201911-01Maxim by punhetaxgostosa

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WATCHE S How the iconic

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak timepiece continues to evolve

Zion Williamson brings the party to New Orleans

need for a stylish season

is as versatile as he is handsome and accomplished

MOTO Britain’s deBolex

Engineering’s Ducati-based beauties are envy-inducing

BE SP OK E Nicolas Bijan and

Aston Martin join forces to create the ultimate supercar

SINGA P ORE

Join us on a luxe tour of this Asian marvel, one the most sybaritic cities on Earth

AU TO Bugatti’s new Centodieci supercar pays tribute to the famed EB110

PRIVATE JETS Boeing’s new $474

million 777X takes to the skies

YACHT S The 217-ft. Shadow

Cat Hodor is the ultimate oceangoing adventure vessel

HOME 2019 has been a banner

year for record-breaking real estate deals

SPIRIT S Be like James Bond and make the vodka martini your go-to tipple every time

A DV ENT URE Yachtsman Boris

Herrmann sails solo around the world at high speed

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LE A DING M A N Gabriel Luna

RISING S TA R Social media

sensation Supercar Blondie’s millions of followers can’t get enough

JA SMINE S A NDER S The

breakout star known as Golden Barbie is our latest cover girl

DRI V EN We pilot an iconic

Mercedes-Benz “Gullwing” in the famed Mille Miglia

SUPERCA R Classic British

car brand Lotus is reborn with the eye-popping 1,973 hp Evija

TITA N With four decades in fashion Giorgio Armani is at the top of his game

CONTE S T W INNER Our

Maxim Cover Girl winners from Canada prove that the north is far from frozen

ON THE COV ER Jasmine Sanders wears a puffer jacket by Guess and gold and diamond jewelry by Sydney Evan. Photographed by Gilles Bensimon.

Parkroyal on Pickering, Singapore is a hotel with integrated elevated terrace gardens displaying green foliage on the building’s facade

C O U R T E S Y O F @ F E VA R E N T

STYLE The six items you

ATHLE TE Basketball star

j o h nv a r v a t o s . c o m

L uc k y Blue S m it h Brook ly n , N Y 2019

The Leading Voice in Men’s Luxury Lifestyle

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WATCHES

ROYAL OAK FEVER

Audemars Piguet’s iconic ’70s super-watch continues to evolve and astonish Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

Complications, tells Maxim. And while Genta of course deserves due credit, Friedman points out that another of the era’s design luminaries Jacqueline Dimier “demonstrated the true versatility of the Royal Oak design and how far it could go.” Dimier oversaw the first gold models that were introduced in 1977 and designed the first complicated models that launched in 1984 with the Royal Oak perpetual calendar, “all highly recognized today as major milestones within the Royal Oak’s evolution and all central to the current place the Royal Oak holds in the minds and hearts of many collectors and enthusiasts.” That “many” is an important qualifier; the still somewhat esoteric appeal of the watch has helped it maintain

In 1970 legendary watch designer Gérald Genta created the now-iconic Royal Oak for Audemars Piguet. Even before the Patek Philippe Nautilus—which he also designed—became a horological sleeper hit, the Royal Oak, originally produced in stainless steel and reportedly costing 10 times as much as many steel Rolexes, had a hardcore following among the watch world cognoscenti. In 1993 Audemars launched the Royal Oak Offshore chronograph, officially updating Genta’s design for a new era, and these days its fans include the likes of Jay-Z and LeBron James. And the latest awe-inspiring Grande Complication models now go for up to $1 million. “The Royal Oak brings together several different elements that all contribute towards its history, legacy and future,” Michael Friedman, Audemars Piguet’s Head of

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Clockwise from top: A 1972 Royal Oak; the back and front of a Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication; a Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin; a white gold Royal Oak Grande Complication

A L L I M A G E S C O U R T E S Y A U D E M A R S P I G U E T.

its air of exclusivity. “In any medium, design language and form, language can create meaningful connections for some, and not for others,” Friedman notes. “For those that find connections to the Royal Oak, they see a highlyfinished watch comprised of great technique and watchmaking expression that has been the canvas for so many beautifully crafted movements, case materials and dial designs.” While continually incorporating new ideas, materials and complications, Audemars Piguet has always been careful to also offer Royal Oak models that would look right at home in 1970. In 2019, Friedman points out, “we introduced a 39mm Royal Oak in white gold that echoes the origins of the model; we released a highly contemporary and fresh interpretation of the self-winding perpetual calendar in full white ceramic with a blue dial; we unveiled a titanium and platinum self-winding perpetual calendar Ultra-Thin; [and] we released the first extrathin tourbillon Royal Oak in full black ceramic.” The challenge, Friedman tells us, “is to always keep moving forward, creating for the future, while honoring and respecting the great work of the past. The Royal Oak has such a strong foundation due to its design, which itself was deeply rooted in Audemars Piguet’s long history of unconventional case designs. As long as the form remains a canvas for beautiful and complex finishings that demonstrate human ingenuity and great craft, we feel we are on the right path. The link of the Royal Oaks of the past, present and those yet to be created are the watchmakers, artisans and technicians themselves. They simultaneously guard the traditional techniques of the past, problem-solve for the present and conceptualize for the future.” From Gérald Genta to Jay-Z and the next generation of watch guys and superstars who will wear their Royal Oaks, this is one icon that, much like the Porsche 911, may alter slightly over the years but will never get old.

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STYLE

Hot Shots The six items you need for a truly stylish autumn Te x t b y D U N C AN Q U I N N

Davidoff Oro Blanco Special Reserve 2002 Aside from a handrolled smoke from Graycliff in the Bahamas, Davidoff ’s Oro Blanco is one of the most exceptional cigars we have ever sampled. To make it, the rarest of tobaccos have been harvested in the Dominican Republic, aged for 10 years, expertly rolled and then aged for a further year. $5,000 per box of 10 via www. davidoffgeneva.com.

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The Ecclestone Formula One Collection Opus Many F1 cars can be considered works of art. Which is where this massive coffee-table book comes in, featuring the private F1 car collection of Bernie Ecclestone, former Chief Executive of Formula One, shot with a large-format Polaroid camera. The Grand Prix Edition comes with a set of metal photographic plates, limited to just 100 copies. About $9,250 via www.thisisopus.com. Château de Léberon 1964 Armagnac Nicolas Palazzi combs the globe like an Indiana Jones of spirits, seeking out the rarest of the rare. He has a passion for armagnac and this is one exceptional offering—if you can find it. Taken from a single cask of elixir dating from 1964 and aged in Gascony oak, hails from France’s Château de Léberon. Only 240 numbered bottles exist. Approximately $725 per bottle via www.mwcwine.com.

Watson Bros. of London Shotgun Watson Bros. have been the suppliers of pukka shooters to the Sultan of Turkey, the Shah of Persia, and other exotic notables for nearly 150 years. All of the guns made by hand at their Tower of London premises exude the utmost craftsmanship and bespoke attention to detail. Price upon request via www.watsonbrosgunmakers.com.

P O R T R A I T C O U R T E S Y O F L U C A S N O O N A N ; C LO C K W I S E F R O M C E N T E R TO P : C O U R T E S Y O F O P U S M E D I A , C O U R T E S Y O F Z R C ; C O U R T E S Y O F WAT S O N B R O S . ; C O U R T E S Y O F C H Â T E A U D E L E B E R O N ; C O U R T E S Y O F D AV I D O F F ; C O U R T E S Y O F D AV I D O F F

ZRC Grands Fonds Watch Whether diving into a shipwreck full of stolen doubloons, or a dinner party in a hip stretch of Bushwick, a ZRC Grands Fonds watch will take the pressure. Our particular favorite is the 1964 French Navy Reissue, which, in ZRC’s trademark style, features a distinctive crown at 6 o’clock. About $3,500 via www.zrc1904.ch.

Duncan Quinn Gold Signet Ring English hallmarks confirm where gold and silver items are tested and their standard of purity. This 22ct–gold signet ring is marked with a DQ, a 916 indicating 91.6 grams of pure gold per 100 grams, an anchor for the assay office where it was tested, and a U for the year, 2019. Not to mention smoking skulls on both sides. $4,595 via www.duncanquinn.com.

Re ally Italian, Re ally Comfortable.

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MOTO

BIG RED

Britain’s deBolex Engineering coachbuilds one-off masterpieces Te x t b y D U N C AN Q U I N N P h o t o g ra p h e d b y AM Y S H O R E

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A summer’s day in Provence. Lazy afternoon sun. Lavender fields as far as the eye can see. A sweet floral haze tasting of aquamarine and purple. Black sticky tarmac lanes. And a whiff of perfectly burned high octane fuel. Crisp. Metallic. Rich and oily. The glow of an engine block shimmering in the heat. I wake up. And yet, there was more. Something beautiful. Spellbinding. Toned. Sleek. Curvaceous. And fast. God may have invented fast bikes. But deBolex Engineering, a two-man custom motorcycle builder based in Croydon, England, created this. An experience so ethereal no mere mortal could resist. I say experience, as to describe their Ducati 803 as “ just” a motorcycle is to

describe Elle Macpherson as “ just” a girl. They are Pininfarina. Or Zagato. For deBolex do not build motorcycles, as much as coachbuild on top of rolling chassis. The 803 was created as part of a series of one-of-a-kind commissions. Inspired by 1960’s Italian GP racing bikes, then coachbuilt on reliable mass-produced engineering. For the 803 the donor was a Ducati Scrambler, but other manufacturer donors including Triumph and Buell have also been used. Each of the special one-offs bears the moniker “1/1” on the coachwork. And each is one of the “One of One” prototypes built by deBolex. They have one more “One of One” left in them, based on a Kawa-

saki ZXR. Once complete they will turn their hand to the bit that is important for you to understand. A series of limited edition bikes, the “Lightweight Sports” will begin production. A total of 25 LS bikes will be built with the aesthetics of the 803. But a little more grunt to boot. Aluminum will give way to carbon fibre. And you will be able to specify colors, fabrics and finishes, together with technical upgrades to wheels, brakes and exhausts from the stock Ducati 1200 Monster donor. Whatever happens, we are sure it will be the beginning of a love affair. So get the £25,950 (about $32,000) required ready, and take a ticket to get in line behind us. We’re gonna be living the dream.

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BESPOKE

NOT-SO-MELLOW YELLOW The 715-hp Bijan Edition Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is the ultimate designer supercar Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

For over half a century the DBS designation has been applied to the vehicles at the “pinnacle of the Aston Martin production range,” as the iconic British marque puts it. Now Nicolas Bijan, owner of the legendary Beverly Hills-based menswear and lifestyle brand House of Bijan—recently relocated to a new, larger location on Rodeo Drive—has collaborated with them on the ultimate custom DBS, with the first one finished in his signature shade of yellow. Based on the new DBS Superleggera, with a 5.2-litre V12 twinturbo engine that produces an amazing 715 hp, and customized in

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partnership with the brand’s Q by Aston Martin bespoke personalization service, the limited edition grand tourer was unveiled at a special gathering of global Bijan and Aston Martin collectors during Monterey Car Week in California. “This special edition perfectly embodies everything that is Bijan— the ultimate attention to detail, sophistication, and of course timeless elegance,” Bijan says. We spoke to him about his love of cars and latest automotive creation, which is available by special order through authorized Aston Martin dealers worldwide, as well as at the House of Bijan:

Which cars do you have in your collection? At the House of Bijan we have had the honor to collaborate creatively with some of the most recognizable and iconic automobile companies in the world. In the collection are a few of these special pieces of drivable art. There is the 2008 Bijan Limited Edition Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Coupe, the 2014 Bijan Limited Edition Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé, and of course the 2020 Bijan Edition Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. The three Bijan Edition automobiles are the most unique and special cars in the collection, however, there are a few others which are a bit more low-key.

P ORTR AIT COURTESY OF EHAN PINES FOR FORBES

C O U R T E S Y O F D I R K A . P H OTO G R A P H Y, H O U S E O F B I J A N .

Which is your favorite? The new Bijan Edition DBS Superleggera which was just unveiled to the public this year in Pebble Beach. It represents two years of collaboration between our two companies and is really the culmination of all our previous experience designing special-edition automobiles. It is powerful, elegant, young, and aggressive all at the same time! It is definitely my current favorite. What sparked your love for beautiful cars? Ever since I was a young child I have always had a love for beautiful cars. This was something my late father and I shared and bonded over; we would drive together every weekend and I have so many beautiful memories with him. This love and passion for cars expanded and evolved over time into cobranding opportunities. The House of Bijan is much more than a menswear brand; it is a lifestyle brand, so these opportunities were a logical fit.

which model would be most suitable to the clientele of our two brands. I visited the Aston Martin design studio in 2018 and, after seeing the clay model, it immediately became clear their flagship DBS Superleggera would be the best one. What are the key points of the design and why did you choose them? Some of the key features in the Bijan Edition DBS Superleggera are the hand-painted tone-on-tone paisley design on the bonnet, touches of color on carbon fiber detailing, alligator detailing inside the cabin, and of course the owner’s initials monogrammed into the veneer. I felt as if the car is such an aggressive design that we should focus on details throughout the exterior and larger changes on the interior. What design challenges presented themselves? I must admit that the team at Q by Aston Martin are so talented that they didn’t seem to be too challenged by these unique design features. I thought for sure they would have difficulty executing the “ghosted” paisley design on the bonnet, but when I finally saw the finished product, I couldn’t believe how beautifully it was made. I was also sure the layout of the alligator leather interior detailing would be a challenge, however they were able to implement this feature perfectly.

