NINA AGDAL, Miami October 2025

THE EVOLUTION OF

NINA AGDAL

PUBLISHERS

Kamal Hotchandani kamal@hauteliving.com

Seth Semilof ssemilof@hauteliving.com

E DITOR-IN-CHIEF

Laura Schreffler laura@hauteliving.com

M ANAGING DIRECTOR

April Donelson april@hauteliving.com

VICE PRESIDENT OF PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Lauren Mosseri lauren@hauteliving.com

FASHION, JEWELRY AND WATCH DIRECTOR

Adrienne Faurote adrienne@hauteliving.com

C REATIVE DIRECTOR

Michelle Restante michelle@hauteliving.com

HAUTE TIME EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Adrienne Faurote adrienne@hauteliving.com

VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC BRAND RELATIONS

Esther Alvarez esther@hauteliving.com

HAUTE RESIDENCE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND HAUTE LIVING EDITOR

Laura Vallina laurav@hauteliving.com

SUBSCRIPTION AND DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES subscriptions@hauteliving.com

NETWORK MEMBERSHIPS ADVISOR

Gabrielle Shulman gabrielle@hauteliving.com

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Maria Gallegos maria@hauteliving.com

AUTO CONTRIBUTOR

Tim Lappen

COPY EDITOR

Léana Esch

HAUTE SCENE CONTRIBUTOR

Darby Kordonowy

EARRINGS:

ON THIS PAGE

Nina Agdal is wearing FULL LOOK: Dior

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JANUARY 15 - 18, 2026

Raise A Glass To All That’s Good

Join us for a celebration of world-class wines and acclaimed chefs at South Florida’s iconic The Boca Raton—in support of a meaningful cause. In partnership with Napa Valley Vintners.

100+ Winemakers | 20+ Michelin-Starred & Celebrated Chefs

20+ Curated Experiences | Vintner-Hosted Dinners Gala and Charity Auction

50 HAUTE JOAILLERIE

The Le Damier de Louis Vuitton collection expands with a new pink gold finish; Chanel’s Fine Jewelry reimagines the house’s classic codes with modern energy;and a look back at this year’s Paris Haute Couture Week

69 FEATURE

Why Chris Cuomo is the journalist that likes to get after it

70 FASHION

For Louis Vuitton’s Fall/ Winter 2025 collection, Nicolas Ghesquière redefines modern femininity through bold silhouettes and autumnal textures; the Chanel Cruise 2025/26 collection celebrates the joy of dressing up to be noticed; and Kim Jones reinterprets Dior’s 1954/55 Ligne H for Winter 2025/26

102 AUTO

Why the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is in a class of its own

122 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

The godfather of Southwestern cuisine, Dean Fearing, takes on a trip down memory lane

124 HAUTE PARTNER

One-on-one with Dr. Vince Avallone, a renowned dentist at Apa Aesthetic

Experiences aren’t told, they’re lived.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

here is something to be said about life’s major milestones converging in a single year. Perhaps it’s about trusting the universe’s timing or embracing the saying, When it rains, it pours, but sometimes, life’s defining moments arrive all at once... and it’s safe to say the past year has been Nina Agdal’s year.

Agdal’s pivotal year began last September when she and her husband, Logan Paul, welcomed their first child, Esmé, into the world. Nearly a year later, on August 15, Agdal and Paul celebrated the wedding of the summer at the iconic Villa d’Este on Lake Como — two life-changing moments that Agdal is still buzzing about.

On the heels of the iconic wedding, we captured Agdal’s post-wedding glow. For the Danish supermodel, she continues to discover special moments from her wedding. “I think that on the actual day, if I take myself back, I was trying really hard to stay present,” Agdal reflects. “We hosted our wedding over three days, and so much happened during that time that I’m still uncovering memories and little chapters I haven’t fully processed.”

This wedding was true to Agdal and Paul’s essence as a couple — it was joyful, vibrant, and full of energy. With 275 guests, the three-day celebration brought their vision to life in a way that felt deeply meaningful, surrounded by the people they love most.

“There were so many people and so much energy that I was just on the go — going with the chaos,” Agdal laughs. “It felt so rock’n’roll,” she continues. “The [wedding] ended up becoming three full days because, during our actual wedding night dinner, this crazy thunderstorm — completely unexpected and not on the radar — forced us to move the entire event indoors, which is an entire chapter in itself. Lake Como can be unpredictable. So, we hosted a final dinner on the third evening, followed by a separate after-party. Instead of trying to force it into something it wasn’t, I told myself to go with the energy. Everyone was there to celebrate us and party, so I leaned into that.”

Agdal keeps coming back to the term “rock’n’roll” to describe her wedding, which perfectly captures her approach: learning to let go of control and enjoy the ride. “We were in this grand destination, bringing a new vibe into the elegant setting of Villa d’Este — no judgment, no rules. Guests could relax and enjoy themselves freely, even sharing pasta on the staircase,” she says, highlighting the balance of youthful spontaneity and timeless elegance.

“Looking back, I don’t think I realized how intense planning the wedding was. But being there, seeing all my visions come to fruition, surrounded by everyone we love — and watching them come together — was everything I had dreamed of and planned. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders,” Agdal admits.

Yet she never lost sight of the purpose: her husband. “Logan and I had conversations before the wedding to ensure that, while everyone was there to celebrate us, we remembered we were there to celebrate our love and our relationship. Spending time with my husband and soaking in those moments with him was the one thing I wanted to be fully present for. Everything else, I let go of; I let the wedding planners do their job. I was able to let my hair down and have a good time,” she shares, smiling.

The Agdal-Paul wedding captivated social media this August, with Agdal’s fashion taking center stage — no surprise, given her renown as a model for over 15 years. “I knew fashion would be a major element of the wedding,” she admits. “When I attend weddings, I’m most excited to see the bride and what she’s wearing. It’s truly the bride’s moment to wear whatever makes her feel most beautiful.”

Agdal decided her wedding wasn’t the time to be understated. “I know my personality, and I’m not usually one to command attention, but for my wedding, I wanted to feel my absolute best. Each of my looks ended up being fully custom, which made them incredibly personal and special.”

For her wedding look, Agdal wore a custom Galia Lahav dress, having long felt drawn to the designer. “I did a campaign with them seven years ago, and I absolutely love their head designer, Sharon Sever. I admire how he dresses and celebrates women through his designs. So, as soon as I got engaged, I knew it would be a Galia Lahav dress.”

Like many brides, Agdal’s vision evolved during fittings. “I initially thought I’d choose a modern, lace-less look, but when I tried on the classic A-line lace gown, I immediately envisioned myself at Villa d’Este. To me, it was classic and timeless, which was the number one thing I wanted for all my looks — especially my wedding dress. I wanted a dress that would still feel beautiful and classic in 50 years.”

Another standout moment was her welcome party dress by House of Gilles, adorned with over 37,000 hand-sewn crystals. “I even told the designer I hoped the dress could live on and be worn again, because the craftsmanship was too beautiful to stay hidden away,” Agdal says, to which I suggest she save it for her daughter.

Laughing, Agdal replies, “Esmé has to do her own thing — what if she doesn’t like sparkles?” Touché.

Agdal is one of those people with whom you feel an instant bond — her personality radiates. She is passionate, full of life, and animated in a way that immediately captivates you.

Perhaps I expected a more ‘reserved Nina’ after watching Paul American, the family reality TV show that aired in March, starring her husband, Logan Paul, alongside his brother, Jake Paul.

In Paul American, Agdal shows a quieter side of herself, which, after speaking with her — and being in my final week of pregnancy as I write this interview — I now understand. “It was an interesting time for me to be filming a reality TV show,” she admits. “I was pregnant throughout the entire show, and after giving birth, that was the end of it. Any woman who has been pregnant knows that pregnancy feels like a little bubble. So, I was very protective of my energy — from what I did and consumed to what I ate. I was so specific about everything I did.

“I’m a big believer that what you surround yourself with affects everything — every organ in your body, every atom. I was consumed with creating life inside of me, and I had to protect everything I could, all while filming this reality TV show,” Agdal adds.

While her priority is always to protect her peace, the slight chaos of filming and navigating an entirely new experience was still unforgettable, in the best way. “It was a really cool thing that I could document my entire pregnancy journey and see the clarity I had about so many things. Looking back on the show, it’s interesting to see how my pregnancy shifted the dynamics of my relationship and the dynamics of the family. It’s like I now have the best-edited home video — eight episodes — that I can share with Esmé one day.”

She wasn’t performing for the cameras; she was simply living one of the most vulnerable chapters of her life: becoming a mother.

NINA,THE MOTHER

Agdal is a multifaceted person. She is dynamic, revealing new layers as we speak. The latest role that she has stepped into, motherhood, has been the one that has forced her to evolve the most.

“[Motherhood] has definitely been an ongoing transition,” Agdal reveals, further confirming the perfect timing of this interview, my last before becoming a mother. A coincidence? I think not. The universe’s energy gracefully intervening? Absolutely.

“Everyone has their own journey,” she continues. “I don’t think I was prepared for how big the change of having a baby is for a woman. You definitely hear about it, and people say you can’t prepare for it and that’s the truest statement of all time. You simply cannot prepare for what happens when your baby enters the world in the most magical, positive, and out-of-body-experience way.”

She pauses for a moment. “But there’s another side to motherhood. For me, the transition to not being able to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, was really challenging,” Agdal shares a hard truth that some women find difficult to admit.

Agdal naturally thrives in chaos, from her work as a global model to traveling the world with her husband. Now, her ‘chaos’ looks different as she focuses on what’s best for Esmé.

“I don’t think I fully realized how my role on this planet would change instantly after having a baby. I was never formally diagnosed with postpartum depression, but I definitely think I was going through it, having dealt with depression in the past. Transitioning from my previous lifestyle to my entire existence revolving around caring for this baby wasn’t easy. Yet, at the same time, it’s one of life’s most rewarding and incredible experiences. You don’t realize the capacity your heart has to love someone so deeply it’s like your heart beats outside of you.

“It’s beautiful and magical, but at the same time, it’s a rollercoaster. This ‘new normal’ has challenging aspects, which makes it so incredible you evolve so much as a person so quickly,” she continues.

In this moment, I can tell that Agdal is a deep human, and motherhood has introduced a complex duality that pushes and pulls her daily.

“Being vulnerable, open, and honest with yourself and your support system about how you’re feeling even if it may not feel right is key. I remember moments when I thought I should be so happy and grateful, yet I still felt shame or guilt. These feelings are very common, and instead of pretending you’re in a fairytale, it’s important to talk about how you feel and lean on those around you. It’s all so up and down!”

It’s no secret that Agdal and Paul lead a highly public life, so I can’t help but wonder how she’s approaching this as a new, protective mother.

“It’s a big conversation for us,” Agdal confides. “We live a nontraditional life, blessed with abundance and experiences, so we ask ourselves, how do we balance raising our child in this lifestyle? It’s not her fault she was born into this crazy world she is in.”

She continues, “I think it’s important for us to model and teach strong morals and values to Esmé. The classic advice parents often give is to be kind and treat others as you’d want to be treated, which is essential.”

Perhaps one of Agdal’s primary focuses is modeling the value of goal setting. “It’s also extremely important to instill a work ethic and goals,” she begins. “Even though we live a lavish life filled with blessings, we are still going to make her do the things we did as kids, like earning 50 cents for emptying the dishwasher. There is value in working for something and feeling accomplished. Reaching goals is extremely important, no matter where you are in life.”

Agdal makes a compelling point that achieving a goal builds confidence, which leads me to yet another facet of her character.

