Auberge Volume II

Page 1


FLORENCE

LONDON

DALLAS

RIVIERA MAYA

AUSTIN

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

DEER VALLEY

PARK CITY

SOUTHWEST FRANCE

TELLURIDE

PUNTA DE MITA

ASPEN

CONNECT

18

Maria Sole Ferragamo’s Window to Florence

The Florentine creative reveals the beauty and craft of her native city.

42 French Connection

Master the art de vivre in France’s storied southwest countryside.

62 A La Mesa

Vogue Mexico’s Karla Martínez de Salas hosts a fashionable beachfront fête spotlighting the contemporary designs of her creative coterie.

78 The Greatest Snow on Earth

In the upper echelons of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, a reliable recipe for epic snow serves up a skier’s paradise year after year.

SAVOR

88

The Art of Après

As the sun sets on another perfect day on the slopes of Utah and Colorado, unique après offerings light up—and heat up—the night.

102 Winter Comforts

A myriad of chefs reveal their favorite cold weather staples.

BESPOKE

112 In Vivid Color

Daniel Valero’s design studio, Mestiz, taps into Mexico’s local artisans to bring ancient creatives seeds into full bloom.

124 The Enduring Allure of Western Wear

Heritage and high fashion come together to form a distinctly American symbol of style, status and culture.

138 Chad Dorsey’s Inimitable Luxury

The renowned Dallas-based interior designer’s projects are relaxed, refined, and authentic—just like the man himself.

ESCAPE

152 Transformative Paths to Wellbeing

Each personalized treatment starts with a tailored experience that harnesses the power of nature.

166

Experience the World of Auberge

Extraordinary stays, exceptional cuisine, wellbeing journeys and transformative adventures await at Auberge properties across the globe.

GLIMPSE

178

Start to Finish

Cece Jewellery brings fairytales to life in gold and enamel.

182

Local Lens

Austin-based tastemaker Camille

Styles shares an insider’s guide to her favorite locales around the city.

186 Carry On

Here’s what creatives Ken Fulk and Alice Naylor-Leyland pack for warm weather and wintry destinations.

192

Last Call

Learn to craft Hotel Jerome’s delicious D Lady cocktail.

Photo by Ellie Thorne

A LA MESA

Vogue Mexico’s Karla Martínez de Salas hosts a fashionable beachfront fête spotlighting the contemporary designs of her creative coterie.

Discover the world of Auberge and encounter new seasonal stories and films online at aubergeresorts.com/journal

Follow Auberge Resorts Collection: @aubergeresorts

About the Cover
The beachfront at Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection.
Photo by Paul Desmond.

saksnapa@s5a.com

Douglas Lyle Thompson

Douglas Lyle Thompson is a hotel and lifestyle photographer who calls New York City home. His work has appeared in Afar, Elle Decor, Condé Nast Traveler and Monocle. IG: @dltxii

Sophie Yun Mancini

Sophie Yun Mancini is a New York City-based writer and editor. Her editorial work has appeared in Air Mail, Condé Nast Traveler Family Style, Vogue, and The Wall Street Journal. She’s also helped lead the most recent relaunch of Departures Magazine. IG: @sophieyunmancini

Karla Lisker

Karla Lisker is a Mexican photographer passionate about creating stories. Her work has been published in Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, L’Officiel and many others. Her past clients have included Gucci, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Montblanc and more. IG: @karlalisker

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tim Aukshunas

Tim Aukshunas is a photographer based in Southern California. His work has appeared in Gear Patrol and across NMG Network’s Global channels. His past clients have included Smith, Brooks, OluKai and more. IG: @tim_auks

Terry Ward

Terry Ward is a Florida-based journalist who currently lives in Tampa. She writes regularly for CNN, Travel+Leisure and National Geographic and has a monthly column in Scuba Diving magazine. IG: @terrywardwriter

Ellie Thorne

Ellie Thorne is a Texas raised, Florence-based storyteller and photographer. Her work appears in PhotoVogue, The Irish Times, YETI, and La Nazione. IG: @elliethorne

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Leandro Bulzzano, Paul Desmond, Nick Johnson, Karla Lisker, Guillaume Megevand, Harper Smith, Chad Wadsworth, Jeffrey Westbrook

Scott Bay, Zachary Feldman, David Shortell, Lindsey Vandal, Jaime Walters

PUBLISHED BY:

2024 by NMG Network, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions are solely those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by NMG Network.

CEO & PUBLISHER

Jason Cutinella

EDITORIAL & CREATIVE

Brian McManus Senior Global Editorial Director

Chelsea Vaccaro Global Design Director & Creative Process

Jackie Caradonio and Jill Newman Luxury Editors

Dan Bradley Executive Producer, Global Branded Video

Gerard Elmore VP Film

OPERATIONS

Merri Gruesser VP Global Development & Strategic Operations

Sabrine Rivera Operations Director

Joe V. Bock Corporate Affairs

ADVERTISING

Mike Wiley VP Sales mike@nmgnetwork.com

Claudia Silver VP Global Partnerships claudia@nmgnetwork.com

Marly Graubard Global Brand Partnerships marly@nmgnetwork.com

Alejandro Moxey Senior Director, Sales

AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION

Callie Stanton VP of Brand

Amalia Ramos Director of Creative Services

Hannah Kibble Director of Content

View of Florence, Italy, from Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection. Photo by Ellie Thorne.

MARIA SOLE FERRAGAMO’S

WINDOW

to FLORENCE

The Florentine creative reveals the beauty and craft of her native city.

Maria Sole Ferragamo moves through the streets of Florence with a familiar grace. Gliding through piazzas, past grand Renaissance churches and bustling markets, turning down narrow, cobbled streets without so much as a glance at their names—she is clearly at home in the enchanting Tuscan capital.

“I grew up 20 minutes outside the city, where you are surrounded by nature, you can breathe fresh air, and from a hilltop, you can see the

city,” she says. In her youth, it was here—in the same city her grandfather, Salvatore Ferragamo, founded his eponymous fashion label nearly a century ago—discovered her own creative style. “I fell in love with the craftsmen’s artistic approach. They inspired me to push the boundaries of what’s possible using traditional techniques in new ways.”

Today, Sole Ferragamo is an artigiana in her own right at her So-le Studio. The accessories brand has become a cult favorite for its dynamic leather jewelry that is both

Above and previous page: Sole Ferragamo wearing a leather collar and ear cuff from her So-le Studio collection. Right: Maria Sole Ferragamo’s favorite places to stroll in Florence include Piazza Santo Spirito.
Sole Ferragamo frequents Bar Mariano for “the best paninis” and friendly greetings.
“The personal relationships, seeing the next generation taking over— that’s what I love about this city.”
MARIA SOLE FERRAGAMO

supple and sculptural. Crafted by artisans in Tuscany, her innovative yet simple pieces are light, durable, and made in limited editions.

The early concept for So-le Studio formed when, as a young intern in Ferragamo’s workshop, Sole Ferragamo became fascinated with the custom leather accessories many of the atelier’s artisans wore. She made her own first piece, an elegant necklace, from the factory’s discarded scraps. It was the start of an obsession that would lead her to study fashion at Central St. Martins and, in 2019, create So-le Studio.

Her exquisite pieces—which are made by hand using skills that have been passed down for generations—are reflections of Sole Ferragamo’s deep love for her Florentine roots. Though now based in Milan, she returns to the city often, and when she does, she says, she finds herself emotional and nostalgic.

Indeed, the city’s streets filled with medieval charm and grand architecture are like a tapestry of memories, brimming with Sole Ferragamo’s own secret spots and longtime haunts. There’s Giardino di Boboli, the Medici-era gardens filled with grottos,

fountains, and Renaissance statues; Piazza Santo Spirito, with its Brunelleschi-designed church; and the storied Collegio alla Querce, where her father was once a promising young student. Now, the former cultural institution is being transformed into the new luxury hotel, Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection, opening its doors this spring.

When Sole Ferragamo is seeking inspiration, she visits the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi or Simone Taddei, the latter a master leatherworker who crafts one-of-a-kind boxes and accessories. “There is so much heritage in what he makes,” she says. She also returns often to the same small, family-owned cafes and restaurants: 5eCinque, for vegetarian fare that is “simple, homemade, and super high quality,” and Bar Mariano, which has “the best paninis—and they always remember your name.”

Those warm, familiar interactions are what speak to Sole Ferragamo’s love of Florence most—and keep her heart full until her next return to her inimitable hometown. “The personal relationships, seeing the next generation taking over,” she says. “That’s what I love about this city.”

Sole Ferragamo at Bar Mariano.

Previous

spread: Another of Sole Ferragamo’s best-loved spots is 5eCinque for homemade vegetarian fare. Left: The cozy tables at 5eCinque. Above: Sole Ferragamo wears sculptural leather earrings from her So-le Studio collection, which is crafted in Florence.
Inside Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection in Florence, Italy. Set among tranquil hills, oak trees, and stunning gardens, the 16th-century landmark features restored frescoes and architectural details that reveal its illustrious past.

hidden FLORENCE’S ateliers

Behind closed doors at four of the city’s most revered heritage workshops.

Left: At Antica Setificio Fiorentino, silk fabrics are woven on ancient looms to give them their rich luster and texture. Above: Many of these rich fabrics were portrayed in Renaissance paintings alongside noble subjects.

Florence is known for its Renaissance cathedrals, majestic architecture, and works by great masters such as Leonardo di Vinci. But some of its most significant treasures are hidden from plain view: the city’s artisan workshops—many of them centuries old—producing unrivaled crafts by a new generation of masters.

Because Florence is a place where ancient craftsmanship is still revered, age-old skills are kept alive from one generation to the next, passed down in time-honored traditions—and no tour of the city would be complete without a visit to its hidden jewels, from its handwoven silk textiles and delicate feathers to its exquisite gold leaf and evocative fragrances.

