Polo Lifestyles October 2025: The Fashion Issue

THE WORLD'S BEST-DRESSED CITY ON A MISSION TO JUMPSTART GUCCI

SHOULD A FACELIFT COST $3,000 OR $300,000?

SAVE YOUR BREATH SILENCE SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS RH PARIS THE SUPER-CHIC DESIGN TEMPLE ON THE CHAMPS-ELYSÉES SPRING 2026 RUNWAYS FROM NEW YORK MILAN AND PARIS

Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher

Joshua Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief

William Smith Copy Editor & Wine Contributor

Claire Barrett Head of Photography

Dana Romita Luxury Real Estate Contributor

Amritlal अमृत Ascension Contributor

Tom Landry Design Contributor

Polo Photographers

Katerina Morgan

Justine Jacquemot

Irina Kazaridi

Helen Cruden

Pascal Renauldon

Kathrin Gralla

Dr. Michael J. Snell Lifestyles & Luxury Automobile Contributor

Joey Velez Wellness Contributor

Christina Albina Style Contributor

Raphael K. Dapaah Art Contributor

Brand Representatives

Dr. Michael J. Snell - NYC

Miriam P. Owens - NYC

Contributing Photographers Xavier Merchet-Thau

Aubrey Chandler Eric Carré

Eva Espresso

Rob Miskowitch

Margarita Crotto

Polo Lifestyles is a publication of HT Polo Publishing Co. 995 Detroit Avenue, Suite A Concord, CA 94518

Cover photo of Winnie Harlow by Yu Tsai

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GRAND CHAMPIONS

Fall Classic

Tackeria Invitational

Fall Plates

Banyan Cup

Pedro Morrison Memorial

Casablanca Fall Cup

USPA North American Cup

USPA National 20-Goal

Legends of Polo

International Cup

LA PALMERAIE MOROCCO

The Autumn Cup

THE TRIPLE CROWN OF POLO

Tortugas Open

Hurlingham Open

Argentine Open

SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS

GREENWICH SUMMER POLO

POLO LIFESTYLES EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS

How much should a facelift cost? page 64

RH brings American design to Paris, page 92

Demna: On a mission to save the House of Gucci, page 70

Backstage with Stella Jean, page 80

109

OUR ANNUAL LATE-SUMMER HEAT WAVE HAS STRUCK NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND MY STARBUCKS CAFÉ FRAPPUCCINO CONSUMPTION HAS EITHER DOUBLED OR TRIPLED DEPENDING ON MY PROXIMITY TO – AND WAIT TIME FOR – A LOCAL ‘BUCKS.

I hate ordering a Frappuccino in person, but honestly it’s basically just a blended ice coffee as far as I can tell, so the Order Ahead feature in the app is a lifesaver. Maybe some day I’ll be bold enough to walk into a coffeeshop and look a barista in the eyes and order an unironic Frappuccino, but today is not that day. Tomorrow’s not looking great, either.

Our digital world has changed the way to interact with other humans: dating apps, order ahead, this magazine that you’re more likely to read on your phone than from a physical copy. Our Jetsons-Futuristic-Life seems to be loading at quantum speed sometimes. Further evidence of that is in one of our stories this month. Would you let a robot carry your child to term? Is the question we chose for the headline, because – get this – in China, scientists have developed a robot that can and it will cost around $13,000. In the United States, the average surrogacy costs between $100,000-200,000, so that’s just something to think about.

Luckily, polo seems wildly unaffected by the rise in AI and technology. This summer has given us some amazing polo from around the world, capping off this end-ofsummer run in Gstaad before the French Open begins this month. All the players, patrons, photographers, coaches, grooms and families deserve this upcoming break prior to the start of the Argentine season. Next month is our annual fashion issue… we have some incredible content we’re working on and can’t wait to show you.

Josh Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief josh@pololifestyles.com

to Work To

Visiting @kelleyyoungwines tasting room in Cloverdale for their exceptional Malbec from Jim Young

Take a peek behind the curtain of the luxurious renovations that just swept through W Union Square in NYC

One of the most iconic trophies in the world of polo for the Pacific Coast Open

Crafted with a fascination for equestrian refinement, this Capsule Collection blends practicality with ease of movement

He who floats, forgot the ground

Indulge in the rich, buttery flavors of Imperial Ossetra, smooth Siberian Sturgeon, or the bold, earthy notes of Paddlefish

brooksbrothers

Equestrian inspiration, rich fabrics, soft tailoring: the fall collection is here.

Click and comment on our choices... Tag @pololifestyles . We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.

robbreport

Abu Dhabi is about to welcome the first-ever Royal Equestrian Arts school outside Europe

er_stbarths

Counting down the days... when the season starts, the magic begins again. Can’t wait to rock together

Edwardian London frames a contemporary vision by Gucci a world of rich textures, mirrored panels, velvet seating, curated artworks, and nods to the brand’s codes

comeoveroctober

Our goal is to inspire people everywhere to invite friends and family, new and old, to gather over a shared bottle of wine

LOVE Unlimited becomes

in the LOVE collection. This fully flexible

wraps around like a love connection

2025 OPEN DE FRANCE DE POLO BARNES

ALARGE CROWD GATHERED FOR THE FINAL OF THE 25TH OPEN DE FRANCE BARNES, UNDOUBTEDLY ATTRACTED BY THE PELÓN EFFECT. HIS MATCHES HAD BEEN “SOLD OUT” FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS, AND THIS CLIMAX TO A TOURNAMENT OF RARE INTENSITY WAS INEVITABLY EAGERLY AWAITED.

However, Stirling offered much more than just a sporting spectacle. Although he suffered a nasty fall in the second chukker and was clearly injured in the shoulder, the Uruguayan refused to give up. Despite the pain, he got back on his horse and led the team of his French captain, Alexis Morange, to victory.

The men’s final got off to a slow start despite three spectacular goals from Simon Prado in the first half, giving Kazak an early lead. But those were to be his only goals. Octogone then began to fight back before disaster struck. “It was on a part of the field that was still wet, Stirling recounted. I wanted to turn right, but my mare stumbled and I fell, hitting my shoulder and head on the ground.” After lying on the ground for a long time and receiving treatment at the palenque, he bravely got back in the saddle. “I probably injured my shoulder, but I hope not. I’m a little worried because I have to play my season in Argentina. I really hope it’s not serious,” he continued.

Serious or not, Stirling played his part bravely, scoring three of his team’s nine goals. This included the sixth goal in the fourth chukker, which created the first break in favor of Octogone. It looked almost as if the pain had been erased: “It wasn’t a question of forgetting the pain; it was more that the whole team made a huge effort. Everyone played very well; everyone gave their all. It was this team spirit that enabled us to win, because we were up against a great team.”

And indeed: Louis Hine, the second highest scorer in the tournament with 34 goals, shone in attack and scored four goals, and Justo Laulhé was solid and inspired and scored an improbable golazo from nearly 50 meters. Captain Alexis Morange also played a key role, providing the cohesion needed for Octogone to prevail in this prestigious event. “Yes, it’s a very special victory, added Stirling. It’s a big tournament, very competitive, with sixteen teams involved. For our first time participating, Gabriel (the team manager) and I built an excellent team with Louis and Justo, and Alexis created a great atmosphere. I think that’s Octogone’s greatest strength.”