NINA,THE MODEL

As one of this generation’s most renowned supermodels, Agdal has achieved remarkable success in the industry. She started at the age of 16 and has now been modeling for 17 years, first appearing in the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2012. She was then featured in multiple issues, gaining widespread recognition in 2014 when she co-starred on the magazine’s 50th anniversary cover alongside Chrissy Teigen and Lily Aldridge. Her impressive modeling portfolio includes campaigns for major brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Chanel, Billabong, and more.

Agdal has accomplished modeling career highs that most only dream of, which is ironic since modeling wasn’t Agdal’s dream per se, but rather a mechanism to get to her dreams. “Modeling was actually more of my grandmother’s dream for me,” she laughs, “My dream was always about wanting more.

“I grew up in Denmark with a very different lifestyle from the one I have now,” she continues, confessing, “I always knew I wanted more. While I’m deeply grateful for my upbringing there, I knew it was too ‘small town’ for me. I wanted bigger, more chaos, more crazy. In fact, the stability bored me,” Agdal shares.

Modeling became Agdal’s one-way ticket to America, where she could fulfill her dream of being part of New York City’s colorful chaos and build the life she envisioned for herself — an achievement that forever altered her trajectory. But let’s keep in mind that seventeen years ago, the modeling industry was also completely different.

“When I first started modeling, it revolved around a specific stereotype: 5’10”, size double zero, and lanky limbs. Being different wasn’t celebrated,” Agdal reflects. “Social media didn’t exist then either. Modeling was like scenes from old movies — you went to castings with your portfolio and competed for jobs. Now, it’s a different industry. There are no limits anymore. As long as you’re passionate, creative, and disciplined, you can find ways to succeed. It’s beautiful that we’re expanding beyond that narrow image.”

THE FUTURE NINA

Finally, we turn to the future Nina.

For now, she’s focusing on what’s right in front of her. “I’m enjoying being married and moving past the chapter of wedding planning. As incredible as it was, now we can enjoy being husband and wife with our beautiful baby girl,” she says — a joy she fully deserves. “I am soaking in this time with Esmé as she turns one and becomes a toddler. I get to watch her take her first steps and say her first words. Time truly flies during these early years of family life, so I’m making sure to soak it all in.”

Professionally, too, Agdal is still finding her balance. “I want to return to work, but I’m figuring out what that looks like and the best way to do it, especially since I do want more kids. I’ve been in the fitness and wellness industry for a long time, so I’m exploring how to dive back into work while spending time with my daughter and trying to get pregnant again,” she reveals, and we both laugh at the ongoing juggle of it all.

Agdal has definitely been focused on building her family and creating a new life for herself, but her true passions — for social media and modeling — aren’t far away. They’re still waiting for her, ready to embrace her next step as the new Nina.

HOSTS A HAUTE LEADERS COCKTAIL EVENING AT THE TIPS GOLF IN MIAMI

ON AUGUST 20, HAUTE LIVING HOSTED AN EXCLUSIVE Haute Leaders cocktail evening at The Tips Golf in Brickell. The event brought together leaders, tastemakers, and friends of the brand for a night of food, drinks, and golf inside one of Miami’s newest lifestyle destinations. The Tips Golf is a newly opened, two-level, 3,600-squarefoot premium indoor golf studio located inside the AC Hotel Miami Brickell. The venue offers Five Trackman iO–powered simulator bays delivering professional-grade analytics and private golf instruction alongside its sleek ten-seat bar which showcases innovative craft sips, encouraging cocktails and conversation between swings. Notable attendees included Dr. Ana Chacon, Tadia Silva, Su Ottikkutti, and Jorge Fajardo, J.D., alongside Kamal Hotchandani, CEO and founder of Haute Media Group, April Donelson, managing director at Haute Media Group, Gabrielle Shulman, network memberships advisor at Haute Media Group, and more. Throughout the evening, guests tested their swing on the simulators while savoring passed hors d’oeuvres such as cucumber canapés with roasted red pepper and sundried tomato cream cheese, lamb chop lollipops with mint tzatziki, and shrimp cocktail with citrus mezcal sauce. Attendees also sipped on themed cocktails including The Tips Margarita with Casa Azul Orgánico Blanco Tequila and the Miami Heat with Casa Azul Reposado Tequila, pamplemousse, muddled jalapeño, pink grapefruit juice, and grapefruit soda.

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4. Hors d’oeuvres served during the Haute Leaders cocktail evening

5. Casa Azul Reposado Tequila, Casa Azul Orgánico Blanco Tequila, and Casa Azul Orgánico Añejo Tequila

6. Ottikkutti

7. Ornella Lopresti, Shulman, Dr. Anna Chacon, and Anna Carr

8. Remi KouKou, Donelson, and Ottikkutti

HOSTS

HAUTE LEADERS BRUNCH IN FORT LAUDERDALE

HAUTE LIVING CELEBRATED ITS LATEST HAUTE LEADERS gathering in Fort Lauderdale with an intimate brunch hosted in partnership with KPI Capital Partners and the Schirripa Group. The exclusive event united leaders across real estate, finance, law, design, wellness, technology, and the arts under one roof. Guests enjoyed hors d’œuvres and curated pours from JuJu Wines, a wine-focused company combining science and sensory expertise to create personalized experiences. The guest list reflected Miami’s dynamic leadership landscape, bringing together trailblazers across industries, including Jorge Fajardo, founder and CEO of KPI Capital Partners, John F. Haley, Partner at Nelson Mullins, Reginald “Reggie” Bouzy, founder of The Bouzy Group, Debbie Wysocki, founder of Florida Luxury Homes Group, Robert Elias, founding principal of The Elias Law Firm, PLLC, and Mark Shapiro, alongside April Donelson, managing director of Haute Media Group, Gabrielle Shulman, membership advisor at Haute Media Group; and Esther Alvarez, vice president of strategic partnerships at Haute Media Group, alongside Haute Media Group CEO Kamal Hotchandani, who welcomed guests into the community.

2. J.D.

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4. Martin Jume, Rachel Wong, and Alfonso Martin

5. Gabrielle Shulman, Nadia Bouzid, Jume, Hotchandani, and Donelson

CELEBRATES ODELL BECKHAM JR. AT BENTLEY RESIDENCES MIAMI

1. Shareef Malnik, Odell Beckham Jr., and Kamal Hotchandani

2. April Donelson and Beckham Jr.

3. Beckham Jr.

4. Beckham Jr. and Jared Shapiro

5. Priscilla Haskley, Beckham Jr., and Andrew Kaplan

6. Jacqueline Rodriguez, Ian Reisner, and Michelle Lynn Judd

7. Javier Rojas, Juan Guzman, Martin Jume, Hotchandani, Melissa Barragan, Donelson, and Shey Colon

ON AUGUST 12, HAUTE LIVING HOSTED AN INTIMATE DINNER in honor of NFL player Odell Beckham Jr., celebrating his July 2025 Haute Living Miami cover and his electrifying career at the iconic Bentley Residences in Sunny Isles Beach. Notable attendees included Dr. Alexandre Condé Green, Robert Elias, Shareef Malnik, Dr. Vince Afsahi, Jorge Fajardo, and Jaime Casado, alongside Kamal Hotchandani, CEO and founder of Haute Media Group, Seth Semilof, publisher and COO of Haute Media Group, and April Donelson, managing director at Haute Media Group. The culinary experience included a velvet sirloin paired with braised leeks, seasonal vegetables, kanome leaf, a hint of bergamot, and rich demiglace. Dessert ended on a high note with the “ephemeral Napoleon” layered with seasonal fruits, mixed berry chantilly, caramelized chocolate, and refreshing mango sorbet. No celebration is complete without a toast, and Sonrisa Puerto Rican Rum elevated the evening’s libations with a bespoke cocktail menu created just for the occasion. Guests sipped on the tropical Sonrisa Pineapple Daiquiri, savored the indulgent Sonrisa Espresso Martini, and enjoyed the refined simplicity of Sonrisa Reserva served over ice.

INTERCONTINENTAL MIAMI MAKE-A-WISH BALL CELEBRATES 30 YEARS

THE INTERCONTINENTAL ® MIAMI MAKE-A-WISH ® BALL will mark a remarkable milestone on November 1, with 30 years of philanthropy and life-changing wishes. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $47 million for Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, granting more than 8,700 wishes to children facing critical illnesses. Widely regarded as the start of Miami’s charity season, the Ball is being chaired for the 20th year by philanthropist Shareef Malnik, chairman emeritus of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, alongside his wife, actress and filmmaker Gabrielle Anwar, who returns as co-chair. The couple’s passion, elegance, and leadership have elevated the gala into one of the region’s most prestigious annual events. This year’s theme, “Cleopatra,” will be an opulent homage to Hollywood’s golden age. Under the creative direction of Maxwell Blandford, guests will be transported to the cinematic glamour of the 1920s with a lavish spectacle reimagining the last great silent epic film ever produced in Hollywood. At the heart of the Ball’s continued success is the partnership between Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and the InterContinental® Miami, steered by the trio affectionately known as the “Three Amigos” including Shareef M. Malnik, gala chair, who has led the Ball for nearly two decades, Glenn Sampert, general manager of the InterContinental® Miami and gala host, and Norman Wedderburn, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, who has guided the organization’s expansion, ensuring every dollar raised translates directly into hope and joy for children and families.

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7. Al Malnik, Larsa Pippen, and Nancy and Spencer Malnik

8. Norman Wedderburn, Shareef M. Malnik, and Glenn Sampert

CELEBRATES LENNOX LEWIS’ MILESTONE 60TH BIRTHDAY IN MIAMI

1. Lennox Lewis, Rohan and Nico Marley, and Max Miller

2. Lewis, Rohan and Nico Marley, Miller, Gabriel Urrutia, April Donelson, Nitin Khanna, Kamal Hotchandani, and Shreya Arun

3. Lewis and Marley

4. Lewis

5. Donelson, Miller, Urrutia, Rohan Marley, Lewis, Nico Marley, Khanna, Hotchandani, and Arun

ON SEPTEMBER 2, HAUTE LIVING CELEBRATED LEGENDARY heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis’ 60th birthday with an exclusive omakase celebration at Uchiko Miami Beach. The evening brought together a select circle of friends, family, and notable attendees, including Rohan Marley, owner of Lion Order and chairman of Marley Coffee, Nico Marley, a former football linebacker, Nitin Khanna, cofounder of El Cristiano Tequila, Kali Mata Investments, and Saber Corp, and chairman of MergerTech alongside Kamal Hotchandani, CEO and founder of Haute Media Group, April Donelson, managing director at Haute Media Group, and more. Uchiko Miami Beach presented its signature omakase through a progression of standout courses. Cool tastings set the tone, with the hama chili emerging as a guest favorite for its perfect balance of brightness and heat. From the “Hearth” section, smoky, char-driven plates showcased Uchiko’s mastery of fire, including Denver steak and nasu nigiri. The nigiri courses featured delicate selections, including madai, maguro, and avocado. Crisp bites from the tempura section included green beans, followed by vegetable highlights like Brussels sprouts, sunomono, and grilled shishito peppers. Hot tastings brought comforting depth with shrimp karaage, suzuki yaki, and chicken karaage, complemented by rolls such as spicy crunchy salmon, crispy rice, and veggie crunchy. Desserts offered playful finales, with standouts including a cheesecake topped with strawberry umeboshi jam and Uchiko’s signature “milk and cereal” of fried milk and toasted milk ice cream.

