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INANDA POLO CLUB
Nedbank International Polo Cup
Inanda Patrons Cup
Africa Polo Open
POLO DE PARIS
Tournoi de la Ville de Paris
130 e Open de Paris
26e Open de Dames
POLO CLUB DOMAINE DE CHANTILLY
Paris Games Polo Challenge
COWDRAY PARK POLO CLUB
British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup
British Ladies Open Championship
POLO CLUB DE DEAUVILLE
Coupe D'Argent
Coupe D'Or
Coupe de Bronze
Ladies Polo Cup
MIAMI BEACH
Miami Beach World Championship
SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS
THE BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
POLO LIFESTYLES EDITORS
Jamillah
Nothing better than a summer spritz recipe, page172
Have great sex at any age and decade, page 86
Rollcall of billionaires and royalty in Paris, page 92
Men's accessories, bags and shoes for FW24, page 136
LANSIQUOT
MY EMAIL INBOX DINGED MULTIPLE TIMES IN A ROW AS THE CLOCK TICKED TOWARD OUR DEADLINE FOR THE AUGUST ISSUE. THE PREVIEW OF THE MAIL SAID, “SICILY LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE,” AND I WAS INTRIGUED.
Our own Italian-American contributor Michael Snell has been telling me about Sicily for years and it seems like he’s always coming from or going to Italy, destination Sicily; yet it’s never made it onto my radar. Maybe I watched “The Last Don” too many times as a kid, but all the word Sicily conjures up for me is wine and crime, not necessarily in that order.
I sent a text to Michael for his input on Sicily as I skimmed the piece. He immediately responded with eight must-visits for any trip to Sicily, including a cooking school where you live with the teacher in her own home and learn her recipes. He reminded me that Taromina was made famous by the last season of The White Lotus, calling it the “quintessential picture of ideal Italian life.” For beaches, he said you can’t skip Favignana, hidden and secluded but absolutely stunning.
For the rest of our recommendations on Sicily – like you’ve never seen it before, you’ll have to read the story!
Since part of our team is in Paris for the Summer Games, we’ve been working around the clock to bring the August issue, while also cheering on our equestrian friends live from the Chateau de Versailles or from in front of our big-screen TVs back home. Next week, part of our team will attend the Paris Games Polo Challenge, presented by U.S. Polo Assn. at the Domaine de Chantilly to watch the USA battle the French team. If you see us around, say Bonjour!
Air Horse One has transported some of the ponies and horses to Paris for the summer games
Gold Smart Water bottles for champions on Team USA
In fields of lavender from Provence, the south of France
hotelcapferrat
These seats are taken... check with the pool concierge, please and thank you
Nothing like a chilled cognac punch to keep summer heat at bay
paris2024
Both athletes appear to be floating in these incredible images captured at the Paris Games
Equestrian champions take the center of attention at Chateau de Versailles
globalpolo
The Paris Games Polo Challenge is Aug 7 at Domaine de Chantilly outside of Paris
sttropezpolo
The French season includes St-Tropez Polo Club in the south of France
smartwater
Click and comment on our choices... Tag @pololifestyles . We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.
The
is a high-goal, highintensity experience
Lady Canterbury on horseback outside of her chateau in France
Paris lit up for the Open Ceremonies for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics
Beyonce's glittered horse is on the market to the highest bidder... will it be you?
The champions of the British Ladies Open Polo
Bringing equine comfort to bed sides in France
Fresh off the Italia Polo Challenge, U.S. Polo Assn. arrived in Paris to organize the Paris Games Polo Challenge
Spanish season
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paris2024
Parisians and foreigners alike marvel at the stunning, suspended Olympic torch
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2024 UK SANDPOLO
2024 UK SANDPOLO
2024 UK SANDPOLO
PARIS GAMES 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS
PARIS GAMES 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS
THE OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY KICKED OFF THIS YEAR’S GAMES ON JULY 26— BUT THIS TIME WITH A TWIST.
Athletes in Paris forwent the traditional march down an athletic track, and instead floated along the river Seine with their teammates in a boat parade for what was anticipated to be the largest
Opening Ceremony in both audience and geographic coverage. Almost 100 boats carried roughly 10,500 athletes. While viewers were treated to a historic ceremony in certain ways, the order of the parade itself followed closely to tradition. Greece, where the first Olympics games took place, always leads the parade of delegations. As the 2024 host, France’s boat appeared last, with the United States, set to host the 2028
summer Olympic games in Los Angeles, marching second to last. The nations in between entered in alphabetical order based on the language of the host nation, with a refugee team marching second after Greece. Athletes from Russia and Belarus were barred from participating in the Opening Ceremony because of the war in Ukraine.
PARIS GAMES 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS
PARIS GAMES 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS
PARIS GAMES 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS
PARIS GAMES 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS
PARIS GAMES 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS
OUT-SOURCING! INC.
ROYAL CHARITY POLO CUP & ROYAL WINDSOR CUP
MEN'S AND LADIES' BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP
COURTESY COWDRAY PARK POLO CLUB
MEN'S AND LADIES'
BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP
MEN'S AND LADIES' BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP
At a recent hospitality summit, Jeff Brown of BrownHot Events was tasked with making Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret Gin jump from the pages and into the guest experience for 350 general hotel managers from hotel properties worldwide.
His plan? Install a meticulously restored vintage bathtub filled with stonefruit to remind guests of Hendrick’s Grand
Cabaret Gin’s expression, composition and essence. Then his team created a “rabbit girl” from the visual campaign’s cast of characters to interact with guests and disrupt social media for the night, as every vignette is ingeniusly tied into the campaign branding. If that weren’t enough to make a lasting impression, the iconic Hendrick’s G&Ts were served mechanically from a vintage trunk.
Brown has been bringing brand campaigns to life for the past 18 years, with luxury clients across the globe. He and his team conceive and create product launches through the medium of both live event experiences and custom marketing gift mailers.
At an event for Four Seasons Hotels food and beverage managers and GMs, Brown's team used a local ballerina
Bringing Brands
TO LIFE
One-on-One with BrownHot Events
absolutely covered in red roses to welcome guests to the brand's activation in a completely revamped and retro-fitted greenhouse.
We sat down with Brown on a Friday afternoon at the airport in Burbank while he waited to board his flight to northern
California, where he can be found installing VIP setups for Moet Hennessey at the Warriors games or curating specialty product launches on the grounds of immaculate wineries.
Polo Lifestyles: What’s the unmistakable BrownHot Events touch on any installa-
tion?
Jeff Brown: The unexpected. We can’t do “ordinary” in the world where our clients and guests dwell.
PL: How long out do you plan for major events? What’s the closest you’ve ever cut it?
Bringing Brands
TO LIFE
One-on-One with BrownHot Events
JB: The planning range is vast. For weddings and social events, often six months to a year. For corporate, sometimes a few weeks can be an eternity. (Laughing). Our last corporate client gave us 10 days - including two days of “holiday” that didn’t count! Phew.
PL: What’s more important: music or
flowers and why?
JB: Don’t make me answer that. It’s like choosing between your children. But if push came to shove, I’d say music. It brings the necessary life and energy field we couldn’t do without.
PL: What’s the biggest trend for 2024 and 2025 when it comes to events?
JB: Results that feel comfortable and under-produced, yet rock-star. We never sacrifice quality and luxury, but it’s done always in ways that seem effortless and organic in a sense.
PL: How do we get in touch with your agency?
JB: Simply email us at Jeff@brownhotevents.com
A Snob's Guide to THE FRENCH RIVIERA
(Your post-Olympics Sejour Extraordinaire)
BY LANIE GOODMAN / SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES
WHETHER YOU’RE IN SEARCH OF FITZGERALDIAN GLAMOUR OR WANT INTEL ON THE HIDDEN GEMS NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT, THERE’S SOMETHING ON THE CÔTE D’AZUR FOR EVERYONE.
he dazzling light. That Mediterranean sparkling like an aquamarine. Those umbrella pines. Some things on the French Riviera will never change (and blessedly so). But now more than ever, there is a palpable frisson of fresh energy swirling in the air. Centuryold seafront palaces are being reinvented and reborn. New hotels are waking up sleepy villages. Young chefs and innovative pastry wizards are spinning classic flavors into mouthwatering neoProvençal delights. The Côte d’Azur is basking in the golden glow of a nouvelle époque.
But still, at its core, the Riviera remains the kind of Arcadian utopia-by-the-sea so treasured by artists like Signac, Matisse, Picasso, and Bonnard. Luxe, Calme et Volupté (also the title of Matisse›s 1904 work) will always be the prevailing vibe—and this applies whether you›re the type who likes to swan around in Chanel Cruise at the Hotel du Cap or spend hours stuffing your straw tote with bounties from the markets in Nice. No matter your tastes and preferences, there is something in this effervescent swath of the Mediterranean for everyone. The only prerequisite: a little joie de vivre.
FOR THE SYBARITE
Once you›re past the gates of the Hotel du Cap-EdenRoc, you’ll immediately understand why celebrities, heads of state, artists, and royals have been seeking refuge in this Cap d’Antibes palace since the Belle Epoque. But a grande dame never rests on her laurels. The hotel’s latest additions include a contemporary revamp of the Eden Roc Pavilion’s sea-facing junior suites; a casual Italian restaurant, Giovanni’s, open only to guests; a new pastry chef, Tarek Ahamada, whose last stint was at the Georges V in Paris; and a new Dior Spa with a private beach cabana for sumptuous alfresco massages with a view.
Further east is the aptly named Grand Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons property, tucked away at the end of a quiet residential street lined with fabulous villas hiding behind soaring hedges. You can have your own, too. Choose from two meticulously restored 1900s-era landmarks: the 5-bedroom Villa Beauchamp, with a Cocteau-inspired mosaic-tiled bathroom that is the stuff of Instagram dreams, or the more intimate Provençalstyle 2-bedroom Villa Clair Soleil.
And for a chic retro nautical vibe, head to the just-opened Arev Saint Tropez, a 24-room jewel box of a property located minutes away from Place des Lices (translation: prime St.-Tropez real estate). Each suite is uniquely designed in saturated hues of reds, blues, and yellows by Madrid-based designer Luis Bustamante. Highlights here include the revival of the Strand, St.-Tropez’s oldest eatery, a Padel court, plus a lovely spa featuring a fragrant range of products by Maison ST, a St.-Tropez brand that uses only natural ingredients like sea salt and herbs, all sourced locally.
FOR THE GOURMAND
Built into a rocky bluff on the scenic Grande Corniche, Ceto, the penthouse restaurant at the strikingly modernist Maybourne Riviera, is so much more than another gastronomic haunt. Helmed by Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco— the man behind the three-Michelin-starred Mirazur in Menton—this is a temple to seafood, complete with a stateof-the-art cold chamber lined with pink Himalayan salts specifically designed to mature fish for two months. Another reason to book a table: you’ll get the most astonishing views of the coast this side of paradise.
Over in Nice’s Antiques District, Onice, an intimate new bistro that just earned a Michelin star, is the place to go for impeccable creations featuring the freshest ingredients from the market, all masterminded by young chefs Florencia Montes and Lorenzo Ragni.
Nice has also become a veritable sweet tooth’s paradise. In the vibrant Vieux Port neighborhood, which is humming with galleries, boutiques, and cafés, don’t miss a stop at Julien Dugourd, a tiny shop run by the former pastry chef at La Chèvre d’Or—yes, it’s his signature trompe l’oeil lemons you have seen all over Instagram. Our tip: book in advance for the private pastry tastings he does on Sundays. And while you’re perusing the famous open markets at Cours Saleya, check out Colagreco’s sustainable Mitron Bakery to sample the fougasse filled with almonds, raisins, and pine nuts, and those irresistible tartes au citron.
FOR THE HEDONIST
Watch the orange and pink sunset at the remodeled Bar Fitzgerald in the Hôtel
Belles Rives, an elegant Art Deco gem that, in its past life, was the villa where Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald spent the summer of 1926. Pay tribute to their spirits by ordering a gin fizz (Scott’s favorite) or the signature Zelda cocktail made with champagne and peach liqueur.
Across the bay, at the superbly restored Carlton Cannes, join the lively scene at Bar °58— in lieu of dessert, we suggest the Sazerac Cocoa, a heady mix of Pernod absinthe, Bourbon, and white chocolate liqueur. And the Carlton isn’t the only Cannes legend to have been resurrected from the grave: after five years and a €250 million renovation, Palm Beach, a 1929 landmark on the tip of La Croisette, partially reopens this month with a brand new saltwater pool, a lavishly updated casino, luxury boutiques and buzzy restaurants, and a very exclusive members’ club.
FOR THE NONCONFORMIST
In search of hidden gems? Go west! To the spectacular rugged red rock stretch of Esterel coastline, to be exact, where you can stay at the new Château de Théoule, a 44-room boutique hotel, spa, and private beach club. The place used to be a soap factory in the 17th century before it was transformed into a turreted castle that became home to various aristocrats. Now it’s a charming seaside property, where the photogenic suites and spaces have dreamed up by interior designer MarieChristine Mecoen, who handpicked the eclectic mix of antiques, gauzy linens, and shell-themed décor.
Alternatively, start on the east side in Menton, the charming town near the Italian border, where you can indulge in a languorous on-the-water lunch at Loulou Pirate, once a festive ‹50s celebrity haunt frequented by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Gregory Peck. The relaxed family atmosphere and varied menu—pasta, pizza, salads, grilled seafood and meats— will cater to all palates; that killer view is a nice bonus.
And come summer, all eyes will be on the opening of the Hotel du Couvent, which is bound to take the city of Nice by (quiet) storm. This 2.5-acre property,
set back on a hilltop in the Old Town, is a painstakingly restored 17th-century convent with vaulted monastic-style rooms, Cloister suites, two restaurants, a bakery, Roman baths, two pools, and a holistic movement studio offering dance, yoga, and personalized herbal treatments.
