VOLUME IV / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2020
ARGENTINA: HURLINGHAM OPEN · AL HABTOOR POLO RESORT & CLUB LEAGUE TROPHY
SKI-IN, SKI-OUT THE ASPEN LIFESTYLE UNDER $5 MILLION
LORO PIANA
A LIFELONG LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE FINEST CASHMERE
CLICK TO BUY
THE BEST 'FAMOUS" IS 'INSTAGRAM FAMOUS' KNOW WHERE TO SHOP
HOLIDAY HEALING
GREECE: THE WINE & WISDOM OF ANTIQUITY
INTERNAL POWER OVER EXTERNAL PRESSURE
THE BEST PRICES ON LUXURY TIMEPIECES
INTIMATE GATHERINGS FOR RECONNECTING
VOLUME IV / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2020
Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher
Joshua Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief
Gregory Bertrand Copy Editor
Claire Barrett
William Smith
Philanthropy Contributor
Elle Chrysler
Polo Contributor
Tom Martin
Head of Photography
Features Contributor
Eva Espresso
Brand Representatives Anne-Isabelle Saint-Pierre - Dubai Michael J. Snell - The Hamptons Stanley Pierre-Etienne Caribbean Sara Ali - London Jessica Foret Wax - Santa Fe Charles Ward - Montecito
Contributing Photographer
Cezar Kusik
Wine Contributor
Raphael K. Dapaah Art Contributor
Joey Velez
Wellness Columnist
Tom Martin - Aspen K & Co. Media - Los Angeles Contributing Photographers
Jyoti Paintel
Spiritual Contributor
Stanley Pierre-Etienne Style Contributor
Brett Chody
Trends Contributor
Anne-Isabelle Saint-Pierre Style Contributor
Polo Lifestyles is a publication of HT Polo Publishing Co. 995 Detroit Avenue, Suite A Concord, CA 94518 Content Copyright Š Polo Lifestyles 2020 All Rights Reserved.
Michael J. Snell
For information or to advertise Contact editor@htpolo.com Read online at www.pololifestyles.com
Philippe Lucas
Cover Photo by Kristian Schuller
Lifestyles Contributor
Luxury Contributor
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Mathias Callejo
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ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB Snow Polo Championships GHANTOOT RACING & POLO CLUB Sultan Bin Zayed Polo Cup Emirates Polo Championship International Al Amal Polo Day for Charity HH President of UAE Polo Cup ARGENTINE SEASON 127th Abierto de Argentina THAI POLO & EQUESTRIAN CLUB Thai Polo Open AL HABTOOR POLO CLUB UAE National Day Cup Sir Winston Churchill Cup
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SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS S O C I A L D I S T A N C I N G P O L O
AL HABTOOR POLO
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS FROM DUBAI page 42
POLO LIFESTYLES EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS
Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand
Josh Jakobitz
Publisher Polo Lifestyles @haiti_polo_captain
Editor-in-Chief Polo Lifestyles @joshuajakobitz
Elle Chrysler
Stanley Pierre-Etienne
Polo Contributor U.S. Polo Connection @ellechrysler
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Style Contributor Lanmou Pou Ranyon @stanleypierretienne
Claire Barrett
Head of Photography
Claire Barrett Photography
@clairebarrettphoto
Eva Espresso Photographer
Eva Espresso Photography
@eva.espresso
Raphael K. Dapaah
Jyoti Paintel
Art Contributor Dapaah Gallery @dapaahgallery
Spiritual Contributor Polo Lifestyles @jyotipaintel
Michael J. Snell
Gregory Bertrand
Lifestyles Contributor MJS Groupe @agnello_1
Copy Editor Polo Lifestyles @bertrand7367
Cezar Kusik
Wine Contributor Polo Lifestyles @cezartastesearth
Joey Velez
Brett Chody
Trends Contributor Polo Lifestyles @brettchody
William Smith
Wellness Columnist
Philanthropy Contributor
@velezmentalhealth
@willismith_2000
Velez Mental Performance May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
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Splendid holiday tables in the barn page 78
Art that will warm your soul and home pg 153
Classy, preppy and anything but 'usual' page 130
The allure of the ski-in, skiout Aspen lifestyles page 55
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE NAUGHTY OR NICE? WE HAVE EXTRAVAGANT GIFT IDEAS FOR ONE AND ALL. PAGE 97
Experience Santa Claus with PORTL Hologram this year... see details in the Gift Guide
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ARGENTINA
W
E CELEBRATED A BIRTHDAY IN OUR HOUSEHOLD LAST MONTH – AND WE DECIDED TO DO IT UP BIG. CANDLES, EXQUISITE PLACE SETTINGS, OVER-THE-TOP FLOWERS, TAKEOUT FROM OUR SAN FRANCISCO FAVORITE, ZUNI CAFÉ; BALLOONS, AND A CAKE THAT STOLE THE SHOW. WE DRESSED UP, WE DINED AND TOASTED THE BIRTHDAY, AND OPENED GIFTS. LATER WE DANCED IN THE FOYER, AND WHEN I WENT UP TO BED AROUND 2 A.M., IT FELT LIKE WE HAD HOSTED A DOZEN OR MORE GUESTS. IN TRUTH, IT WAS JUST OUR HOUSEHOLD, MAKING THE VERY BEST OUT OF THE SITUATION AT HAND.
That situation to which I refer, is, of course, the global pandemic. Since it’s outbreak earlier this year, it has halted global travel, ruined business models, initiated unprecedented urban flight, toppled governments, upended every sporting event from polo to paddle-boating and, wholly, changed the ways we show love, affection, unity and collaboration. In short, it has been a hard reset on the world. Now comes the most difficult season of all: holidays. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Americans not the travel for the holidays. It’s unheard of, but so is just about everything else having anything to do with 2020. We sat around the conference table and talked about ways to address holidays, inspiration and coping this month. What we came up with is a result of how the pandemic has personally affected each and every one of our editors and contributors. Some of us will curl up with a book, some of us will use the holiday healing therapies recommended by the indefatigable Jyoti Paintel, some of us will set the table with every piece of china and crystal in the house – just because. Some of us will question our worthiness and interpret our fears incorrectly (Joey Velez’ column address just that this month). As with every year, the special days will creep up on us faster than we think they should, and we will make the best out of every moment. Or, I will at least. My wish for the holidays this year is similar to my wish earlier this spring, when we didn’t know where 2020 would take us: that Polo Lifestyles readers would be safe and healthy and feel a sense of belonging, wherever they happen to be in this world. That the holidays would really mean something, because we survived this, and because 2020 has shown us that we are stronger than we ever imagined. For those of you who will have an empty chair around the table this year, you’re on my mind and in my heart. Truly, more than ever. Please enjoy this issue of Polo Lifestyles – we wrote it with you in mind. Let it inspire you, surprise you and comfort you. We’re a global family, and we can’t wait to see you as soon as possible. Happy holidays, Josh Jakobitz josh@pololifestyles.com
2020 BMW X5
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VOLUME IV / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2020
afrolegacy.house Stunning in red cashmere and a @burberry mask in Lagos
gauntletofpolo Bath time! And so photogenic... polo ponies at their best
schittscreek @people magazine named Schitts Creek star and @gucci model Dan Levy to their Sexiest Men Alive list page 24
agnello_1 What's his secret, you ask? Here are three hints to @agnello_1's routine
gregoryprescott Everything about this: the dress, the curves, the setting, is perfection
steinwayandsons Dreamy oceans, meet Steinway. A totally custom, totally to-die-for piano by the masters
alfaromeousa Cherry red? Apple red? Blood red? No matter what adjective you choose, this red is hot, hot, hot
hotelbarrierelecarlgust Socially cognizant picnic, party of two! Make it chic and fun in St-Barths
santiagojimenezmejia Any polo player in your family will appreciate their silhouette, designed by Santiago Jimenez Mejia
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Click and comment on our choices... tag @pololifestyles. We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.
baccarat This is a bike we love to see stopping at our front door for a special delivery any time
plaza_athenee Brunch inspiration from perennial Parisian favorite La Plaza Athenee Hotel
meghanmarkle_official The Duchess of Sussex opens up with @nytimes on her miscarriage and three important words: Are you okay?
bernardaud Porcelain holiday lamps from the experts in Art de la Table, Bernardaud
prada For the card shark in your life, this set from @prada is a treasured addition to any collection
jlo Ready for another awards show, J Lo never disappoints, even with a pandemic
frere Davidson Petit-Frere, founder of @ frere, looking chic in this season's preference for neutrals
hannahchody Young love! We can't get enough of the original caption, though, "Next question!" #justengaged
wedgwood Things to do at home, as a family unit, for the holidays page 25
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AR G E N T I N A 2 0 2 0
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ARGENTINA 2020 P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y M AT H I A S C A L L E J O / P R E N S A A A P
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T
EN -GOALER PABLO MACDONOUGH RETURNED TO THE LA DOLFINA LINEUP (ADOLFO CAMBIASO, POROTO CAMBIASO, PABLO MACDONOUGH AND INAKI LAPRIDA) SATURDAY MORNING AS LA DOLFINA RAN ROUGHSHOD OVER LA ENSENADA-LA AGUADA (SEGUNDO BOCCHINO,
ALFREDO BIGATTI, MATIAS ZAVALETA AND JERONIMO DEL CARRIL) FOR A RESOUNDING 15-4 WIN IN THE OPENING MATCH OF THE 2020 HURLINGHAM OPEN. The two teams played tentatively in the opening chukker, matching one another goal-for-goal for a 2-2 tie. La Dolfina picked up the pace in the next three chukkers, holding La Ensenada-La Aguada scoreless while
putting nine consecutive goals on the scoreboard to make it 11-2. An injury to Matias Zavaleta in the third period saw Mariano Gonzalez enter the game for Zavaleta. La Ensenada-La Aguada scored twice in the fifth, with La Dolfina being held scoreless for the first time all day. La Ensenada-La Aguada took a small bite out of the La Dolfina lead, trailing by seven goals, 11-4 with two chukkers left in the match. page 31
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ARGENTINA 2020
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P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y M AT I A S C A L L E J O / P R E N S A A A P
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ARGENTINA 2020
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Two La Dolfina goals in each of the ensuing chukkers went unanswered as La Dolfina sailed to the 15-4 victory. Fourteen-year-old Poroto Cambiaso led all scoring with five goals on the day. MacDonough added four goals (three on penalty shots). Adolfo Cambiaso scored three times from the penalty line and Inaki Laprida added three goals in the win. Segundo Bocchino and Jero Del Carril each scored twice in the loss. Final: MURUS SANCTUS 13, LOS MACHITOS 11
In the most competitive tournament match of the day, Murus Sanctus (Facundo Sola, Francisco Elizalde, Sapo Caset and Alfredo Capella) staged a come-from-behind, seventh chukker rally over Las Machitos (Tincho Merlos, Mariano Aguerre, Naco Toccalino and Santi Toccalino) to post a 13-11 win. Murus Sanctus took the early lead, going up 2-1 after the first chukker and leading 4-2 after the second. Los Machitos out-scored Murus Sanctus 4-1 in the third period to take the
P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y M AT I A S C A L L E J O / P R E N S A A A P
lead,6-5. An injury to Facundo Sola had Valerio Zubiaurre replacing him in the third. Murus Sanctus turned the tables on Los Machitos in the fourth period, scoring three times while allowing a single goal. After four chukkers, the lead went back to Murus Sanctus, 8-7. Los Machitos fought their way back into the game in the fifth with a pair of goals while allowing a single goal to Murus Sanctus. With two chukkers left to play, the game was all even at 9-9. page 35
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ARGENTINA 2020
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For the second straight chukker, Los Machitos outscored Murus Sanctus, 2-1, and took the lead back,11-10, with seven minutes remaining in regulation play. Ten-goaler Sapo Caset rallied his Murus Sanctus teammates in the final period as they scored three times while shutting out the Los Machitos attack and riding off with the 13-11 victory. Caset scored five of his game-high eight goals on penalty conversions. Zubiaurre
was credited with three goals, and Francisco Elizalde scored twice in the win. Tincho Merlos was high scorer for Los Machitos with five goals (three on penalty shots). Santi Toccalino scored three times, Naco Toccalino added two goals, and Tomas Garcia Del Rio scored once in a losing effort. Hurlingham Open play continues on Sunday with Ellerstina (Facundo Pieres, Hilario Ulloa, Nico Pieres and Gonzalito Pieres) facing La Irenita (Facundo
P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y M AT I A S C A L L E J O / P R E N S A A A P
Llorente, Martin Podesta, Juan Martin Zavaleta and Juan Martin Zubia) at 11:00 a.m. followed by a 4:00 p.m. contest between La Natividad-Las Monjitas (Jeta Castagnola, Polito Pieres, Barto Castagnola and Ignatius Du Plessis) and La Dolfina Polo Ranch (Guillermo Terrera, Juan Britos, Diego Cavanagh and Alejo Taranco).
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P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y M AT I A S C A L L E J O / P R E N S A A A P
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The creation of this exceptional clock draws its inspiration from the concept "tempus fugit" (times flies), providing an endless source of fascination. Whether long or short, friend or foe, time runs wild and free. The idea of "taming" it - not to gain mastery over it but rather to better appreciate it - this was the starting point of the amazing adventure which gave birth to the mare and her foal, an automaton and exceptional clock baptized “Hippologia.� The Parmigiani Haute Horlogerie Manufacture has mastered the fine art of creating beautiful timepieces shrouded in mystery. Through its restoration work, Parmigiani is intimately acquainted with historical masterpieces, enabling it to hone its own creativity. This manifests itself in the form of unique timepieces, each a real piece of watchmaking bravura. In the past, the manufacture has already created many table clocks decorated with sculptures reproducing a dynamic movement. This year, Parmigiani Fleurier wanted to dream bigger and go further.
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AHPR C LE AGUE T ROP H Y
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AHPRC LEAGUE TROPHY DR. A POLO 8 / 7 MAHRA 20 NOVEMBER - DUBAI
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Photos courtesy Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club Tough game from Dr. A Polo and Mahra Polo, but Dr. A Polo emerged victorious in the subsidiary finals of AHPRC League 2020 by 8-7 goals.