Right: Owner Stefano

Antica

In 1786, a group of noble families—della Gherardesca, Corsini, and Agresti among them—established Antico Setificio to collectively house their looms and precious fabric designs. Today, it remains in the same storied location, where artisans work on 200-year-old looms to create luminous silk fabrics, brocades, and textiles that have graced the homes of European royalty and aristocrats for centuries. In 2010, Florentine Stefano Ricci, known

ANTICO SETIFICIO FIORENTINO
From top: Antica Setaficio’s handmade tassels, commissioned by international interior designers; a dress made from the atelier’s extravagant fabric.
Ricci ensured
Setificio’s looms were restored in order to produce some of the world’s most precious textiles.

for his luxury menswear brand and patronage of his home city, purchased the workshop to preserve its quality textiles, which are available by special order.

MAZZANTI PIUME

Since 1935, Mazzanti has been transforming feathers and silk flowers into precious accessories. It’s a skill that requires tremendous patience, artistry, and imagination. “My father and I try to harmoniously mix tradition and innovation using the same artisan techniques passed down with passion for three generations,” says Duccio Mazzanti, whose grandmother founded the business. It takes years for apprentices to master the specialized skill of working with feathers, which today are used in the accessories of global fashion houses.

For 15 generations, the Manetti family has transformed pure gold into precious leaves for use in architecture, design, and home furnishings. Established in the 1600s, the house, still in the hands of the Manetti family today, has applied its knowledge to the restoration and construction of

From top: Mazzanti Piume’s archive of floral accessories; sewing feather creations. Left: Examples of the house’s fanciful heritages works.
GIUSTO MANETTI BATTILORO
At Mazzanti Piume, feathers are carefully steamed, treated, and woven into wearable works of art.

extraordinary venues, from the Palace of Versailles to New York City’s Rockefeller Building, and more recently, Paris’s Fondazione Prada. Today, the family uses the ancient art of gilding, which applies thin gold leaf to different surfaces, on everything from walls and frames to objects to achieve a painterly, layered, glowing finish.

Santa Maria Novella’s story begins in 1221, when newly arrived Dominican friars established a convent where they used herbs and flowers to create remedies. After a rich merchant was healed by their tinctures, he thanked the religious sect by building the San Niccolò–devoted chapel, which today houses the brand’s beloved range of personal and home products. Everything is still made in its Florentine atelier, using many of the original botanical recipes that drew devotees like Catherine de Medici (who commissioned her own signature scent, Acqua Della Regina, still sold at the house today).

From top: Craftsmen at Giusto Manetti Battiloro press fine gold leaf, which is applied to architectural facades and decorative objects; Santa Maria Novella offers a range of natural personal care and home fragrances.
Right: Santa Maria Novella has occupied the same Florence location since 1334.
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA
TEXT BY JACKIE CARADONIO PHOTOS BY GUILLAUME MEGEVAND

FRENCH CONNECTION

Master the art de vivre in France’s storied southwest countryside.

Deep in the heart of the bucolic Charente region, rolling hillsides give way to a oneof-a-kind chateau: Domaine des Etangs. The grand estate has stood for more than seven centuries, since the knights of Chasteignier de la Roche-Posay built its fortified walls. But for Garance Primat, it is a storybook castle where southwest France’s many treasures—art, craft, nature, cuisine—converge.

Primat, a French entrepreneur and prolific art collector, grew up on Domaine des Etang’s vast grounds, and as a child, she and her seven siblings roamed its 2,500 acres, tending to the vegetables in the gardens, feeding the animals on the farm, and exploring the old castle, barns, and cottages. “I grew up very close to the earth—close to nature, close to farmers, close to craftsmen,” Primat says. “Those are the values of the domaine.”

Today, Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Resorts Collection, invites all who pass through its massive stone doors to experience the quintessential French simplicity of Primat’s upbringing—La

France Profonde, as locals call it, an authentic and unspoiled France of artisans and makers, shepherds and farmers.

With Domaine claiming pride of place in the center of this region’s abundant treasures, every day promises a new journey. An hour west lie the generational estates of Cognac, where the commune’s namesake spirit has been artfully blended since the 1500s. Due east, among Limousin’s grazing farmlands, sit the workshops of Agnelle—purveyer of fine gloves to luxury fashion houses the world over—and, just beyond, the celebrated porcelain maker Bernardaud. Travel south for a gastronomic discovery in Brive-la-Gaillarde, where local purveyors convene to peddle delicacies like foie gras and Black Périgord truffle, pur brebis and Roquefort. And a day filled with art lies just outside (and even within) the walls of Domaine des Etangs: Tomás Saraceno’s cloud sculptures hovering over a tranquil lake, Vincent Fournier’s utopic botanicals in the hotel’s lobby.

Whatever the path taken, it leads to new inspirations, new flavors, and new connections to the age-old traditions of La France Profonde and the values of Primat’s beloved domaine.

Domaine des Etang’s stone turrets and fortified walls were erected in the 13th century, and today sit among 2,500 protected acres filled with lakes, forests, meadows, and farmland. The region’s legendary farms, workshops, and Cognac estates are all nearby.

Art, Art, Everywhere

“To me, art is like nature,” Primat says. “It has its own universal language. You don’t have to speak much; you just have to feel it.”

Primat transformed Domaine des Etangs’s dairy house into a formal gallery space where she regularly curates exhibitions, but worldclass art can be found throughout the property—even in the rooms and among the bucolic grounds.

This page, from top: Wang Keping’s La Vénus de l’Etangs; Johan Creten’s Gloire - China Dragon; Irina Rasquinet’s Mère Veilleuse Opposite: Caroline Corbasson’s Touch (Deep field), exhibited in the Salon Femmes.

Taste of Tradition

The flavors of southwest France are wildly diverse, mouth-wateringly fresh, and, above all else, always delicious. The countryside’s Limousin lean beef is legendary, its produce magical. And then there’s the French staples: tangy Saint-Nectaire and creamy Bleu des Causses cheeses and flaky croissants by the dozen.

This page, from top: Scenes from the Brive Market, where purveyors—and devotees—of the region’s gourmet delights convene under the GeorgesBrassens Hall; Domaine des Etang’s potager supplies much of the produce for dishes like the floral mixed salad; fresh garlic at the Brive Market. Opposite: Domaine des Etang’s Limousin cattle. Following spread: Blossoming Swiss chard in the Domaine des Etang garden; strawberries at the Brive Market.

Spirit of the Past

Whiskey’s smoother, softer, subtler cousin was born in the 16th century, devised by Dutch colonists whose French wine soured on the long journeys back to their homeland. Though their distillation process left much to be desired, Cognac locals refined the spirit, barrel-aging it and elevating its characteristics as only the French could do. Today, the brandy’s birthplace is a worthy pligrimage for any spirit drinker. Maison Martell, the oldest of the great Cognac houses, embodies the tipple’s venerable past, as well as its modern evolution, with a Renaissance lounge, a sleek tasting room, and centuries-old vines.

This page, from top: Maison Martell’s heritage vineyards; making a Fleur de Madagascar cocktail at Domaine des Etangs; the modern cellar at Maison Martell. Opposite: Maison Martell’s 300-year-old estate. Following spread: Ugni Blanc grapes and the historic Château de Chanteloup at Maison Martell.

Trade Secrets

A visit to Limousin reveals the inner workings of two of France’s timehonored ateliers. In the medieval town of Saint-Junien, Agnelle has been a fashion house darling for nearly a century, hand-crafting gloves for the likes of Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent. A visit to the circa-1937 workshop offers a glimpse of the atelier’s careful process using the finest Limousin leather——and a chance to make a coveted purchase straight from the source. Thirty minutes east of Saint-Junien lies Limoges, the birthplace of Bernardaud, the heritage ceramics maison with a 161-year legacy. The house has crafted porcelain for French nobility, Indian royalty, and contemporary icons such as artist Jeff Koons and winemaker Robert Mondavi.

This spread: Agnelle’s meticulous glove-making process has remained unchanged for more than 85 years. Following spread, from left: Bernardaud porcelain is cast the traditional way, using a liquid paste called slip; antique Bernardaud vases, painted using brushes made from sable hair.

A stroll on the walkways at Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Photo by Karla Lisker.
TEXT BY JILL NEWMAN PHOTOS BY KARLA LISKER
STYLED BY MARIANA HAGERMAN

Vogue Mexico’s Karla Martínez de Salas hosts a fashionable beachfront fête spotlighting the contemporary designs of her creative coterie.

a la MESA

The ancient crafts of the Mayan people tell the story

of a place where beauty knows no bounds: Ceramics etched with visions of lush mangroves, graceful cranes in flight, glowing fireflies; woven textiles in vivid pinks, cerulean blues, piercing yellows and greens—the colors of the sunset, the hues of sacred plants and animals.

Today, that beauty endures, inspiring a new generation of Mexican artisans who blend the native artistry of their home with fresh imagination. The movement is simultaneously a preservation and an evolution of ancient craft—something Karla Martínez de Salas, editor in chief of Vogue Mexico and Latin America, has observed since she moved to Mexico City from New York City in 2015.

“There’s a new energy in Mexico, where artists are looking inward and finding pride and passion in local crafts,” she says. “There is so much amazing talent here, from fashion designers to artists to furniture makers—you name it.”

It was in that boundless spirit that Martínez de Salas recently hosted a creative lunch at Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection,

bringing together some of her favorite artisans and influential makers from around Mexico to revel in the magnificent Riviera Maya landscapes and celebrate their shared heritage of craftsmanship.

The vibe at Etéreo’s Itzam restaurant was casual and effortlessly stylish, with guests dressed in flowing embroidered kimonos by Tulum’s La Troupe and loosely tailored shirts by Mexico City’s Chava Studio. On the tiled tables, pottery and vessels in matte blue and moody earthtones were compliments of ceramicist Perla Valtierra. “Perla is a great example of the modern Mexican craft movement,” Martínez de Salas says. “Pottery is very much part of Mexican culture, yet she does it in a way that nobody else is doing, and all made by Mexican artisans.”

