celebration, “I used my original wedding veil, and had our original florist send similar flowers for us.” No matter the grandiosity of their plans, or the intimacy of a small affair, vow renewal couples experience that heart-flutter of excitement as they write new vows reflecting the bright points of the life they’ve lived together. They might repeat the same vows they spoke years ago, add new thoughts to that vow script, add their signature style and sense of
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“Most wedding couples say they haven’t felt as connected to one another in years as they do on this day.” humor this time around, and speak so sentimentally that tears come to their eyes. This is a moment dedicated to expressing appreciation and admiration for everything their partner does to enrich their life together, and to enrich their children. Most wedding couples say they haven’t felt as connected to one another in years as they do on this day. As an added bonus, wedding vow renewal couples say they love setting an inspiring example for their children and grandchildren, showing them that this is what a solid, loving and supportive marriage looks like, not the turbulent relationships they see on television reality shows and in celebrity gossip magazines.
Why Renew Now? It doesn’t have to be a 5th, 10th, or 25th milestone anniversary for you to renew your vows. Some couples do so on their very first anniversary, their 7th, their 12th—whenever the time feels right. A couple may wish to re-cement their bond after an extremely challenging year, such as one partner’s illness or job search struggles, or a military deployment. Or, they might re-new their vows in a joyful year, such as after their first child is born, and again when each additional child arrives. Some couples return to their original destination wedding resort each time, bringing their children with them to participate in their vow renewal celebration. It’s also become a trend to surprise a spouse with the “wedding re-do” she’s always wanted. If parents controlled the wedding plans, or if finances didn’t allow for that masterpiece wedding cake, the garden wedding, the sea of roses, if it rained on her dream garden wedding, she now gets the surprise of a lifetime: “Will you plan our wedding vow renewal celebration with me?” Tears will certainly flow with that romantic offer. She gets the do-over she’s always wanted, made all the sweeter by the fact that her partner suggested it.
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“Surprise ring upgrades are rising in popularity.”
The Wedding Ring Gets a Do-Over As Well
replaced by a new ring. She’s lived for years with, and cherished, the wedding ring placed on her finger at her wedding, and she would be disheartened to ‘trade it in’ for a newer model. A solution: take the stones from the original band and include them in the new band’s design, perhaps as stones embedded in the anniversary band. Or, the stones from the original band can be re-set as a new diamond pendant she can wear every day now and forever.
Open Editorial
, When Dr. Chris Kammer
planned a surprise vow renewal for his wife Jean Marie on their twentieth wedding anniversary, he also added a dazzling gift: “I had her wedding ring upgraded to a new platinum setting, and I also surprised her with a new anniversary band with twenty diamonds around the circle to wear with it.” Dr. Kammer’s present stunned not only his bride, but all of their family and friends in attendance.
Renewing your vows
Surprise ring upgrades are rising in popularity, and many husbands are giving an added thrill: they’re bringing their wives to the jewelry store to let them pick out their new, upgraded style elements. The shopping experience in itself adds wow factor to the gift, with the wife treated as a VIP by the jewelry shop staff. Some jewelry experts say they bring out a bottle of sparkling cider or Prosecco for these special couples, just as they do for their about-to-be-engaged couples shopping for the engagement ring. “Love should be celebrated,” says one jewelry store manager. “And we like to make their moment extra-special.” Dr. Kammer represents the high-end ring upgrade client who shops for finer metals, and a diamond-encircled anniversary band, perhaps an upgrade to larger wedding band stones with greater fire. Which brings up an important issue: the wife might not wish to have her wedding band 22
Great solutions if the original ring will remain untouched: get her a dazzling right-hand diamond or gemstone ring, or simply surround the original band with two new, stackable diamond-encircled bands. Perhaps each band can symbolize five years of marital bliss, perfect for a tenth wedding anniversary, or symbolizing each of the couple’s two children. When you add an element from the marriage to the ring upgrade, even a subtler design becomes priceless.