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AHPR AGUE T ROPHY LA CO U PE C DELEFRA NC E 202 0
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A H P RC LEAGUE T ROP H Y
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A H PE RC U R O PLEAGUE E A N S O C I A LT LYROP C O G NH I ZY ANT FASHION SHOWS
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CHANEL
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POLO LIFESTYLES MANSIONS OF THE MONTH P U T T I N G TO DAY ' S TO P LU X U R Y L I S T I N G S AT YO U R F I N G E R T I P S
SKI-IN/SKI-OUT HOMES
AT HISTORIC PREMIUMS IN ASPEN SNOWMASS TOM MARTIN Mansions of the Month - Aspen Representative
A
S THE COUPLE ASCENDED THE SHORT, WOODED TRAIL AND OUT ONTO THE MAJESTIC SKI SLOPES, WITH THE ALPINE SPRINGS CHAIRLIFT JUST A SHORT WALK FROM WHAT WOULD BECOME THEIR FUTURE SNOWMASS VACATION HOME, THEY REALIZED THEY HAD TO OWN IT – WITH A COMPLETE STRUCTURAL REMODEL, AND TWO SUBSEQUENT UPDATES OVER A 33-YEAR PERIOD - MOST RECENTLY AND SPECTACULARLY, JUST THIS YEAR. When in 1987, Chicagoan and then Vice Chairman of powerhouse real estate investment firm, Lasalle Partners, Kenneth
Campia, visited Snowmass with his wife, Karin, they weren’t exactly overwhelmed with the home they’d just toured on Snowmass Ski Area atop the legendary Wood Run subdivision, but Ken was a real estate investment expert, thus…
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION… And so it came to pass that the Campia’s spent their family vacations with their two daughters, Tegan and Tori, on Snowmass. Even at young ages, if the girls tired of skiing, wanted to warm-up or grab a bite, they were encouraged to make their own way home, skiing directly into the safety of their own private cul-de-sac for a cocoa and a warm-up. Karin Campia puts it this way, “Our freedom and theirs, amid the majestic White River National Forest of the Elk Mountain Range, on Ski Magazine’s #1 Ski Resort of 2019 - out our front door. Truly the greatest luxury of all. BaseCamp is more than just a house. It is an introduction to a totally different way of life, an escape to a ´new normal’ that captures the imagination. Ask yourself this: When was the last time you climbed a mountain, camped and fished for trout
in a glacier lake at 11,000 feet? Or made it your goal to climb every Fourteener within the state of Colorado? Or ski in an overnight mountaineering race from Crested Butte to Aspen? These have been the recent goals and experiences of my now-adult daughters. Being from Chicago, it made all the difference to make the trek up to 9,000’ several times each year throughout the seasons, to what we lovingly called “BaseCamp” – despite its on-mountain location. Relationships that were developed early-on in Snowmass have led to a lifetime of extended-family friendships. Sharing an entirely different way of living with our girls throughout their upbringing has filled them with mountain-living experiences, from backcountry survival training to international guest and hospitality relations, attuning them with confident, high-country perspectives and self-reliance that girls and women of any age can benefit from. In 1987, when we acquired BaseCamp, the first thing we did was enroll the entire family in the world famous Snowmass page 55
Homes in the Aspen/Snowmass area are uniquely suited for the ski-in, ski-out lifestyles. Here Ed McCaffrey hits the slopes.
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Ski School with Stein Erikson protégé, Norwegian transplant and towering Snowmass legend, Amund Ekroll, one of the original handful of ski instructors that Stein brought with him to open Snowmass Ski Area to the world in 1967.
ronment. They appreciate, to this day, growing up and thriving on the edge of a magnificent wilderness. I can only hope that they will share their love and passion for nature with their families. What I call the BaseCamp Expérience.
The friendship we formed by skiing and socializing with Amund led us to deem one of our very own girls his goddaughter. We are all richer for our relationship with Amund, and still cherish the opportunities to ski with him, or to invite him over for dinner and storytelling by a roaring fire, recalling our vast experiences in Snowmass over these past 33 years.
The location of this magical mountain retreat gives you the opportunity to challenge yourself to become more than you ever thought possible. This home has a history, but welcomes the next owners to create their own memories anew”.
BaseCamp's proximity to the mountain allowed our two daughters to explore nature and develop a deep love and healthy respect of the great outdoors. They have become excellent backcountry skiers and backpackers. They celebrated a recent birthday by camping in the high-country at Snowmass Lake and climbing Snowmass Peak - a ‘fourteener’- one of nine in the Aspen area.
HNW families, for whom skiing is their passion, view the slope-side Ski-In/SkiOut single-family home as the pinnacle of vacation homes at the world’s most prestigious resorts. The health-security premium tied to the ultimate in Social Distancing, combined with the trend toward executive-exit from city living, finds many high net worth titans of industry surprised by the difficulty of acquiring a Snowmass ski home for their family in this exclusive category, for under $5.5M. There literally aren’t any on the market at this time.
When I think of BaseCamp, it brings to mind experiences over the years that have shaped the relationship between our daughters, my husband and myself and the mountains. Our girls have developed from small, curious children to strong, confident women who are good, respectful stewards of Mother Nature’s envipage 56
EXTRACTING THE FAMILY FROM CITY LIFE
For the present season, the Aspen Skiing Company has added additional tents outside of their on-mountain restaurants to facilitate a safer environment for
their capacity-limited, socially distanced ski patrons. Ski-In/Ski-Out homeowners on Wood Run in Snowmass enjoy the option to ski into the house for lunch with the entire family, and then get right back out on the slopes. According to Karin: “We almost always skied in neck-gators for protection from the sun and cold, so we don’t even consider it ‘masking-up’ to ski in our own backyard – it’s just second nature.” Summer through fall is a magical time to be situated amid the hiking and biking available on the mountain, as high as you choose to go. Featuring 25 miles of trails over 3,000 vertical feet from the top of the Elk Camp chairlift to the Base Village, Snowmass Bike Park has become a tremendously popular summer destination for mountain biking enthusiasts of all skill levels. A Bike-In/BikeOut Home is as good as it gets, with the Elk Camp lift running all summer/fall.
A TIGHT REAL ESTATE MARKET Word-of-mouth and pocket-listings are increasingly relied upon by Aspen/ Snowmass brokers representing wouldbe buyers, in the tightest real estate market in memory. As a longtime Real Estate Broker specializing in both Equestrian Estates and Ski-In/Ski out properties throughout the greater Aspen Valley, Carol Dopkin was recently quot-
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY TOM MARTIN/IDEA WORKS GLOBAL - ASPEN
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At home at BaseCamp, where Karin's girls learned to ski - and so much more. Aspen Snowmass has been a haven for Karin's family for decades.
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ed in the Wall Street Journal’s September 30 article on this very topic, “You can take your skis for a very short walk or click them on and you go out and then you ski back into the house,” said Carol Dopkin, an agent with Engel & Völkers Aspen. The homes are a commodity among skiers. “I think ski in/ski out impacts value hugely, everywhere,” said Dopkin.
FOREST LANE ON SNOWMASS SKI AREA At $4.5M, Karin is happy to offer her treasured ski property directly via private sale to a family who will carve their own experiences and make new memories. The 3,219 square foot home has just been remodeled with $500,000 in upgrades. With four bedrooms (three king and one with four bunk beds), page 58
4.5 bathrooms and a bonus loft/office, beautifully updated new kitchen, an open plan dining room, a great living room with a wood-burning fireplace and a two-car garage on Forest Lane on Snowmass Ski Area, this home also makes for a very popular vacation rental, should the new owner choose to supplement their income. The home next door is listed at $9M and several families of great wealth live a few doors down the street. Karin perceives her home, which is situated on a halfacre amid a mature spruce and aspen forest, with identical ski access as her neighbors, to be a wonderful investment opportunity in a market where there are literally no comparables in her price range. A $6.95M home just a few doors
down from Karin’s is listed by Will McCullough of Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty. According to Will, “Post-Covid, the Buyers have shifted their interest to single family homes. While not in the same price range as homes in Aspen, the properties in Snowmass with ski access such as 1400 Wood Road continue to demand a premium.” Also with Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s, long time Aspen developer, John Sarpa, adds the Aspen perspective. “While Aspen & Snowmass are known for their exceptional skiing, ski access from one’s home can come at a steep premium. True ski-in/ski-out access at Aspen Mountain is limited to a few single-family homes in excess of $20M, a limited number of condo complexes, and a handful of hotels.”
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Opposite page: The luxuriously appointed, but comfortable, living room at BaseCamp. This page, from top left clockwise: Hiking in Snowmass, Roaring Fork Club member Karin Campia, Aspen's incredible nature, a well-appointed kitchen compliments the ski-in, ski-out lifestyle as BaseCamp, and champagne for two after a brilliant day of skiing and outdoor activities while enjoying 360 degrees of nature. PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY TOM MARTIN/IDEA WORKS GLOBAL - ASPEN
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Aspen Skiing Company has built mountainside tents for restaurants to accommodate safety guidelines in place for outdoor dining. Above, the Ulrhoff Restaurant on Snowmass, with Big Burn Ski Run, in the distance, completes its installation.
“The Sky Residences at the new W Aspen allow one to own a true ski-in/ ski-out property at the base of Aspen Mountain at a fraction of the cost of full ownership. Starting at only $590,000, the Residences have access to world class skiing as well as all W Aspen signature amenities and a private, Residences-only roof deck with spa, spacious seating areas, outdoor kitchen, and fire pit”, says Sarpa. As Aspen’s newer neighbor, Snowmass has really become synonymous with Aspen. This photographer’s playground page 60
of adventure and discovery includes direct access to Government Trail, enabling a downhill hike into Aspen directly from your Wood Run home.
Anderson Ranch is where art, sculpture, writing, photography and lecture programs let you capture or rediscover both your intellectual and creative passions.
Snowmass Village boasts a plethora of world-class restaurants, the stunningly beautiful Snowmass Club Golf Course and of course shopping!
To learn more about the opportunity to acquire this life-changing home, more photos and renter-testimonials are available on Karin’s Website at www. SnowmassVacationHome.com.
The Aspen/Snowmass Valley is a mindbody-spirit renourishment mecca for the health and wellbeing of yourself and your family, at this most disconcerting time. The internationally famous
You can reach Karin directly via email at Karin@SnowmassVacationHome.com for serious inquiries. Buyer’s Brokers protected at 1.5 percent.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY TOM MARTIN/IDEA WORKS GLOBAL - ASPEN
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The outdoors is reflected on the exterior windows at BaseCamp, the Campia family's Aspen Snowmass Ski-In, Ski-Out getaway since 1987. The property has undergone extensive renovations over the years, most spectacularly just this year. page 61
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POLO LIFESTYLES MANSIONS OF THE MONTH LAUNCHING IN 2021
TO P U T TO DAY ' S TO P LU X U R Y L I S T I N G S AT YO U R F I N G E R T I P S
Polo Lifestyles proudly announces its strategic alliance with Idea Works Global’s luxury guru and famous polo sponsorship marketing powerhouse, Charles Ward. Together with Idea Work Global’s Aspen-based Tom Martin, the pair stand ready to show and tell the story of your uniquely valuable estate within each Mansions Of The Month spread, be it situated in the greater Aspen Valley, Miami, Malibu, Montecito, Monaco or any other magnificent destination. Reserve your space in forthcoming issues of Polo Lifestyles with Tom or Charles: Far left, Tom Martin: tom@pololifestyles.com Left, Charles Ward: charles@pololifestyles.com Click here to read the Rancho San Carlos case study - After languishing on the real estate market for years, it was a featured property in Polo Lifestyles - and closed less than 60 days later for $63 million dollars. page 62
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LUXURIOUS LEISURE LORO PIANA
THE ART OF WELLBEING
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HRISTY TURLINGTON, ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ADMIRED ADVOCATES OF WELLBEING, IS CHANNELING INSPIRED WELLNESS AND HAS TAKEN HER PRACTICES TO A NEW SENSORIAL LEVEL. In an initiative undertaken in partnership with the LVMH marquee brand Loro Piana, the unmistakable craftsmanship and design of the ultimate fitness collection will assist in being well, while remaining elegant. The collection, which has been noted into leisure capsules, is thoughtfully combined into the transformative segments most ideal to promote a luxurious experience – including meditation, wellbeing and exploration. Within each capsule, the design team
has curated a collection of selected items that are idealistic to channel your inner zen. The Meditation collection includes the simple indulgence of a hand-crafted meditation mat, which may serve a dual purpose during a favorite yoga or Pilates class. Featuring a supple calfskin trim and its own soft pillow, it is made from the finest cashmere and treated with the signature Loro Piana Storm System for a waterproof finish. The Loro Piana detail includes non-slip cashmere socks to make sure you are well-balanced in your mission to find nirvana. While we know that hydration is a must, the well-designed addition of a personalized water bottle in a cashmere holder is sure to quench that need. While exercising, you may towel off with a Piana chevron towel, and to hold the entirety
of your meditation accessories would be the herringbone cotton and canvas bag that features contrast stitching, perfect for sport. While trying to find the grace between rest and movement, and while some prefer a more rigorous training, balancing the power through exercise programs this collection provides a new, workout-in-style ability with the wellbeing capsule. Included is a singular leather skipping rope, that is hand-crafted and features comfortable padded cashmere Storm System handles for ultimate calisthenic comfort. The collection also features one- and two-kilo weights made of chrome featuring the likes of the same luxury handles with a chevron cashmere and calfskin leather trim, handmade in Italy of course. The set also features an page 69
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exercise core ball that has been upholstered in a super-soft chevron padded cashmere with leather handles and personalized metal detail and, naturally, is accompanied by a matching water bottle, all in understated midnight blue cashmere. The entirety of the set is completed by the two-sided chevron patterned cotton towel that also features the Loro Piana monogram and crest. There is nothing which touches your heart more deeply than the sound of the forest's midnight sky peppered with stars and the cloud of your breath hitting the pure, icy air. Loro Piana has created its last capsule titled Exploration to convey the collection’s purpose. While it’s up for you to decide if you’d make the daytime hike or simply survey the scenery from
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wherever you are, you have the option to be zipped into the comfort of the most delicious sleeping bag adorned in the chevron-padded Wind Storm System and Baby Cashmere for both protection and warmth. Sleeping beneath the starry sky is more serene underneath an eye mask knit of herringbone Baby Cashmere trimmed in calfskin leather, and should you choose to bring your own refreshment, the cashmere thermos flask will get you through the night. Turlington was an obvious choice as wellness advocate for the collaboration between the houses after her lifelong dedication to the promotion of positive mental health and lifestyle. As the supermodel face in mainstream campaigns for Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis
Vuitton and Prada, she has dedicated significant time to continually promoting a healthy body image within the fashion industry. The Piana brand also featured Turlington in a digital short film, ‘The Art of Wellbeing’ for this campaign, which was created by The MJS Groupe. Filmed in the prestige Hamptons region of New York, the LVMH team also noted that a significant of amount time had been spent in creating the world’s most prestigious accessory collection to combat today’s climate as their luxury consumer base has never shown a higher interest in attaining a more balanced fitness lifestyle, and this collection aims to bridge that gap.