FOR ART AFICIONADOS
Hidden away in the vines less than an hour’s drive from Cannes, La Commanderie de Peyrassol was a hotspot on the sacred pilgrimage trail during the 13th century, when the Order of Knights of the Templars built a chapel there and called it home. Now it’s a hotspot for oenophiles thanks to Belgian entrepreneur Philippe Austruy, who bought the property in 2001 and turned it into a sprawling wine estate—with muse-
um-quality art (Austury is also an avid art collector). Peyrassol hosts seasonal exhibitions of renowned contemporary sculptors and artists, whose works are on display in the galleries or scattered throughout the estate.
Your perfect afternoon: a wine tasting of Peyrassol’s superb vintages of Côtes de Provence, then see the new show by French artist Bertrand Lavier, and then savor a rosé-fueled lunch at Peyrassol’s restaurant, Chez Jeannette, which is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Michel Portos.
The art and grapes theme continues on the idyllic government-protected island of Porquerolles (to get there, drive to Hyères and jump in a water taxi or ferry), home of Fondation Carmignac,
a sleek exhibition space surrounded by vineyards that is owned by Parisian financier (and also avid art collector) Edouard Carmignac. This summer don’t miss “Infinite Woman,” an exhibition of female artists featuring masterpieces by the likes of Judy Chicago and Louise Bourgeois. Then pregame with a tasting of Carmignac’s homegrown Domaine de la Courtade before an alfresco lunch under the pines at the restaurant. And obligatory for architecture buffs (or anyone, really): a guided tour of the magnificently restored Villa E-1027, Irish designer Eileen Gray’s visionary 1929 holiday home in Roquebrune-Cap Martin that juts out over the rocky shore like an elegant ocean liner.
GREAT SEX AT ANY AGE
Your sex life will change as you age, but it that doesn't mean it has to change for the worse
FROM ILLNESS TO STRESS, ANY NUMBER OF THINGS CAN AFFECT INTIMACY. HERE EXPERTS REVEAL THE WAYS TO BOOST BEDROOM SATISFACTION AS YOU AGE
As we get older, any number of things – from illness to medication, body confidence, relationship worries and family dynamics – can impact our sex lives. Here, doctors and therapists explain the ups and downs you might encounter in every decade. This guide covers:
• Can you have great sex at any age?
• What happens to your sex life as you age?
• Sex in your 40s
• Sex in your 50s
• Sex in your 60s
• Sex in your 70s
• Sex in your 80s
CAN YOU HAVE GREAT SEX AT ANY AGE?
“Yes, but we have to define what great sex actually means,” says Ammanda Major, a sex therapist and the head of clinical practice at Relate. “If you look at movies or social media, it’s generally people having multiple orgasms. But for many people, simply being together intimately can be rewarding.”
Sex can mean different things to different people, and it changes as we go through life. “We have to recognize how our bodies change over time and how
the aging process impacts us sexually. There’s something to be said for accepting that and working with what’s possible, rather than comparing yourself with everybody else.”
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR SEX LIFE AS YOU AGE?
Things may change as we get older, but that’s not necessarily bad news, says Cynthia Graham, a senior scientist at the Kinsey Institute, the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sex Research and a co-author of the Healthy Sexual Aging project, which analyzed successful sex in people aged over 60 across Europe.
“There’s a negative stereotype that it all goes downhill – and it’s true that frequency tends to drop, but that’s not necessarily linked to lower sexual satisfaction,” she says. “A lot of changes with aging and sexuality are gradual, so people are able to adapt. It’s not all doom and gloom.”
SEX IN YOUR 40S
Significant changes to our sex lives can begin now, as men and women experience hormonal shifts that alter desire and arousal. It is “a hell of a decade”, says Dr Angela Wright, a GP, clinical sexologist and the co-founder of Spiced Pear Health.
In women, perimenopause can cause fluctuating hormones. “You won’t feel arousal in the same way because the amount of blood flow that goes to the area when you’re excited isn’t the same. You don’t lubricate as well, so sex can become less pleasurable and even painful. You can get UTIs more easily because your pH levels become less
acidic and you’re less able to fight off infection,” she says. “You may also still be on hormonal contraception – the combined pill can drop the libido because it mops up the testosterone that’s circulating around your system.”
One option to replace hormones is HRT, but Wright acknowledges that some women can’t have or don’t want it. “But many can use vaginal HRT, or estrogen creams and pessaries that work solely on the genitals, which can make a big difference to comfort and pleasure,” she says.
Men may see the beginnings of erectile dysfunction and lower libido, with 40 per cent of those over 45 experiencing low testosterone levels – or hypogonadism – according to research published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Dr David Goldmeier, the clinical lead for the internationally renowned Jane Wadsworth sexual function clinic at Imperial College London, says this is commonly linked to the health issues that take their toll on our bodies in midlife: “high cholesterol, high blood pressure, being overweight and having diabetes”.
Stopping smoking, exercising more and eating healthily may help as a first port of call, then you could ask your GP to prescribe a PDE5 inhibitor, such as Viagra or Cialis, which can be taken daily at a low dose. This will “reverse some of the changes that are happening in the blood vessels. That and testosterone replacement can make a really big difference to sexual function and desire,” says Wright.
But if you see any change in erectile function, go to the GP. Goldmeier says it’s “a window into the cardiovascular system”, as both rely on healthy blood vessels and could be an indicator of an underlying condition, such as atherosclerosis or a narrowing of the blood vessels that might mean you’re at risk of heart disease.
Stress can also have a huge impact on your sex life, says Major, especially given the common demands of work, children and caring responsibilities in this decade. “When we’re anxious, it can understandably be difficult to relax and get into that space where you feel that you can initiate or receive intimacy,” she says. This can create a cycle of rejection where either you or your partner feels continually unwanted.
Aoife Drury, a psycho-sexual and relationship therapist, advises taking a mental “temperature reading”. “Have a scale in your head of zero to 10 – 10 being ‘I’m definitely up for it’ and zero being ‘not at all’. Think to yourself, ‘I’m at a four and maybe there’s an opportunity to get to a five.’ But perhaps decide that below a four is just an impasse. Knowing where you sit is really helpful.”
SEX IN YOUR 50S
The average age for a woman in the UK to go through the menopause, when they have not menstruated for a year, is 51. Historically, the narrative has been that women are “dried up” from this point, but the experts disagree. Indeed, a US study from 2019 concluded that “sexual health and function are essential components in the care of menopausal women” and can improve quality of life.
One of the main biological issues is the big drop in the production of estrogen by the ovaries, which diminishes the blood supply that reaches the vagina, reducing sensitivity, lubrication and desire, and potentially causing weight gain that can make women feel alienated from their own bodies.
“The impact of the menopause can have a real hit on a woman’s body,” says Drury. “Sex can go down the pecking order because we might not be feeling ourselves.”
“You’re aging and that can impact your sexual confidence,” says Wright. “Your body shape can change, your skin becomes less firm, you can get hot flushes, you’re not sleeping, which makes you feel rubbish.”
Women might start experiencing bladder leaks, Wright adds, with pelvic floor issues becoming more common along with changes to the skin on the outside of the genitals. She recommends seeing a GP, who can prescribe local estrogen or steroid creams. Pelvicfloor therapy can be helpful: exercises designed to strengthen the muscles around the bladder, bottom, vagina or penis, which are as helpful for healthy sexual function in men as they are in women. Vaginal moisturizers can help make sex more comfortable and boost blood flow. Not every woman experiences menopause negatively, however. For some, says Drury, it means the end of painful periods and can feel liberating.
Wright says that it can be helpful to talk about “good enough” sex, with couples reminding themselves that intimacy doesn’t have to mean full intercourse. “Deliberately making time to nurture that aspect of your relationship is really important,” she says.
Life changes such as children becoming more independent or the loss of your parents can act as a catalyst for recalibrating your sex life as a couple, she
GREAT SEX AT ANY AGE
adds. “It can be a chance to pay attention to one another, but it can also shine a light on what you’ve not been doing. Take stock of the relationship and work out what you miss and how you can reestablish that. Life is limited and you’ve got to crack on.”
SEX IN YOUR 60S
The 60s can be a turning point in the wake of empty nests, bereavement and retirement. Office for National Statistics data shows that divorce rates in the over60s doubled between 1993 and 2019, with many people finding themselves single again.
The good news, says Graham, is that “sex and intimacy are still really important and the quality doesn’t have to be impacted negatively”.
“Going into a new relationship has benefits because you have lots of novelty, so arousal and libido are often higher and better. But it can be more difficult to work around problems,” says Wright. “If men haven’t had sex for a long time, due to divorce or losing their wife to illness, they can find that their sexual function is altered and harder to maintain an erection.”
This could also be related to health issues, such as diabetes or an enlarged prostate, as well as medication (antidepressants are known to lower libido in both men and women), so it’s worth going through what you’re taking and making changes if needed.
The 60s are also when men might start to experience a longer “refractory period” – the time between having an orgasm and being able to become aroused again. “With older men it can last hours, even days,” says Wright. “It might be time to adapt your sexual activities and focus more on caressing, so it’s not so centered on having an erection.”
The third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles in Britain found that embarrassment is a potential barrier to seeking medical help for sexual problems as we age. But, Wright says: “it’s key not to feel embarrassed and avoid the issue – it’s a natural age-related decrease in sensitivity that can happen for both men and women.”
Medications like Viagra can make a difference, she adds, as can losing weight, which improves your general health and self-esteem, as well as lessening the
chances of conditions that can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction, such as diabetes and high cholesterol. In one study, Canadian researchers found that 30 percent of men experiencing erectile dysfunction who then lost weight regained their normal sexual function. “As you get older, sex changes, and the people who do well at maintaining their sex lives are the ones that adapt and stay healthy,” adds Wright.
If you’re making a fresh start when it comes to dating and relationships, it’s worth bearing in mind that STIs are on the rise in people over 65. Data from UKHSA found the number of STIs recorded in this age group increased by 20 per cent between 2017 and 2019, with the biggest rises in gonorrhea and chlamydia.
“Newly single people are getting out there and being more adventurous,” says Major. “The sexual experience, far from going off the boil, can be reignited as you go through life. But the sexual landscape has changed fundamentally, so it’s about knowing how to set boundaries and keep yourself safe.”
The experts recommend asking about any other sexual bedfellows a new partner
may have, for any relevant history and, for ultimate peace of mind, that both parties are tested for possible infections before embarking on a sexual relationship. Visit your GP with any concerns, such as lumps, bleeding or unusual discharge. And use a condom. “Postmenopausal vulvas and vaginas are more fragile, so skin breaks and that can more easily lead to transmission or infection,” says Wright.
As for couples, retirement can have a major impact on sex, says Major. “It’s often a time that people have to face problems they’ve managed to avoid talking about because they were too busy with work. But retirement can be a rich opportunity to recalibrate the relationship sexually.”
She recommends making the space to talk and ensure you both feel listened to, using a third party if needed. “Life tends to take over and we make a lot of assumptions along the way that everything is OK. Now it’s about reaching a place where you both want the same thing.”
SEX IN YOUR 70S
Your 70s, say the experts, are a decade for broadening the definition of intimacy. A study into the sex lives of people aged 50 to 90, published by Cambridge University Press, concluded that “being able to adapt to a more sensory sexuality, with less focus on penetrative sex, can make an important contribution to continued sexual activities into later life”.
Any number of health worries might impact your ability to engage in full intercourse – cardiovascular issues, major surgery such as a mastectomy, or prostate treatment that blocks testosterone production. You may have pain along scars or simply feel tired from having been manhandled and examined.
“What is important now are things like cuddling, kissing, touching each other, oral but not necessarily penetrative sex,” says Graham, “although some people of this age say they’re having the best sex of their lives.”
Body shame can be an issue, says Major, who regularly hears from women in
her clinic who are reluctant to fully undress in the bedroom.
“It’s about coming to love your body because of the experiences it’s already been able to give you and the experiences it can still offer you,” she says. “Yes, there might be a droopy bit there, but you’re still you. Men struggle too – the waning erection and saggy bits. It’s about thinking ‘My body isn’t how it was when I was in my 20s, but it’s still OK and still valuable’.”
Patricia*, 74, recently met a new partner after being widowed. “Breast cancer had made me terrified at the prospect of showing my body, and osteoarthritis in my knee and hip had impeded my flexibility – but then men have those insecurities and doubts too,” she says. “My partner went to the GP for Viagra and I went to a gynecologist for Idracare, a vaginal moisturizer. Sex in your 70s takes preparation, but it’s worth it for the joy of sharing my bed and my body with a gentle man of the same age. I’d missed the fun, mutual delight and the exercise.”
The Olympics of WHO'S WHO IN PARIS
FOR OLYMPIAN NAYEL NASSAR, A SHOW JUMPING GOLD MEDAL IN PARIS WOULD BE PRICELESS.
The culmination of a lifetime of hard work, dedication, and awe-inspiring skill, topping the podium is the kind of achievement that money truly can’t buy. And, considering his father-in-law is Bill Gates – the world’s fourth richest man, thought to be worth £88 billion – there really isn’t all that much else that money can’t buy for Nayel Nassar.
The 33-year-old is the husband of Jennifer Gates, the eldest daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates; the couple have a daughter, 16-month-old Leila, and are expecting a second child together. Despite
Bill and Melinda divorcing in 2021 (the settlement was reportedly one of the most expensive in history), the pair have remained ‘friendly’, and both have been publicly supporting son-in-law Nayel on his bid for Olympic glory.
Born to Egyptian architect parents in Chicago and raised in Kuwait before moving to California, Nayel is a mainstay of the Grand Prix circuit. A keen equestrian since the age of five, the Stanford graduate has garnered some prestigious silverware throughout his career. In 2019, he won the Longines Grand Prix of New York, becoming the first rider to claim victory at the Longines Speed Challenge and the Longines Grand Prix at the same event, on the same horse. Paris 2024 is Nayel’s second Olympics, having made history as part of Egypt’s first show jump-
ing team in 60 years at Tokyo 2020, where he placed 24th.