Other choices include adding gemstones to the new design, embedding larger diamonds, and adding personalized engravings (sometimes as a surprise.) And don’t forget that the husband’s wedding band can be upgraded as well; he may prefer a different style (such as hammered metals or diamond chips) than he chose in his younger years. Many couples with children love to include their kids in their vow renewals, expressing their love and admiration for the wonderful people their sons and daughters have grown to be, and promising to always support their dreams. As part of the renewal, it’s lovely to present diamond pendants, gemstone earrings or other precious gifts to the girls, as well as meaningful gifts to the boys. Grandchildren may be included in this gift presentation as well, for all to share in the joy of the day.
HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR DEGREE BE WORTH? By Lyndon Conrad Bell
In 1934, when Norman Rockwell painted this image, the cost of an undergraduate degree was $400.00 per year.
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With college tuitions steadily rising, an economy rebounding from the great recession, and the life expectancy of the average American steadily increasing, a question on the minds of many people—simply put—is it worth it? Conventional wisdom says absolutely, unequivocally, without a doubt, yes it is. After all, hundreds, if not thousands of studies have found the lifetime earnings potential of a college graduate is almost always significantly greater than that of an individual with no secondary education. Add to that, the fact that today’s college preps will potentially be in the workforce twenty more years than today’s retirees which only increases the value of a college education. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey started asking people with a bachelor’s degree to list their undergraduate major course of study. This enabled, for the first time, the ability to place a specific value on a particular major. For workers whose highest degree was a bachelor’s, incomes ranged from $29,000 for counseling-psychology majors to $120,000 for petroleum-engineering majors. However, the study also showed the median income for people with just a high-school diploma was about $32,000 vs. $55,000 for those whose highest degree was a bachelor’s. In other words, an individual with no college at all could potentially make more money over the course of their lifetime than an individual with a college degree—in some fields. There is another set of aspects of this discussion to consider though; the social attributes demonstrated by academically-oriented people, the value of the lifelong learning traits instilled in college graduates, and the broader perspectives afforded those with a college degree. A 2007 study by the College Board, New York found college graduates, regardless of major, are involved in the community and engage in charitable giving at more than twice the rate of high-school only graduates. Further, they live healthier lives and are more likely to experience increased longevity. 24
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“college graduates, regardless of major, are involved in the community and engage in charitable giving at more than twice the rate of high-school only graduates.” painting: Judy Palermo www.judypalermo.com
When this is considered along with the fact people are living longer in general, with all this added longevity will come significant earning potential. Further, as we move forward as a society, the best jobs will either be more technologically dependent or technologically oriented.
With this in mind, choosing a major should be about finding something you love to do. One should try to find something they love that will either (a) still be in demand many years from now, or (b) give them a foundation from which they can continue to evolve their skills and expertise as times change.
Maura Kastberg, executive director of Student Services at RSC: Your College Prep Expert in Schenectady, New York says; “In the high-tech world we live in, which is steadily becoming increasingly so, technology has replaced many jobs that are repetitive in nature. Plus, businesses are always looking for ways to do things more efficiently, more cheaply, and more safely. Companies are also looking to make their products and services easier for their customers to use. More and more, technology is the answer to those concerns.”
Which brings us to another hidden asset of a college education—the flexibility it gives people to evolve with the progression of their careers. Says Kastberg; “Most people today will have three to five different jobs over the course of their working lives. College lets people change their career focus more easily and is a foundation to build upon as technology advances. Taking additional courses to keep up with changes is much easier than having to start from scratch in a quickly changing world.”