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EXPLORER
WELLBEING
MEDITATION
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CLICK TO BUY
THE BEST 'FAMOUS' IS 'INSTAGRAM FAMOUS' SOCIAL MEDIA HAS FOREVER CHANGED THE WAY EMERGING BRANDS POSITION THEMSELVES ON THE MARKETPLACE
BRETT CHODY
W
Trends Contributor
@brettchody
ITH OVER ONE BILLION USERS WORLDWIDE, INSTAGRAM HAS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED MANY ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES. THE PHOTO-SHARING APP, WHICH LAUNCHED JUST OVER 10 YEARS AGO, HAS ALTERED THE WAY WE PRESENT OURSELVES TO THE WORLD, THE WAY WE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THE WAY WE FIND OUT THE NEWS. IT ALSO HAS ALTERED THE INS AND OUTS OF CLOTHING BRANDS AND HOW THEY RISE IN POPULARITY.
It was much harder for fashion brands to get their name out in the days before Instagram. They relied on magazine advertisements, word of mouth and getting their pieces in department stores, amongst other things. Gifting clothes page 74
to celebrities was common practice, but brands would simply have to cross their fingers, and hope that celebrities would wear their piece and be photographed in it for a magazine. Now with Instagram, gifting clothes to celebrities has a much bigger impact on brands’ popularity. For some brands, all it takes to blow up is a big name wearing a piece of clothing from them and a picture of it going up on Instagram. Take Orseund Iris, for example. Tops from the New York City-based brand were seen on Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski in 2017 in paparazzi pictures posted on fan accounts. Soon after, the brand became extremely popular and coveted.
and what doesn’t work. Constructing a social identity that’s completely your own. It’s a quick snapshot, a glimpse of a world you’re creating from scratch. It’s free, you’d be silly not to take advantage of it and be as thoughtful as possible when doing so.” Another example of this Instagram reality is EB Denim, a brand that reconstructs vintage Levi 501 jeans. EB Denim was founded by Elena Bonvicini when she was in high school. She started upcycling vintage denim as a hobby and
In a 2018 article in Paper Magazine, Lana Johnson – the creator of Orseund Iris– explained how crucial social media is to fashion. “[It is a] game-changer,” Johnson said in the Paper interview. “ I’ve had years to perfect, obsess, construct a social media presence with such a personal and distinct point of view. I think it is so important to understand what works
It-Girl Bella Hadid donned Orseund Iris back in 2017, which launched the brand's popularity online
EB Denim founder Elena Bonvicini knows the power of social media
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selling her creations to her classmates. Being a member of Generation Z, Bonvicini knew the power of Instagram when it comes to fashion marketing. “My entire marketing method has been targeting celebs and Influencers. I started reaching out to girls on Instagram before the term influencer existed, just because intuitively I knew that if I saw one of my favorite accounts wearing something cool, I would probably want to get that piece,” Bonvicini explained. Supermodel Gigi Hadid sported EB Denim twice during 2019's Paris Fashion Week, and the brand has only soared since. “Having these people wear and expose my brand is the main driving force of our sales. One month, Kylie Jenner, James Charles and Hailey Bieber all wore my jeans, and we tripled our sales. People will always look to celebs or powerful people for inspiration; it dates back centuries.”
customers. “I can’t imagine how my brand GIGI C Bikinis would be what it is today without Instagram. It’s been such a great tool for us to find and build our customer and to keep her involved and in-the-know about GIGI C. Having the ability to directly talk to customers and get feedback is so important.” Like Bonvicini, Caruso has seen a massive growth in sales from influencers and celebrities wearing her styles. “Seeing how well our customers respond to fashion influencers in our swimwear and activewear has forced us to pivot and make that a cornerstone of our business. It helps us to broaden our audience, but it also gives the brand a certain credibility when it’s
worn by big names like professional soccer player Alex Morgan, influencers Aimee Song and Rocky Barnes, and actresses Eva Longoria and Lucy Hale.” It is evident that social media has had a huge impact on the public relations side of fashion. As Instagram continues to be a staple in the lives of so many worldwide, I am confident that many brands will follow the same path to prevalence as Orseund Iris, EB Denim, and GIGI C Bikinis.
Gigi Caruso, another Gen Z fashion entrepreneur and founder of swimwear brand GIGI C Bikinis, feels the same way about Instagram’s power. The 20-year-old CEO especially appreciates how Instagram gives her a direct line of communication with her Gigi Caruso, a Gen Z fashion entrepreneur and founder of GIGI C Bikinis, swears by the power of Instagram
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THE MANE EVENT page 78
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GIVE THANKS
PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ FOR THE MANE EVENT
WE MIGHT NOT NEED AN EXCUSE TO USE THE CRYSTAL AND SILVER EVERY DAY, BUT IF YOU DO, THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR TO PULL IT OUT AND SET THE TABLE.
E
NDURANCE. AFFECTION. EMPATHY. SOUNDS LIKE THE PERFECT INGREDIENTS FOR A THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION THAT COMES AFTER LONG MONTHS OF KEEPING OUR SOCIAL DISTANCE. EVENT PLANNER AND FLORAL DESIGNER ANGELA DIVINCENTI BABIN OF ANGELA MARIE EVENTS CREATED A FANCIFUL HOLIDAY GATHERING - SET AT LIVE OAK ARABIANS, A SPRAWLING RANCH IN THE HEART OF BATON ROUGE. THE HOLIDAY SCENE IS EQUAL PARTS RUSTIC AND REFINED.
peach. “It’s a color palette that’s not traditional for Thanksgiving,” Babin says. “It brings the masculine feel of the barn together with a feminine element that’s unexpected.” Inside, the dining table is set beneath a massive chandelier laden with more of the warm-hued blossoms, along with foraged vines and branches.
On the table itself, she has arranged dahlias, amaranthus, garden roses and white majolica along with leaves that are just finding their fall color, all within a petite footed urn. The centerpiece stands out atop a neutral textured tablecloth that puddles on layered Turkish rugs. Surrounding the table are bentwood chairs with rust-colored velvet seat cushions, and
From the moment visitors arrive at the Live Oak Arabians barn, it’s obvious that this is no ordinary day in the hay. The arched front doors are set off with oversized grapevine wreaths upon which Babin affixed flowers in shades of coral, bronze, copper, mustard and page 79
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at each end is a weathered leather armchair that plays off the space’s masculine vibe. “I think the rugs and the linens help to soften a space like this, with all of its wood and brick,” Babin says. “Rugs can give a warm feeling to any space, even outdoors.” Babin opted for casual pieces to serve the food and drink, making this a no-fuss feast befitting its surroundings. Stoneware plates from Macy’s transition easily from everyday use to Thanksgiving, and wood chargers echo the tones of the massive columns that flank the table. Plaid napkins from Pottery Barn give a wink to equestrian style, and hand-lettered menus and place cards on deck-
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led-edge paper spell out the fact that these festivities are anything but fussy. PREPPING FOR THE MANE EVENT Event designer Angela DiVincenti Babin shares her top tips for holiday hosting at home: Bring the indoors out. “We have a huge family, so when we gather for family holidays, we often eat outside,” Babin says. “I love to pull out touches of indoor décor like these rugs and use them in unpredictable ways.” Go green from your own backyard. “I used greenery that I found in a field behind my son’s school,” she says. “You don’t have to go out and buy every flower or branch for your arrangements.”
Seek the element of surprise. “It’s easy to get stuck in a decorating scheme,” she admits. “Try something outside the box like adding flowers to your dining room chandelier, and you can really jazz up a space without much effort.” Basic is often best. “Details like these casual stoneware plates from Macy’s aren’t something you’re only going to use once a year,” she notes. “They can be part of your year-round rotation.” Have a backup plan. “I always want to be prepared for the unexpected,” Babin says. “Keeping a closet or cabinet stocked with pretty pieces like dried florals and simple glasses and dishes makes it easy to mix up the look even if something breaks or extra guests arrive."
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RESOURCES: Photography: Sarah Ward Weddings, Planning and design: Angela Marie Events, Floral: Angela Marie Events, Place cards and menus: Rachael Roxanne By Hand, Furniture: Distressed Rentals & Revival Adapted for publication in Polo Lifestyles by Joshua Jakobitz
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Fourth Annual
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE PRESEN TED BY
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE for her
Bottega Veneta The Jodie Large Intrecciato Woven Leather Hobo Bag $3,700 / Neimanmarcus.com Bottega Veneta has set a new standard for luxury since its birth in Vicenza in 1966. Inspired by Italian culture with a global outlook, the house is defined by a distinctly refined attitude.
Jimmy Choo BING 100 Dark Blush Suede Mules with Crystal and Pearl Strap $995 / Jimmychoo.com BING in dark blush suede is modern and stylish. Its beautiful slip-on design makes it a unique style and emphasizes the leg-lengthening effect with its 100mm heel height. Featuring a crystal and pearl detailing strap across the top of the foot for a hint of glamour, pair with a little black dress for a striking look.
Maillon de Cartier Watch in Pink Gold with Diamonds $108,000 / Cartier.com Maillon de Cartier watch, quartz movement. 18K pink gold case, crown, and bracelet set with 401 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 8.37 carats. Dimensions: 16 x 17 mm, thickness: 6.8 mm. Silver dial with sunray-effect, blued-steel sword-shaped hands. Water-resistant up to 3 bar (approx. 30 meters/100 feet).
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Chopard Magical Setting Price Upon Request / Chopard.com In this exciting retake on one of the noblest and most enduring jewelry classics, Chopard unlocks the intense light and luster that reside deep in the soul of a gemstone and unleashes its full emotional power. The Chopard Magical Setting explores light in all of its many facets: as a universal symbol of the divine, of purity, joy and euphoria, as the essence of seductive glamour, and as the most powerful emotional trigger in a gem or jewel.
Giorgio Armani Palmellato Leather |La Prima Mini Bag with Shoulder Strap $ 1,150 / Armani.com This item features rounded lines and soft, pleated edges. This mini bag has a shoulder strap, faux-suede microfiber lining and elegant golden branding on the top part with the Giorgio Armani MILANO logo.
Gucci Rouges à Lèvres Mat Lipstick $42 / Saksfifthavenue.com A limited-edition matte lipstick collection of 6 new vivid shades. Specially conceived by Alessandro Michele for fresh spring makeup looks, the different colors are inspired by the season’s flowers blossoming. Rouge à Lèvres Matte is a lip color with a
clear, gelling soft wax base that works in harmony with the pigments to create an intense vivid tone with a matte finish — all in one stroke. The color is bright and rich, and the feel is smooth, soft and velvety.
Louis Vuitton Game On Shawl $955 / Louisvuitton.com The Game On shawl is a cover-up merging the high-spirited world of card games with Nicolas Ghesquière’s unparalleled style. An irreverent rework of the House’s archival Monogram pattern enlivens the silk-wool fabric. This piece is influenced by an exuberant capsule collection masterminded by Louis Vuitton’s creative director for Cruise 2021. page 98
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Fendi Peek-a-Boo Iconic Medium Brown Leather Bag $4,550.00 / Fendi.com Iconic medium Peekaboo bag made of brown leather and embellished with the classic twist lock on both sides. Featuring a dark green canvas interior with tone-on-tone embroidered FF motif, two compartments separated by a stiff partition, an inner zip pocket and gold-finish metalware. Can be carried by hand or worn either on the shoulder or cross-body thanks to the handle and two-tone canvas adjustable, detachable shoulder strap.
Tom Ford Bronzer Brush #05 $115 / Neimanmarcus.com Bottega Veneta Gold-tone and leather hoop earrings $580 / Net-a-Porter.com Daniel Lee finds fresh ways to rework Bottega Veneta’s house codes each season - his Pre-Fall ‘20 collection incorporates the label’s iconic weave and chain motifs. These gold-tone earrings are designed with supple chocolate leather that’s artfully twisted around each hoop. Echo the intertwining shape with the brand’s intrecciato accessories.
This luxuriously soft and smooth brush made with synthetic fibers picks up the optimal amount of product to achieve gorgeous and radiant skin. Can also be used as an all-over-face blending tool to smooth lines and create a seamless look.
Judith Leiber Couture Breakers Conch Shell Crystal Clutch $5,495.00 / Modaoperandi.com Judith Leiber’s must-have conch shell clutch is saturated with luxurious Austrian crystals, making it the ideal evening out bag. Picture how this bag, which has champagne-colored hardware, will gleam over a candlelit dinner. Carry it in your hand as a clutch, or utilize the crossbody strap for hands-free dancing.
Fendi FF 0325/S Oval Modified Sunglasses $495 / Kitsonlosangeles.com These Fendi sunglasses are distinguished by their undisputed elegance in line with the style of the Italian brand, that aims to impress and captivate everyone's attention. FENDI Ff 0325/S Oval Modified Sunglasses are colorful and daring, giving a unique look. page 99
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Slip Rose Gold & Leopard Print Pillowcase & Sleep Mask Set $122 / Nordstrom.com A limited-edition two-piece set featuring a queen-sized pure silk pillowcase and pure silk sleep mask. The anti-aging, anti-sleep crease, anti-bed head pillowcase and sleep mask are like an eighthour beauty treatment every night. Crafted from pure silk inside and out as recommended by dermatologists, plastic surgeons, hairdressers and beauty experts alike, each elevates beauty sleep to a whole new level.
Aura Chef's Chakra Maple & Blue Turquoise $590 / Aurachef.com The Chakra knife is finished with a stabilized Maple burl wood and blue Turquoise gemstone handle, designed for the highest culinary performance. Each knife features Chakra 3D handle and brass bolsters for precise handling, precious gemstone counterweights for perfect working balance and advanced blade geometry promoting smooth cuts with efficient rebound and low friction for professional fine cooking.
Dyson Airwrap Complete SpectraLite FaceWare Pro $435 / Dermstore.com An anti-aging light therapy device that smooths wrinkles and combats acne for a more radiant complexion.
$549 / Dyson.com Engineered for multiple hair types. With barrels to curl and wave, and brushes to control, smooth or add volume.
Chanel Lambskin Calfskin Tweed Success Story Set of 4 Minis Bags $37,500 / Fashionphile.com
Ember Mug² Temperature Control Smart Mug 10oz $100 / Target.com Designed for home or office, the Ember Mug² does more than simply keep your coffee hot. This smart mug allows you to set an exact drinking temperature, so your coffee is never too hot, or too cold. Ember then maintains your chosen temperature for 1.5 hours so your hot beverage stays perfect. page 100
This highly collectible box set consists of four of Chanel's most iconic handbag styles in an ultra petite micro size. Featured are a caviar quilted Classic Flap in black with gold tone hardware, a glossy patent calfskin Boy Flap with silver tone hardware, an aged calfskin 2.55 Reissue Flap with aged gold hardware, and a black and white tweed Gabrielle Bag in a chic houndstooth pattern.
