A proud partner of Issuu, NZ Polo Open, House On Third U.S. Polo Assn., The Impression and Mixam
ST. MORITZ
Snow Polo World Championship
KITZBUHEL
Bendura Bank Snow Polo World Cup
AUCKLAND POLO CLUB
NZ Polo Open 2025
PLETTENBURG POLO CLUB
Plett Polo Festival
SA Open
Ladies Polo
THE GAUNTLET OF POLO
C.V. Whitney Cup
The U.S.P.A. Gold Cup
The U.S. Open Polo Championships
The U.S. Open Women's Polo Championships
CAMPO SPORTIVO ASD
Italia Polo Challenge
SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS
SNOW POLO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
PHOTOS FROM ASPEN
Page 28
POLO LIFESTYLES EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS
Ambassador
Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher Polo Lifestyles @haiti_polo_captain
Eric
Josh Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief Polo Lifestyles @joshuajakobitz
Claire Barrett
William
Raphael K. Dapaah
Michael
Joey Velez
Dana Romita
Christina Albina
Refresh your morning routine and eyes, page 134
When will cancer vaccinations be available? page 78
Is your M.D. dedicated or just doing a job, page 70
The most beautiful restaurants in the U.S.A., page 92
WHEN I FIRST READ THE HEADLINE FOR OUR STORY, IS YOUR DOCTOR DEDICATED OR JUST DOING A JOB? I WAS TRANSPORTED BACK TO A RECENT EXCHANGE AT OUR LOCAL PHARMACY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE INSIDE AN UPSCALE TARGET. ALONG WITH APPROXIMATELY 28,000 OTHER PEOPLE, I DESCENDED UPON TARGET ONE EVENING RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS AND MADE A BEELINE FOR THE PHARMACY COUNTER.
“Sorry, we can’t fill this,” was the greeting from a disinterested cashier. I pressed her for more information (having spoken to the pharmacist about this specific prescription several hours earlier). “Your doctor wrote it for 150 mg but we only have 100 mg or 200 mg,” was the reply. “Your doctor will need to change the order.” What she didn’t say – didn’t need to say – was that, at approximately 5:15 p.m. on a Friday night, she didn’t think that had a snowflake’s chance in hell of happening.
I pulled out my phone and dialed our doctor. No answer. “No worries,” I told the cashier, “She’ll call back.” The cashier’s eyebrows said she didn’t believe me. I took half a lap around Target before the phone rang. It was our doctor. I walked back over to the pharmacy and held out the phone for the pharmacist tech. “Oh no, the pharmacist will have to call the doctor when she has time.” I handed her the phone number scratched on the back of a receipt from my pocket. This time, it wasn’t her eyebrows but her actual pupils. They pierced through me like she was about to be catfished and knew it.
After a lengthy discussion with the pharmacist who wouldn’t make eye contact with me (followed by a lot of very dramatic pill counting), the pharmacist reluctantly dialed the doctor. The pharmacist finally made eye contact with me for the first time. “That was easier than I expected,” she said. I took a moment to understand what she was implying. “She’s our private physician,” I said. “That’s how it works.” The prescription was ready 10 minutes later.
I know that having a dedicated doctor is a luxury, but that exchange inside Target reminded me of the importance of our health and well-being. A dedicated doctor is key to that… so this “letter from the editor” is dedicated to you, Dr. Nau! Happy New Year.
Galloping into 2025 with excitement and anticipation for the Dubai polo season
Loewe's collaboration with Kyoto-based ceramics artists has us Oohing and Ahhing
carlitosalcarazz
espnpolo
dubaipoloclub
Sparkle in the New Year with Cartier
La Natividad defeated La Dolfina Saudi to capture the 131st Argentine Open final
cartier
abudabhisc
neimanmarcus
Click and comment on our choices... Tag @pololifestyles . We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.
If you're doing Dry January, substituting tea for a cocktail is a great choice
Catch you on the slopes in Aspen... or Vail or Megeve or Whistler or...?
archdigest
New-truals are in for design in 2025
dorpare
balmain
Neutrals for the New Year with U.S. Polo Assn.
The splendor of Paris for the holidays and New Year with Balmain
aspen
2024 ST. REGIS WORLD SNOW POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK TININENKO / COURTESY ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB
On a perfect day for snow polo, first-year team The Agency left a lasting impression at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship at Rio Grande Park.
Grant Ganzi, 26, was named Most Valuable Player for his outstanding play including "the goal of the tournament" with a 35-yard angled shot through the air and over a defender's mallet in the final chukker. He finished with a game-high seven goals including four penalty conversions.
It was the fifth time in its 12-year history that Ganzi has won the snow polo title including the last three years.
St. Regis jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before hit with penalties which enabled The Agency to tie 2-2 midway through the chukker. Ganzi converted the first of four penalties to put The Agency up 3-2 with 2:37 left. From then on, The Agency never trailed.
The Agency, led by founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky, is a full-service, luxury real estate brokerage and lifestyle company with a vast global reach representing clients worldwide since its inception in 2011.
2024 ST. REGIS WORLD
SNOW POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK TININENKO / COURTESY ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB
2024 ST. REGIS WORLD SNOW POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK TININENKO / COURTESY ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB
2024 ST. REGIS WORLD SNOW POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK TININENKO / COURTESY ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK TININENKO / COURTESY ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB
WORLD POLO LEAGUE
MIAMI BEACH POLO
WORLD POLO LEAGUE
MIAMI BEACH POLO
WORLD POLO LEAGUE
MIAMI BEACH POLO
OPEN DE ARGENTINA ARGENTINE TRIPLE CROWN
LA NATIVIDAD DEFEATED LA DOLFINA SAUDI FOR THE ARGENTINE OPEN TROPHY
La Natividad: Camilo Castagnola 10 (9, cinco de penal), Facundo Pieres 10 (3, uno de penal), Pablo MacDonough 10 (1) y Bartolomé Castagnola (h) 10. Total: 40.
La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso (h) 10 (4, uno de penal), David Stirling (h) 10, Adolfo Cambiaso (n) 10 (5, tres de penal) y Juan M. Nero 10 (2). Total: 40.
OPEN DE ARGENTINA
ARGENTINE TRIPLE CROWN
OPEN DE ARGENTINA
ARGENTINE TRIPLE CROWN
OPEN DE ARGENTINA
ARGENTINE TRIPLE CROWN
OPEN DE ARGENTINA ARGENTINE TRIPLE CROWN
Shrinking Jaws THE CULPRIT BEHIND DENTAL ISSUES
Stanford researchers say the shrinking of the human jaw is due to lifestyle factors rather than species evolution
AHIDDEN EPIDEMIC OF SHRINKING JAWS IS BEHIND MANY ORTHODONTIC AND HEALTH ISSUES, STANFORD RESEARCHERS SAY.
The shrinking of the human jaw in modern humans is not due to genetics but is a lifestyle disease that can be proactively addressed, according to Stanford researchers.
For many of us, orthodontic work – getting fitted with braces, wearing retainers – was just a late-childhood rite of passage. The same went for the pulling of wisdom teeth in early adulthood. Other common conditions, including jaw pain and obstructed sleep apnea – when slack throat muscles interrupt breathing during rest –also just seem like par for the course.
The broader scientific community has largely deemed the underlying abnormality behind these problems as hereditary
and untreatable, and opted to deal with symptoms through medical devices and after-the-fact interventions.
But in a new study, Stanford researchers and colleagues argue that all these issues and more are actually relatively new problems afflicting modern humans and can be traced to a shrinking of our jaws. Moreover, they maintain that this “jaws epidemic” is not primarily genetic in origin, as previously thought, but rather a lifestyle disease. That means the epidemic is largely the result of human practices and akin to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
The study – published in the journal BioScience – marshals the growing evidence from studies conducted around the world surrounding the jaws epidemic, as well as how to address it proactively. Parents and caregivers can take steps to promote proper mouth, jawbone and facial musculature development in children, the study advises, to help stave off future
health burdens and chronic conditions.
“The jaws epidemic is very serious, but the good news is, we can actually do something about it,” said Paul Ehrlich, the Bing Professor of Population Studies, Emeritus, at Stanford and one of the study’s authors.
The new study builds upon a book Ehrlich co-wrote with orthodontist and lead study author Sandra Kahn entitled Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic, published by Stanford University Press in 2018. Two other Stanford researchers, Robert Sapolsky and Marcus Feldman, have contributed their expertise to the new study. Seng-Mun “Simon” Wong, a general dentist in private practice in Australia, was also a co-author.
ROOTED IN LIFESTYLE, NOT GENETICS
Anthropologists have long noted the significant differences between the jaws and teeth in modern skulls compared to
BY GEOFFREY MONTES / SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES
pre-agricultural, hunter-gatherer humans from thousands of years ago. The differences are stark even compared to humans who lived as recently as a century-anda-half ago during pre-industrial times. These bygone humans showed little teeth crowding, impaction of their wisdom teeth (a leading reason for their surgical removal nowadays) or malocclusion – the abnormal positioning of the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed.
Assuming that genetics are chiefly responsible for the sudden modern rise of these dental maladies does not make sense, said Ehrlich. “There’s not been enough time for evolution over the span of only several generations to have made our jaws shrink,” said Ehrlich. Nor is there any evidence of selection pressures that would have favored smaller jawed-people producing more offspring – and thus perpetuating the trait – than regular-jawed people.
“The evidence of a genetic contribution
to the jaws epidemic is not strong,” said Feldman, who is a population geneticist and the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor and professor of biology.
Instead, profound physiological changes can occur in human populations over short intervals, Feldman pointed out, purely as a result of environmental factors, such as dietary choices and cultural norms. For instance, since World War II, a switchover from heavy rice consumption to more dairy and protein in childhood has been linked to Japanese men gaining around 5 inches in average adult height.
This goes to show that in many cases, lifestyle choices can have just as powerful if not more of an influence on human traits than underlying genetics. “A genetic contribution to a trait, if there is one, does not necessarily sentence you to a life with that trait,” said Feldman. “In almost all cases, you cannot intervene medically
to alter a genetic contribution; it’s not actionable. But what is actionable are the things talked about in this study, as well as Paul and Sandra’s book.”
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Available evidence points to the jaws epidemic arising as humanity underwent sweeping behavioral changes with the advent of agriculture, sedentism (settling in one place for extended periods) and industrialization. One obvious factor is the softening of diets, especially with the relatively recent invention of processed foods. Also, less chewing is needed nowadays to extract adequate nutrition – our ancestors certainly did not enjoy the sustentative luxury of slurping down protein shakes.
A less obvious, though more significant reason behind the jaws epidemic, Ehrlich and colleagues contend, has been the rise of what they describe as bad oral posture. Our bones grow, develop and change shape under the influences of gentle but
persistent pressures, multiple studies have shown. The proper development of the jaw and its associated soft tissues is guided by oral posture – the positioning of the jaws and the tongue during times when children are not eating or speaking. This positioning is especially important overnight during long sleep stretches, when swallowing maintains the correct, gentle pressures. With both children and adults now sleeping on forgiving mattresses and pillows, instead of the firm ground as their ancestors did, mouths are likelier to fall open, disrupting positioning and swallowing.
To promote the proper development of the jaw, the answer is not to start sleeping on rocks. Rather, basic practices such as having children chew sugar-free gum, as well as giving babies less mushy foods as they transition to solid foods, can help, the researchers say. Kahn and Wong also practice what they call forwardontics, which includes exercises such as proper
breathing and swallowing patterns to guide jaw growth in children as young as 2 versus waiting until children are older and require more severe interventions. To raise awareness of the jaws epidemic and how to better address it, Ehrlich and his co-authors have been giving lectures to conventions of orthodontists and seen some positive momentum. “There’s no question that some clinical practices are moving in this direction,” said Ehrlich, “but we have a lot more work to do.”