2025 OPEN DE FRANCE DE POLO BARNES

2025 OPEN DE FRANCE DE POLO BARNES

2025 OPEN DE FRANCE DE POLO BARNES

2025 OPEN DE FRANCE DE POLO BARNES

OPEN DE FRANCE DE POLO FEMININE

OPEN DE FRANCE DE POLO FEMININE

OPEN DE FRANCE DE POLO FEMININE

OPEN DE FRANCE DE POLO FEMININE

GREENWICH POLO SEASON

GREENWICH POLO SEASON

GREENWICH POLO SEASON

AT THE INTERSECTION OF HERITAGE, CRAFT AND SOLE

THERE ARE SHOES—AND THEN THERE IS THE WORK OF CAROLINE GROVES. TO CALL THEM MERELY “FOOTWEAR” IS A DISSERVICE TO THE ARTISTRY, EMOTION AND ARCHITECTURAL COMPLEXITY THAT RESIDE IN EACH PAIR.

Her creations are not merely worn—they are inhabited.

With every stitch, cut, and curve, Groves captures the spirit of the client, the integrity of tradition, and the pulse of modern couture. Hers is a world apart from fast

fashion and seasonal obsolescence. It is a world built slowly, by hand, and with soul.

A LEGACY HAND-STITCHED THROUGH GENERATIONS

To understand Caroline Groves is to walk a lineage that stretches back generations. Her great-grandfather, Walter Curtis, worked alongside famed Arts & Crafts movement pioneer C. R. Ashbee at the Guild and School of Handicraft in the late 19th century. Her grandmother was an accomplished silversmith and textile artisan. Creativity, intention, and the meticulous pursuit of beauty ran through the household like electricity through a wire. Raised in the English Cotswolds,

Groves internalized these values from a young age. She would go on to translate them—quietly, defiantly—into leather, thread, silk, and pure silver.

Yet, unlike many modern designers, Groves’ path was not fast-tracked by branding dreams or digital buzz. It was built through decades of disciplined mastery, first learning shoemaking and exacting perfection by understanding orthopedic needs. First spending over 15 years crafting functional footwear tailored to the needs of the human foot—an anatomical approach that armed her with unmatched technical insight. That experience, while rooted in practicality, gave Groves a reverence for balance, comfort, and structural elegance, principles

she would later infuse into her couture creations.

In 2003, Caroline Groves quietly launched her own atelier in the West End of London after acquiring an already established women’s shoemaking business. While the world of commercial luxury grew ever more obsessed with logos and scalability, Groves took a contrarian approach—one rooted in individuality.

“I wanted to create something deeply personal and permanent,” she said. “A shoe that wasn’t just worn, but cherished.” From here, she moved her workshop to the Cotswolds as many of her clients requested in-home design and fitting meetings - affording her the ability to create a space fully dedicated to her craft.

Today, her studio remains a sanctuary for this vision: a place where heels are shaped like sculpture, where embroidery is applied like poetry, and where time is not managed, but honored. Her designs have since graced international runways, elite private wardrobes, and exhibitions including the Victoria and Albert Museum’s “Pleasure and Pain” showcase, which explored the cultural power of shoes throughout history. Yet even amidst global recognition, Groves has never strayed from her deeply personal mission to craft shoes that are not simply luxurious, but soulful.

THE BESPOKE PROCESS”: FROM MEASUREMENT TO MAGIC

What truly sets Caroline Groves apart is her bespoke process—an immersive, highly collaborative ritual that takes weeks, sometimes months, from start to finish. Each client begins their journey with an in-depth consultation where measurements and personal style are observed. These measurements are used to carve a one-of-a-kind wooden last—a foundational mold around which the shoe will be built.

The client would then commit to three different variations of designs allowing Groves to utilize the varying lasts to accommodate a variety of styles. While she does not use prefabricated lasts or

templates, each is unique to the wearer, allowing for a truly anatomical fit that supports both comfort and silhouette.

Next comes a full shoe being crafted in materials to evaluate structure, fit, and proportion. This stage—so often bypassed in modern fashion—is critical in Groves’ atelier.

Adjustments are made, lines refined, the arch perfected, the vamp lifted or lowered. Only then does the final shoe enter production, where Groves and her intimate team execute a symphony of traditional techniques: hand-lasting, hand-welting, leather stacking, and bespoke finishing.

No detail is too small for inspection or improvisation. Heel heights are negotiated in millimeters. Embroideries are sketched, sampled, reworked. Uppers are hand-cut from leathers sourced in Italy, France, and the UK. Soles are made of oak bark-tanned leather from the UK’s last surviving specialist tannery. Each seam, buckle, inlay, and flourish is

customized. For Groves, perfection is not the absence of flaws—it is the presence of intention.

TEN ARCHETYPES. INFINITE POSSIBILITIES

While her work is bespoke, Caroline Groves offers a range of ten signature silhouettes to serve as creative foundations. These include the Boulevard—a classic heeled pump with sweeping curves; the Victorian–inspired Oxford Bootie; the buttoned-up Balmoral; and the Western—a chic reinterpretation of cowboy heritage. These foundational styles are then transformed by the client’s story, style, and desires.

Want a T-bar stiletto with hand-stitched vines that curl up the instep or perhaps a Victorian inspired lace-up boot with mother-of-pearl heel inlay and velvet tongue, even a knee-high equestrian boot with monogrammed leather pulls and embroidered initials hidden under the arch? For Groves, these aren’t eccentricities—they are the whole point. As she

says, “My shoes are not designed to be worn and forgotten. They’re meant to be seen, remembered, and passed down.”

MATERIALS OF MEANING

Material selection is a sacred rite at Caroline Groves Atelier. She works exclusively with traceable and ethically sourced materials—favoring leathers from ICEC-accredited tanneries and artisanal suppliers. But her approach to

materials goes far beyond sustainability. Groves views each material as a narrative tool.

A vamp cut from supple French calf can evoke quiet sophistication. A heel carved from layered ashwood and wrapped in embroidered silk can suggest whimsy. She has worked with antique lace, heirloom textiles, semi-precious stones, and even inlaid leather with inked calligraphy. In one remarkable pair, Groves

embedded a gold-tooled quote from a client’s favorite poem inside the insole— visible only to the wearer. These are not shoes as trends. They are wearable biographies.

GLOBAL CLIENTELE. SINGULAR EXPERIENCE

Caroline Groves’ clients span the globe: collectors in Moscow, socialites in Los Angeles, entrepreneurs in Milan, and

a large amount of tech and arts collectors in the United States. Her bespoke appointments—often booked through private referrals or luxury trunk shows— are experiences in themselves. No detail is rushed. Clients may return for multiple fittings. Some have flown to the Cotswolds, but most are visited privately by Groves abroad. The resulting shoes are often so personal that they defy categorization: a blend of cultural symbolism, anatomical science, and unfiltered expression.

It is this level of intentionality that has led her work to be collected not just as fashion, but as art. Museums and private collectors view her heels not merely as accessories, but as heirlooms. “I’ve had clients gasp, pause, and take a minute of silence when they try them on. It’s about more than how they look. It’s how they feel seen while translating their thoughts into the design. Their sighs and similes are more than confirmation!”

APPRENTICESHIP, PRESERVATION & THE FUTURE

Groves is acutely aware of the fragility of her craft, the direct relation of art translated into female footwear. In a

world speeding toward automation, she is one of the very few artisans preserving the ancient craft of last making—a skill she believes is on the verge of extinction pertaining to the female form. She had begun training apprentices ultimately finding the ideal addition to her atelier. Lilly Deeming, a seasoned craftswoman has learned now helps to evolve their combined creativity while additionally preserving the longevity of the artform. Groves described her as her ’mini me;’ having the ability to translate new design ideas as well as reign in some of the more extravagant ones. Deeming studied shoe design and making at De Montfort University in Leicester where she subsequently trained and then worked with a number of established bespoke shoemakers, but always had a strong affinity for women’s shoes with an exceptional level of aesthetic appreciation.