Nayel Nassar is not, of course, the only billionaire scion competing for a medal at Paris 2024. Team USA boasts two heiresses on its tennis team alone. Emma Navarro, whose father Ben is the billionaire businessman behind Credit One bank, was ousted from the singles’ tournament by Zheng Qinwen in the third round, blasting her opponent for a ‘cut-throat’ attitude.
The Navarro family, thought to have a $1.5 billion net worth, also owns The Charleston Open, the oldest professional women’s tennis cup in the country –where Emma made her WTA tour debut in 2019 – and Cincinnati’s Western & Southern open, one of the game’s most
important Masters’ tournaments, which cost Ben just shy of £240 million.
Also at competing on the courts of Roland Garros is fellow US tennis star Jessica Pegula, who has been ranked as high as third in the world. Pegula’s father, oil baron and sports tycoon Terry Pegula, is worth a reported $7 billion, making him the 365th richest person in the world. When Navarro and Pegula battle it out on court, the combined net worth of their families outnumbers that of The Maldives.
These numbers, of course, all pale in comparison to the Gates family fortune.
But this is the Olympic Games. Athletes have trained their whole lives and are competing for far more than cash prizes (incidentally, melting down and selling a Paris gold medal would earn you roughly £740). No one can deny the importance of a financial safety net, but with honor, glory, and a place in the history books up for grabs, billionaire status will be the last thing on the minds of these Olympians.
LeBron James, meanwhile, is the only billionaire competing in the Olympics, part of a star-studded USA men’s basketball team (James made $128.8 million on and off the court between May 2023 and May
2024, according to Forbes).
Some of the highest-paid athletes competing in the Paris summer games are also some of the biggest names in professional basketball, tennis and golf, led by James, a four-time NBA champion. Behind James are Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo ($111 million, according to Forbes) and Team USA’s Steph Curry ($102 million). In Olympic golf, Spanish star Jon Rahm leads the pack making $218 million both on the course and off, ahead of Ireland’s Rory McIlroy ($83 million) and Scottie Scheffler ($61 million) of Team USA.
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TAKES CENTER STAGE
A Night to Remember at the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Gala
MICHAEL
ON A BALMY JULY 20TH, THE HAMPTONS PLAYED HOST TO AN EVENING OF UNPARALLELED ELEGANCE AND PHILANTHROPY AT THE 15TH ANNUAL UNCONDITIONAL LOVE GALA, CELEBRATING THE SOUTHAMPTON ANIMAL SHELTER FOUNDATION’S HONOREES, CATHY BISSELL AND DAVE PORTNOY, ALONGSIDE HIS RESCUE PUP, MISS PEACHES.
The soirée unfolded with a blend of sophistication and heartfelt cause, featuring live entertainment, a gourmet dinner, and an enticing silent auction. The funds raised from this glamorous event directly bolster the shelter’s mission to provide medical care, nourishment, shelter, but most important - love to animals in need. As the premier fundraising event for the
Foundation, the gala is pivotal in raising crucial funds to support SASF’s commitment to nurturing the bond between humans and their companion animals through education, advocacy, and adoption.
A beacon of hope for countless homeless animals, the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that thrives on the generosity of its donors and volunteers. The growing issue of pet overpopulation on Long Island has left many animals homeless, wandering the streets, or enduring neglect and abandonment. Whether it’s rescuing strays, saving dogs from the horrors of puppy mills, or providing sanctuary to neglected animals, the shelter stands as a haven, often the last resort for these creatures. SASF offers these animals a steppingstone to loving homes, providing housing, food, medical treatment, training, and rehabilitation when necessary.
This year’s gala spotlighted two remarkable honorees. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Dave Portnoy, alongside
his beloved rescue pup, Miss Peaches, received the prestigious Animal Welfare Award and SASF Paws of Purpose Award, respectively. “Miss Peaches and I are thrilled to be part of this incredible event. Our goal is to find as many loving homes for dogs as sweet as Miss Peaches,” shared Dave Portnoy, with palpable passion and dedication.
Cathy Bissell, with 13 years of unwavering commitment to animal welfare as the founder of the BISSELL Pet Foundation, was an exemplary co-honoree. Cathy’s hands-on approach and visionary leadership have propelled the foundation’s mission, developing 13 programs that support a network of over 6,000 shelters across all 50 states, impacting nearly 750,000 pets since 2011. “We were honored to recognize Cathy Bissell for her lifelong dedication to animal welfare,” said Jordan Lippner, Chair of the Board of Directors at the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. Since its inception in 2011, the BISSELL Pet Foundation has directed over $30 million to shelters and
programs, providing essential resources to under-served communities.
Accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, Cathy Bissell expressed profound gratitude, “I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. This award reaffirms the importance of our collective
efforts in advocating for animal welfare and is a testament to the lives we have saved. Together, we can continue our critical work to find every pet a loving home.”
In the heart of the Hamptons, the Unconditional Love Gala not only celebrated the glamour and generosity of its guests but also shone a light on the
tireless efforts of those dedicated to making a difference in the lives of animals. Through the support of such extraordinary individuals and the community, the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation continues to be a beacon of hope and love for animals in need.
CRAZE OR COUP? THE COFFEE TABLE BOOK
PROSPER ASSOULINE, THE PUBLISHING MOGUL BEHIND THE EPONYMOUS COFFEE-TABLE BOOK EMPIRE, IS IN THE BUSINESS OF REFLECTION.
Since launching in 1994, the company has published books paying homage to world-famous brands and megastars. But 30 years in, the Frenchman is more interested in the present than in the past.
“We are still in the kitchen with Martine, my wife, and [son] Alex and the team doing exactly the same thing,” he says, comparing his publishing house to a three-star Michelin restaurant. “The work is the same, so nothing changed from day one.”
Over 30 years, the publisher and his family have released 2,000 titles, many of which line the bookshelves of the one percent. Assouline’s tomes on cultural icons like Virgil Abloh and sports
leagues like Formula 1 all share a stylish sensibility. “We are really haute couture and not mass,” he tells me.
Assouline’s works are part of an ever-expanding stack of books on subjects ranging from breakfast to Barbie. Some are more obscure—on esoteric architects and ultra-high-end designers—but buyers still shell out for the literary version of a Swiss watch.
“My suspicion is that most people who buy coffee table books buy them for decoration and taste-signaling,” says New York City–based writer and man-about-town George Hahn.
Across Tour de Second Home locales like East Hampton, Aspen, and Palm Beach, these weighty opuses are as ubiquitous as Hermès throw blankets. As much as they’re works that their owners can read, they’re also a sort of objet for enthusiasts. Emily Elyse Miller, who wrote BREAKFAST: The Cookbook for the publisher Phaidon, says that decorative books can often feel like art pieces themselves.
“Coffee table books have never been more relevant, with people spending more time at home,” she says. “From a publishing standpoint, it makes so much sense to have these beautiful pieces of art that people can collect to give people a sense of who they are and what they’re interested in their home.”
While the average reader likely doesn’t know the difference between a HarperCollins and a Penguin Random House release, art book publishing houses have built recognizable brands.
These days, Assouline and his family are attempting to do the same around what a coffee table book company could be. They operate the swanky Swans Bar out of their London bookshop, have boutiques in Palm Beach, Marrakech, the Peninsula in Hong Kong, and Hôtel Plaza Athénée, and are fighting for more than just inches of the library, selling candles and book stands on their website. In 2013, LVMH, the French luxury conglomerate, purchased a stake in the business.
MASERATI SET TO UNVEIL SUPERCAR AT MONTEREY CAR WEEK
MASERATI’S MC20 SUPERCAR WILL SOON GET A FLAGSHIP TRACK-INSPIRED VERSION. DESIGNED TO SIT AT THE TOP OF THE ITALIAN BRAND’S RANGE AND READY TO BE UNVEILED AT MONTEREY CAR WEEK ON 16 AUGUST, IT LOOKS SET TO BE A SHOWSTOPPER.
The new car is only referred to as “the super sports car” by Maserati at this stage, but we know it’ll be based on the MC20 with influence from Maserati’s GT2 racer. A shadowy teaser image is our only glimpse so far, hinting at carbon fiber flared front wings and new headlights.
Maserati says the new car is “dedicated to those who do not wish to sacrifice extraordinary performance on the road” and claims “this new car guarantees innovative technological solutions
and impressive aerodynamic performance”. Maserati also says the car “inherits the racing spirit of the GT2” but hints it “is a further evolution of the MC20”.
We expect Maserati’s latest creation will borrow elements like a large swan-neck rear spoiler, front splitter and revised air intake from the GT2 competition model. Lashings of weight-saving carbon fiber bodywork is almost certain to appear.
INCLUDING A SNAZZY AND INTIMATE DRINKING HOLE IN NEW YORK’S NOMAD AND CORN LIQUEUR COCKTAILS IN MEXICO CITY
WE OFTEN SPOTLIGHT THE OUR FAVORITE NEW HOTELS, BUT SO RARELY GIVE THE SAME ATTENTION TO THE SPACES THAT ACTUALLY MAKE THE PLACE STAND OUT, LIKE THE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE REDEFINING A CITY’S DINING SCENE OR WELLNESS AREA THAT HAS A MONTHS’ LONG WAITING LIST FOR LOCALS (BUT 24 HOUR ACCESS FOR GUESTS).
So we decided to flip the script a little bit, and give more love to the places that are often the reason behind a hotel’s success. As an extension of our recent 2024 Hot
List of the best new hotels and cruises in the world, we are highlighting the best new hotel bars, restaurants, and spas, all selected by our global team of editors. Below, the hotel bars that are serving some of the best drinks in town—and the cocktail to you simply can’t skip.
LOUNGE FERNANDO AT HOTEL SAN FERNANDO—MEXICO CITY
Bunkhouse Hotels is no stranger to a vibey, moody lounge space, and Lounge Fernando inside Mexico City’s Hotel Fernando is a sexy all-day, all-night space filled with comings and goings. Visit during working hours and you’ll find glamorous international types lingering over cappuccinos and catching up on emails; come by night and you’ll find some of the neighborhood’s coolest citizens making their first, middle, or final
stops of the evening.
The drink to order: The nutty “Buen Maiz,” made with Nixta Corn Liqueur and Frangelico.
PORTRAIT BAR AT THE FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL—NEW YORK CITY
This part of Manhattan has become a somewhat surprising hotspot for good hotels, restaurants and bars in recent years. Even so, the new Portrait Bar still manages to stand out. Designed as a snug library bar filled with art and old-timey wood-paneling, it offers an intimate vibe and a creative cocktail menu with drinks inspired by destinations around the world.
The drink to order: The “Cebu Island — Philippines,” a silky and tropical drink which blends rum, scotch, coconut, Calamansi lime, bay leaf, peppercorns and Midori.
FLUTE AT BROADWICK SOHO— LONDON, UK
High up on the seventh floor of the Broadwick Soho, rooftop bar Flute has a more-is-more ethos that we find simply intoxicating. Just consider the decor:
pops of pink, leopard print and zebra pattern set against textural cork walls, with vintage chandeliers as well as a sparkly DJ booth. It’s sultry and dimly lit, giving the whole place an irresistible energy after dark. Flute also has a secret weapon: an outdoor terrace that is the neighborhood spot to grab a drink whenever the sun shines.
The drink to order: The complex “Eyes Wide Shut,” with aquavit, blood orange, cardamom, sherry, lemon and bitters.
DANTE AT THE MAYBOURNE— BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA
It’s hard to imagine that a humble aperitivo bar on Macdougal Street in Manhattan would eventually become a sprawling rooftop concept in the heart of Beverly Hills, but The Maybourne manages to get so much of the original Dante DNA right. With a sun-drenched space, stylish navy blue velvet banquettes, and a wood-fired pizza oven that brings the space to life, this laid-back-yet-elegant concept is a natural fit for The Maybourne. Come for a meal, come for a snack, come to see the beautiful people.
The drink to order: The Negroni Bianco, a potent yet refreshing aperitivo that makes a natural pairing with the Southern California sunshine.
EL CIELO DE CHICOTE AT HOTEL MONTERA MADRID, CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON—SPAIN
El Prado Museum over here, Plaza Mayor over there, and the Gran Vía just outside your door—the Hotel Montera offers one of the best locations in town, and its rooftop bar has quickly become one of the best plein-air spots for a tipple in town. Come for the breathtaking 360-degree views of Madrid and the inventive cocktails and Spanish wines, and stay for the sumptuous tapas and bar snacks—like the truffled pork cheek brioche.
The drink to order: Ars Collecta Gran Reserva cava by the glass.
THE BAR AT BOWIE HOUSE, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION—FORT WORTH, TEXAS
Fort Worth finally has the luxury lifestyle hotel it deserves, making a compelling case for extending your Texas work trip by a night or two. When you’re here, all roads lead to the lobby bar—which feels more like your most fabulous friend’s living room and less like a “hotel bar.”
There’s a constant stream of well-dressed Texans, which makes for excellent people watching —especially during the house social that takes place daily from 4-6pm,
where you can snack on beef fat fries and a cocktail while taking it all in.
The drink to order: A perfectly-concocted, aptly named “Damn Fine Ranch Water.”
EXPERIMENTAL COCKTAIL CLUB AT COWLEY MANOR EXPERIMENTAL—CHELTENHAM, UK
A new twist on the English country house, this chic boutique hotel from Experimental Group has officially brought its popular Experimental Cocktail Club concept to the Cotswolds, and the results have been nothing short of electrifying for the area.
Where there were once gin and tonics, there is now cheeky mixology. Where there was once Tewkesbury mustard and Sunday roasts, there is inventive farmto-table fare for a modern audience. If you’re looking for a refreshing take on the English countryside, this is where to do it.