Known for their wavy edges and rich matte finishes, Perla’s tactile pieces are hand-made in Valtierra’s two workshops in the Bajío region, where traditional ceramics methods have been preserved for centuries. A trained potter herself, Valtierra works alongside generational ceramists to develop her signature pieces. “You can feel the artist’s hand in each piece,” she says.

Left: Perla Valtierra’s ceramics are part of Mexico’s modern craft movement. Previous page: At Itzam, Etéreo’s signature restaurant, the table was set with Perla Valtierra ceramics and Onora Casa textiles, placemats, serving pieces, and glassware.
Left, from top: Mexican creatives celebrated at Itzam; a Johanna Oritz embroidered tablecloth.
Right: Perla Valtierra; Olivia Villanti, founder of Chana Studio; Karla Martínez de Salas; and Ana Thenor of La Troupe.
Above: Martínez de Salas in La Troupe on Etéreo’s white sand beaches.
Right: Dior wicker Lily of the Valley napkin rings and Onora Casa bowl crafted in Mexico.
From left: Fresh tortillas made on Itzam’s wood-fired comal; Martínez de Salas and Thenor learned how to make corn tortillas; Johanna Oritz mini woven bread baskets; Hermès Soleil d’Hermès porcelain plates.
“There’s a new energy in Mexico, where artists are looking inward and finding pride and passion in local crafts.”
KARLA MARTÍNEZ DE SALAS

The artisan’s touch is also at the core of La Troupe’s collection of women’s fashion and accessories. Co-founded by Argentine native Ana Thenor, the lifestyle brand was born of a deep appreciation for Mexico’s maker culture. “We came to visit Tulum 20 years ago and fell in love with Mexican art, culture, and craft,” Thenor says. Along with her two partners, she sources regional crafts from all over Mexico, incorporating traditional craftwork into bohemian-style clothing, such as kimono jackets embroidered with a sun on the back and other Mayan symbols. They collaborate with more than 100 female artisans across Chiapas, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo to use their skills in new ways.

Mexico’s dedication to fine craftsmanship also inspired Olivia Villanto to establish her Chava Studio, in 2020. The brand’s goal is a lofty one—to make custom shirts suited to women’s unique proportions—aided by the country’s long heritage of master tailoring. “Italy and France have a reputation of generational craftsmanship,” Villanto says, “and we have the same in Mexico, but

it has been undervalued.” Using fine fabrics sourced from Europe, each made-to-measure shirt is cut and sewn by local seamstresses.

Martínez de Salas gathered her friends at Che Che, Etéreo’s al fresco Japanese-fusion restaurant, where pre-lunch margaritas were toasted in front of a mural by famed Mexican artist Manuel Felguérez. At Itzam, they sat down to local delights like vuelve a la vida verde, lechén, and Wagyu tetela— all served family style. In the restaurant’s comal surrounded by artisanal baskets, guests took turns trying their hands at tortilla-making, working with a tortillera.

As the sun drew closer to the horizon, the women strolled the walkways above Etéreo’s mangroves before shedding their sandals for the white sand beaches on the Caribbean Sea. Soaking in the beauty of their surroundings, like so many artisans of the past, they watched as the shadows of the palm trees stretched ever longer on the shore, the splendor of this remarkable place once more captivating the imagination of a generation.

Martínez de Salas wore La Troupe separates in front of a mural by
Mexican artist Manuel Felguérez at Etéreo’s Che Che restaurant.
Lunch was served at Itzam restaurant overlooking the beach with Perla Valtierra  ceramics and Onora Casa pillows, textiles, placemats, and glassware.
Martínez de Salas and Valtierra at lunch. Itzam’s sustainable menu was developed by executive chef Carlos Segura, using Mexican traditions, locally grown organic produce, and fresh fish.
Martínez de Salas enjoyed the view from the sunkin firepit. Martínez de Salas and Thenor lounged at Etéreo’s beachside El Changarro restaurant and bar.

THE GREATEST

In the upper echelons of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, a reliable recipe for epic snow serves up a skier’s paradise year after year.

SNOW ON EARTH

“We get snow unlike anywhere else: You can find powder turns two days—sometimes even three days—after a storm, which is unheard of.”
—KAYLIN RICHARDSON, TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN ALPINE SKI RACER

An ideal day on the slopes, carving virgin tracks and kicking up snow to create a ski movie–worthy action shot, depends on how quickly you can be on the mountain after a storm. Thus, planning the perfectly timed ski vacation can be a bit of a sport in and of itself. Time it right and you’ll find the powder of your dreams. Miscalculate, however, and the terrain could be icy—or worse. In Utah, however, the odds are stacked in your favor: Perfect snow is nearly a given, and science backs it up.

The story of Utah’s incomparable snow isn’t a myth; it’s a legacy that started in 1960, when The Salt Lake Tribune editor Tom Korologos waxed poetic about his home state’s 600-mile long, 2.5-mile-high Intermountain region, dubbing it “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” The first known utterance of the now-iconic (and very literal) slogan was no brag—it was an arguable fact—and Korologos offered some meteorological evidence to back it up. “The winds blowing from the west leave the wet, sticky snows in the Sierras,” he wrote. “When the storms reach the Intermountain ranges, only the most perfect dry powder is left.”

In other words, Utah’s snow really is better than almost anywhere else on Earth, and it all comes down to the two Cs. The “blower powder” consistency—what skiers call the dry snow that you can blow from your glove like a dandelion—and consistently good conditions. On average, there are 500 inches of fresh powder sprinkled throughout extended winters that typically span from late October to late April. Even in substandard years elsewhere, the snow is epic: The last two winters brought a record-breaking 1,531 inches, marking the highest two-year total in Utah history.

It all adds up to a skier’s mecca—so much so that pros like American alpine ski racer and two-time Olympian Kaylin Richardson relocated to Park City for it.

“I have skied basically everywhere—South America, New Zealand, all over Europe, even Russia—and there’s something about this little corner of the Rockies,” Richardson says. “We get snow unlike anywhere else: You can find powder turns two days—sometimes even three days—after a storm, which is unheard of. And once it’s groomed out, it

Previous spread: Aerial view of the Wasatch Mountains. Photo by FloridaStock. Left: A gondola in Park City, just outside Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection. Photo by Tim Aukshunas.

rarely gets icy.” Bottom line, she adds: “If you’re trying to hedge your bets and go someplace where you know the snow is going to be good, Utah is the place to go.”

It’s also roomy enough for everyone: pros like Richardson, beginners on their first powder pilgrimage, and every skier inbetween. Currently, Utah is home to more skiable terrain than any other state, and its combined 30,000-plus skiable acres are only growing. Deer Valley Resort— where Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection, is nestled mid-mountain just steps from the Silver Lake Village chairlifts— is in the process of a two-decade-long expansion, which will make it one of the largest ski resorts in North America, and Powder Mountain has announced a $20 million transformation that will include the addition of a first-of-its kind art park on the slopes, inspired by New York’s Storm King Art Center. Come 2034, Utah’s perfect powder will be on display for the world as the state hosts the Winter Olympics. (Both Goldener Hirsch and The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection will be at the center of the Games action, with events held from Midway to Deer Valley and Salt Lake City.)

On piste or off, the texture of Utah’s snow— and the quick access to its world-class resorts—is unlike anywhere in the world. The terrain is unmatched, says extreme ski pioneer Dan Egan. “When you come here,” he says, “you know you will find the powder.”

AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION MOUNTAIN DESTINATIONS

Utah

Goldener Hirsch, Deer Valley

The Lodge at Blue Sky, Park City

Colorado

Element 52, Telluride

Hotel Jerome, Aspen

Madeline Hotel and Residences, Telluride

In any given year, some 500 inches of snow fall in

Right: A snowboarder jumps over a tree stump in the Wasatch Mountains.
Utah’s extended winter season. Photo by Cavan Images.

The new vantage point

Introducing The Residences at Shell Bay, Auberge Resorts Collection, South Florida’s most exclusive private enclave. A world-class private club spanning 150 acres on the Intracoastal Waterway, Shell Bay affords a lifestyle like no other. With dedicated staff at your service, Shell Bay’s extraordinary Greg Norman-designed championship golf course and Racquet Club featuring all four Grand Slam surfaces, pickleball and padel courts are now open for play, alongside a private yacht club and marina and an unparalleled wealth of resort-style amenities.

Named one of the world’s top ten most exclusive golf clubs

1- TO 4-BEDROOMS PRICED FROM $2M

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The high altitude yurt at The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection. Photo by Tim Aukshunas.

As the sun sets on another perfect day on the slopes of Utah and Colorado, unique après offerings light up— and heat up—the night.

Après THE ART OF

For those who love downhill runs as well as those who err more on the side of downtime in the lodge by a roaring fire, après-ski enjoyed in a classic mountain town setting is a common pleasure point for winter’s finest getaways. As the disappearing low winter sun bathes snowy landscapes in hues of orange and pink, unique, unconventional après-ski experiences heat up dining spaces, living rooms and other locales, too, all across the Auberge Resorts Collection.

Follow our lead to some of this season’s most inviting après-ski moments.

HOTEL JEROME, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION | ASPEN, COLORADO

“Whether you ski or not, après-ski is central to the winter experience in Aspen,” says Patrick Davila, General Manager of Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection. The historic property in the heart of downtown Aspen has served as the tony mountain destination’s social hub since 1889. “For most guests, aprèsski is their favorite part of the day,” Davila says.

The hotel goes beyond Aspen’s ubiquitous Champagne and caviar offerings, however, proffering a curated and floating array of elevated post-slope delicacies (think Ossetra caviar and Champagne pairings

from Petrossian, Krug, and Dom Perignon) during “Bumps to Bumps.” The coveted après-ski experience immerses guests in Hotel Jerome’s private heated pools and terrace to enjoy unobstructed views of Aspen Mountain. You can head inside to sip an espresso martini or Negroni, too, while enjoying some of Aspen’s iconic buzzing social scene in the hotel’s Living Room or speakeasy, Bad Harriet. And for something sportier, the hotel’s traditional curling court in The Winter Garden puts a stylish spin on the cult winter sport that dates to 16th century Scotland with a festive menu and libations during “Curling and Cocktails.” Whether you play or just cheer on friends, cozy heated furniture and firepits set the mood for kicking back and celebrating another fine ski day.