For both Groves and Deeming, it’s truly not just about teaching or learning how to make a shoe, but how to see it fitting into a client’s life—how to approach leather with reverence, wood with patience, and design it with purpose.

Her atelier remains intentionally small—

staffed, finding a handful of makers who share the same love and devotion to craft over commerce. Groves is not interested in franchising, nor in licensing her name as she has built a legacy, not a brand. A legacy that walks softly, but leaves an indelible impression.

A MAKER OF MEANING, NOT JUST SHOES

Caroline Groves is more than a shoemaker. She is an alchemist of emotion and architecture, a modern-day couturier who channels centuries of craft into every inch of leather and thread. Her shoes do not compete for attention; they command respect. In a fashion world of instant gratification, she offers something far more rare: permanence. Recently, Groves has been awarded a Gold Metal by the French Fashion Awards for 2025 in recognition of her talent and dedication to the craft, furthering her motivation to protect its integrity.

To wear a pair of Caroline Groves shoes is to walk in confidence, to stand in beauty, and to move through the world in a way that honors the past while embracing one’s future. It is, in every sense, the perfect fit.

Between low-end medical tourism and high-end six-figure jobs, plastic surgery prices are all over the place. Here’s what you should actually spend.

THE FACE-LIFT—ONCE THE EMBARRASSING BUTT OF JOAN RIVERS JOKES AND THE WELL-KEPT SECRET OF SOCIETY TYPES— IS NOW UNABASHEDLY NORMAL. WITH PROMINENT WOMEN INCLUDING KRIS JENNER AND BARBARA CORCORAN, AS WELL AS MORE EVERYDAY TYPES PUBLICLY COPPING TO SURGERY, FACE-LIFTS HAVE BECOME A COLLECTIVE OBSESSION IN 2025. AND WITH THAT COMES RAMPANT SPECULATION ABOUT THEIR PRICE.

“The most common question that we get is, ‘How much is this going to cost?’” said Dr. Anthony Youn, a plastic surgeon in the suburbs of Detroit.

It’s a question that’s increasingly difficult to answer. The range in prices for face-lifts is extreme, with cheap jobs in Turkey, Mexico and Brazil running as little as $3,000, and some of the most elite New York City and Los Angeles surgeons charging over $300,000. Befuddled by the gulf in prices, women flock to social media, group chats and whispered confabs to debate whether you get what you pay for—or if the luxury jobs are a case of The Emperor’s New Face.

“It’s bananas, truly,” said Melinda A. Farina, the founder of consultancy Beauty Brokers Inc., which advises patients on cosmetic procedures and doctors. “I know doctors who charge $12,000 for a deep-plane face-lift, and I know doctors who charge $350,000 for a deep-plane face-lift.”

“Face-lift” is a blanket term for several procedures that might perk up the face, often done in combination with one another. Someone might get a lower

face-lift combined with a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), or a “mini lift,” a less invasive procedure that tends to focus on the lower face. SMAS face-lifts target the superficial muscle and tissue layers, while a deep plane involves complex deep dissection.

Surgery prices can be opaque. Most of the doctors I spoke with were hesitant to put a simple price tag on services, given differences in anatomy and complexity. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons quotes the average American face-lift as $11,395 for the fee alone, which can result in a total cost between $20,000 and $50,000 with anesthesia and facility costs.

Where you get the work done matters. Anesthesia and operating room fees tend to be cheaper internationally, and in more rural areas. An American woman named Michelle Wood recently went viral documenting her face-lift and recovery in Guadalajara, Mexico, which cost about $15,000. American doctors tend to

be wary of budget jobs abroad, especially in regard to risks and recovery. Six-figure face-lifts are largely a New York City and Los Angeles phenomenon.

Perhaps no one has done more for the 2025 luxury face-lift than Jenner. Jenner confirmed she had a face-lift with Dr. Steven Levine, a top New York surgeon whose face-lifts can get easily into the six figures. Levine’s office, which did not respond to requests for comment, has been bombarded by face-lift hopefuls since Jenner.

High prices can be a way of managing inbound requests, said Farina. She said she noticed prices rising during Covid, when more people staring at their own faces on Zoom meant more demand for

procedures that doctors couldn’t immediately satisfy. “I think the increase in prices was more of a deterrent. Like if we raise the fees, that’s going to eliminate the less desirable patient pool that we want to bring into our practice.”

Covid was also a turning point when doctors became more active on social media, raising their profile and, in turn, prices, according to Farina and Youn. Big press moments or celebrity endorsements can also send a doctor’s prices upward.

So do you get what you pay for? There isn’t a straightforward answer. “The price doesn’t always match the level and expertise that goes into the surgery—but often it can,” said Dr. Ashkan Ghavami, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills.

Ghavami offers multiple levels of facelifts at his office, with the most complex interventions generally getting into the six figures. “Certain procedures and techniques are definitely worth it,” he said. “People are paying $50 to $75k for a purse they could lose, and you’re asking to pay maybe $100,000, $150,000 for the right face-lift technique—It is your entire face.”

Dr. Lara Devgan, a New York City plastic surgeon whose surgical schedule books out a year in advance, said it was difficult to discuss pricing because what we call a face-lift could involve several smaller procedures. Together, these procedures could fall somewhere in the $100,000 to $350,000 range at her office, resulting in what she calls a “very beautiful, ineffable, indescribable” outcome.

Ghavami said there was also an element of self-selecting prestige at the upper level of plastic surgery. “It’s a little bit like the Hamptons, the country-club thing. It’s kind of an elite club—these doctors can’t be open to the public.”

Plenty of Americans who want plastic surgery but don’t care about being part of an elite club are getting face-lifts in the United States. One of the rare surgeons who posts his prices on his website, Youn in Detroit charges around $25,000 for a face-lift. He said patients wait over a year to see him.

Marilyn McKenna, a 55-year-old personal trainer in the Seattle area, said she had a ballpark idea of spending around $50,000 on her Los Angeles face-lift with Dr. Daniel Gould. She ended up paying $45,900 and was happy with the result. “I buy my workout clothes at Old Navy, but I’m not really trying to save money on a face-lift,” she said.

The costs of a face-lift don’t end when the surgeon cleans her scalpel. While many choose to recuperate at home with the help of family and friends, one can also opt for round-the-clock private nursing, which can run $100 an hour or more. Kelly Greytok, an in-demand private

recovery nurse who said 95% of her business is face-lift patients, charges $300 and up an hour. She travels everywhere in the U.S. and internationally and will stay with patients for a minimum of three days. She said for one recent Midwestern job, the patient spent more on the nursing services than the face-lift itself.

Luxury postoperative care centers are thriving, especially in the tony parts of Los Angeles. Many are linked with hotels and have the ability to whisk celebrities and high-profile patients directly in through discreet entrances. One, Immortelle, operates out of the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills with

pricing starting at $3200 per night for services including concierge pharmacy services, reiki therapy and lymphatic massages.

Prices aren’t likely to stabilize anytime soon. Budget jobs and ultraluxury procedures, as well as the public’s fascination with them, will continue to proliferate.

“You’d never write an article about how much it costs to renovate a kitchen,” said Devgan, pointing out that a kitchen renovation could mean replacing the microwave or “gutting the whole thing with Carrara marble.”