The drink to order: The umami-laden “Aphrodite,” made with porcini-infused Cognac, sherry, and fig liqueur.
BAR 58 AT THE CARLTON CANNES, A REGENT HOTEL—FRANCE
Glitzy, glossy, and sceney in all the right ways, the new Bar 58 is an instant classic in a part of the French Riviera that has no shortage of classics. Stunning Venini chandeliers and a pastel ceramic bar counter inspired by eucalyptus leaves capture all the drama and decadence of this corner of the Mediterranean.
Sometimes the menus at the grand dames of the world can feel caught-in-time or a little out of step with the times—not so here, where the bar menu feels modern, offering a “farm to bar” philosophy that feels just right with current F&B trends.
The drink to order: The “Tomatino,” which combines Beluga Gold vodka with cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, basil and olive oil. (Pro tip: order some fromage, too)
JUNGLE BALLROOM AT MONDRIAN SINGAPORE DUXTON
In order to stand out in a city like Singapore, a hotel needs to make a splash—and Mondrian’s first outpost in the region does exactly that with its cheeky, sleek Jungle Ballroom.
Inspired by the flora and fauna of Southeast Asia, the cocktail menu here is wittily divided up according to flavor profile into: Canopy, Understory, and Forest Floor. Drinks definitely skew tropical here, but are by and large balanced and complex, never cloying. Keep an eye out for intriguing ingredients that lend Jungle Ballroom some real mixology street cred, like longan and dragon fruit, and a bespoke Cambodian gin made exclusively for the bar.
The drink to order: The “Jaguar Juice,” with Cognac, sherry, tomato, ginger, and a dash of savory house spices.
BEYOND THE POLO FIELDS JARED ZENNI'S OTTB DREAMS
REIGNING FROM THE PEACEFUL COUNTRYSIDE OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS, AMONG VAST FIELDS AND RUSTIC BARNS, JARED ZENNI HAS CARVED OUT A UNIQUE PATH IN POLO. AS AN EXPERIENCED POLO PLAYER WITH A SHARP EYE FOR TALENT, JARED HAS ATTRACTED ATTENTION FOR HIS SKILL ON THE FIELD AND HIS UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH TO FINDING TALENT: OFF-THETRACK THOROUGHBREDS (OTTB).
His journey into polo began in childhood, where he swiftly ascended through the ranks due to his natural talent and unwavering determination. However, it wasn’t until he obtained his OTTB, a spirited gelding named Toledo Apache, that Jared realized the untapped potential in re-purposing racehorses for polo.
Since then, Jared has made it his mission to search for the most promising young horses fresh off the track. His process involves carefully evaluating each horse for athleticism, temperament, and adaptability to the demands of polo. Once selected, the horses undergo a rigorous training regimen that combines traditional polo techniques with tailored exercises to harness their natural abilities. “It’s not
just about teaching them a new sport,” Jared emphasizes. “It’s about understanding each horse’s strengths and building a partnership based on trust and mutual respect. Every horse has a different personality, which makes this journey so rewarding.”
Transitioning an OTTB to the polo field is challenging. It requires a meticulous approach as OTTBs are typically bred and trained for speed. Still, polo demands a different skillset: agility, responsiveness, and the ability to handle sudden changes in direction. The training process spans months of groundwork to build trust and establish basic skills. Patience is key. Each horse adapts at its own pace, and Jared listens to their cues and adjusts his ap-
proach. He has had many successes with this approach. Although not every OTTB he trains becomes a polo pony, they find meaningful roles in other capacities.
From learning polo fundamentals, such as stopping and turning on command, to gradually introducing the game’s nuances, every milestone is a testament to Jared’s commitment. Despite setbacks, each challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow together.
To become the “best-mounted” player possible, Jared also set out to build his string of polo ponies by starting a breeding program in Argentina, a country renowned for its rich equestrian heritage and exceptional breeding programs.
“Argentina has this incredible tradition
of breeding polo ponies,” he enthuses.
“Establishing my own breeding program there felt like a natural progression.” The decision to start a breeding program was not just about acquiring more horses but about nurturing a lineage of champions. Ultimately, Jared aims to contribute to the sport by producing horses that embody the essential qualities of polo—sensitivity, balance, explosion, and a winning spirit.
Today, Jared’s stables are home to a diverse herd of horses, including six ex-racehorses turned polo champions. From flashy chestnuts to sleek greys, each horse represents a testament to Jared’s dedication and expertise. His reputation for developing top-quality polo ponies has spread, attracting players and enthu-
siasts worldwide.
His efforts have recently caught the attention of Daily Racing Form, leading to a partnership aimed at helping racehorses find new life and purpose in the world of polo. “I want people to see the potential in these horses,” Jared states firmly. “They might have been bred for one purpose, but with the right training and care, they can excel in many others.” In a sport often associated with pedigreed horses and prestigious bloodlines, Jared Zenni showcases the beauty of second chances. Through his pioneering work with OTTBs, he challenges conventional wisdom by showcasing the limitless potential of these extraordinary animals on the polo field.
ECONOMICS OF THE OLYMPICS
MEMBERS OF THE GLOBAL SUPER-RICH ARE SPENDING AS MUCH AS $500,000 (£400,000) ON “ULTRA-EXCLUSIVE” PACKAGES FOR THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS THAT PROMOTERS CLAIM INCLUDE MEETING ATHLETES, ACCESS TO THE ATHLETES’ VILLAGE AND “THE CHANCE TO BE PART OF THE OPENING CEREMONY”.
GR8 Experience, an “international experience agency” part-owned by the business manager of the basketball star LeBron James and the PR manager of the tennis player Rafael Nadal, is selling Olympic packages that it claims include tickets to 14 events such as the men’s 100m finals and the opening ceremony for $381,600.
In addition to the so-called category A tickets, the agency claims it can arrange “money-can’t-buy experiences” including meet-and-greets with athletes, tours of restricted areas such as the athletes’ village, private after-hours access to the Louvre and a “king’s dinner at the Palace of Versailles”.
Barnabas Carrega, the chief executive of GR8 Experience, told the Guardian that his company was offering the super-rich “access that is not available to the public, including time with athletes”. He declined to name which athletes he had signed up but said he had previously arranged private events with Nadal and fellow tennis star Novak Djokovic, and the former Italian Olympic skier Giorgio Rocca.
“For the Olympics there are a couple of tennis players,” he said. “And a number of athletes in different sports, but I am not able to name specific athletes.”
Asked about the cost of the meetings, he said it would “depend on the structure of the meeting”, which he said varied from “15 minutes taking photos and a quick chat to others that are much more engaged … spending lunch”. The price, he said, ranged from $25,000 to $500,000 “if we’re talking about one of the best athletes spending a lot of time”.
Carrega said he was “very selective” about which athletes his company worked with and said some might not provide the experience customers were looking for. “Some athletes with a huge name but [might] not have the charisma needed for the clients, others provide a true experience,” he said. “They [the athletes] need to seem like they want to be there, not saying ‘hi’ but then in five minutes it’s obvious they want to get away.”
He claimed that in the past his company – which is part owned by James’s business partner and manager, Maverick Carter, and Nadal’s PR manager, Benito Perez-Barbadillo – had arranged for a client to spend almost a week with Nadal including watching a game from the player’s box, and for another client to play a match against Djokovic.
Carrega also claimed that he could sell access to be “part of the Olympic ceremony”. While the Olympics’ official corporate hospitality partner, On Location, offers “Riverside Gold Package” tickets to watch the opening ceremony for €7,500 (£5,980), before tax, along the Seine, Carrega said he was able to provide access “inside the Trocadéro” where
the main part of the ceremony will take place overlooking the Eiffel Tower. “You cannot buy this. You have to utilize your relationship with the athletes’ families and the [country] delegations.”
He said he had six to eight spaces available for the opening ceremony that would cost about $25,000 each and had already sold some to a long-term client with ultra-high net worth. “Obviously at this price point you have to be a very qualified person to want to spend that money,” he said. “It is the money-can’t-buy access, the inaccessible level to something very, very unique and special.”
The Paris 2024 organizing committee said On Location was the only “official and exclusive hospitality provider for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024”.
“Any entity selling ticket-inclusive hospitality packages, which is not an official sub-distributor of On Location, is doing so unlawfully,” it said in a statement. “Access to the athletes’ village or to participate in the Opening Ceremony is not ticketed and authorized only to those with a valid accreditation. Anyone accessing the village or the opening ceremony will be subject to multiple security checks.”
An International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson said anyone buying tickets or hospitality packages outside the official channels “runs the risk that tickets or packages are not delivered to them or the access will be denied by the Paris 2024 organizing committee in accordance with the terms and conditions”.
CHASING GOLD
OLYMPIAN IMANI-LARA LANSIQUOT
At Lee Valley Athletics Centre, Chingford, Imani-Lara Lansiquot slaps her thighs and crouches down on the start line. Laser-focused and stony-faced, she places her Nike spikes on the blocks. Her coach blows the whistle, and she springs out, sprinting past like a cheetah – the distance completed in a flash. Seconds later, she breaks into a little dance, singing with swagger Beyoncé’s famous lyrics: ‘Who run the world? Girls!’
It all feels very relaxed for someone who is in the last weeks of training for the Paris Olympics. But then again, Imani-Lara’s motto is: ‘“Take it seriously. Don’t take yourself seriously”. If you don’t see it that way, you’re effed,’ she says, adjusting her hair, her electric-blue acrylic nails catching the light.
It’s easy to see why this Team GB sprinter – a bright-eyed glamazon and the third-fastest British woman in history – is a star. Her killer mindset and world-class
speed mean she’s used to the limelight: at the age of 23, she represented Britain at the Tokyo Olympics, winning bronze in the 4x100-meter relay. And now, three years later, she is flying the British flag again in Paris.
At the time of our interview, Imani-Lara already had a place in the women’s relay squad; two weeks later, she secured her rightful spot in the 100 meters as a solo athlete. On the day we meet, she is confident, unperturbed and hyper-focused. ‘I’m just so excited to show the world what I’ve got,’ she says.
Imani-Lara’s dream would be to make the Olympic final. ‘I’d need to [run] close to my PB, which is 10.9 seconds. But I would love to try and break 10.9 and go into 10.8. That would be unreal,’ she says. It will be her first time competing solo in the 100 meters at Olympic level. She didn’t make the Tokyo team as an individual runner. ‘I was devastated,’ she
BY HARRIET
says, sliding into her blacked-out Land Rover (which she bought because it ‘looked pretty’ and had leather massage seats). But this year feels different. ‘I’m a much better athlete now,’ she says. ‘I’ve matured so much. I feel so ready for this one.’
It shows: ‘Us 100-meter sprinters, we have that confidence and coolness about us.’ That is an understatement. Female sprint superstars have always been the most exuberant, glamorous divas on the track; known for gorgeously groomed hair, bold nails and make-up. Just think of the 1980s American legend Florence ‘Flo Jo’ Griffith Joyner, Jamaica’s flashy ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and Great Britain’s elegant champion Dina Asher-Smith.
But none of that attitude comes without a watertight training program. Imani-Lara’s is a grueling schedule of almost daily fivehour track sessions, followed by circuits, ice baths, oxygen chamber sessions and
yoga. Mindfulness is key, too: ‘I meditate and do lots of race visualization,’ she says. In training today, she imagines she is running the Olympic race from a plethora of angles (bird’s-eye view, side profile, slow motion). ‘It’s so that when I’m on the start line, I feel like I’ve already run it. And obviously, in every scenario, I’m winning,’ she says, bursting into laughter. ‘There’s no point stressing about it. I just must trust in my training and let my body do its automatic thing.’
‘What’s good?’ says an unidentified voice from the car speakers. Then the same voice shouts enthusiastically: ‘West Indies, yeah! West Indies, yeah!’ ImaniLara laughs, clapping her hand to her mouth. It’s her father, Richard Lansiquot, who is calling to catch up about the cricket (the West Indies team were victorious the night before we meet) and consult his daughter on her training. She explains that she’s with a Tatler journalist and he replies: ‘Sorry, I’ve gotta put on my posh voice now.’ More cackles from Imani-Lara.
‘He’s my confidante, my go-to,’ she says affectionately after her father hangs up. He was the one who encouraged her to pursue sprinting. ‘I’m so indebted to him,’ she laughs. From the age of eight, ImaniLara lived with her father in London, after her mother had moved to Manchester.
‘He had to step up,’ she says. But it was her upbringing that instilled her desire to achieve. ‘I knew I had to shine in order to be seen,’ she says.
And shine she did – especially on school sports day at St Joseph’s in Camberwell. ‘It was the one day of the year I felt special,’ she says, recalling racing the older girls – and flying past them. But Imani-Lara had her sights set higher: for sixth form, she enrolled at Trinity School, a private secondary school in Croydon, where she won a sports scholarship.
When she was 13 years old, Richard decided she was destined for excellence and found her a coach. Their story is reminiscent of King Richard, the 2021 film about Venus and Serena Williams (Imani-Lara’s idols) and their rise to dominance, partly
thanks to their singularly driven father. ‘I went to the premiere. It was so inspiring to watch, especially because my dad has been such a part of my journey,’ she says.
Imani-Lara was 16 when she first competed for Great Britain. Two years later, she signed a contract with Puma. She excelled at the 2016 World U20 championships, the 2017 European championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games (having also obtained a psychology degree from King’s College London). But her proudest achievement was breaking 11 seconds in the 100 meters. ‘It’s a sign of being worldclass,’ she says over a plate of mussel linguine at the Stratford Hotel. ‘I’m the third British woman in history ever to do that.’
And, let’s not forget, she’s an Olympic medalist, too. Yet Tokyo wasn’t the experience she had dreamed of. Covid restrictions meant that she was performing to an empty stadium. ‘It was a really serious moment. But it was hard to feel it because, looking around, there was nothing,’ she says. ‘We were waving on a podium... but who were we waving to?’