And for guests whose idea of post-mountain relaxation involves wellness, Hotel Jerome’s boutique spa Yarrow beckons with Clé de Peau Beauté Mountain Moisture facials infused with hydrating botanicals and body wraps in an infrared sauna that cocoons slope-weary bodies in head-to-toe warmth.

MADELINE HOTEL AND RESIDENCES, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION | TELLURIDE, COLORADO

The rugged San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado entice serious skiers

Dressed for après-ski in Norma Kamali turtleneck catsuit; Moncler puffer; Yves Salomon headpiece; Versace gloves.
Left: Ready to share the “Mountain Mezze” in the Timber Room of Madeline Hotel and Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection, wearing Saint Laurent dress; AEXAE coat; Saint Laurent boots; Crossbow hat. Above: A charcuterie board at Timber Room.
Above: Guests of Madeline Hotel and Residences can enjoy complimentary s’mores kits. On Him: Moncler puffer; Fioroni sweater; NEUW jeans. On Her: Norma Kamali turtleneck catsuit; Moncler puffer; Yves Salomon headpiece. Right: A gondola in Telluride.

and sybarites alike to Telluride, another Rocky Mountain town with a deeply Western heart that plays hard on the slopes and knows how to enjoy itself at night.

“The après scene in Telluride is integral to winter days spent outdoors, and the epic San Juan mountain views are an incredible backdrop for any après activities,” says Bryan Woody, Regional Vice President, Auberge Resorts Collection.

The “base camp for adventure” overlooking Telluride’s town of Mountain Village heralds the start of après-ski every afternoon in a most evocative way. At 4PM, an Alphorn call from a custom-made Swiss Bernatone instrument as authentic as anything you’d hear in the Alps rings out as guests arrive for a daily appearance and cuddle with Cheyenne, Woody’s adorable Saint Bernard. (Woody also blows the horn.)

The post-ski crowds can enjoy a complimentary Champagne toast and swap stories from the slopes in the hotel’s atmospheric Timber Room, where more seasonal libations are served around a roaring fire alongside decadent eats like charcuterie plates, roasted bone marrow and a host of “Mountain Mezze.”

There’s shuffleboard and pool in the hotel’s Great Room, and guests can

receive complimentary s’mores kits— equipped with chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows and skewers—to make the gooey treat at one of the properties many outdoor firescapes. It doesn’t get much more cozy.

“We have it all in Telluride, from relaxed outdoor festivities and local brews to historic watering holes and elevated après-ski experiences,” says Woody.

THE LODGE AT BLUE SKY, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION | PARK CITY, UTAH

Perched on a high alpine field overlooking untamed mountain landscapes not far from bustling Park City Mountain Resort, where its private slopeside ski lounge welcomes guests up the mountain, The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection promises the ultimate Utah ski experience.

It’s no surprise, either, that the remote luxury outpost you can alight at by helicopter (and launch heli-ski tours from, too) levels up the art of après-ski for guests.

“Chilly winter days call for warm, bracing beverages by the fire,” says Joe Ogdie, Blue Sky’s general manager. “Get cozy with a private hot toddy class featuring The Macallan, one of the best singlemalt whisky makers in the world.”

The Alpine Swim Club at Madeline Hotel and Residences, a picturesque outdoor pool and social terrace with panoramic views of Telluride. Wearing Norma Kamali turtleneck catsuit; Moncler puffer; Yves Salomon headpiece.
Guests at The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection, can get cozy with a private hot toddy workshop featuring The Macallan whiskeys. The experience can be enjoyed at The Bar, but whisky lovers who are feeling more adventurous can snowshoe, hike or travel by ATV to Blue Sky’s mountain top yurt for a bespoke feel. Photos by Nick Johnson.

The experience can be enjoyed in The Bar. But for whiskey-lovers who are feeling more adventurous, you can snowshoe, hike or travel by ATV to the Blue Sky’s mountain top yurt for the bespoke hot toddy-making experience. A sommelier details three types of warm beverages perfect for winter adventuring, incorporating Macallan 12-Year, 15-Year and Double Cask Whiskeys into recipes like the Lavender Honey Toddy, which uses organic lavender grown onsite at Gracie’s Farm.

Wherever you decide to tip your glass, you’ll enjoy the experience with light festive bites themed just for the occasion.

For a fashionable spin on après with a strong Western aesthetic, consider Blue Sky’s Kemo Sabe Speakeasy Experience at the iconic shop along Park City’s Main Street. You can custom-design your own Kemo Sabe hat while enjoying chef-curated bites and cocktails purchased in the Speakeasy.

GOLDENER HIRSCH, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION | DEER VALLEY, UTAH

Newly launched last year, Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection’s beloved après-ski venue, the Après Chalet, has become a fast favorite on the

Deer Valley and Park City ski scene and is totally unique in Silver Lake Village.

This season, the hotel is partnering with luxury ski wear and lifestyle brand Perfect Moment to outfit the Chalet with custom seating, warm blankets and “tree” decor inspired by the label’s coveted signature silver puffer jackets.

“Fireplaces throughout the space enhance the atmosphere and ensure guests are cozy and convivial,” says Woody, who also oversees Goldener Hirsch.

Picture yourself celebrating the day’s best runs on the sun-soaked patio here or cozying up fireside with a signature Goldener Hirsch Hot Chocolate. The steaming hot drink is proffered with much theater, hand-poured by your server tableside and presented on a slate tray along with a house-made marshmallow, chantilly cream and an Austrian cookie.

The Express-O Lift Martini is another house favorite cocktail. And if you’re feeling extra indulgent, consider splurging on the Chalet’s extravagant seafood tower and toasting the end of another epic day on the mountain by clinking flutes of Champagne.

Winter in these parts was never more worthy of celebrating.

Him: Brixton jacket; Brunello Cucinelli vest; Neiman Marcus sweater; Levi’s; Balmain boots; Hermes scarf.

Lounging by the fire with a cocktail at Madeline Hotel and Residences. On Her: Saint Laurent dress; AEXAE coat; YSL boots; Crossbow hat; Versace gloves. On
Above: Each day during ski season at 4pm Regional Vice President, Bryan Woody, blows the Alporn at Madeline Hotel and Residences, signaling the start of après. Alongside him, his Saint Bernard Cheyenne greets guests for a complimentary Champagne toast. Right: Crossbow hat and hat box; Moncler sweater; TWP blazer; YSL boots; WP blazer; Moncler sweater; Moncler jeans; YSL suede boot heels; Nili Croc Belt.

winter comforts

A myriad of chefs reveal their favorite cold weather staples.

It’s no secret winter is prime time for hearty dishes served with love. When a chill hits the air, and the sun starts to disappear earlier and earlier, chefs from all over like to nourish themselves and family with recipes that satiate both the appetite and heart—hearty soups and stews to flaky, golden-topped pot pies and luxurious meat braises. We wrangled some of the world’s most esteemed chefs to uncover which flavors they find most satisfying when the outside temperatures start to drop.

CONNOR HOLDREN

PROSPECT, HOTEL JEROME, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION

Braised Short Ribs

“A favorite of mine would have to be braised short ribs! During the winter it really hits home. I love braising them in a classic veal stock with red wine but, for a twist, I make a ‘French onion soup’ braising liquid. It takes a ton of caramelized onions, and when it’s done its uses are endless. A crusty piece of sourdough

with shredded short ribs and caramelized onions can’t be beat!”

DOUGLAS KEANE

CYRUS RESTAURANT (NAPA VALLEY)

Chicken Pot Pie

“Chicken pot pie was something my mom used to take me out for as a special treat when I was a kid. I love chicken pot pie because, when done well, it’s incredibly satisfying. There’s something about it that resonates with people; it taps into a sense of nostalgia, a common thread many of us grew up with.”

MICHAEL SOLOMONOV

COOKNSOLO RESTAURANTS

Mushroom Freekeh Soup

“Mushroom freekeh soup is Zahav’s take on the classic mushroom barley. It’s the perfect soup for a chilly fall or winter night. It’s great to serve to family and friends because you can prep it in advance. It’s vegan, and it’s easy to throw any leftovers in the freezer to then microwave on a weeknight.”

From top: Connor Holdren of Prospect, Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection. Photo by Trevor Trevino; Douglas Keane of Cyrus. Photo by Cynthia Glassell. Left: Michael Solomonov’s mushroom freekah soup. Photo by Michael Persico.

JONATHAN WAXMAN

BARBUTO (NEW YORK CITY)

Celery Root, Parsnip and Rutabaga Gratin

“These earthy, wintry root vegetables are hardy, nutritious and scrumptious. They take some time to coax out their best, but once they have been cooked and they bond, it is glorious. Once mixed with cream, butter and a strong mountain cheese, they are then baked for a good hour or so. The result is special and something I love to make for family in the colder months.”

GUILLERMO TELLEZ

THE LODGE AT BLUE SKY, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION

Pot Pie

“Pot pie is very comforting this time of year. The best part is you can make it with roasted turkey and any other leftovers from Thanksgiving, or even with chicken or lobster. What makes it special is that it evokes memories from family gatherings sitting around the fire and seeing the smiles of loved ones and everyone telling funny stories.”

MARC VETRI

VETRI (PHILADELPHIA)

Braised Rabbit

“Now that the weather is getting cooler we can start braising.

One of my all-time favorite cold-weather dishes to make is braised rabbit with pancetta and polenta. I think people are intimidated by cooking rabbit, but it’s surprisingly simple. It’s hard to mess up a braise so I always encourage people to go outside their comfort zones. It’s a perfect winter dish.”