HAUTE WINE SOCIETY AND SIMON FAMILY ESTATE HONOR CHEF DEAN FEARING WITH A STAR-STUDDED DALLAS DINNER

ON SEPTEMBER 4, THE CULINARY AND CULTURAL ELITE OF DALLAS gathered at Fearing’s Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, for an extraordinary evening hosted by Haute Wine Society and Simon Family Estate in the presence of legendary chef Dean Fearing. The evening opened with foie gras torchon and citrus, paired with the 2024 Simon Family Estate Tigress Rosé of Grenache. Courses followed with scallion ash-cured hamachi tiradito and crab nuggets alongside the 2022 Golden Ore Sauvignon Blanc; dry-aged Rohan duck breast with butternut squash spaetzle and blueberry jus paired with the 2022 Double Blessings Peter and Michael; and mesquite-grilled RC Ranch strip steak with fondant potatoes, vegetables, salsa verde, and Bordelaise, matched with the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley and Reserve. A late-summer plum tart with crème fraîche crémeux, hazelnut financier, and cinnamon gelato closed the meal, paired with the 2020 Golden Ore Sauvignon Blanc. The intimate dinner included Jeffrey C. Crowe, Hillary Stout, Pia Kaur, Nick Kuelbs, Dr. Lou DeGironemo and Sarah DeGironemo, Rob and Sam Rosenberg, Percy Knox, April Irene Donelson, managing director at Haute Media Group, Vanessa Conlin — one of fewer than sixty masters of wine in the United States — who is not only the director of growth and partnerships at Simon Family Estate, but also the U.S. Ambassador for Château Ducru-Beaucaillou.

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2.

3. Fearing and Corey Thomson

5. Conlin and Kretchmer

6. Jeff Mitchell and Katie Aspen

LOUIS VUITTON OFFICIALLY ENTERS THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY WITH THE

LAUNCH OF LA BEAUTÉ LOUIS VUITTON.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LOUIS VUITTON

Louis Vuitton practically broke the internet this summer as the Maison announced its foray into cosmetics with the introduction of La Beauté Louis Vuitton — a collection that transcends mere pigments and powders, elevating makeup to the realm of heirloom artistry. Drawing from its 170-year legacy of wanderlust and exquisite craftsmanship, this debut line reimagines beauty through the Louis Vuitton lens.

At the helm of this transformative chapter is none other than Dame Pat McGrath, DBE, the undisputed queen of modern makeup. Appointed as creative director for cosmetics, McGrath infuses her three decades of groundbreaking work — from runway revolutions to editorial masterpieces — into Louis Vuitton’s avant-garde ethos. Her longstanding synergy with the Maison, seen in past fashion collaborations, now blooms into a permanent beauty narrative. “Beauty is about identity and emotion,” McGrath has often mused, and here, she crafts products that feel like extensions of the self: objects of desire meant to be cherished, not discarded.

For those of us immersed in the world of luxury beauty, Louis Vuitton’s entrance feels like a long-awaited homecoming. In true Louis Vuitton fashion, the new beauty line is a nod to the Maison’s travel trunks that continues to be intricately woven into its story. In fact, the early flat-topped cases, engineered for the jetsetters of yesteryear, often included secret nooks for precious perfumes and grooming essentials, ensuring that sophistication accompanied every adventure.

By the 1920s, Louis Vuitton designed bespoke vanity cases — opulent sanctuaries for brushes, compacts, and elixirs. Treasures from the archives, like the ornate vanity crafted for opera diva Marthe Chenal or the refined toiletry set for composer Jan Paderewski, both from 1925, underscore this hidden heritage. Now, La Beauté Louis Vuitton revives that spirit, blending archival inspiration with contemporary flair to create a beauty lexicon that’s as timeless as the Monogram canvas itself.

The collection’s debut focuses on the essentials that define expression — lips and eyes — each piece a testament to meticulous detail. Leading the collection is LV Rouge, a symphony of 55 lipsticks, a clever homage to the Roman numerals for “LV.” McGrath’s curation spans 27 luminous satin finishes that impart a silky glow and 28 plush mattes for sculptural depth. These aren’t your average bullets: they’re formulated with an 85 percent skincare-infused base, harnessing upcycled waxes from rose, jasmine, and mimosa — blooms synonymous with Louis Vuitton’s olfactory world — alongside shea butter and hyaluronic acid. Universally flattering yet boldly innovative, these shades invite endless personalization, turning a simple application into a ritual of self-celebration.

Complementing the rouges are the LV Baumes, a collection of 10 sheer tints that deliver a lightweight veil of radiance, buildable for subtle enhancement or everyday polish. Enriched with the same nourishing duo of shea butter and hyaluronic acid, they promise 48 hours of hydration, round-the-clock comfort, and progressive lip revitalization.

For the eyes, LV Ombres offers eight palettes, each a quartet of shadows designed for versatility. Three versatile neutrals anchor the set, while a wildcard hue — be it a shimmering glitter or a daring pop — unleashes McGrath’s signature drama. Spanning six textures from matte to metallic, the formulas feature pure pigments for vivid payoff, light-reflecting gels for unparalleled sparkle, and skin-mimicking ingredients like plant-derived squalane and camelina oil extract.

What sets La Beauté Louis Vuitton apart is its multisensory allure, a first-of-its-kind fusion where fragrance dances with color. In a cross-disciplinary triumph, McGrath collaborated with Louis Vuitton’s master perfumer, Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, to scent the products. Drawing from the Grasse ateliers’ bounty, the lipsticks evoke a delicate bouquet of mimosa, jasmine, and rose, while the balms tantalize with mint and raspberry notes. This olfactory layer adds an invisible veil of indulgence, making every touch-up a moment of pure escapism.

And finally, the packaging. Masterminded by industrial design virtuoso Konstantin Grcic, the packaging of each product further elevates the collection. Known for his minimalist furniture, Grcic’s touch turns lipsticks and compacts into sculptural keepsakes — sleek, ergonomic, and eternally chic. Sustainability isn’t an afterthought;it’s woven in. Refillable mechanisms feature engraved shade names, peek-a-boo windows for easy identification, and a proprietary floral lock that ensures only La Beauté Louis Vuitton elements fit, making replenishment as luxurious as the initial unboxing.

True to its travel roots, La Beauté Louis Vuitton extends beyond the vanity with companion pieces that honor travel. A bespoke vanity trunk reinterprets 1920s designs by Gaston-Louis Vuitton and Art Deco pioneer Pierre-Émile Legrain, evolving into a modern makeup station — a portable atelier for the discerning aesthete. Small leather goods, clad in iconic Monogram, include brush holders, blotting paper cases, and lipstick vanities, merging utility with heritage. For the launch, limited-edition lipstick pouches and Nice beauty cases arrive in three evocative hues: Monogram Rouge, Rouge Louis, and Tender Bliss — collectibles that fuse form, function, and forever appeal.

MECCA THE BEAUTY

INSIDE THE FIRST PERMANENT DIOR SPA IN THE UNITED STATES:THE DIOR SPA NEW YORK.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

It’s safe to say it was a Dior summer this August in Manhattan as the Maison opened the doors to the newly reimagined — and highly anticipated — House of Dior flagship boutique at East 57 th St. and Madison Ave. And while the House of Dior flagship is already a major moment for the brand, it doesn’t stop there. As a part of the New York City expansion, Dior has also revealed its first-ever permanent Dior Spa in the United States, nestled within the House of Dior flagship, dedicating an entire floor to wellness for the first time in its U.S. history.

This luxurious wellness haven, perched on the top floor of the boutique, is a testament to the House’s commitment to redefining beauty through cutting-edge science and timeless French sophistication. Designed by the visionary Peter Marino, the Dior Spa New York is a sanctuary where bespoke treatments and advanced technology converge to deliver an unparalleled experience of rejuvenation and indulgence.

The spa is a culmination of a state-of-the-art haven, New York’s unparalleled energy, and a celebration of Christian Dior’s legacy, inspired by his belief that true beauty radiates from meticulous care and an impeccable appearance. And if you’ve ever visited the Dior spas in Paris, the Dior Spa New York feels like a little piece of Paris in the heart of Manhattan.

The Dior Spa New York introduces a curated menu of face and body treatments that marry scientific innovation with the House’s signature savoir-faire. The standout is the Haute Couture Treatment, a 90-minute facial exclusive to this location, co-created with renowned American master esthetician Sarah Akram. This transformative protocol combines technologies like cold-laser, ultrasound, micro-current, cryotherapy, and oxygen infusion. Paired with Dior’s premium skincare products and masterful massage techniques, the treatment lifts, tones, and revitalizes the skin, leaving it luminous and visibly rejuvenated. This bespoke experience is a pinnacle of luxury wellness.

The spa’s facial offerings also include three signature rituals: the Golden Aura, which imparts a radiant glow through oxygen therapy; Dior Powered by Hydrafacial, delivering intense cleansing and hydration;and the Kobi-Dior, a sculpting treatment that plumps and lifts via micro-aspiration and stimulation. For the body, four iconic treatments focus on enhancing contours and skin vitality. The star among them, the New Look treatment, reimagines Dior’s iconic silhouette through a lymphatic drainage protocol enhanced by Icoone technology. This advanced machine boosts micro-circulation, stimulates collagen and elastin production, and promotes lipolysis, resulting in firmer, smoother skin and refined curves.

Dior’s exploration of light therapy takes center stage in the exclusive Dior Light Suite, a treatment room designed to harness the emotional and physical benefits of light. Four unique protocols — Recharge, Recover, Rest, and the New York-exclusive Happiness — rebalance energies, enhance mood, and even resynchronize sleep cycles. The Happiness ritual, developed in collaboration with sleep specialist Dr. François Duforez, stimulates serotonin and dopamine production over 90 minutes, fostering emotional balance and a profound sense of well-being. These treatments, performed in four distinct light ambiance tailored to New York’s dynamic lifestyle, elevate the spa experience to a holistic journey.

The spa has four treatment rooms — three single and one double — designed as tranquil havens. Infrared mattresses, weighted antistress blankets, and cryo-effect sleep masks enhance every session, enveloping guests in comfort and calm. The sensory experience is further elevated by an ambient fragrance crafted by Francis Kurkdjian, the perfume creation director at Christian Dior Parfums.

Beyond treatments, a dedicated beauty room offers custom makeup looks inspired by creative and image director for Dior Makeup, Peter Philips, while a boutique showcases Dior’s finest fragrances, including La Collection Privée, and exclusive pieces like Rouge Premier, L’Or de J’adore by Jean-Michel Othoniel, and Miss Dior by Eva Jospin.

Christian Dior once said, “I dreamed of making women not only more beautiful, but also happier.” The Dior Spa New York embodies this vision, blending cutting-edge technology with the artistry of French luxury to create a sanctuary of bespoke wellness. From the precision of its treatments to the elegance of its design, this new destination redefines what it means to indulge in beauty.

BRIGHT EYES

DIOR CAPTURE INTRODUCES PRO-COLLAGEN SHOT AND EYE CRÈME — THE MAISON’S MOST ADVANCED EYE TREATMENTS TO DATE.

BY SHELBY COMROE

Dior Beauty is taking its anti-aging expertise to the next level with the debut of Dior Capture Pro-Collagen Shot and Eye Crème, a duo designed to visibly lift, firm, and brighten the most delicate part of the face.

Backed by over five decades of research and the expertise of the Dior Reverse Aging Board, these treatments target one of the earliest and most visible signs of aging: collagen loss around the eyes. Dior Science reveals that eyelid collagen density can decrease by nearly half between ages 25 and 75, resulting in sagging, dark circles, and a fatigued appearance.