The reality only sunk in when they flew home. ‘The airport arrival hall was packed with people flying flags,’ she smiles. ‘We realized how much it meant to people. It’s an unmatched feeling.’ Representing
Britain is something Imani-Lara doesn’t take lightly. ‘None of us do. We’re black girls flying that flag for people who look like us, and for all minorities. It’s an incredible feeling.’
At 22, Jack Whitaker was one of Britain’s greatest Olympic hopefuls and a bright star in his sport. International showjumping has never been more glamorous, infiltrated as it is by the scions of the most illustrious names in global society. But one jumping dynasty is even more feted: the Whitakers.
But where Jack would most like to be is in Paris, representing Britain in the 2024 Olympics. And that’s where he had every chance of being, until shortly before he shot the cover images with Imani-Lara Lansiquot. And then he didn’t quite make the cut. ‘At the start of every Olympic year,
it’s your main goal, it’s every rider’s goal,’ says Jack.
That’s how the Olympics are. In one moment, you’re either in or out. But for Jack, Los Angeles 2028 looms large on the horizon.
INSIDE THE WEALTHIEST SUBURBS IN THE USA
WITH THEIR COOKIE-CUTTER HOMES AND WHITE PICKET FENCES, THE SUBURBS SYMBOLIZED AMERICA’S MIDDLE CLASS POST-WORLD WAR II. But today, many of these residential areas are home to the country’s wealthiest demographics, boasting grand mansions, top-notch schools, country clubs, and exclusive amenities. GoBankingRates.com
reports; however, that the most expensive suburbs are not necessarily those with the highest household incomes. In fact, they are on opposite coasts.
The financial website ranked Scarsdale, New York, as the wealthiest suburb in America. There, households earn an average of $568,942, and a typical home costs $1,413,514.
Another New York community, Rye, located at the Connecticut state border, was
BY DEBRINA ZHEKOVA / SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES
second, with a median household income of $405,074 and a typical home value of $2,119,482.
“Our research shows that the top two wealthiest suburbs in America are both in New York: Scarsdale and Rye. However, while New York may have beaten out California for the wealthiest suburbs in terms of income, the Golden State suburbs on our list have significantly higher home prices,” CJ
Williamson, data content researcher at GoBankingRates.com told Travel + Leisure.
Williamson added that Scarsdale’s home prices are one-third of home values in the No. 4 suburb on the list — Los Altos, California. “Even No. 15-ranked Saratoga, California, has a typical home value of $3.9 million, which is three and a half times as much as Scarsdale,” he said.
The New York suburb is located in Westchester County, just 20 miles north of Manhattan, and has nearly 19,000 full-time residents. The historic village has some of the best public schools in the state and offers many family-friendly amenities, such as the 33-acre Greenburgh Nature Center, athletic fields, and golf courses.
“This welcoming community, with its high standard of living and robust amenities, continues to attract those looking for a superior lifestyle and a sound
investment opportunity,” Anne Moretti, a real estate agent at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, said, noting that buyer interest in the suburb surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the town is still experiencing high demand and low inventory.
“The transition to hybrid work schedules, emphasizing health, family time, and life balance, has further boosted the appeal of this suburb,” Williamson added.
One Arizona (Paradise Valley) and two Texas (West University Place and
University Park) suburbs also ranked among the top 10 wealthiest in the country, performing better than Palm Beach, Florida, which came in at No. 11. However, the famously posh Florida town had the highest typical home value — over $11.5 million.
GoBankingrates.com also pointed out that, overall, there were 23 East Coast suburbs on the list versus 19 on the West Coast, of which 16 were in California, the most out of any state.
INSIDE THE WEALTHIEST SUBURBS IN THE USA
THE BEST BOOKS TO READ THIS MONTH
This month, pile your nightstand with a novel about what happens but the one percent try to outrun their problems, a biography of the next Queen of England, a look inside the women who changed the American fashion industry forever, and so much more. Here are T&C’s picks for the best books of August 2024.
THE RICH PEOPLE HAVE GONE AWAY
Married couple Theo and Darla thought they were escaping danger when they fled New York City for their second home in the midst of a 2020 lockdown. But when, after a secret is revealed, Darla goes missing, the trouble for the couple—as well as the less fortunate friends they left behind in the city—is only just beginning.
EMPRESSES OF SEVENTH AVENUE
For years, American fashion designers on Manhattan’s Seventh Avenue had been taking what we’ll call inspiration from their Parisian compatriots. But when the Nazis invaded France in 1940, sudden-
ly the American designers were left to their own devices—and designs. What happened next changed the course of international fashion for generations and set the stage for the homegrown talent we know today to rise to prominence. In Nancy MacDonell’s book, the story of international intrigue and its sartorial consequences is told in fascinating detail.
BILLIONAIRE, NERD, SAVIOR, KING
The idea of how and why billionaires spend their money might never has been as impactful as it is right now. One way to understand the way the .001 percent operates is to dive into this unauthorized biography of Bill Gates, which uses hundreds of interviews with the people who’ve worked alongside him to shed light on the secret sides of one of the world’s richest and most powerful men.
THE ART OF POWER
It’s hard to believe Nancy Pelosi has never written a memoir about her extraordinary life and career, but certainly under-
standable: she has been busy, making history as the first woman to be elected U.S. House Speaker (twice), leading her party through some very tumultuous years, and fighting for democracy on (and since) January 6. To be clear, she is still very busy—the 84-year-old is currently serving her 19th term in Congress—but has had time to pen this highly anticipated tell-all charting her rise from housewife to the most powerful woman in America.
ALL THAT GLITTERS
A reader could be forgiven for picking up Orlando Whitfield’s memoir about his life and career alongside the infamous art fraud Inigo Philbrick and expecting it to be all juice. The book isn’t dry by any stretch—in fact, it’s full of twists, turns, gossip, and cautionary tales—but it’s also more than just a tell-all about adjacency to scandal. Whitfield is a thoughtful writer who spins an enchanting tale about ambition, friendship, power, and class, and his observations about the art world and the characters who populate it (himself included) are thought provoking
and astute. In short, come for the infamy and intrigue, stay for the insight.
PEGGY
It can be easy to reduce the life of Peggy Guggenheim, the trailblazing art collector, to images on a mood board. Sure, there’s her slim memoir, Out of This Century: Confessions of an Art Addict, but the Peggy of today is often one we’ve imagined. In this new novel, Rebecca Godfrey and Leslie Jamison, who completed the book after Godfrey’s death, dive deep into imagining her life, from her father’s untimely demise on the Titanic to her struggles to find a place in both the art world and Europe’s restrictive society. It’s a smart, exciting, and big-hearted book that not only thinks about what a life can be but also how it becomes legendary.
THE UNRAVELING
The latest from Hamrick, a choreographer and former American Ballet Theater dancer, once again uses the world of dance to tell a thrilling story about a life hanging in the balance. Here, the novel follows Jocelyn, an American in London who’s desperate to prove her worth to the Royal National Ballet at the same time that she’s caught between what she knows she should do and lurking temptation.
HOW TO LEAVE THE HOUSE
How much can happen in just 24 hours? Quite a bit if you’re reading Nathan Newman’s debut novel, about a young man with one day left at home before he departs for college. But what a day it is: a mysterious package has gone missing, a local teenager’s life has been turned upside down, and the protagonist is at odds with everyone from his mother to his ex and seemingly everyone else. It’s a witty, sprawling story about life’s big changes and the things that never change, told with style and smarts by a remarkable new voice.
WORST CASE SCENARIO
As delicious as T.J. Newman’s books are, perhaps this one is best left home on your summer vacation. That’s because the author’s latest thriller follows a catastrophic accident—a plane plummeting into a nuclear power plant—and the incredible impact the event could have on the world. It’s a thrilling, expertly assembled story about high stakes, courage, and the fate of the world—we’re just not sure we want to be reading it anywhere near an airplane.
HUM
The world of Hum feels not too far from our present day reality. In Helen Phillips’s story, May is a struggling mom who loses
her job to AI robots called “hums.” She decides to sign up for an experiment that alters her face ever-so-slightly to make her unrecognizable by surveillance cameras, and then splurges on a vacation to the Botanical Garden for her family of four. But when May insists her children leave their devices behind, things begin to go horribly awry. It makes you, the reader, deeply uncomfortable (in a good way) about the advances in AI and our dependence on technology—Jeff VanderMeer said it best in his blurb: Phillips “has found a way to make visible uncomfortable truths about our present by interrogating the near-future.”
SICILY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER IMAGINED
ITALY’S CLASSIC CITIES OF ROME, VENICE, FLORENCE, AND MILAN HAVE LONG ATTRACTED TOURISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
All the while, Sicilians quietly produced wine, dined on superb seafood, and grew almonds, pistachios, olives, and citrus. Word has been getting out, though, about the island’s picturesque coastline, historic towns, and abundant attractions.
From the lively capital of Palermo and the hilltop city of Taormina to Trapani in the west, the large tricornered island off the toe of Italy’s boot is bursting with magical — and diverse — destinations.
Sicily offers beaches, mountains, active volcanoes, and even snow skiing. Wellpreserved archaeological sites, cathedrals, and buildings show evidence of its history as a home for Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, and other peoples. The indigenous Sicanians, about whom little is known, are thought to have occupied the island as far back as 8000 B.C., giving Sicily its name.
The yellow and red flag of Sicily depicts a three-legged woman with the head of the mythical Medusa, called the “Trinacria.” The three legs symbolize the three corners of Sicily, and, according to legend, the three mythological nymphs who created the island. You’ll see this symbol everywhere on the island, from its flag to
the souvenirs you’ll want to take home as memories of your extraordinary visit to Sicily.
DELICIOUS FOOD
Sicily has its own style of Italian cuisine; its location and history influence its most popular dishes. It’s not unusual to see couscous on a menu, reflecting Arabic tastes, as well as pasta served with ingredients that reflect each locale’s specialty. Delicious fresh seafood is plentiful — the island has more than 600 miles of coastline — and sardines are served on their own or in the flavorful pasta con le sarde, which includes
fennel, pine nuts, and raisins. Pasta alla Norma features tomato, eggplant, and salted ricotta cheese. Fried rice balls called arancini are popular snacks, and a favorite antipasto is caponata, a luscious mixture of tomatoes, capers, and eggplant.
Sicilians love desserts and are known to make the best cannoli — fried pastry tubes filled with sweetened ricotta. Granita, crushed ice flavored with fruit, almond, or coffee, and cassata, sponge cake with liqueur, ricotta, and marzipan (almond paste) are also top picks. Frutta Martorana, a Sicilian specialty, are miniature fruits and vegetables embellished by hand. Sicily›s almonds, pistachios, and citrus appear in desserts like gelato and biscotti. And where else would you encounter the summertime breakfast treat brioche con gelato — gelato in a brioche bun?
STUNNING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Sicily is home to some of the world’s best-preserved examples of Greek and Roman temples, structures, and art. In the southwest, Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples includes the nearly intact Temple of Concordia and columns remaining from several other Greek temples. On Sicily’s southeast coast, Siracusa — once the leading city of Greece — a massive amphitheater built around the fifth century B.C. is still used for theatrical presentations. A third-century Roman amphitheater still stands in the area. On the nearby island of Ortigia are the remains of the Temple of Apollo, built in the seventh century B.C.
Farther north in the coastal hilltop city of Taormina, the Teatro Greco, dating to the third century B.C., was later enlarged by
the Romans. Today, the theater is home to film festivals, concerts, and plays, with the audience enjoying views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna along with the performances. In Segesta, a striking Doric temple has stood for more than 2,000 years near a massive amphitheater. Selinunte, once a major Greek city on the south coast, is another impressive archaeological site. The Regional Archaeological Museum in Palermo contains historical Sicilian sculpture and artifacts.
LUXURIOUS BEACHES
Surrounded by the Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and Mediterranean seas, Sicily boasts miles of varied and beautiful coastline, so visitors will find something they love, whether it’s secluded spot or a lively resort. Near Taormina, Isola Bella features a gorgeous beach, and it’s common for lidos, or beach clubs, to offer umbrellas, chairs, beverages, and dining. A cable car
takes visitors from central Taormina to beaches at Mazzarò. The sea is clear and warm, but the sand is pebbly, so beach shoes are suggested. Nearby Giardini Naxos has both lidos and public areas.
Palermo’s beaches on the north shore, including Mondello, Magaggiari, and Cefalù, feature sandy shores. About 40 miles east of Palermo, Cefalù, once a fishing village, offers several beaches, cafés, restaurants, hotels, and nightlife. Near Ragusa, along the southeastern shore, popular beaches include Fontane Bianche, San Lorenzo, and Marina di Ragusa.
DISTINCTIVE WINES
Sicilian wines are increasingly popular, and winemaking on the island dates back millennia to the Greeks. Marsala, in western Sicily, produces fortified wines by the same name, categorized by their age and residual sugar. In the Mount Etna area of eastern Sicily, volcanic soil and a favorable climate lead to excellent wines like
Carricante (white) and Etna Rosso (red) made mostly from Nerello Mascalese grapes. The widely planted native grape, Nero d’Avola, produces dark, robust, complex wines.
White wines, sometimes called Etna Bianco, are created primarily from the Carricante grape. Catarratto, the most planted grape, produces dry wines. Grillo, another dry white with medium body, is a lovely accompaniment for seafood. Sample local varieties and choose some favorites to look for when you arrive back home so you can relive your Sicilian experience.
RICH CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
The two-wheeled, horse-drawn cart painted with bright colors depicting religious scenes, flowers, and intricate designs is a recognizable symbol of Sicily. Originally used for transportation, the carts were pulled by horses also decorated with ribbons, bells, or plumes. Skilled
craftsmen built and painted the carts, seen today at festivals, museums, and in miniature versions for souvenirs.