BETTER LIVING, STARTING FROM THE JAW
Benefits are not just limited to straighter teeth, roomier jaws and stronger oral muscles. Cutting down on sleep deprivation from sleep apnea is another gain, which has myriad knock-on benefits. Sleep deprivation increases stress, which is associated with greater risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease in adult populations, and with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder in children.
“The maladaptive ‘jaws’ profile can disrupt our stress response and ultimately bring about greater stress and chronic activation of the body’s stress response,” said Sapolsky, the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor and a professor of biology, of neurology and neurological sciences and of neurosurgery, whose research focuses on stress.
Ehrlich hopes that increased attention and research geared toward the jaws epidemic can turn the tide.
“We’re going to continue learning the causes of the jaws epidemic and continue getting the word out on how this is a highly treatable condition early on in life,” said Ehrlich. “Parents and caregivers, in collaboration with dentists and orthodontists, can all help children to avoid some serious health problems later on in their lives.”
Your Fertility... Decoded & Simplified
MEN REMAIN FERTILE FROM PUBERTY UNTIL THE END OF THEIR LIVES, PRODUCING MILLIONS OF SPERM EVERY DAY. IN CONTRAST, WOMEN HAVE A FINITE FERTILITY WINDOW, BEGINNING AT PUBERTY AND ENDING WITH MENOPAUSE.
Women are born with approximately 1 million eggs in the form of ovarian follicles, but they cannot produce more eggs throughout their lifetime. Each month, only one egg is released during ovulation, and it remains viable for 12 to 24 hours,
while sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for 2 to 3 days. Male fertility is continuous, with an estimated 1,500 sperm produced every second and up to 8 billion sperm regenerated by the end of a full sperm production cycle.
Fertility declines with age for both men and women, though it happens earlier for women. Female fertility begins to decrease after 30, with a 25 percent chance of conceiving naturally under 30, dropping to 20 percent after 30, and to just 5 percent by age 40.
Male fertility also declines, typically starting around 40 to 45 years, due to reduced testosterone levels and decreased sperm
quantity and quality. Infertility affects both genders, with female-related issues responsible for 40% of cases, male factors accounting for 30 percent, and both partners involved in 20 percent of cases.
Factors like weight and smoking also play significant roles in fertility; 12 percent of female infertility is linked to being overweight or underweight, and smoking accounts for 13% of female infertility. Genetic factors further influence fertility in both men and women, impacting egg supply in women and sperm production in men.
Is your Doctor Dedicated or just Doing a Job? THE GENERATIONAL DIVIDE THAT'S RESHAPING MEDICINE
A few days ago, The Wall Street Journal published an article quoting a 63-yearold surgeon who noted that the younger generation tends to view medicine as a job rather than a vocation. This perspective, he argued, highlights a shift in values as society changes over time. Today, we explore this theme, examining how these evolving viewpoints reflect broader trends in professional identity and social expectations. We invite you to join the conversation and share your thoughts.
There’s a growing debate in the medical community today that gets to the core of what it truly means to be a doctor: Is medicine a job, or is it a calling? This fundamental question is dividing physicians across generations and reshaping long-held perspectives on the nature of the profession.
VETERAN DOCTORS
For many veteran doctors, medicine is more than just a career—it’s a calling that demands an unwavering commitment. These doctors entered the field with a profound sense of duty, prepared to make personal sacrifices for the sake of their patients. They recall grueling schedules, endless on-call hours, and even missed family milestones, all in the name of patient care. In their view, medicine is a vocation that demands total dedication, often at the expense of personal time and family life. To them, the sacrifices are intrinsic to the profession, and they wear the job`s demands as a badge of honor.
NEW GENERATIONS
But a new generation of doctors is challenging this “all-in” mentality. Younger
doctors, fresh out of training, are increasingly vocal about their desire for a balanced lifestyle. While they, too, feel a commitment to patient care, they see their role as something that can—and should—respect their need for personal well-being. For these young professionals, medicine is both a meaningful career and a job that allows room for family, mental health, and self-care. They believe that a fulfilling life outside of work enhances their ability to be compassionate, effective caregivers, and they’re not afraid to push for structural changes that make this vision a reality.
This generational divide highlights a larger cultural shift in professional expectations. For decades, the practice of medicine has been built around an ethos of “total commitment.” Older doctors recall a life where medicine always came first, and where an “always-on” mentality was not only expected but celebrated. They were taught to embrace the field wholeheartedly, with little regard for rest or social life because that was the price of providing uninterrupted patient care. In contrast, younger doctors are coming of age in a time where the importance of mental health and self-care is widely recognized, even in demanding professions like medicine. They’ve seen firsthand the toll that long hours and burnout can take on health and family life, and they’re advocating for a system that better protects against these outcomes.
Many, want more flexibility in scheduling, limits on overnight shifts, and the ability to set boundaries around work hours. In their view, maintaining a balanced life is not only beneficial for them but also
enables them to stay committed to their patients over the long haul.
DIFFERENT VIEWS
The differing views between older and younger doctors reflect the changing nature of healthcare itself. With rising patient loads, staffing shortages, and burnout rates climbing steadily, it’s clear that a constant “always-on” approach may not be sustainable. For healthcare to thrive in the future, some believe it will need both perspectives—honoring the commitment and resilience that have historically defined the profession while recognizing the importance of doctors’ health and personal time. After all, healthier doctors will likely provide better, more compassionate care to their patients.
This debate between work-life balance and traditional views of doctoring isn’t just about individual doctors’ preferences; it’s about the future of healthcare. Can the profession evolve to support doctors’ well-being without sacrificing the commitment patients expect? Or will it continue to demand that practitioners put patients above all else, even at the expense of their own health and personal lives?
Ultimately, the profession may need to adapt to remain sustainable and attract top talent. As younger doctors continue to gain influence, they’re bringing a new vision of what it means to be a doctor— one that values both dedication to patient care and sustainable practice. This shift could redefine medicine in today’s world, suggesting that perhaps being a doctor can indeed be both: a deeply meaningful calling and a job that respects the lives and well-being of those who answer it.
As a Recovering People Pleaser, My Resolution Next Year Is to Be More Like Kim Cattrall
THERE ARE TWO ESSENTIAL PHRASES THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO KIM CATTRALL—NOT SAMANTHA JONES, SHE’S GOT LOADS, BUT CATTRALL HERSELF. ONE OF THEM IS: “YAMA KIPPI YAY BO / SEDDA RAYFA KAYBA / IN DOG LATIN HE QUOTH / YOU JAY SAFA SOU-RAY!” AND THE OTHER, MORE WELL-KNOWN PERHAPS, IS WHAT SHE SAID IN A 2019 INTERVIEW WITH THE GUARDIAN: “I DON’T WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION FOR EVEN AN HOUR WHERE I’M NOT ENJOYING MYSELF.”
The latter still regularly does the rounds online, often shortened to “I don’t want to be in a situation for even an hour” (which, fair: who wants to be in a situation?). But the more I look at the quote, and the older I get, the more something dawns on me, which is this: she’s right. She’s been right all along. Why am I saying yes to things, when really I want to say no? And why have I so often persisted with activities when they’re not fun or even satisfying? “I want to choose who I spend time with personally and profes-
sionally. It’s my life,” Cattrall went on to say. “There’s only so much time left.”
I could have done with this advice earlier on. If I’d listened, maybe I wouldn’t have stayed at that guy’s house with the skate ramps instead of kitchen counters. Or maybe I wouldn’t have spent those five hours at a pub earlier this year with a group of casual acquaintances at best. I probably wouldn’t have spent all that money on mid-tier nights out when I could have been at home, watching Housewives—and vice versa. If I close my eyes, I can see a funhouse mirror of various scenarios in which I could have left earlier, or never gone at all.
But look, regrets aren’t always useful. And in the new year, I’m going to be following in the steps of Cattrall and only doing things that bring me joy. This doesn’t mean non-stop hedonism—I have a full-time job and don’t intend on giving myself gout—but rather, just knowing my limits and preferences and paying closer attention to them. This might look like not saying yes to a group trip that I can neither afford nor am intrigued by. Or it might mean ordering a pancake stack from a diner 10 p.m. and then eating it in bed with my old friend, TikTok. The point is that so often we’re led by obligation or expectation, when really we should be led by our own whims and predilections. Or, to paraphrase Cattrall: Yolo.
Obviously, there are situations in which you—shock, horror—might not be able to enjoy yourself for an entire hour. Cleaning the fridge, for example, is the kind of household chore that is so boring it actually makes me angry. But it has to be done. Same for going to the gym (fun when you get muscles, not so fun when you’re huffing away on a treadmill like some sort of pneumonic hamster). And, though I love and adore my job, sometimes I’d rather be drinking exactly one Picante on a sandy beach in France. There are sacrifices that have to be made in this life that lead to a sort of ebbing and flowing that’s integral to the proper running of things, like a stream. And nonstop joy would, surely, destroy your dopamine receptors.
But there’s a happy medium to be found, and in the new year, I intend on finding it. As a recovering people-pleaser, I’m used to defaulting to agreeing to something just to keep the peace. Or doing things because I think I should be doing them, rather than because I want to. Or pushing through with friendships that aren’t really working anymore, and maybe never did.
But that’s the old me. The me that wasn’t like Kim Cattrall. Because in 2025, the rumors are true: I don’t want to be in a situation for even an hour where I’m not enjoying myself.
ALIVIN POWELL / SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES
When will Personalized Cancer Vaccines be Available?
CATHERINE J. WU HAS BEEN A PIONEER IN A PROMISING APPROACH TO FIGHT CANCER: A VACCINE THAT TARGETS THE SPECIFIC IMMUNOGENIC PEPTIDES GENERATED BY THE DISTINCT TUMOR MUTATIONS OF ANY INDIVIDUAL CANCER. HONORED IN FEBRUARY WITH THE $1 MILLION SJÖBERG PRIZE, GIVEN FOR CANCER RESEARCH,
Wu, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Lavine Family Chair for Preventative Cancer Therapies at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, spoke with the Gazette about the technology, its promise, and expectations that patients might see it in the near future.
What is a cancer vaccine?
A cancer vaccine aims to vaccinate the individual against immune determinants present in cancer cells to mount an immune response — and hopefully eliminate those cancer cells. In general, cancer vaccines are therapeutic vaccines, meaning that they are treating an existing cancer, as opposed to a prophylactic vaccine, which is what we typically imagine when we think about vaccines
against infectious pathogens. So, a major goal of a cancer vaccine is to drive the generation and expansion of an army of T cells that specifically recognizes tumor cells and to carry a program to eradicate that cancer. The concept of cancer vaccines has been around for decades, but until only recently, its clinical development has been quite a rollercoaster.
You’re talking about how the vaccines get around a hurdle in convincing our immune systems to attack cancer cells: The immune system is designed to attack things that are foreign to the body, whereas cancer cells — though harmful — come out of our own tissues. The immune system doesn’t attack because it recognizes tumors as “us.” Is that right?
Exactly, this is a major challenge for cancer vaccines. Our innovation is that we were among the first to identify tumor-specific peptides that are recognized by the immune system — so-called antigens — through genomic approaches. These “neoantigens” originate from cancer mutations. Since neoantigens have exquisite restriction of their expression to tumor cells, these would be optimal cancer antigens to go after, setting up the possibility of specific targeting of the cancer cell and not normal tissue. However, a long-existing problem was always the understanding that these neo-antigens would
differ from individual to individual and thus the conundrum of how one could feasibly go about identifying them on a person-by-person basis.