ZIMMERN

Gumbo, Fried Chicken, Meatloaf, Mac and Cheese, and Mulled Red Wine

“Comfort foods are the ones that remind us of home, that give us a flood of happy memories, typically from simpler, easier times. All winter long I focus on the couple of dozen recipes that never fail to make me feel better—meals in a bowl, rustic tarts, rich and decadent creamy pastas. Gumbo, fried chicken, meatloaf, mac and cheese and mulled red wine are a few of mine.”

LEE ANNE WONG

KOKO HEAD CAFE (HAWAII)

Chicken and Dumplings

“I’m a sucker for classic chicken and dumplings or a big batch of kalbi tang (extra daikon radish!). My two big pot meals when it’s cold out.”

From top: Guillermo Tellez of The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection. Photo by Gabriella Santos Photography; Marc Vetri of Vetri. Photo by Mike Thurk. Right: Andrew Zimmern’s gumbo. Photo by Madeleine Hill.

ANTHONY STAGNARO

STANLY RANCH, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION

Chicken Tinola

“My favorite comfort food by far is chicken tinola, which is a Filipino soup dish. It involves cooking chicken pieces in ginger broth. The warmth and lightness of the broth is so comforting in the colder months. The simplicity of chicken tinola gives each ingredient the chance to shine.”

AMANDA SHULMAN

HER PLACE SUPPER CLUB AND CO-FOUNDER OF LIBBIE LOUP HOSPITALITY

Bean Soup

“I’m a huge soup fan—I want something with big white beans, a bacon-perfumed broth, and enough wilted greens for it to be considered a hot, wet salad. I always have a pot of this bubbling on Sundays to eat throughout the week while at home. It gets a boost from a generous amount of grated Parmigiano and black pepper and a glug of good finishing oil for a fruity finish. Lastly, I’ll throw some olive oil toasted croutons in there for good measure! This is the definition of coldweather comfort for me!”

NOK SUNTARANON

Beef Massaman Curry

“My all-time favorite cold-weather comfort dish is beef Massaman curry. The version I make has potatoes, peanuts, and coconut milk, and it gets served with jasmine rice. This is one of my favorite dishes in the world, and it is so comforting to me because it brings me closer to my childhood with my mother, Kalaya. It is a perfect dish for the winter, very comforting and very filling, and a dish that means so much to me personally.”

ZACH LUDWIG

MADELINE HOTEL & RESIDENCES, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION

Chicken and Dumplings

“I have always been a big fan of chicken and dumplings. There is something so magical about a perfectly roasted chicken shredded and bathed in a sauce supreme. The sauce is made with loads of root vegetables and mushrooms, doused with sweet Pedro Ximenez (white Spanish grape wine), chicken stock, finished with sour cream and lots of herbs. Everytime I make chicken and dumplings I’m reminded of cold Wisconsin winters and time spent playing in the snow.”

Find recipes online at aubergeresorts.com/journal

From top: Anthony Stagnaro of Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection; Amanda Shulman of Her Place Supper Club. Photo by Michael Branscom.
Left: Nok Suntaranon’s massaman curry. Photo by Mike Prince.

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The Mestiz studio workshop in San Miguel de Allende.
Photo by Leandro Bulzzano.

Bespoke

Daniel Valero’s design studio, Mestiz, taps into Mexico’s local artisans to bring ancient creatives seeds into full bloom.

DIN V IVID COL O R

aniel Valero, founder of the colorful, imaginative, and disruptive creative studio, Mestiz, was learning to make sarapes from a pair of brothers who were steeped in the indigenous weaving practice when his perception of what art is shifted.

He noticed how the source of water used to create the shawl’s dyes dictated the quality of its brilliant coloring. And how the specific lines or zigzag patterns spoke in symbols of the prevailing politics and religion of the moment.

“I began to understand crafts as sitespecific to a certain point in history,” the Mexican native says. “When you see an object, it tells a story.”

This led Valero on a creative journey, exploring indigenous crafts—basket weavers handy with wicker in Tequisquiapan; potters in Dolores Hidalgo, known for its rich soil; woodworkers who etched the ornate doors around San Miguel de Allende. In 2015, he established Mestiz as a platform for Mexican craftspeople to apply their techniques in exciting and artistic new ways.

His wildly vibrant designs have more recently caught the attention of global brands, like Hermès, which commissioned Valero to create fantastical scenes for the windows of all five of its Mexico stores earlier this year. And Tequila brand Casa Dragones tapped the creative studio to imagine an elaborate experiential installation at New York’s “Mexico Week: Día De Muertos at Rockefeller Center.”

PHOTOS
“I think that something that is handmade or hand-carved or hand-woven attracts the human hand. It’s very magical.”
—DANIEL VALERO

At the heart of every project is a narrative. Valero and his team of artisans from across central Mexico are telling stories of ancient seeds flowering in a wild postmodern world.

The pieces—textiles, ceramics, and furniture—are imbued with the personality of their birthplaces, the old-world pueblos where they’re fashioned and the bohemian artist colony where Valero is based.

With Valero’s vision like a kaleidoscope, the age-old techniques and materials explode into radical colors and textures that enchant a space and beckon a viewer in close. Oversized lampshades made in hot-pink wicker coiled like snakes. Tables are carved with thumbprint-groove legs and petaled aprons. Plateware and pots are spiked and serrated and spiraled.

“I think that something that is handmade or hand-carved or hand-woven attracts the human hand,” Valero says. “It’s very magical.”

Talk to Valero for any length of time, and it becomes clear magic and wonder appear as a throughline in his career. Items hold spiritual heft. Towns are cast as fairy tale settings. Life is guided by serendipitous turns.

Born in Saltillo, Mexico, where he would later study sarapes with Héctor y Rubén Tamayo, Valero, 35, settled in San Miguel de Allende, a small colonial-era city 170 miles from Mexico City, after a stretch of artistic soul-searching.

He had earned a degree in architecture but felt the work left his hands too clean and his creativity confined in concepts. Later, with a scholarship from the governments of Mexico and France, he studied textile design in Paris.

“As an art and design student, you always feel like you have to be in a big city or a capital to be known and to get connections,” he says. “But I decided that I wanted to decentralize that. I wanted to create from somewhere else and to have that place be known for great quality.”

“I have a big connection with this place,” he continues. “When I arrived in San Miguel, something magical happened and everything just clicked.”

The worn cobblestone streets and colorblocked buildings of San Miguel de Allende have long attracted artists and expats, along with creative-minded Mexicans seeking refuge in a post-pandemic world from the urban sprawl of the capital.

Artist Daniel Valero’s colorful San Miguel workshop. As the designer behind Mestiz, Valero works with talented artisans across Mexico to bring his glorious visions to life.
Founded in 2015, Mestiz is a network of craftspeople with Valero at the center: basket weavers handy with wicker in Tequisquiapan; potters in Dolores Hidalgo, known for its rich soil; woodworkers who etch the ornate doors around San Miguel de Allende.

For Valero, being surrounded by nature and a more bucolic culture close at hand has been invigorating.

“You have traditions that are more alive,” he says. “There are a lot of fireworks, a lot of parties in the street, a lot of parades. You are completely immersed in the routine of a community that is connected with traditions and symbols.”

His studio and showroom, a Wonka-esque fun house stuffed with his creations, is tucked in a backstreet of the city’s lively downtown. Valero spends much of his workday, however, on the highway, driving through the hills of the Mexican lowlands to check in with his workshops.

“The highway is becoming a very important time for me to think and to be alone and connect with my creative process,” he says.

That process is rooted in deep and farreaching relationships with the artisans he has partnered with for years. At first, he takes time to observe the craftspeople in their well-worn cadences, before stepping in with his own ideas.

“We are always moving from small-scale to big-scale and more experimental,” he says.

“It’s something very subtle, like a spark, but it will make you see the space in a new way.”
—DANIEL VALERO

Many of his pieces today are made custom for clients and galleries or sold online, like a series of candy-colored tapestries of fish with the geometric striping of a sarape.

An upcoming project for Auberge Resorts Collection, “Flores Del Mar,” will tell a story of uncontrolled nature through holiday installations. Inspired by the seas and vibrant florals at three of Auberge’s Mexico properties, hanging, tangling floral lamps made of wicker will take over public spaces at Chileno Bay in Los Cabos, Susurros del Corazón in Punta de Mita, and Etéreo in Riviera Maya, each creation completely unique with a distinct color scheme pulled from the surroundings.

“It’s kind of like nature is eating the space,” Valero says.

Inspiration for the scenes came as he explored the grounds of each resort and studied their gardens, clipping flowers like the ruby red blossom of the Tabachín tree at Susurros del Corazón. His hope is that the pieces will recast the spaces in a spellbinding light.

“It’s something very subtle, like a spark,” he says. “But it will make you see the space in a new way.”

In his custom pieces for a holiday installation in three of Auberge Resorts Collection hotels in Mexico— Chileno Bay in Los Cabos, Susurros del Corazón in Punta de Mita, and Etéreo in Riviera Maya— artist Daniel Valero chose distinctive colors for each destination: magenta, red, and purple, respectively.

The Enduring WESTERN WEAR

Allure of

Heritage and high fashion come together to form a distinctly American symbol of style, status and culture.

Western wear has long been a symbol of Americana,

conjuring images of open plains and a frontier spirit. In recent years, this timeless aesthetic has evolved into a luxury fashion statement, blending its iconic roots with high-end craftsmanship and design. What was once practical attire for life on the range has become a symbol of style, status and culture, embraced by celebrities, designers and tastemakers alike.

It likely has been hard not to notice. It’s on TV in the form of the hit series Yellowstone and its many spin offs. Dolly’s back. Beyoncé and Post Malone both have country albums, and have undergone Western makeovers. Young celebs like Kendall Jenner, and Emily Ratajkowski have stepped out in hallmarks of the aesthetic. Bella Hadid made a show stopping appearance at New York Fashion Week on horseback, donning chaps and an elegant cowboy hat.