Sicily’s cities and towns host festive events throughout the year, with many honoring patron saints, holidays, or seasons. In Agrigento, the springtime Almond Blossom Festival features 10 days of traditional costumes, music, and parades. The Sagra della Ricotta every April in Vizzini, one of Sicily’s oldest cities, celebrates the cheese used in cannoli, cassata, and savory dishes. The Feast of Santa Rosalia in Palermo is a major event in mid-July with music, processions, and fireworks. Easter season brings carnival and Holy Week processions that show the authentic nature of Sicily’s culture.
BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS
Several groups of islands off Sicily’s shores offer some of the most spectacular beaches in the area. The Pelagie Islands are southwest of Sicily in the Mediterranean. Lampedusa, the largest of
these islands, features white-sand beaches and clear waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The Egadi Islands off Sicily’s west coast are accessible for day trips from Trapani. Favignana, the largest of the Egadis, is home to luxury hotels, beaches, and popular diving spots.
Off Sicily’s northern coast in the Tyrrhenian Sea are the volcanic Aeolian Islands. Lipari is the largest and most popular with tourists who enjoy its hot springs and historic architecture. Small, but also a tourist favorite, is Panarea. Stromboli features an active volcano, and many visitors take guided hikes to its summit. The island of Salina is known for its delicious capers and mountain peak. Off Sicily’s west coast, volcanic Pantelleria is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with fumaroles, mud baths, and agricultural products that include olives, grapes, and their well-known capers.
WELCOMING ACCOMMODATIONS
Sicily is resplendent in top-notch accommodations. From five-star resorts and exclusive villas to casual beach hotels, you’ll find the right place to stay in Sicily. Verdura Resort on the south coast offers white-sand beaches, golf, a spa, and luxurious accommodations. Therasia Resort on the island of Vulcano features an expansive spa, pool, and views of the other Aeolians. The Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina is a classic, with elegant rooms, gardens, and views of Mount Etna and the sea. Or book a grand villa overlooking the sea for a group or family.
Hotels in major cities include the boutique Villa Carlotta and the San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel in Taormina, the Monaci
delle Terre Nere near Mount Etna, Grand Hotel Wagner in Palermo, and the Baglio Sorìa in Trapani. For a different experience, enjoy the environment and comfort of a farmhouse stay. Choose a locale by the sea, mountains, or amid olive trees and grape vines. Farmhouse lodging can range from rustic to ultra-luxurious.
IF YOU GO
International airports in Palermo and Catania receive flights from most cities in Europe. Eurostar trains from Rome and Naples and other cities in Italy arrive in Sicily via a ferry across the Strait of Messina, an enjoyable trip. From the Italian ports of Naples, Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Villa San Giovanni, ships sail to Palermo, Catania, and Messina. It’s even possible to drive from the mainland and other European countries, taking the ferry to Messina.
FASHION & STYLE
MEN'S BEST STREET LOOKS
MEN'S BEST SHOES FROM THIS SEASON
THE ACCESSORIES THAT MAKE THE MAN
BEST MEN'S STREET LOOKS
Across London, Florence, Milan, and Paris, Spring 2025 fashion week wasn’t just confined to the runways—it spilled out onto the streets in a vibrant tapestry of personal expression and trend-setting styles.
From the eclectic energy of London’s East End to the refined elegance of Parisian boulevards, each city offered a unique backdrop for the convergence
of global fashionistas, influencers, and industry insiders.
These streets became the stages where fashion narratives unfolded, intertwining contemporary trends with timeless sartorial statements.
Captured through the discerning lenses of The Impression’s photography team, this collection of images unveils the essence of men’s street style during the season.
Each photograph is a snapshot of individuality and creativity, showcasing how fashion aficionados transform everyday settings into showcases of personal style. From tailored classics to daring avant-garde ensembles, these street style moments epitomize the dynamic spirit and enduring influence of fashion beyond the confines of traditional shows.
MEN'S SHOES
For the most part, the Spring 2025 menswear shows represented a relatively subdued and straightforward evolution of brand codes and classics – but were nonetheless punctuated by a few dazzling moments of artistic daring.
This duality extended right down to the soles of the models’ shoes. While the age of loafers still seems to be upon us, many forward-thinking designers unleashed an experimental streak into this mix, resulting in a heady range of cool classics and avant-garde experiments.
Highlights in the first category included Amiri, Loewe, and Martine Rose, while the season’s hybrid footwear innovators were led by Gucci, JW Anderson, and especially Feng Chen Wang with her surreal, sculptural overshoes.
Fall/Winter 2024
ACCESSORIES
Practical and purposeful, as well as one of the more accessible entry points into owning luxury fashion, handbag design is timeless. Until humans evolve to have pouches or grow more arms, the need to have a bag to carry things will always be with us.
While much of fashion is concerned with innovation, nowness, and newness, handbags thus present a challenge for designers to create pieces that both
function as timeless, practical companions and signifiers of an artful awareness of contemporary aesthetic culture – all while fitting these pieces holistically into the vision of their collection as a whole.
When it comes to menswear, designing accessories presents another set of opportunities and challenges due to the historically (though, of course, not in reality) gendered character of handbags.
Today’s top designers put plenty of fresh and covetable spins on iconic leather bags, as well as innovating in terms of material and structure. At Dior, Kim Jones went cool and classic while adding utilitarian detailing. Sabato De Sarno entered his colorful era at Gucci. Dries van Noten’s final collection saw the designer play with volume for his bags. Prada explored texture, while Louis Vuitton went supersized on its classic trunks.
MANSION OF THE MONTH
LA FIN: LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA
$139,000,000
MANSION
OF THE MONTH
"LA FIN"
COMPARABLE ONLY TO THE WORLD'S FINEST HOTELS
LA FIN, TRANSLATED AS ‘THE END’, AIMS TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION AND ENTERTAINMENT ON A SCALE COMPARABLE ONLY TO THE WORLD’S FINEST HOTELS.
An extraordinary estate perched atop Bel Air, it redefines luxury living with unparalleled sophistication and breathtaking views of Los Angeles and Century City. This meticulously crafted residence, which took over five years to complete, epitomizes opulence with 12 bedrooms and 17 baths.
Every corner of La Fin exudes extravagance, from its grand glass-walled entryway and a majestic 44-foot crystal chandelier to a sprawling formal living room adorned with shimmering chande-
liers and hand-carved stone latticework around a monumental fireplace.
The estate’s lower level dedicated to entertainment and wellness, featuring a state-of-the-art wine cellar with a stunning Murano glass installation, a climate-controlled cigar lounge, and a sleek vodka tasting room. A fully equipped fitness center includes a climbing wall, Peloton bikes, steam room, and a spa, while a sound-proof cinema with motorized Belgian leather seating promises cinematic indulgence.
These numerable elements, however, are only the beginning of the home’s superlative qualities, which extend to the bespoke furnishings created by the Italian artisan workshop La Contessina.
Upstairs, the private quarters offer respite with a lavish primary suite boasting floor-to-ceiling lacquered Italian oak
walls, a Portuguese marble fireplace, and boutique-worthy walk-in closets. The spalike bathroom showcases bookmatched Calacatta gold marble, and a soaking tub carved from a single block of stone.
Outdoors, La Fin transforms into an oasis of relaxation and entertainment with motorized Fleetwood pocket doors blurring the line between interior and exterior spaces. The infinity-edge pool overlooks a 23-foot retractable LED screen and an outdoor bar with swing seats, while a fire pit lounge provides warmth and ambiance.
On the rooftop, a deck with built-in seating, a fire pit, and a spa offers panoramic views, ensuring every moment is a celebration of luxury and privacy. Security features such as fingerprint technology, an on-site caretaker residence, and a dedicated security command center provide peace of mind in this unparalleled retreat in the heart of Bel Air.
5200 Old Santa Fe Trail’s state of the art equestrian amenities include:
• 8 stall stable, oversized stalls
• Two outdoor riding arenas and round pen
• Well provisioned tack room and manager’s office
• Subway tile wash stall with hot water supply
• Dry and grassed paddocks
• Feed storage
• Security cameras
• Advanced fire suppression system throughout stables & tack room
• Over 1 mile of well manicured bridle path that meanders the estate
• Attached Caretaker’s Quarters
Residential Amenities
5200 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505
• Main House: 3 bedrooms / 6 bathrooms
• Guest House: 2 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms
• Caretaker’s Quarters: 2 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms
• 34 +\- acres
• Pool
• Gated Entry
76 CLIFF ROAD, TORBAY
Redefining luxury on a grand scale, this iconic architectural marvel delivers. Occupying a vast 3850sqm oceanfront landholding designed to capture the unimpeded 270-degree ocean panorama from Whangaparaoa all the way to the beautiful silhouette of Rangitoto Island, this is the epitome of artful living.
Private and secure, the expansive 550 square-meter Spanish limestone clad concrete and masonry residence has been designed by esteemed architects Fearon Hay to maximize the Hauraki Gulf views through extensive glazing while providing shelter and seclusion.
Natural light bathes the super-sized entertainer’s open plan living space anchored by the exquisite kitchen with new Nero
Marquina island bench, Poggenpohl cabinetry, premium Gaggenau and Sub Zero appliances. The scale and form of the living areas are simply breath-taking with double height ceiling which creates a true sense of space and grandeur.
Double height glazing with sliding glass panels ensures an uninterrupted connection to the panorama and the exterior hosting terraces where you can follow the sun and appreciate the exceptional private position. A heated 25m lap pool cast to the edge of the elevated stone terrace impresses with its extensive water horizon.
Sleeping accommodations are thoughtfully arranged for privacy and tranquility and include a guest suite with kitchenette. Each bathroom is stunning and unique
in design, sporting Boffi and Ritmonio tapware.
As you would expect of a property of this caliber, only the most exceptional amenities have been selected. A Rotex system provides endless hot water for the home, basalt floors and pool. The home also comes equipped with a temperature-controlled 1400+ bottle wine cellar and triple internal garaging.
There is no need to fight traffic to head to a beach when this resort-style estate is circa 20 minutes from Westhaven Marina and has beaches on its doorstep - Ladder Bay is a two-minute walk, while Long Bay and Waiake Beach are also a stroll away. This is an unsurpassed lifestyle masterpiece.
76 CLIFF ROAD, TORBAY
AUCKLAND, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
PRICE $14,750,000 NZD
BEDROOMS 4 | BATHROOMS 3 FULL AND 1 PARTIAL | INTERIOR 5,920 SQ FT. | EXTERIOR 0.95 ACRES
Located in Agni, Ayline is situated just a brief stroll from the picturesque bay and its famous beach-front restaurants. The villa showcases a unique blend of Corfiot and Venetian architectural influences fused with modern aesthetics. Two distinctive features are the windows that amplify the panoramic views and the stone used on the façade and exterior walls, which was sourced directly from the property’s grounds. Each stone was meticulously hand-shaped by a skilled craftsman and fitted together like pieces of an intricate puzzle.
Ayline is on two levels and the living spaces are enhanced by exquisite interior design featuring contemporary French and Italian furnishings.
Initially planned for nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms, the property has been modified and currently consists of six exceptionally comfortable and impeccably designed bedrooms. The remaining three rooms have been repurposed to meet various needs. One of the rooms now serves as a spacious office with its own private entrance, offering panoramic views of the surroundings. Another room has been transformed into a gym, with stunning sea vistas and lastly, the third room serves as an additional office or library area.
On the lower ground floor, you’ll be captivated by the artistic atmosphere of the dual-purpose space—a dynamic art gallery meticulously designed to replicate a museum ambiance, allowing for the effortless rotation and change of exhibited art. At the push of a button, the room turns into a cutting-edge home cinema featuring state-of-the-art
audio-visual systems for a cinematic experience rivaling that of a professional theater.
The spacious living/dining area and kitchen, with large, sleek-framed windows and soaring beamed ceilings, is filled with abundant natural light, openness, and airiness. All these spaces provide access to the outdoor areas and the pool.
This beautiful property has direct access to the sea via a private jetty. Imagine being able to step out of your home and have the coastal waters just a few steps away.
Ayline is surrounded by an expansive Mediterranean garden unveiling a wide variety of flora, including over 50 olive trees and more than 100 diverse species of flowers, shrubs, and trees such as fig, pistachio, pine, pomegranate, jacaranda, lemon, orange, robinia, and kumquat. The abundant stone terracing across the property provides delightful outdoor living spaces. The pool area features 285sqm of terraces, some of which is covered by automatic bio-climatic pergolas. These areas provide an ideal relaxation and open-air dining setting while immersing in the picturesque views.
The infinity pool, strategically situated, gives the illusion of merging as one with the sea offering a sense of infinite space. Steps from the pool area lead first to a yoga and meditation spot with a panoramic sea view, followed by a waterside deck designed for sunbeds and access to the boat jetty.
In Search of Solace Hot Weather Summons a Spritz
A Summer of Spritzers
WILLIAM SMITH / POLO
SWILLIAM SMITH @willismith_2000 COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR
UMMER IS IN FULL SWING AND, ONCE AGAIN, OUR WARMING PLANET CONTINUES TO REGISTER NEW RECORDS FOR EXTREME HEAT. JULY 21, 2024, WAS THE HOTTEST DAY ON EARTH SINCE RECORDS WERE KEPT AND PERHAPS, ACCORDING TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, MAY INDEED BE THE HOTTEST DAY ON THE PLANET IN THE LAST 100,000 YEARS. NO. THAT’S NOT A TYPO.
For me, taking refuge from the sweltering temperatures over the past many weeks has involved discovering a bevy of deliciously refreshing spritzers and thankfully, they are absolutely every-
where. Nearly every establishment where I have recently dined seems to be offering up both novel and tried-andtrue spritzer concoctions.
A spritzer basically involves mixing something with alcohol – a wine or spirit – with something carbonated –think soda water and/or sparkling wine – and serving it over ice. I recall some snobbery to the emergence of the white wine spritzer in the 1980s and admit that I may have even carried some of those prejudices into adulthood. Why ruin a perfectly delicious glass of white wine with soda water?