ON A MISSION TO JUMPSTART THE HOUSE OF GUCCI

IN THE MIDST OF A CORPORATE TURNAROUND, THE BRAND REVEALED A VISION FOR ITS FUTURE LED BY ITS NEW CREATIVE DIRECTOR DEMNA

Can Gucci, once the luxury conglomerate Kering’s cash cow, regain its Hollywood sparkle?

Gucci’s new creative director rolled out a lush brown carpet this week for a star-studded short-film premiere at Milan’s Palazzo Mezzanotte, the headquarters of the Italian stock exchange. Guests arrived in town cars for a preview of reformed bad boy designer Demna’s vision for Kering’s flagging luxury brand: a 33-minute sardonically comedic film about a drug-fueled birthday party with a big-budget cast including Demi Moore, Keke Palmer, Kendall Jenner, Elliot Page

and Edward Norton. Earlier, the brand drummed up nostalgia with a lookbook of archival styles edited by Demna, an expert in mass-marketing.

“There are so many different Guccis,” said the mononymic Georgian designer in an interview at the screening of “The Tiger.” Since he started at the house in July after an influential 10-year run at Balenciaga, he’s been weeding through its past in order to begin again.

Can Demna succeed where his predecessor, Sabato De Sarno, could not? Gucci’s revenue declined 25% in the first quarter of 2025, another in a long line of double-digit dips. Demna’s canny accessories and streetwear-heavy work for its Kering sibling Balenciaga quadrupled the company’s sales. But Gucci, with over 7.7 billion euros in revenue in 2024, almost $9 billion at current exchange, is still a much bigger business. Demna will need

to recapture some of the product pizazz of previous Gucci designer Alessandro Michele, and ideally the uncomplicated sex appeal of Tom Ford.

At the film’s screening, cars dropped VIPs into a pit filled with photographers at carefully timed intervals. The most pivotal arrivals were not Moore, in a shimmering gold gown, or 1990s Tom Ford-era muse Gwyneth Paltrow, but Kering’s chairman François-Henri Pinault with the group’s new chief executive Luca de Meo.

De Meo joined Kering this month from Renault, where he nearly doubled the stock price and became known for his hands-on, highly visible management style. The executive embraces publicity: At Renault he was frequently photographed, and he appeared in a jovial walk-and-talk video on his first day at Kering. Demna’s Hollywood moment was

a coming-out party for both him and Francesca Bellettini, the longtime Kering lieutenant who was recently named chief executive of Gucci. Bellettini and Demna, laughing together with Spike Jonze, who directed the short film with Halina Reijn, looked off to a jubilant start.

The first collection, a romp through Gucci archetypes such as the Jackie-O-ish little red coat, beige logo pieces, glamorous gowns and androgynous suits, is Demna’s edit of the brand’s history. He adjusted some shapes but didn’t actually design new product. “I felt more like a curator or editor doing this,” he said, adding that it was helpful for him to

“do research before building a new vision.” He continued, “I needed to understand what Gucci is in terms of allure, in terms of style.” He said he was now excited to start the real work of designing his first true collection, to be presented in spring 2026.

In the meantime, leaning on the archives is a way to keep clients satisfied during the transitional period before Demna’s new designs become available. The archival collection shown this week will be available for sale on Sept. 25 at 10 Gucci stores globally. In recent months, Gucci has showcased house classics like the flora print, silk scarves, horsebit accessories and bamboo-handled bags.

Demna, who reinvigorated Balenciaga’s Le City bag, will surely continue to play with these signatures and more. In July, he said at his last Balenciaga show that he was looking forward to having a deeper trove of house codes to play with. Demna ceded creative control to Jonze and Reijn for “The Tiger,” which was both funnier and more poignant than most brand films. Moore plays Barbara Gucci, the head of Gucci International (who also runs the state of California) and matriarch of a sprawling dysfunctional

family. At her birthday party, they take a mysterious drug and opine on the nature of capitalism at a Los Angeles estate. After the screening, Jonze and Reijn were curious about the reception, asking how everyone liked it. For the most part, viewers seemed giddy and relieved to be laughing (fashion week can get weirdly serious). The film’s co-writer Alyssa McAuliffe explained that the team wanted to explore identity and the myth of perfection—heady themes, but couched in entertainment.

Demna, who opened up the historic house of Balenciaga to youth and pop culture, will need to enliven Gucci across several demographics to help it compete with LVMH megabrands such as Dior and Louis Vuitton. It’s telling that Moore and Paltrow, in their 60s and 50s respectively, are key early muses, alongside younger models including Jenner and Alex Consani. Demna’s Gucci will need to go mass—without losing its soul.

THE POWER OF NOT CARING

WHERE WOULD YOU BE IF YOU LEARNED HOW TO STOP CARING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK?

WOULD YOU BE TRAVELING THE GLOBE, HELPING OUT THOSE IN NEED?

WOULD YOU BECOME A RAPPER?

HERE ARE 11 THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU STOP CARING

AS HUMANS, WE HAVE A PRIMAL NEED TO FIT IN. IN ORDER TO BE INITIATED INTO THE TRIBE, WE TRY TO COME ACROSS AS “NORMAL” PEOPLE. WE OFTEN EXPRESS OURSELVES CONSERVATIVELY, IN ORDER TO NOT COME ACROSS AS WEIRD OR AWKWARD.

The truth is everyone is normal (average) until you really get to know them. Owning your actions and making yourself vulnerable in front of others can be incredibly difficult at times but in the

end it is healthier for you and for those around you. Here are 12 reasons why you should stop caring what other people think.

1. YOU USE LESS ENERGY FILTERING YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS, AND EXPEND MORE ENERGY ON CREATING RELATIONSHIPS

If interacting with others is like driving a car, then filtering your words and actions is like putting speed bumps all over your highway of interaction. The more speed bumps you have, the slower you have to go to avoid losing control of your car. It becomes incredibly difficult to gain momentum, and takes a long time

to reach your final destination (making an emotional connection and mutually benefiting each other). Isn’t that why we interact with people?

The more you filter yourself, the less people will truly get to know you. You might be a Mercedes Benz in your head, but as you constantly filter yourself, you’re going to come across as an old, beat-up Ford Pinto.

2. YOU BECOME MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE

There is something inherently attractive about someone who doesn’t care what other people think. I’m not saying that

more people will like you; there is a difference between being likable and being attractive. Having an indifferent, carefree attitude is refreshing and contagious and is a great way to help others break out of their “autopilot”.

Think of it this way. If you’re confident and don’t care what others think, people are going to want to be noticed by you, not use you to feel better about themselves.

3. YOU ATTRACT PEOPLE THAT ARE GOOD FOR YOU, AND ELIMINATE THE ONES THAT AREN’T

Having a mindset of not caring what others think is a self-weeding garden. The people that appreciate your opinions and enjoy your company will stick with you, while the people that don’t like you will stay away from you.

The feeling of being well-liked is great, but having too many “friends” can be stressful and difficult to manage. You have to ask yourself if you want a wide array of shallow relationships with acquaintances, or a more concentrated group of deep and meaningful friendships.

4. YOU DON’T FEEL OBLIGATED TO CHANGE YOURSELF FOR PEOPLE

You don’t have to wear a ton of hats for all your different social situations. Trying to fit into a variety of groups can be exhausting and is not a worthwhile endeavor. It is healthier and less stressful to simply be respected for being who you want to be.