How did sequencing technology make the difference?
The availability of next-generation sequencing over the past decade, in which time and cost advantages for the DNA and RNA sequencing of cancer samples has been achieved such that we’ve been able to sequence thousands upon thousands of cancers. That has given us the stark realization of the vast molecular heterogeneity from tumor to tumor, even among patients with the same type of cancer. This fact really brings home the idea that a one-size-fits-all approach to cancer treatment or immunotherapy has its limitations. The ability to readily scan cancer genomes through such technology has made it possible to directly find the mutational profile of each cancer, and then to identify those mutations that have the potential to generate neoantigens.
Once we realized that it was possible to systematically identify neoantigens from cancer sequences, we began to realize that perhaps we could generate a personalized cancer vaccine: that from the mutation profile of any patient, we
When will Personalized Cancer Vaccines be Available?
could design peptides that encompass those mutations that were predicted to be immunogenic. We then devised a manufacture strategy to combine up to 20 of those peptides into a vaccine that we could administer to patients as a series of skin injections that we could give to patents over the course of several weeks.
I’m sure readers have heard and read a lot about cancer immunotherapy. How are vaccines related?
There are many different types of immunotherapy and this fact reflects the many, many different functions and roles that T cells and other immune cells can play. Each immunotherapeutic modality leverages a different subset of those functionalities: A CAR-T cell or an immune checkpoint blockade are different from what a vaccine might do. What they have in common, however, is that they are each stimulating immunity. A vaccine is trying to either generate new immune responses in an antigen-specific way that didn’t exist before or they can amplify small pre-existing responses to become bigger. So, a vaccine has the potential to cast a wide immunoprotective “net” that can endure over time.
In your first study that came out in Nature in 2017, you treated six melanoma patients. Do we know how they’re doing today?
I do know that three to four years after receiving the vaccine, all patients were still alive. We reported this result in 2021. Remarkably, two study patients who had very advanced cancer — stage IV disease — saw their cancer recur soon after vaccination. However, they both also got the immune checkpoint blockade and within 12 weeks all detectable tumor melted away. It’s been now about six or seven years since then and these patients are off therapy and doing really well. That’s a huge success story and speaks to
the strong positive synergy between vaccines and immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
What other types of cancer have been treated with these vaccines?
At Dana-Farber, we have treated patients in ongoing trials who have glioblastoma, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, melanoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Separately, I also co-founded a company called Neon Therapeutics several years ago that conducted a larger study that treated patients with melanoma, lung, and bladder cancer.
Are these cancers chosen for any particular reason?
Cancer vaccines are cross-cutting as a treatment modality and can be tested in virtually any setting and in any cancer. Our selection has to do with the research questions that we are pursuing — and I truly have had the privilege of working with so many extraordinary clinical investigators.
Are these all small, like the initial melanoma trial?
Yes, at Dana-Farber, our academic trials continue to be small, Phase 1 studies, of 10 to 30 patients. Our focus has been to take deep dives into the study of every single patient to understand what our interventions are doing immunologically. What’s exciting is that there also now is a series of industry-sponsored studies — my research group is not involved in them — that are ongoing nationwide, even worldwide, that, hopefully within the next two or three years, will give us a population-level view of the impact of such personal cancer vaccines. Last fall, the first randomized, Phase 2 trial was reported out that demonstrated in melanoma the benefits of immune checkpoint blockade with a personalized cancer
vaccine compared to immune checkpoint alone. I think we’re at an inflection point where the conceptual advantage of targeting many, many personal neoantigens simultaneously is undergoing rigorous testing. Such a personalized, multitarget approach is of conceptual importance because of the tremendous heterogeneity of tumor cell populations.
Even within one person’s body?
Yes, exactly, and that is why a multipronged attack against cancer is favorable.
How big a hurdle is the fact that because these are so personalized, even with a trial of 10 or 30 people, you have to find new neo-antigens for each person in the trial? It’s not like you’re trying the same drug on all 30.
It has its challenges. But with teams like ours at DFCI — we are a collection of immunologists, clinical investigators, computational biologists, surgeons, and medical oncologists — we are able to design these vaccines together in real time. It certainly takes a village, and I am so grateful to be part of that village. Given the challenge of coordinating the many parts of vaccine manufacture, this is an instance [when] partnering with industry is helpful, because they have the resources to develop processes at scale, streamlining costs, time, and labor. All of this is actively being figured out.
How far away are these vaccines from getting into the clinic?
Sooner than we think, because of academic innovations and industry-level efforts. Many large trials are ongoing now and I do think that they’ll read out within two years. So, I hope that sometime in the not-too-distant future our patients can go to a clinic and say, “Order me up a vaccine personalized for my cancer,” and we’ll be able to administer it on site.
Stem-Cell Therapy Success in China marks Milestone for Type 1 Diabetes Treatment
I N A GROUND-BREAKING MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENT, A 25-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES (T1D) IN CHINA HAS SUCCESSFULLY UNDERGONE A STEM-CELL THERAPY THAT ENABLED HER TO PRODUCE HER OWN INSULIN, REDUCING HER RELIANCE ON INJECTIONS.
The woman was treated with stem-cellderived islet cells developed from her
own fat cells, which were injected into her abdomen. This experimental treatment has allowed her to remain insulin-free for over a year since the procedure, researchers announced.
The trial, conducted at Tianjin First Central Hospital, China converted the woman’s fat cells into pluripotent stem cells, capable of developing into various cell types. Researchers used these cells to generate insulin-producing islet cells, which were then transplanted into her abdominal tissue. The cells engrafted successfully, creating their own vascula-
ture, and enabled the patient to produce sufficient insulin independently. Within 75 days, she no longer needed insulin injections, with blood glucose levels consistently within a healthy range.
Researchers noted the remarkable impact of this therapy on the woman’s long-term glucose levels, with significant improvements in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) showing sustained non-diabetic glucose levels.
“The trial is ongoing and will follow three patients over at least two years,” he said,
adding that the two other participants in the trial are also showing promising signs.
This is the first known case in which a patient with T1D has maintained insulin production through stem-cell therapy over an extended period. T1D is an autoimmune condition that results in the immune system attacking the pancreas’
islet cells, making insulin production nearly impossible.
The development has drawn global attention. Experts in the field of diabetes treatment have called the study “incredible,” noting that using patients’ own cells could eliminate the need for long-term anti-rejection medication. Other stem-
cell trials are ongoing, further exploring the treatment’s potential.
Researchers hope that, with further trials, stem-cell therapy may soon become a viable option for millions suffering from T1D globally.
A
SHAPING YOUR UNBORN CHILD'S FACE THROUGH DIET
child is expected to share facial features with its parents, but lifestyle choices during pregnancy contribute to deformities
THE PROTEIN CONTENT OF THE DIET DURING PREGNANCY CAN AFFECT THE FACE OF THE OFFSPRING. THIS IS SHOWN IN ANIMAL STUDIES, AND THE UNDERLYING MECHANISM WAS ALSO FOUND IN HUMAN GENETIC STUDIES. THE RESEARCH IS DESCRIBED IN A STUDY LED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG.
A child is expected to share facial features with their parents. However, the face is also influenced by factors beyond genetics, so-called environmental factors. Among those, lifestyle during pregnancy is an essential factor. For example, extensive alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to facial abnormalities in the child.
The current study, published in Nature Communications, revealed a novel link between the child’s face and pregnancy lifestyle, specifically protein intake during pregnancy.
A research team led by Andrei Chagin,
Professor of Molecular Medicine, delved into the mechanisms that control the formation of the facial bone structure during the embryonic phase. The studies revealed that a particular signaling pathway in the cells seemed to play a crucial role in shaping the face.
NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES IN THE FACE
The signaling pathway, known as mTOR, controls several cell functions, including cell division and cell survival, and is known to be the target of an immunosuppressive medicinal product, rapamycin, which is administered during organ transplantation to avoid rejection.
The mTOR signaling pathway acts as an intracellular nutritional sensor specifically tailored to amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. The researchers found that the mTOR pathway modulates the formation of facial skeletal structures in humans, mice, and zebrafish. This led researchers to investigate whether the protein content of the pregnancy diet affects mTOR and plays a role in the formation of the facial bone structure.
Pregnant mice were given diets with high and low protein levels. As expected, the protein levels in the female’s diet
were consistent with the activity level of mTOR in the developing face. In newborn offspring, the differences in the face were noticeable, albeit subtle.
GOOD NUTRITION AND CLINICAL PRACTICES
This international study was led by researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in collaboration with colleagues at Karolinska Institutet, Belgium, Japan, China, Russia, the Czech Republic, and Austria.
The aim has been to contribute to the future development of more effective clinical methods for the prevention and treatment of different types of facial congenital malformations and to increase knowledge of what a good pregnancy diet should contain.
“The findings emphasize the importance of maintaining a well-balanced diet during pregnancy, with particular attention to protein intake. The insights open new avenues for understanding the intricate interplay between genetics, lifestyle, and the formation of our unique facial features,” concluded Chagin.
BY ROBERT WEISS / SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANTS IN THE U.S.A.
THIS YEAR, THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANTS TO FEAST OUR EYES ON. FROM LOS ANGELES TO NEW YORK, WITH STOPS IN AUSTIN, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND MORE CITIES ALONG THE WAY, WE WENT ON A VISUAL ROAD TRIP, SATISFYING OUR VISION WHEN WE COULDN’T SATISFY OUR SENSE OF TASTE. FOR US, THESE ARE THE MOST STUNNING RESTAURANTS THAT OPENED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2024.
ASH, TAMPA, FLA.
Ash is a study in shapes and textures. The playfully designed restaurant, courtesy of Gin Design Group, aims for a sense of whimsy via the use of organic curves, serpentine upholstery, and terrazzo elements. A canopy trimmed with chrome hints at Tampa’s nearby waves, and the subtle lighting lends an even stronger sense of warmth to the space. If you’re looking for something a bit moodier and energetic, step into the cocktail bar Alter Ego, which features back-lit forms, cement block walls, and deep-red hues.
BUNGALOW, NEW YORK CITY
Drawing inspiration from members-only clubs in India, Bungalow is meant to feel
like you’re in a rather exclusive space. Designer Shaila Rizvi has brought in rich hues of amber, ruby, and emerald, and a few design elements can’t be found anywhere else in New York: Black stone carvings from Udupi, India, greet guests as they walk in, and hand-carved single stone marble peacocks were created by an artist who descends from the original Taj Mahal artisans. Stepping into Bungalow, you’re sure to feel transported from the city streets of New York.
CHEZ MIA, WEST HOLLYWOOD
Chez Mia makes the most of the Southern California weather, with one of the largest outdoor dining spaces in Los Angeles. There, Fettle Design has paired bold, patterned banquettes and elaborate pleated umbrellas with lush landscaping and nine-foot fountains. If you’d rather sit inside, the design is just as delightful—take the custom Italian-style chandeliers or the gold mohair banquettes. It’s a little bit quirky, a little bit whimsical, and a whole lot of eye-catching.
KNIFE ITALIAN STEAK, LAS COLINAS
Knife Italian Steak doesn’t look like your typical steakhouse. Rather, Thomas Schoos of Schoos Design has created a colorful take on the American classic. When you enter the restaurant, you’re greeted by a magenta sofa and palm trees. The Pink Champagne Bar, as its name suggests, includes even more of that hue while the main dining room features a black-and-white striped table, caramel banquettes, and papier mache lanterns. A second dining room with an exposed kitchen once again draws in pink tiles, along with ribbon-like wood paneling. Think of a Fellini movie but in bright color, as Schoos himself puts it.