What inspired you to collaborate with Aston Martin on a bespoke model? I met with Marek Reichman, Chief Creative Officer at Aston Martin, in 2017 and we hit it off. I was inspired by his talent and saw similarities between Bijan and Aston Martin, for example how the historic brand was now attracting a younger, more dynamic client base. As we explored the possibility back then, it wasn’t immediately clear

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AUTO

REBIRTH OF A LEGEND Bugatti reimagines its iconic EB110 as the ultimate modern supercar

Determined to honor one of the most iconic and influential supercars in history, the EB110, iconic automaker Bugatti set itself a seemingly impossible task. The company wanted to modernize this classic, bringing it up to standards set by the company’s groundbreaking Chiron hypercar—without losing the design inspiration and DNA left by one of the cars that defined not only the 1990s, but the arrival of the supercar in the public consciousness. With the unveiling of the new Centodieci model, it seems like the brand has achieved the impossible. With a striking design that, despite modern lines and aerodynamic enhancements, still evokes strong memories of the pioneering EB110, the Bugatti design team has walked the fine line between honoring the past and embracing the future. “The challenge was not to allow oneself to be captivated too much by the

design of the historic vehicle and work solely in retrospect, but instead to create a modern interpretation of the shape and technology of that time,” says Bugatti’s Head Designer Achim Anscheidt. With a more angular and refined exterior than the marque’s recent offerings, the Centodieci (Italian for 110) balances the design concepts of the EB110 and the current models, while producing performance that ranks with Bugatti’s contemporary lineup. Small changes from the current designs, like a smaller horseshoe intake at the front and a low-slung front end inspired by the wedge shape of the EB110, give the Centodieci a unique stance compared to the other Bugattis, but all of the engineering genius that helped create the Chiron was not ignored either. Anscheidt explains the challenge, admitting that “transporting this classic look into the new millennium without copying it was technically complex, to say the least. We had to create a new way of combining the complex aerothermal requirements of the underlying Chiron technology with a completely different aesthetic appearance.” This usage of the most advanced aspects of the Chiron is evident, starting with the powerhouse that is Bugatti’s 8.0-liter W16 engine capable of producing 1,600 hp. Acceleration from a stop to 100 km/h is possible in a mere 2.4 seconds, .86 seconds faster than its inspirational forerunner, the EB110, while modern weight-saving advancements allow an insane power-toweight ratio of 1.13 kg per horsepower. With only 10 vehicles scheduled to be produced, the Centodieci is already sold-out, despite a starting price of €8 million (about $8.8 million). And it appears to be staking out a legacy of its own, one that seamlessly honors the history of Bugatti and bridges the gap between three decades of the marque’s dominance in the supercar world.

C O U R T E S Y O F B U G AT T I

Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

PRIVATE JETS

MASTER OF THE SKY

Boeing’s new 777X will be the largest and most luxurious business jet in production Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

COURTESY OF BOEING

The $474 million Boeing BBJ 777X is without a doubt the new king of the private jet set. It will be the largest and most luxurious business jet in production, with the first aircraft slated to perform a maiden flight next year. With a cabin measuring 3,256 sq. ft., making it larger than many private homes, outfitting the aircraft to VIP specification will cost an additional $90–$175 million depending on exactly how much wood, leather and gold plating you require. At 253 ft. long it’s over two thirds the length of a football field, and its cabin spans neatly 20 feet across. It can also traverse more than half the circumference of the earth non-stop, with a flight time of over 23 hours. That’s enough for straight run from the East Coast of the United States all the way to Australia (or any other two airports on Earth). A number of top interior firms eager to land a lucrative and high-profile BBJ 777X commission have already presented design concepts. “The BBJ 777X is the perfect match for heads of state, royal families and the ultra-wealthy,” Captain Alex Fecteau, Director of Boeing Business Jets Marketing, tells Maxim. “It exceeds VIP customers’ expectations for range, cabin space and passenger comfort. The BBJ 777X can fly you non-stop anywhere in the world in its bespoke 7-star hotel presidential-penthouse interior. BBJ 777X also has enough

space for you, your family, and your board of directors to work, enjoy Michelin-star meals, exercise, play video games on widescreen TVs, rest, shower, and arrive fresh to your destination.” Boeing won’t comment on who might or might not be placing an order for one—or earmarking a cool $600 million from their country’s coffers—but even a reclusive billionaire won’t be able to resist posting an Instagram selfie on board the ultimate PJ.

YACHTING

TOY STORY The 217-ft. Incat Crowther-designed Hodor is the ultimate oceangoing adventure craft

Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

On occasions too numerous to mention we’ve seen how something that starts out as a side project often ends up being a much bigger deal. And such is the case with one of the coolest ocean crafts launched this year, the 217-ft. Hodor. Built by Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon, the catamaran started life as a support vessel—aka

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P h o t o g ra p h e d b y C L I N T J EN K I N S

Shadow Cat—for the 285-ft. Feadship Lonian, which while an admittedly impressive piece of naval architecture, doesn’t especially have much to distinguish it from the next luxe superyacht. Hodor, however, is a different story, at once more avant-garde and menacing as well as a damn sight more fun. Australia’s Incat Crowther designed the 217.-ft. Shadow Cat as a support vessel for the superyacht Lonian

That’s down to Australian firm Incat Crowther, which went above and beyond its brief to create a custom floating toy chest for Lonian’s owner and ended up building a vessel James Bond only wishes he had command of. Designed to serve the larger craft, it holds a helicopter, speedboats, tenders, Jet Skis, water toys, 4x4s, quad bikes and even a submarine for any sort of excursion on land or sea that Lonian’s owner fancies. The idea being that the mothership is free to devote every inch of deck space to sheer sybaritic cruising. However, Hodor, which shares a 20-man crew with Lonian, is far too cool to merely float along in another boat’s wake. Incat Crowther won’t disclose how many millions of dollars were spent on her, but judging from the vessel’s lethal looks, no expense was spared. Her helipad can can accommodate sizable choppers including as the stylish twin-engine, nine-passenger EC145, while SuperYacht Times reports that the largest craft she carries on board is a bespoke 56-ft. speedboat bristling with four high-performance Seven Marine outboard engines that can be launched and retrieved via a special hydraulic platform.

The Hodor is bristling with toys including a helicopter, speedboat, submarine, Jet Skis, quad bikes and more

Hodor is also home to a fully-equipped dive center as well as a high-tech floating hospital ward complete with a decompression chamber. And should some of Lonian’s guests prefer to stay aboard, it has well-designed cabins, a guest lounge and a water-level balcony, as well. When going full-bore, the yacht can reach a maximum speed of 22.5 knots and cover its full 5,500-nautical-mile maximum range at a cruising speed of 14 knots courtesy of a twin engine setup. In certifying Hodor’s seaworthiness and general capability, marine surveyor Tom Corness of Patton Marine somewhat understated the case when he declared that “the quality of workmanship is exceptionally good for this commercial standard of vessel—it blends commercial and yacht standards perfectly to perform yacht support tasks.” There’s that word again. And if you were wondering, the name Hodor appears to be a reference to a supporting character in Game of Thrones, a giant, immensely strong yet simpleminded servant of the Stark family, Winterfell’s ruling house. The sort of character, we’d hasten to point out, who is often underestimated until that crucial moment when push comes to shove. At which point you’d be well advised to get the hell out of the way.

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HOME

UNREAL ESTATE A look at the real estate bought, sold and listed this year by some of the richest men in the world Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

n our last survey of over-the-top real estate for this magazine we noted that $100 million listings, almost unheard of until a few years ago, had become the new benchmark for the ultra rich buyer. Now in the space of less than a year that figure seems to have doubled. In August one of the most expensive estates ever listed for sale, the historic Villa Les Cèdres in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera, once owned by King Leopold II of Belgium, sold to an undisclosed, but undoubtedly extremely well off, buyer for about $221 million. And that was after a 43% price drop. Nor is the picturesque property, surrounded by a 34 acre botanical garden on a peninsula perched between Nice and Monaco, alone in that realm. A similarly well heeled house hunter can now write a check for $279 million for a 22,000 square foot Colorado compound owned by Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks that comes complete with a car museum. Not to mention an airstrip, airplane hangar, helipad, horse stables, and private observatory, all on a total of 8,700 acres. And in January billionaire Citadel hedge fund founder Ken Griffin set a new record for the highest priced house ever sold in the United States when he paid $238 million for a New York City penthouse. With an unbelievable 24,000 square feet, its owner was immediately crowned the new king of Gotham. If billionaire real estate deals are anything to go by, this has certainly been a banner year. In January private equity mogul Henry Kravis listed his White River Valley Colorado ranch on 4,600 acres for $46 million. The property comes with five miles of private fly fishing on both forks of the White River, as well as a Greg Norman designed four hole golf course; the famous golf champion has a place nearby. That same month

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banking billionaire Nurzhan Subkhanberdin closed on the sale of a pair of penthouses atop Manhattan’s Time Warner Center for about $20 million. They span a total of 4,743 square feet and could “easily be combine to create a grand home,” as the listing noted. Speaking of grand homes, in February the billionaire investor,

The 439-acre Casteel Creek Retreat near Vail, Colorado is currently listed for sale with LIV Sotheby’s International Realty for $78 million. The property features a 32,000-square-foot main residence as well as an indoor sports arena, ﬁve-story rock climbing wall, Olympic size lap pool, a shooting range and a fully-stocked trout pond

C O U R T E S Y O F L I V S OT H E BY ’ S I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E A LT Y

AT $279 MILLION, JOHN HENDRICKS’ COLORADO COMPOUND IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE ESTATES

hedge fund manager and philanthropist Steve Cohen listed his 9,600 square foot Manhattan triplex for a not inconsiderable $33.5 million, then sold it just over a month later for close to the asking price at $30 million. In May Russian oligarch Andrey Borodin paid $23 million for an enormous equestrian compound near Palm Beach that was once home to the Lechuza Caracas polo team, to add to his real estate portfolio that includes the one-time most expensive home in England. And in June in Bridgehampton, natural gas billionaire Michael Smith sold a beachfront compound for close to its $42.5 million asking price; not to worry, he still has a $110 million spread in East Hampton as well as a another estate in Malibu worth the same eye-popping amount. At times multiple properties have changed hands in a single megabucks deal. Also in May Howard Marks, the billionaire co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management, spent $35 million to buy four properties in Amagansett from Barbara Zuckerberg, the ex-wife of former Goldman Sachs executive Roy Zuckerberg, according to the New York Post. He already owned a neighboring $30 million property, making his combined compound worth $65 million. That was dwarfed however by the news that billionaire WhatsApp cofounder Brian Acton had quietly amassed a portfolio of adjacent properties—more than half a dozen of them on a single residential block—in Palo Alto, California worth a combined $86 million. The summer was equally sizzling. In June billionaire British inventor and entrepreneur Sir James Dyson made headlines when he bought Singapore’s most expensive penthouse for a reported $54.2 million. It was actually something of a bargain considering the three story aerie complete with a private pool was once valued as high as $100 million. And in July an unnamed Chinese billionaire reportedly paid $75 million—cash—for a 24,000 square foot mega mansion in Bel Air that he

“stumbled across” one day while idly browsing Zillow, the online real estate database. So what do these extremely wealthy gentleman intend to do with such awe-inspiring properties? We may not find out for several years, but considering these are some of the most accomplished and successful men in the world, it’s reasonable to assume there’s a profit to be made somewhere down the line. In 2013 when Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev paid somewhere around $150 million for the private Greek island of Skorpios which was once owned by Aristotle Onassis, it was reported to be an investment for his daughter. This past summer his vision for the property was finally revealed. “The investment project, expected to be completed in two to three years, includes a luxury resort complex with spa, restaurants, and marina,” as he told Wealth Management. “In addition, there will be showrooms, an amphitheater, a helipad, a farm, and recreation areas.” It will, he promises, be “unique in the Mediterranean.” Having first sailed by on his yacht, “I remember being captivated by this ‘earthly paradise’ with its enchanting natural beauty,” Rybolovlev, owner of the AS Monaco Football Club among other assets, recounted. “After buying it and spending a lot of vacation there, Skorpios means so much to me.” He describes it as a “private shelter that helps me relax, recharge my batteries and return to my responsibilities.” Want to acquire a private Greek island of your own? Private Islands Inc. has several listed for sale, ranging from 26 acres to over 1,300 acres, most of them uninhabited and ripe for development on a comparable scale to the Skorpios project. Of course if you just decided to live there quietly untroubled by nosy paparazzi, troublesome ex-wives or autograph seekers, we would hardly blame you.