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Elby S1 9-Speed Electric Bike $2,999 / Elbymobility.com The term ‘perfect bike’ is thrown around a lot these days. Innovative style, comfort, power and versatility with nine distinct speeds to get you up and over the most challenging terrain. Available in five vivid colors. You Metallic Sandal by Havianas $38 / Kitsonlosangeles.com
The Mirror $1,495 / Mirror.co
These specialty Havianas feature a bi-layer footbed for a touch more height than the traditional flip flops and sleek laminated straps in a range of colors to match all your warm weather looks.
This isn't just a mirror. It's a cardio class, it's a yoga studio, it's a boxing ring, it's your new personal trainer, and it's so much more.
YSL Monogram All Over Bucket Bag in Studded Suede $4,450 / Ysl.com YSL-studded bucked bag with drawstrings and an adjustable leather shoulder strap. 100 percent calfskin leather. Made in Italy. page 101
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Hermes Mini Kelly 20 Hand Bag Chouette Silk Nubuck Blue $62,000 / Amorevintagejapan.com Ultra rare, vintage Hermes bag to complement your collection. This item was cared for by a previous owner. Due to its vintage nature, the item shows signs of normal wear.
Hourglass Vegan Brush Collection $650 / Nordstrom.com A 17-piece set featuring ultra-soft synthetic-bristle vegan brushes for your face, cheeks and eyes. Each brush is made from high-grade Taklon bristles, which are an excellent alternative for those who suffer from a reaction to animal hair. Weighted metal handles provide control for effortless blending and application.
Women's Snowflake Calf Sock Gift Box $65 / Bombas.com Yes, that's a snowflake on a sock. But it's not just any snowflake, and not just any sock. These are Bombas snowflakes on soft, comfortable, supportive, and delightfully attractive Bombas socks. Plus, they keep you warm, whereas real snowflakes are, in fact, cold. As always, one purchased = one donated.
Moncler Serifur Fur-Trim Nylon Jacket $1,910 / BergdorfGoodman.com Moncler “Serifur” parka in metallic, water-resistant georgette with removable dyed fox fur (Finland), High collar with attached hood; two-way front zip, Long sleeves; logo at left arm, Exposed two-way zip, Standard silhouette, Side zip pockets, Below-hip length, 90/10 down/feather fill. page 102
Yeti Daytrip Lunch Box Limited Edition $80 / Yeti.com This fresh-for-hours, easy-to-clean lunch box is your one-way ticket to packing a lunch you’ll actually look forward to. It’s loaded to the gills with insulation power, engineered with a water-resistant exterior, and built with a rock-solid form factor so it holds its own when riding in backpacks and bags.
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE for him Uncommon Goods Golf Ball Whiskey Chillers $30 / Uncommongoods.com Top off a round of golf with a round of perfectly cool drinks using these golf ball-inspired chillers.
Gucci Grip Steel Green Leather Watch – 35mm $1,450.00 / Jrdunn.com A contemporary Gucci Grip watch displaying a stainless-steel face with 3 windows indicating the hour, minute, and date. Comes complete with an interchangeable, green leather strap.
Hermes Atrium Garde-robe Pop tray $1,250 / Hermes.com Tray in hand painted lacquered wood with magnetic tab in bridle leather on the outside and smooth saddle-stitched taurillon leather, shiny lacquer on the top and matte lacquer on the bottom, base in taurillon Essentiel leather
Ssense Billionaire Boys Club T-Shirt $110 / Ssense.com Short sleeve cotton jersey T-shirt in black. Rib knit crewneck collar. Tonal and silver-tone logo printed at front. Graphic printed in silver-tone at back. page 104
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Bijan Yellow Leather Card Holder $580 / Bijan.com House of Bijan’s sleek card holder is made of textured alligator leather in a horizontal design with four card slots, topped with Classic Bijan Plaque
Zippo Rechargeable Candle Lighter $30 / Bespokepost.com Zippo is bringing its decades of flame power to the electric industry. This candle lighter needs no fuel; it's charged by an included USB cable and lasts seemingly forever on one charge.
Blanton’s special Reserve Red Label – Japanese Import
Giorgio Armani Eyeglasses with sunglasses clip-on $ 447 / Armani.com
$349 / Woodencork. com
Giving classic design multi-purpose style, made to measure magnetic clip-on pilot shield lenses transform this elegant metal optical shape into a super sleek sun frame.
Created for connoisseurs familiar with cask strength whiskeys, this enormous taste profile reaches depths of flavor found only in the rarest of spirits. The high alcohol by volume is intense and powerful yet inviting. The complexity of rye, caramel, oak, honey and vanilla coat your palate followed with a legendary finish. Served best neat or with a splash of water.
Rimowa ORIGINAL Cabin Green Camouflage $1,470.00 / Rimowa.com A special edition take on one of the most iconic luggage designs of all time. The RIMOWA Original Cabin Green Camouflage is crafted in highend anodized aluminum and meticulously designed to create a harmonious, sophisticated, and dynamic pattern adapted to the shape and structure of the luggage. Remarkably robust and surprisingly lightweight, the timeless classic is an unparalleled example of German engineering, craftsmanship, and innovation. Designed to fit in most airplane overhead compartments, this lightweight cabin suitcase is ideal for a short weekend or business trip. page 105
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Hermes Savana Dance Longboard $4,425 / Hermes.com This longboard is the ideal transport for traveling through the urban jungle with hair blowing in the wind or for a leisurely stroll. It combines outdoor sport and mobility equipment and tells the colorful story of Hermes silk scarves.
Norlan Whiskey Glass, set of 2 $58 / Norlanglass.com Inspired by nature, digitally crafted, and meticulously refined with master distiller Jim McEwan, the Norlan Whiskey Glass has been designed to capture whiskey's complex flavors and aromatics and deliver them to the senses like never before. page 106
Smeg '50s Retro Style 10-Cup Drip Coffeemaker $199 / Nordstrom.com Take your morning joe with a big serving of nostalgia via this drip coffeemaker that cleverly houses a host of modern, high-performance features. The programmable model has two intensity settings to customize the aroma and flavor, plus a reusable filter for less waste.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition $399 / Bowerswilkins.com Over-ear noise canceling wireless headphones. Enjoy Bowers & Wilkins sound quality on the move with high-quality drive units and sophisticated noise canceling in a brand new finish.
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Louis Vuitton Crafty Monogram Shawl $955 / Louisvuitton.com A graffiti-style pattern influenced by indigenous Australian art adorns the eye-catching LV Crafty Monogram shawl. This silk and wool accessory is decorated with a print inspired by Gaston Vuitton’s collection of Aboriginal masks. Refined signatures, including an allover Monogram pattern, are interwoven into the design as a nod to the House.
iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550) Robot Vacuum $1,299 / Irobot.com Forget about vacuuming for months at a time with the CLEAN BASE Automatic Dirt Disposal that allows the s9+ to empty itself for up to 60 days. With the Anti-Allergen System, 99% of pollen and mold allergens are trapped.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Grande Complication Automatic White Gold Men's Watch $1,030,822 / Jomashop.com 18 kt white gold case with a blue alligator leather strap. Fixed bezel. Blue waffle design dial with silver-tone hands and Arabic numeral hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim.
Christian Louboutin Louis Junior Orlato Flat $795 / Christianlouboutin.com
Versace Exclusive Virtus Barocco Robe
One of the Maison’s star sneaker styles, the unisex Louis Junior features a satin upper available in eight iconic shades of Nude. Mounted on a tone-on-tone rubber sole, its pared back lines give it a timeless, minimalist appeal.
$750 / Neimanmarcus.com This exclusive robe is perfect year-round to enjoy relaxing by the pool in summer and by a fire in winter. If you're looking for an iconic logo, you can't go wrong with Versace.
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE for home
Breville Nespresso Creatista Plus $999.95 / Nespresso.com Single serve coffee and espresso machine the Nespresso Creatista Plus offers freshly brewed coffee as well as delicious authentic espresso. The Creatista Plus turns into your personal latte maker with the attached milk frother, allowing you to create top quality latte art from the comfort of home. Bomber Ski WOODIE CLASSIC 78 $2,500.00 / Bomberski.com Feel secure in all conditions from edge to float and back again. The ultimate blend of smoothness, stability and responsiveness. Each Bomber Ski is equipped with an NFC chip, allowing for the customer to access and store information on their personal pair of skis.
Gucci GG and Check Wool Throw Blanket $980 / Gucci.com Introducing ‘Souvenir from Rome’ the new collection of furniture and decorative pieces designed by Alessandro Michele with motifs and patterns borrowed from the ready-to-wear collection. Taking cues from the ready-to-wear collection, the green and brown check pattern enriches a fringed wool blanket. The reversible home accessory is backed with the Interlocking G stripe in dark blue and red. page 111
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Tiffany Diamond Point Champagne Flute Set
Ginori 1735 Passeggiata Archeologica Black Plate by Gio Ponti
$150 / Tiffany.com
$400 / Artemest. com
The geometric style of the Diamond Point collection lends a modern edge to home designs. These sleek glasses reimagine the classic champagne flute.
This black plate is one of two designs in the Passeggiata Archeologica collection. The title means Archeological Stroll in Italian and is distinctive for its dream-like allure. This versatile piece can be used to grace a dining table or to be displayed as decorative accent in an eclectic orv modern home.
Christofle Royal Jack Double Pet Bowl $690 / Christofle.com With this first collection designed especially for pets, Christofle makes it possible to share Jack’s adventures, beautifully. Christofle unveils the “Royal Jack” collection of essential accessories that bear the House’s distinctive hallmark. The double bowl in silver-plated metal is designed to present food and water side by side for indoor use. This sober and elegant piece is as practical and easy to handle as it is beautiful. Once again, the house's signature creates a unique and majestic signature thanks to a regal hallmark, the Christofle goldsmith's crown.
Camus Cognac Extra Elegance $493.97 / Winechateau.com Appropriately named and packaged, Camus Cognac Extra Elegance is a truly elegant cognac made by a family that has been producing fine cognacs for five generations since 1863. A happy blend of eaux de vie mainly from the Borderies, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne crus, this cognac has a full nose with notes of hazelnut. The taste will bring to mind spices and rancio, while the aftertaste is lingering and thought provoking and the texture smooth and mellow. Camus honors this work of art with packaging that includes a sleek carafe that comes complete with a brushed steel stopper and neck. page 112
Baccarat 2020 20k Gold Annual Ornament $160 / Neimanmarcus.com The iconic French-made Christmas ornament is handcrafted of lead crystal with 20k gold leaf and approximately 2.6”
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Calvisius Caviar Lingotto $150 / Calvisiususa.com Creating the Lingotto into beautifully shaped bars, like all the fine caviars we produce, takes time and commitment. Fresh Pacific White sturgeon caviar (Acipenser transmontanus) is stored in a mold and aged for around two months. Once Lingotto is properly aged, the flavor is intensified and the texture is firm enough to be shaved, micro-planed or cut into strips.
Goyard 1930s Vintage Trunk $23,540 / Etsy.com This Aine Goyard trunk has very nice proportions as well as a beautiful, warm patina. It features its famous and sought after chevron canvas, its original brass stamped lock, brass stamped clasps and brass stamped handles. Honey color lozine trim. It still has its original Goyard's plaques on each side. Its interior has been relined a wile ago.
Tushy Spa Premium Warm Water Bidet Attachment $119 / Hellotushy.com Turn your bathroom into the private spa oasis you've always wanted with Tushy Spa Bamboo. Every spray to your bootyhole will transport you to a relaxing spa experience in the comfort of your own bathroom.
Kegco K309SS-1 Keg Dispenser $1,499 / Amazon.com Style, convenience, and efficiency combine in this Kegco K309B-1 Beer Keg Dispenser. This kegerator has rolling casters that allow it to be easily moved from room to room, and a sleek black finish that will look great with any decor. Additional features like an easy-to-clean removable drip tray and chrome safety guard prevent inconvenient messes, and a 25% more energy efficient design
CleanPod UVC Sterilizer $90 / Monos.com CleanPod is an essential tool in protecting yourself against the invisible germs lurking on all the objects you touch at home or outside. With a press of a button, a high-energy beam of UVC (ultraviolet C) light is emitted from the specialized LEDs, effectively sanitizing surfaces without the use of chemicals. In 30 seconds, UVC light can kill up to 99.9% of germs that get in its way. page 113
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Dom Perignon 2008 Vintage by Lenny Kravitz 1.5L $3,000 / Clos19.com Champagne lovers are familiar with the Dom Perignon 2008 Vintage. Now, the special vintage has been made even more so by music legend Lenny Kravitz, who has designed a truly unique box for the 1.5L magnum bottle. It is inspired by snakeskin and brutalism and cleverly alters into a candelabra once used.
Cartier Metal Candle Holder $690 / Cartier.com Silver-tone metal candle holder with openwork design, double C motif at sides, burgundy wood base, onyx cabochon at lid and brand stamp at underside. Includes box and dust bag, designed by Mathilde Laurent, manufactured by Cartier.
Celestron - Ambassador 80 AZ Brass Telescope - Brass $999 / Bestbuy.com Designed for terrestrial and astronomical observing, this Celestron Ambassador 80AZ 21034 telescope features a 6 x 30 finderscope for easily sighting-in your target and 11-189x magnification-capable fully coated lenses for enhanced visual clarity.
Smeg x Dolce Gabbana Four-Slice Toaster $950 / Neimanmarcus.com Dolce & Gabbana x SMEG 4 x 4 Slot Toaster with two independent control panels, six browning levels, three extra functions: reheat, defrost, bagel; four compartments, two crumb trays in a powder-coated steel body. page 114
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE for us
2021 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante $334,700 / Astonmartin.com For over half a century, the name DBS has meant just one thing: the ultimate production Aston Martin. With the Superleggera Volante, you'll go from 0 to 62 in 3.6 seconds and top out at 211 mph. In other words, you'll feel - and look - like James Bond.
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A Gothic Castle Estate in County Galway 25,000 Pounds/Week / Olivertravels.com The Castle features pike fishing on a private 1,000 acre lake. During the season, there are also driven pheasant and duck shooting. Around the Estate are a variety of trails offering exploration opportunities for walking, running, cycling, bird watching and nature enthusiasts in unspoiled woodlands and pasture. Within the area there are a large amount of things to do ranging from sightseeing to shopping and golf.
Bollinger Tribute to Moonraker Luxury Limited Edition 5,000 Euros / Publicisdrugstore.com To celebrate 40 years of partnership, Champagne Bollinger and 007 pay tribute to their common heritage and revisit the space shuttle created by legendary interior designer Ken Adam. Champagne Bollinger asked designer Eric Berthès to re-imagine the Moonraker space shuttle. The designed object is made of pewter, plated with noble wood and contains a Saint Louis crystal bucket as well as a magnum from Bollinger 2007, the vintage of Bond par excellence.