5. YOU PLEASE YOURSELF INSTEAD OF TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYONE

Who are you really living for? It’s not selfish to please yourself at times, because after all, you are at the center of your own universe. Doing things for others is a great way to boost your self-esteem, but you have to ask yourself: am I getting what I want out of life?

6. YOU FEEL FREE

When was the last time you truly felt free as a bird? Free from the fear of failure? Free from the bondage to a life chosen for you by others? Free from social constructs that prevent you from doing what you want to do?

Not caring what other people think is a great first step on your way to this nirvana.

7. YOU START ENJOYING INTERACTIONS MORE

It is easiest to get the most out of interactions with others when you are outcome-independent. When you aren’t trying to convince others that you are a really cool person or trying to sway their opinion on something, you can spend time basking in the beauty of a mentally stimulating interaction.

When you genuinely don’t care whether someone likes you or not, it is easiest to be yourself and paradoxically this makes it easier to connect with people!

8. YOU RELY MORE ON YOURSELF FOR HAPPINESS, NOT OTHERS

When you look inward to gain happiness as opposed to judging your own value based on others, it is significantly easier to obtain a sustainable happiness that stays with you, regardless of how other people’s lives affect you. Other people’s happiness comes and goes, and it is not healthy to rely on others when trying to maximize your own happiness.

9. PEOPLE WILL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AROUND YOU

Living with an intense fear of social judgment can lead some people to a shy demeanor that severely limits their social contributions. Being more of a quiet type is not a negative thing, but it can cause some apprehension at times.

According to recent studies, we have about 50,000 thoughts per day. If you don’t share any of these thoughts, people can get nervous. If you never share anything, how do they know you aren’t an ax murderer? How do they know you don’t run science experiments on small animals in your free time?

These examples are a bit extreme, but the fact is you feel more comfortable around people that you know and understand. When you live silently, you may know that you aren’t a crazy person, but others may be left with an uncomfortable apprehension about you.

10. YOU SUBCONSCIOUSLY ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO STOP CARING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK

Emotional contagion is a powerful tool.

When you have the mindset of not caring what other people think, it is easy for that mindset to become contagious and be adopted by others. When people know that they aren’t being silently judged, they can feel more comfortable in their own skin, and they anchor that feeling to the person who allows them to obtain that feeling – You.

11. YOU CAN FALL

IN LOVE

One of the greatest ways to bond with members of the opposite sex is to so show not only confidence, but vulnerability. A 1997 study on love at Stony Brook University found that: “Escalating reciprocal self-disclosure under conditions of mutual vulnerability can have rapid, dramatic, long term romantic consequences.”

In other words: when you share and escalate embarrassing stories/details about your life to a member of the opposite sex, you can actually fall in love. By sharing intimate details about yourself, you show that you don’t fear their judgment and are not overly concerned with their opinion of you, which is an incredibly attractive trait.

It is important to note that not caring what other people think is NOT the same thing as being selfish or self-centered. It’s about being self-confident and owning yourself and not fearing the social judgment of others.

As soon as you realize that people’s judgments of you are not going to harm you, it is much easier to feel free and become your best self.

BACKSTAGE AT STELLA JEAN

HAITIAN-ITALIAN DESIGNER STELLA JEAN RETURNED TO THE MILAN FASHION WEEK RUNWAY AFTER A THREE-YEAR HIATUS WITH A COLLECTION THAT REAFFIRMED HER COMMITMENT TO FASHION AS A VEHICLE FOR CROSS-CULTURAL DIALOGUE AND POLITICAL COOPERATION.

Titled Where Women Move Mountains, her spring show was co-created with artisans from Italy and the Kingdom of Bhutan, as part of the designer’s ongoing #ForWomenForNations initiative. It marked the first time that Bhutanese

traditional craft has entered the Italian fashion calendar, and the first time that many of these Bhutanese women artisans had traveled outside their country.

The runway opened with a look that set the tone: A wrap corset inspired by kira (a traditional Bhutanese textile) was paired with a tailored beige suit, evoking Jean’s enduring interest in masculine Italian codes of dress. It was a subtle nod to the kind of refined tailoring that first caught the attention of Giorgio Armani over a decade ago, when he invited her to show at Teatro Armani. The tribute came full circle at the finale. As Jean took her bow, she held up a white T-shirt bearing a message of gratitude for Armani, following his recent passing.

The collection unfolded like a dialogue between mountain geographies. Earthy tones of sand, moss green, and clay red were joined by deep navy and bursts of Bhutanese lac-dyed crimson. Fabrics carried meaning: The show featured a Himalayan nettle fiber that was locally harvested, hand-spun, and coiled using time-intensive techniques, then shipped to Italy’s Marche region, where it was embroidered with artisanal precision and a strict zero-waste ethos. “One piece can take up to a year,” explained the Bhutanese artisans backstage, visibly moved by the occasion.

Silhouettes moved fluidly between the ceremonial and the contemporary, while Bhutanese weaving motifs appeared not as decorative elements but as structural

linings and panels. Jean also integrated raffia and regenerated cotton, as well as a selection of accessories scouted during her trips to Bhutan. Each item purchased from the collection will directly fund and support the fading craft of these women, invigorating a borderless curiosity able to

nurture and sustain local traditions.

As ever, Jean used her Milan platform to advocate for broader systemic reform. She called for a reduction in VAT for artisanal fashion and the introduction of a self-certification process tailored to micro-supply chains. “We need tools,

not slogans,” she said. “The help must be direct. Buying from these women is not charity, it’s value. It’s fashion that stays alive because someone, somewhere, made it with love, precision, and ancestral skill.”

WHERE IS THE BESTDRESSED CITY IN THE WORLD?

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SOME TIME, MILAN FASHION WEEK MANAGED TO PAINT THE CITY IN AN ELECTRIC MIX OF FACES, IDEAS AND CLOTHES THAT MADE A STRONG ARGUMENT: THE CITY MIGHT VERY WELL BE THE BEST-DRESSED PLACE IN THE WORLD.

On the runways, several new designers brought fresh life to houses like Gucci, Jil Sander and Bottega Veneta, three labels on a lot of lips at fashion week. Other shows felt like bittersweet endings. Sunnei’s two founding designers surprised many guests by ending its show with the announcement that they were stepping down 11 years after starting the brand. And Armani, weeks after the death of its eponymous founder, showed the final collection he had made to a black-tie-clad crowd that included Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Spike Lee and more of Hollywood’s elite.

Giorgio Armani’s legacy was also alive in the streets, where the recurrence of smart-looking trousers seemed to nod to his influence. It was hard to turn a corner without encountering stylish people sporting autumnal layers, pointy shoes, wide-lapel coats or double-breasted jackets.

THE BEST-DRESSED CITY IN THE WORLD

RH PARIS

THE SUPER-CHIC DESIGN TEMPLE ON THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES

"Paris has very strong opinions," said Gary Friedman, CEO of RH. "This is where you come to do your very best work."

THE AMERICAN BRAND UNVEILED ITS MOST AMBITIOUS EUROPEAN GALLERY YET IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL ON SEPTEMBER 5.

“Paris has very strong opinions,” says Gary Friedman, CEO and chairman of RH, who was not deterred by this fact when choosing the city for the brand’s latest European outpost. “This is where

you come to do your very best work, where you have the most to gain or lose.”