The appeal of Western wear lies, in part, in its connection to nature and simplicity. High-quality materials such as

leather, denim, and suede evoke a sense of authenticity and craftsmanship. In an age of fast fashion, these timeless pieces speak to a slower, more deliberate approach to style—one that values heritage and longevity.

Perhaps that is why luxury brands have seen fit to jump into the arena and reimagine these pieces, elevating them with fine materials, intricate detailing, and modern cuts. Brands like Louis Vuillton, Isabel Marant, Chanel and Balmain have all integrated Western-inspired elements into recent collections. And labels with deep roots in the culture, such as El Paso’s Lucchese, established in 1883, are experiencing a potent revival.

As designers continue to reinterpret Western wear through a luxury lens, its appeal only grows. It is a reminder fashion can be both rooted in history and forward-looking, offering a perfect blend of the past and present for today’s sophisticated, style-conscious audience.

In the Mansion Library at Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Austin, a vintage poker table is pulled out for a friendly game of Texas Hold ‘Em. From left: Midland’s Cam Duddy (bass) wears Nylo Wool pants; boots from Rich Cast of Characters; Mark Wystrach (lead vocals, guitar) wears a Lucchese jacket, Nylo Wool pants; Jess Carson (guitar) is outfitted in a Gucci blazer.
Midland in the tub of the Mr. and Mrs Perry Suite.

One group who fit inside that mold is Austin-based three piece Midland. The country outfit formed a decade ago, and when their debut Midland EP dropped in 2016 music fans took a keen interest in their attire, which mixed vintage, curated Western looks with high fashion. Early on, chatter about their sartorial choices threatened to drown out their musical output, and may have done so had they not scored a massive hit, “Drinkin’ Problem,” off that first effort.

Now, ten years on, and with a new album out, Barely Blue, the trio are rightly seen as forebearers of Western style’s current wave.

We invited Midland—Mark Wystrach (lead vocals, guitar), Cam Duddy (bass), Jess Cason (guitar)—to Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, where they’re proud members and were the debut performers for the Estate Music Series, to show off some of their favorite looks, both from their own closets and from different designers they admire.

In the stately, 10-acre European-style garden at the Commodore Perry, a Gatsby-era Italian Renaissance revival manor in Austin, Texas. Cam wears Nylo Wool pants and clothes from his own closet; Mark wears a Nylo Wool shirt and pants from Tom Ford; Jess’s outfit his own. Next page: Jess in a Dries Van Noten shirt.
Midland on the grounds at Commodore Perry Estate.

Western wear’s enduring popularity lies in its authenticity…whether through music, film, or fashion, the aesthetic remains a symbol of freedom, individuality and timeless charm.

Above: Midland’s Mark Wystrach in the Mr. and Mrs. Perry Suite at Commodore Perry Estate. Left: In the suite, Cam wears Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses; Casablanca blazer; Jess’s outfit from his own closet.
The boys of Midland. New album Barely Blue out now. Mark wears a jacket from Lucchese; Jess dressed in a Gucci blazer.
Midland celebrates at Commodore Perry Estate in their native Austin, Texas. Cam’s full suit by Casablanca; hat by Stetson.

CHAD DORSEY’S

INIMITABLE LUXURY

The renowned Dallas-based interior designer’s projects are relaxed, refined, and authentic—just like the man himself.

Effortless and calming. Luxurious but never pretentious.

This is how Chad Dorsey talks about his projects, but Dallas’s most prolific architect and interior designer could just as easily be talking about himself. His lilting Eastern Tennessee drawl is indeed effortless and calming, putting anyone who comes into contact with him instantly at ease. And his design ethos—“relaxed luxury,” as he succinctly puts it—is a true manifestation of his own personal style: crisp and tailored, unfussy yet perfectly polished.

Dorsey may literally wear his good taste on his sleeve, but his affinity for architecture and design was apparent long before his luxurious residences were gracing the pages of Elle Decor and Architectural Digest. “I grew up drawing floor plans when I was five,” he says with a laugh. “I have always loved the art of how things function and go together.”

began designing large-scale sports arenas and stadiums. “It was very interesting for a few years,” he says, “but I decided I wanted to do something different.”

If logic and planning had gotten him this far, it was passion that led him next to Dallas, where he cut his teeth in the world of interiors, working for some of the city’s top firms in corporate architecture and hospitality design, while flipping houses with a partner in his spare time. Eventually, that side hustle blossomed beyond all expectation, and in 2012 Chad Dorsey Design was born.

Following spread: Dorsey’s designs in

This natural-born talent led him down a circuitous path to the monumental career he now enjoys. He trained as an architect—an obvious choice given his unusual childhood pastime—and immediately out of school

True to form, Dorsey’s projects, though widely divergent, always carry an air of effortless grace, whether an art collector’s gallery-like abode, a sophisticated Hamptons-inspired estate, or his own former home, a sun-soaked Dallas retreat à la Malibu that he lovingly dubbed “The Surf Shack.” His Velasco Residence is especially representative of his style, with its handmade-brick façade, romantic Spanish tiles, and grand archways complemented

Previous spread, left: Photo by Cody Ulrich; right: Photo by Trevor Tondro.
Left: Interior designer Chad Dorsey poses in The Great Hall he designed at Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection’s sprawling property in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Dorsey grew up nearby in Eastern Tennessee.
Primland’s entrance and signature restaurant, Leatherflower. Photos by Nick Johnson.

by interiors filled with natural woods, Arabescato marble, and custom furnishings like an exquisite cerused oak table with brass legs designed by Dorsey himself.

Of course, effortless does not mean simple or easy. Quite the contrary, Dorsey’s projects are possible only through the marriage of his meticulous architect’s training and his passionate designer’s eye—not to mention his Southern charm, which he uses to draw out the wants and desires of his clients. He’s a triple threat, the rare talent that can draw up the plans, dress up the insides down the smallest detail, and convey it all through rose-colored glasses for even the most demanding clientele.

“It’s a case of like-mindedness, and working with kindred spirits in unconventionality”, says Dorsey. “I’m eclectic and sort of off the beaten path. The people who come to me are not looking for something mainstream; they want something special.”

That definitive point of view was the basis for a deep connection with one of Dorsey’s most recent projects: Primland, Auberge Resorts

Collection’s sprawling property in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where he was tasked with reimagining the public spaces and signature restaurant and designing the first luxury residence on property, Hawk Eye.

It was a homecoming of sorts for the Tennessean turned Texan. “I grew up two and a half hours from there. I know what the region is like, and I’ve been there a lot over my lifetime,” he says. “It’s thousands of acres with incredible views, and the architecture is a beautiful Southern vernacular. It sits on top of a picturesque mountain. It’s very remote. That’s part of the enjoyment of being there.”

Naturally, Primland’s singular setting was an inspiration. “I immediately wanted it to feel more Virginian, like a place to come home to,” Dorsey says. Looking as much to the region’s natural beauty and inherent charm as to his own roots in the area, he envisioned an elevated Southern Virginia inn: American quilts and curated antiques blended with Pierre Frey wallcoverings and custom furnishings; roaring fireplaces with hand-carved wooden mantels and walls covered in bookshelves and local artworks.

A Dorsey outdoor design.
Photo by Trevor Tondro.
Left and above: Dorsey often incorporates wood and stone into his work. Those natural elements, “plus metal, come together to create details and furnishings we design for our spaces.” Photos by Trevor Tondro.
“To me, luxury isn’t necessarily a dollar amount. It’s something that provides comfort and peace.”
—CHAD DORSEY

In the resort’s redefined signature restaurant, Leatherflower, Dorsey expressed the culinary culture of Southern Appalachia with a touch of French bistro flair via rustic exposed beams and floral grasscloth wallcoverings. Meanwhile, the property’s newest accommodation and first luxury residence, Hawk Eye, was the project’s coup de grâce, with six bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and a dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass A-frame window overlooking the serene surroundings Dorsey knows so intimately.

Lately, Dorsey has been both expanding and fine-tuning his skills. His designer’s eye has recently been trained on the heart of the home: the fireplace. In early 2024, he launched STRIKE 2.0, his second collection of bespoke sculptural stone fireplaces, available through luxury tile atelier Ann Sacks. And on the other end of the spectrum? His biggest project to date: designing the 48 residences at The Knox, Auberge Resorts Collection’s

new luxury hotel and private residences in Dallas’s vibrant Knox district.

Expanding his relaxed luxury aesthetic to a whole new scale is a dream gig, says Dorsey— and one deserving of his best work yet. There will be chef’s kitchens and “Texas-size bars” for entertaining; plank oak floors and varnished brass hardware; and panoramic views over some of his favorite Dallas landmarks. It’s a defining feather in the architectu’s illustrious cap, and the evolution of an ethos built on designing from the heart. (For their part, the glamorous residences are already making their mark on the Dallas market, fetching record sales by a wide margin—two years out from completion.)

“To me, luxury isn’t necessarily a dollar amount. It’s something that provides comfort and peace,” Dorsey says. “When you walk into any space, you want it to be all of these things—luxurious, elegant—but ultimately, all anyone really wants is to feel like they’re at home.”

In one of Dorsey’s residential home projects, the kitchen exudes the “relaxed luxury” for which the architect and designer is known.
Photo by Trevor Tondro.
One of three beachfront infinity pools at Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection. Photo by Douglas Lyle Thompson.

wellbeing TRANSFORMATIVE PATHS TO

Each personalized offering starts with a tailored experience that harnesses the power of nature.

Wellbeing is an art—and like art, it means something different to everyone. For some, it’s a peaceful journey in silence or an invigorating movement that awakens the senses. For others, it is a therapeutic massage, restorative sound bath, or exhilarating ice plunge. It can be traditional or state-of-the-art, relaxing or stimulating. Oftentimes, it falls somewhere in between. And in every case, it is personal.

At Auberge Resorts Collection, the path to wellbeing is tailored—an individualized experience that begins even before treatments start. “We encourage our guests to have a consultation with one of the spa’s health coaches to discuss their needs and goals,” says Vivianne Garcia-Tunon, Auberge Resorts Collection’s vice president of wellbeing. The aim of any wellness journey, she explains, is a gestalt of experiences, far more impactful than any single treatment.