Flashforge Creator Pro Dual Extrusion Open-Sourcing 3D Printer $659 / Flashforgeshop.com FlashForge Creator Pro is an open source machine, it supports third party software, such as Cura, Simplify3D. It ranks the first place on many e-commerce platforms, has become customers’ preferred choice.
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The 11th Generation Lithium Battery Powered Wireless Nano Electric Gun $399 Fully Outfitted / Otarius.com The 800ml watering capacity can disinfect large areas at once! Works up to 3 hours after charge. Safe and convenient. The Blue Light Nano Spray Gun generates fog to target airborne pathogen, bacteria that are invisible to naked eye. Flow can be adjusted accordingly to suit various disinfecting needs.
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Tesla Powerwall Price Ranges based on Energy Use / Tesla.com Powerwall is a battery that stores energy, detects outages and automatically becomes your home's energy source when the grid goes down. Unlike gasoline generators, Powerwall keeps your lights on and phones charged without upkeep, fuel or noise. Pair with solar and recharge with sunlight to keep your appliances running for days.
The Tranquility Pod $30,000 / Hammacher.com This pod uses pleasant sound, gentle vibration, and soothing light to transport the body, mind, and spirit to a tranquil state of relaxation. The pod’s ellipsoid exterior blocks 90 percent of outside noise while its interior foci ameliorate music played from a four-speaker sound system via smartphone to impart restful harmony.
Frette Hotel Classic Sheet Set $500.00 / Frette.com The Hotel Classic Sheet Set from Frette is composed of crisp cotton percale and features a top sheet and pillowcases embroidered with two distinctive borders. Subtle colors effortlessly complement every bedroom interior.
Global Polo TV "Premium Polo Pass" $125 / Globalpolo.com Give the gift of polo - The Gauntlet of Polo $125 now through December 31, 2020 with Global Polo TV app for smartphone, smart TV or tablet. page 119
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Survival Training Courses - Ultimate Spy Week Individually Priced Courses / Spyescapeandevasion.com These emergency survival courses will teach them the truly important things that were left out of their education, like how to escape when they wake up in the trunk of a moving car with their hands and feet bound.
GeoOrbital Wheel for Bike Presale - Not Yet Priced / Amazon.com The GeoOrbital Wheel is super easy to install – just remove the front wheel of your bike and hook this thing up in its place, and the next thing you know, you’re leaving the other bikes in your dust. Coravin Model Six Advanced Wine Bottle Opener and Preservation System $399 / Amazon.com Best-in-class wine preservation system keeps your wine safe from oxidation, allowing it to continue to age naturally. The Coravin Wine System lets you pour wine effortlessly without removing the cork, so you can enjoy the rest of the bottle for weeks, months, or even years. Coated wine needle pierces gently through your wine cork allowing you to pour wine both quickly and smoothly.
Weber 7470001 Summit S-670 6-Burner Natural Gas Grill, Stainless Steel $2,799 / Amazon.com The Weber Summit is great outdoor grilling needs with it's 6 burners. Capacity is 693-square-inch primary cooking area and 145-square-inch warming rack for 838 square-inch total cooking area. Comes with side burner, sear burner, and smoker burner with stainless-steel smoker box. Includes enclosed cart with stainless-steel doors, 6 tool holders and cookbook included; Main burners: BTU-per-hour input: 60,000. 3D interactive assembly instructions for this product are available through the free BILT app. page 120
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PORTL Hologram Machine Mini "Table Top" Unit $2,000 / PORTLhologram.com Epic "Human Size" Unit starts at $60,000 Happy Holo-Days from PORTL! Enjoy a pandemic proof holiday shopping experience this year via the power of PORTL hologram technology. At the mall, a virtual salesperson will take good care of you from 1,000 miles away. Better yet, let your kids tell Hologram Santa what they want for Christmas.
Peloton Bike+ Family $2,945 / Onepeloton.com
Wen Portable Generator $425 / Amazon.com Sure, we lived for hundreds of thousands of years without electricity, but that’s not the point. The next time they’re in the middle of baking a casserole and a squirrel falls in the wires at the power plant, don’t make them resort to eating lettuce and raw cookie dough for dinner. Every house needs one of these.
Complement your cardio with the holistic workout you crave. Move from cardio to the floor with strength, stretching, yoga and more classes to get the most immersive fitness experience right from the comfort of home.
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Nexersys Home Boxing Trainer Hammacher Wine Cellar Management System $4,000 / Hammacher.com Favored by private collectors, this is the wine management system that tracks which wines are in your collection, where they are located, and when they mature. The system comes with a 17" touchscreen computer, 500 bar code labels for each bottle in your collection, and a wireless scanner. Simply scanning the label and typing just the first three letters of a wine’s name prompts the computer to search for it in a 350,000-bottle database. The computer automatically adds an image of the wine label, the country of origin, region, and grape varietal and allows you to input where the bottle is stored in your cellar and the price you paid for it.
$6,995 / Nexersys.com There are lots of reasons to buy a home boxing trainer. Whatever the reason, this is definitely one of the best solutions yet devised for anyone who wants to hone their skills on their own time.
Modobag Luggage $1,495.00 / Modobag.com
Natural Machines Foodini $4,000 / Naturalmachines.com Foodini makes cooking more creative, faster and healthier. Print your food in precise portions and shapes. Take your dishes to another level - Elevate your food.
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The next time you travel, instead of lugging around your heavy suitcase, let your luggage do the work of carrying you around. The Modobag is a revolutionary piece of motorized carry-on luggage. With 2000 cubic inches of packing space, the Modobag can accommodate riders up to 260 lbs.
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Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Cryptomic $749 / Dyson.com Purifier, fan and heater. Now Destroys the common household pollutant formaldehyde. Auto-mode and sleep mode. Bluetooth, Wifi, Amazon Alexa and Siri compatible. LCD screen reports air quality levels in real time.
Yeti Tundra 65 Hard Cooler $349 / Yeti.com Our coolers are at home on the dock, at the ranch, in the blind, or on the boat, and the Tundra® 65 is no exception. It's our most versatile cooler, just as adept at keeping your catches cold in the field as it is storing the drinks and food for your backyard barbecue. This ice chest is plenty roomy and can hold a limit of redfish or your prized brisket without breaking a sweat. Customize this cooler with a collegiate or MLB™ logo.
Breville Oracle SemiAutomatic Espresso Machine $3,339.00 / Surlatable. com With groundbreaking automatic dosing, grinding and tamping, hands-free milk texturing, and a onetouch Americano button that adds heated water to brewing espresso without moving the cup, the Oracle makes it easier than ever to create flawless espresso drinks at home.
La Prairie Skin Caviar Collection $2,070 as shown / Laprairie.com Lifts and firms skin. Helps restore the appearance of elasticity and tone. Smoothes and refines skin texture.
Nebula by Anker Mars II Pro 500 ANSI Lumen Portable Projector $549 / Amazon.com Brighter is Better: DLP IntelliBright technology projects a radiant 500-ANS-lumen image at razor-sharp 720p for breathtaking video clarity. Cinematic Sound: Dual 10W audio drivers work together to deliver sensational surround sound and deep, resonant bass for a truly immersive outdoor projector movie experience. Ideal in the Home: Stay entertained at home with Mars II Pro’s 150-inch image. Watch movies, take online classes, or keep the kids entertained with hours of cartoons and educational videos. The possibilities are endless. page 123
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Saatchi Art's Ultimate Art Subscription Starting at $30,000 / Saatchiart.com Work with an expert curator to add a new, original artwork to your personal collection every month for an entire year. The subscription includes one artwork sent per month selected by the buyer from a curated collection of works, which will be updated regularly by your dedicated Saatchi art advisor. page 124
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Worx Landroid L 20V (4.0Ah) Cordless Robotic Lawn Mower with GPS $1,499 / Worx.com Smart technological features separate the Worx Landroid robotic lawn mower from other robotic mowers on the market. Engineered by AIA Intelligent Navigation, the Landroid is programmed with an algorithm that is designed to keep a random mowing pattern. This ensures the entire lawn is covered - even those sometimes-forgotten corners - and makes for an even trim week after week. The Landroid robotic lawn mower even leaves fine clippings behind as they add important nutrients to your yard. DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone $1,399 / Dji.com Mavic Air 2 takes power and portability to the next level, offering advanced features in a compact form factor. Intelligent shooting functions and excellent image quality put aerial masterpieces within reach. Safer, smarter flight enables you to up your game while fully enjoying the creative process.
MegaChess 24-Inch Tall Outdoor Chess Board $3,499 / Megachess.com The beauty of a giant chess set comes from the level of detail designed into each giant chess piece. The sharply defined cross on the King. The points on the Queens crown. The sharp, deep cut on the hat of the Bishop. The incredible detail of the mane, ears and the downward snout of the Knight. The high rising tines of the Rook The exterior of the pieces is a hard, high gloss fiberglass resin that is similar to the look of a billiards ball. page 125
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FASHION & STYLE ODF: ONE DIVERSE FASHION
HOW TO BUY TIMEPIECES ONLINE page 129
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FASHION PROFILE
ODF: ONE DIVERSE FASHION
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STAND IN TO STAND OUT RAPHAEL DAPAAH Art Contributor @raphaelkdapaah
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’VE ALWAYS HAD A DEEP RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO BE THEMSELVES. TO BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TRUE TO ONESELF IS BOTH LIBERATING AND EMPOWERING, ESPECIALLY IN A WORLD THAT ENCOURAGES UNIFORMITY AND FROWNS UPON INDIVIDUALISM. It’s just past noon, and I meet one such
individual at one of my favorite watering holes overlooking the Thames in London Docklands. He cuts a casual chic figure in a black fur-collared pea coat, dark tailored trousers and his signature ODF clothing hoodie and baseball cap; a walking embodiment and ambassador of his brand, One Diverse Fashion (ODF). Nicholas Amfo is disarmingly as warm and embracing as the fireplace we settle around, which strikes me almost as odd given that most fashion designers are typically aloof, reserved and guarded. We immediately delve into his brand’s story and its impressive evolution and growth over the years. A story that draws inspiration from the plush and leafy suburbs of Wimbledon, SW19, where the designer
attended Wimbledon College, a stone’s throw away from where he grew up in Mitcham, albeit world’s apart. Nicholas reveals a transformative moment for him; one afternoon, while he was shopping in one of Wimbledon’s upscale boutiques, and was followed with suspicion and harassed by staff. Though an unfortunate moment, one that would break the spirit of most, it planted the seed that would one day blossom and become ODF, a brand that specializes in classic sport luxe pieces that equally pay homage to the timeless aesthetics of the Wimbledon tennis scene, and the cool, dynamic edge of London’s street fashion. This harmonious relationship between street and suburban culture has long page 131
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been an aspirational trend embraced by Black London youth culture; however, where ODF uniquely stands apart is in its ability to reach and unify all walks of life and demographics while embracing diversity and individualism. There is an unspoken understanding and bond that whether you dress up for a preppier look or down for an edgier appeal, you are allowed to just be, in ODF, which in itself is a powerful quality. Headquartered in London, ODF also has a base in Amsterdam, a signal of its
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growing global appeal and the ambition of its designer and creative director to expand. One thing I can say with certainty, is that in the current climate of athleisure increasingly being embraced as high fashion, and with ODF’s mantra of promoting diversity and inclusion, they are on the money as far as brand values and aesthetics in 2020 are concerned. To hone in on the point, they recently received a nod from GQ magazine as one of the “most wanted men’s clothing”
brands in 2020, an accolade well earned and deserved. We have high expectations of the brand, and after an inspiring conversation with Nicholas, it’s clear he has higher expectations of himself and his brand. We suspect a strong showing in 2021 for ODF if 2020 is anything to go by. You can check out ODF clothing on www.odfclothing.com. Raphael K. Dapaah Art Contributor Polo Lifestyles
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ROYAL OAK CONCEPT FROSTED GOLD FLYING TOURBILLON CASE Hammered 18-carat pink gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, crown set with a translucent sapphire cabochon. DIAL Multi-layers graded blue dial with sunray pattern, pink gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. BRACELET Hand-stitched “large square scale” blue alligator strap with hammered 18-carat pink gold AP folding clasp. Additional shiny blue rubber strap.
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FIVE-STAR LUXURY TIMEPIECE RETAILERS
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THE BEST PRICES & UNBEATABLE SERVICE ONLINE
OU MIGHT SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A LUXURY TIMEPIECE, BUT ARE THE RISKS WORTH THE REWARDS? THIS GUIDE REVEALS THE SECRETS TO HELP YOU DECIDE.
If you’re in the market for a quality timepiece, you’ve probably stumbled upon Jomashop’s online store. A quick scroll through the site shows a wide variety of watches from nearly every major name in the industry. They offer men’s and women’s watches, from prices as low as around $50 to north of the $1 million mark. But the prices don’t seem right. Anytime a deal seems too good to be true, there should be some red flags that shoot up in the back of your mind. This is especially true in the luxury timepiece industry, where fakes abound and dishonesty can run rampant. So why are these prices so low? Is Jomashop a legitimate business? Does Jomashop sell counterfeit watches? Let’s unpack Jomashop and find out. WHAT WATCH BRANDS DOES JOMASHOP CARRY? Aside from microbrands, Jomashop likely carries any brand you can think of, but it depends on their stock at the time. You’re likely to find deals on Seiko, Citizen, Hamilton, Omega, Tudor, Breitling, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philipe or Richard Mille watches. They’re all listed with significantly lower prices than through a dealer. page 138
While the overwhelming majority of Jomashop’s focus is on timepieces (and that’s where we’ll focus this guide), the company carries more than just watches. The apparel and accessory shop consists of the biggest names in fashion like Gucci, Tiffany & Co. and Ray-Ban for as much as 50 percent off the MSRP. IS JOMASHOP LEGIT? Before we can answer whether or not Jomashop is legit, you need to understand a few things. You need to understand what Jomashop is, how its business model works, and the difference between white, black and gray market sellers. THE WHITE MARKET Anything you’ve purchased 100 percent as it was intended to be sold per a manufacturer/dealer agreement was a white market purchase. This purchase might be a watch, appliances from the local home store, shoes from a high-end dealer or a craft good from a local artisan. As the name suggests, white market purchases are the purest form of transaction. This is when a customer buys a product from the manufacturer or authorized dealer according to the authorization agreement. The dealer may discount or mark up the price, but this usually requires the manufacturer’s consent. THE BLACK MARKET A stark contrast from the white market (in name and legality), the black market includes all illegal sales of any product. This includes the sale of stolen goods,
as well as the sale of counterfeit goods or other products that are illegal to own due to copyright laws, local laws or federal regulation. In short, consider anything sold illegally as a black-market transaction. THE GRAY MARKET The name is misleading, as it suggests there are underlying legality issues, but the gray market is an entirely legitimate way to purchase products. Gray market items are authentic products, made by the original manufacturer but sold outside of the originally intended distribution chain. A used car sale could be a gray market purchase. Wholesalers like Sam’s Club and BJ’s might carry gray market products. These are not illegal activities. Likewise, Jomashop is a gray market watch seller, which makes it a totally legitimate business. Jomashop’s business model is entirely legal, and they sell authentic watches. However, they sell them outside of the originally intended distribution channel. This is how Jomashop can sell new watches at significantly lower prices than a dealer. WHERE DOES JOMASHOP GET ITS STOCK? Jomashop’s business model is simple: Purchase stock at a low price and resell it for less than a dealer would. Jomashop purchases the majority of its inventory directly from manufacturer-authorized dealers (or the manufacturer themselves, although this is a taboo practice in the industry). When an authorized watch dealer needs to recover some cash, they’ll unload their inventory at near
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IS JOMASHOP RELIABLE? Let’s address Jomashop’s reliability on three levels; authenticity, customer satisfaction and warranty. AUTHENTICITY Since we already know that the gray market can’t sell fakes and counterfeits, it’s safe to assume that Jomashop’s watches are entirely authentic. You can purchase a Patek Philipe, a Rolex or an Audemars Piguet and be totally confident that the manufacturers built these watches to the highest of standards. Likewise, you can purchase older stock, like the discontinued Seiko SKX007, knowing you’re getting your hands on one of the last of these timepieces. The one area where authenticity needs addressing is the boxes and papers. Not all Jomashop watches come with them. It’s important to know if your watch comes with its original box and papers, as display models in dealer cases might not. You should also know if those boxes and papers add much, if anything, to your watch’s value. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
cost to a third party. In this case, that third party is Jomashop. Jomashop then lists those watches in their store for a significantly lower price than the dealership was trying to sell them for. This gray market product movement benefits dealers with cash tied up in outof-date inventory or those that have lost their authorization.