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My MOTHER’S
Wedding
dress By Elizabeth Fergus-Jean Photos submitted
I found my mother’s wedding dress, sealed in a plastic bag, stuffed into an old tattered leather suitcase just a few months after my mother had passed away. At first I had no idea what it was, for it appeared to be a crumpled mass of old tulle and lace. Clearly it had not been thoughtfully stored away for safekeeping; it had been jammed into a bag and sealed away where it did not hold the power to stir up old memories. Yet when I unzipped the bag, wisps of the past seeped into the air. This wrinkled, slightly torn dress had once been beautiful; I knew this because I also found my mother’s wedding photos. She was stunning with her lace gloves and soft hopeful gaze. I wish my mother was with me so I could ask about her dress, her wedding and honeymoon; all stories I never heard yet longed to hear. I slipped on her dress, careful to not tear the aging lace. It fit; my body now as my mother’s, and I felt her presence around me. At first I felt a deep longing, and then curiosity washed over me as I began to slowly move this way and that, feeling the scratchy material brush against my skin. I lifted her veil to inhale her memory, dreaming of her, when she wore the dress on her wedding day. 26
I peered through the veil, seeking answers of her story, and finding those of my own imaginings-My daughter is getting married next year. Unlike my mother, I carefully sealed my wedding dress in the hopes that one day my daughter would want to wear it. But, she is indeed her mother’s daughter, for she too,
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showed no interest in wearing her mother’s wedding dress. And that is fine with me. A mother’s gift is sharing her love and supporting the choices her daughter makes. Dresses and fashion may come and go, but the memories that cling to their fabric transport us to rekindle our love of our past and our hope for the future.,
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Photographed By Monica Eng Interview By Chelsie Roberts
Photography & Styling Monica Eng www.vividshots.com Third Eye Brian Fisher make-up & Hair Jyue Huey from The Make-Up Room Wedding gowns from The Wedding Present model Daria Popova
C. When you are photographing a subject, what kind of transformation happens in you? How do you become part of the artistry that you are creating, and how is it different or the same as who you are in regular day to day life?
M. I am curious by nature. Whenever I meet someone interesting, get caught in a unique situation or watch a really nice movie. I often wonder how it feels to be in someone else’s situation—imagining the multitudes of emotions surrounding that situation. I later translate them into little stories through my lens.
C. Other than the art of photography, what other art forms do you incorporate into your work, or what meaning do you derive from other art forms?
M. I love music and dance. Whenever possible I try to incorporate them into my works. Almost all the time, I will have a certain song
in my mind that I would almost play on a loop during my shoot to get everyone into that mood during the shoot; sometimes we all get so sick of that song after the shoot, we never want to hear it again. I have done shoots based on the ballet, Giselle and the Moonlight Sonata, all with my own interpretation from a different view point. Next, I would love to do a shoot based on Tango; it’s the one dance I find absolutely enchanting. I would love to be able to master Tango one day and translate it into my photography.
“colour and light is basically like a life partner to a visual artist. You have to understand every intricate aspect to make the relationship work” 30
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C. Describe how you feel about color and light? M. Colours and light are inseparable. To see a full spectrum of colours you’ll need an adequate amount of light. To set the right
mood and message in an image, you’ll need to understand them well. Metaphorically speaking, colour and light is basically like a life partner to a visual artist. You have to understand every intricate aspect to make the relationship work as you would understand your life partner—what makes them tick, what makes them happy or sad.
C. How do you feel about love, life and one’s mark that they make on the world through imagination and imagery?
M. I think life is short and we should love and live to the fullest; always fight for your dreams and do what you love most. You don’t need a lot to live fully because the simplest things are the most wonderful. I think imagination and fantasy are the necessities of life; it’s a way of looking at life through the eccentric side and laughing at life’s realities.
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OSCAR DE LA RENTA
The Long and Short of It
Bridal
Spring 2012
Oscar de la Renta’s Garden Tea Party By Simone Goller
There was something enchanting in the air at the Oscar de la Renta showroom where he presented his Spring 2012 bridal collection on Monday, April 11, in New York. Always one to put on a show and create something awe-inspiring, de la Renta this season set the scene to something you would expect little girls to conjure up if they let their young and vivid imaginations run free. Always refined of course, these little women could be found hosting a tea party in the garden out back
Womens Runway Report Bridal
Designer Spotlight
surrounded by freesia and lavender scents as they sip tea, or at least gesture as such, in little white gloves and paint pictures for each other envisioning their fantastical wedding dreams.