Both formulas are powered by Dior Capture’s exclusive OX-C Treatment technology with revitalizing and replenishing powers helps visibly rejuvenate skin lacking collagen. The Pro-Collagen Shot takes inspiration from next-generation collagen treatments used in esthetic medicine, incorporating a bioengineered collagen fragment 27 times smaller than traditional marine collagen to penetrate deeply and reactivate four major collagen types that make up 90 percent of the skin’s support network. The result: eyelids that appear 57 percent more lifted right away, with eye contour definition doubling in just four weeks. Its cooling gel texture, dual-polymer tightening complex, and patented metal applicator deliver a precision treatment with a spa-like feel.

The Eye Crème completes the ritual by focusing on radiance and fatigue. Enriched with Dior’s Eye Network Complex, chaga mushroom extract to reinforce the skin’s microvascular network, and caffeine to decongest puffiness, it visibly brightens and refreshes. Light-diffusing pigments catch the light for instant luminosity, while two patented hyaluronic acids provide lasting hydration. After four weeks, dermal thickness increases by 31 percent, radiance multiplies fivefold, and the entire eye area appears smoother, firmer, and more awake. Together, this next-generation duo redefines eye care, delivering results that are as visible as they are luxurious.

WHERE MEETS DESTINATION ON EVERY CONTINENT DESIGN

THESE DESIGN-DRIVEN HOTELS BRING SERENE PALETTES, SLEEK LINES, A ND ENDLESS GLAMOUR TO EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE.

BY LAURA SCHREFFLER

ASIA BULGARI HOTEL TOKYO

The Bulgari Hotel Tokyo doesn’t just rise above the city — it redefines it. Located on the top floors of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, this jewel-box of a property feels like stepping into a sanctuary suspended in the sky. What makes it exceptional isn’t only its vantage point, with sweeping views of the Imperial Palace Gardens and Mount Fuji on clear days, but the way Italian design heritage is seamlessly married to Japanese sensibility. The interiors, imagined by the powerhouse Milanese studio Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, radiate understated glamour: with its travertine marble, custom-crafted furniture, shimmering glass and bronze accents, every detail is a deliberate expression of Bulgari’s codes of timeless luxury. Light pours in from floor-to-ceiling windows, refracting off lacquered surfaces and drawing your eye out toward the city skyline. Then, there are the experiences layered into the design itself: an intimate eight-seat omakase counter at Sushi Hōseki, Il Ristorante curated by Niko Romito, and a Bulgari Bar that feels like a stage set for Tokyo’s most stylish nights. Even the Bulgari Spa is an architectural marvel — a temple of marble and onyx, anchored by an 82-foot pool that seems to float above the city. This is Tokyo as Bulgari sees it: dazzling, meticulous, and unforgettable.

2 Chome-2-1 Yaesu, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0028, Japan

EUROPE

ARCTIC BATH

Located just south of the Arctic Circle, Arctic Bath is a floating sanctuary inspired by the region’s timber-floating era. Its striking circular main building, designed by Johan Kauppi and Bertil Harström, resembles a sculptural cluster of logs adrift on water. Inside the floating ring, you’ll find the spa, reception, lounge, and restaurant, while sleek water cabins drift nearby, linked to shore by wooden gangways. On land, minimalist Scandinavian-style cabins rise among the birch trees. The spa embraces its northern roots with saunas, an icy river plunge, and outdoor hot tubs, complemented by treatments steeped in local wellness rituals. Beyond the water, guided hikes, snowshoeing, Sámi cultural tours, and fishing expeditions are on offer. Dining is intimate and theatrical — native, northern fare has been reimagined via multi-course tasting menus. Ramdalsvägen 10, 961 78 Harads, Sweden

EUROPE

CHÂTEAU DE LA MESSARDIÈRE

Perched high above the Bay of Pampelonne resides Airelles’ Saint-Tropez maison, Château de La Messardière, a 19th-century aristocratic residence that balances Provençal charm with the glamour of the Côte d’Azur. Christophe Tollemer’s interiors are a masterclass in detail thanks to clay tiles burnished by sunlight, mineral-hued lava stone, and golden wood. Each window frames a living canvas — sea, gardens, or pine forest — transforming the 86 roomand-suite château, which is set over 30 acres, into an ever-changing gallery. Beyond the interiors, there are five dazzling pools — including the Belvédère, whose 82-foot swim lane points directly at the Bay of Pampelonne. Wellness is an elevated affair in the Airelles Spa by Valmont, while dining brings in a culinary constellation courtesy of Jean-François Piège, Nobu Matsuhisa, and Cedric Grolet. 2 Rte de Tahiti, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France

EUROPE

REID’S PALACE, A BELMOND HOTEL

Belmond Reid’s Palace is a clifftop icon that sets the standard for Madeiran glamour. With its sweeping ocean views, framed by subtropical gardens, it’s the kind of hotel that has always lured great names, including Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw. Here, design is a story in itself: Edwardian-inspired dining rooms glowing under Murano chandeliers, airy terraces at Villa Cipriani where handmade pasta arrives with the sound of the ocean, and manicured gardens bursting with bougainvillea, orchids, and palms. Even afternoon tea feels like theater — a signature ritual that seems like a scene out of a bygone era. Add in dinner at the Michelin-starred William Restaurant and luxurious afternoon tea in the 1891 Bar 1891 Reid’s Palace & Tea Library, and it’s easy to see why Reid’s remains Madeira’s crown jewel. Monumental 139, São Martinho, 9000-098 Funchal, Portugal

EUROPE

ROSEWOOD AMSTERDAM

Rosewood Amsterdam, the brand’s highly anticipated debut in the Netherlands, is a masterpiece. Set within the city’s historic Palace of Justice — leaving its mark as the last hotel ever permitted in a monumental building in Amsterdam — the design is pure Dutch sophistication, with interiors by Studio Piet Boon layering historic grandeur and modern restraint. Outside, landscape architect Piet Oudolf has transformed the grounds into a living artwork, framing the canals with an almost painterly quality. Inside, every detail is deliberate, from the property’s more than one thousand artworks to the culinary program that highlights seasonality and story. At Eeuwen, chef David Ordóñez builds menus around the rhythm of nature, while its cocktail bar, Advocatuur, playfully nods to the building’s legal past. Prinsengracht 432436, 1017 KE Amsterdam, Netherlands

NORTH AMERICA

WALDORF ASTORIA NEW YORK

The Waldorf Astoria New York has always been a legend — but with its longawaited restoration, it feels more like a reinvention. The Park Avenue icon hasn’t just preserved its Art Deco heart, it’s elevated it, layering in modern touches that feel both glamorous and distinctly New York. Interiors by PierreYves Rochon strike that elusive balance between timeless and fresh, with custom furnishings, marble-clad bathrooms, and soaring public spaces that still hum with history. Of course, design here doesn’t stop at the guest rooms. The culinary program is as transportive as the architecture itself — from chef Michael Anthony’s Lex Yard, with its brasserie-chic esthetic, to Yoshoku’s artful Japanese plates set against neoclassical murals, to a revived Peacock Alley that feels like sipping a cocktail inside New York’s own mythology. Add in the debut of the Guerlain Spa and a Grand Ballroom reimagined for a new century, and the Waldorf Astoria isn’t just reopening — it’s reminding the world why it’s the blueprint for design-forward luxury hotels everywhere. 301 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States

NORTH AMERICA

ONE&ONLY MOONLIGHT BASIN

In the heart of Big Sky, Montana, One&Only Moonlight Basin feels like an architectural love letter to the wilderness. Designed by Olson Kundig, every detail is shaped by its alpine setting — bold yet warm, with local stone, wood, and glass framing the drama of Lone Peak and the sweep of Montana skies. The 73 rooms, 19 freestanding cabins, and expansive private homes are cocooned in cozy textiles and anchored by floor-toceiling windows, fireplaces, and terraces that dissolve the line between inside and out. The design is deliberately elemental: roaring fires and daybeds piled high with wool throws, and outdoor hot tubs that offer views of snow-dusted pines. Cabins and multi-bedroom homes feel as if they’ve grown from the land itself, balancing rugged authenticity with refined luxury. Public spaces echo the same ethos — the Sky Lodge with its cinematic views, the speakeasy-style Moon Shack hidden among evergreens, and the Prohibition-style Dear Josephine Lounge shimmering in copper tones. This is mountain living reimagined with contemporary artistry, an alpine retreat where design is inseparable from the landscape it inhabits. 77 Roosevelt Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716, United States

SOUTH AMERICA

EXPLORA TORRES DEL PAINE

At the very heart of Torres del Paine National Park — not at its edge like so many others — sits Explora Torres del Paine, the Explora brand’s original lodge that still remains its most iconic. Gleaming white against the southern sky, the design is strikingly modern yet purposefully restrained, a frame for the granite towers, turquoise lakes, and glaciers that surround it. Each of the 49 rooms is pared back to essentials so that nature itself becomes the artwork on display, with vast windows pulling Patagonia’s drama inside. Adventure radiates in every direction here: horseback rides across wide pampas, catamaran crossings on Lake Pehoé, or hikes to Grey Glacier and the valleys of Cuernos and Francés. The lodge’s own stables, cared for by resident gauchos and supervised by a veterinarian, add authenticity to the experience. After days in the elements, Casa de Baños del Ona offers relaxation via heated pools and saunas with mountain views, while the restaurant plates flavors rooted in the region, paired with Chile’s celebrated wines. Torres del Paine National Park, Torres de Paine, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena, Chile

SOUTH AMERICA

SB WINEMAKER’S HOUSE

SB Winemaker’s House in Mendoza feels like stepping into someone’s private estate — because in many ways, it is. Created by Argentina’s pioneering female winemaker Susana Balbo and her daughter Ana Lovaglio Balbo, the property is deeply personal. Each of its seven suites is outfitted with a private steam room, massage table, curated wine fridge, terrace, and garden with firepits and heated loungers, wrapped in natural materials like llama wool and local stone. Food and wine are, naturally, at the heart of the house. La VidA celebrates Argentina’s bold flavors with menus designed to pair seamlessly with Susana’s award-winning vintages, while the Chef’s Table brings guests into an open-flame kitchen. Wellness is a priority here as well, best showcased via grape-seed therapies and the attentions of a dedicated wellness butler. Artworks by leading Argentine and Brazilian artists tie the story together, while curated excursions — from vineyard horseback rides to rafting the Mendoza River — extend the spirit of the house into the valley itself. Viamonte 5022, M5505 Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

AFRICA THE SILO HOTEL

Cape Town’s Silo Hotel is a living piece of art, a hotel where industrial heritage meets cutting-edge design. Rising above the V&A Waterfront in a transformed grain silo building, its striking pillowed-glass windows by Heatherwick Studio make the entire structure glow like a lantern over the harbor. Inside, every surface feels like a dialogue between history and modernity, from concrete bones and soaring ceilings to bold, contemporary African art that fills both private and public spaces. Design here isn’t decoration — it’s experience. This is found at the sky terrace, with its heated infinity pool that frames 360-degree views from Table Mountain to Robben Island, as well as at the Granary Café, Willaston Bar, and Silo Rooftop, which layer gastronomy into the esthetic narrative. Here is a hotel where luxury is defined by creativity. Silo Square, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

AFRICA CAPE GRACE, A FAIRMONT-MANAGED HOTEL

Cape Grace has long held its place as one of Cape Town’s crown jewels, and following a sweeping nine-month transformation, the property, now managed by Fairmont, is shining brighter than ever. Perched on the city’s iconic V&A Waterfront, the hotel has been reimagined by 1508 London with interiors that weave South Africa’s story into every detail: locally sourced materials, hand-picked works by emerging and established artists, and a contemporary esthetic that mirrors Cape Town’s natural beauty. Each of the 112 rooms and suites offers uninterrupted views — whether of Table Mountain or the harbor — while the Fairmont Spa and a bold culinary program led by Wesli Jacobs offer pure indulgence. V&A Waterfront, W Quay Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