LA CAVE, CHARLESTON, S.C.
Let La Cave transport you to the south of France. Leslie Landrum and Dan Sweeney created a space reminiscent of a very chic cellar, which is what the sipping lounge’s name translates to in English. Faux stone walls and archways are complemented by natural wood finishes, herringbone parquet floors, and oversized crystal chandeliers. Plus, there’s a gallery wall of family portraits painted by the owners’ daughter.
LE COQ, LA JOLLA, CALIF.
A modern steakhouse, Le Coq brings together classic sumptuous restaurant vibes with a more industrial feeling, to beautiful effect. Designed by Christopher Puffer and Megan Power, the space boasts exposed brick walls, steel trusses, and a wood-clad barrel-vaulted ceiling. Those raw elements are paired with lush oxblood velvet booths, greenery, and lacquered birds-eye wood to warm up the room. You can’t miss the 25-foot-wide circular bar, an ideal place to cozy up for a drink.
LOCANDA VERDE, NEW YORK CITY
While the original Locanda Verde has a rustic feel, the team behind the Italian restaurant went a different route for the new Hudson Yards location. Inspired by Tokyo and Milan, Roman and Williams created a modernist yet glamorous hideaway in a rather commercial area. The main dining room is swathed in golden amber, orange, and velvet stripes, with expressionist drawings and paintings by Robert De Niro Sr., the father of the Robert De Niro, an owner of the restaurant. A Dean Barger mural adorns the walls, meanwhile, and a carpet in the café features the work of Pablo Picasso. It’s an
art-adorned restaurant that’ll make you look at the walls as much as you look at your plate.
THE MARIGOLD CLUB, HOUSTON
“Fancy but not formal” is the ethos behind the Marigold Club’s Londoninspired design. Fox Fox Studio worked with Goodnight Hospitality’s partners to bring the ethos of Mayfair supper clubs to Texas. That’s achieved through the use
of de Gournay wallpaper in the hallways, Murano glass chandeliers with handblown marigolds and tulips, and art curated by the Houston-based Illa Gaunt. The standout design element may be the Bemelmans-inspired mural that wraps around the dining room, hand-painted by Pauline de Roussy de Sales. The work includes cowboys, tuxedoed waiters, and the restaurant’s partners dining with their families, kids, and dogs.
ORLA, SANTA MONICA
Michael Mina’s Orla has views of the Pacific Ocean, so it only makes sense that the restaurant’s design is inspired by boating. More specifically, AvroKO has designed a space that evokes a luxury yacht voyage on the Mediterranean, via the use of yacht deck flooring that’s actually used on boats, plus high-gloss black paint and brass metal detailing. The floor of the dining room includes a custom fish and octopus mosaic made in Italy, mirrored by a hand-painted octopus mural inset in the ceiling. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about getting your sea legs.
OSTERIA MOZZA, WASHINGTON, D.C.
The first East Coast location of Osteria Mozza pays homage to D.C. while also bringing a bit of California cool to the nation’s capital. Roman and Williams has imagined a multi-purpose space, with natural light flooding in through large arched windows and marble on the table and bar tops, plus integrated into the bright terrazzo floors. While outdoor seating isn’t possible year-round, the floor-to-ceiling windows in the Solarium
bring the outside in, helped along by greenery like palms and cactus. It’s pretty enough to host Washington’s power-lunch set, that’s for sure.
SPARROW ITALIA, MIAMI
It’s not every day that you see a restaurant with a sunken dining room, but Icrave and Kobi Karp have added just that at Sparrow Italia. The change in level adds an extra layer of grandiosity to the already grand space, which also includes textured Venetian plaster and carved wood paneling with inset bronze mirror and brass metal detailing. Blue velvets pair nicely with the more natural tones.
And live entertainment takes center stage on an elevated platform, without drawing away from the food or the design.
TIYA, SAN FRANCISCO
Decked out in green hues, Tiya draws inspiration from a rather interesting source: the symbolic green parrot native to eastern India. That comes across in the colors, certainly, but also the velvet booths, the loud wallpaper, and the mosaic flooring. Artwork comes courtesy of Indian artist Saurav Das and brings an added layer of texture to the walls. With two dining spaces—one for à la carte dining and the other for the tasting menu—and a long, curved bar, you can choose whichever vibe strikes your fancy.
TWIN TAILS, NEW YORK CITY
Stepping into Twin Tails is a bit like stepping back in time. The AvroKO-designed space is influenced by New York’s Asian restaurants of the 1980s, a decade that lent itself to burl wood, glossy paint, and pink and amber hues—all found here. Raw materials like terra-cotta and rattan are pulled in to contrast with those excesses and nod to the Southeast Asian
cuisine on the plates. The bar in particular is a standout, thanks to its curved shape and green veined marble top. Like the iconic Mr. Chow, Twin Tails also brings in art reminiscent of the neo-expressionist paintings found back then.
You can’t actually time travel, but this is a pretty good backup option.
TIMOTHEE CHALAMET
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET IS 28 YEARS OLD AND JUST LANDED THE FOURTH GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATION OF HIS CAREER. HE’S IN CONTENTION FOR THE BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA PRIZE AT THE 2025 CEREMONY THANKS TO HIS ACCLAIMED PERFORMANCE AS BOB DYLAN IN THE BIOGRAPHICAL MUSIC DRAMA “A COMPLETE UNKNOWN.” CHALAMET’S LAST THREE NOMINATIONS DID NOT END IN VICTORY; HE RECENTLY TOLD SIRIUSXM THERE’S NOTHING FUNNIER THAN RIPPING UP YOUR ACCEPTANCE SPEECH AFTER LOSING.
“This is my fourth Golden Globe nomination,” Chalamet said. “Look, I’ll just say this… There’s nothing more uniquely hilarious and something you cannot share with anyone when you get home and you tear up the little thing that you never had to use and you think to yourself, ‘You narcissistic arrogant prick. On what planet did you think you were gonna use this?’”
Chalamet was previously nominated at the Golden Globes for his performances in “Call Me by Your Name,” “Beautiful Boy” and “Wonka.” His work in “Call Me by Your Name” went on to earn an Oscar nomination for best actor at 22 years old, making him one of the category’s youngest nominees in history.
This year, Chalamet is nominated in the best actor in a motion picture drama category alongside Adrien Brody for “The Brutalist,” Daniel Craig for “Queer,” Colman Domingo for “Sing Sing,” Ralph Fiennes for “Conclave” and Sebastian Stan for “The Apprentice.” He’s widely
expected to earn an Oscar nomination for his work as Bob Dylan. He performed his own singing and guitar in the film.
“Chalamet, singing in a nasal and slightly clenched voice, his tone as rock-steady as his gaze, sings out the lyrics as if they were an incantation…and at that moment, he becomes Bob Dylan,” Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman wrote in his rave. “The voice, the hardscrabble directness, the spiritual harshness that melts into something lyrical — it’s all there… Chalamet rises to the challenge of capturing the prickly charisma of Dylan’s inchoate, anti-matter, read-between-thelines personality. It’s a transfixing performance that’s true to Dylan and, just as important, true to the logic of movies.”
“A Complete Unknown” opened in theaters Dec. 25 from Searchlight Pictures.
Yes, Chalamet pre-recorded his vocals to play Bob Dylan, but he also sang live. Director James Mangold decided he was going to go with the live performance
after being blown away by the actor’s performance.
Mangold is no stranger to his actors singing live. Joaquin Phoenix did it for “Walk the Line” playing Johnny Cash. In “A Complete Unknown,” Chalamet portrays a young Dylan who arrives in New York in 1961 and rapidly ascends through the folk scene. The film takes place from 1961 to 1965 when Dylan goes electric.
It’s not a typical biopic, as Mangold puts it, because the story isn’t anchored in Dylan’s birth and life story. Rather the film focuses on Dylan and the folk scene in New York back then. Mangold told an audience at the WGA during a post-screening in Beverly Hills on Friday night, “The other benefit was that in between 1961 and 1965, he wrote all the songs heard in this movie — and the guy was not even 24 where this movie ends. That is only a tenth of the songs he wrote in that period.”
Every song was pre-recorded as a precaution and to have a logistical backup. Audiences can hear those tracks on the forthcoming soundtrack because “we didn’t use them during the movie,” Mangold revealed.
The film took five years to get going due to COVID and the labor union strikes, but that stoppage worked to Mangold’s advantage. He said the actors, particularly Chalamet, spent time honing their crafts, perfecting their singing and getting acquainted with their instruments.
Mangold was grateful for that, stating “There are all these downsides that come with playback.”
Filming finally began in early 2024, and Mangold wasn’t sure if he would use live recordings all the way through. One of the first scenes he filmed was the moment with Dylan and Woody Guthrie, played by Scoot McNairy. “We shot that in the first five or six days,” Mangold said. “And there was a whole backstage thing with Timmy saying, ‘I want to try it live.’”
Admittedly, Mangold said, “some of the sound and music direction people were like, ‘It’s not a good idea.’” But Mangold didn’t want to hold anyone back, particularly Chalamet. So they went for it. “And he was phenomenal. Not only that, he proved the brilliance of the method.” Mangold continued, “There’s this moment where he finishes that song and he holds a note and just keeps hitting the low string on the guitar over and over again, and he’s just his eyes are kind of boring into Woody, and he’s just holding this note, and it gave him chills.” How did Mangold feel hearing that? “I remember sitting there eight feet from him as he did it, and I remember thinking,
‘Holy shit.’ That could not have happened if there was an earwig in his ear.”
With Mangold wearing multiple hats as a director and producer, he wasn’t sure if they could continue doing the live performances throughout the entire shoot, so he didn’t make any promises. However, as they continued, he said, “We just kept doubling down until we made our way through the whole movie.”
And how did they pull it off? The sound team strategically placed a selection of mics to capture the performance. Sound mixer Tod Maitland had to find a way to mic Chalamet, particularly during the acoustic aspects of the movie. Dylan held
his guitar high, and there was no way to wire him in the typical fashion. Speaking with Variety, Maitland said, “I talked to Timmy early on, and I said, ‘The only way that we’re going to be able to do this is if I can wire you and your hair,’ and the microphone would then come off of his forehead and go right down past his mouth, right to the guitar.”
Other times, the sound team used 40 different practical microphones that were period correct. Maitland explained, “The idea was to get a little bit different sound in each different venue by using practical microphones from the period. That helped create a nice tapestry of sounds. But Timmy went 100% live. It was pretty
amazing.”
The most challenging aspect was Chalamet’s voice and capturing the different ways he delivered those performances. Maitland explained, “Bob’s a mutterer, and Timmy gave his best mutter, so it was pulling that out. He would go from there to that twangy, tough voice that could shrill your eardrums. But there were, like four different voices inside of Timmy capturing all those and giving them all character was a whole other dimension.”
Supervising music editor Ted Caplan noted that while the film doesn’t show full performances or full song moments, every single one was recorded “from top to tail” Even the film’s climatic Newport Folk Festival 1965, which saw Dylan take his electric guitar public, much to the audience’s chagrin, was recorded. “That was recorded as a full concert; from the Hammer song to ‘Baby Blue,’ it was one run,” said Caplan, explaining that rather than do take after take of each song, the
concerts were done as single straight runs. “I think it gave it a special live real magic.” He added, “You can see Timmy is so into it and in the mindset of it.”