“It is a holistic approach to wellbeing that unfolds during the guest’s visit,” she says, “and can often be continued when they return home.”

Every Auberge wellbeing journey connects the body and mind with the elements of nature through the use of heat, cold, and earth—along with pretreatment rituals designed to deliver long-lasting therapeutic benefits. Combined, they are a force for

change: Heat promotes relaxation and detoxification, improves heart health and joint mobility, and relieves muscle aches tension; cold invigorates the senses and boosts circulation, awakening the body’s natural vitality; and exposure to nature offers a vital sense of grounding. Finally, movement with curated yoga sessions, dynamic fitness classes, and outdoor adventures, ground the body while enhancing strength and flexibility. These activities, especially combined with pretreatments, will unlock a deeper sense of whatever it is you are trying to achieve in your wellbeing journey.

FIRE

Heat is a powerful tool, activating a process in the body called retrostatis and derivation. “Heat causes the fluids and blood that are normally close to the vital organs in the torso and heart to move to the appendicular skeleton: your arms, your feet,” says GarciaTunon. “It activates blood flow, muscle contraction, respiration, and circulation.”

What those processes ultimately lead to is a natural state of relaxation—especially when experienced as a pretreatment prior to deep stretching or a massage.

Auberge harnesses the power of heat across numerous wellness offerings, including the infrared sauna at Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection in Fort

The sound bath ritual at THE WELL at Chileno Bay Resort and Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection. Photo by Studio Eminence Photography.
Situated along the banks of Alexander Creek beside the tented Edge Sanctuary, the cold plunge at The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection invites guests to invigorate their mind, body, and spirit. Using spring-fed water from the creek, the two cold plunge tubs are kept between a brisk 38 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit. The cold plunge experience is led by a Wim Hof–accredited expert to guide guests through preparation and breatahing techniques. Photos by Nick Johnson.
Above: At Susurros del Corazon’s ONDA, an Auberge Spa, a large relaxation room offers refuge beetween wellness activities. Styled by Mariana Hagerman. Right: A reflection pond and breezeway at ONDA. Photos by Douglas Lyle Thompson.
“What awaits on the other side is a calm Zen-like state, where reflection and realization come from a relaxed nervous system and increased oxygen to the body.”
—DEE DEE LANTZY, WIM HOF INSTRUCTOR

Worth, Texas. One of infrared’s strengths, says Garcia-Tunon, is its ability to work at a lower—and more comfortable—degree of heat, between 120 and 140 degrees.

“This lower heat is deeply penetrating,” she says. “It is recommended for autoimmune conditions, joint pain, and chronic fatigue. It can also have a positive impact on people suffering from psoriasis or arthritis because deeply penetrating heat soothes the muscles and the nervous system.”

ICE

While heat stimulates relaxation, cold naturally does the opposite, flushing the blood in our limbs and legs back into the internal organs. “That process oxygenates the blood and creates the therapeutic contrast benefits,” says Garcia-Tunon. Cold is also a huge asset in muscle recovery, and is recommended as a post-treatment, following a rigorous training or cardio session.

Pretreatments like cooler baths, breathing techniques, and sound baths prepare the body and mind for frigid temperatures. At the Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection in Utah, Wim Hof–certified instructor Dee Dee Lantzy has developed a “transformative” two-hour immersion that reaps the benefits of cold therapy—and incorporates vital pre–ice bath breathing. “If

the breath isn’t harnessed, the mind runs wild,” says Lantzy. “We apply stress in the form of an ice bath, then using the breath as a decoder ring, we harness the power of the mind.” What awaits on the other side is a calm Zen-like state, where reflection and realization come from a relaxed nervous system and increased oxygen to the body.

Springhouse at Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Napa Valley, offers more cold therapy, this time with the added benefit of heat for a healing circuit that utilizes the benefits of both temperature extremes. Plunges in a cold bath—which reduces inflammation and muscle soreness— can be alternated with dry heat in the cedar sauna and wet heat in the steam room. The former detoxifies the body and aids relaxation, while the latter improves circulation. The facilities at Springhouse also include a tepidarium and a hyperbaric chamber, creating a hot-and-cold journey that works wonders as both a pretreatment relaxant and a post-workout recovery.

With each wellbeing experience at Auberge Resorts Collection, the spirit of the destination also becomes part of the immersive experience. At ONDA, an Auberge Spa at Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Punta de Mita, Mexico the cold plunge and bathhouse,

At Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Costa Rica, guests can immerse themselves in a natural river bath ritual, which starts with an aura cleanse and detoxifying coffee scrub before a dip in the natural water.

Ingalls.

Photo by The
THE WELL at Chileno Bay Resort and Residences, a wellbeing destination that combines modern and ancient therapies. Photos by Chad Wadsworth.
The Lavendar Barn at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection. Photos by The Ingalls.

The biophilic whirlpool at THE WELL at Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Litchfield, Connecticut. “The entire space is filled with nature and plants,” says Vivianne Garcia-Tunon, Auberge Resorts Collection’s vice president of wellbeing.

“You’re completely surrounded in nature even though you’re inside.”

for example, are in a communal space that reflects Mexican culture and spirit.

“We know that cold bathing will activate those dopamine receptors and the happy hormones,” says Garcia-Tunon. “We wanted to ensure that guests can enjoy that within a social space.”

EARTH

A deep connection to the earth—whether through mineral-rich mud treatments, forest bathing, or outdoor meditation— offers a sense of grounding and a reconnection to the natural world.

“There’s scientific research on the power of nature, whether it’s decreasing free radicals and eliminating harmful hormones, or improving our blood pressure or our overall sense of wellbeing,” says Garcia-Tunon. It calibrates our circadian rhythms, which helps us achieve better sleep—the holy grail of wellbeing. “Regardless of exercise, cold or hot, or eating well, if you’re not sleeping well, you’re not going to be well.”

A profound sense of nature imbues every Auberge Spa, allowing relaxation to set in long before treatments begin. At THE WELL at Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection, guests can submerge themselves in the mellow waters of a biophilic whirlpool surrounded by a forest of plants and nature. At Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Costa Rica, they can immerse themselves in a natural riverside bath, which starts with an aura cleanse and detoxifying coffee scrub, before jumping into the flowing

waters of the Calientillo River, followed by a fire-heated bath soak to warm their muscles.

The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Los Olivos, is another place nature promises instant relaxation. At its Lavender Barn spa, where a fragrant wall of lavender bouquets permeates the air, age-old remedies rely on natural ingredients such as clay and essential oils local to Los Olivos’s rich soil, which nourishes the skin and the soul. Elements such as magnesium act as a post-clay exfoliation, providing a soothing effect to the muscles.

The natural sensation of vibration can also prepare us for relaxation, says Garcia-Tunon. “If you get a massage but are very tense until the last two minutes of it, you’re not able to properly receive it,” she says. “But if you step into, say, the sound bowl at Chileno Bay, Auberge Resorts Collection, and the vibrations allow you to relax before the laying of hands, you’re present throughout.”

The Los Cabos resort also has an outdoor bathhouse with a new interactive installation featuring a wall of pentatonic tubes for touch, sound, and vibrations, providing still more pretreatment unwinding.

The immersive wellbeing experience doesn’t end once guests leave the property, says Garcia-Tunon. “Our therapists and coaches offer advice that helps guests incorporate these elements into their lives,” she says. Whether it’s daily stretching, weekly cold baths, or a Pilates class once a month, the goal is to instill a sense of wellbeing that is long-lasting.

Experience the WORLD of AUBERGE

Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley, California

Bishop’s Lodge, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Bowie House, Fort Worth, Texas

Chileno Bay, Los Cabos, Mexico

Commodore Perry Estate, Austin, Texas

Domaine des Etangs, Massignac, France

Element 52, Telluride, Colorado

Esperanza, Los Cabos, Mexico

Etéreo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Goldener Hirsch, Deer Valley, Utah

Grace Hotel, Santorini, Greece

Hacienda AltaGracia, Costa Rica

Hotel Jerome, Aspen, Colorado

Madeline, Telluride, Colorado

Mauna Lani, Hawaii

Mayflower Inn and Spa, Washington, Connecticut

Primland, Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia

Sleeping Indian Lodge, Ridgway, Colorado

Solage, Napa Valley, California

Stanly Ranch, Napa Valley, California

Susurros del Corazón, Punta de Mita, Mexico

The Dunlin, Kiawah River, South Carolina

The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Los Olivos, California

The Lodge at Blue Sky, Park City, Utah

The Vanderbilt, Newport, Rhode Island

White Barn Inn, Kennebunk, Maine

Wildflower Farms, Hudson Valley, New York

COMING SOON

Collegio alla Querce, Florence, Italy (March 2025)

Cambridge House, London, United Kingdom (2025)

Shell Bay, Florida (2026)

The Hearst Hotel, San Francisco, California (2026)

The Knox, Dallas, Texas (2026)

Shore Club, Miami Beach, Florida (2027)

The Birdsall, Houston, Texas (2027)

Photo by Paul Desmond
Collegio alla Querce appears in “Maria Sole Ferragamo’s Window to Florence.” Photo by Stefano Scata.
Domaine des Etangs is featured in “French Connection.” Photo by Manu Heslop.
The story “A La Mesa” was shot at Etéreo. Photo by The Ingalls.
The Lodge at Blue Sky is featured in “The Art of Après” and “Wellness at Auberge.”
Hotel Jerome is featured in “The Art of Après.” Photo by Kevin Drelon.
Goldener Hirsch is featuerd in “The Art of Après.” Photo by The Ingalls.
Commodore Perry Estate is featured in “The Enduring Allure of Western Wear.” Photo by Douglas Friedman.
Susurros del Corazón is featured in “Wellness at Auberge.” Photo by The Ingalls.