ASIA

CONRAD SINGAPORE ORCHARD

Conrad Singapore Orchard reimagines one of the city’s most distinctive architectural icons with a design story that is as bold as it is botanical. Originally envisioned by legendary architect John Portman, the 12-story atrium stuns, flooded with natural light and threaded with contemporary works by local and regional artists that reflect Singapore’s garden city identity. Statement pieces like Stephanie Scuris’ Harmony Fountain and Michio Ihara’s Singapore Shower anchor the space with timeless gravitas, while a curated collection of prints and installations by Singaporean creatives nod to the lush flora outside its walls. The 445 guest rooms take cues from refined residential living, layered with tropical accents, serene sand-and-cream palettes, and floor-toceiling windows framed by plantation shutters. Suites extend this sense of sanctuary, with terraces that blur indoors and out. Beyond the rooms, guests can linger in leafy alcoves by the pool, sip Cantonese tea at the Michelin-starred Summer Palace, or descend into the Golden Age glamour of Manhattan, one of the world’s most celebrated bars. 1 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore 249715

AFRICA

SOFITEL WINTER PALACE

Sofitel Winter Palace in Luxor is an architectural jewel where French elegance meets Egyptian soul, set in a prime location just steps away from Luxor Temple, overlooking the Nile River and the Valley of Kings. Its sweeping terraces and manicured gardens create a stage where past and present intermingle; its ornate Belle Époque details, soaring ceilings, and gilded cornices set the tone for an atmosphere that is both regal and welcoming. Here, history is layered with quiet luxury: suites and guestrooms combine antique furnishings with signature modern comforts, while outlets like the Victorian Lounge, famed for its afternoon tea, or La Corniche restaurant, with its daily breakfast buffet and international cuisine, reflect both French and Egyptian artistry. Guests may also indulge in French fine dining at 1886 Restaurant. 17 Cornish El Nile St, Luxor, 11432, Egypt

ASIA

COMO UMA PARO

COMO Uma Paro feels like a secret whispered by the Himalayas. Perched on a pine-covered hill with sweeping views of the Paro Valley, the retreat is a masterclass in balance: traditional Bhutanese craftsmanship — carved wood, hand-painted motifs, flickering butter lamps — paired seamlessly with COMO’s contemporary design. Its location — minutes from Bhutan’s most celebrated cultural landmarks — serves as the perfect gateway to experiences that range from a contemplative butter lamp ceremony to the legendary hike up to Taktsang Monastery (the Tiger’s Nest). Don’t miss the spa, COMO Shambhala Uma Paro, which features two private Bhutanese hot-stone bathhouses, the award-winning Bukhari restaurant, or Uma Bar for enjoying a fireside toast, Bhutanese style. Paro Valley Paro, 00000, Bhutan

IL SERENO

ll Sereno Lago di Como isn’t your typical Lake Como retreat — it’s a modernist jewel box where design and setting collide in the most spectacular way. Patricia Urquiola stripped away the faux-Renaissance nostalgia so often seen along the shoreline and instead, gave us something bold, sleek, and entirely of the moment. With just 40 suites, each opening onto a private lakefront terrace, the drama of Como is never just outside your window — it’s part of your room. Natural stone, wood, and silk are paired with clean, contemporary lines that echo both the timeless beauty of the lake and the forward-thinking edge of nearby Milan. Here, you’ll arrive in style on one of the hotel’s custom Ernesto Riva boats, linger over an afternoon in the infinity pool that seems to spill directly into the lake, or toast the sunset at the two-Michelin-starred Il Sereno al Lago, where chef Raffaele Lenzi’s seasonal menus are as artful as Urquiola’s interiors. From the Valmont spa carved into a historic boathouse to Patrick Blanc’s soaring vertical gardens, every detail has been considered and reimagined. Via Torrazza, 10, 22020 Torno CO, Italy

TECHNICAL TRIUMPS

The A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Jumping Seconds and 1815 Tourbillon return with ravishing new dials.

BY ANDRE FROIS

FEW WATCH MANUFACTURERS ARE AS ADMIRED AND DISCUSSED today as A. Lange & Söhne. Recently, Haute Time has been tracing the brand’s remarkable trajectory — shaped by inventive watchmaking and punctuated by extraordinary milestones.

Now, with the unveiling of two new timepieces, we have the perfect opportunity to revisit some of Lange’s most ingenious technical achievements, including the stop-seconds, zero-reset, jumping seconds, and remontoir mechanisms.

The first is the 1815 Tourbillon, limited to 50 pieces. It returns with a white-gold dial that has been painstakingly enameled black and housed in a 39.5 mm platinum case. Named after founder Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birth year, the 1815 collection debuted in 1995 following the brand’s revival, while the collection’s first tourbillon appeared in 2014 in platinum and pink gold versions. This latest release marks the fifth 1815 Tourbillon and the 12th Lange timepiece to feature an enamel dial.

The enameling of this watch is a tip of the hat to enameled A. Lange & Söhne pocket watches of the 19th and 20th centuries. Enameling is a delicate craft prone to failure, and the name Grand Feu literally translates to “big fire.” Each dial requires around 30 layers of enamel, applied and fired at high

temperatures in a dust-free workshop over the course of several days. These details are framed by the collection’s signature railway-track minute scale.

The dramatic black dial is matched by the meticulously black-polished finish on the tourbillon bridge and cage. This technique, which involves sliding a component against a tin plate with fine paste until it achieves a mirror-like gloss, produces one of the most unforgiving yet beautiful surface treatments in haute horlogerie

For this enamel dial iteration of the 1815 Tourbillon, careful handchamfering is required to prepare the throne of the tourbillon — one misstep can forsake days of enamel work. This process contributes to the hundred-plus individual steps required for each dial, often stretching into weeks of work.

Inside beats the manual-winding caliber L102.1, offering a 72-hour power reserve. Like its predecessors, it features Lange’s in-house balance spring and is adjusted in five positions to meet the brand’s exacting chronometric standards. True to Lange’s codes, untreated German silver plates and bridges are decorated by hand, while the tourbillon is anchored with a diamond endstone in a screwed gold chaton.

The watch also incorporates two historic Lange patents that are cornerstones of the manufacture. First off, the stop-seconds mechanism, which was debuted in the relaunched brand’s first collection in 1994, halts the tourbillon for precise time setting. Secondly, the zero-reset function, which was first introduced in the 1997 Langematik, sends the seconds hand back to zero when the crown is pulled, and also turns this watch into a chronograph of sorts. Together, they facilitate the easy and precise setting of the 1815 Tourbillon.

The second release is the Richard Lange Jumping Seconds, limited to 100 pieces, with a pink gold dial inside a 39.9 mm white gold case. This collection pays tribute to Richard Lange — Adolph’s eldest son and a key innovator in watch spring alloys — and draws inspiration from Johann Heinrich Seyffert’s celebrated Chronometer No. 93.

Its defining feature is a jumping seconds display, where the seconds hand advances in precise one-second steps rather than sweeping. A mechanical watch’s seconds hand usually tells time through a sweeping motion, but a star-shaped gear, in this instance, converts the natural oscillation of the escapement into 60 discrete jumps per minute.

The seconds register dominates the dial at 12 o’clock, overlapping the smaller hours and minutes subdials. At their intersection sits a clever triangular indicator that turns red ten hours before the power reserve runs out, reminding the wearer to wind the movement.

Powering the watch is the in-house caliber L094.1, equipped with both stop-seconds and zero-reset functions, as well as a constant-force escapement with remontoir spring. In simple terms, the remontoir acts like a pacemaker: it evens out the delivery of energy to the balance, keeping the “heart rate” of the movement uniform. The principle of resonance states that two coupled oscillating systems will synchronize to the same frequency, so it’s akin to two runners trying to keep pace — if one sprints or slows, the other helps correct the rhythm.

First unveiled in 2016, this is the fourth Richard Lange Jumping Seconds and also the fourth Lange watch to feature a pink gold dial. As always with Lange, every element is finished to the highest standard, right down to the engraved balance cock — arguably the house’s most recognizable flourish, and a signature of German horological artistry.

BRONZED

Bvlgari unveils the Bronzo GMT and Chronograph at Geneva Watch Days 2025, introducing bronze to the iconic Aluminum collection.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

FOR GENEVA WATCH DAYS 2025, BVLGARI EMBRACES BRONZE, debuting its first-ever use in the Bvlgari Aluminum collection. The brand has introduced Bvlgari Bronzo, a thoughtful dialogue between heritage, innovation, and the inevitable passage of time, all wrapped in Bvlgari’s signature Italian elegance. This isn’t merely a material change.

The Bvlgari Aluminum story began as a rebellious offspring of the original Bvlgari Bvlgari watch, launched in 1975 with its distinctive engraved bezel that spelled out the brand’s name 14 times. By 1998, the Aluminum model redefined luxury by pairing lightweight aluminum with durable rubber, blending sporty chic with graphic simplicity. Its 2020 revival added an automatic mechanical movement, solidifying its place among modern icons. Now, in 2025, bronze steps into the spotlight, evoking ancient alloys while embracing the collection’s ethos of unexpected materiality.

As Jonathan Brinbaum, managing director of Bvlgari Watches, eloquently puts it: “The essence of the Bvlgari Bvlgari lies in the alloy of materials. Initially designed in aluminum and rubber, the model here explores bronze, an association of historical significance in watchmaking, rarely used by Bvlgari. This material is not only resistant but, above all, alive. Over time, its patina will evolve, making each watch unique and personal. Its raw appearance, both masculine and elegant, as well as the exceptional work on the metal, already gives it an iconic aura.”

First up is the Bvlgari Bronzo GMT, a 40 mm traveler’s dream measuring 9.70 mm thick. Its design prioritizes functionality with a dualtime complication that’s as intuitive as it is stylish. The black dial features a central 24-hour GMT disc with a day-night indicator, allowing effortless tracking of a second time zone. White indices punctuate the face, while the sandblasted rose gold-plated hands — hours, minutes, and GMT — add

warmth against the cool bronze tones. A date window sits at three o’clock, and the central seconds hand ends in a crisp white lacquer tip. Powering this is the in-house automatic calibre B192, a 4.10 mm-thick movement vibrating at 28,800 VpH (4Hz) with a generous 50-hour power reserve. The case back and crown, crafted from sandblasted titanium with black DLC treatment, underscore Bvlgari’s commitment to durability and contrast.

For those who crave speed and precision, the Bvlgari Bronzo Chronograph offers a more dynamic temperament in a slightly larger 41 mm case (12.35 mm thick). This model transforms the base design into a performance-oriented piece, with a matte black dial featuring azuréfinished chronograph counters for added texture and depth. A tachymeter scale encircles the dial, perfect for measuring velocities, while the rose gold-plated hands — again with Super-LumiNova — include a central chronograph seconds hand with a white lacquered tip. The date appears between four and five o’clock, and small seconds add to the chronograph’s utility. At its heart beats the automatic calibre B381, 6.90 mm thick, with a 42-hour power reserve and the same 4Hz frequency. Like its GMT sibling, the chronograph employs sandblasted titanium elements with black DLC for the crown, pushers, and case back, enhancing the overall robustness.

A NEW FREAK

Ulysse Nardin unveils a new Freak during Geneva Watch Days 2025: the Freak [X Crystalium].