FASHION & STYLE
MARKETING MUSTS FOR 2025
STELLA JEAN SHOWCASES IN MILAN
HUES THAT DEFINE THE WINTER SEASON
This year's most-successful brands were their own most-power advocates
4 MARKETING-MUSTS FOR LUXURY BRANDS IN 2025
AS WE LOOK BACK AT 2024 – A YEAR OF SEISMIC SHIFTS IN THE LUXURY MARKETING LANDSCAPE – IT’S CLEAR THAT THE ABILITY TO MEET SHIFTING CONSUMER NEEDS WITH BOTH ARTISTRY AND INNOVATION PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES AND CAPITALIZING ON OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.
The year’s most successful brands were their own most powerful advocates, adopting a 360º approach to maximize consumer engagement through an expe-
rience-driven web of activations that extended across physical and digital worlds.
Furthermore, the adaptation of marketing tactics to cater to shorter consumer attention spans and the strategic use of celebrity partnerships highlighted the industry’s response to evolving consumer preferences. The integration of AI in marketing not only showcased a blend of technology and creativity but also set new precedents for future campaigns. As fashion prepares to move into 2025, we look back and explore the key trends and strategies that have defined the past year in marketing communication, offering crucial insights into how luxury brands can continue to thrive in changing market conditions.
360º THINKING: MAXIMIZING ENGAGEMENT TOUCHPOINTS
Since the beginning of the “decline of traditional media,” brands have had to step up and tell their own stories, to connect directly with consumers and champion their vision in as many ways as possible. 2024 saw this key strategy reach new heights: from immersive phygital activations and new experiments in collaboration to artful retail spaces emerging as the ultimate expression of a brand identity, the brands that communicated the most successfully were often the ones taking a holistic, comprehensive approach to multichannel communication.
Tory Burch’s collaboration with photographer Walter Schels established a blueprint
for a comprehensive marketing push across all communication touchpoints. After first teasing the playful collaboration (which featured prints with the photographer’s signature animal portraits) via her Resort 2024 presentation, the designer further leveraged the launch with a digital campaign starring Maude Apatow, a party at her New York boutique featuring high-profile friends of the brand, and pop-up activations at Paris, L.A., and New York stores. From beginning to end, the project masterfully leveraged a single design concept into an extended brand narrative, driving engagement and creating experiences across multiple digital and physical channels.
While Bottega Veneta still technically has no social media presence of its own, the brand nonetheless continues to make waves through strategic cultural engagements. This year saw Bottega extend its partnership with the iconic and recently revitalized BUTT magazine, celebrate beloved illustrator Richard Scarry, launch furniture collaborations with Cassina and Flos, name it-boy Jacob Elordi as brand ambassador, and activate the fourth
edition of its Bottega for Bottegas project spotlighting small-scale Venetian artisans. The brand also continues to put out new editions of its fanzine, which brings its creative world together into beautiful physical editions.
Other major moments that embodied this 360º thinking included Prada’s Fall campaign with an interactive hotline hosted by author Miranda July, Gentle Monster’s collaboration with the hugely popular video game Tekken 8 that featured both in-game and IRL designs and a massive pop-up, and Marc Jacobs’ collaboration series in celebration of his 40th anniversary, which featured special capsules and accompanying campaigns and activations.
MARKETING MORSELS
But while this expansive and multifaceted approach to driving interaction and branded storytelling in the medium- and long-term, within this framework is a need to harness the breakneck space of contemporary digital communication. With modern attention spans shorter than ever, the days of minute-long video ads are fading fast. Over a quarter
of viewers abandon videos after just 10 seconds. To counteract this, luxury brands are crafting ultra-brief yet compelling narratives designed to captivate instantly – often strategically leveraging existing assets into bite-sized moments of connection.
Burberry and Miu Miu have both exemplified this approach. Drawing from its gorgeous, setting and character-focused campaigns, Burberry edits this imagery into the kind of short, vertically oriented video clips that thrive on TikTok and Instagram reels. Miu Miu, meanwhile, embraces TikTok’s spontaneous, user-generated aesthetic, sharing cheeky outtakes from its campaign shoots, runway shows, and cultural activations.
A New Kind of Celebrity Partnership
Celebrity endorsements are nothing new, but the new year is set to see the continued rise of a new kind of creative exchange. These partnerships didn’t
just draw on the popularity and reach of their stars; they tapped into cultural movements and created mutually beneficial relationships with talents that can be seen as both unique individuals and brands of their own.
Most emblematic of this trend was Charli XCX and Brat Summer. Already a star, the singer harnessed the zeitgeist and rocketed to the forefront
of cultural conversation, creating a vision of liberated feminine individuality and retro-rave-inspired style that swept the world. Brands were quick to catch on: Charli starred in campaigns for Acne Studios and Skims, launched a collaborative collection with H&M, and repped a range of designers on her Sweat tour with Troye Sivan – each stop of which featured a new outfit, a new email in every fashion
editor’s inbox, and a big social-media boost for the brand she was wearing.
A significant impact was felt across retail and resale as well. Ahead of the album’s release, resell platform StockX found that there were nearly 30,000 searches for “Rave” on the site and that the Jordan 1 Retro High OG Green Glow – which boasts a brat-coded color palette – had nearly 5,000 trades and made more than a half million dollars this year alone.
But the summer wasn’t just about lime green, miniskirts, and club beats. The Paris Olympics exponentially accelerated the growing intersection between fashion and sports, with athletes entering
the spotlight like never before. Olympians like gymnast Suni Lee and Algerian boxing champ Imane Khelif sat front row, while some – like sprinter Noah Lyles and fencer Miles Chamley-Watson – walked the runway.
While Louis Vuitton definitely made the most of its role as the Games’ official premium partner, other brands launched smart campaigns that tapped into the athleticism and achievement of the event. Foremost among these was Jacquemus, which celebrated its latest collaboration with Nike with a dynamically produced short film featuring both Olympians and fashion personalities taking over Paris.
AI-AUGMENTED CREATIVITY
This wasn’t the first year we saw campaigns created using generative artificial intelligence, but it was the first year that it felt like they truly came into their own and gave us a glimpse of just how powerful AI can be to realize a human creative vision.
That aspect of blending a consistent human touch with the new application of technology is what made CDLP’s surreally luxurious holiday campaign so successful. At once effortless yet clever, the vast majority of the Swedish under and essentials brand’s campaigns are shot and produced by its co-founder and creative
director Christian Larson and feature his friends and creative community, extending a sense of personal touch and carefully considered creative cohesion. By using generative AI technology to build off of this human foundation rather than radically departing from it, the brand maintains its signature visual perspective while reaping many of the benefits of an AI campaign.
And those benefits are many, from potentially spending a fraction of the cost of an IRL campaign with human models to faster turnover time as the logistical prep and editing processes are streamlined and centralized. But those cost-saving benefits would feel cold, calculated, and inhuman
if real creativity didn’t remain a central aspect of the final image.
Earlier in the year, Etro shared an AIpowered campaign that, though some of the warmth and visual specificity we would have liked to see got lost in the digital dreamscape, offered another promising window into effective use of the technology and a reminder of just how quickly it is advancing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
As brands both take on a greater responsibility to champion their own narratives and feel the effects of a year that was for many characterized by a stagnant luxury market, communication strategies that embrace multiplicity, clarity, and a look to the future of connectivity have taken center stage. The art of crafting micro-moments of connection has become critical in seizing consumer curiosity and loyalty, proving indispensable in an era of fleeting digital attention spans. Meanwhile, the reinvention of celebrity partnerships showcases a lucrative path forward, where influence is interwoven with authenticity, amplifying both personal and commercial brands. Amidst this, the rise of AI in creative spheres underscores a future ripe with potential, where technology extends the reach and efficiency of human creativity without overshadowing it.
STELLA JEAN SPRING 2025
Showcasing her signature colors and island silhouettes
I N T E R I O R S
As winter settles in and a nascent year approaches, the timeless appeal of quiet luxury endures
We find it unfolding in an unusual palette of deep chocolates, tranquil blues, creamy butter tones, subdued tans, and rich burgundies. The softness of this season's palette follows on form. With softly contoured arms and subtle details abound, comfort is at its pinnacle. Wooden hues, variegated stones and radiant metals complement like precious accessories
Elle Decor
photography by Niamh Barry
designed by Studio Gameiro
photography by Silvia Rivoltella
G E T T H E L O O K
Wrap yourself in romance this season with soft suedes, airy sheers and cozy textures in muted mauves, warm peaches and pale blues. These delicate fabrics and earthy tones offer a look that feels effortlessly grounded yet dreamily ethereal
1 Bitter Chocolate by Sherwin Williams
2 Dew Drop by Sherwin Williams
3 Cinnamon Slate by Benjamin Moore 4 Smoked Trout by Farrow and Ball
ILIKE TO JOKE THAT MY BEDROOM LOOKS LIKE A BEST BUY STORE: THERE ARE RED LIGHT THERAPY MASKS, ALL KINDS OF MICRO-CURRENT DEVICES (BOTH FOR FACE AND BODY), SKIN-TIGHTENING LASERS, FACIAL MASSAGERS—YOU NAME IT. IF THERE’S A BEAUTY DEVICE, I WANT TO TEST IT. SO WHEN I GOT WORD EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT THERABODY WAS WORKING ON A NEVER-BEFORE-CREATED TOOL, MY INTEREST WAS INSTANTLY PIQUED.
Reader, you know I’d never keep a secret from you, right? If there is a product I am gung ho about, you know I will shout about it from the rooftop and immediately write something up. Well, after what’s felt like an eternity, Therabody has finally introduced this top-secret device and I have never been more excited to tell you about it.
The Depuffing Wand is a small handheld tool best described as a digitized version of an ice roller that, you guessed it, depuffs your under-eyes. Only instead of having to roll out of bed in your groggy state to grab your ice roller from the kitchen freezer, you can just leave the wand at your bedside and start treating your face from your bed. And, perhaps most importantly, you won’t have to deal with the water droplets dripping down your face from the defrosting tool or have to constantly re-freeze it after
BY SOPHIE DWECK / POLO LIFESTYLES
CHANGE YOUR MORNING ROUTINE REJUVENATE YOUR EYES
every use. Genius! I cherish every second of my lazy mornings in bed, and the fact that I can lay comfortably while treating my morning eyes is a blessing.
The device offers three pre-set cooling temperatures (57 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit) that are safe on all skin, even the most sensitive types, and has a curved precision tip for easy treatments. It cools incredibly fast—like I’m talking in seconds—and is whisper quiet, too. Perhaps my favorite part of all? It actually works. It feels so good around my eyes after waking up and makes me look refreshed and feel ready to take on the day more than I normally would. I never want to be without this wand, and I don’t have to because of how travel-friendly it is. It’s already come with me on two end-of-summer weekend getaways so far.
Cooling, however, isn’t the only thing this nifty little device does. It also offers a heat facial treatment, with three pre-set temperatures (95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit), which is designed to help your skincare products absorb better and boost your radiance. While I will admit, if you’re buying this tool it’s for the cooling technology— but I wouldn’t sleep on the heated treatments. I’ve been playing around with the technology, and that too feels relaxing on skin after applying my serums and creams. I usually like to use that at the end of the day as the heat not only soothes my skin, but helps me wind down for the night.
The wand has a curved precision tip that offers both cold and heated facial treatments.
Other notable specs: the battery life is pretty long lasting. You really only need 5 minutes tops with each treatment, so you won’t have to constantly charge it. It’s foolproof for those who aren’t tech savvy—there are only two buttons, cooling and heating. It goes from cold to hot or vice versa super fast; it’s lightweight and portable; and it’s reasonably priced.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve been this excited about a product launch, and I
know I’m not the only one. I sneakily had my mom test the wand out recently, and I’m not kidding she hasn’t stopped talking to me about it... so I know exactly what I will be getting her during the holidays.