OSCAR DE LA RENTA
With the youthfulness to the collection came an understated elegance that only de la Renta could pervade. Long silhouettes with bodacious skirts composed of ruffles and organza florets gave the illusion of a woman running through a patch of petals as they joined together to adorn her body. Rabbit hair on a white feathered bolero and scarf meshed perfectly with the springtime garden fauna. Offering something novel to the bridal repertoire, de la Renta utilized the neckline in square shapes and more angular cuts. All 37 designs were white except for a couple of degrade silk organza gowns in pink and a tea length version in pale blue.
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sJLM COUTURE Womens Runway Report Bridal
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Pnina Tornai
Womens Runway Report Bridal
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Alexander McQueen Mens Runway Report
The Long and Short of It Men’s
Spring 2012
McQueen’s Brit Rock Hall of Fame By Godfrey Deeny
Though rock ‘n’ roll is an American term, when it comes to its iconography, it’s our British rock star cousins who occupy far more of the music’s visual history. The accepted wisdom is that the Cleveland, Ohio DJ Alan Freed first popularized “rock and roll,” on radio and that the first true record in the genre is “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, an alias for Ike Turner. However, the first true rock gods, when it comes to fashion, are legends like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who. And that remained true through many decades, when UK stars as diverse as Joe Strummer, Bryan Ferry or Pete Doherty set
Alexander McQueen
Designer Spotlight
the sartorial agenda more than their colleagues across The Pond. Which brings us to the latest menswear collection from the house of Alexander McQueen. Sarah Burton put it, “a history of a baby band, from their early shows, to more self-indulgence and on to huge mega stadium concerts.” Burton’s spring 2012 collection for McQueen was a tour de force of tailoring, a witty understanding of sartorial rock imagery and a counter blast to the self-indulgent whimsy. The true cool of these clothes was the way she could riff through all sorts of rock legend moments-spiffy mod hounds’ tooth suits, Chelsea spiv rocker, eighties synthesizer pop star, poetic new romantic and aristocratic country house amateur rocker to legend entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in, but of course, Cleveland, Ohio. Whether flame printed jackets, Edwardian tails, revolutionary dandy striped pants or sleek gangster singer double-breasted jackets it was all pretty brilliant. So, Brit rockers, raise your hands in applause for Burton, few designers will ever dress 44
you quite so well.
Armani
Gucci
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pARTners The Love Story
Christo & Jeanne Claude By Lyndon Conrad Bell
Imagine having the following conversation with your spouse/significant other; “Hon, I have a great idea. I want to take 150 oil barrels and use them to block off a street downtown. When the police show up to clear them, I’m going to need you to hold them off so the press can document it while I attend a gallery opening in another part of the city. Do you think you can do that my love?” How well do you think that a question like that would be received? In the case of Christo Vladimirov Javacheff and JeanneClaude Marie Denat, her answer was, “Yes darling, of course I can.” That positive response enabled a seminal event in the life of their career, which ultimately attracted the pair enough notoriety to sustain a forty-eight year creative collaboration—which continues to birth some of the most monumental works of art the world has ever known. Seemingly pre-destined to meet and fall in love, Jeanne-Claude and Christo were both born on June 13, 1935—Jeanne-Claude in Morocco, Christo in Bulgaria. The two met in Paris in 1958, when, as a young artist, Christo was commissioned to produce a portrait of Jeanne-Claude’s mother, Précilda de Guillebon. Jeanne-Claude once said her life began the day Christo walked into her family’s home. And while Cyril, their son, born May 11, 1960, was the couple’s first collaboration, the pair went on to literally redefine the work of art. For many years, the fruitions of their efforts were credited only to Christo. And while it is true the overtly creative aspects of their projects sprang from Christo’s imagination, the real work of transforming the work from the firing of synapses in Christo’s brain to a tangible artifact capable of triggering responses in the brains of others fell largely to Jeanne-Claude. In 1994, the couple announced they would henceforth be known as a single entity, and further, all projects they’d created since 1964 would be retroactively labeled as the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The announcement drew considerable criticism, as her role was perceived by many in the art world to be “merely” administrative. In response, Christo said, “The drawings are but the scheme for the project, after that, we do everything together. Everybody knows we’ve worked together for over 30 years. There’s no point in arguing about who does what. The work is all that matters.” In fact, the couple never flew together so in the event of a tragedy, their work could continue unabated.