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

IN 2001, ULYSSE NARDIN REDEFINED WATCHMAKING WITH the launch of the Freak, a timepiece that shattered every convention of traditional horology. Eschewing hands, dial, and crown, it featured a movement that directly told the time — ultimately becoming a hero watch for the brand that continues to evolve. At Geneva Watch Days 2025 this September, Ulysse Nardin pushed boundaries further with the Freak [X Crystalium], a masterpiece blending cutting-edge mechanics with hightech decorative artistry — limited to just 50 pieces worldwide.

The Freak’s story began in the 1980s under the visionary guidance of Dr. Ludwig Oechslin. While the watchmaking industry embraced quartz technology, Ulysse Nardin charted a different course, creating the Astrolabium Galileo Galilei — a mechanical marvel capable of mapping the night sky, earning a place in the Guinness World Records as the most complicated watch ever made. This spirit of bold innovation culminated in the 2001 debut of the Freak, the most intricate time-only watch in history and the first to incorporate silicon technology. With over 20 patents, the Freak sparked a revolution in 21st-century horology, introducing highperformance, ultra-precise timekeeping that transformed the industry.

Introduced in 2019, the Freak X brought this maverick DNA into a more accessible form, incorporating a crown for winding and setting while retaining the iconic one-hour flying orbital carousel. The Freak [X Crystalium] builds on this legacy, blending avant-garde mechanics with a groundbreaking material innovation: the Crystalium rotating hour disc.

At the heart of the Freak [X Crystalium] lies its most striking feature — a rotating hour disc crafted from Crystalium, a material that

redefines decorative artistry in watchmaking. The process begins with ruthenium, a platinum-group metal ten times rarer than platinum, prized for its durability and luster. Through a meticulous, multi-day vapor-deposition crystallization process — akin to frost forming on glass — ruthenium transforms into a fractal-like crystal structure. Each disc is unique, displaying shimmering textures and microscopic complexity that cannot be replicated.

To enhance its visual impact, the Crystalium disc is finished with a warm rose gold PVD coating and hand-applied black varnish for subtle shading, creating a dynamic interplay of light and depth. This is not mere decoration, but a bold leap into next-generation craftsmanship, merging scientific precision with raw esthetic expression.

The Freak [X Crystalium] is powered by the in-house automatic calibre UN-230, featuring a silicon balance wheel and escapement crafted at Ulysse Nardin’s dedicated SIGATEC silicon lab. The movement is a mechanical theater, with a flying carousel where the bridge serves as the minute hand, completing a full rotation every hour. The Crystalium disc, acting as the hour hand, rotates once every 12 hours, with its pointer positioned beneath the movement. This seamless integration of engineering and esthetics creates a mesmerizing display of time in motion.

Housed in a black DLC-coated titanium case with a matching bezel, black hour indicator, and minute bridge, the watch exudes a bold, modern presence. A ballistic-textured black rubber strap complements the design, providing a perfect backdrop for the radiant Crystalium disc, which glows with rose gold hues and intricate visual depth.

Louis Vuitton Fine Jewelry Le Damier de Louis Vuitton pendant in yellow gold and diamonds, $6,350 and Le Damier de Louis Vuitton pendant in rose gold and diamonds, $6,350

OPPOSITE:

Louis Vuitton Fine Jewelry Le Damier de Louis Vuitton small ring in yellow gold and diamonds, $4,350; Le Damier de Louis Vuitton small bracelet in rose gold and diamonds, $14,800;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton medium bracelet in yellow gold and diamonds, $20,700;and Le Damier de Louis Vuitton large bracelet in white gold and diamonds, $30,500

This season, the Le Damier de Louis Vuitton collection, which launched in 2024, introduces a vibrant pink gold finish, expanding its unisex jewelry line with new rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and earrings, all designed for stacking and personal expression — ultimately becoming a second skin.

Featuring hand-crafted links and diamond-set Damier patterns, the collection emphasizes fluidity, tactility, and a modern esthetic, with pieces in yellow, white, and pink gold that blend softness with sharp geometric designs. Each jewel, meticulously engineered with haute precision, offers versatile styling options, inviting wearers to create their own jewelry story.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

Louis Vuitton Fine Jewelry Le Damier de Louis Vuitton medium ring in rose gold and diamonds, $7,250;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton medium ring in yellow gold and diamonds, $7,250; Le Damier de Louis Vuitton medium ring in white gold and diamonds, $7,550;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton small bracelet in rose gold and diamonds, $14,800;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton medium bracelet in yellow gold and diamonds, $20,700;and Le Damier de Louis Vuitton large bracelet, white gold and diamonds, $30,500

Louis Vuitton Fine Jewelry Le Damier

de Louis Vuitton small ring in white gold and diamonds, $4,550;Le Damier

de Louis Vuitton medium ring in rose gold and diamonds, $7,250;and Le Damier de Louis Vuitton large ring in yellow gold and diamonds, $9,700

OPPOSITE:

Louis Vuitton Fine Jewelry Le Damier

de Louis Vuitton small necklace in rose gold and diamonds, $33,500; Le Damier de Louis Vuitton medium necklace in yellow gold and diamonds, $53,000;and Le Damier de Louis Vuitton large necklace in white gold and diamonds, $85,500

Louis Vuitton Fine Jewelry Le Damier de Louis Vuitton small ring in yellow gold and diamonds, $4,350;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton medium ring in yellow gold and diamonds, $7,250;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton large ring in yellow gold and diamonds, $9,700;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton double ring in yellow gold and diamonds, $12,500;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton medium ring in white gold and diamonds, $7,550;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton large ring in white gold and diamonds, $10,200;and Le Damier de Louis Vuitton medium ring in rose gold and diamonds, $7,250

OPPOSITE: Louis Vuitton Fine Jewelry Le Damier de Louis Vuitton pendant in yellow gold and diamonds, $6,350;Le Damier de Louis Vuitton pendant in rose gold and diamonds, $6,350;and Le Damier de Louis Vuitton pendant in white gold and diamonds, $6,650

DETAILS IN THE

CHANEL’s Fine Jewelry collections reimagine the house’s most enduring codes, carrying forward Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s vision with modern energy. The Chance de Chanel collection transforms good-luck charms into contemporary medallions, echoing Mademoiselle’s belief that luck is made, not found. Coco Crush draws on the house’s iconic quilted motif, while the Première Galon watch refines the octagonal silhouette first introduced in 1987 and inspired by the N°5 fragrance stopper. Together, these creations weave past and future, honoring CHANEL’s heritage while shaping the next chapter of its fine jewelry story.

BY SHELBY COMROE

AND STYLING HORACIO SALINAS

PHOTOGRAPHY

DIRECTOR ADRIENNE FAUROTE

FASHION

CHANEL Fine Jewelry Coco Crush ring quilted motif, small version, 18K beige gold and diamonds, $5,750;Coco Crush Toi et Moi ring quilted motif, large version, 18K white and beige gold and diamonds, $6,000;Coco Crush ring quilted motif, small version, 18K white gold and diamonds, price upon request, Coco Crush ring quilted motif, large version, 18K beige gold and diamonds, price upon request, Coco Crush ring quilted motif, small version, 18K yellow gold and diamonds, price upon request, Coco Crush ring quilted motif, mini version, 18K yellow gold and diamonds, $4,300;Coco Crush ring quilted motif, large version, 18K white gold and diamonds, price upon request;Coco Crush ring quilted motif, small version, 18K beige gold and diamonds, $5,750;and Coco Crush ring quilted motif, mini version, 18K beige gold and diamonds, $4,400

Piaget Shapes of Extraleganza High Jewelry ring, price upon request; available at piaget.com

and diamonds, price upon request; available at Gucci

Pomellato High Jewelry

Aquamarine Dream necklace, $414,300; available at 929-667-1967

HIGH SEASON

THIS YEAR USHERED IN A NEW SEASON OF HIGH JEWELRY DURING PARIS HAUTE COUTURE WEEK, WHERE RENOWNED JEWELRY HOUSES UNVEILED THEIR LATEST HAUTE JOAILLERIE MASTERPIECES. DISCOVER THE HAUTEST INNOVATIONS FROM THE NEW HIGH JEWELRY SEASON AHEAD.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

Chanel High Jewelry

Embrace Your Destiny ring in 18K white gold, diamonds, and one pearshaped diamond, price upon request;available at select Chanel boutiques nationwide and 800-550-0005

and

request; available at Graff salons and graff.com

Madison Ave, New York, NY 10065 and newyork.madison@buccellati.com

CUOMO CHRIS

THE JOURNALIST WHO LIKES TO GET AFTER IT.

BY TIM LAPPEN

I WAS EXPECTING HIM TO BE AFFABLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE I’VE “KNOWN” him for so long through his extended run on television. Of course, he’s a comfortable conversationalist — Chris Cuomo has been an on-screen journalist for well over two decades, with stints at Fox, ABC, CNN, and now NewsNation, and he’s been one-on-one with some of the most impressive people on the planet. We connected initially through a mutual love of cars and, it turned out, we both have classic Pontiacs (he a 1969 Firebird convertible, me a 1957 Bonneville convertible). I guess it’s true — gearheads of a feather really do stick together.

Haute Living: Chris, your style has morphed from a guy in suits on network TV to a less-formal but still a very well-spoken broadcast journalist who’s as comfortable in the trenches as being behind the desk.

Chris Cuomo: I think that one still can be a professional no matter what he’s wearing. When I was on assignment in Iraq, I was reporting while full battleready, in helmet and all. That’s what viewers want from us — real, truthful information delivered in a way that everyone can understand.

HL: Our interview was via Zoom, while you were at sea, returning from an ocean fishing trip, so it was like seeing you in your native habitat.

CC: I love the water, and I love fishing. Maybe it’s my Italian heritage coming through but there’s nothing better for me than to be on the ocean.

HL: Do you ever slow down?

CC: Not in the traditional sense. I like being a man in motion. I love great conversations and delivering the news, with my perspective, which I’ve done to a degree most of my broadcast career and even more so during the last decade.

HL: What shines through on your reporting is your interest in and great love for humanity. Where did that come from?

CC: My grandparents, Andrea and Immaculata Cuomo and Carmelo and Maria Raffa, emigrated from Italy to New York in the early 1900s. My paternal grandparents raised a family while running a grocery store. Growing up, I was steeped in humanitarianism and being supportive of others as well as embracing tolerance, enlightened thinking and liberal politics. My parents, Mario and Matilda, both grew up in the same general area of New York (Queens and Brooklyn), where they aspired to greater things. My father’s challenges during an intolerant time and his incredible successes clearly motivated my drive and my desire to help make the world a better and more accepting place.

HL: There are lots of high achievers in your family. With those to look up to, what was your childhood dream?

CC: I held various jobs growing up but my childhood dream was to play in a band.

HL: How did that turn out?

CC: I’ve had a lifelong love of music but, luckily, I did focus on academic pursuits. I received my undergraduate degree at Yale and then earned my law degree from Fordham University in 1995. However, my true career love was and is broadcast journalism, which I have been very happily doing since shortly after graduating from law school.

HL: When did you see your career reach the heights that you enjoy today?

CC: My work with ABC, as the network’s chief law and justice correspondent and co-anchor of the show 20/20, followed by my 2006 move to serving as the news anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America, greatly elevated my journalistic visibility. Moving to CNN in 2013, I was proud to co-host of the network’s New Day before helming my own show, Cuomo Prime Time, in 2018. I then joined NewsNation (Nextstar) in 2022, where I am hosting Cuomo — the network’s most-watched program.

HL: This has been a very interesting and enjoyable conversation. I sorry that our time is ending. Any closing comments?