True to form, RH Paris, which officially opened its bronze doors following a star-studded fête is an ambitious, no-expenses-spared endeavor, a seven-story, 42,000-square-foot temple to California kings and Cloud sofas and classic American design. Plus plenty of room left for an interior design studio, a library of rare books (including one of

the first modern printings, circa 1521, of De Architectura by Marcus Vitruvius, the 1st century BC Roman architect and inspiration behind Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man), a terrace café, a rooftop restaurant, and a bar with a cocktail menu curated by Colin Field, of Bar Hemingway fame.

“RH Paris is something the world has never seen before, because it’s never been done before,” Friedman says before rattling off a list of its most distinguishing

BY LEENA KIM / SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES

features.

This is the only building on the Champs-Elysées without a street-facing entry—instead, you walk through gold leaf gates, down a limestone path lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, and through a secret garden to get to those aforementioned bronze doors. It’s also the only public building with a glass elevator (designed by Foster + Partners) that floats up to the roof from the atrium, which itself is a dramatic scene of criss-crossing stairways and cast medallion railings. On the lower level stands an 1870 caryatid by Louis-Felix Chabaud, whose sculptures are at the Louvre and Palais Garnier.

The same philosophy that powers RH galleries around the world, from Montecito to Greenwich, Oklahoma City to Düsseldorf, Montreal to Madrid, applies here, in that the lines between retail and residential, home and hospitality, art and commerce are blurry by design. But one thing is as clear as those crystal chandeliers: these are spaces meant to be experienced in person, in real life. You can’t recline on an Isola chaise or run your hand along the cold curves of an Italian marble Vitolo table or devour a seafood tower through a digital screen— though you can status post about it later.

“Our strategy is very simple. We do what we love, with people that we love, for people that love what we do,” Friedman says. “We are a vision led, not customer led, brand.” Which the French will surely appreciate—the customer here, after all, is not always right.

THE BEAUTY OF VITIGLIO

IN RECENT YEARS, THE FASHION INDUSTRY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY, CHALLENGING TRADITIONAL BEAUTY STANDARDS AND CELEBRATING INDIVIDUALITY. ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE SHIFTS HAS BEEN THE INCREASED REPRESENTATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH VITILIGO, A SKIN CONDITION CHARACTERIZED BY THE LOSS OF PIGMENT IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE SKIN, RESULTING IN WHITE PATCHES.

Historically, the fashion industry has been criticized for its narrow portrayal of beauty, often favoring models with flawless, uniform skin tones. However, in a welcome departure from this norm, many fashion brands and designers have begun to cast models with vitiligo, recognizing the unique beauty and strength they bring to the runway.

One of the pioneers in promoting vitiligo representation in fashion is the late model Winnie Harlow. Discovered on the hit television show “America’s Next Top Model,” Harlow has since become a prominent figure in the fashion world, using her platform to raise awareness about vitiligo and advocate for greater inclusivity in the industry. Her success has inspired other models with vitiligo to

pursue careers in fashion, breaking down barriers and challenging perceptions along the way.

Fashion brands have also played a crucial role in promoting diversity by featuring models with vitiligo in their campaigns and runway shows. From high-end luxury labels to mainstream retailers, brands are increasingly embracing models of all skin types and colors, reflecting the diverse spectrum of beauty in society.

Beyond the runway, vitiligo representation in fashion has also extended to advertising and marketing campaigns. Major beauty brands have featured models with vitiligo in their advertisements, sending a powerful message of acceptance and empowerment to consumers around the world. These campaigns not

only promote diversity but also help to destigmatize skin conditions like vitiligo, encouraging individuals to embrace their unique characteristics with confidence.

In addition to fostering greater representation, the fashion industry has also seen a rise in the creation of clothing lines specifically designed for individuals with vitiligo. These lines often feature garments with innovative designs and color-blocking techniques, helping individuals with vitiligo to feel more comfortable and confident in their clothing choices.

Furthermore, the rise of social media has provided a platform for individuals with vitiligo to share their stories and connect with others who may be experiencing similar challenges. Through platforms like Instagram and YouTube, influencers and advocates with vitiligo have been able to amplify their voices, raising awareness and promoting acceptance in the fashion community and beyond.

While progress has undoubtedly been made, there is still much work to be done to ensure that individuals with vitiligo are fully represented and included in the fashion industry. This includes not only

increasing visibility on the runway and in advertising but also advocating for greater accessibility and inclusivity in the design and production of clothing.

In conclusion, vitiligo’s representation in fashion marks a significant step forward in the ongoing journey towards greater diversity and inclusivity. By celebrating the beauty of individuality and challenging traditional beauty standards, the fashion industry has the power to inspire change and foster a more inclusive society for all.

FASHION & STYLE

NYFW'S BEST OF SPRING 2026

ON THE RUNWAYS OF NEW YORK’S SPRING 2026 SEASON, REFINEMENT AND RESTRAINT LIVED ALONGSIDE GRIT AND EXPERIMENTATION — OFTEN IN THE SAME SHOW, AND EVEN IN THE SAME LOOK. DESIGNERS LEANED INTO MUTED PALETTES, TACTILE DETAIL, AND GROUNDED SILHOUETTES, WHILE STILL FINDING SPACE FOR COLLABORATION, CULTURAL STORYTELLING, AND NOSTALGIC REINVENTION. A SPIRIT OF WEARABILITY PERVADED THE CITY, BUT IT WAS RARELY AT ODDS WITH IMAGINATION.

One of the strongest examples of this balance came from Tory Burch, whose collection captured luxury at its most approachable. Elegant tailoring and fluid separates hit the rare mark of being refined while still feeling accessible, underscoring her continued ability to speak to both polish and practicality. Jason Wu drew strength from his collaboration with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, weaving the artist’s spirit into a collection that carried painterly richness and conceptual depth.

Khaite reminded us why it has become a New York anchor, presenting a chic and confident lineup that played between sharp leathers and softer sheers — sophistication with an edge of grit. Meanwhile, Michael Kors embraced desert tones and relaxed glamour, offering a wardrobe of ease and polish that felt as much about lifestyle as it did luxu-

ry. Ralph Lauren continued his mastery of American elegance with timeless codes reinterpreted for the present, proof that quiet consistency can still land with weight.

Elsewhere, Stuart Vevers’ Coach leaned into lived-in authenticity — worn leathers, grounded silhouettes, and a subtle romance with the city itself. Altuzarra found poise in romantic fluidity edged with structure, while Toteme offered a sharp study in restraint, stripping back to monochrome and letting texture and proportion command attention. The week also saw cultural depth from Campillo, whose intricate knits and woven details highlighted craft as both art and identity.

FENDI SS26

GOOD DESIGN HAS THE POWER TO UPLIFT FROM WITHIN, AND FENDI’S SUMMER OF THE FUTURE (LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY TRUE) IMAGINES A FANTASTICAL LANDSCAPE OF UPLIFTING FORMS AND GEOMETRIC SHAPES REMINISCENT OF CHILDHOOD PLAYGROUNDS.

Working with Australian Industrial designer Marc Newson for the concept of the show set (a designer who collabo-

rated with the house in 2000, saying in a press release ‘Fendi so graciously offered their space in Milan to launch my Ford O2IC Concept Car 25 years ago.’) a ‘pixelated color field’ became todays runway as the collection traveled through a sea of color reflective of the belief in better times ahead.

On only the second day of Milan fashion week Fendi proposed we wear our optimism on our sleeves, which is not to make light of current events but there is something to be said for not giving into despair and finding the light in what can only be described – with no exaggeration

– as dire times. And while fashion may not have the power to significantly sway the political climate, what it does is allow us to lean into a level of self-expression (from embroidered scarves to specific colors to symbols) which gives us the confidence to be uncowed by dark times.