Basically, I can go on and on about this thing, but I’ll leave you with this: Just do yourself a favor and get yourself a Depuffing Wand. You’ll thank me later.
MANSION
OF THE MONTH
DOMAINE DE VIGNETTE
COLOMBIER, ST-BARTH, FRENCH WEST INDIES
A$59 MILLION HILLSIDE COMPOUND ON THE BILLIONAIRE’S RETREAT OF ST. BARTH IS SET TO HIT THE MARKET AS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PROPERTY FOR SALE ON THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND.
The nine-bungalow property sits on a remote corner on the island’s northwestern-most tip in the Colombier district. “It’s up in the hills with west-facing sunset views, in a private domain,” said the listing agent Zarek Honneysett at
Real
The most expensive home ever sold on St. Barth also happens to be on Colombier beach. That property being a 130-acre estate once owned by David Rockefeller that sold for about $136 million last year, according to The Wall Street Journal. The property made a mark on its area, which is now also known as “Rockefeller Beach.”
At two acres, the sprawling Domaine de Vignette is one of four estates that make up the Les Étoiles gated community. It is the biggest, built across five lots, according to Honneysett. “There are few proper-
ties on the island that are this size,” said Honneysett about the island, where space is limited.
According to Honneysett, the owner “basically tore down” the existing house to erect his custom home. However, he hardly lived in it and has since shifted to a residence elsewhere on the island. The seller couldn’t be identified.
The individual bungalows and outdoor areas of the estate spread out over staggered levels, arranged to face the pool at the base of the property. These pockets are connected by teak walkways and blue rock steps, which were sourced locally
Sibarth
Estate, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate.
BEDROOMS 5 + FULL VIP COTTAGE + CHANGING ROOM BETWEEN POOL AND THE RESIDENCE
and “manually carved one by one to fit perfectly together,” according to Remi Tessier, who designed the newly renovated property, in a press release.
Tessier added that the materials of the home “elegantly blend” together “creating an atmosphere that is warm, natural, and contemporary.”
Doussié wood from Central Africa and brushed spruce handcrafted in France cover certain deck areas. Woven carpets and Caribbean decorative art ground the interiors. The outdoor space is filled out by over 70 varieties of tropical plants, including striking Bismark palms and draping bougainvillea.
“The style of the property is timeless, combining understated luxury with an exotic spirit,” Tessier added.
The entrance opens to a deck with a shaded bar and lounge, and the family room bungalow. Several stone steps lead up to a bungalow containing the primary suite, with buildings containing a restaurant-grade kitchen and dining room.
Down from the entrance level is a secondary bedroom bungalow, with another bedroom bungalow a level below that. Next is the pool, with a separate guest cottage with its own bedroom, kitchen and living space on the other side. The last building in the set of nine is a caretaker’s house.
MANSION OF THE MONTH
MANSION OF THE MONTH
MANSION OF THE MONTH
VILLA MARBELLA
WHERE ARCHITECTURE MEETS LUXURY IN SPAIN
I$9,327,775 USD | | 6
BEDROOMS | 6 BATHROOMS
7,545 SQ FT. | 0.41 ACRE(S)
NTRODUCING A SIGNATURE VILLA DESIGNED BY THE RENOWNED ISMAEL MERIDA, WHERE FASCINATING ARCHITECTURE MEETS UNPARALLELED LUXURY.
Standing out as a masterpiece in The Avenue community, this residence represents the epitome of grandeur and exclusivity. Experience the largest and most prestigious residence in The Avenue, boasting a private garage accessible via
a bespoke connecting tunnel that lends inspiration to its name. Inside, be mesmerized by the fascinating interior design by the legendary Pedro Peña, where every detail exudes opulence and refinement. Entertain guests effortlessly in the villa’s entertainment level, complete with a home gym and expansive living spaces. Step outside to discover a manicured private garden on an ample plot, featuring a private infinity pool and a remarkable solarium offering panoramic views of La Concha and the Mediterranean Sea. Residents also have access to the exceptional commu-
nity amenities, including the state of the art gym with top of the line equipment and a lavish SPA equipped with a hammam, sauna, ice bath and indoor pool
The Avenue’s location in the heart of Nueva Andalucia also allows for convenient access to a plethora of amenities, international schools and facilitates road connections to Puerto Banus, the Golden Mile and Malaga City. Embrace a lifestyle of unparalleled luxury in this estate, where every aspect has been meticulously crafted to offer the utmost in comfort and sophistication.
LOS ANGELES LUXE
An extraordinary estate perched atop Bel Air, it redefines luxury living with unparalleled sophistication and breathtaking views of Los Angeles and Century City. This meticulously crafted residence, which took over five years to complete, epitomizes opulence with 12 bedrooms and 17 baths.
Every corner of La Fin exudes extravagance, from its grand glass-walled entryway and a majestic 44-foot crystal chandelier to a sprawling formal living room adorned with shimmering chandeliers and hand-carved stone latticework around a monumental fireplace.
The estate’s lower level dedicated to entertainment and wellness, featuring a state-
of-the-art wine cellar with a stunning Murano glass installation, a climate-controlled cigar lounge, and a sleek vodka tasting room. A fully equipped fitness center includes a climbing wall, Peloton bikes, steam room, and a spa, while a sound-proof cinema with motorized Belgian leather seating promises cinematic indulgence.
Upstairs, the private quarters offer respite with a lavish primary suite boasting floor-to-ceiling lacquered Italian oak walls, a Portuguese marble fireplace, and boutique-worthy walk-in closets. The spalike bathroom showcases bookmatched Calacatta gold marble, and a soaking tub carved from a single block of stone.
Outdoors, La Fin transforms into an oasis of relaxation and entertainment with motorized Fleetwood pocket doors blurring the line between interior and exterior spaces. The infinity-edge pool overlooks a 23-foot retractable LED screen and an outdoor bar with swing seats, while a fire pit lounge provides warmth and ambiance.
On the rooftop, a deck with built-in seating, a fire pit, and a spa offers panoramic views, ensuring every moment is a celebration of luxury and privacy. Security features such as fingerprint technology, an on-site caretaker residence, and a dedicated security command center provide peace of mind in this unparalleled retreat in the heart of Bel Air.
In Search of Solace Vine Finds from Polo Lifestyles
Exceptional Italian Treasures
WILLIAM SMITH / POLO LIFESTYLES
Note: In this debut of Vine Finds, we bring to Polo Lifestyle’s readers select wines that have recently struck a harmonious cord and imminently impressed us. In a world of innumerable wine producers, we seek to cut through the cacophony and curate wines suitable for both everyday enjoyment and for those special occasions.
WILLIAM SMITH
@willismith_2000
COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR
THIS INAUGURAL VINE FINDS TRAVELS TO ITALY, AND IN PARTICULAR, TO TUSCANY, HIGHLIGHTING TWO EXCEPTIONAL REDS AT INCREDIBLE VALUES, PERFECT FOR SAVORING IN FRONT OF THE FIRE ON THOSE COLD WINTER NIGHTS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE OR ARE EQUALLY AT HOME DINING AL FRESCO FOR OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS.
SAN POLO RUBIO TOSCANA ($20)
This is the $20 bottle of wine that will convince you that price does not always dictate quali-
ty. San Polo was founded in 1994 and in the United States, is represented by the Trinchero Family Estates extensive list of brands. In 2007, San Polo was purchased by Marilisa Allegrini whose other labels include Villa Della Torre and Poggio al Tesoro, both in the Italian territory of Bolgheri, home of incredible Super Tuscan wines.
San Polo is a family affair as Marilisa’s two daughters, Carlotta and Caterina, are co-owners and are farming entirely organically. The trio’s wines celebrate the Sangiovese grape and its historic rootedness in Brunello di Montalcino in Tuscany, offering seven different wines from the $350 Brunello di Montalcino Vignacheccia to the exceedingly well-priced Rubio Toscana.
We tasted both the 2020 and 2022 vintages of the Rubio Toscana and were blown away by just how high this wine punches above its
In Search of Solace Vine Finds
ridiculously low price point. Ruby red and luminescent in the glass, it is intense on the nose leaning toward violets and macerated ripe cherries, with hints of thyme and oregano. In the mouth, it’s an elegant, lush, and structured wine with well-integrated tannins (even the 2022 vintage). Full of cherry and red fruits, it’s fresh but nuanced.
The second time we sat down to taste this, I audibly proclaimed – “Wow!” If you can find the 2020 (or older), buy it, as the bit of bottle aging benefits this wine, though it is entirely approachable upon release… and at this price, find room for a case (or two).
If you’re looking for a meal pairing, think herbaceous Italian sausages in hearty tomato sauce with ample grated Pecorino Romano, and with crusty bread served alongside – you’ll be transported to the serenity of Tuscany and a simpler pace to life.
TENUTA DI TRINORO LE CUPOLE ($43)
Vintner Andrea Franchetti’s wines from his Tenuta di Trinoro winery represent the late-winemaker’s vision for what traditional Bordeaux varietals can do in in this area of Tuscany and its clay-limestone and gravel soils, “reminiscent of those in Saint-Émilion.” Franchetti painstakingly cleared the land and planted Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Three decades later, these vines are producing some of the region’s most exceptional wines and all four varietals make their way into the 2021 vintage of the winery’s “second vin,” Le Cupole. The winery’s flagship wine, Tenuta di Trinoro Roso Toscana, which regularly garners 100 points and costs more than 10 times its sibling, is simply sublime. Still, the same care and artistry is present in Le Cupole and at a fraction of the price.
The blend of the 2021 vintage is Merlotheavy at 56 percent, followed by 26 percent Cabernet Franc, 11 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7 percent Petit Verdot. The wine is an opaque deep violet in hue. On the nose, aromas of black cherry, cola, cinnamon, spice, and cigar box. Medium to full bodied, its energetic at the outset. Wine critic Antonio Galloni described it as, “Bold, punchy, and super-expressive.” Spot on. Full of black cherry and red fruit flavors with a chewy tannic structure and a long finish. This wine benefited immensely from
decanting for 20 minutes, as it softened, and its floral notes wonderfully evolved.
When enjoying this impressive bottling, my mind drifted to the simple perfection of a traditional beef braciole (involtini) and a citrusy vinaigrette-dressed arugula salad with pine nuts. The varietals may be French, but here they show up representing the geography and, dare we say it, the “super Tuscan” style.
As always, Salud!
BURGUNDY ON THE BEACH ST BARTH BURGUNDY WEEK
IHAVE PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN IN THE PAGES OF POLO LIFESTYLES ABOUT GREAT WINE EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD. AND I’LL OWN TO BEING A SHAMELESS PROMOTER OF ONE SUCH EVENT – THE SANTE FE WINE & CHILE FIESTA, ON WHOSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS I SIT AND WHOSE FIVE-DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS WAS NAMED ONE OF THE BEST WINE FESTIVALS IN THE UNITED STATES EARLIER THIS YEAR BY WINE ENTHUSIAST.
I love wine. And I love wine events.
And so it was, this past Thanksgiving, as we were sunning ourselves on the chic shores of StBarth’s best beaches and partaking in the offerings of the island’s best restaurants, that I learned of St-Barth Burgundy Week. I enjoy Burgundian wines anywhere… but I can’t imagine a more idyllic place to celebrate and enjoy them than in this posh French outpost in the Caribbean.
One sunny afternoon, members of the Polo Lifestyles team were enjoying an opulent sushi lunch at the iconic Nikki Beach in St-Jean and sharing in the gorgeous Jeroboam of
Brut rosé champagne purchased by an adjoining table whose conviviality was contagious. I began discussing wine with staff at the restaurant, including sommelier Billy Baron. They were generous in showing me the impressive offerings of wine at the property and the conversation drifted to his involvement in StBarth Burgundy Week.