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The phrase “Work Of Art” typically applies only to a finished piece. In the case of Jeanne-Claude and Christo’s installations, the “work of art” involves so much more than just the piece itself. A good example of this is the ground work laid for their seminal installation, Running Fence. Flowing gracefully across 24.5 miles of northern California’s Sonoma and Marin counties, Running Fence began near the town of Petaluma, before crossing U.S. Highway 101 as well as 14 roads in both counties. At its terminus, the fence slipped fluidly into the Pacific Ocean at Bodega Bay. The project required a 400-page Environmental Impact Study, hearings with both county’s commissioners, numerous city council meetings and individual permission from each of the 59 ranchers whose lands the fence would cross. The “work” of this art piece began in 1972. The actual physical installation process began four years later in April of 1976. Running Fence was completed on September 10, 1976 and stood for just under two weeks, before being removed on September 21, 1976. The scale of the work is almost unimaginable. The eighteen foot high fence was composed of 2,050 panels of white nylon fabric measuring eighteen feet wide by sixty-eight feet long. The fabric was suspended between a pair of steel cables by means of 350,000 hooks. The cables were in turn supported by 2,050 steel poles placed sixty-two feet apart and anchored three feet into the ground. Steel guy wires braced each of the steel poles. And while Running Fence is rightfully considered one of history’s most extraordinary works of art, getting the clearance to build it in the first place was the “work” of art too. Her husband’s most ardent supporter, Jeanne-Claude’s machinations behind the scenes—doing the “work” of art— are what ultimately saw their projects realized. An oft-overlooked aspect of Jeanne-Claude and Christo’s work is the fact it has always been entirely self-funded. All the related expenses, including the engineers, lawyers, installers, environmental analysis, traffic control, trash removal and sanitation at the sites have been borne by the artists without viewing fees, sponsorships or outside investments of any kind. Jeanne-Claude once quoted the cost of producing Running Fence at some 21 million (1970’s) dollars. That would be well over 60 million dollars today. The funding of their projects comes from the sales of smaller pieces of art created by the couple, as well as selling the preliminary sketches, renderings and models of the ultimate work. Eschewing the traditional artist/agency relationship, Jeanne-Claude fulfilled that role as well. Arguably, Christo would not be Christo without the efforts of Jeanne-Claude. And while she had no significant interest in art before Christo, she often said she would do whatever it took to ensure their success. If Christo had been a plumber, Jeanne-Claude is quoted as having said she’d have learned everything she needed to know about becoming a successful plumber. www.lxmagazine.com
Images top to bottom: Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, Germany, 1971-95 Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, 1972-76
photos: Wolfgang Volz
Their next work, called Over The River is a plan to build a semi-translucent canopy some 5.9 miles long over a stretch of the Arkansas River between the towns of Salida and Ca単on City in south-central Colorado. The idea for Over The River was planted as Jeanne-Claude and Christo watched the fabric of their Pont Neuf bridge-wrapping project being hoisted into place above the River Seine in Paris together. Although Jeanne-Claude has passed away, before she departed, she set into motion the realization of this work. Christo is continuing their artistic legacy and love story by continuing the plans for Over The River, with the spirit of Jeanne-Claude at his side.