Following her blockbuster centenary show in February, Silvia Venturini Fendi is on a high and feeling in good spirits, especially considering the appointment of new CEO Ramon Ros and a lavish new Milanese store opening, coinciding with today’s show. There was new energy in the air that was also reflected on the

FENDI SS26

runway as the creative director delved into a paintbox of kaleidoscopic brights to drive home her concept. From the pixelated digital invitation gif to the colored squares of today’s set, the multi-colored spots and graphic plaids, and the pared down structures where sportswear met retro swim sets and ultra-feminine dresses, as the notes put it ‘saturated color is a balm – a therapeutic shock of joyful abandon’.

Flower power is also emerging as a key theme this season, as designers looked back to a time when the world seemed on the verge of radically shifting gears into the new – from the space race to Beatlemaina and the Youthquake whose aftershocks are still felt today. The brands version of this was a uniform of bright sets and separates in satins and sheers – a boxy pink woven T-shirt with contrast orange cuffs that was styled with an

emerald-green jersey (sweatshirt) skirt with side zips was particularly fun and ‘easeful’. While sportswear also played a prominent role, which spoke to freedom of movement – side zips on skirts were also a key feature here. The accessory also played a starring role as 3D embellishments meant colored sequins spilled out of the bestselling Peekaboo bag and the iconic Baguette was rendered in ‘cable knit silk’.

LOUISE TROTTER EMERGED FROM HER DEBUT AT BOTTEGA VENETA WITH AN AIR OF COMPOSURE THAT FELT BOTH HARD-WON AND QUIETLY RADIANT.

There was none of the hurried elation that can follow a first show, but rather the calm satisfaction of someone who had prepared deeply and delivered. After embracing CEO Leo Rongone and Kering’s Laurent Claquin, she turned to the small circle of those fortunate enough to be granted access and spoke with the kind of articulate, unhurried confidence that suggested she’d just scored the winning shot and was already thinking about the next play.

“This show was really about the journey and the life of Bottega Veneta,” she began. “I wanted to speak to its story through what I discovered coming into the house — meeting the

people, spending time with the artisans, looking through the archives. I started at the beginning: the early period between 1966 and 1977. There I found a soft functionality in the bags, a liberation of women at that time, and a bold confidence — the kind of confidence it takes to wear a bag without a logo.”

That spirit of discovery was personal as well as institutional. “When I first arrived

in Milan, I found it quite grey, austere, even brutal in its architecture. Slowly, I began to see the beauty inside. That’s something I wanted to express with this show — the beauty you discover once you look closer.”

Materials and silhouettes reflected this duality of inside and outside. “I worked with beautiful Italian wools, with tailoring principles taken from men’s suiting

and applied to dresses. All the dresses were built on a canvas so they fell off the body, like a T-shirt. There were also satins and leathers,” she explained. “The silhouette I wanted to speak to first was close to the body — a bust, a waist, a hip — repeated several times. In contrast, when I was in Montebelluna with the artisans, I saw piles of leather surrounding them as they worked. I wanted to give

CONTENT COURTESY OF THE IMPRESSION

that feeling, that nod to how something begins — piles of material constructed from the inside out.”

There was also a triangle of references anchoring her vision: Veneto, Milan, and New York. “Bottega Veneta was born in the Veneto, with its colors, its materials, its industrial past,” she said. “But I also imagined an arch-Italian woman — someone like our founder — moving to

New York, working with Andy Warhol at the Factory, experiencing a liberation. That was the energy I wanted to capture.”

Throughout, Trotter spoke not in slogans but in gestures — connecting the craft to the human hand, linking liberation to confidence, and weaving her own arrival into the house’s story. When The Impression’s Kenneth Richard told her, at the close of the conversation, “I think you

just created your best friend,” she smiled, taking it as the compliment it was.

In this debut, Trotter positioned Bottega Veneta not as a static institution but as a living character — its journey intertwined with her own. The result was a collection that felt like an introduction and an invitation at once: grounded in history, attentive to craft, but already moving confidently toward a freer future.

BEST OF MILAN SS26

LOUIS VUITTON SS26

LOUIS VUITTON SS26

SAINT LAURENT SS26

SAINT LAURENT SS26

DRIES VAN NOTEN SS26

DRIES VAN NOTEN SS26

TOM FORD SS26

DIOR SS26

$33,000,000 USD

MANSION OF THE MONTH

PRESTIGIOUS MAKENA ESTATE WITH CUSTOM CRAFTSMANSHIP AND OCEAN VIEWS

Welcome to one of the most extraordinary properties in the world and a true icon of coastal luxury: 7505 Makena Road. Set on a full acre of lush land with unobstructed ocean view corridors along Maui’s coveted coastline, this 10,500 sq. ft. estate is a harmonious blend of visionary architecture, masterful craftsmanship, and timeless elegance.

Thoughtfully designed to embrace its breathtaking surroundings, the residence features 7 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms across a layout that seamlessly merges indoor and outdoor living. Expansive living areas flow effortlessly to curated outdoor spaces, inviting both intimate moments and grand-scale entertaining. Custom wood finishes and fine materials elevate every corner, while panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Molokini Crater, and Kahoʻolawe provide an ever-changing backdrop of natural beauty.

The estate transforms into a private resort, with over 4,000 sq. ft. of deck space, a hotel-sized pool, and an outdoor cinema—perfect for magical evenings beneath the stars. The luxurious primary suite offers a sanctuary of its own, complete with a sprawling lanai and sweeping ocean vistas.

Additional features include a fully equipped pool house with kitchen and living area, ideal for guests or staff, a 6-car garage, and a separate caretaker’s

quarters—ensuring both convenience and privacy.

Equipped with one of the largest Tesla Solar Roofs in the nation, this estate boasts a powerful 73kW solar system and 15 Tesla Powerwalls. This cutting-edge setup provides clean, renew-

able energy and significantly lowers utility costs—delivering sustainability without compromise.

Major renovations completed in 2024 have further elevated the property, which is being offered fully furnished as a turnkey opportunity. For the discerning

buyer, 7505 Makena Road is more than a home—it is a legacy estate, a private retreat, and a definitive statement of luxury island living.

Contact your preferred Realtor to learn more about the pinnacle of Makena living.

MANSION OF THE MONTH

MANSION OF THE MONTH

Office: 808-572-8600

Cell: 808-283-7965

Office: 808-572-8600

Cell: 808-385-5034

2680 TRADER ROAD

JACKSON, WYOMING, 83001 UNITED STATES

$23,000,000 USD

BEDROOMS 6 | BATHROOMS 6 FULL AND 2 PARTIAL | INTERIOR

Located in the gated Gros Ventre North subdivision, in the heart of Jackson, Wyoming, is this newly constructed architectural masterpiece. Boasting exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail, this home offers an unparalleled living experience amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the Teton Range.

At the heart of the main level is the expansive Great Room adorned with vaulted ceilings and exposed steel beams. Gather around the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace or express your culinary creativity in the chef’s kitchen, outfitted with top-of-theline appliances, tailor-made finishes, and a butler’s pantry.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and telescoping doors flood this room with natural light and provide seamless access to the expansive deck, complete with a covered outdoor dining area, a built-in grill, and an outdoor fireplace, perfect for entertaining against the backdrop of Wyoming’s natural splendor.

Step into opulence as you enter the spacious Primary Suite. Featuring his and her walk-in closets and a spa-like bathroom complete with a double vanity, double showers, a freestanding bathtub, and an outdoor shower, this retreat boasts privacy and comfort.