Top: Casteel Creek Retreat features stunning views of the Rocky mountains; Middle: The lavish estate comes complete with accessories including snowmobiles; Bottom: Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks’s Colorado compound is on the market for $279 million via LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

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R U N E H E L L E S TA D / C O R B I S / G E T T Y I M A G E S ; O P P O S I T E PA G E : M Á T Y Á S N A G Y / E Y E E M / G E T T Y I M A G E S

SPIRITS

SHAKEN &STIRRED

Why vodka makes the ultimate martini, and how you should be mixing yours now Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

“I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made.” Words of wisdom as spoken by longtime martini aficionado James Bond in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale, though it wasn’t until the 1964 big-screen version of Goldfinger that Sean Connery issued the now-infamous dictum “shaken, not stirred.” Bond has always been a vodka man; one story goes that Fleming acquired a taste for it while working as a journalist in Russia. Though these days 007’s preferred Smirnoff of the ’60s has been replaced with Belvedere, maker of the official James Bond martini—Belvedere super-premium vodka from Poland, dry vermouth and a twist of lemon—and the liquor Daniel Craig was first seen quaffing in Spectre. Bond’s choice of vodka over the traditional gin marked him as adventurous and avant-garde in Fleming’s day, though the first notable

James Bond helped make the vodka martini a cultural icon

TO P TO B OT TO M : C O U R T E S Y O F B E LV E D E R E V O D K A ; C O U R T E S Y O F A B S O L U T

mention of vodka in a martini appeared in an edition of David Embury’s 1948 bar manual The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. These days, of course, it’s not only 007 who likes his martinis made with ice-cold vodka and little else (many experts agree vodka cannot be “bruised” by shaking, unlike gin). “The martini has always been the pinnacle of cocktail culture,” Gareth Evans, Global Brand Ambassador for Absolut Elyx, the copper-crafted wheat vodka that ranks as one of the world’s finest luxury spirits, tells Maxim. “It is one of the oldest cocktails, and there are a million apocryphal stories about how it came to be. But at its core it is a triumph of simplicity, an icy cold balance between spirit and vermouth and a perfect way to showcase a top-quality vodka.” Yet, he notes, “there isn’t really a definitive recipe; a martini is a personal thing, with no two recipes the same, and none better or worse than the other. No other drink has such specific imagery, and the martini has been immortalized in print and on screen countless times, always representing the height of drinking sophistication. It is not a beginner’s drink. It is challenging at first for sure, and is as spirit-forward as possible; but a well-made vodka martini is impossible to beat, and once people fall in love with [it] they rarely order anything else.” Evans notes that when he first started bartending 20 years ago “people would just order whatever was expensive, but nowadays the quality of the liquid itself is the most important thing.” Now, however, “people are looking at their food and drinks choices differently; con-

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Top: Belvedere Vodka, part of LVMH’s luxury spirits portfolio, is made in Poland; Bottom: With Absolut Elyx, “you get a more elegant martini with very subtle ﬂavors that do not overpower the ﬁnished product,” says Elyx Master Distiller Krister Asplund

sumers want to know where and how things are made, and are looking for quality products with history and provenance.” Elyx is unique in being crafted from winter wheat grown on a single estate in southern Sweden, which Elyx Master Distiller Krister Asplund says, along with its antique copper stills, lend it a unique character and creamy mouthfeel. “With Elyx, you get a more elegant martini with very subtle flavors that do not overpower the finished product,” Asplund tells us. The martini went through “a torrid time in the ’90s, when it became synonymous with anything sweet and fruity in a martini glass,” Evans notes, but with the availability of truly top-shelf vodkas like Absolut Elyx, which was launched in 2013, “the martini has gone through a Matthew McConaughey-style renaissance, and the modern martini seems much more in keeping with its classic roots.” It has also gotten a lot smaller, “as the smaller martinis will stay icy cold until the last sip—gone are the days of the 9-oz. steakhouse-style martini steadily getting warmer and less appealing as the night goes on.” Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, distilled from winter wheat in copper pot stills and first released in 1983, spearheaded the spirit’s superpremium category. “Ketel One was created with the martini in mind,” Bob Nolet, one half of the eleventh generation of Nolets to run the historic Nolet Distillery in the Netherlands, established to make genever in 1691, tells Maxim. At the time most vodkas weren’t of a high enough quality to carry a martini.

COURTESY OF KETEL ONE

“I PREFER VODKA IN MY MARTINIS BECAUSE OF ITS UNDENIABLE ELEGANCE”

Top: Distilling at Nolet, in the Netherlands, where Ketel One is made, has changed little over the centuries; Bottom: Crafting libations with Ketel One at the amazing apothecary-themed cocktail bar Dr. in Rotterdam

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“The cocktail’s very existence provided the launchpad for the creation of Ketel One, and in the canon of classic cocktails, a perfectly constructed martini is arguably the gold standard,” he says. “My father [Carolus Sr.’s] vision when he founded Ketel One was to create a spirit that would inherently make the martini better by its very characteristics. The three key elements to the vodka that my father wanted to produce were a crisp taste, a silky rounded mouthfeel, and a long finish.” After years of experimentation, “drawing on his great-great-grandfather’s tasting notes,” Carolus discovered the perfect recipe, Nolet says. “Combining modern column distillation with the unique liquid produced by copper pot stills he created Ketel One Vodka [and] named it after the oldest, coal-fired copper pot still used at the distillery, an image of which still graces the label of every one of our bottles.” Ketel One makes an ideal martini because it is “crisp instead of sharp or overpowering. It stands on its own in flavor, with only a splash of dry vermouth.” Stirring instead of shaking—sorry, 007—“yields proper dilution and temperature, key ingredients for a good martini. If you’ve got a properly diluted martini, you should never need ice, which is why it’s best served up, and in a chilled martini glass. A lemon twist to garnish is my preferred final touch, adding a delightful pop of citrus aroma.” While one might expect excellent vodka from Sweden and the Netherlands, France is a less likely prospect. However Grey Goose Vodka, made from soft winter wheat from the country’s Picardy region along with water from a natural limestone well in Charente, has put it firmly on the map. Grey Goose Cellar Master François Thibault performs the functions of both a Master Distiller and Master Blender in producing the super-premium vodka. “Our production process has

Top: Cellar Master François Thibault recommends adding a dash of orange bitters to a Grey Goose martini, which “helps bring out the citrus and almond notes of the winter wheat vodka”; Bottom: Library Bar at The Ned London is a mecca for martini lovers

C O U R T E S Y O F T H E L I B R A R Y B A R . T H I S PA G E TO P TO B OT TO M : C O U R T E S Y O F H A N G A R 1 ; T E R R Y O ’ N E I L L / G E T T Y I M A G E S

O P P O S I T E PA G E : TO P TO B OT TO M : C O U R T E S Y O F G R E Y G O O S E ; C O U R T E S Y O F G R E Y G O O S E / G U I L L A U M E J U B I E N ;

been precisely calibrated to nurture, isolate, and capture the essential character of the ingredients,” he tells Maxim. As for martinis, “I prefer vodka in my martinis because of its undeniable elegance,” he says. What became known as vodka dates back to the Middle Ages while gin is a somewhat more recent invention, and “by many, gin is understood as the original flavored vodka, having added juniper and other botanicals to a vodka base to change the flavor,” Thibault notes. “But straight vodka in a martini is smooth, it blends, it’s more approachable—a well-mixed Grey Goose martini is the perfect accessory to any evening, in any environment.” The vodka doesn’t detract from the other ingredients in the glass, he opines, “rather, it underscores the harmony that can be created when ingredients of the highest quality come together in a delicious and understated, but often fun, cocktail.” He recommends adding a dash of orange bitters which “helps bring out the citrus and almond notes of the winter wheat vodka.” And “depending on how I’m feeling, I may swish the dry vermouth around the glass once or twice and then toss it before pouring in the Grey Goose; this way, the vodka is just lightly kissed by the flavor of it.” Europe does not have a monopoly on martini-worthy vodkas, however. One example is Hangar 1 Vodka, made in Alameda, California outside of San Francisco and not far from the Napa Valley. “At Hangar 1, we create our Straight Vodka expression by

combining a vodka distilled from grain with vodka distilled from California wine grapes,” the brand’s Head Distiller, Caley Shoemaker, tells Maxim. “The result is a vodka with a soft, round texture and a hint of fruit essence, which is perfect for creating a fresh take on the classic martini; but I especially love it featured in a dirty martini. The fresh and slightly floral aroma, round and smooth mouthfeel, and light perfume on the finish pair wonderfully with the velvety texture and the salty, briny notes of the olive juice, offering a unique flavor profile to this classic cocktail.” Want to get even more into the spirit (ahem)? Hangar 1 also makes Fog Point Vodka, using locally captured California fog in place of water, and distilled from Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier, a Napa wine chosen for its notes of honeyed pears, white peaches and zesty citrus.“The resulting vodka is very complex,” Shoemaker says, “with a bright and citrusy aroma, a thick and round mouthfeel, and elegant mineral notes,” the nuances of which make for an elevated martini that best showcases its subtleties. And at Little Giant in Portland, Maine—recognized in GQ’s Best Bars in America last year—the house martini is made using filtered seawater drawn off the local coast, and some regulars specify Reyka Vodka from Iceland in place of the usual gin as the perfect foil to another kind of briny delight. Not the sort of thing Sean Connery ever asked for, but we think he would be right at home with a splash of fog and seawater in his favorite tipple.

“THESE DAYS 007’S PREFERRED SMIRNOFF OF THE ’60S HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH BELVEDERE VODKA”

Top: Hangar 1’s Fog Point Vodka uses locally captured California fog in place of water; Bottom: Sean Connery enjoying a vodka martini in the bath on the set of 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever

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ADVENTURE

THE

YOUNG MAN AND THE SEA

How one extreme adventurer is preparing for the ultimate “round-trip” Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

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P h o t o r g ra p h y b y AN D R E A S L I N D L AH R

s Boris Herrmann prepares for next year’s Vendée Globe, an around-the-world solo, non-stop sailing regatta, he doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges he faces. The German racing sailor, who perhaps understands the dangers and difficulties better than anyone, refers to the roughly three-month ordeal as the “Everest of the sea.” Except rather than being surrounded by teammates and Sherpas who can assist in the event of difficulty or disaster, Herrmann will be all alone in the middle of the world’s most expansive and unpredictable oceans. Circumnavigating the globe by sea, first achieved by the Magellan-Elcano expedition in 1522, is one of the rare achievements that doesn’t appear to have gotten much easier in the centuries since, despite advances in technology, meteorology, communication and navigation. Especially when it’s attempted solo, a daunting challenge of both physical and mental fortitude. “It’s really a very exclusive adventure,” the 38 year-old mariner tells Maxim. “Less than a hundred people have ever done it, have ever succeeded in completing the race.” But the German competitive sailor isn’t looking to simply finish and survive such an arduous and potentially dangerous race around the world, but to do so with the drive to compete that has led him to success throughout his sailing career. “I’m very much a racing sailor,” he says. “Not too much for saying ‘I just want to finish’. I hope to do well in the race.” After placing fifth in his last big trans-Atlantic solo race, Herrmann has set his sights on victory in the Vendée Globe. “We’re in second place in the ongoing ranking of the championship, so I’m going into this very ambitious. I really want to do well in the race.” To achieve this immense goal, Herrmann has surrounded himself with a team of experts, and together they are training and maintaining his purpose-built yacht, the Malizia II, for the upcoming contest. With the support of friend and fellow accomplished yachtsman Pierre Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Yacht Club de Monaco, Herrmann is leaving nothing to chance. The boat itself is a marvel of advanced design and Spartan amenities, measuring in at around 60 feet. The effort to cut any “fat” from the boat has been extreme, as only the absolute essentials remain in a sport where weight saving is vital. According to Herrmann, there is a “long culture of weight saving with race sailing and it’s completely madness. You don’t paint the boat inside white to make it more livable because of the half kilo of paint.” Years of preparation ensure the pinnacle of performance on the open ocean. “We usually say 80% of that success is determined before the start,” admits Herrmann. “A very meticulous preparation is

Herrmann with Will Harris, his co-skipper for the Fastnet race and the Transat Jacques Vabre race which was slated to take place in October 2019

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done by the team. Every screw on the boat is checked. Every little piece of metal or carbon fiber or titanium is very solidly checked and optimized so that involves many work hours every year to go through the boat and prepare it.” This of course leaves little to no room for comforts of any kind. Boris makes do with a single iPad and noisecancelling headphones for entertainment during the unrelenting hours on the sea, as a television or other distractions would prove to be speed-killing extra weight. Despite his expertise, and the caution he takes with the assistance of advanced weather modeling and forecasts, the dangers are obvious. “We have been sailing around a typhoon in the China Sea in 2015. I have gone through the ice of the northeast passage. We’ve had hurricanes or cyclones on all oceans so I’ve had quite a few situations but usually with weather models nowadays we can foresee them coming and usually get ourselves in the right spot so it’s not any severe risk or danger. That’s something I’m quite proud of, is [with] all the many trips I’ve done, and twelve years of sailing professionally on the ocean, I’ve never had a really dangerous situation.” Herrmann began his life on the water with his family, doing recreational sailing before discovering racing at a local sailing club when he was a teenager. Combining his love of racing, and his love of ocean sailing, he was soon one of the brightest stars on the competitive ocean sailing scene. Shorter journeys eventually led to longer adventures like this past summer’s headline-grabbing, trans-Atlantic journey with teen climate-activist Greta Thunberg, which enabled the young environmentalist to travel to the United Nations in New York City from Europe without the carbon footprint resulting from air travel. “Going out with a team, of course, has a whole other aspect to it,” he says. “It is a great pleasure to share this feeling and the fascination and the different emotions of stress or fear and joy, to share that with

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“IT’S A VERY EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURE. LESS THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE EVER FINISHED IT” a group. So I really like both and I wouldn’t call myself a solo sailor because I have done much more group sailing in my life than solo sailing. I really like both.” While Herrmann enjoyed the trip, and the education it provided him on vital environmental issues, he still enjoys the unique lifestyle that is life alone on the open sea. “I like contrast and being alone sometimes is very inspiring and refreshing. It’s a real adventure to go out to sea with such a big machine and then you feel it, you stand there and the boat sails so fast and you feel like the master of the universe.”