The truth is, the lines are being blurred all the time in the world of wine and spirits and current trends are decidedly not desecrating the core ingredient, but rather elevating it to new libationary heights. Here are four of my favorite spritzers for keeping cool this summer. And be sure to serve them in a stemmed balloon glass for full effect.
LIMONCELLO SPRITZ
I spend a great deal of time in Northern California’s Marin County and find that I return, time and again, to dine at Poggio, an Italian trattoria in sleepy and tony Sausalito. This is “old school” Italian with some of the most delicious handmade pasta dishes to enjoy while people watching from street-front outdoor dining.
A recent summer night’s dinner was ushered in with a crisp and tart Limoncello Spritz, which, while we were not on the Amalfi Coast, was complimented by harbor-side views of San Francisco Bay. This is a simple but rewarding cocktail of prosecco, limoncello, and soda water.
The Limoncello Spritz follows the simple 3-2-1 method – 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts limoncello, and one part soda water. Producer Mionetto’s non-vintage Brut Prosecco is readily available and is a perfect dry, sparkling wine for
In Search of Solace Hot Weather Summons a Spritz
this cocktail. I have also since experimented with this spritzer and replaced regular soda water with San Pelligrino’s Limonata, a tangy sparkling lemon beverage which is derived from Sicilian lemons. A simple lemon slice as a garnish and this is summer in a glass.
ROSÉ SPRITZ
If I am not dining at Poggio, you might also find me at the opulent RH Rooftop Restaurant, the top floor destination restaurant of Restoration Hardware’s store in Corte Madera, Calif. Although you’re technically in a shopping mall setting, the views from the rooftop are spectacular and the muted tones of the RH aesthetic and live foliage – both indoor and out – transport you into the rolling hills surrounding Mount Tamalpais, which majestically dominates the views.
If lemon puts the sunshine in the Limoncello Spritz, it is its kindred citrus, lime, that propels the Rosé Spritz at RH Rooftop to praiseworthy heights. It features two different wines in equal
parts – the aperitif vermouth Lillet Rosé and Pierre Sparr Brut Rosé from Alsace. The fruit forward notes of both the sparkling and the Lillet, as well as the lively acidity of the Lillet, are perfect complements to the splash of zesty lime juice. This is one of the most delicious spritzers I have ever tasted.
Lillet has their own version of a Rosé Spritz on their website, which utilizes only club soda. Trust me, the addition of a fruity, sparkling rosé transforms this cocktail.
APEROL SPRITZ
This summer, one of my dearest friends from high school came for a visit. Being a bit of an Italophile, and while perusing my bar (mostly dominated by aged rums, tequilas, and sherries), she lovingly shamed me for a glaring absence – Aperol. I confessed that it was a taste I had not (yet) acquired. She protested and assured me that I just needed to have the perfect Aperol Spritz and off to the store she went for the necessary provisions. She was right.
The Aperol Spritz has been a quintessential Italian aperitif and summer cooler for nearly a century. Aided in no small part by an extensive marketing campaign of The Campari Group, which acquired Aperol in 2000, it feels like the “it” spritz of the moment.
The Aperol Spritz also follows the 3-2-1 method with 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol, and one part soda. Aperol is a bittersweet liquor with heavy herbaceous notes and a deep orange color. This is the spritz for those whose tastes yield toward the less-sweet, although here, a Brut prosecco could be substituted with a sweeter, dry prosecco. A slice of orange as a garnish completes this classic.
LAVENDER ‘99
I’m not saying you need to journey to New Mexico to experience by favorite summer spritzer, but alas, the Lavender ’99 hails from the posh Los Poblanos, a luxury property outside Albuquerque and whose extensive organic lavender plants give the cocktail its soul and flavor.
Recognized by USA Today as one of the top 10 craft gins in the United States, Los Poblanos’ Lavender Gin is unique and contributes much to the magic of this spritzer, as well as a Lavender simply syrup. Hints of floral are added by the liquor Crème de Violette and citrusy acidity from lemon. Finally, the spritz is contributed by sparkling wine.
If you’re unable to make your way to New Mexico, you can recreate this marvelous elixir at home with creating your own lavender simple syrup and even infusing your favorite gin with lavender. The exact recipe remains a secret, but in my own experiments I use 3 parts sparkling, 1 part gin, ½ part lavender syrup, ½ part Crème de Violette, and a squeeze of a lemon wedge.
Stay cool and refreshed. And as always, Salud!
ASCENSION
HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD
SPIRITUALITY FAITH
QUESTIONS GROWTH · FOCUS
The Celestial Mandate for a Radical Transformation in Devotional Living
“In every heart, there is a voice waiting to be heard, in every soul, a story waiting to be told. As we mark our journey, we celebrate the symphony of voices rising - each one a beacon of hope, a testament to resilience, and a call to action. Together, our voices form a chorus of change, echoing the unwavering belief that freedom and dignity are not just ideals, but rights for all. Let us continue to lift each other, so that every voice, no matter how faint, is heard far and wide, inspiring a world where freedom reigns and hope flourishes.”
- Ashlie
Bryant, Co-founder and CEO of 3Strands Global Foundation
RENEWAL
AMRITLAL अमृत
ASCENSION
CONTRIBUTOR
@monarch_visionary
WTRAGEDY CARVES A HOLE INTO THE CORE OF YOUR HEART, RATTLING THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR EXISTENCE, HOW DO YOU TRANSFORM THE ANGST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE INTO THE LIFE LESSONS THAT CHARIOT YOU INTO YOUR NEXT STAGE OF SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION?
“Human trafficking is a heinous violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms. It preys on vulnerability and thrives in times of conflict and instability. Today - amidst growing inequalities, worsening climate emergencies, and record displacement - more and more people are left vulnerable to traffickers. The majority of detected victims are women and children, many of whom suffer brutal violence, forced labor, and horrific sexual exploitation and abuse.
Yet traffickers continue to operate with impunity. Their crimes are not receiv-
ing nearly enough attention. This must change. We must invest much more in detection, prevention and protection. We must strengthen law enforcement to bring criminals that commodify human beings to justice. We must do more to help survivors rebuild their lives.”
- Antonio Guterrez,
Secretary General of the United Nations.
There comes a point in our lives when we realize that we are the all, the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, and that it is up to us to combat evil by resurrecting the inner flames of purification, to seamlessly dissolve our limited perception of reality as we realize the supreme reflection of our collective divinity.
Driven into the depths of despair, we ascend as we partake of the eternal fountains of creation, by attuning to the cosmic vibration, the universal cosmic force that is Krsna-Christ consciousness.
Miraculously transformed through acts of selfless service, our lives become magical, full of wonder, awe, synchronicity and a deep sense of gratitude for the divine gift of our eternal existence, awakening the ancestral torch of compassion that guides our virtuous path of noble guardianship as an immortalized emblem of peace, sovereignty and dignity.
As awakened empaths, we evolve into celestial form as we conquer the demons that feast upon the radiance of our innocence. By cultivating inner peace, we alchemically secrete the nectar of immortality from which unfurls our golden harmonic expression, aligning us with a power beyond our imagination.
As Monarch Visionaries, we emerge from the chrysalis of our emotional pain to behold a world that is lit by our sense of devotional conviction through which we realize spiritual liberation.
This month, we interview a true-life rainbow warrior, whose matriarchal calling to advocate for each individual’s empowerment has enacted transformational measures in United States legislation, increased knowledge and awareness, protocol adoption in school systems and humanitarian partnerships across economic industries - serving a purpose that unites hearts against a common threat to our communities.
ADVOCATE FOR THE DISEMPOWERED
“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” - Jesus
ASCENSION
HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD
SPIRITUALITY FAITH
It is our devotional passion for selfless service, Seva in Sanskrit, that builds the momentum to pierce into higher dimensions of potential for self-actualization, fueling the alchemical transfiguration of our existence. We unleash, as we push free, invoking the Divine Feminine Shakti Kundalini energy that spiral staircases our backbone to activate our dormant genetic expression as we pour forth in heart-based service of Universal Harmony.
3Strands Global Foundation (“3SGF”) was founded in 2010 upon a vision for a world free from human trafficking, and a mission to mobilize communities to combat human trafficking through prevention education and reintegration programs.
Inspired by a mission to transform a collective evil into a vision for hope and unity, 3SGF has realized a profound contribution over the past decade:
• 807,000+ students taught, since 2014
• 122,000+, adults trained, since 2014
• Launched 7 additional prevention education programs across the United States, since 2021
• 1,000 survivors placed in sustainable jobs, since 2016
• Sponsored AB1227, the first ever human trafficking prevention education mandate for schools in the United States, in 2017
• 38,000+ positive qualitative stories voiced, since 2019
• 3SGF’s three pillars of Empowerment are: Education, Employment and Engagement.
QUESTIONS GROWTH · FOCUS
Nine innovative programs have been developed to cover all stages of prevention:
• Establishing community resilience
• Empowering at-risk, potential victims
• Supporting survivors as they thrive
Through education and cutting-edge prevention solutions, 3SGF arms communities to be protected and empowered. For the youth, this means teaching them to trust their inner voice, recognize characteristics of trustworthy adults, and identify healthy boundaries. They learn to compassionately serve and protect one another. The concerted effort of young hearts bridged in purpose crystallizes a protective shield that inspires hope, health, vitality and intuitive intelligence. This protective heart-field shield builds resilience against societal stress, worry and unsafe relationships.
LIBERATION OF THE COLLECTIVE HEART
In a 2021 scientific study by the HeartMath Institute in Boulder Creek, Calif., titled, “Global Study of Human Heart Rhythm Synchronization with the Earth’s Time Varying Magnetic Field,” it is demonstrated that the power of the heart-field shield is nonlocal and is directly correlated with the heartbeat of Mother Earth, measured by her Schumann resonances, and enhances the vitality, longevity and social intelligence of her species.
The article references a 15-day study involving 104 participants located in California, Lithuania, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and England who engaged in a heart-focused meditation called
Heart Lock-In (HLI) for a 15-min period. The study demonstrated that, despite the geographical distance, the intentional meditative efforts both increased the group’s synchronized heart rhythms to one another as well as to the Earth’s local magnetic field.
As the Earth cries out for justice, she provides the guiding power through those whose hearts are disciplined and focused to channel her cosmic intelligence through their inner rod of strength, their spinal column. The reward for such service is the perception of Heaven realized through the Rainbow Light Body Ascension.
Through the Planetary Ascension process, as the polarity differential between the Earth’s ionosphere and magnetosphere magnifies with increasing geomagnetic and solar activity, the spiritual trauma of the planetary system is being risen through humanity’s spinal column, or sushumna channel, for purification of the sense organs and heart-based transmutation of the collective darkness, catalyzing the restructuring of the nervous system to perceive the higher dimensional realms of existence.
Freedom rings for those who serve the calling. Unless this ancestral pain is transmuted through the heart, it is expressed as rage, hatred and other toxic emotions, contributing to the endless cycle of self-abuse. Through ancient yogic techniques, such as Kriya and Kundalini meditation and breathwork, this energy, or prana, is transformed into the cellular potential to support a nervous system reset for spiritual rebirth.
Given that cancer cells have a hyper-polarized mitochondrial membrane
RENEWAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT EXPLORATION · ENERGY
potential relative to normal cells, it is reassuring to our collective progression that the American Cancer Society now supports the integration of Eastern healing modalities for the awakening of our inner potential for true self-healing.
As we pave the way for the ascending passion of our purpose to rapture within, we nurse the birthing of our higher selves and the liberation of our organ systems from secreting toxic poisons. Only through practices in self-awareness may our collective spirit be unchained from the indoctrinated spiritual ignorance that has become our death conditioning.
PAIN WARRANTS TRANSFORMATION
“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
3Strands Global Foundation was founded in response to an event that shook a small, tight-knit California community. In 2008, a 17-year-old girl was lured from a supermarket and sex-trafficked for eight days before she was recovered.
After the trafficker was sentenced to 12.5 years in federal prison, 3Strands Global Foundation was formed, with a focus on prevention. The mission was to stop the crime of human trafficking before it starts.
This tragedy and the courage that it took for this young 17-year-old to heal
inspired those original 3Strands volunteers and has ultimately led to millions of people that have been made aware, educated and restored from human trafficking.
Rather than over-sensualizing the crime to fall victim to the downward spiraling abyss of discouragement, a decision was made to expand prevention education to include differing communities as well as to empower survivors through employment and education pathways. There is so much pain in this realm, that without determined vigilance in our Faith-based convictions, we too fall prey to the addictive and depressive state of enslavement that is our collective, modern-day, global epidemic.
Our conscious choice to transform our suffering is the universal mechanism for evolution, whereby pain drives us to extend for that which is beyond our current state of realization. Through our pursuit of excellence, we become a living testament of our will to embody grace in the face of evil.
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”– Socrates
Predators, at every level of consciousness, exploit insecurity and often seek out those who are vulnerable . Vulnerability to a human trafficker can be economic insecurity, someone experiencing homelessness, someone who has experienced abuse, or someone who has a disability. Through powerful education programs like those at 3SGF, one can overcome such vulnerabilities and be empowered to thrive.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SURVIVOR VOICE
To empower and learn from those who have endured human trafficking, 3GSF integrates the wisdom of survivor’s firsthand insights to bring authenticity and depth to all programs and ensure that their approaches are truly impactful.
3GSF is expanding upon this effort by integrating a Survivor Advisory Board with regular consultation panels, incorporating survivor-led sessions, and creating spaces for survivors to share their stories safely and respectfully. This will enrich all training and curriculum and foster a more empathetic and informed community, driving home the importance of our collective efforts in prevention education.
PROTECT – SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMMING
Through 3SGF’s K-12 PROTECT prevention education and training program, teachers, counselors and all staff can recognize, respond to, and report all forms of human trafficking and violence.