CC: I love what I do and am very happing to be doing it. My wonderful wife, Cristina, and I have been married since 2001. We live in East Hampton and we have three great kids. Aside from fishing, I love tinkering with old cars, a hobby I picked up from my older brother, Andrew, and which today mostly manifests in the pure joy I experience when driving my cherry Firebird. I truly am a very lucky guy — I have a great life and a terrific family, a job that I love, time for the hobbies that recharge me, and I live in a country that I love.

For the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2025 collection, Nicolas Ghesquière uses the power of silhouettes and autumnal textures to redefine modern femininity. With bold eclecticism, the collection blends technical outerwear, ruffled gowns, and iconic bags, featuring neutral tones and graphic prints to reimagine today’s contemporary woman.

OPPOSITE: Long sleeve quarter zip dress, $6,950;and LV Script rectangle sunglasses, $670

METAMORPHOSIS MENSWEAR

Kim Jones, Dior Men’s previous artistic director, drew inspiration from Christian Dior’s 1954-55 Ligne H collection for the new Dior Men’s Winter 2025-26 collection, blurring the graphic and angular elements of menswear history with modern couture. The collection reimagines style through a metamorphosis of ornate 18th-century influences and utilitarian 19th-century forms, blending masculine and feminine esthetics with transformative garments, luxurious silks and satins, and chiaroscuroinspired drapery for a balance of extravagance and rigor.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

PHOTOGRAPHY CASPER SEJERSEN

GROOMING BY DIOR ALL CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES BY DIOR MEN

METAMORPHOSIS

OPPOSITE:

OPPOSITE:

the paddock CLUB

The Chanel Cruise 2025-26 collection invites us to be guided by the joy of getting dressed up to be noticed. Therefore, the collection travels to beyond the pastures to capture the easy-going cruise silhouettes, like the black taffeta bustier dress and matching trouser sets that were meant to be seen.

PHOTOGRAPHY CODY LIDTKE

STYLING ANATOLLI SMITH

FASHION DIRECTOR ADRIENNE FAUROTE

MAKEUP AIMI OSADA

HAIR JASON MURILLO AT DE FACTO INC.

MODEL NAOMY GARCIA AT FUSION MODELS NYC

PRODUCTION SHELBY COMROE

DP KENNY MARTELL

1

STYLIST ASSISTANT CYNAMIEN HUDSON

SHOT

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Let’s take a quick look at the G family. Mercedes currently offers the G-Wagon in three different models:

G 550 SUV (a three-liter six-cylinder turbo with hybrid assist) with 443 HP, 413 pound-feet of torque and a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds, arriving with a base price of just over $148,000

G 580 with EQ Technology SUV (with four electric motors) with a combined 579 HP, 859 pound-feet of torque and a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds, with a base price of over $161,000

AMG G 63 SUV (an eight-cylinder twin-turbo V-8) with 577 HP, 627 pound-feet of torque and a 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds, with a base price of over $186,000

The G-Wagon I test drove was of the electron type as I was most interested in how similar to or different from its ancestors the big e-ute was. Spoiler alert — I was very pleasantly surprised.

First impressions: it is more luxurious than the previous models I’d driven. Not surprisingly, it is quieter than its forebears as there is little sound emanating from the propulsion system. The wind noise is about the same as with earlier versions, no doubt because the concept of “aerodynamics” is hardly applicable to a vehicle with such a high profile, an upright front clip and a vertical windshield. Twenty-inch wheels with off-road tires add to the roadway sound but the cabin is nicely insulated and the music from the excellent sound system adds further aural pleasures.

My G 580 was Polar White with Sage Gray leather interior, a very nice, subdued combination. With a number of quality touches — highly-detailed leather seats, wooden accents, satin-finished metal on many surfaces and a number of interior upgrades — the SUV was quite elegant, equally at home offroading and cruising downtown.

BY TIM LAPPEN

Mercedes purportedly created the “Geländewagen” (the German word for “all-terrain,” or “cross-country vehicle”) in response to a suggestion of the Shah of Iran in the early 1970s. The Shah apparently wanted a higher-quality military vehicle and Mercedes presciently decided that there was a market for it. Not long thereafter, Mercedes realized that there could be a civilian market for the “G-Wagon” but, due to a variety of reasons, it only was available in the U.S. for many years through a grey-market importer, not via the American Mercedes-Benz dealer network. The G-Wagon joined the official North America Mercedes family in 2002, and it’s been a hit ever since.

Now, some many decades years later, that SUV (with an emphasis on “utility”) is still highly recognizable as the shape basically has remained the same. Squared-off, with little attention given to aerodynamics but with amazing ground clearance, and the purpose-built look of an off-road warrior combine nicely to announce this SUV’s arrival. However, a “kinder and gentler” aura now surrounds the car since, in place of the well-known performance-sounding burble, one G-Wagon variant now emits more of a hum since it has gone completely — wait for it — electric. But don’t let the relative quiet of this SUV fool you as it is every bit a performer as its petrolholic relatives.

Though it may just be a rumor, I have heard that some owners actually take their G-Wagons off-roading. That would make sense since, the portal axles (which allow the rear differential to be much higher above the ground) give the vehicle an amazing amount of ground clearance, almost ten inches. And with its sealed electric motor and battery packs, the G-Wagon is not as susceptible to a mid-river failure.

Any story on the G-Wagon would not be complete without the mention of the famous “tank turn” (denoted the “G-Turn” in Mercedes parlance). Of dubious utility for most drivers, it nevertheless is quite fun and is the trick that onlookers request most often. With the proper drivetrain settings (preferably on soft dirt or a wet surface), the front and rear wheels on one side go forward and both wheels on the other side go backwards, which gives the big SUV the ability to pivot pretty much on its own axis.

Added to the base price on “my” G 580 were ash trim in the interior, 20” 10-spoke aerodynamic alloy wheels, the “night package” (which provides a blackout of various trim pieces), and a few other niceties, all of which together added approximately $17,050 to the total cost.

If a utilitarian luxury vehicle (or luxurious utility vehicle — reader’s choice) is of interest to you, this is a good option as the quality, fit, finish, performance, and drivability are excellent. Though carpool stickers are joining the buggy whip in the annals of motor vehicle lore, it still is nice to show one’s enviro-cred with a plug instead of a gas filler and the absence of an exhaust pipe.

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Chris Sullivan

Market: Marco Island, FL RE/MAX Alliance Group

239.404.5548

chris@marcoluxuryhomes.com marcoluxuryhomes.com

Priscilla Haisley

Market: Miami Shores, FL Luxe Properties

305.322.3665 priscilla@luxeknows.com miamidreamcasa.com

Wesley Ulloa and Bianca Guevara

Market: Pinecrest, FL

LUXE PROPERTIES

Bianca: 786-632-2640 / Wesley: 305-986-7041 bianca@luxeknows.com / wesley@luxeknows.com

Mauricio J. Barba

Market: Coral Gables, FL Compass

305.439.8311

mauricio@miamisignaturehomes.com miamisignaturehomes.com

Carsa Craighton & Romaello D’Franco

Market: Fort Lauderdale, FL ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

718.791.5420 ccraighton@onesothebysrealty.com carsacraighton.onesothebysrealty.com

Eric Woodward

Market: Key Largo, FL Sotheby’s International Realty

305.394.4461

eric.woodward@sothebysrealty.com

Bozana Cavar

Market: Miami Beach, FL Bozana Cavar, Broker Associate Exp Realty

323.605.1056 Bo@bocavar.com

Dante Disabato

Market: Naples, FL William Raveis Real Estate

239.537.5351 dante.disabato@raveis.com DanteDiSabato.com

Stefano Balli

Market: Ponce-Davis, FL Compass

305.915.2572 stefano.balli@compass.com compass.com/agents/stefano-balli

Gwinn Volen

Market: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

The Volen Group, Keller Williams Luxury International

904.314.5188

thevolengroup@gmail.com pontevedrafocus.com

Melissa Barragan

Market: Sunny Isles Beach, FL Dezer Platinum Realty

305.988.4351

melissa@dezer.com melissabarragan.com

Debra Johnston

Market: Atlanta, GA Coldwell Banker Realty

404.312.1959

debra.johnston@cbrealty.com debraajohnston.com

Neal Norman

Market: Kauai Island, HI Hawaii Life

808.651.1777 neal@hawaiilife.com nealnorman.com

Vicki Gaily

Market: Bergen County, NJ Special Properties div. of Brook Hollow Group

Office 201.934.7111

Cell 201.390.5880

vgaily@specialproperties.com specialproperties.com

Frank D. Isoldi

Market: Westfield, NJ Coldwell Banker Global Luxury

Office direct 908.301.2038

Cell 908.787.5990

frankisoldi@gmail.com theisoldicollection.com

Anca Mirescu

Market: South Beach, Miami, FL Douglas Elliman Real Estate 646.707.1498

anca.mirescu@elliman.com elliman.com/ancamirescu

Jennifer Zales

Market: Tampa Bay, FL Coldwell Banker Global Luxury

813.758.3443

jennifer@jenniferzales.com jenniferzales.com

Carrie Nicholson

Market: Hawaii Island, HI Kohanaiki Realty, LLC

808.896.9749

cnicholson@kohanaiki.com www.kohanaiki.com

Charlene M. Hamiwka

Market: Maine Harcourts Waterfront & Fine Properties

207.671.0085

charlene@harcourtswfp.com waterfrontandfineproperties.harcourtsna.com

Johnny A. Caruso

Market: Somerset County and Jersey Shore, NJ Christie’s International Real Estate

908.227.3252

jcaruso@christiesrealestategroup.com christiesrealestate.com

Rich Robledo

Market: Las Vegas, NV Virtue Real Estate

702.525.7618

rich@therobledogroup.com www.therobledogroup.com

Sylvia Woods

Market: Rochelle, NY

Weichert Realtors, Heritage Properties

914.523.5624

sylvia@sylviawoodsrealty.com wrheritageproperties.com

Eugenia C. Foxworth

Market: Uptown, New York Foxworth Realty

212.368.4902

eugenia@foxworthrealtyonline.com foxworthrealtyonline.com

Moira E. Holley

Market: Seattle, WA

Realogics | Sotheby’s International Realty

206.612.5771

moira@moirapresents.com moirapresents.com

Robert F. Davey

Market: Costa Rica / Nicaragua Christie’s International Real Estate Costa Rica

506.8870.8870 bob@bdavey.com costaricachristiesrealestate.com

Jorge A. Guillén

Market: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Tropicasa Realty

322.306.0535

jorge@tropicasa.com tropicasa.com

Leslie S. Modell

Market: Midtown East, NY

Sotheby’s International Realty

212.606.7668

leslies.modell@sothebys.realty modellteam.com

LUXE Forbes Global Properties

Market: Lake Oswego / Portland / West Linn / Bend, OR

503.389.2112

info@luxeoregon.com luxeoregon.com

Ryan Knowles

Market: Bahamas MAISON Bahamas | Forbes Global Properties

242.376.7731

ryan@maisonbahamas.com maisonbahamas.com

Blue Zone Realty

International - Tim Fenton

Market: Utiva Puntarenas, Costa Rica

415.251.2332

tim@bluezonerealty.com bluezonerealty.com

The premier list of the world’s most exclusive properties by some of the most renowned real estate development companies.