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ATHLETE

GREAT EXPECTATIONS The most hyped prospect in a generation brings the party to New Orleans Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

J E S S E D. G A R R A B R A N T/ N B A E V I A G E T T Y I M A G E S

“Let’s Dance!” That was the simple message Zion Williamson had for New Orleans Pelicans fans on draft night after the franchise made him the first pick of the 2019 NBA draft. While the city of New Orleans never needs encouragement to have a good time, the statement perfectly summarized what the long-struggling organization was getting in the 19-year-old superstar. With Zion, it’s apparently not enough to just succeed; he wants to have fun while doing it, and to achieve his goals as part of a team and community. Now, the South Carolina-raised phenomenon is embarking on the most hyped, and anticipated, rookie season since LeBron James joined the league more than a decade ago. But whereas LeBron was a household name for basketball fans during his time in high school, Zion’s celebrity is at another level, thanks especially to his social media presence. By the time he arrived at Duke University in the middle of 2018, he was already famous. With more than a million Instagram followers, and numerous mixtapes that were YouTube viral sensations, Zion was the talk of the basketball world. Drake wore Zion’s high school jersey and the athlete’s AAU summer games became some of the hottest tickets in basketball. All of the attention was understandable. Zion is a freak of nature, even when competing against other elite athletes. Standing at 6’7”, and weighing more than 270 pounds, he looks more like an offensive tackle than a small forward. But he’s able to bring the agility, footwork and body control of a much smaller human being to his game, without sacrificing any of the strength in his thick frame. Then there are the dunks—windmills, tomahawks, and 360-degree slams that risk breaking the rim, and the internet. During Duke’s preseason

athletic testing he needed an extended pole just to complete the vertical jump test, such was his incredible leaping ability. Starting with Duke’s blowout victory over Kentucky in the first game of the season, Zion became the face of college basketball. Part of a Duke program that is consistently on national television and gets unmatched attention in the sport, he took the attention to new levels, becoming a household name even beyond the college basketball world after sweeping the major college basketball awards. The night New Orleans won the draft lottery to select first overall, the team leadership reacted like they personally won the actual lottery. The franchise sold thousands of season tickets in the hours following the windfall. With the looming departure of superstar Anthony Davis, the Pelicans had appeared to be on the precipice of a drastic fall, with a lengthy rebuild in their future. Instantly, the franchise had energy again, and a centerpiece around whom they could build a team. The Pelicans weren’t the only organization hoping to get a piece of the Zion hype and potential. The battle between sneaker companies to sign the next big star is usually fierce, but the fight for Zion was on a different order of magnitude. Brands like Adidas and Puma as well as Chinese brands Anta and Li-Ning all reportedly entertained making him handsome offers. But in the end, it was Nike, specifically the company’s Jordan Brand, that won the Zion sneaker sweepstakes, and his signature shoe may be available during his rookie season. It’s not only Zion’s basketball abilities that make him so marketable. His friendly demeanor, natural smile and childlike enthusiasm make him a sponsor’s dream. Some are already predicting that he could eventually earn more than a billion dollars in his career. Speaking to Forbes, sports marketing expert Bob Dorfman explained, “Over the course of his career, it’s certainly possible if everything falls perfectly. We know he’s got the game. His head seems screwed on right. He’s poised on camera, articulate, and intelligent. He has the potential for LeBron-esque domination on the court; if he has LeBron-esque ambition in marketing endeavors, $1 billion is within reach.” When draft night arrived, a crowd of thousands gathered in New Orleans. When Williamson’s name was called, the masses exploded in the sort of celebration more commonly associated with winning a championship. As people cheered, and drinks were hoisted skywards, one could be mistaken for having Mardi Gras-related déjà vu. But while this was a different kind of party to that annual bacchanal, Zion’s invitation still seemed appropriate: “Let’s Dance!”

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Home of the Original Steakburger AN AMERICAN CLASSIC SINCE

1934

LEADING MAN

Twist of Fate One actor’s unlikely journey to the role of a lifetime

Gabriel Luna seems like he was destined to be on the silver screen. The former Matador star has managed to secure one of the most iconic roles in film history, becoming the next iteration of the Terminator, following in the footsteps of the icon that is Arnold Schwarzenegger, in Terminator: Dark Fate. But according to the 36-year old Austin, Texas native, his evolution into a movie star was never an original goal of his. In fact, it seemed more destiny than ambition. “Acting was the furthest thing from my mind when I was a young person,” admits Luna. “I was very introverted. My focus was school and athletics.” But despite holding scholarship offers to multiple schools, it seems the universe had a different plan for Luna. “I dislocated my left shoulder playing football and had to take some kind of a twisting, turning serendipitous twist of fate.” It so happened that Luna was fulfilling his fine arts credit at the time in a technical theatre class, and during a read-through of a play, his teacher was stuck by his performance and encouraged him to pursue an on-stage role. Fast forward and not only had Luna found his gift for acting, first in theatre before moving in front of the camera for film and television, but was a magnetic presence on screen. So it was little wonder that when the time came to cast the villain in the next Terminator film, Hollywood icons James Cameron and Tim Miller chose Luna to portray the merciless killing machine. But it wasn’t only icons behind the camera that Luna had to impress, but the living legends he was facing in front of the cameras in each scene, Linda Hamilton and the original Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger. “I was massive fans of them both,” recalls Luna. “I used to sit on the foot of the bed and watch Beauty and the Beast with my mom, and of course, I’ve seen every film that Arnold’s ever made. Once we were working, once we were in the mode of trying to execute our vision in this film, I’d do my best to tamp down all of the excitement, all of the wide-eyed, kid-in-the-candy-store kind of vibes, but I can’t say I was completely able to do that.” In one scene, Luna recalls, “I’m about to run up on to this C-5, this giant aircraft, and Arnold has a grenade launcher pointing at me, Sarah Connor (Hamilton) has a long-barreled rifle pointed at me, and I’m looking out and they haven’t called ‘action’ yet. They’re just standing at the ready with their weapons on their hip, and I look at them both and they’re both just looking at me, and I didn’t want to think what’s going on through their minds. I don’t know what their process entails, what kind of images one has to keep in mind when fighting the Terminator, but they looked like they were serious, man. I tried to put on my battle face and get ready, and they called ‘action,’ and here I am running up to this thing, attacking two of the most iconic heroes of all times. So, it was in that moment I think that really kind of sunk into my bones.” While Luna’s upcoming projects, including his return as Ghost Rider/Robbie Reyes in a Marvel Cinematic Universe series on Hulu, are certainly imposing challenges and highly-anticipated by demanding fans, it’s hard to believe there’s anything more intimidating for an actor than having to face off with the original Terminator and global action film superstar—whether he’s holding a grenade launcher or not.

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COURTESY OF JOHN RUSSO

Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

RISING STAR

Catch Her If You Can How Supercar Blondie leveraged social media into stardom

t’s possible you don’t know who Alex Hirschi is, but in today’s social media-dominated world, there’s almost no doubt that you’ve heard of her professional handle, Supercar Blondie. The Australian-born, Dubai-living former radio personality has built her fanbase of around 14 million combined followers on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, on her passion for speed and the enthusiasm she brings to her videos and posts. It would be easy for a cynic to assume it’s the “Blondie” side of the persona that has attracted her legions of followers, but the truth is Hirschi stands apart from the horde of influencers and enthusiasts because of her genuine passion for sharing supercars with the world. She initially used her journalism degree to land a job in Dubai as a radio host. Soon, she discovered a perk of the job was the opportunity to test and review exciting vehicles, of which she took full advantage. Soon automakers like Bentley, McLaren and others were seeking her out to share their creations with the wider world. Her reviews became more detailed, and her videos more polished, until she decided to commit to covering supercars full-time. “Just like anyone would, if you were given a McLaren, you would start uploading photos of your experience, and some videos and stuff,” to your personal Instagram account, Hirschi tells us. “I didn’t have any intention of making this a thing on social media.” But soon, the videos she created with her husband led to a growing fol-

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lowing that couldn’t be ignored. “I think probably a year after we started uploading on Instagram and working every weekend [and] every night after coming home from the radio job, it became a second full time job really,” she recalls. “I got to 60,000 followers and that’s when I just decided, hey, if we’re going to make this into something, we may as well just take the leap, quit the job and just go for it. And that’s what happened in April 2017.” That was the start of her meteoric rise, and soon Supercar Blondie was attracting more fans across various platforms and she hasn’t looked back since. “Since I quit my job, I’ve gone from 60,000 followers to about 14 million, so in two and a half years, I suppose it did go crazy and it seemed to make that massive jump.” While she clearly knows what she’s talking about when reviewing a new model from Ferrari, Lamborghini or Bugatti, Hirschi believes that her content is successful because it’s not only for the automotiveobsessed. “What I have made clear was that I’m not actually a car expert, and that is actually one of the reasons why my content, I think, relates to a lot of people. Because I don’t go in talking about all of the really complicated statistics about a car, and how a car all functions and works and all of that. There are a lot of people doing that already. And, there is an audience for that, but it’s very, very small.” “I mean, when you think about it, a lot of us love cars, but not a lot of us are interested in exactly how they work,” she muses. “We just want to see a great car and hear how it sounds, look at all the gadgets and functions. So, I approach it in a way that is going to appeal to 99% of people, instead of the one percent of car experts.” Her strategy seems to have paid off, enough to enable her to make her supercar dreams a reality—she’s now the proud owner of a Lamborghini Huracán, named Lucy. “My profile can sometimes give the wrong impression that I’m just this rich girl who’s been given everything and I have a million cars in my garage,” she says. “That’s not the case at all. I just work really hard to fly around the world, find the coolest cars, and show them off, and that’s what comes across on my profile. But, what people don’t know is I’ve really had to work super hard to get to where I am and what I’ve been able to afford…. So, I’m really proud of that.”

C O U R T E S Y O F @ S U P E R C A R B LO N D I E

Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

“MY PROFILE SOMETIMES GIVES THE WRONG IMPRESSION THAT I’M JUST THIS RICH GIRL WHO’S BEEN GIVEN EVERYTHING”

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GOLDEN YEARS

Jasmine Sanders, aka Golden Barbie, proves she’s much more than meets the eye

P h o t o g ra p h y b y G I L L E S B EN S I M O N S t y l i n g b y C ARO L I N E C H R I S T I AN S S O N Te x t b y T H O M A S FR EEM AN

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“I’M REALLY EXCITED TO JOIN ALL THE OTHER BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL WOMEN ON THE COVER BEFORE ME”

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othing feels artificial about Jasmine Sanders, except maybe her nickname. Many know the rising model, famous for her bronze skin and flaxen hair, as Golden Barbie. It’s a moniker Jasmine and her sister coined on a whim. “It kind of stuck with me. It was supposed to just be for Twitter and Instagram, nothing serious,” she tells Maxim. “I had a lot of friends who used to call me a Barbie Doll, and one of my teachers used to always call me Goldilocks because of my curly hair. Somehow [my sister and I] came up with Golden Barbie, and it stuck.” Jasmine, 28, does indeed have the blue eyes and radiant smile of a Barbie Doll come to life. Her Instagram feed, a confection of Moschino looks and bikini photoshoots with 3.5 million followers, is only missing a Dreamhouse. Still, Jasmine does not speak with the squeaky cheeriness one attributes to her namesake. Her voice is gravelly, and her tone is easygoing. She tells it like it is. Her jawline is stronger than that of the iconic doll, and her physique is more athletic. She is also biracial, the daughter of a German mother and an African-American father. They raised her in South Carolina, not Malibu. People may see a life-size Barbie at first blush, but Jasmine is no piece of plastic. “I really wanted people to attach Jasmine Sanders to my name instead of just Golden Barbie,” she says of realizing her Instagram handle’s staying power. “I tried to change it, and everybody still called me Golden Barbie. They got angry, so I changed it back. She will forever be Golden Barbie… I’m proud of it [now]. It’s fine. I’ll take it.” In any case Mattel should put her on its payroll after the modeling success she has had, including ad campaigns for the likes of Fendi, MCM, Smashbox Cosmetics, Bulgari, Roberto Cavalli and Ralph Lauren; magazine covers including Interview, Lui, and Ocean Drive; and runway shows for Moschino, Byblos, Philipp Plein, DKNY, Miu Miu and Jeremy Scott, among others. More recently she became the face of Vince Camuto’s new Illuminare perfume. Here she talks to Maxim about her early passion for modeling, counting runway legend Naomi Campbell as a mentor, and her latest triumph. Firstly, how does it feel to make the cover of Maxim? I’ve looked at this magazine for so many years. I started modeling at 13, and it was one of my top goals—on the top of the list. I’m just really excited to be part of all of the other beautiful and powerful women that were able to be on the cover before me. Are there any past Maxim cover girls that you look up to? Olivia Culpo is definitely a friend of mine, and I was really excited to see that she got the cover and help her celebrate and everything. The list goes on. In the fashion industry, I love Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Heidi Klum… Candice Swanepoel is just someone that I’m obsessed with. I think she literally does no wrong. The list can go on though. What do you admire most about them? They made sure that they made their own lane, and they have a voice for themselves, and they give back to the community and really try to do more than just being the girl on the cover or the girl in the pages of the magazine. It’s just something I really look up to. Why were you interested in modeling at such a young age? I’ve just always liked to find some way to be creative. I used to draw a lot and write a lot of poetry. Once my mom allowed me to get my hands into make-

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“THE WORLD IS COMPLETELY MIXED AND COLORFUL AND BEAUTIFUL. SO WHY NOT REPRESENT IT?”