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The Umbrellas, Japan-USA, 1984-91 photos: Wolfgang Volz
Surrounded Islands, Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980-83 photo: Wolfgang Volz
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Mermaiden
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Photographer Zena Holloway Story by Chelsie Roberts Fashion Thea Lewis Hair Michael Jones using Bumble and Bumble Make up, Phyllis Cohen at DWM using Shu Uemura Model Lydia Beesley at Storm. Photographers Assistants Angela Neil and Greg Hardes Diving Assistant Phil Richards. Fashion Assistant Ashley-Gianna Hallett.
Photographer Zena Holloway, born in Bahrain, now working and living in London is rumored to be able to hold her breath for three full minutes; which is a good thing, because her art is not only awe inspiring—it is literally breathtaking. Why literally? because, her scenes are shot exclusively underwater. In fact, whether it is in an ocean, a swimming pool or a water tank, Zena doesn’t photograph outside of the water at all. When she expresses how she felt the first time she went into the sea, she says “I loved the sense of being deep underwater, on borrowed time, experiencing a new world and having access to an environment that was so divine.” And her passion for the deep blue shows in her work. She has photographed images across all genres, ranging from the images for Charles Kingsley’s children’s book “Waterbabies” where she not only worked with children, but also animals to images for Nike and Olay campaigns. However she says, “I’m still waiting for the phone to ring for an underwater car commercial.”
previous page: White halter-neck dress Hugo Boss Headpiece Basia Zarzycka this page: Cream net and silk slip dress Calvin Klein 52
It all began when Zena was traveling the world as a scuba dive instructor. She was in Egypt, working as a guide when her mother purchased an underwater motor marine camera for her 18th birthday present. She says it, “looked far more like a children’s toy than a camera.”
She started to experiment with techniques that she learned in underwater photography books and through trial and error she taught herself. And, her first subject was not a mermaid, but a blue spotted ray, who Zena says, “Kindly sat for me for about twenty minutes as I fumbled with the settings.” When asked why she shoots underwater and how she came up with the idea, it’s a no brainer for her. “It was the water that came first rather than the photography and now that I’m a photographer it’s hard to extract the water… I like the magic that I find underwater which is very hard to achieve on land.”
Jade, white and black print chiffon dress with solid gold collar Just Cavalli Headpiece Basia Zarzycka 53
“Mermaiden” definitely captures this magic. Not only do the images capture the beauty and color of the water, but also this is paired with the intricacy and on-point aspect of the styling. “The inspiration from the shoot came from seeing the magnificent clothes hanging on the rail that Thea Lewis had gathered …The long flowing dresses, shells and long hair of the model all had a very mermaid feel…which was reflected in the style of the photography,” says Zena. Now, looking forward, admiring her art and drinking it all in, I wonder what will swim next in front of her lens? I am no longer wondering what is in Davy Jones’ Locker, but rather in Zena Holloway’s.
Cream Grecian style dress Amanda Wakeley Harness Sergio Rossi Head piece Basia Zarzycka 54
Teal chiffon and embroidered dress Alberta Ferretti Headpiece Culietta 55
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IndyCar is a registered trademark of Brickyard Trademarks, Inc., used with permission.
The
Awesome 8
A Golfing Adventure
By Martin Sayers
Golf is not a game that is usually associated with high adventure—it is supposed to be a sedate and relaxing pastime. Things are changing in the world of golf, however, and there is an incredible quest out there for anyone prepared to take it on. It is a journey that takes the intrepid golfer to eight of the most extreme golf courses in the world: the highest, the lowest, the hottest, the coldest, the most southerly, the most northerly, the hardest and the greatest.
This crazy task is the brainchild of two golfobsessed British friends, Robin Sieger and Neil Laughton, who decided over seven years ago that it was time to make their golf a bit more exciting. They hit upon the idea of a competition that involved completing eight of the most diverse and extreme golf courses in the world within a year. All of the courses were recognized golf clubs with an established membership list, and with sponsorship from Callaway, Robin and Neil set out to play all eight of them within 12 months. They started in January and had completed the challenge by Christmas.