It could simply be that a dealer wants to move to a more expensive product line and needs to liquidate its inventory to bankroll those purchases. Gray market profit margins are often less for a third-party seller, but the consumer can save a lot of money on the watch. Therefore, companies like Jomashop prefer to maximize their profits through quantity over profit margins.
When it comes to the gray market, customer satisfaction is not usually a priority. That’s not the case with Jomashop. Customer satisfaction matters so much that they use third-party reviewers to contact their customers and inquire about their satisfaction levels. On top of that, Jomashop has garnered these scores and ratings: •
Better Business Bureau: A+ Rating
•
eBay: 99% feedback score with over 140,000 ratings
•
Amazon: 4.9 stars with over 77,000 ratings
•
Shopper Approved: 4.7 stars with nearly 632,000 ratings
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The worst score that we found for Jomashop was 4.2 stars from Trustpilot. Clearly, customer satisfaction is important to Jomashop. JOMASHOP WARRANTY As far as warranty concerns go, this is where the gray market falls short. Since these watches are being sold outside of their original distribution channels, warranties are definitely an issue. Unless you’re unusually lucky, any watch purchased from Jomashop isn’t covered under a manufacturer’s warranty. That’s okay when we’re talking about a $50 Invicta Pro Diver, but it’s less acceptable when you’ve dropped $3,000 on a Tudor Black Bay. It’s even more of a concern when you consider that Jomashop has thousands of watches listed between $10,000 and $1,000,000. Jomashop’s website states that it will service every watch sold on its website for a period of one to five years. There are some exceptions, but Jomashop isn’t coy about listing them. The warranty covers internal malfunctions while covering almost nothing externally. This begs the question: Should you send a $20,000 Hublot or A. Lange & Sohne to a gray market seller for warranty work? This is a risk in its own right. If it’s peace of mind you’re after, then you’ll have to take or send your watch to a manufacturer-certified service center, or to the manufacturer itself. And the bill, if you purchased your watch from Jomashop, is likely to come out of your pocket. “SO, SHOULD I BUY A WATCH FROM JOMASHOP?” Although we’ve answered the questions around Jomashop’s legitimacy, some watch collectors or consumers are still wary about purchasing a watch from a gray market seller. It’s totally understandable to be con-
cerned about where you’re going to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on a fine timepiece.
A good deal it may be, an uneducated watch purchase through a non-authorized seller is always a risk.
If you’ve been saving for hard-earned cash for your Grail piece, you want to know that you’re spending it on a quality watch from a well-respected seller.
The best way to hedge your bets against a lousy purchase is to do the research and know what questions you need to ask.
Jomashop might be that dealer. Might be.
Jomashop takes and answers questions through their customer service page on their site. They’re also available for questions through their contact number during regular business hours.
THERE IS A RISK INVOLVED… The reality is that spending your money on a watch from Jomashop is a risk. You’re buying a watch outside of its intended distribution channel. That means the manufacturer is probably going to tell you to take a hike if you take it in for warranty work. Like we touched upon earlier, this isn’t a big deal for the lower-end watches, but it can be a considerable issue for luxury timepieces. You have to weigh this risk out against the reward. Is purchasing an authentic luxury timepiece at sometimes less than half of the original price a good deal? Absolutely. Is it worth it if it breaks and costs you time and money sending it to the manufacturer, only to have them tell you it needs a new hand-built movement? Still yes—probably. As long as you can afford to pay for the work. DO YOUR RESEARCH When an experienced collector saves for a Grail piece, they study it. They’re often educating themselves on every aspect of that watch until the time of purchase. By the time they buy the piece, they’re making an educated decision. Jomashop makes watch collecting very accessible for new collectors. It’s also a perfect opportunity for new collectors to get in over their heads in a hurry.
You can ask them about boxes and papers, model numbers, common problems, and any other important questions your research has led you to. The key here is educating yourself on the risks involved and how much they’re worth to you. And it’s important to note that the risk doesn’t fall on Jomashop— it’s proven itself a reliable and reputable company. The risk revolves around the watch’s value (with and without the accompanying box and papers) and the chance that something will go wrong with it. The cost to repair will have to come out of your pocket. THE BOTTOM LINE If Jomashop carries the watch you’ve been after, you’ve got some gut checking to do. If you’ve asked the critical questions and weighed the risks against the rewards, and it still seems like the deal for you, then the answer is yes. You should buy a watch from Jomashop. Since you’ve handled all of the research thoroughly and found the watch you want, it might be one of the best, most informed purchases you’ve ever made.
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STAY-AT-HOME ROMANCE - JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS GREGORY BERTRAND Copy Editor @bertrand7367
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T’S A STORY AS OLD AS TIME: BOY MEETS GIRL, BOY FALLS IN LOVE WITH GIRL, THEY HAVE A PASSIONATE ROMANCE THAT OUTSIDE FORCES DISAPPROVE OF, THEN BOY AND GIRL ARE SEPARATED UNTIL BOY DECIDES TO GO AFTER GIRL. IT’S THE PLOT OF MANY MOVIES, PLAYS AND BOOKS. It’s also the plot of Xander Miller’s debut novel “Zo.” Set in Haiti and centering around the devastating 2010 earthquake, “Zo,” bills itself as a “modern day Romeo and Juliet” with a twist, but is it the grand love story it proclaims? That is the question I intend to answer. However, before I do that, we must discuss something important, some-
thing that might make a few of you uncomfortable, but nonetheless needs to be said. I’m talking about cultural appropriation, and who has the right to tell a story. I hope this isn’t news to anyone, but Haiti is a country made up of 95 percent Afro-Haitians. Xander Miller is a White man from the United States telling the story of
two Black characters from a culture he was not born into. Now, let me be perfectly clear, I am not and will not accuse Miller of cultural appropriation (from what he wrote in the author’s note section at the end of the book, his intentions seem to come from a good place: he page 145
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went to Haiti as an EMT after the 2010 earthquake, a fact I will dive further into in a moment.) or anything malicious. But I would be doing my readers and the wider literary community a disservice if I ignored this element of “Zo”, seeing as how the erasure of minority voices and the unfortunate predominate White hegemony of the literary world remains a hot topic. Earlier this year, author Jeanine Cummins released her novel “American Dirt,” to a mountain’s worth of controversy. The novel centers around an undocumented Mexican woman and her traumas and experiences in both her native country and the U.S. Even before “American Dirt’s” January release date surfaced, a slew of negative reviews had already surfaced online, with Cummins' self-identified Whiteness—she wrote in a 2015 New York Times essay, “I am white…in every practical way, my family is mostly white—a major point of contention." Now, Cummins, her identity—in a 2019 interview, ahead of her novel’s release, she identified herself as Latinx—her novel and the controversy around it is a nuanced and interesting topic. One that I don’t have time to go into here, but one that I implore you to look into further. The fact is, the events that happened to the main character is “American Dirt” happen to many Mexican women every day; however, in the literary world, publishers find it safer—both in terms of monetary investment and making people feel “comfortable”—to have White voices tell the stories of minorities. Okay, with that backdrop set, let’s turn back to Miller and “Zo.” It’s rare to start a review of a novel with what’s written in the author’s note section, but the information provided there is of vital importance to this discussion. In it, Miller tells us about how he became an EMT and ambulance driver in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake before going on to say, “I am not a Haiti expert…Neither am I an expert on disaster relief…The truth is, I am page 146
an unlikely choice to author a story set in Haiti, but I fell in love there, and found when I set out to write a love story I could put it nowhere else.” Miller’s deep love and affection for Haiti is something I can completely understand. It’s the birthplace of my father, a place I’ve never set foot, and if Miller is no “Haiti expert” then, he can at least teach me a thing or two. In my opinion, “Zo” sits more on the cultural appreciation side of the spectrum, rather than the appropriation side. Miller sprinkles bits of Haitian Creole throughout the novel, the island is written about with admiration and longing and the food seems to be accurate. However, that doesn’t mean Miller’s prose are without fault. There are more than a few times where the descriptions of the main character Zo read as fetishistic, where the prose faun over how strong and muscular Zo is, how he might not be smart, but he’s great at manual labor and a passionate lovemaker. This might not be a huge deal for some, but it could make other people rather uncomfortable. I guess now would be a perfect time to delve into the plot of “Zo.” Zo, an orphan, has a rough upbringing, he learns to box before he can read and spends his teenage years bouncing from village to township and back working one odd, manual labor job after the next. One day, while helping haul and mix cement at the home of wealthy Haitian doctor Vincent Leconte, Zo spots his beautiful daughter Anaya Leconte sipping cherry juice from a bottle, and it’s love at first sight.
poor orphan. Of course, Dr. Leconte soon discovers his daughter’s illicit romance and, as punishment, sends his daughter off to Port-au-Prince to finish her schooling away from Zo. With nothing left to lose now, Zo must follow Anaya to the capital city before he loses her forever. Little do the lovers know, their arrival in Port-auPrince will coincide with the greatest natural disaster Haiti has ever seen. It’s been ages since I’ve read “Romeo and Juliet,” but there are shades I recognize in the plot of “Zo,” perhaps I’ve become jaded since I was a teen, but the whole love at first sight phenomenon seems like plain old lust to me, that’s especially true when Zo and Anaya’s relationship is full of passionate sex at the beginning of the novel. However, the pair’s relationship really begins to solidify as they’re ripped from each other’s arms. So, now back to the question at the start, is “Zo” a tale of classic love? Well, I guess it depends on your perspective. There is no denying that Zo would go to the ends of the earth for Anaya, as there’s no denying that Anaya would give up her comfortable life of riches to live in a small fishing village with Zo. If you are a true romantic at heart, I think “Zo” is the perfect novel for you. And, even if you aren’t a romantic anymore, maybe “Zo” will revive that part of your life.