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Sunglasses, TOM FORD Earrings, HOUSE OF EMMANUELE Pants, OUD PARIS

up, it was fun to do that. I also saw some of her photos growing up. She used to do a little bit of modeling before having kids. I used to watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show back-to-back. Seeing them be able to turn into completely different women in every photo shoot, I thought it was really powerful. I was always fascinated by it. You are close to Naomi Campbell. How did you meet her? I met her at the White House. It was definitely a fangirl moment. I was like, “How do I pull it together to tell this lady the impact she has had on my life and career?” I ended up getting her a drink. I was like, “You do not need to get up, you look too gorgeous. I’ll go grab you a drink.” We started talking, and we ended up going on the dance floor and dancing for hours. We had the best time. We exchanged phone numbers, and then she called me and said, “I really wanna help you out in the industry. If there’s anything you ever need, know that you can call me.” Did you accept her offer? When I was going through castings for [the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show], she came to a girlfriend’s house of mine in New York. She told us to roll up the carpet and make a path so I could do a runway walk. She recorded me and had my friends involved, getting them to walk past me. She then asked me to throw on some clothes and heels, and we ran to Dave Chappelle’s comedy show. It was so funny, but maybe every 10 minutes, she’d say, “Let’s go outside.” She’d pull me out into the hallways and have me walk. The next day, she FaceTimed me during my casting, asking, “How do you feel? What number are you in line? Tell me how it goes! You look great! You’re gonna do amazing!” She put the battery in my back for me to walk into that casting. I never thought that somebody I looked up to so much could now be a friend and a mentor and coach me through the industry. It’s honestly insane. Tell me a bit about your time at the Venice Film Festival. I just got back last night. I went there for the film festival with [clothing label] Twinset. It was just a really cool experience; I’ve never been before. Well, I’ve been to Venice, but I’ve never been to the film festival. It was just a fun experience, I saw a lot of the girls that I get to work with all the time. I got to hang out, and… yeah. It was just a lot of fun. It was a really quick trip though. I wish I could have stayed a little bit longer. Very hot.

“SHE WILL FOREVER BE GOLDEN BARBIE. I’M PROUD OF IT NOW. IT’S FINE. I’LL TAKE IT” Lastly, how has being biracial shaped your career? When I started, when I was 13 or 14 years old, the industry definitely had more of a cookie cutter look of what they wanted on the runway or covers of magazines. It’s helped now because the world is changing so much. The world is starting to accept that every relationship is pretty much biracial. Now is a good time for me because I’m able to represent so many other girls out there that have my skin complexion, my hair color, or my story. It’s fun to be able to laugh and really not have taken those “no”s back then. The world is completely mixed and colorful and beautiful. So why not represent it?

Jewelry, HOUSE OF EMMANUELE Bodysuit, MARTA MARTINO For more information, see page 82. Assistant Stylist, Rap Sarmiento. Makeup, Charlotte Willer. Hair, Gianluca Mandelli.

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LION OF THE EAST How to live among the gods in Singapore, one of the most sybaritic cities on Earth Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

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“NOT ONLY IS SINGAPORE HOME TO PLENTY OF BILLIONAIRES, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES IN THE WORLD”

The Marina Bay Sands overlooks Gardens by the Bay park, and serves as a striking centerpiece of the Singapore skyline.

P R E V I O U S PA G E : AT H A N A S I O S G I O U M PA S I S / G E T T Y I M A G E S

n July, when billionaire entrepreneur Sir James Dyson purchased a $32 million Good Class Bungalow, with prime views of the Botanic Gardens in one of Singapore’s most exclusive neighborhoods, it might have been a case of déjà vu for local residents. After all, he had just completed the purchase of the most expensive penthouse apartment in the city-state only weeks prior, the $54 million super-triplex at the elite Wallich Residence in the tallest skyscraper in Singapore. Even in a city of exorbitant wealth, limited space, and a premium for real estate, Dyson had made a statement. In a city of billionaires, the British inventor wasn’t going to settle, he insisted on the best. But for a country whose large number of billionaire residents belies its small size, with 22 calling the city-state home, it was the Good Class Bungalow purchase that caught the public’s attention. Due to limited space, this category of home (there are only around 2,800 that exist), consisting of more than 15,000 square feet and typically including ownership of the land itself, is a symbol of wealth and one of the most sought-after purchases in the city. Singapore’s role as an international center of business and commerce might only now be getting the attention it deserves as one of the world’s great financial centers, but the truth is the city-state has maintained its vital importance to the global economy for centuries. Despite a location that has ensured its geographical significance in Asia for more than 700 years, it wasn’t until the British established a trading post there in 1819 that it started to become the economic center it is today; but since then it has become a bridge between Asia

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T H I S PA G E : C O U R T S E Y O F M A R I N A B AY S A N D S S I N G A P O R E

and the rest of the world, developing into a hub of economic activity for the region, and eventually the world. Not only is Singapore home to plenty of billionaires, it is one of the most expensive cities in the world for residents of any tax bracket. While this makes day-to-day living expensive, it also means that those visiting the city have access to a lifestyle of luxury and opulence found in few other places on Earth. While not everyone can afford to purchase their own Good Class Bungalow, or penthouse, the city offers a selection of world-class hotels that can make anyone feel like a billionaire. Five-star options abound, such as the St. Regis Singapore, where no detail is overlooked, from the world-class private art collection to the Presidential Suite, which may be the most exclusive accommodation in the city with a Breche de Benou marble bathroom and a master suite that could make rooms in Versailles jealous. Crystal chandeliers, unrivaled personalized service and the St. Regis Butler Service are just a few features that produce a level of opulence that stands out, even amongst its peers in the St. Regis collection. Located near the posh Orchard Road shopping district, the property offers the best of the city just outside its doors, assuming you can be convinced to explore outside of this cathedral of luxury. Mandarin Oriental, Singapore is another contender for the city’s top hotel with its tradition of service, refined design and elite dining and spa options. Located in the Marina Bay district, the hotel is ideal for tourists and business travelers alike. Be sure to visit the Oriental Club Lounge, located on the 19th floor, where one can enjoy a peace-

The inﬁnity pool atop the Marina Bay Sands is one of the must-visit attractions in Singapore, and one of the most stunning vantages in all of Asia.

ful retreat while overlooking the city’s incredible skyline and partaking in the champagne breakfast that is an ideal way to start one’s day. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore is quite literally a National Monument, awarded such status in 2015. More than 90 years old, the building is one of the most striking architectural designs in the city, and has played a significant role in the its rich history. While it may be more restrained in its opulence than some of the newer additions to the city’s skyline, it sacrifices nothing in terms of service or guest experience. Furthermore, it claims to possess the most exclusive hotel suite in all of Singapore with its Presidential Suite, and it’s hard to argue that claim considering the suite’s private elevator, baby grand piano, and glass-enclosed veranda just off the exquisite dining and living rooms. Even if you stay at one of the other five-star hotels in the city, it should be mandatory for visitors to experience the Marina Bay Sands and its world-renowned infinity pool, located 57 floors above the city below. A hotspot for global celebrities and tastemakers, the hotel is exquisite, but the infinity pool is the crown jewel, and any visit to the city is rather incomplete without a few hours spent lounging by its edge with a glass of champagne in hand. These towering heights are also where you’ll find Cé La Vi Club Lounge, a nightclub and restaurant that will keep the experience going well into the night. The hotel also houses the two-Michelin-star Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda restaurant, serving a 10-course Japanese-European menu that rivals any found in this city of impossibly high standards. Foodies the world over are left anxiously anticipating what it will offer after its recent renovation and reimagined dining

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experience. As a global economic center, it’s not surprising that the elite restaurants that call Singapore home are diverse in their cuisines as well. Burnt Ends offers Australian barbecue that brings the traditional backyard cuisine to exalted levels of refinement and quality, both in its menu and its atmosphere. The Michelin-starred Corner House offers food as art, with dishes so spectacular in design and execution that one is hesitant to eat the edible artwork placed in front of diners… until the first bite that is. Its “gastro-botanica” identity applies to both its food and its surroundings, as the building itself, dating back to 1910, and its adjacent horticulture act as inspiration for the menu. The restaurant is sure to wow even the most jaded of culinary aficionados. But the most elusive reservation in this city of exclusivity is likely Odette. It’s truly impossible to determine if the food or the surroundings are more impressive, but ranking 18th in the entire world according to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Odette provides unmatched French culinary precision, despite being thousands of miles from Paris. The Kampot pepper-crusted pigeon has earned raves, but nothing that leaves the kitchen at Odette is short of mind-blowing. But you’d better plan ahead if you want to savor this heavenly culinary experience as,

TO P TO B OT TO M : T R I S TA N F E W I N G S / B F C / G E T T Y I M A G E S F O R B F C ; R A H M A N R O S L A N /A F P/ G E T T Y I M A G E S ; C O U R T E S Y O F G A R D E N S BY T H E B AY S I N G A P O R E . O P P O S I T E PA G E C O U R T E S Y O F @ F E VA R E N T

according to Howard Oh, Concierge Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, “Odette is now the buzzing name for almost all of the tourists who are visiting Singapore; even calling a month in advance may not guarantee a reservation.” For those seeking even more exclusive culinary experiences, the newest trend in Singapore is private kitchens. These small, hard-to-book restaurants are found in apartments and homes throughout the city, and offer the same exquisite menu offerings as their larger counterparts but with an intimacy appreciated by the global elite. Establishments like FatFuku, Lucky House Cantonese Private Kitchen, and Lynnette’s Kitchen are just a few of the private kitchens that are gaining worldwide reputations for both their exquisite food and unique experiences. For instance, Lynnette’s Kitchen is hosted by Lynnette Seah, co-concertmaster of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and if you’re fortunate enough to get a seat at her table, she might just entrance you with a

Top: Billionaire British inventor James Dyson has snapped up two of the most expensive, and exclusive properties in all of Singapore in the last year, following his decision to move his company’s headquarters to the city-state. Middle: One of Dyson’s purchases was a Good Class Bungalow, a category of private home only available to the wealthiest and most connected of Singapore’s elite.Bottom: Gardens by the Bay features some of the most unique, and visually stunning, architectural design and sculptures found anywhere. Opposite page: The Parkroyal on Pickering, Singapore integrates elevated terrace gardens into the building’s design, evoking a striking balance between modernity and natural space. 54

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tractions in Singapore, but one of the most distinctive, bold and beautiful excursions found anywhere in Asia. For those looking for some adrenaline-filled activities to balance out all of the relaxation and pampering, be sure to explore the Formula One circuit that weaves through the city. Of course, one doesn’t experience an F1 track on foot or bike. Instead, ask your concierge about obtaining a Ferrari, Lamborghini or McLaren supercar with which you can live your fantasy of being Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel, even if only for a few laps. For those with a love of being on the water, your concierge may also be also to set up guests with a private yacht charter, allowing you to cruise the Singapore Strait with its jaw-dropping views of the island while sipping the finest wines or cocktails. It’s a fantastic luxury experi-

C O U R T E S Y O F @ M C V X Y ( FA R H A N A R I F )

violin accompaniment to your meal. While it’s tempting to remain ensconced in the unparalleled luxury and comfort of Singapore’s elite hotels and restaurants, one must journey out into the city itself to truly indulge in all that this metropolis has to offer. The most striking destination has to be the Gardens by the Bay, home to the Flower Dome, the largest glass greenhouse in the world, as well as to the Cloud Forest and its 30-meter waterfall, the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. The entire park is an Instagrammers’ dream, combining extravagant architecture, extensive botanical sections, and art installations and lighting that make the park fantastical, like a Disney World for billionaires. Comprised of three separate waterfront gardens, Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central, Gardens by the Bay is not just one of the must-see at-

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A globally renowned DJ and actress, Singapore native Jade Rasif, showing off the style and luxury for which the island-city has become famous.

C O U R T E S Y O F R A F F L E S H OT E L S I N G A P O R E

ence for those who don’t have the means to bring their own yacht with them to this urban, island paradise. Singapore is a land of billionaires. But it’s also a city where those of us without that level of wealth can feel like a billionaire, whether it’s for a week, a day or even a single meal. It truly lives up to, and even exceeds, its reputation as Asia’s Monte Carlo—a playground for the wealthy and an aspirational escape for the rest of us.