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According to Robin, it was one of the greatest experiences of his life: “It was an incredible trip,” he says. “Not only did we get to play some amazing golf courses but we met some fantastic people along the way. We were treated with incredible generosity and kindness at the clubs we visited; it showed the true spirit of golf.” Robin and Neil are now the founding members of the most exclusive golf society in the world, a society whose membership is only open to those who have completed all eight courses on the Awesome 8 list. The challenge no longer requires the intrepid golfer, as it did Robin and Neil, to drag a bag of clubs around the world on a series of economy class flights. The Awesome 8 has evolved into the ultimate golfing experience—a package that includes travel by executive jet, accommodation in luxury hotels and incredible excursions to places of interest. The trip takes place in two month-long stages, one in summer and one in winter, and the cost is around a cool $157,000. If you have the money and the time, you can take your place on the Awesome 8. You and around 25 fellow golfers will jet off in a luxury Boeing 757-200 and be whisked around the golfing world for two weeks.
Eight of the most diverse and extreme golf courses in the world.
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The Most Northerly
North Cape, Norway Jet out to the edge of the Arctic Circle, where a round at North Cape golf club awaits, the most northerly course in the world. After the golf, a take a cruise to the North Cape itself—the very tip of Europe, where it is possible to see the incredible spectacle of the Northern Lights.
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The Coldest
North Star, Alaska
From Norway, a hop across the Arctic to Alaska to play at North Star golf club. It is the coldest golf course in the world, so much so that it has to close for six months of the year. Thankfully, playing it in May means that snow is unlikely to be a problem. North Star may also be the only club that provides an animal checklist on the scorecard— hawks, owls and eagles are all common sights and even the elusive lynx has been spotted. A course rule states that: “When a raven or fox steals a ball, a replacement may be dropped without penalty at the scene of the crime.”
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The Highest
La Paz, Bolivia
After the climatic extremes of the Arctic, the head back southward to the city of La Paz in Bolivia. Not only is La Paz the highest capital city in the world, it is also home to the highest golf course, a club situated a heady 10,350-feet above sea level. Set against the majestic beauty of the Andes, this is one of the most scenic golf courses in the world. Golfers must be careful, however, because the altitude means that the average 4-iron shot will shoot past 200 yards. The activities associated with this location could include a visit to the world famous Lake Titicaca and a look around Tiwanako, ancient capital of the Incas.
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The Greatest
St. Andrews, Scotland
After Bolivia, head back to Europe to play the only one of the eight courses that needs no introduction: St. Andrews is possibly the greatest and certainly one of the oldest golf courses in the world. This magnificent links is a Mecca for any golfer, and its many features and subtleties make for an amazing eighteen holes. Teeing off on the Old Course in the footsteps of the greats, from Bobby Jones to Tiger Woods, makes for an unforgettable experience.
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The Lowest
Furnace Creek, California Whisked across the desert to play Furnace Creek in California, at 214 feet below sea level the world’s lowest elevation golf course. This unfeasibly lush course stands in glorious contrast to the desolate desert landscape of its Death Valley location. Not only is it low; it is also hard and has been featured in Golf Digest’s list of “America’s 50 Toughest Courses.”
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There is an incredible quest out there for anyone prepared to take it on.
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The Most Southerly
Ushuaia, Argentina
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Set out to play the most southerly golf course in the world at Ushuaia, Argentina. Sitting at the very tip of South America, Ushuaia claims to be the world’s most southerly city and isn’t much more than a super-charged drive away from Antarctica. The club itself is set in the Tierra del Fuego national park and provides a challenge. Strong winds from the polar region whip across the fairways, and the course is criss-crossed by a fast-flowing river.
The Toughest
Ko’olau, Hawaii
From Argentina, head across the Pacific to the paradise islands of Hawaii to take on what is widely regarded as the most difficult course in the world of golf. Carved out of a forest on the windward side of the 2000-foot Ko’olau Ridge mountain range, Ko’olau golf course is officially recognized as the hardest course in America by the USGA. The course is almost unfeasibly steep and wind speed can often reach 40 mph. These factors, combined with the sheer difficulty of the course, means that most rounds take over 5 hours to complete.
