weekender
EDITED BY SHARON BRADLEY
BEST BUYS, HOT SPOTS, NEW IDEAS
DREAM DESTINATION
THE XARA PALACE, MALTA
Nestled in the old walled city of Mdina, Xara is home to 17 elegantly furnished suites. The Relais & Châteaux property was originally the exquisite home of a noble family but during World War II, British soldiers used it as a mess hall. Purchased by a local family in 1996, the property underwent three years of thoughtful restoration (the architects used original plans to help recreate an authentic 17th-century feel): now, every charming nook and cranny echoes its rich history, while exploring the grounds is to stroll through epochs. Don’t miss watching the sun sink below the horizon from the luxurious vantage point of the terrace; afterwards, adjourn to de Mondion for a lavish dinner: think wellexecuted modern Mediterranean fare combined with five-star service. tatyana leonov MISRAH IL-KUNSILL, MDINA, MALTA; FROM €210 A NIGHT; XARAPALACE.COM.MT.
we love Just in time for Christmas, the French boutique perfume house, Annick Goutal, has released a trilogy of Oriental fragrances for men and women to share, each one celebrating an exotic hero ingredient: amber (Ambre Sauvage), oud (1001 Ouds) and vanilla (Vanille Charnelle). Lucky enough to sample the latter, we have to say that the vanilla bean, here mingling beautifully in the company of ylang ylang, pepper, tonka bean, white musk and vetiver, is a thing totally apart from the cloyingly sweet, cake-mix perfumes
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London-based jeweller extraordinaire Vicki Ambery-Smith expresses her love of architecture in surprising, wearable form. Crafted painstakingly from silver and gold, her finely detailed interpretations of interesting buildings from all around the world include brooches, necklaces, rings, earrings and cufflinks showing structures as varied as London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, Venice’s Rialto Bridge and the Olomouc Synagogue in the Czech Republic. There’s even a ring featuring the towers of San Gimignano, their golden facades appearing to glint in the dying rays of a Tuscan sunset. Ambery-Smith says her creations are designed to be worn comfortably; as a result, she adapts rather than replicates. And, yes, in case you’re wondering, her portfolio of designs includes the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, too. Small is, indeed, very beautiful. ARCHITECTURAL RING WITH YELLOW AND ROSE GOLD, $3340; KIFANDKATAST.COM AND VICKIAMBERYSMITH.CO.UK.
DRINKS & NIBBLES
$35
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Object of desire
KARTELL
cocktail glass spacefurniture.com.au
$55
KEYKLIPZ
bottle opener top3.com.au
COMPILED BY TARA AXFORD
$90
SALT & PEPPER cocktail set myer.com.au
$165
GEORG JENSEN
cheese server davidjones.com.au
$230
X TOM DIXON
decanter thirddrawerdown.com.au
$295
HARRY & CAMILA
replica bar stool mattblatt.com.au
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weekender
EDITED BY SHARON BRADLEY
BEST BUYS, HOT SPOTS, NEW IDEAS
of misspent adolescence: this is something dark, mysterious, opulent and so captivating that you’d better get used to people asking you what you’re wearing on the bus. Yes, it’s expensive, but think of it as an olfactory treat to share with your favourite plus one. If you can bear to let it out of your sight.
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LES ABSOLUS D’ANNICK GOUTALE, $355 (75ML) EACH; AT SELECT DAVID JONES.
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