The Return of Raﬄes Singapore’s most iconic hotel reopens after a major renovation Te x t b y JA R E D PAU L S T E R N

It first opened in 1887 with just 10 rooms, was declared a National Monument a century later by the Singapore government, and has played host to everyone from Grace Kelly and Queen Elizabeth to Karl Lagerfeld. The iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore at 1 Beach Road is one of the most famous hotels in Southeast Asia, and with good reason. And it One of the pillars of the Singapore luxury scene, Rafﬂes Hotel Singapore has become synonymous with the island-city it calls home, such is its history and signiﬁcance to Singapore’s modern era.

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tinctive architecture, heritage and legendary service.” From the famous Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling is often said to have been invented in 1915 [see sidebar p. 59], to the gracious palm-lined courtyard, the place simply exudes luxury, style and timeless sophistication with a uniquely tropical and colonial air. The revitalized hotel is designed to offer an even more attractive mix of “culture, beauty and gentility.” Among the improvements are lavish

The pinnacle of reﬁned accommodation and exquisite personalized service, the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore creates an atmosphere of uncompromised luxury while maintaining a clean and elegant design principle

CO U RT E SY O F M A N DA R I N O R I E N TA L S I N G A P O R E

recently reopened after 18 months, having undergone a reportedly multimillion-dollar restoration led by designer Alexandra Champalimaud, looking better than ever. “There are few hotels in the world whose names have become virtually synonymous with the cities in which they are located, and none more so than the Raffles Hotel in Singapore,” notes Christian Westbeld, the property’s General Manager, who cites its unique combination of “dis-

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new suites, exclusive dining concepts, including one by famed chef Alain Ducasse, and “vibrant lifestyle experiences,” while guests are waited on hand and foot by the iconic Raffles Butlers. Their pair of Presidential Suites, Singapore’s grandest, are particularly impressive at nearly 2,800 square feet, complete with parlor, dining room, living room, dressing area and a private balcony overlooking the Palm Court. And a new chapter in cocktail history is set to be made with the renovation of the Writers Bar, which pays tribute to the many famous authors who have stayed at the hotel over the years, including Rudyard Kipling, Noël Coward and Somerset Maugham. We hope they’re saving a barstool for us.

Singapore Slings The famed city is home to some of world’s best bars

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Each year at the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards, the high-end drinks industry conference and festival held in New Orleans, the trade’s top professionals present awards honoring the world’s top bars, bartenders, and cocktail experts, both here and abroad. And 2019 was something of a sweep for Singapore in the latter category. Two of the city’s most famous bars took home top honors: Atlas bar won Best International Cocktail Bar while Manhattan bar at the Regent Singapore hotel claimed Best International Hotel Bar. Singapore can now legitimately assert supremacy on the international cocktail scene, and with good reason. Although historians of mixology will tell you this is actually nothing new. The Singapore Sling is often said to have been invented in 1915 at the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel [see sidebar p. 58]. However drinks called slings were apparently being slung in Singapore as far back as 1897, according to Imbibe magazine. Regardless, Singapore’s bars have moved on to more modern concoctions—although a Sling at Raffles is still de rigeur; the decor has evolved as well. Rather than imitate the Long Bar’s impeccable colonial style, Atlas bar and Manhattan evoke the Gatsby-esque glamour of other bygone eras.

Atlas was designed as a celebration of “the great Art Deco lobbies of Europe and their rich culinary and beverage traditions,” as the bar puts it. Manhattan meanwhile is a “grand hotel bar inspired by the 19th century’s Golden Age of cocktails and fine drinking[,] delivering on its name with a glamorous yet modern space reminiscent of old New York.” Ranked as Asia’s Best Bar for two consecutive years on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, it is also home to to the world’s first in-hotel rickhouse, referring to a space used to store barrels of aging whiskey—about 100 of them, in this case. In his gorgeous and thirst-provoking 2018 book 150 Bars You Need to Visit Before You Die, sommelier and spirits connoisseur Jurgen Lijcops lists a total of 10 must-visit watering holes in Singapore. In addition to Atlas and Manhattan, he cites Gibson bar, Smoke & Mirrors and the aptly-named Tippling Club (a Tales of the Cocktail winner in 2017), among others, as being remarkable for both the beauty of their design and the quality of their libations. Smoke & Mirrors, an indoor-outdoor aerie located on the roof of the

Top left: The butler service available at the St. Regis Singapore can handle almost any request, but it’s the behind-the-scenes attention to detail that can impress most of all. Top right: The newest iteration of the spa at the St. Regis Singapore offers world-class treatments in surroundings that are as peaceful as they are luxuriant. Bottom: The den is just one of the unique spaces to be found in The Warehouse Hotel, a relatively recent addition to the Singapore luxury hotel community, offering 37 rooms to those looking for the highest level of service in a boutique hotel setting. MAXIM.COM

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C O U R T E S Y O F F O U R S E A S O N S H OT E L S I N G A P O R E . O P P O S I T E PA G E TO P TO B OT TO M : E K YA P / AT L A S B A R ; C O U R T E S Y O F O D E T T E ; C O U R T E S Y O F P O / T H E WA R E H O U S E H OT E L S I N G A P O R E

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Top: Executive Chef Tim Lam, who oversees the Michelin-starred Jiang-Nan Chun restaurant within the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore. Bottom: Offerings from the Summer Delights seasonal menu at Jiang-Nan Chun, which attempts to embody the concept of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Xiang Le Zhu Yi,â&#x20AC;? or the principle of enjoyment and happiness

National Gallery Singapore, offers up incredible views of Marina Bay along with its riffs on classic cocktails. Singapore Tatler notes it “sets out to elevate guests’ cocktail experience by bringing the three senses of taste, sight and touch into every sip,” via “cocktails that use chef-inspired techniques to artfully challenge perceptions with an intricate play on names, presentation and flavors.” Make mine a double…

Billionaire’s Playground According to real estate powerhouse Knight Frank’s annual Wealth Report, Singapore was home to 3,598 ultrahigh-net-worth individuals in 2018, and several are billionaires. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) notes that in addition to British inventor Sir James Dyson, the city’s billionaire residents reportedly include Facebook cofounder Eduardo Saverin and Valencia football club owner Peter Lim. According

Top: A celebration of Europe’s greatest Art Deco lobby bars, Atlas raises the luxurious ambience, décor and drink selections to a rareﬁed level, on par with any of the iconic European venues that inspired its design and atmosphere. Bottom right: What the Po restaurant in the Warehouse Hotel eschews in terms of design complexity, it more than makes up for with its exquisite versions of classical Singaporean cuisine. Bottom left: Located within the National Gallery Singapore, Odette is not only the hardest reservation to get in the entire city, but chef Julien Royer’s modern French culinary creations make this one of the most in-demand ﬁne dining establishments in the world. MAXIM.COM

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C O U R T E S Y O F 1 - A LT I T U D E ; C O U R T E S Y O F L U L U ’ S L O U N G E

“SINGAPORE OFFERS A SELECTION OF WORLD-CLASS HOTELS THAT CAN MAKE ANYONE FEEL LIKE A BILLIONAIRE, AND FIVE-STAR OPTIONS ABOUND”

Top: At 282 meters above Singapore, 1-Altitude is one of the city’s most stunning nightlife options, with a 360-degree view of the city that’s incredible at sunset and only improves from there as the night progresses and the city lights up. Bottom: Possibly the city-state’s best nightclub, Lulu’s Lounge offers Singaporean luxury with an edge and an attitude, evoking a 1960s New York back-alley lounge. 62

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TO P I M A G E C O U R T E S Y O F @ J U N H A O _ T H A M ( J U N H A O T H A M )

to Forbes, as of August 2019 the collective wealth of the city’s 50 richest residents had reached a record $130 billion, up more than 12% since 2018 despite global trade tensions. In the top spot, with an estimated net worth of $16.3 billion as of September 2019, is restaurant tycoon Zhang Yong, who never finished high school according to the magazine. Ranking second are brothers Robert and Philip Ng with an estimated $12.2 billion, who control the Far East Organization, Singapore’s largest private landlord and property developer. Facebook’s Saverin, worth an estimated $10.5 billion, has resided in Singapore since 2009. According to the SCMP he’s currently living it up in a 10,300-sq.-ft. penthouse in the Sculptura Ardmore high-rise, known for its “cantilevered swimming pools, tilted facade and glass fins that envelop the tower,” designed by famed architect Carlos Zapata.—Jared Paul Stern

DJ and actress Jade Rasif is a ﬁxture on the Singapore nightlife scene, whether she’s performing at one of the city’s clubs or just enjoying nightlife that can rival any great metropolis.

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DRIVEN

FLIGHT OF THE GULLWING

You have four days to rollick over roughly 1,000 miles of Italian landscape, breaking nearly every driving law known to man. Why not do it in a priceless Mercedes-Benz? Te x t b y N I CO L A S S T EC H ER

he first time I fire up the 300 SL my stomach is in knots. I’m in a parade of 400-plus cars charging their way out of the Italian city of Brescia, but this is no ordinary procession. This is the famed 1000 Miglia (“Mille Miglia”), arguably the most legendary rally the world over, meaning each of these antique vehicles is a collectable widget of obscene value. There are Bugatti Type 35s, Ferrari 750 Monzas and Blower Bentleys in our midst. The entire scene feels strangely apocalyptic—a high-tension dip and duck through teeming public roads with police motorcycles zipping by, sirens blaring their binary wail, stopping traffic at every intersection so this parade can snoot by in a display of surreal entitlement. Maybe it’s my nerves, maybe it’s the $2 million street value of this 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” (spec’d as a ’55) I’m piloting whiteknuckled, or maybe it’s the flashing lights, alarms and high-revving Ducatis ripping by from every direction, but the whole scene has a distinct Children Of Men anxiety to it. It is, in a word, chaos. The first time you slip behind the wheel of a priceless unicorn, all you can think about is pressing the throttle at the right time, not burning the clutch, and navigating the four-speed stick without grinding gears. You don’t want to think about the absolute impotence of its prehistoric drum brakes and their inability to spare the six-decade-old car from a wall—never mind a distracted Fiat Panda—if it all goes sideways. And

you definitely don’t want to think about the seatbelts, or rather the fact the car has none. You just focus on the throng of Italians swarming ahead, clapping and cheering enthusiastically, totally and utterly oblivious to how difficult it is to feather the brakes and keep them safe. But soon we escape the hell of the city and slip into the open Italian landscape, releasing a deep sigh of relief. This is where all becomes right in the world. When the Mille Miglia exposes its furry belly for a friendly rub. It’s also where the velocity begins. The first run of sweet freedom brings to mind a term famed automotive journalist Denis Jenkinson used: “dice”. As in: “If we didn't press on straight away there was a good chance of the dice becoming a little exciting, not to say dangerous, in the opening 200 miles.” He wrote that in 1955 of his second time competing in the Mille Miglia, the year he and driver Stirling Moss would win the race in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR in just 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds. It was the fastest time ever recorded in the contest—a record that remains unbroken. And while we’ll never come close to his speeds, in our first burst of combustion and mechanical havoc outside Brescia, I feel the tension Jenkinson referred to vibrating in my bones. The Mille Miglia, first raced in 1927, was conceived by a group of Italian counts and gentlemen eager to elevate Brescia’s motorsports profile. The loop was to begin and end in Brescia, hitting Rome and Bologna along the way: roughly 1,000 blistering miles through closed public roads at speeds eventually reaching 170 mph by 1955. The Mille Miglia took a six-year break during the madness of World War II, restarted, and then shut down forever as a purely speed-focused race in 1957 after a tragic crash, the most significant accident in its history. While fatalities were not uncommon, public perception finally shifted when a tire on Alfonso de Portago’s Ferrari 335 S blew out, sending the car catapulting into the crowd, killing him, his copilot and nine spectators. To honor the Mille Miglia’s epic status in motorsports, the race

was resurrected in 1977 as a more traditional rally, meaning the first across the finish line isn’t necessarily the winner. Only models that took part in, or completed registration for, the original races are eligible to compete. At its most basic, the event is an eye-watering journey through one of the most gorgeous landscapes on Earth. Many choose to putter along in prewar Lancia Lambdas simply enjoying the route, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Most, however, opt to lean into its feral nature, racing vehicles whose auction prices soar well into the millions at speeds no vehicle without ABS should be driving. These are the streets where gladiators like Fangio, Castellotti and Taruffi barreled through at unthinkable speeds, hitting corners blind except on faith of memory. You drive over cobblestone streets into walled fortresses, through tiny ancient piazzas. Vineyards and twisted olive groves soak in the sun. Across rivers, past brick towers, cathedrals and vast domes plucked from Game of Thrones. And the entire nation of Italy is behind you. Never mind the legions of roadside fans, the police escorts might just be the most insane aspect of the entire Mille Miglia. Cops not only wait at crowded intersections to block off common plebes and wave you by, but every once in a while a motorcycle cop will pass you, sirens blaring, and start parting rush hour traffic like Moses and the Red Sea. It never feels normal; you slow down because you assume you’re the mark, then you realize it’s your duty to follow him as if you were the Pope late for eucharist. Maybe some of the billionaires on the Mille have experienced this level of privilege before, but to a normal human it feels like you’ve fallen into a video game on cheat mode. And all the while, at every stop, Italians gleefully wave tricolor flags. Happy hour celebrators sit at cafés and cheer. You’ll turn a corner in the middle of nowhere and a line of tables appears loaded with impeccably dressed nonni drinking tall glasses of Campari, watching a half-billion dollars worth of cars parade by. It is all effortlessly cool, and eminently Italian.