The Hottest
Alice Springs, Australia
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From Hawaii, continue westward to Australia and Alice Springs golf club. Given its location in the middle of the Australian desert, it is not surprising that Alice Springs is officially the hottest golf course in the world, with temperatures regularly topping 120 degrees Fahrenheit. But the welcome is as warm as the weather, and Awesome 8 founder Robin Sieger rates Alice Springs as one of the friendliest clubs he has ever visited. www.lxmagazine.com
Oh, Eve, Forget the Apple, Offer Me the Pomegranate By Norman Mark
Some Biblical scholars believe that Eve tempted Adam with a pomegranate, not an apple. The pomegranate is a symbol of fertility in Turkey, Iran, Egypt and Greece.
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Because of the possible health advantages, there is an ongoing pomegranate product explosion. Throughout history, men and women have examined almost any fruit or berry (and even a few vegetables) and immediately asked, “Can we make wine out of that?” When considering the pomegranate, we should not be amazed that someone is actually creating wine from it. The only question is: Why did they take so long to do it? Some Biblical scholars believe that Eve tempted Adam with a pomegranate, not an apple. The pomegranate is a symbol of fertility in Turkey, Iran, Egypt and Greece. Its juice may also be the healthier drink. With twice the potency of red wine and more antioxidants than found in grapes, cranberries, blueberries and green or black tea, pomegranates can slow hardening of the arteries, improve the lives of diabetics, destroy breast cancer cells in a test tube, delay the spread of prostate and skin cancer, fight diarrhea, lower blood pressure, battle Alzheimers, do wonders for the common cold and, because it is the only plant known to contain estrogen, alleviate hot flashes. If it were good for washing windows, it might be the perfect fruit. Because of the possible health advantages, there is an ongoing pomegranate product explosion. Pomegranate is now found in lip gloss, suntan lotion, shaving cream, skin-care products including soap, facial cleansing foam, creams, sunscreens, bottled water that claims to make the drinker thinner and even in martinis. The Red Carpet, designed for those special Hollywood parties, is a vodka martini with Grand Marnier, pomegranate juice and a gold leaf. It was probably inevitable that some day there would be pomegranate wine. With all those healthy qualities, a pomegranate wine might turn the drinker into a long-lived, happier person. The Rimon Winery, in Israel’s Galilee Mountains, became the first in the world to make a pomegranate dessert wine. A thirdgeneration Israeli farming family owns the Rimon Winery. The grandmother is a Holocaust survivor and the grandfather came from Morocco. All seven grandchildren work on the vineyard and farm. 62
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Yoav Gilat, Rimon’s representative in America, said that Rimon has improved the trees so their fruit has more juice and sugar. They also have special machines to separate the seeds, which contain the juice, from the skins. Gilat said, “No sugar or alcohol is added when the wine is made. What is in the bottle is pure pomegranate wine, which has even more health-giving qualities than the non-alcoholic juice on the market.” These days, Rimon produces about 100,000 bottles a year. Not to get too Biblical about it, the wine is a revelation: Marvelously tart and refreshing, it tastes like pomegranate (what would be the point if it did not?). It refreshes while avoiding the sometimes-intense lip pucker that comes from chewing on a pomegranate seed. Rimon Dessert Wine has an inviting, earthy aroma (resembling a pomegranate skin) and a clean aftertaste. It’s a dry dessert wine that can be served before or after dinner. Soon the winery will be marketing additional pomegranate products including another wine, Rimon Dry ($36) and a port called Galilee ($48). A drink suggestion based on personal experience: A special cocktail for a Christmas party consisted of equal parts of the Italian sparkling wine Prosecco (specifically Prosecco di Valdobbiadene by Mionetto) and Rimon’s pomegranate dessert wine, with a few fresh pomegranate seeds added for strangeness and zest. www.lxmagazine.com
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