Now in its fifth year, St-Barth Burgundy Week will be held next month from February 12-16 and is co-organized by Nikki Beach’s Baron and Fabien Cregut of importer and distributer Friendship and Wines. The series of events has more than a dozen participating wineries including Domain Fourrier, Domaine Chavy-Chouet, Domaine ThomasCollardot, Domaine Antoine Jobard, Domaine Antoine Jobard, Domaine Ballot-Millot, and a few champagne houses to ensure there is sparkling on hand. There are also eight restaurant partners that will play host to many of the events, including Nikki Beach, which is hosting the closing “Beach Party.”
The program opens with a Wine Tasting at the stunning Cheval Blanc, which is also hosting two winemaker dinners, a Champagne & Caviar Lunch, as well as a Master Class on wines from the Corton wine region. Other winemaker dinners are offered at Black Ginger in Gustavia, the luxe and secluded Hotel Christopher, Le Sereno, Bonito, and Tamarin.
Nikki Beach’s second sommelier, Guillaume Goin, told Polo Lifestyles “For me, St-Barth Burgundy Week is a beautiful gathering of wine connoisseurs, in a joyful and a sharing spirit, who are happy to jump from a single Pinot Noir to the best great growth.”
GETTING THERE
Tradewind Aviation offers both private charters and scheduled flights directly into St-Barth from San Juan, Antigua, Anguilla, and St. Thomas and the U.S. Virgin Islands. flytradewind.com
Jet Access is a Burgundy Week partner and offers private charter flights into St-Barth. flyjetaccess.com
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury Homes – St-Barth is a partner to Polo Lifestyles and offers impeccable villas for rent and exceptional personalized concierge service.
Luxury villa rentals are available through Le Barth Villa Rental and 100% Villas – St Barth, both of which are partners for the event.
If a hotel is more to your liking, stay in the middle of all of it at the legendary Eden Rock. Eden Rock is also hosting the Gala Dinner for Burgundy Week on February 15.
More information and tickets can be found at the event's Web site
ASCENSION
HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD
SPIRITUALITY FAITH QUESTIONS GROWTH · FOCUS
FIGHTING THE RIGHT FIGHT
SELF-ACTUALIZATION & LOVE LANGUAGE
“The sage has no mind of his own. He is aware of the needs of others. I am good to people who are good. I am also good to people who are not good. Because Virtue is goodness. I have faith in people who are faithful. I also have faith in people who are not faithful. Because Virtue is faithfulness. The sage is shy and humble - to the world he seems confusing. Men look to him and listen. He behaves like a little child.” - Lao Tzu
The Celestial Mandate for a Radical Transformation in Devotional Living
AMRITLAL अमृत ASCENSION CONTRIBUTOR
@monarch_visionary
HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN WE ARE BEING EMOTIONALLY MANIPULATED, WHEN OUR FEARS AND INSECURITIES ARE BEING TARGETED TO CHANNEL OUR RAGE INTO DARK AGENDA?
From government conspiracy theories to corruption within the global healthcare scheme, COVID-19 unleashed the Pandora’s box of weighing emotional distraught out of which many have initiated their own ascent into the light of true sense.
In this month’s Ascension guidance, we take the fight for freedom into the depths of ourselves, as we look to the extremes
within society to re-examine our day-today convictions that lead to our realization of our highest potential. How can we nourish and value our relationships to promote positive collaborations? How can we channel our rage in the coming days to ensure the steadfast fulfillment of our evolutionary mission? How can we shield our auric field to ensure that we are not being emotionally triggered into another’s agenda? How do we harness the legendarily sought unseen power to deliver our ascent in an illumined Universe?
FIGHT RIGHT, LOVE FULLY
“It is only when the Kundalini is awakened that we become aware of our true nature, of our greatness.” - Swami Muktananda
The Love Lab is a research facility at the Gottman Institute, led by Dr. John Gottman, born out of the University of Washington, where couples are observed and studied in a controlled environment to analyze their interactions and com-
munication patterns, primarily focusing on how they handle conflict and predict potential relationship issues based on their behavior.
How we fight predicts the unfolding of our development, from our most intimate relationships to the grander structures of society with broader implications upon our neurological, emotional, spiritual and physical evolution, with epigenetic attributes carried forward through our offspring.
Conflict is human, and absolutely necessary for transformational growth, however, without an emphasis upon emotional intelligence, many blindly blunder into conflict without a deep sense of the emotional drivers of rage, or the tools to redirect the fires of hate, only to become quickly overwhelmed by physiological responses that warrant a further storm of unveiled demons. Through decades of research, Drs. John and Julie Gottman,
RENEWAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT EXPLORATION · ENERGY
founders of the world-famous Love Lab, have identified the five common mistakes we make when we are at odds. In Fight Right: How to Turn Conflict Into Connection, they share the five secrets that help us to get back on track and harness conflict to build stronger, healthier relationships. The five secrets directly address the five common mistakes:
Not addressing underlying issues: skimming the surface of an argument without exploring the deeper reasons behind the conflict.
Negative criticism: attacking your partner’s character or using blaming language instead of focusing on specific behaviors.
Becoming defensive: automatically rejecting your partner’s concerns and deflecting blame back on them.
Stonewalling: withdrawing emotionally, shutting down communication, and refusing to engage in the conversation.
Contempt: showing disdain or disrespect through sarcasm, eye-rolling, or belittling comments.
Through diligent awareness within even our most basic behaviors in our most simple relationships, we can gradually discover our own emotional frustrations and energy blockages to allow for the natural blossoming of more compassionate endeavors within our life’s higher ambitions. With the great emotional purge well underway across the planet, experienced as the inner purification of the planetary kundalini whereby the depths of past suffering are consciously transformed into evolved sentience through lessons in compassion, being able to navigate one’s emotional systems is critical as the suppressed rage from
unimaginable crimes against humanity are released to surface to be processed by our nervous systems.
BLINDED BY THE PURSUIT OF VENGEANCE
“Who is this man? He was a vegetarian who studied yoga, freethought, and various occult arts. He contemplated entering the priesthood. He consulted astrologers, used psychedelic drugs, and read widely in the wisdom literature of the Near East and Orient, including Tibetan Buddhism, Gnosticism, and various mystics. He believed in the reincarnation of the soul into animal bodies, and wept when his canaries died. He exercised in front of an open window. He attended seances and was himself mediumistic. He loved playing with children.” – Everything You Want to Know About Transcendental Meditation
There is an invisibly thin veil between love and evil, genius and imbecile, how we clear the way for the youth to realize their highest path determines the expression through which they transform their tempestuous wrath. At the end of the nineteenth century, a strong movement dedicated to supernatural ideas, esoteric doctrines, spiritualism, and occultism was developing, especially in Germany. In fact, it was the invocation and appropriation of popular esoteric, border-scientific, and religio-mythological beliefs that helped Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party to attract supporters, dehumanize its enemies, and pursue its imperial and racial ambitions.
In a 1931 interview with a Leipzig newspaper editor, Hitler made a passionate declaration of the true significance of his National Socialist movement: “We judge by the spiritual energy which a
UNICEF: THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN
“Fear. Loneliness. Grief.
As the coronavirus pandemic descended on the world in 2019, these powerful emotions enveloped the lives of many millions of children, young people and families. In the early days especially, many experts feared they would persist, damaging the mental health of a generation.
In truth, it will be years before we can really assess the impact of COVID-19 on our mental health.
If the pandemic taught us anything, it is that our mental health is profoundly affected by the world around us. Far from being simply a question of what is going on in a person’s mind, the state of each child’s or adolescent’s mental health is profoundly affected by the circumstances of their lives – their experiences with parents and caregivers, the connections they form with friends and their chances to play, learn and grow. Mental health is also a reflection of the ways their lives are influenced by poverty, conflict, disease and access to opportunities that exist in their worlds.
We have a historic chance to commit, communicate and take action to promote, protect and care for the mental health of a generation. We can provide support for the foundation of a generation equipped to pursue their dreams, reach their potential and contribute to the world.”
ASCENSION
HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE
WORLD
SPIRITUALITY FAITH
people is capable of putting forth, which will enable it in 10 years to recapture what it has lost in a 1,000 years of warfare. I intend to set up a 1,000-year Reich and anyone who supports me in battle is a fellow-fighter for a unique spiritual - I would almost say divine - creation. At the decisive moment the decisive factor is not the ratio of strength, but the spiritual force employed. Betrayal of the nation is possible even when no crime has been committed, in other words when a historical mission has not been fulfilled.”
During the 12 years of the German Third Reich, government policies incorporated Nazi concepts of racial purity. The Jews of Germany were subjected to discrimination, loss of citizenship, loss of property, exile, and near-systematic annihilation. Hitler’s genocidal plan required the assembly and transportation of Jewish people from all corners of Europe to extermination sites in occupied Poland. Nearly 6 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust, and at least 5 million prisoners of war.
With unemployment reaching nearly 30 percent, the Great Depression caused widespread economic hardship in Germany, and was a major factor in the rise of the Nazi Party.
Permeating the human psyche, the Nazi Party harnessed the emotional vulnerability of the German people, following the Great War, to manipulate human emotions on a massive scale through propaganda that triggered feelings of fear, hatred, national esteem, belonging, humiliation and loss, to garner ardent devotion to the regime and vilify the Jewish people.
How do we know when we are being emotionally manipulated, when our fears and insecurities are being targeted to channel our rage into dark agenda?
QUESTIONS GROWTH · FOCUS
THE WRATH OF A YOUTH ROBBED OF TRUTH
It is the will of the Divine Mother Universe that we each receive the most wonderfully orchestrated experience; however, as our sense of that view unfolds, we become increasingly sensitive to the chains and limitations placed upon our souls. As the system backfires, it is the youth who pay for the build-up of tension from a scheme designed to keep us diseased and distracted.
Suspected in the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the most profitable corporations in the world, Luigi Mangione has become a posterchild for vigilante violence, with extremists and mainstream communities praising the act, fueling the fire for violent extremist groups that seek to accelerate the collapse of societal and political structures.
The 26-year-old faces 11 criminal counts in New York, including one of murder in the first degree and two of murder in the second degree; however, memes and merchandise portraying Mangione as a saint
have notably emerged from mainstream spaces, with some users anointing him the ‘patron saint of universal healthcare.’ Signaling the acceptance of vigilante violence as a method for societal change, Mangione has received an outpouring of support and celebration that reflects widespread disillusionment with the status quo and the perceived ineffectiveness of conventional politics in addressing humane problems.
The widespread support for the assassination across both mainstream online communities, as well as divergent extremist groups, demonstrates the acceptance of vigilante violence as a legitimate solution to social, economic, and political problems in the United States. This is clearly indicative of a system that has failed many generations finally collapsing, a system in which our youth can sense no other impactful channel for expressing their emotions and views other than terrorist activism. The consequences of this extend far beyond the individual acts of violence themselves, contributing to a broader culture of normalized violence that will escalate until inner transformation within the self and the ‘system’ is actualized.
THE GLOBAL COHERENCE INITIATIVE
“An open-minded approach to the occult will undoubtedly bring to light important new data for kundalini research – data that bear on human growth to higher states of being, including the possibility of controlling and accelerating growth. It is an awesome prospect.” – Kundalini, Evolution and Enlightenment
Founded in 1973 by Apollo 14 astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell to explore the interplay between scientific knowledge and inner knowing, IONS is one of the earliest pioneers to share the very real
personal benefits of meditation with the world, helping meditation enter the mainstream. Many collaborative efforts have been made over the years to study real-world effects of mass meditations, some with encouraging results.