Glimps e

Photo courtesy of Cece Fine Jewellery

St a rt to Finish

Cece Jewellery’s hand-engraved Insignia Pendant’s diamond dial rotates to choose the wearer’s muse of the moment: the formidable lion, the lovestruck cherub, the freespirited sparrow, the graceful whale.
Opposite: Cece Fein Hughes (top). Each piece begins with a watercolor painting depicting icons, landscapes, or important symbols. The painting is then recreated in champlevé enamel and fused with 18-karat gold. Photos courtesy of Cece Fine Jewellery.

Cece Jewellery brings fairytales to life in gold and enamel.

Cece Fein Hughes wears her heart on her sleeve, or, more precisely, on her fingers and around her neck. The London-based jeweler expresses herself—and her clients—in lyrical imagery of romance, fairy tales, and nature, all hand-crafted on canvases of enamel and gold.

Each of her creations is the result of a careful process that begins with a painting—a fantastical scene or whimsical icon born of vivid imagination and childlike wonder. Fein Hughes’s finely detailed watercolor is then transformed into a miniature work of art by master artisans in London’s historic jewelry-making center, Hatton Garden. Crafted with champlevé—a Byzantine-era technique whereby metal is engraved, then painted with powdered-glass enamel— each illustration comes to life in vivid, one-of-a-kind color.

After the custom hue is applied, the work in progress is fired in a kiln to form enamel, which is then fused with 18-karat gold. A satin-like, glowing finish is achieved through careful polishing, after which the designs are embellished with delicate diamonds, gemstones, and tiny pearls.

What follows is pure, wearable fantasy—talismans telling rich and meaningful tales: lovers’ lockets, pendants, and signet rings bearing scenes of lucky clovers or secret gardens, slithering snakes or fluttering butterflies, hearts aflame or cherubs in flight.

Fein Hughes’s inspirations are many, derived from childhood summers spent in pastoral Devon—where she was immersed in the English moorland’s folklore—

as well as her family of free-thinking creatives. Her father, a deep-sea diver whose arms are covered in tattoos, serves as a special muse, influencing depictions of nautical imagery such as swallows, mermaids, and diamond constellations. “There’s something romantic about nautical tattoos,” Fein Hughes says. “I think of my designs as contemporary tattoos.”

Fein Hughes’s modern-day heirlooms are often the result of collaboration blending clients’ memories and mementos with her own. “I get to know a client, listen to their stories, and interpret their vision,” the designer says. A recent commission for Taylor Swift rendered the musician’s beloved blue-eyed feline Benjamin Button on a signet ring, surrounded by a halo of diamonds. On either side, an enflamed heart pierced by two swords was marked with 78 and 13, two numbers of significance to Swift. Other custom creations embody more personal sentiments: A modern family crest represents generational pride; a serene landscape reminds the wearer of home; a dragon and phoenix symbolize strength, passion, kindness, and grace.

Fein Hughes’s own ring, meanwhile, bears another personal symbol of great import: a wild-maned lion, topped with a diamond-studded crown. “It’s a sign of courage and fierceness,” she says, “and a reminder to always be brave.”

Top: Fein Hughes searches for unique heart-shaped diamonds for her handmade 18-karat gold pedant necklaces. Bottom: Fein Hughes’s creative process starts with storytelling, weaving her own inspirations with those of her clients to craft talismans rich with personal meaning, such as her feline signet ring created for Taylor Swift. Opposite: A sparrow in flight, inspired by an illustrated children’s book, graces a pendant and signet ring, surrounded by diamonds and enhanced with hand-etched engravings of stars and anchors.
Austin-based tastemaker Camille Styles shares an insider’s guide to her favorite locales around the city.

Though she’s from Fort Worth originally, Camille Styles—bestselling author and founder/ Editor-in-Chief of the eponymous site and owner of home goods brand Casa Zuma— had only visited Austin a couple times.

After college graduation in Missouri, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion. It wasn’t until then, while visiting a friend in the Lone Star State’s capital, that she really considered Austin. “This was in 2006 and I fell in love with the laid-back culture, the creativity,” she says. “The warmth of the people, the food, all of it. I just loved it.”

She found the city “at a point where I really wanted to choose a place I could see myself building a life. And so I moved to Austin, kind of on a whim, and never looked back.”

Now there nearly 20 years she’s become somewhat of an evangelist for the city, often hosting friends from out of town, sometimes convincing them to move (though the city does a fair bit of convincing itself).

“I think there is just such a magnetic quality to Austin,” she says. “Most people have chosen to move here because they’re drawn to the community and the culture. And what I think of when I think of Austin is just the warmth of the people, there’s a real collaborative nature among creatives. I’m just so grateful to call it home.”

Here, Styles shares her guide to her favorite locales in Austin.

JUICELAND

Multiple locations.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in Los Angeles and New

York and other cities where people swear by their smoothies. And I still say that you cannot beat Juiceland. They just make the absolute best smoothies in the world. One of my favorite things to do in the morning is go for a trail walk with a friend and then hit up Juiceland. There’s a reason they’ve been around for decades.”

COMEDOR

501 Colorado St.

“Comedor is my favorite, higher-end, Mexican spot. It’s a really special dining experience. The atmosphere really reminds me of some of the most beautiful restaurants in Mexico City. They change up the menu seasonally to really use the best ingredients. But one of the signature dishes that everyone gets are the bone marrow tacos. They’re not to be missed.”

FIRST LIGHT BOOKSTORE

4300 Speedway Unit 104

“First Light is delightful and gorgeous, a special curated bookstore that sells special art books and cookbooks and children’s books you don’t see anywhere else. It’s become my favorite place to meet a friend for coffee, and just kind of get lost in there. There’s always something new to discover.”

COMMODORE PERRY ESTATE

4100 Red River St.

“The [hotel] is just so special. When you step onto the property, you really are leaving the hustle and bustle of downtown and entering this very peaceful retreat, looking out over this spectacular garden—it has a really magical feel. The building is just gorgeous. The food [at Lutie’s] is great. They have really expertly curated members’ events. Everything is always just done to perfection, all of the little details are very intentional. It’s such a charming place to sit and enjoy the day.”

Styles has now lived in Austin 20 years and has several go-to spots in the city. Photo by Michelle Nash.
This page, clockwise from top: In the airy and bright First Light Bookstore; Juiceland; The bone marrow tacos at Comedor are “not to be missed,” says Styles; the interior of Comedor, the atmosphere of which reminds Styles of “the most beautiful restaurants in Mexico City.”
Photos by Chad Wadsworth. Opposite: Camille Styles in Bufalina, her favorite pizza spot in Austin. Photo by Kristen Kilpatrick.
PHOTOS BY JEFFREY WESTBOOK STYLED BY CHARLES BUMGARDNER

“My winter travel bag is filled with items that keep me chic, comfortable, and incredibly warm: shearling gloves from Hermès, a Moscot tortoise shell wide-tooth comb, and my Thom Browne passport holder. I also always pack one of Ralph Lauren’s special-edition hand-knit sweaters. They are heirloom quality and make the best cold-weather travel companions.”

Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses wrap cardigan ($1,298, ralphlauren.com); Hermès Royal gloves ($1,375 hermes.com); Moscot comb ($75, moscot.com); Thom Browne leather passport holder ($390, thombrowne.com)

Mrs. Alice Blue Ikat Tote Bag ($218, mrsalice.com); Miu Miu Runway sunglasses ($575, miumiu.com); Briony Raymond Zodiac 18-karat gold medallion ($10,500, brionyraymond.com)

ALICE

“Santorini holds a special place in my heart—and so does my Mrs. Alice Tote Bag, which is inspired by the Greek Isle’s colors, sights, and seaside charm. It’s the ultimate getaway carry-all. I accessorize it with a pair of Miu Miu sunglasses and my Aries necklace from Briony Raymond’s Zodiac collection.”

Saks Fifth Avenue’s high jewelry is a modern homage to elevated classics, such as these exceptional white and yellow diamond rings. Opposite: A round diamond rivière necklace and matching stud earrings.

A Cut ABOVE

A century after its founding, Saks Fifth Avenue launches its first-ever high jewelry collection.

When Saks Fifth Avenue opened its doors for the first time on September 16, 1924, it was the greatest retail moment New York City had ever seen. Thousands— including, rumor had it, the Prince of Wales—were in attendance, lured by the promise of a new, ultra exclusive shopping experience. A century later, the storied department store’s first high jewelry collection is causing a similar stir for its exceptional diamonds, custom designs, and personal service.

Fittingly, the 200-piece debut collection leans into the classics—but with a clean, modern flair. A pair of radiant-cut fancy intense yellow diamonds is set in gold drop earrings; a simple diamond tennis

bracelet is elevated by a collection of stones set without any visible metal, giving the appearance of floating against the skin. From a rare 100-carat pear-shaped pendant to investment-worthy fancy colored pink and blue diamonds, every piece is crafted to spotlight the singular beauty of stones.

Saks Fifth Avenue’s high jewelry team will also work with clients to fulfill special and rare requests, be it a custom cushion-cut or a carat weight that reflects a meaningful number, such as a birthday or anniversary. Indeed, the service, available by private appointment and through the Fifth Avenue Club, may be the most exclusive thing to happen to the brand since 1924.

HOTEL JEROME’S BAD HARRIET D LADY RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

1 ¾ oz Empress Gin

¼ oz St. Germain

Elderflower Liqueur

¾ oz Lemon juice

½ oz English Breakfast Tea Syrup*

Egg White

RECIPE

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Dry shake, to emulsify the egg, with the rest of the cocktail. Add ice, shake and strain carefully into a chilled coupe cocktail glass. Garnish with an array of edible micro flowers.

*English tea syrup: Brew a strong 8 oz cup of English breakfast tea. Whilst still warm, dissolve 8 oz of sugar. Store and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

A number of cocktails served at Bad Harriet, Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection, are named after powerful and influential women, among them the D Lady, which is inspired by the iconic Princess Diana.
Photo by Shawn O’Connor.

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