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T H I I S S P R E A D A N D P R E V I O U S : CO U RY E SY O F DA I M L E R AG / H A R RY S T E I N I N G E R & M A R CO N AG E L

“A GORGEOUS JOURNEY OF ROUGHLY 1,000 MILES”

Opposite, top: A Ferrari idling in front of an Italian castle; Bottom: The Mille gathers in Sienaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed Piazza del Campo; This page, top: A Gullwing glides through the gathering dusk; Bottom: Negotiating streets crowded with spectators

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My copilot moves left and pushes the throttle. Predictably the Giulia speeds up in response. Seeing clear road we accelerate more to overtake. Suddenly, rising from a dip no one saw, a Renault Mégane materializes out of nowhere maybe 100 yards ahead on the horizon. My heart stops. At that moment I realize I am no poet, as the only thing to escape my lips is the blurt of a simpleton: “Oh. No.” Funny how you don’t know yourself, truly know yourself, until you’re staring death in the face. Oh. No. The same thing you might say when your favorite café informs you they’ve stopped serving breakfast. Luckily, Fortune is on top of it. He stomps the throttle; we’re way past the point of no return and braking would only guarantee a headon collision. With an explosion of the inline-six, the 300 SL shoots forward and tucks in just ahead of the Alfa Romeo as the oncoming Mégane whizzes past honking frantically, mere inches to our left. Luckily we avoided the Renault; unluckily the road immediately bends left, so now we’re headed straight for a guardrail at an absurd velocity. Releasing the throttle loads up the front axle, and Fortune jerks the wheel left. The combination of pure speed, violent direction change, sudden road dip (that which hid the Renault) and the 300 SL’s rear swing-axle soon has the car’s ass swaying out in oversteer. The Gullwing skids on the road, and us along with it. In that instant I realize there are two, and only two, options: Fortune would have the skills to recover the coupe—a car with no stability or traction control, ABS, or, may I remind you, seatbelts—or we’d careen at ridiculous speeds straight into the ditch for a fiery De Portago finale. For a moment everything stands still as I contemplate these possibilities. Sadly, quite selfishly, I don’t think about the girl I love, or my parents, or anything outside of myself really. I just sit there gripping the door, watching Jenkinson’s famed dice bounce, the rear wheels bouncing along with them. Right to left to right to left again, our collective fate tumbling alongside them. Light or darkness. Lucky sevens or snake-eyes. Life or death. A millennia— or maybe three seconds—later, the Benz urgently finds its footing and we shoot forward in a straight trajectory, once again zooming up the Italian roadside as if nothing had happened. I look over at Fortune, my once-paused heart suddenly exploding like an M-80, and I grab him by the shoulder. “Holy fucking shit man—nice recovery!” Fortune looks forward sheepishly, his grey, bloodless visage washing over with a unique combination of shame and pride. And perhaps more than anything, relief. “Oh my god… I can’t believe you saved us!” I stammer once again. We both just look forward in silence, contemplating our mortality for 30 minutes. We would discuss that moment again later in the afternoon, and countless more times in our following days together. But for the next half-hour we utter not a peep, staring straight into the windshield, the only sound the euphonic braaaaaap! of the in-line six filling the cabin and rinsing our terror.

Top: Our correspondent’s rally sticker; Bottom: An iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

C O U RY E S Y O F D A I M L E R A G / H A R RY S T E I N I N G E R & M A R C O N A G E L

Many consider the 300 SL the world’s first supercar. Although some debate this mantle, a streetlegal supercar does its talking at the track and the 300 SL was unparalleled in its era. On the same year of the Mille when Moss made his recordbreaking run in the 300 SLR race car, American racing legend John Fitch piloted his 300 SL to a class win, and fifth overall. And the car we’re driving courtesy of the Mercedes-Benz Museum is nearly identical, from the tuning to the slate grey paint with Fitch’s number 417 across the hood. Mercedes’s proto-supercar featured direct fuel injection, the first production car ever to implement this next-level technology. A limited number were also built with aluminum bodies. But as game-changing as all those advancements were, they weren’t the 300 SL’s most salient innovation; that would be its welded space-frame chassis. The unique tubular-steel construction was implemented so the SL (SportlichLeicht, or “sport lightweight”) could earn its moniker‚ and to make it work, engineers and designers had to invent a new form that avoided cutting too deeply into the doorsill. The resulting “gullwing” doors were as revolutionary from an engineering standpoint as from an aesthetic one, and elevated the 300 SL to otherworldly heights. If its 161-mph top speed, superlative 215 horsepower 3.0-liter inline six and extreme aerodynamic efficiency didn’t make this the world’s first supercar, then those outstretched doors looking like a soaring bird of prey surely did. And what better way to highlight the Gullwing’s midcentury hegemony than by letting a journalist who was born a couple decades later slip behind the wheel? Because simply driving the Gullwing would only give you a vague idea of its superiority; one would only compare it to modern machines. But to have the opportunity to roll the dice with the 300 SL versus its contemporaries—and experience it chewing and spitting them out in big mushy chunks—is another lesson altogether. And oh lordy the noise; what I imagine strafing enemy aircraft in some forgotten African skirmish might sound like. Floor it, and deeply mechanical, rapid-fire combustions echo across the Tuscan hills. “What a thing,” my copilot Kyle Fortune, the excellent Scottish motoring journalist, sighed wistfully after an especially intoxicating thunder through dark forests. Of course the Gullwing is beautiful; saying so seems mind-numbingly obvious. It’s one of the most iconic cars of all time. But you don’t think about its beauty in the heat of highpressure racing; you only obsess over the safety of nearby pedestrians, keeping the car unblemished, and your own health—in that order. When you have a moment to reflect, however, its radiance becomes crystal clear. Driving behind one of these machines you ponder the trees mirroring off of the pristine paint, their silhouettes curving around its divine haunches. Rarely has a German vehicle been this voluptuous. No wonder the locals famously love the 300 SL; it’s almost more Italian in its sensuous Zagato-like curves and soft rounded edges then it is Teutonic. More emotion than logic in shape, even if all the mechanical wizardry under the skin was unparalleled for its era. One of the banes of the Mille is the official support vehicles with which you must sometimes share the road. Unlike civilians who normally move over to allow safe passage, these drivers often accelerate as if they were competing against you. Considering they’re in modern Alfa Romeos and Mercedes-Benzes this can get highly frustrating, and even dangerous. It is during a bout with one of these support Giulias that a straight appears, an empty passing lane not unlike one we’ve seen a thousand times before.

Scenes from the Mille Miglia including an ofďŹ cial Chopard Mille Miglia watch, classically-garbed drivers, and competitors including famed designer Marc Newson and his wife; actor Adrien Brody; Fiat Chrysler Chairman John Elkann; and Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport

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C LO C K W I S E F R O M TO P L E F T: P I E R M A R C O TA C C A / G E T T Y I M A G E S ; D A I M L E R A G / H A R RY S T E I N I N G E R & M A R C O N A G E L ; F O L LO W I N G T W O I M A G E S P I E R M A R C O TA C C A ; D A I M L E R A G / H A R RY S T E I N I N G E R & M A R C O N A G E L ; T I Z I A N A FA B I / G E T T Y I M A G E S ; P I E R M A R C O TA C C A ; 1 0 0 0 M I G L I A . I T

SUPERCAR

LOTUS SUPERCAR Can the $2.1-million, 1,973-hp all-electric Evija return legendary British automaker Lotusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lost glory? Te x t b y N I CO L A S S T EC H ER P h o t o g ra p h e d b y RO B ERT K ER I AN

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he lotus flower holds profound spiritual power in millennia-old cultures from Hinduism to Egyptian. For Buddhists the blossom—which every day elevates its stalk from the murky pond bottom to bloom on top of the water—represents divine perfection. And perhaps more importantly, rebirth. Fitting it is then that one of the most storied automotive underdogs of the 20th century, Lotus Cars, is soon to be born again. Lotus was spiritually birthed in 1947 when an English engineer named Colin Chapman built his first race car in his then girlfriend’s parents’ garage. By 1958 Team Lotus was competing at the apex of motorsport, Formula One, and a scant two years later claimed its first victory when Stirling Moss piloted his Lotus 18 across the finish line of the Monaco Grand Prix. This against giants of the motorsport world with more deeply lined pockets. Chapman would go on to see his Lotus beat rival Ferrari to become the first constructor to reach 50 Grand Prix victories. Between 1963 and 1978 the automaker claimed six F1 Drivers’ Championships with pilots like Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fitipaldi and Mario Andretti (in addition to another seven Constructors’

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Championships). The British marque has built wonders of the road-going type as well. The Lotus Esprit S1 was famously piloted by James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me both on asphalt and underwater. That legendary “amphibious” car is now owned by Elon Musk—who coincidentally built his first Tesla, the Roadster, on the bones of the Lotus Elise. The Elise was also recently given the Icon of Icons award by the readers of Autocar magazine—beating such giants of automotive history as the Land Rover Defender, VW Beetle, and Porsche 911. But things haven’t always been rosy for he storied brand. In the early 1990s sales dipped below 400; in 1996 they recovered with the launch of the Elise roadster, followed in 2000 with the hardtop Exige. The last all new car Lotus released was the Evora way back in 2008, with various editions keeping the brand barely afloat (in 2018

“WE LIKED THAT SLIGHTLY MENACING ELEGANT BEAUTY THAT A LOT OF AIRCRAFT HAVE”

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Lotus sold 1,630 cars worldwide). This, of course, is where the rebirth part comes in. After an untold time in negotiations, in July 2017 the brain trust that remained at Lotus was informed the hushed rumors were official: Chinese automotive giant Geely Holding Group was buying a majority stake in the automaker. Hugs were exchanged; British joy held in check. And the first mandate Geely issued to said brain trust? The greatest words a design and engineering team could ever hope to hear: “Build us a hypercar unlike any the world has ever seen.” “As you can imagine, when you get a brief like, ‘Design a hypercar,’ that’s just like wow. That’s a dream job,” Russell Carr, Head of Design at Lotus Cars, tells Maxim of that day in September 2017 when their first orders came down the wire. “We’re lucky we design sports cars as a day job which is pretty cool. But a hypercar, well that

may only come along once in your lifetime.” That hypercar is the jaw-slacking Evija you see before you. An around $2.1 million exact science expression of the long-held Lotus philosophy. A vehicle born of brute power and brilliant wind manipulation. You see there are three long-standing pillars at Lotus, foundational flagstones that inform the design and engineering of every vehicle bearing the Lotus badge: aerodynamics, weight efficiency and precision driving dynamics. And the Evija is the carbon fiber manifestation of all three. This abolishment of weight and optimization of aero principles is the underpinning of Lotus’s racing pedigree. They were the first marque to implement wings in their F1 cars on the Lotus 49, and when they developed an inverted wing underside for their Lotus 78— the John Player Special black and gold race car dominated the world

of Grand Prix. Teammates Andretti and Ronnie Peterson scored four 1–2 wins during the 1978 season, easily capturing the Constructors’ Championship (with Andretti winning his sole F1 Championship). The optimization of weight and aerodynamics is especially important in a battery electric vehicle (BEV), which the brain trust knew early on was a mandate for the Evija (dubbed internally the Type 130 during its skunk works stage). “Aerodynamics become critical,” explains Carr. “You want low drag for top speed and to improve range, and you want downforce to make it go around a track quickly. But you want to get the balance right—you’re not prejudiced in one or the other too much.” This meant innovating air ducts and venturis, moving air fluidly through and over the hypercar. For inspiration Russell and his team

The Lotus Evija is perhaps the most anticipated hypercar in the world, and the perfect addition to any driveway or dream home. Here the $2.1 million Evija sits in front of a Tarzana, California mansion, itself on offer by realtor David Ferrugio for $3,999,000. MAXIM.COM

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LOTUS CEO PHIL POPHAM ON THE FUTURE OF THE BRAND Te x t b y N I CO L A S S T EC H ER

In September of 2017 China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group announced it had bought a majority 51% stake in Lotus Cars. By next year they’d hired Phil Popham as their CEO. Plucked from the luxury boat maker Sunseeker, with a previous stop at Jaguar Land Rover, Popham was offered the opportunity of a lifetime to shepherd the tiny British automaker into the 21st Century. What is your plan for growing the business? Well we've got an ambitious business plan in terms of growth. We've just shown Evija which is not going to be significant in terms of volume

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for us, because we'll be building a maximum of 130, but it does actually signal the start of something quite significant in terms of investment. The next new car, which we will probably show towards the end of 2020, will be a new sports car that will actually grow our volume quite substantially. It will build on the success of the cars we've got at the moment but also appeal to a greater audience. It will be a car that has all the hallmarks of a Lotus, but that people can live with on a day-today basis. Lotus has always been known for very analog cars. And then the Evija is the opposite: a fully electric hypercar. Which better represents the future? I would say both and I'll explain why. So Evija does a number of things. Firstly, it illustrates the technical capability that Lotus engineering has to actually produce a car like that…. Our competitive advantage has [always] been around on-road dynamics, light-weighting, aerodynamics—and we're still a real force in that respect. We are going to develop with technology. What we're not going to do is to lose anything concerning the DNA of the brand. The DNA of the brand is all about for the driver. It's about the driving experience, it's about on-road and on-track dynamics. All the things that we've been famous for during our history we will not lose. But we really take advantage of the fact that we’re part now of the fastest growing automotive group in the world. With Geely Group we have access to a lot of future technologies…. We’re in a brilliant situation in being part of such a big organization with such tremendous engineering resources…. But we'll do it in our own way. We'll have our own DNA and we'll ensure that we produce cars that live up to that DNA. Cars in the future will be very, very Lotus.