Incepted in 1991, the Institute of HeartMath has pioneered integral, heart-focused research in neuroscience, cardiology, physiology, biochemistry, bio-electricity, physics and psychology. Their central vision and mission is for scientific research to facilitate person-
al, social and global coherence. It seeks to research and explore science-based solutions to health and wellness issues, particularly heart-focused care, through linking and correlating geophysical and human health phenomena, and developing strategies to help increase personal, social and global coherence.
In 2008, the Global Coherence Initiative (GCI) was launched by the Institute of HeartMath as a science-based, international effort to promote global health and well-being through heart-focused
care. GCI was established to activate the heart of humanity and facilitate the shift in global consciousness from instability and discord to balance, cooperation, and enduring peace.
The essential fourfold mission is to:
• Conduct research on the mechanisms of how the Earth’s fields affect human and animal health and behavior.
• Test hypotheses that the Earth’s magnetic fields are carriers of biologically relevant information that connects all living systems, and large numbers of people creating heart-centered states of care, love, and compassion will generate a more coherent field environment that can benefit others.
• Determine if changes in the Earth’s magnetic fields occur prior to natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, storms, and human-made events such as social upheaval, unrest, and terrorist attacks.
• Monitor global events to determine where GCI members’ collective heart-coherent prayers, meditations, affirmations, and intentions can be directed.
This is measured by several interrelated initiatives, including the Global Coherence Monitoring System, the Global Tree Potential Monitoring System, the Global Coherence app, and citizen science projects. The newest addition to GCI is the Global Consciousness Project 2.0, which generates data from a globally distributed network of random number
ASCENSION
HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD
SPIRITUALITY FAITH QUESTIONS GROWTH · FOCUS
generators (RNGs). RNGs are designed to produce unpredictable sequences of 0 and 1 bits, but they exhibit coherent behavior among each other when there is coherent attention or emotion across humanity. This has been established by the original Global Consciousness Project. GCP 2.0 is extending this research with a larger, more sensitive network of 4000 RNGs, advanced technology, and fundamental measurements of quantum random processes.
We are indeed constituents within an infinitely intelligent, biological system that challenges us emotionally to evolve and enhance our capacitance, our tolerance, acceptance and compassion. In partnership with scientific, heart-based collaborators across the globe, the Global Coherence Initiative provides a milestone for mapping measurable worldwide activity within planetary consciousness to potentially inspire a new metric for setting our standards.
We are all interconnected, as the many cells within one organ, as the many organs within one body, and when our heart-based synergies spike, that is, as we all begin to function in alignment with our highest soul service, there is a measurable electromagnetic effect that alters the fabric of reality. Imagine a world where our value-system, our health-care system, our educational system, were aligned with the guiding force of our happiness, purpose and fulfillment. Imagine being taught from a young age of the superpower that we all hold to transform ourselves in harmonic service of the discord in the world.
Humanity is becoming increasingly emotionally aware and sensitive to the energetic fundamentals of our interconnected reality. Neither Adolf Hitler nor Luigi Mangione are unique in the immense levels of wrath and vengeance, nor the vigilante calling that they harbored. However, there are those who Fight Right and choose Self-Actualization as their
Ultimate Love Language; those who alchemize their personal emotional turmoil through the inner flames of purification to develop an evolved light of consciousness that alters their cellular blueprint, allowing them to serve as Guardians, Wisdom Keepers and Lineage Holders to the cosmic fire.
History provides us with painful lessons to demonstrate the results of not answering the call we each receive to do what feels right. Whether one is serving an unjust system, or violently raging against it, the victim is the self that is denied the experience of pure joy, soul salvation, self-realization. To exit the system, altogether, we each hold the potential to transcend judgment and blame through self-mastery, balancing the two extreme polarities of love and evil within ourselves to crystallize the toxic emotions of society into a higher consciousness as we anchor our hearts in expanding compassion as the emotional turbulence upon the Earth continues to reach climatic levels.
MARS IS IN RETROGRADE
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US?
“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” - Henry David Thoreau
AMRITLAL अमृत ASCENSION
CONTRIBUTOR
@monarch_visionary
THE
5,000-YEAROLD SISTER TO YOGA, AYURVEDA, IS A HOLISTIC SYSTEM OF NATURAL MEDICINE THAT AIMS TO HEAL THE BODY, MIND, AND SOUL. THE WORD AYURVEDA IS A COMBINATION OF THE WORDS AYU, MEANING LIFE, AND VEDA, MEANING WISDOM.
The main classical ayurveda texts begin with accounts of the transmission of medical knowledge from the gods to sages, and then to human physicians. Ayurvedic tradition seeks to establish balance and harmony within the elemental forces of the human body, emotional and sensory organ systems.
The quality of our lives, our intelligence, strength and emotional resilience is dependent upon the magnetism of the relationships we develop within ourselves, with others and with the elemental forces of creation that traverse throughout the Universe. The Yogic sciences recognize these as qualities of a strong Radiant Body and both ayurvedic life sciences and Kundalini Yoga practices are powerful tools to use to develop our body, mind, and spirit to build strength, illumination, and clarity.
Similarly, Chinese cosmology sees the world as arising from the dynamism of yin-yang and the five primordial powers or phases, known as wu xing. From the macrocosm to the microcosm, the organization of all natural phenomena is described by the five-phase theory of systematic correspondence: as above, so below. The seasons, internal organs, body substances, mental faculties, and emotions mirror each other according to five lines of correspondence. People embody
the same relationships within them that prevail in the universe at large. Just as the phases of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water organize Nature, so the five organ networks of the Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney organize human life.
It is through the attentive relationship with Mother Nature, expressed through all life, that we cultivate through our hearts evolving sense to generate the spiritual fire of consciousness. It is this fire that illumines our senses to direct our spiritual guidance system. The spiritual energy created by our Earth-plane vessels contributes to our auric field, an attractive and magnetizing field which communicates directly with the planetary system, attracting all that we need to evolve. Whether or not we are aware of this powerful relationship we maintain with the force of creation is determined by how we cultivate our consciousness on a daily basis – are we self-actualization, or self-atrophying. The flesh is merely a vessel for the soul’s actualization and our
physical bodies actually grow into the all-attractive subtle energy body.
As the astral fire of the heart expands, spiritual cords and trauma-based emotional triggers are gradually dissolved to liberate the cerebral spinal system from soul-draining programs and self-destructive conditioning, allowing for the gradually expansion of divine consciousness. As the initiate trains in cultivate the astral fire, into the realms of the spiritual void, the abyss of nothingness, the self-identity is gradually liberated from the lower density thought-field of collective society paving the way for the emergence of the Merkaba soul chariot.
Within both Egyptian and Hebrew origins, the Merkaba is a divine vehicle
capable of transporting the individual into realms of higher consciousness and spiritual enlightenment. The blueprint for the Merkaba is stored within the spiritual DNA and is actualized as the astral fire purges the psychic sheaths of the lower self for the higher self to emerge into the spiritual planes.
Mars is in retrograde from December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025. When Mars is in retrograde, it can manifest as heightened aggression, often appearing as a tendency to be more easily provoked, sensitive to conflict, and potentially reactive in situations where normally one might usually remain calm; essentially, it can amplify feelings of frustration and lead to more outward displays of anger.
As we spiritually evolve, our galactic heart tunes in to all the unprocessed pain of the Universe. As our blood boils with rage and wrath as the actions of the past are brought to surface for release, we can choose to bring our awareness to the depths of our soul and learn to transform. The journey of awareness never ends: the more we heal, the more there is to forgive.
The only way to rebel is to excel; feeding the sense of victimization is self-extermination. As Monarch Visionaries, we FIGHT RIGHT through mastery of the hidden realms to SELF-ACTUALIZE our rainbow light bodies with the full sovereign assistance of Divine Mother Universe so that we may live to see a world in which we all are loved whole heartedly without division.
MOLD YOUR MIND
"THE MENTAL BREAK-DOWN" PODCAST IS NOW ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS
PUSH THROUGH ADVERSITY THIS YEAR
“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition”
THIS QUOTE WAS PULLED FROM THE BOOK, “THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY,” WRITTEN BY RYAN HOLIDAY. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THIS BOOK, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT AS THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES HOW TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE ONCE FACED WITH ADVERSITY.
Believe it or not, you are going to be faced with difficult challenges, countless obstacles, and various forms of adversities throughout your lifetime.
Unfortunately, you never know when they are going to present themselves nor what form they will come in: fatigue during a performance/workout, having your identity stolen, losing your job, receiving negative criticism. These ad-
versities are meant to test your character and your metal. The key is to prepare for these situations, to be comfortable in the situations and to turn those negatives into your own personal gain!
Begin by developing an understanding of what you control: how you view your adversity, how you respond to your adversity, and how well you can keep yourself composed during adversity.
Start by changing your self-talk and how you approach these situations. For instance, instead of viewing these situations as a threat, view them as a challenge; instead of viewing them as a crisis, view them as an opportunity.
Next, respond how you WANT to respond! No person or situation can force us to feel or react a certain way, we choose how we respond, and how you respond will determine how successful you will be in overcoming or thriving from these situations.
Finally, see the good in the situation! I am sure you have heard the old adage, “Things happen for a reason.” Well, find that reason. Recently, there was a small
JOEY VELEZ / POLO LIFESTYLES
fire in our attic that has caused me, my mother, and step-dad to be displaced from our home for a month. Things could’ve been a lot worse – after all, we’re still alive. Instead of focusing on the damage the fire caused, we chose to see the good in the situation: we get new carpet, new electrical, new walls and new paint are coming.
I played basketball all four years in high school, with the last two being at Varsity level. To this day, basketball is my greatest joy (other than my nephew) and words cannot describe how much the sport means to me.
I made the varsity team my junior year, and I couldn’t have been more excited because I didn’t think I would make it, not to mention I would be playing with my five best friends. Life was good.
During that season, I was pretty low on the depth chart and knew I wasn’t going to play that often. I took it upon myself to work as hard as possible in practice in order to help my teammates improve, and I was the loudest cheerleader in the gym. I was voted Most Inspirational that season.
THOUGHTS MATTER
Going into my senior year, I expected my playing time would increase drastically… it didn’t. I was told after tryouts that there was a possibility I could start... but I didn’t. I spent my senior year riding the bench, wondering what I was doing wrong and why I wasn’t playing. It all cultivated in our Sectional playoff game, when one of our starters got in foul trouble at a crucial point late in the game, and I thought, “This is my time.” Instead, my coach went with the unproven sophomore, who essentially caused us to lose the game in those three minutes while he was in. I was devastated. Not because my basketball career was over, but because all I wanted to do was play… but I never got my chance.
What was the adversity you ask? Well, I wasn’t able to play the game that I loved, and I let it have a negative impact on me. I would sulk after games, sometimes I would cry because I wasn’t playing. Many times I wanted to quit.
Because I was focusing on what I was doing wrong, I missed out on the enjoyment of my senior year, playing with my five best friends…and I will never get that time back. Instead, when faced with the adversity of not playing, I should’ve chosen to focus on what I could do to help my team, much like I did my junior year. At the first sign of adversity, I cracked and let it ruin my final season of playing organized basketball rather than
making the most of my situation.
When we are faced with adversity, the tendency is to stop, quit, and move onto something else. However, working through these situations is where we build character, confidence, and mental toughness. As Joan Borysenko, a best-selling author and leading expert on stress and the mind/body connection once said, “We emerge into the light not by denying our pain, but by walking out through it.”
The next time you are placed in a challenging situation or faced with adversity, welcome it with open arms and use it to your advantage!