The pair soon ignite in a love affair that must remain a secret at all cost. After all, they are from different worlds, Anaya is a nurse in training, and her father would disapprove of her being in the arms of this Xander Miller, author of "Zo"
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ADUBI MYDAZ MAKINDE page 150
Tonya and Ato Wright
{PRIVATE VIEWING}
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VERNISSAGE ADUBI MYDAZ MAKINDE ARTIST PROFILE
Sunday Morning Selfie I and II
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DUBI MYDAZ MAKINDE, ONE OF NIGERIA’S MOST EXCITING AND, DARE I SAY, “SLEPT ON” CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING. ADMITTEDLY, I FELT QUITE ANXIOUS ABOUT THIS FEATURE DUE TO A SENSE OF GREAT FOREBODING OF HOW ICONIC THE ARTIST IS BOUND TO BECOME IN THE FUTURE; AS SUCH, I WANTED THE TELLING OF HIS STORY TO BE JUST RIGHT. With the world still spinning on an axis of turmoil, and with Christmas and the new year fast approaching, it felt apt to introduce the sensual feast that is Adubi’s work to our readers; to lift the mood and fill them once more with a sense of life, inspiration and optimism. Here is the artist, in his own words. How long have you been painting, and
at what point did you consider yourself a professional artist? I started painting in 2002 while I was a freshman at university. Back then, my week would not be fulfilled without experimenting with different styles to materialize the tips and lessons garnered from art research. I participated in a group exhibition that involved creative students of my alma mater in 2006, and that was the process that built me largely as a self-taught artist. After several years of practicing and participating in more group exhibitions and several workshops on art across the country, and with a couple of years spent in the corporate world, I finally left my last nine-to-five job in 2011 and immediately settled in for a full-time studio painting professionally. I quickly secured my footing by sheer determination and hard work, which resulted in my first solo exhibition in December 2013, just two years after launching my private studio practice. I have never looked back since then as my quest
for artistic expression has materialized into many other group exhibitions both home and abroad, with three more solo shows till date. Tell us a bit about your background. Where were you born and raised, and what was your upbringing like? I was born and raised in a city called Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Originally a native of Ogun state from the Yoruba speaking people of the southwest part of the country. In my childhood, I was a regular weekend visitor to my father’s merchandise office in Sabo, Ibadan, an exclusive community of northern Hausa settlers wherein the adjourning streets, aboriginal cultural artifacts and sculptures, was and is still one of the highly-priced articles of trades. These sculptural imageries found fertile ground in my burgeoning mind as a youngster and would be scribbled into drawings during the school breaks, page 151
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Adubi Mydaz Makinde
I Have A Dream
and holidays. Out of these numerous practices came the best fine art pupil in my primary school. Drawing itself gave me a beautiful childhood memory filled with fun and happiness. Art was my first love as a kid because drawing cowboys and horses with colored pencils and crayons and painting minimalist vehicles on wood planks was a daily hubby. As luck would have it, those cultural objects, later on, came to play a big part in my depiction and stylization of an austere figurative composition, giving voluptuous form to enigmatic faces whose ethereal heads and bodies seem to flip right off the surface of canvas. I sustained and improved my artistic skills graciously until after high school, when I met a remarkable realism master artist named Mr. Tope Fatunbi in Ibadan, who agreed to show me secrets of the trade. My apparent commitment to all that is art got me the responsibility of the assistant manager to Topfat Art Studio & Gallery in Ibadan, Oyo State, between 1999-2000. This would be one outstanding milestone in my professional steps into the noble career of fine art and a remarkable moment when I was nursing the idea of becoming a professional artist. Where do you currently live and work? I am currently based in Lagos. My private studio practice and gallery representation, including major exhibitions, page 152
has been woven around here so far. This is because apart from Lagos being the city of imagination, it is the wealthiest state in Nigeria; as such, the Lagos art market sustains its artists quite effectively, and it’s the window to reach out to more opportunities beyond the shores of Nigeria. Your work today pays homage to your Yoruba heritage, Egyptian and Ethiopian Coptic art, and interestingly, the Harlem renaissance. What drew you to these elements, and what do they mean to you? Africans—and I as one—have always been a people of artistic expression and also dramatic impressions. If you delve deeply into the history, you’ll find the interwovenness of a thread line in the social-cultural properties of Egyptian, Ethiopian and several ethnic groups of sub-Saharan Africa, out of which the Yoruba are one of the prominent people. My artwork has thus succeeded in uniting and stitching these elements together by exploring undeniable traits that are commonly found in their artistic expressions. For instance, I discovered a lot of similarities in Coptic art style with the art pieces of aboriginal people of sub-Saharan Africa. You will find these across centuries-old sculptures, wood carving, doorposts of West Africa, from Yoruba and Togolese woodcarvers to Egyptian wall reliefs and Ethiopian wall paintings. The main subject or the most
Me, Myself and I
significant personalities in a composition are somewhat depicted larger than other figures. After this discovery, I said, why not consider this in my artwork too. Though it was like taking a risk, I am very happy with the outcome now. My Coptic art approach is well embraced within art circles, including art collectors and fellow artists. I genuinely love to create unique artworks with the hope of inspiring others, so I basically stay away from popular routine and techniques because my joy comes from creating something entirely new. In addition, my findings also established that African Kingdoms had a unique way of communicating from one end of the geographical region to the other; despite what we were told by the imperialists that ancient Africans do not have a method of writing, our ancestors did this effectively with symbolism. Here you can refer to the Adinkra symbols of Ghana, their meanings and usage and hieroglyphics symbols as seen on the walls and pillars of Egyptian ruins. I sometimes borrow from these sacred writings to express unique values in African social cultural identity. You can relate to this forgone eclectic knowledge in my Adinkra symbols artwork series. With regards to the Harlem renaissance, we are currently witnessing a new social-cultural landscape in Lagos, Nigeria, just like when black Americans
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migrated from the south to [the] northern part of America. The renaissance gave birth to Jazz and Blues as well as the civil right[s] movement. Most of the paintings and other art forms produced by intellec-
tuals depicted the vibrancy of these cultural innovations. Formerly suppressed men had a platform to express their innate creativity, while their women were also given wings to fly.
Similarly, just about 100 years later, in the early 21st century, as Lagos state is becoming a megacity, migration of youth from the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to this small geographical entity is playing out a repeat of the
Harlem renaissance phenomenon. There is a consistent creation of new fads and trends, new dance styles and musical genres with homegrown celebrities that are being celebrated all over the world. My artworks have successfully adapted and continuously record these growing Lagos neo cultural expressions reminiscent of the Harlem renaissance. I love to depict the latest trending dance in my dance compositions, moves and corresponding vibes within other subjects, just like some great artists painted the Harlem era stage performances and club scenes.
Additionally, regarding your Harlem Renaissance references, particularly the bold and empowered flappers of that time, your work captures your female muses in control, confident and liberated. What inspired this theme in your work? In as much as we portray visually appealing art pieces that characterize women in numerous scenarios, we should not overlook the subliminal messages that each artwork carries within. I am aware that ever since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the way we live, work and relate to one another has been radically altered. However, industrial revolutions have brought in modern appliances and household technology, which freed up women’s time. Since 1900, women [have] continGuitar Man
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uously flooded the workforce and are ever more empowered and in control of their livelihood. When I started as a professional artist, I was determined to represent women in their finest glory and elegance, a depiction of the modern woman’s newfound liberation, self-realization, and professional achievements. This is practically true of this Internet age. As we are being ushered into the 4th industrial revolution, there is nothing a man can do that women cannot accomplish. Technology has brought in a level ground for all to explore and succeed. We shall continue to see an emergence of more female presidents, CEO’s, and billionaires all over the world. I must mention that this picture of a confident, emancipated woman is in sharp contrast to what I saw growing up in Nigeria, where a lot of artists depicted women in subservient roles and metaphorical images. My artwork would rather register the contemporary changes that have brought an educated girl equal empowerment in my immediate environment and elsewhere. As an artist of African descent, what are your views on the surge of interest in modern and contemporary African art? My observation is simply that through contemporary African art, people are seeing the true version of authentic African narratives far apart from what has been scripted and fed to them through news and other popular propaganda since the end of colonialism. The art world has fully explored different stages of development in the North American, European and Asian art scenes. Except for some outstanding creativity in these terrains, I believe what is being offered now are re-innovations and experimentation with virtual reality and techie installations with artistic narratives. Whereas the African contemporary space, despite still being heavily dependent on the traditional art medium of oil or acrylic on canvas as provided by the western art innovations, has got novel stories from a huge untapped social-cultural context. page 154
Nigeria has a long-established contemporary art scene, with growing patronage from collectors based locally, as well as internationally; what do you think has contributed to the health of the domestic market? The bubbling art market in Nigeria is chiefly driven by a need to espouse and preserve our cultural heritage. Regardless of its challenging economy, which to some extent has stifled the buoyancy of its creative sector. There are certain individuals and institutions that have continuously supported the Lagos art market consistently. Some of them probably felt betrayed by the stolen artifacts, and aboriginal pieces carted away by the colonialists and [are] currently being displayed in western museums without any consideration for reparation. A late distinguished art patron once told me that he wants the best of Nigerian art to stay in Nigeria and not in any western art holdings. For that reason, some of them have taken up the responsibility to act as the custodian of our tradition, culture and heritage by collecting pieces that truly represent our society. Apart from the fact that Nigerian artists are quite competitive when it comes to the quality of works being offered in comparison to their counterparts in other developed countries, another main reason is that many wealthy Nigerians and socialites have consistently realized that collecting art pieces is a potential great asset. These same class of people have homes abroad where African contemporary artworks are proudly displayed and constantly discussed with their expatriate friends and associates. They are well-traveled and have witnessed the significant growth and expansion in the value of the art market in Nigeria. Hence, they buy artworks from artists, galleries and auction houses as alternative investment in their asset portfolios. All these aforementioned factors cumulatively resulted in the International market showing an interest in what Lagos state art market offers.
How has the lockdown impacted your art? Being under lockdown means I automatically have more studio time, which increases my productivity. Moreover, I also got more inspiration amidst the chaos and despair that came with COVID-19 that has enticed me to start a new series that I am currently executing. This series observes the psychological impact a worldwide phenomenon has had on the collective consciousness of humanity. In addition to my unique COVID-19 experience, some of my colleagues and I also witnessed a surge in the demands for our art pieces which still baffles us to this moment. It’s like people are taking solace from the psychological properties of some artworks. The majority of my works are essentially motivational anyway; it may be that’s why collectors have wanted them more. The therapeutic attributes of some artworks are quite effective in times like this. I will be happier knowing that my art can heal the world of hearts in need of care. While COVID-19 has taken the art world by storm, the world has also been rocked by the ongoing protests and campaign to end SARS, police brutality and poor governance in Nigeria. Do you believe, as an artist, you have a role to play to raise awareness and document the times, or do you take the view that artists should not mix with politics? Just in 2019, Nigeria, with its wealth of oil and other natural resources, was declared the poverty capital of the world. Unemployment has reached a very scary stage, with the majority of the political class acting like they have no clue about the overwhelming economic depression. Then, COVID -19 arrived, out of which the most compounding stringent measure to curtail the deadly virus was the eponymous 2020 lockdown. This further subjected a lot of Nigerians to economic hardship and starvation. While COVID-19 relief packages and palliatives were seamlessly organized, distributed or given to citizens of other countries, authorities in Nigeria locked
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up and mismanaged more than 95 percent of food and resources meant to bring succor to the masses. People were hungry and angry, the tragedy of George Floyd’s death and Black Lives Matter protest occurred during this moment of mass suffering in Nigeria, and a lot of people became even more annoyed with such extra-judicial killings because it’s quite rampant here too. Soonest after the lockdown was eased, the Nigerian police, especially its SARS division, resumed being brutal and were manhandling, killing, terrorizing young people: daughters, sons, brothers, and fathers of an already aggravated society. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and Nigerians could not take it anymore. Hence, the #EndSARS protest. The uniqueness of this protest was what
Bacardi Nights
made it obligatory for all and sundry, including creatives, to lend our voices through different mediums and demand a change so that authority figures can be subjected to accountability and incoming generations would have a moment to reference and reckon with. Art in different degrees and forms is the consciousness of society. For this reason, it has a big role to play in shaping the greatness of a nation. Art should shame poor policymakers and hail great thinkers. I have executed a few artworks on political subjects before; the most remarkable one was titled “Godfather”. This piece depicted a well-dressed man without a mouth; the purpose and inspiration was to educate the illiterate masses who are not aware of the jeopardy of godfatherism in Nigerian politics.
They cannot be trusted and [are] not worth listening to (the significance of the mouthless face). They superimpose incompetent people during elections and fix square pegs in round holes for their personal gains. That was one of the ways I have used my art to enlighten my fellow compatriots. What is next for you as an artist, and what can we expect in the future? I have an ongoing project in preparation for another solo show. This exhibition will explore my observation of societal perspective on major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter and EndSARS social-political narratives that are currently redefining our reality. RAPHAEL DAPAAH Art Contributor @dapaahgallery
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SPIRITUALITY DEFINING THE DIVINE
NAVIGATING 2020 HOLIDAY HEALING FOR 2020: INTIMATE GATHERINGS TO RECONNECT “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU JYOTI PAINTEL Spirituality contributor @jyotipaintel
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VEN DURING AN ERA OF ISOLATION AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT WE NEED EACH OTHER- NOW MORE THAN EVER. I’D LIKE TO BEGIN THIS MONTH’S COLUMN BY SAYING HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR EVERYONE I HAVE IN MY LIFE. I’m grateful for my health and that no one in my inner circle of family or friends has fallen ill or experienced tragedy from the pandemic or the chaos of the ensuing riots. I’m grateful to all the sung and unsung essential workers. I’m grateful to have adequate food and shelter in an unpredictable economy that is always on the verge of shutting page 158
down. Lastly, and most importantly, I have immense gratitude and respect for my own resilience- that despite all the hardships of this last year, or maybe even because of them, I still somehow emerged victorious. Outwardly, there was no personal victory for me to celebrate in 2020; in fact, it will be remembered as one of the most difficult times in my life, and probably for countless others, too. Nothing significant happened: my financial problems weren’t miraculously solved. I didn’t find the dream job or a wonderful and devoted new lover. I tried, but I didn’t quite achieve all my health goals either, and I still have much work to do on processing and getting rid of the emotional baggage and negative belief systems that I had been carrying before the pandemic. The isolation of quarantine was not something any of us were prepared for and as a social creature, I felt overwhelmed by the loneliness that came with the fear of a deadly and invisible enemy to protect myself from every
time I left my house. But looking a little deeper into the trials of 2020 – I feel amazed that I had the strength and determination to keep moving forward with my dreams. I found the courage to get through days and even weeks by focusing on healing myself - one walk, one cry, one quiet cup of tea at a time. This extraordinary holiday season, most of us will need to deal with a lot of emotions about things we feel helpless about: the CDC has advised against any holiday travel. During this time of year, when we look forward to being social with relatives, friends and our community at large- many are forced this year to be isolated. Ignoring all the abrupt and unpleasant changes simply won’t do- we must accept the change to create a new harmony in this world, and in our hearts through peace, love and joy. PEACE ON EARTH
“When we come out of this, I hope that we move collectively in the direction where we don’t see the pandemic as a curse, but as an opportunity to reverse
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climate change, help sustainability, create a world with more peace, social and economic justice, healthier and happier, and joyful.” – Dr. Deepak Chopra, in “Why do we take existence for granted?” Health and wellness expert Dr. Deepak Chopra has guided people on understanding the mind-body connection through spiritual means such as meditation, yoga and intentional thinking through his teachings at his ashram, the Chopra Center. According to Chopra, “Feeling peace in our lives right now by reducing our stress is as important as protecting ourselves from the virus. Panic and stress cause inflammation in our bodies and compromises our immune system." Focus on nurturing your body during this time because the signs of stress usually manifest physically and immediately. We might already be holding a lot of stress in our backs and shoulder regions due to pandemic fatigue. If it is possible in your town to schedule a massage, give yourself the gift of getting one weekly or every other week during this time, it might be a bit costly but you’ll find it cures all sorts of other disorders as well, so you deserve this healing. Offer to give your partner consistent massages to
build intimacy- the physical connection of touch makes both giving and receiving a massage pleasurable and stress –relieving. Try some form of mental conditioning through physical means by trying yoga, Tai Chi or martial arts, all of which are known to create mental clarity and peace and can be done safely at home via online or Zoom session. The weather can be a major downer for some, adding to holiday depression. Instead of resisting it, try embracing it with a paradigm shift or a new perspective. Scandinavians, who must face long, dark winters, have a saying: “there is no bad weather, just bad clothes.” Friluftsliv is the Nordic concept of being outside no matter what the weather forecast because taking fresh air and being in nature is a form of spiritual healing and daily regeneration. Splurge on a jacket, warm boots, scarves, gloves, etc. Even if you have never done it before during winter, make it a point every day to get outside for a walk and feel the chill on your face- it even kick starts your metabolism to be in the cold for short periods of time. While the tendency of the holidays is to drink and eat decadent foods, this year consider scaling back on habits that tend to take away your peace. Alcohol is a depressant, and while it may feel
good to indulge in the moment, the next day usually results in low-energy; a noticeable drop in our mood towards ourselves and others, and it can lead to deeper depression and binge eating. Speaking of eating, many of us simply won’t be that busy this year with usual holiday activities such as shopping, traveling, wrapping gifts and making things for holiday parties -even seasonal decorations in most cities have been scaled back or canceled to discourage crowds. In other words, we won’t be busy burning calories to justify binge eating and drinking, which can wreak havoc on our bodies, causing everything from inflammation in our digestive systems to rapid weight gain, and ultimately, we feel guilty and disappointed in ourselves later on. This year make it a point to allow yourself a small treat every day or one glass of alcohol (it’s still a time to celebrate) but don’t keep an excess of sugary desserts or booze around the house – the temptation can be too strong. Try to save drinking for only the big holiday days, and keep track of how much you drink and make sure you set limits and cutoffs. In next month’s article, I will write about ushering in love and joy into our hearts for 2021, no matter what state the world is in. page 159
GREECE The Grapes
& Wisdom of Antiquity
BY CEZAR KUSIK
SOMMELIER & WINE WRITER
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In Search The Wine &of Wisdom Solace of Antiquity
CEZAR KUSIK Wine Contributor @cezartastesearth
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FEW MONTHS AGO, ON A QUIET AFTERNOON, I WAS PONDERING AND INTERNALLY AGONIZING OVER THE INCONCEIVABLY DYSFUNCTIONAL AND DEGENERATE REALITY WE FOUND OURSELVES LIVING IN. Ignorance, arrogance, vulgarity and good, old-fashioned stupidity have unapologetically invaded our daily lives. I wondered, why? Obviously, there couldn’t be one simple answer, but one issue kept reentering my mind: could it be the complete disregard for the past, the neglect of basic knowledge passed on to us by the generations before and utter dismissal of humanity’s historical and cultural inheritance. page 164
And right then, I remembered a quote by Socrates from my history course in college, “There is only one good: knowledge; and one evil: ignorance.” And then, another one followed, this time by Aristotle, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” These words were written thousands of years ago, yet their validity has remained timeless. That is why the awareness of the past and the cultivation of its wisdom should always be at the foundation of the shaping of the future. Wine is a great example of antiquity’s heritage from which humanity has greatly benefited. Wine originated in West Asia around 6,000 BC, in modern-day nations of Armenia, Georgia and eastern Turkey. From there, it was soon introduced to the sea-fairing civilizations of Phoenicia and Greece, where it embedded itself deeply into the nations’ cultures. There is archaeological evidence suggesting that wine was present in Greece as early as 4,000 BC and has remained an intrinsic part of
the Greek culture ever since. There are references in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey that viticulture was prevalent in Greece by the eighth century BC. The Greeks even devoted a god to wine, the mighty Dionysus. From the fourth century onwards, Greece’s turbulent history as part of the Byzantine Empire had a detrimental influence on the region’s wine culture, especially its quality. Since the 1960s, we have seen a renaissance of a sort for Greek viticulture. In 1971, an appellation system was implemented to regulate grape farming and the wine making practices. New domestic and foreign investments have brought about new wineries with young, ambitious winemakers focused on the quality and preservation of tradition. Indigenous grape varieties have been revitalized and brought to their optimal potential. International grapes like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah were brought in, finding a new home on the sun-drenched slopes of Greek vineyards.