P O R T R A I T C O U R T E S Y O F L OT U S

looked at high-tech military planes like the F-16 Falcon and SR-71 Blackbird. “We liked that slightly menacing elegant beauty that a lot of aircraft have, which is very natural,” he explains. “That roll off the cabin and then into the side of the fuselage, I think aeronautical engineers call them chimes. To me that was an appropriate reference, where you have these very beautiful, fluid surfaces and then crisp lines. It’s a nice mixture of surfaces that are very dynamic and timeless to look at.” Not much is known about the specifics of the battery pack or powertrain (which is being developed by Williams Advanced Engineering), but the numbers Lotus are teasing are astonishing. With an electric motor placed on each wheel, the Evija will generate a road-melting 1,973 horsepower. “I think it’s going to be mind-bending, like a rollercoaster,” gushes Carr. With the battery pack placed “mid-engine” behind the driver, and each wheel able to run independently, the torque vectoring on corners should be absolutely insane; the Evija could theoretically spin like a top on its axis. “It’s going to be really exciting but sometimes almost a little bit uneasy if you’re not a racing driver, and you’re not physically accustomed to that amazing change of state from slow to fast, from left to right that you can have on this car.” Chapman would be proud, Carr hopes. “You don’t follow the obvious route, which is what I think he was keen on,” the designer muses. “I saw in an interview he did in the ’60s and someone asked, even then, ‘How can a small company like Lotus survive with all these big corporations?’ And he said, ‘There’s always room for a company who’s small and agile, nimble, is virile. Can we act quickly?’ And that’s very much how Lotus thinks now.”

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TITAN

ITALIAN ICONOCLAST How Giorgio Armani Built an Empire From the Bottom Up Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

n an era in which celebrities, influencers and the hottest young designers seem to dominate the attention of the fashion world, Giorgio Armani stands apart. While his name has become synonymous with exquisite design over the past four decades, his path to the pinnacle of the industry started from the very bottom of the mountain, a refreshing difference from the instant stardom dominating today’s fashion world. Following a stint in the Italian military post-WWII, and uncompleted time in university, Armani found work at the prestigious Milan department store La Rinascente, working at first as a window dresser, then a lower rung of the fashion world’s hierarchy. But his talent, and his eye for design, would not go unnoticed and before long he was asked to join the design team of the influential Nino Cerruti in 1964. As his skills developed, he was encouraged by a friend, Sergio Galeotti, to expand into freelance design work, enabling him to express his individual ideas without the pressure of running a brand and the business behind such an enterprise. But by 1975, Armani and his friend Galeotti felt the time was right and together they founded the fashion house in his name, soon producing both mens and womenswear that took Europe by storm. Understatement and refinement were keys to Armani’s designs, as he explained to WWD, claiming “My vision was clear: I believed in getting rid of the artifice of clothing. I believed in neutral colors.” Embracing natural-fitting designs, and more restrained color palettes, his apparel became must-have for the fashion-conscious of the European elite, and following his work appearing in trendsetting Hollywood films such as Richard Gere’s American Gigolo in 1980, and for the television program Miami Vice in the mid-80s, he began to conquer America just as he had previously thrived in Europe. In the space of a decade his fashion house had gone global and the sky was the limit. However, tragedy struck just as the brand was reaching new heights, as Armani’s longtime personal and business partner, Galeotti, fell victim to AIDS-related complications, the epidemic of the time, passing away in 1985 and leaving the Italian designer to handle both the design and business sides of the burgeoning global brand. Overcoming this tragedy, Armani used the lessons he had learned in his long climb up the fashion hierarchy to not only maintain the business side of his venture, but to expand it to levels unmatched by his peers in the world of high fashion. Ironically, it was his early years in a modest family that led him to dream of, and create, an empire of luxury and splendor. He explained this duality to Harper’s Bazaar in one of his few public interviews. “My family was a modest family with modest opportunities,” he admitted, “so I basically constructed a world for myself. And that’s why I love this job so much, because it has allowed me to build a world to which I never belonged—a world that I saw in films, and that I read about in books. I built my own way of being.” Today, Giorgio Armani, who partly grew up in an Italy ruled by Mussolini’s fascist government and came of age during the eco-

nomic struggle that was the postwar period, has an estimated net worth of around $10 billion, and his name is synonymous with design, luxury and the highest level of fashion desirability. While his keen eye and prodigious output of trendsetting collections is certainly a large part of his success, the truth is that since his business partner’s death, Armani has taken the brand to heights even Galeotti likely couldn’t have dreamed. By the end of the 1990s, Armani had grown to operate some 200 retail locations globally, with revenues estimated to be around $2 billion a year. But the Italian iconoclast wasn’t satisfied. His name had become globally renowned as a catchphrase for luxury and design, so Armani began expanding into new industries. His first restaurant opened in 1998, and by 2010 he was being drawn into the hotel and hospitality business, bringing not only his design sense and style to his projects, but a brand that is trusted by the global elite to deliver the epitome of refined luxury regardless of industry. Armani Hotels in Dubai (in the spectacular Burj Khalifa) and Milan, in addition to worldwide cafés, restaurants and clubs, have managed to expand the beloved brand without diluting its reputation, or distracting from its fashion-centric core business. He was even consulted on the design of an apartment for music star John Mayer, evidence of Armani’s impact far from its original fashion and clothing-based origins. Speaking in another rare interview with the Financial Times in 2017, the notoriously private Armani explained how his concept of fashion and design extends well beyond the catwalk. “Style, for me, is a mood that can be applied to everything. I’ve always thought fashion is much more than just clothes: it is a way of being. Expanding my vision to different fields, yet still striving to create something useful and durable, I can reach a wider audience.” Even the Armani fashion offerings have expanded under Giorgio’s leadership, with numerous units including Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, and Armani Exchange, each focused on a different demographic of client, and ranging from the highest end of haute couture to jeans and casual wear. In the process giving even those with modest resources the ability to wear fashion from one of the world’s most famous designers, perhaps a nod to his own limited resources growing up. He’s also expanded into furnishings, fragrances, beauty products, and specialty foods, utilizing licensing to leverage the power of his name and brand to expand his retail opportunities even wider. Armani, despite his worldwide fame and reputation, is famously indifferent to personal accolades or media attention. Again, bucking the trend of celebrity designers who put themselves front and center, he prefers to let his work represent him to the world, shunning most public appearances and interviews. But even if Armani is willing to eschew the spotlight himself, don’t let that fool you into thinking that he isn’t still in control of the empire that bears his name. During his conversation with the Financial Times, the octogenarian icon explained that behind the scenes, everything is still under his direct, and unwavering control. “To run an enterprise like this, every little detail counts: it’s like nurturing a baby,” he proudly declared. “You cannot overlook or underestimate the tiniest detail, or the whole endeavor will fall apart. It is invariably me who points out mistakes and comes up with solutions. I trust the people around me, but I’m the only one making the final decisions.”

“YOU SHOULD NEVER OVERLOOK OR UNDERESTIMATE THE TINIEST DETAIL”

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MAXIM COVER GIRL CANADA WINNER

NORTHERN NEIGHBOR P h o t o g ra p h e d b y DAV E L AU S

While our neighbors to the north are often stereotyped as being overly nice, or friendly, this cliché doesn’t always hold true. We’re not speaking about hockey fights, however, but to the fierce competition that took place to

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see who would be crowned this year’s Maxim Canada Cover Girl. After the gloves were off, and the officials could separate the combatants, there was only one victor left standing: the stunning Alexia Quinn.

Quinn, a Vancouver-based model and mother to a 7-year-old daughter, managed to defeat the thousands of fellow applicants to earn her place on the cover of the magazine’s Canadian edition, ensuring news-

“I FELT EXTREMELY OVERWHELMED AND I JUST COULDN’T BELIEVE IT!”

stands throughout the country would have something to grab the attention of anyone walking past. Quinn herself admits to being impacted by the scale of her achievement, saying, “I felt extremely overwhelmed and I just couldn’t believe it!” When she’s not gracing the cover of magazines, you’ll likely find the rising star

outdoors in British Columbia. Away from the camera she prefers being in nature, with time spent “hanging out on the beautiful beaches, doing amazing hikes in the gorgeous mountains, or going to barbecues at the serene lakes here in Vancouver.” But her victory in the contest is likely to see her continue exploring well beyond the

province she calls home. Her favorite part of the contest was “the outpouring of love and support from all around the world.” She would love to see her contest win lead to increased opportunities to broaden her horizons in various destinations around the world, and hopes to “travel to some exotic locales for amazing and creative shoots.”

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MAXIM COVER GIRL CANADA RUNNER UP

TRY & KEEP UP

P h o t o g ra p h e d b y

DAV E L AU S

adi Serpico Whalen isn’t one for participation trophies. Her competitive streak is evident, as she’s been a professional triathlete since she was 18 years old, and it’s no surprise that given the challenge of competing to be the Maxim Canada Cover Girl, she more than held her own. The fitness-obsessed Canadian, who finished in second place out of thousands of entrants, is out to prove the stereotypes wrong. “I love that modeling affords me the opportunity to be an example for young women,” admits Serpico Whalen. “That you can be beautiful, smart, sexy and athletic all at the same time.” While her athletic and modeling passions have allowed her to travel the world along with her husband, NFL wide receiver Griff Whalen, she’s yet to cross off the top locale on her travel bucket list. “I have been fortunate to travel to so many amazing places but I have not been to Bali, which is the top of my list.” As for the best part of the competition for Maxim Canada, the selfless and charitable Serpico Whalen points to the awareness she could bring to her favorite animal-focused organizations. “It was wonderful that I was able to bring much-needed attention to my two favorite charities, Believe Ranch & Rescue and the Farm Sanctuary. They are privately funded and they do amazing work.”

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Karen James is a noted journalist and expert in sex and relationships

Ask The Expert

Love, Marriage, and

Sex After 50!

The Amazing Secret Of Older Italian Men And How They Stay So Passionate! A Secret Any Man Can Use... This month I got a letter from a reader in Texas about a “little secret” that has renewed her sex life with her husband!

Tina writes: Dear Karen, For years my husband and I had a wonderful love life, but when he reached his 50s, he lost some of his old spark, especially in the bedroom. He tried every product available, but nothing worked. For the past few years, it’s felt like we were roommates, not husband and wife. Well, last month he came home from a business trip in Europe and shocked me with more energy and passion than he’s had in years. He took me in the bedroom like we were newlyweds and gave me a night I’ll never forget. It was just incredible, and our love life has been like that ever since. So here we are, closer than ever and enjoying the best sex of our lives… in our 50’s! On his trip, my husband stayed in a hotel room next to an Italian nutritionist and his wife and heard them passionately making love every night. He ﬁgured they must be in their twenties, but one morning he encountered them in the hallway and it turns out, they were in their 70s! Instead of being embarrassed that they’d been found out, they were positively glowing and happy to share their “secret.” The man pulled out a small pack from his satchel, gave it to my husband and said ‘’These tablets come from a small town up north and are made from naturally pure extracts, packed with densely rich sexual nutrients. They will give you back your vigor in the bedroom and you will perform even better than you did as a young man. Then he laughed and said, “You will become an Italian Stallion like me!”

“My husband shocked me with more passion than he’s had in years. He took me in the bedroom like we were newlyweds and gave me a night I’ll never forget!” Karen, my husband has been taking one tablet each morning with breakfast, but the pack is almost empty and we both desperately want more. Do you know about these European tablets and how to get some in the States? Sincerely, Tina D., Fort Worth, TX Tina, you’re in luck, I do know about them. Ever wonder why older men from Italy and all over Europe are famous for staying energized, passionate, and sexually active well into their golden years? For decades, these men have relied on a unique blossom seed extract to enhance their bedroom power and performance. Milled on the fertile northern plains, and sold under the brand name Provarin, these pure plant extracts have a legendary reputation throughout Europe for naturally fueling extremely hard erections. As Giovanni from Milan put it, “It’s like bedroom rocket fuel - especially for us older guys!”

All-natural and safe to take, Provarin is a well-kept secret for those in the know. An old-school, family business, they still harvest product by hand and don’t do any advertising. Long-time customers and word of mouth ensures their limited stock is sold out every year. They do have a distributer here in the U.S. and Provarin is surprisingly inexpensive. A spokesman told me they were proud to produce the highest quality product for men and couples. He went on to say that if any of my readers call and mention this article, they’ll be offered an additional 50% discount, free priority shipping, and a free bonus pack of 30 tablets! Wow, so there you go, Tina - and the rest of you readers! The offer is only good while supplies last so give them a call today. The number is 1-800-519-0561. Aren’t you glad you asked?

Karen

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