Group

305.669.5160 | theballigroup.com info@theballigroup.com

Binst Architects, Luc

+32.3.213.61.61 mail@binstarchitects.be

954.609.7113 | dawn@dawneliseinteriors.com dawneliseinteriors.com

917.309.4354 | karen@aspreastudio.com aspreastudio.com

THE FATHER OF SOUTHWESTERN CUISINE

From the kitchens of Kentucky to the heart of Dallas, chef Dean Fearing built a culinary empire that blends bold Texas flavors, Southern soul, and a little rock’n’roll — all served with a side of Lucchese boots and a vintage Fender guitar.

BY LAURA SCHREFFLER

OFTEN CALLED THE “FATHER OF SOUTHWESTERN CUISINE,”

Dean Fearing has spent his life doing what he loves most: cooking for people who love food. A Kentucky native and the son of an innkeeper, Dean grew up surrounded by grandmothers who knew the magic of Southern cooking and the slow perfection of barbecue. Their recipes still live in his kitchen — some in their pure form, others reinvented with a modern twist in his book, The Texas Food Bible

After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and spending more than two decades at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dean opened Fearing’s at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas in 2007. The restaurant quickly became a destination in its own right, earning national acclaim. The CIA named him a “Pioneer of American Cuisine,” and Food Arts honored him with its Silver Spoon Award.

But Fearing’s signature style isn’t just on the plate — most days you’ll find him in the dining room, white chef’s coat crisp and pressed, blue jeans perfectly worn-in, and Lucchese cowboy boots custom-tooled with vibrant designs. And when he’s not in the kitchen, he’s likely strumming his vintage Fender Telecaster with his all-chef alt-country band, The Barbwires, or crisscrossing Texas in search of inspiration — be it Hill Country wild game, Gulf seafood, farmers’ market peppers, or sunripened tomatillos. His menu changes often, but his mission never does, and that is to celebrate the bold flavors and generous spirit of Texas.

What’s the earliest food memory that still sticks with you today?

It would have to be the holidays. I grew up in Ashland, Kentucky, where Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky meet at the Ohio River — a river town. My strongest memory is my grandmother’s Thanksgiving dinner. Walking into her house with my older brother and younger sister, you’d immediately smell the turkey, all the side dishes, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and the relish tray with seasonal fruits and vegetables. About 20 people would gather. “Ma,” as we called her, cooked everything herself: country ham, turkey, dressing, whipped and mashed sweet potatoes, all the sides. I was lucky — my other grandmother, just four blocks away, was also an excellent cook. I grew up surrounded by Eastern Kentucky country cooks; my dad ran the Henry Clay Hotel, a red-brick landmark on Winchester Avenue with a coffee shop and fine-dining restaurant. I can still picture the Sunday buffets at the Blue Room, with the chef carving steamship round roast beef and mashed potatoes seasoned with white pepper — an Eastern Kentucky signature. Those flavors are still ingrained in me.

It feels like destiny. You were surrounded by amazing food, and you put Southwestern fine dining on the map. How did that happen? It started with my dad, chefs, and Holiday Inns. After we left Kentucky, my dad joined Kemmons Wilson, founder of the Holiday Inn chain, in the ’60s — which is how I got into kitchens. In junior high, my dad put my brother and I to work at Holidays Inns after school and at night. It taught us independence; we could buy what we wanted without asking our parents. I also was lucky enough to train with great chefs including Harvey Colgin, a retired Hilton chef who had apprenticed under Auguste Escoffier in the 1920s at The Ritz in London. He mentored me for two years, and I helped him open a restaurant in Louisville. He later got me into the Culinary Institute in 1976.

After graduating, I worked at The Maisonette in Cincinnati, the country’s oldest Mobil five-star restaurant. A year-and-a-half later, chef George Hayden told me about the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. I’d never been to Texas, but I fell in love with Dallas. In 1980, I became the saucier at The Mansion on Turtle Creek and then moved up to executive sous-chef.

In ’81, I opened Dallas’s first true American restaurant, Agnew’s, at a time when fine dining was dominated by French cuisine. Everyone predicted I’d fail, but six weeks later, we had five stars from both the morning and evening papers. I was 26. After four great years, the 1984 recession closed it. At the same time I was opening Agnew’s, The Mansion on Turtle Creek was launching Southwestern cuisine. The owner, Carolyn Hunt — a Texas oil baroness — brought in a tortilla soup recipe from San Antonio, saying we needed something local, but which [the French chefs] called “peasant soup.” It became the most famous soup in Texas.

In 1985, inspired by chefs Larry Forgione, Wolfgang Puck, and Alice Waters, I pushed to make The Mansion on Turtle Creek — which is now owned by Rosewood —fully Southwestern. Rosewood’s president, Bob Zimmer, was hesitant, but I told him, “We market it just like the local cuisine Wolfgang and Larry are doing. We announce it’s a new cuisine.” The next day, he agreed. We built it on Texas ingredients — Gulf fish, South Texas wild game, West Texas steaks, Cajun and Southern flavors, and Mexican staples like chiles, cilantro, limes, and mangoes. Using [items] like enchiladas and Spanish rice, other Texas chefs including Stephan Pyles, Robert Del Grande, and I created a new Texas cuisine.

What is a signature dish of yours that continues to attract interest?

The tortilla soup, which I’ve been preparing since 1981. We’ve given it new life over the years, and the current version is the best: more how we’d eat it

in the back of the kitchen — true Mexican. It has cabbage, radish, jalapeño, avocado, smoked elements, cilantro crema, tortilla chips, and sharp cheddar for a bite. The other is the lobster taco I created in 1985 to launch Southwestern cuisine at The Mansion on Turtle Creek: lobster with yellow tomato salsa and jicama-carrot salad on top.

Your whole Southwestern style goes beyond the kitchen. I hear you still wear your cowboy boots when you’re cooking. Is that right?

Most of the time. The tennis shoes are a lot more comfortable now, but all through my career, Lucchese boots have been the star for me. I have probably over 50 pairs of Lucchese boots — all different looks and colors.

Is that your signature style outside of the kitchen and inside now, too? It is. I love cowboy boots because they’re the last form of Texas art. In the true sense, you don’t see a lot of the upper shaft of the boot because we cover it with our pants, but the artwork that is done on boots, back then and nowadays, is amazing. It’s all hand-tooled, hand-sewn, hand-cut. Putting these boots together is a 676-step process.

What about hats?

I’m not a hat guy — never was. I was never a culinary hat guy either. I didn’t like hats and still don’t. I’ll wear a cowboy hat at the appropriate party, though. At the Cattle Baron’s Ball, you’ve got to wear a cowboy hat.

Now that sounds like a party.

Three thousand people; Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, and Trisha Yearwood have performed over the years. It is the party.

Are you performing too? Because I understand you might be making a little bit of music on the side.

In fact, I just got my new Martin guitar before we started talking. Give me something to collect, and I’ll collect it. I’ve got a guitar collection, a boot collection, a watch collection — I love it all.

My last question for you is: what to you is the greatest luxury in life, and why? My greatest luxury in life right now — besides my wife — is slowing down and having free time. I came from a world where it was always go, go, go. Now, I find that having free time is unbelievable; it’s the best. My wife still works the grind, though. She leaves in the morning and says, “Well, have a great day.” I try not to rub it in too much, but I do have her dinner ready for when she gets home — and that’s a luxury for her.

Dr. Vince Avallone

BY DARBY KORDONOWY

Dr. Vince Avallone, a renowned dentist at Apa Aesthetic, grew up with early exposure to healthcare through his dad, who is a doctor. When it came time to think seriously about his own career path, his father encouraged him to explore not only medicine but also dentistry. As he shadowed different dental specialists, one theme stood out. “Even after decades in practice, they remained deeply fulfilled by their work,” remarks Avallone. “That sense of long-term passion and purpose inspired me to pursue dentistry myself.”

Avallone obtained his doctorate from NYU College of Dentistry and, while there, completed a one-year advanced clinical program in esthetics. From the beginning at NYU, Avallone was fortunate to have amazing mentors and experiences that directed his focus toward esthetics and cosmetic dentistry. In his second year, he was introduced to the Honors Aesthetics program. He loved the idea of blending dental care with artistry and knew it was the path for him. “NYU emphasized the importance of collaboration,” says Avallone. “It was a lesson that shaped the way I practice today, where I surround myself with world-class specialists — oral surgeons, endodontists, and periodontists. Together, we create an experience where every detail is considered, every stage is seamless, and patients know they’re in the best possible hands, not just for their smiles, but for their overall health, confidence, and wellbeing.”

The Honors Aesthetics program at NYU was truly the foundation of Avallone’s career and his first real introduction to comprehensive and want-based dentistry. It exposed him to a bigger picture that oral care is not only about health and function, but also about beauty and selfexpression. “That perspective shaped the way I approach every patient today,” notes Avallone. “It’s also the very program that Dr. Apa and many of our associates completed, which is why our team is able to deliver a level of consistency and predictability across all Apa Aesthetic offices that feels both seamless and luxurious.”

To Avallone, working under Dr. Apa and Dr. Rosenthal at Apa Aesthetic is more than a learning experience; it’s a privilege. “They don’t just practice cosmetic dentistry; they define it,” shares Avallone.

Dr. Rosenthal is considered the father of modern veneers. He pioneered the very procedure that transformed the field. Dr. Apa has since taken the work to unprecedented heights, performing more smile makeovers than any dentist in the world, with a career built on both groundbreaking successes and invaluable lessons. Together, they represent over six decades of mastery.

“In my role, I have the rare opportunity to learn from their extensive archive of cases (the largest of its kind) much like an athlete reviewing game footage,” adds Avallone. “It’s an education in artistry, precision, and vision that continues to shape me every day.”

To Avallone, comprehensive dentistry in his practice means creating smiles that are as healthy and functional as they are beautiful. Too often,

cosmetic dentistry is thought of as purely esthetic, focused solely on appearance. In reality, true smile design goes far deeper. “We’re addressing cavities, infection, gum health, and the overall foundation that ensures long-term stability,” says Avallone. Without health, beauty simply doesn’t last. At Apa Aesthetic, our standard is to blend all three including health, function, and beauty, so that every smile we create is not only transformative in the moment but built to stand the test of time.”

In cosmetic dentistry, artistry and technical skill are inseparable. Artistry is the vision and the ability to look at a patient’s natural smile and immediately imagine its fullest potential and to see the finished design before treatment even begins. Technical skill is the execution and the precision required to bring that vision to life with predictability and excellence. One without the other simply doesn’t work. At Apa Aesthetic, the team refines both constantly, studying thousands of documented smile makeovers that account for every variable, including facial structure, lip dynamics, tooth shape, and functional challenges, and then practicing relentlessly. It’s that balance of imagination and mastery that makes true cosmetic dentistry possible.

“When patients sit in my chair, I remind myself that they’re not just cases, they’re people, each with their own story, history, and often a lifetime of dental experiences that shape how they feel today,” expresses Avallone. He sees some patients arrive excited, others anxious, and many carry both emotions at once. To him, the key is meeting them where they are, listening, understanding, and tailoring the process to their needs.

That’s how he and his team strike a balance by creating treatment plans that deliver beautiful, lasting esthetics while making each patient feel supported, comfortable, and truly seen as an individual.

And for the future? Avallone sees cosmetic dentistry fully embracing the era of quiet luxury in the next decade, where the most beautiful smiles are the ones that look effortless, natural, and entirely personal. “The days of oversized, ultra-white veneers are behind us,” emphasizes Avallone.

“Patients today, much like in plastic surgery, are seeking subtlety: results that enhance rather than announce. At Apa Aesthetic, this philosophy has long been at the core of our work, and I believe we’ll continue to set the tone for the industry, pushing the craft forward while redefining what it means to have a truly timeless smile.”

nchanting Chateau Saddle River, NJ

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