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From its mainland to the islands, vines are grown pretty much throughout the entire country. The main regions are: Macedonia, Peloponnese, Crete, Central Greece, Thessaly, Ionian Islands, Aegean Islands, Dodecanese and Epirus. Greece produces all styles of wines, still dry of all colors, sparkling, sweet and fortified, all made through various wine making techniques. In this article, we’ll focus on some of the more exciting and noteworthy indigenous Greek varietals—the ones which are creating a buzz on the international wine stage. I picked five in each of the two color categories. But let’s first get Retsina out of the way since it is impossible to discuss Greek wines without its mention. It is a wine like no other, and some puritanical critics go even as far as not to consider Retsina a wine. There a few different stories relating to the origins of the wine, the most probable and sensible one is that pine resin was used to seal amphorae’s mouth (ancient ceramic vessels used for both storage and transportation of wine) to prevent spoilage and spillage. The flavor of the resin was absorbed by the wine giving it a unique taste. In its modern version, the pine resin is added intentionally. And that’s it. Whether you want to consider it a wine or not seems rather petty to me. The wine is mainly white, with a tiny percentage of Rose produced. The grape variety mainly associated with Retsina is Saviatano, but Roditis and Assyrtiko are often blended in as well. Recently some ambitious expressions of Retsina won the approval of some wine experts.
a balanced combination of fruitiness and minerality. The classic flavors include passion fruit, lemon, grapefruit, as well as flinty smokiness, almond bitterness and salinity. There is also an oaked version of Assyrtiko wine called Nykteri. Here the flavors are richer, and the mouthfeel fuller with aromas of crème brulee, pineapple, fennel and cream. Malagousia is mainly planted in Macedonia and was rescued from near extinction by Evangelos Gerovassilliou on the Halkidiki peninsula. Now the grape is planted all over Greece and produces both single varietal wines and blends. Malagousia is another pronouncedly aromatic grape with flavors of peach, citrus, guava, jasmine and mint. Moschofilero is a light, pink-skinned grape that thrives in the area of central
Peloponnese. Its flavor profile resembles that of the Muscat grape; jasmine, magnolia, peach and apricot. The wines are intensely fragrant are usually made in a dry style. Savatiano is the most planted grape in Greece with the main concentration in the Attica region. Savatiano is a low acid, drought-resistant variety capable of producing intense dry wines with herbaceous and floral aromas. Vidiano is Crete’s most promising grape, and it has been labeled as Greece’s competing alternative to Chardonnay. It produces full body wines. An unusually elevated alcohol level is balanced out by moderately high acidity. It offers charming flavors of peach, apricot, exotic herbs and stone minerality.
WHITE GRAPES Assyrtiko is one of the more prevalent grapes grown throughout the country, but its most impressive interpretation comes from the island of Santorini. Here, the grape thrives on the volcanic soils of the island. Assyrtiko wines offer page 165
VOLUME IV / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2020
The Wine & Wisdom of Antiquity Left: the author, sommelier Cezar Kusik, Right: seaside vineyards of Greece
RED GRAPES. Agiorghitiko, also called Saint George, is mainly found in the Nemea area in the northeastern part of the Peloponnese. Wines from this grape tend to be full-bodied with certain similarities to Merlot with alluring flavors of cherry, plum, black currant and nutmeg wrapped in smooth tannins. Kotsifali is one of the oldest European grapes. Native to Crete, this is a red variety experiencing a well-deserved ascent in popularity. It is a low-yielding grape that offers generously flavored wines with aromas of raspberry jam, black cherry, a hint of truffles and sweet spices usually accompanied by high alcohol. There is also a delicious, sweet wine made from sun-dried Katsifali berries. Mavrodaphne (mavro meaning black in Greek), is a deep dark-skinned grape (hence its name meaning “black laurel in Greek) with its origins in the Achaea region in Northern Peloponnese. The best-known wine from the grape is Mavrodaphne of Patras, a fortified dessert wine in the style of Port. The wine is impenetrably dark, with intense flavors of caramel, chocolate, coffee and raisins. page 166
The attempts at producing a dry unfortified result in rich, tannic, and exotically flavored wines. Mavrotragano is exclusively grown on the volcanic soils of Santorini island. Deemed as a “lowly” grape, most of Mavrotragano vineyards were uprooted during the island’s tourist boom to make room for developments. Later that preserved gave birth to a dense, deep in color, and immensely tannic wine. The grape’s complex range of flavors include spices, dried fruits, leather, minerals, and earth. Its popularity has recently increased exponentially. Xinomavro is the highest regarded red grape variety in Greece with, Naoussa in Macedonia being its most significant region. The name of the grape is an amalgamate of Xino for sour, referring to its high acid content and Mavro for black. The variety is often compared to Piedmont’s Nebbiolo. Xinomavro is a late-ripening, finicky grape that is terroir sensitive and in need of the right weather conditions to reveal its full potential. At its best, it offers a wide range of flavors; red berries, flowers, olives, tobacco and nuts, among others. With firm
tannins and tight structure, the wines exhibit remarkable bottle agebility. There are a few other native Greek grapes that play an important role in the country’s viticulture and in the preservation of Greek wine culture. And maybe it is in the roots where some of the answers lie, because a man or a nation which abandons their heritage becomes irrelevant and sink into the abyss of obscurity. The ancient Greeks, with their philosophies, stood against the extremes and promoted a life of balance, harmony, symmetry, excellence, and beauty. Theses ideals were meant to create well-rounded, aware and conscientious citizens capable of self-governance leading to a healthy and functional society, which we are presently so gravely in need of. We still marvel at their political theories, art, drama and architecture. The depth and timeless wisdom of their philosophical teachings have been at the foundations of modern education. It seems that it is that foundation and its principals that have been forgotten are dramatically lacking in the present world.
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VOLUME IV / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2020
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VOLUME IV / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2020
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VOLUME IV / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2020
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This expansive two-story home boasts beamed ceilings, intricate brick and stone walls, and bronze framed windows that expertly highlight ocean views. The addition of limestone floors, Venetian plaster and walnut millwork complement the home’s Mediterranean feel. The ideal blend of rustic influences and elegant details elevate the art of living and entertaining. Step outside each morning and enjoy being encompassed by the terraces, broad lawns, and mature gardens that lie just above the Pacific Ocean. Private. Spacious. Home.
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VOLUME IV / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2020
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VOLUME IV / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2020
MOLD YOUR MIND
PERCEPTION MATTERS INTERNAL POWER OVER EXTERNAL PRESSURE JOEY VELEZ MA, MBA @velezmentalperformance Healthy Lifestyles Contributor
I
WANT YOU TO PICTURE A CAREER-DEFINING MOMENT: A PRESENTATION GIVEN TO YOUR TEAM, AN IDEA PITCHED ON A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE TO A GROUP OF INVESTORS OR EVEN PROPOSING TO YOUR PARTNER. When faced with potential life-altering decisions and challenges, the body reacts in certain ways. In these moments, did you feel butterflies in your stomach? How about an increased heart rate? Or, maybe you started to sweat? These sensations are among the many ways our bodies physiologically respond to stress. How you interpret these feelings can impact how you perform in these situations. Last month, we discussed the importance of interpreting your performances. This month, we will continue that conversation by discussing the importance of interpreting nerves more effectively. HOW THE BODY RESPONDS The body reacts in many ways during stressful situations. One of those is through the release of a few different stress page 182
hormones: Adrenaline, norepinephrine and cortisol. What these three hormones have in common is that they are released when our body enters “fight or flight” mode. This is a product of our sympathetic nervous system, and these stress hormones help to ignite how we respond to stress. Some stress levels are considered beneficial and can increase productivity and performance, but when your stress levels get too high, performance begins to suffer. When our bodies experience stress, there are common physical reactions: elevated heart rate, the sensation of butterflies, perspiration and shakiness. Part of the reason our stress levels reach this overly elevated state is how we interpret these bodily responses, or how we interpret being nervous. Society has created the narrative that being nervous is a bad thing and when you are nervous, you are not confident in your abilities. However, nothing could be further from the truth. While these responses are common when you experience stress or are being challenged, I want you to think of a time when you were really excited. Did you have butterflies? Was your heart beating a little faster? Were you jittery? Did you start to sweat more? What we fail to realize is that our body has extremely similar reactions to stress and excitement. When you experience these physical and physiological reactions to stress, and can learn how to interpret those feelings, then you can use nervousness to your advantage. This isn’t your body’s way of telling you that you are unprepared; rather, it’s your body’s way of preparing you for what’s to come.
PRESENTATIONS WERE NEVER EASY I love speaking in front of groups. It’s a chance for me to help others develop their skills and make a difference; plus, I like hearing myself talk. I get excited when I have the opportunity to present in front of people, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous every time. I have not always loved presenting in front of people. In high school and throughout my undergrad program, I feared public speaking. While I knew it had to be done, I always went into them nervous, which led me to question what I was doing. Often, I would ask myself, “What if I forget something? What if I screw up? What if they laugh at me? What if I fail?" So walking into presentations, I feared the worst, which would cause my heart rate to increase as my presentation neared. This fear definitely showed, and as a result, I was never very good. When I started graduate school, that all changed, as I started to understand the power of interpreting these nerves. In Sport Psychology, speaking to groups is a common occurrence, so this was an area I needed to improve. And boy, did I it ever. I realized I was looking at it all wrong. I feared the worst, assumed I would fail and felt that being nervous meant I was not ready. So, I started to look at things differently. I started thinking about how much fun I would have, what would happen if I succeeded, and that these nerves were actually my body’s way of telling me how excited I was. Once I made this fundamental shift in my interpretations, my public speaking abilities started to improve drastically. Now, I thoroughly enjoy speaking
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SOCIETY HAS CREATED THE NARRATIVE THAT BEING NERVOUS IS A BAD THING AND WHEN YOU ARE NERVOUS, YOU ARE NOT CONFIDENT IN YOUR ABILITIES. HOWEVER, NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
in front of people now, commanding a room with the information I am providing and, while I still feel nervous, I welcome those nerves with open arms. MAKE THE CHANGE There are a couple of ways that can help you reinterpret being nervous. First, taking a deep, deliberate breath with a belly focus can go a long way and activates what’s called the Rest and Digest Response (the opposite of fight or flight), which helps your body and mind relax so that you can think more effectively. A deliberate breath consists of an inhale through your nose where your stomach fills up with air, followed by an exhale out your mouth where are the stomach contracts. Try to find a consistent cadence with your inhale and exhale, as two or three deliberate breaths can be extremely beneficial when experiencing stress. Second, start looking at the other side. Earlier, I gave the example of asking myself, “What if I fail?” but then I began
to ask myself, “What if I succeed?” Flip the question and start looking at the other side of the equation. Your self-talk plays a key role. Instead of thinking about how you might not be good enough, think of all the qualities you have that make you good enough. Instead of thinking, “Oh no, I am nervous,” consider something like “Hell yeah, I can’t wait!”
It might be a new situation, so you may not have any evidence, but one thing you can always do is take a deliberate breath. Be in charge of your self-talk and how you view being nervous. It’s about finding a way to help you make the shift of interpreting your nerves more effectively.
Finally, search for the evidence that states you don’t have what it takes. Counterproductive thoughts are often associated with interpreting nerves as a negative. Oftentimes those negative beliefs are factually incorrect. There is no data that shows that your negative statements are true. This is not about saying positive things to yourself because that doesn’t work for everybody, and there can be times when there is no evidence to confirm those positive statements. Rather, if you say, “I can’t do this,” because you are nervous, you can use the evidence that you have done this before as a way to dispute your original statement.
One quote that sticks with me is, “Pressure can burst pipes, but it can also make diamonds.” When you experience nerves, how you interpret them will make or break your ability to perform your best.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Being nervous does not show that you are incapable, but instead indicates that you care about what you are about to do. What you are about to do has meaning. So take it in stride, choose to feel excited over feeling nervous. Make the fundamental shift and interpret where you want to, using that to your advantage, and see what difference it makes.
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