PROTECT offers an age-appropriate curriculum for students (K-12), training and protocol resources for school staff, and a way to measure the impact in every community.
PROTECT’S goal is to prevent crime before it starts. Through PROTECT curricula, delivered by trained educators, students are taught to identify abusive tactics and signs of exploitation both online and in person, helping to keep themselves and others safe.
ASCENSION
HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD
SPIRITUALITY FAITH QUESTIONS GROWTH · FOCUS
The Prevention Education programs taught in elementary, middle and high schools, teaches students to honor, trust and express their inner voice to deepen their understanding of personal boundaries so they can protect themselves and their peers:
• Elementary School: Hear Your Inner Voice (Engendering Safety)
• Middle School: Value the Power of Your Inner Voice (Valuing the Masterpiece)
• High School: Trust Your Inner Voice (Recognize Human Trafficking)
• High School: Mobilize Your Inner Voice (Building Resilience and Protective Factors)
PROTECT is offered to schools through in-person trainer of trainer sessions, the PROTECT online growth platform, and live webinars. 3Strands Global Foundation provides parents, guardians, caregivers, and other community members with human trafficking prevention training and resources to help keep their kids protected. The program is currently implemented across all 50 states and Canada.
EMPOWERED SURVIVOR SERVICES
In 2016, 3Strands Global Foundation recognized that there needed to be more resources available to survivors and those who face barriers to sustainable economic opportunities. Fulfillment of this intention birthed the Employ + Empower program, which has helped support and economically empower thousands of survivors and those at-risk of human trafficking. 3Strands Global Foundation also opened a drop-in
center in January to serve their clients in the greater Sacramento and Bay-Area regions. Along with economic empowerment and pathways to finish education, 3Strands offers over 100 services to their clients. This includes mental health, housing, transportation, childcare, law-related services, FAFSA and more.
MOBILIZE AND ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS
“Professionals in the telecommunications industry have a unique view of their surroundings, and with that unique view comes a dynamic opportunity to stop this heinous crime from occurring, because it occurs in all 50 states. It hides in plain sight.” - Ashlie Bryant
Regardless of age, sex, skin color or career path, we all play a role in ending human trafficking. By empowering individuals into humanitarian action, telecom professionals can recognize human trafficking or something suspicious happening around them.
In 2020, 3GSF launched the Telecommunications Against Trafficking and Exploitation (“TATE”) Initiative to equip all those who work in the industry with the wisdom to recognize signs of human trafficking and notify the proper authorities.
The training is accessible to every telecommunications professional online, and thanks to many generous sponsors, it can be accessed at no charge to those being trained, or their employers. It can be completed in 30 minutes, and includes three short videos, a certification quiz, and printable resources. Once complete, an individual is RAN certified.
Another prevention program is called the Trauma Response and Understanding for Employers (“TRUE”), 3GSF provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of trauma and its impact on various aspects of an individual’s life, including their mental, emotional, social, and professional excellence. The training also focuses on equipping employers and workplaces with the knowledge and skills to recognize trauma and implement trauma-informed practices to support their employees.
In “The Deepest Well: Healing the Longterm Effects of Childhood Adversity,” Nadine Burke Harris, former California Surgeon General, passionately details how childhood trauma alters biological systems to not only source disease, but through the very psychological awareness of this relationship, healing begins to occur instantaneously by the connection established within the psyche that supports for clearing through the nervous system. Appointed California’s first Surgeon General, Burke particularly focused on screening and treating children for adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress. She developed the ACE screening report for physicians which is now also actively employed in New Jersey.
Unhealed trauma is not only the source of most, if not all, disease, it is responsible for delayed intellectual growth, as well as emotional maturity. That is, until we heal, we are unable to process higher levels of intelligence. Every sentient being is its own self-evolving, self-actualizing seed of infinite potential architected through eternal service to the universal life force with the goal of becoming god-realized.
RENEWAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT EXPLORATION · ENERGY
As the trauma within our bodies is intentionally dissolved by the self-directed light of consciousness, the unleashed cosmic radiance, measured as biophotons released from our DNA, nourishes the evolution of the entire planetary and universal celestial bodies. Ancients referred to this ascension process as the Rainbow Light Body. The magical solution to reclaiming our sacred vital life force energy lies in how we partner to master the evolution of our consciousness.
Only by embodying love, faith and positivity can we radiantly face this clear evil upon society to deliver the necessary remedy through our neurological systems without becoming overwhelmed in the face of the oppressor, the non-believer. Adversity makes one a true believer. A golden heart, radiant with compassion transforms fear into potential.
By simply asking the right questions, we welcome the opportunity to bridge the wisdom that unites us with the power above and below us to shepherd the senseless to perceive the brilliance of tomorrow’s overwhelming potential, as we
release all doubt that we hold the power to transform ourselves.
All of humanity is a witness to this miraculous spiritual rebirthing process now unfolding. Sourcing the dissemination and integration of spiritual wisdom for the collective healing is an honorable mission for the Guardians of the Light devoted to the unfolding of our collective destiny, uplifting those in need of purpose, clarity, empathy and honor of their spiritual liberties.
THE POWER TO CHANGE SYSTEMS FOR GOOD
In 2017, Bryant led AB1227 (Bonta) – Human Trafficking and Prevention Education and Training Act – through the CA Legislature, which Governor Brown signed into law. This was the first legislation of its kind in the United States. Policy is a key component in ending human trafficking. 3Strands Global Foundation has been integral in supporting and authoring both federal and state legislation.
“The key to sound policy is to listen to survivors, and analyze our data. Our philosophy is to build, measure, learn.
This allows us to make sure that any policy we support also aligns with our data results and our mission”, says Bryant.
3Strands Global Foundation sponsored California bills SB14 and AB 1394 in 2023, which became law. These bills focused on making human trafficking a serious felony in CA and reducing online exploitation and keeping our youth safe. 3SGF also has worked alongside Congressman Chris Smith’s office on the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Reauthorization Act. This reauthorization is an important part of federal support in ending human trafficking domestically and globally.
The staff at 3Strands Global Foundation works closely with federal, state and local governments, legislative authorship, collaborating with other anti-trafficking organizations, developing corporate and government partnerships, and engaging communities into activism to combat human trafficking.
SOUL EMERGENCE THROUGH SPIRITUAL SERVICE
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.”
- Maya Angelou
Once you discover the spiritual heart as a cosmic transformer, you realize that you are always empowered. As Monarch Visionaries answer the inner calling to transform our pain into the strength and wisdom demanded to shepherd the world into peace, we thrive as the fire of our heart invokes the brilliance of the cosmic light that guides us through inner sight.
As taught in Kriya Yoga, the calcite microcrystals in the pineal gland conduct the cosmic vibration of universal KrsnaChrist consciousness which generates a piezoelectric current within the brain. This alchemical metamorphosis amplifies and enhances consciousness, leading to heightened awareness, spiritual enlightenment, and even the development of psychic abilities and other latent human potential gifts, known in Sanskrit as Siddhis. This process is also being scientifically explored for its key role in promoting tissue regeneration, such as bone healing, nerve regeneration and skin repair.
It is also believed that the microcrystals in the pineal gland serve as repositories for ancient or esoteric knowledge, accumulated over generations and encoded within the crystalline structures, and are activated through the DNA protein unfolding process realized through higher vibrational states of resonance achieved through spiritual service. Through service, our ancient soul is birthed into a higher dimensional plane of reality.
PARTICIPATE, INTEGRATE & ASSIMILATE
“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”
– Rudyard Kipling
Be a part of the mission to empower our educational systems. The empowering work of ending human trafficking is long and hard and yet the staff at 3Strands Global Foundation is determined to press on and impact through prevention and survivor services. Consider the impact of your contribution as you focus your potential in the suggested areas:
1. Fundraise: Attend an event, become a monthly donor, or a sponsor, fundraise for your birthday or holiday, or purchase something from 3SGF. All funds go to programming.
2. Subscribe to 3Strands Global Foundation’s newsletter and follow them on social media.
3. Go to 3Strands Global Foundation’s website www.3sgf.org to find out about all the great prevention programming.
4. Attend their free webinars, tell a local school about 3SGF’s PROTECT program, and share the work of 3SGF with friends, family and colleagues so they may learn about the reality of human trafficking and how they can engage and get educated as well.
5. Think upon how your organization, or industry, can partner with 3Strands Global Foundation.
HOW YOU CAN WORK ALONGSIDE MONARCH VISIONARY VENTURES SOCIETY
1. Study and practice the ancient wisdom teachings of the lineages that resonate with your lifepath to realize the cosmic radiance of your awakened heart and develop higher sense awareness
2. Raise awareness regarding the Planetary Ascension process, for evil cannot trespass upon where the light is strong and present
3. Orchestrate outdoor group meditation and pranic breathwork clearing exercises to ease the collective stress within your community while harmonically converging with the global planetary heartbeat frequency
4. As a Guardian of the Light, “GOL-D Ambassador”, partner with mission-oriented nonprofit agencies that resonate with your soul purpose, to: cultivate your spiritual Ascension abilities, a.k.a. “Siddhi’s”; develop your sense of sovereign authority; and realize your career potential as a conscious vessel for divine harmony, alchemizing the collective darkness into the light of your soul as your true currency for abundance
LEADING, GROWING AND MAKING IMPACT
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
- Edmund Burke
Fourteen years ago, CEO Ashlie Bryant and her friends and co-founders sat around her kitchen table and dreamed of a world free from human trafficking. That vision is being delivered every day through the dedication of staff, volunteers and supporters like you.
Bryant is a humble woman who enjoys encouraging her staff and thinking of new ways to innovate solutions to end trafficking. She often is asked to keynote at conferences and works closely with federal, state and local governments, collaborates with other anti-trafficking organizations, develops corporate and government partnerships, builds strong development relationships and engages communities into activism to combat human trafficking.
Bryant has her undergraduate degree from UC Davis and MPA from Cornell University. She was also awarded a resolution by the CA State Senate and CA Assembly, and is a graduate of Stanford’s Nonprofit leader’s Executive Program and Harvard’s Kennedy Schools nonprofit certificate.
AS I HAVE GOTTEN OLDER AND MADE MY WAY THROUGH MY PROFESSION, MY PERSPECTIVE HAS CHANGED ON A VARIETY OF CONCEPTS THAT ARE OFTEN VIEWED AS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
For example, the term “perfectionism” gets a bad rap. While trying to be perfect may not be achievable, striving for perfection might allow you to perform to your fullest capabilities.
Another example is the phrase “no regrets”, as in you want to avoid these situations at all costs. However, I have discovered that you can learn a great deal from the situations. I regret gambling my money away in my early adulthood because I felt financially handcuffed for an extended period of time, but what that taught me was the value of saving money.
Lastly, the phrase “fear of failure” is often something that leaves individuals paralyzed because they place an emphasis on the result itself. However, that same fear can motivate an individual to challenge themself and to reach new heights. Therefore, learning to live with and accept your fears can help you fuel your actions to become something greater.
WHAT IS FEAR?
Fear is defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is a threat to your well-being. Fear can show up in a variety of ways, but some of the more common ones (at least in my life) are the fear of failure, fear of the unknown, and the fear of not being good enough.
With the fear of failure, you are controlled by the threat of failing in your attempt to display competency. Nobody wants to look bad or inadequate, but often times this fear may lead you to be more hesitant, which ultimately leads to you coming up short in your performance. With the fear of the unknown, you are controlled by the threat of not knowing how things are going to turn out. The mind does not like ambiguous information or situations, therefore, the mind creates a narrative in order to fill
in the gaps. So not only is there a fear of not knowing what is next, but the narratives created are likely causing you to experience more stress. With the fear of not being good enough, which has some overlap with fear failure; it is less about the outcome and more about your current skill set and who you are as a person.
I have experienced these fears many times throughout my life and my goal was to eliminate them at all costs. However, that only seemed to intensify each one of them. The moment I started to experience failure, that fear came roaring back. The moment I tell myself, “It will be fine,” my mind fires back and tells me, “You do not know that.” The moment I noticed that I did not have the skills required, that fear turned into a personal label. It was not until I learned that fear is a normal aspect of life, and that learning to live with my fears, could actually help me cope with them in the moment. So that is what I did.
LIVING WITH FEAR
There are several ways to deal with each of the fears you may experience. First is to start with a reflective practice. Being able to write and reflect about your fears can provide a more objective perspective
THOUGHTS MATTER
on those experiences.
Questions to ask yourself include: What is the fear? When do I notice it? What is happening with my body/mind? What is causing this fear? What skills/knowledge do I possess that could help? Each of these questions allow you to build self-awareness on the fear itself, and what you can do to help manage them more effectively.
Another strategy to practice is mindfulness. With any fear, often your mind travels to the future and the bad that could happen, but also to the past and why this is happening in the first place. Mindfulness allows you to be more accepting of your present moment experiences in a non-judgmental way, which frees up mental resources and brings
your attention back to the present. Mindfulness can be practiced through focusing on your breathing, and each time you get distracted or your mind wanders, gently guide your attention back to the sensations of your breath. You can also label your experiences by saying, “I am experiencing the emotion of anger,” which acknowledges the experience, versus “I am angry”, which creates a personal attachment and is more judgmental in nature.
Finally, you can establish more process-oriented reminders to not only keep you present, but also to focus on what you control. This can be in conjunction with mindfulness, as mindfulness can get you back to the present moment, and then your process-oriented reminders can guide your attention
to what you want to do in that moment. For example, if you are giving a presentation and the fear of failure kicks in, remind yourself of the preparation you did, tell yourself to breath, or tell yourself to “put one foot in front of the other.” Any word or statement to guide your attention to the task at hand.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The key to keeping your fears from controlling you is to allow yourself to experience them. The moment you try to avoid them is the moment they win.
Experiencing fear is a natural human emotion, so allow your fears to show them self, but then use that experience to fuel your actions in a more productive way.