Relax and unwind on the private deck, offering a sweeping panorama of the Teton Range, or enjoy the warmth and comfort of the double-sided fireplace perfectly situated in front of a built-in reading nook. There is a private office located between the Primary Suite and the Great Room, designed for productivity and inspiration. With a private covered deck offering sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, this office becomes a private retreat within the expansive home.

Adjacent to the office is the mudroom, a transitional space crafted with custom millwork and thoughtful design elements. Here, gear, jackets, and shoes find a styl-

ish home, keeping the main living area pristine and clutter-free. Adjacent to the mudroom, is the upstairs laundry room and an additional coat closet to meet all your storage and cleaning needs. At the center of the home where the main level and lower level meet is a causeway flanked by expansive two-story windows which saturate the home with natural light while providing endless views of the surrounding wilderness.

Located on the lower level is the entertainment and media room. Unwind in the sprawling Media Room, equipped with a full-sized wet bar featuring a wine fridge, ice machine, and dishwasher.

Built-in shelves offer ample space for entertainment, books, and art. Indulge in recreation and relaxation within the gym and sauna, with seamless outdoor access to the meticulously landscaped backyard and built-in hot tub, creating an oasis of luxury and relaxation.

Additionally, attached to the Media Room is a spare Flex Room with an en-suite bathroom that is perfect for supplementary accommodations for guests. The south wing of the lower level is the dedicated guest wing, with four en-suite bedrooms, each offering incredible wilderness and mountain views.

The garage is a haven for recreation enthusiasts, with expansive storage solutions ensuring that every vehicle, tool, recreational equipment, or seasonal gear finds its designated place. This six car garage bay designed to provide maximum utility and with over 1,500 square feet this space can easily house all of your standard and recreational vehicles.

BLENDED WITH NATURE IN THE HEART OF SAGAPONACK

A STORYBOOK ESTATE IN THE HEART OF SAGAPONACK

Set on three enchanting acres in Sagaponack, “Whimsy Farm” is a one-ofa-kind estate blending Hamptons farmhouse charm with French countryside elegance and Palm Beach flair. From the

original barn-turned-great room to the lush, sculpture-filled grounds, saltwater pool, dual kitchens and separate guest quarters, every detail invites relaxation, celebration and timeless style.

PROPERTY DETAILS

790 Sagg Road, Sagaponack, New York

5 Bedrooms | 6 Bathrooms

$6,995,000

Listed by Douglas Elliman Adam Hofer adam.hofer@elliman.com 631.236.8659

In Search of Solace Come Over October

WILLIAM SMITH

@ willismith_2000

COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR

IN THE OCTOBER

2024 ISSUE OF POLO LIFESTYLES, I INTRODUCED READERS TO WHAT WAS THEN A NEW CAMPAIGN CALLED COME OVER OCTOBER.

Launched as an effort to dispel the gloom around so much in the contemporary wine industry, three seasoned veterans of the wine world came together to launch the endeavor and celebrate the role that wine has had for many millennia in bringing people together. “Come Over October celebrates the togetherness, the history, and the stories that go beyond what’s in the glass,” relays the campaign’s website. We ought not be pollyannaish – the

headwinds challenging the wine industry remain stubbornly persistent. Global wine consumption slumped to a 60-year low in 2024 as consumer tastes and preferences continue to shift and a multitude of studies muddy the waters about the health effects of even low alcohol consumption. In the United States, the world’s largest wine market, trade wars and inconsistent tariff policies have created further instability in an already shaken industry. Importers and exporters are left adrift in the tumult. Tariffs have also driven up the cost of goods central to wine making, such as glass from Mexico for bottling, wood from France for barrels, and cork from Portugal.

The decline in consumption has resulted in an overly saturated market drowning in excess wine. I’ve interviewed several winemakers who are not making certain wines this year because they have so much excess inventory of these wines from prior years. Others have shared that they are simply not harvesting their

grapes and growers are seeing prices plummet for even the best of fruit.

The current situation is not at the scale of disasters like phylloxera or Prohibition, but it is severe and a leaner, scaled-down industry is almost certain to be observed in its wake.

However, we wine lovers are not left powerless. Describing the problem is one thing. Seeking solutions is another, and this is where Come Over October comes into play. The campaign encourages us to abandon our distracting devices for an evening and “invite friends, family and colleagues to ‘come over’ during the month of October. Focusing on sharing wine, celebrate friendship, and in-person connection.”

The first year of the campaign was incredibly well received. It’s three founders – Karen MacNeil, Kimberly Noell Charles, and Gino Colangelo – have collectively been nominated for Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Award of Person of the Year for 2025. The campaign’s

website (www.comeoveroctober.com) has a treasure trove of information and supportive materials that are sure to enhance your own gathering this month. I especially like the “Tools and Tips” area that provides examples of creating themes for getting together and has ideas for those involved in the wine business on how to do activations for the month.

I, myself, am just coming off two weeks of divine wine and food celebrations, having attended the Sonoma County Wine Celebration (thank you Sonoma County Vintners) and then the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta in my hometown and on whose Board of Directors I am grateful to serve. These events and thousands more like them across the United States and the world, create a

context for us to not just celebrate wine, but to recognize, as the oldest philosophers had, that we are social beings at our core and gatherings – whether large or small – create meaning, memories, and momentum that define our short journey in time.

As always, Salud!

ASCENSION

HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD

SPIRITUALITY FAITH QUESTIONS GROWTH · FOCUS

THE KEYS TO EVERLASTING BEAUTY HIDDEN

ERADIANCE

LIES BENEATH PAIN

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”

- Kahlil Gibran

AMRITLAL अमृत ASCENSION CONTRIBUTOR @monarch_visionary

VERY HUMAN BEING CARRIES HIDDEN BEAUTY - A SOLAR REFLECTION OF INFINITE POTENTIAL. DIAMONDS OF THE SOUL, FORGED IN THE PURIFYING FIRES OF HEAVEN’S FALL, RESURRECTED THROUGH THE PRESSURES OF OUR PERSONAL STRUGGLES, WE BECOME BONDED BY A LIGHT THAT CALLS FORTH ALL THOSE WHOSE SENSES PARTAKE OF OUR TRUE HIDDEN FORM.

Unsurprisingly, this beauty is concealed under layers of trauma, pain, guilt and shame. Life’s challenges imprint not only on the mind but also on the body and soul, leaving scars that distort self-image and dim one’s natural glow. As you surrender the pain, what’s revealed is infinitely unfolding beauty.

Yet, beauty is not the absence of pain. True beauty emerges when pain is acknowledged, metabolized, and transformed into the most precious lessons of life’s sacred wisdom. The fire that once burned us becomes the fire that illuminates us for as the radiance of the reborn soul moves through the nervous system, a new world emerges where one can finally feel loved and whole. Redeemed by the grace of one’s inner work, all souls reclaim their right to soar.

“Adversity, if approached correctly, can catalyze growth, resilience, and even beauty in human life.” - Dr. Richard Tedeschi, Psychologist.

In this Ascension guidance, Monarch Visionary initiates you upon a path of deep inner reflection to release the emotional weights that hinder your natural Ascension to unveil a path of soul emergence - a life filled with limitless compassion and endless self-discovery.

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PAIN AS THE GATEWAY TO ILLUMINATION

“Pain is not only a symptom to be managed, but an experience that shapes the brain and behavior.” - Dr. Ronald Melzack, Neuroscientist.

Pain is not an enemy. It is a messenger. Mystics and scientists alike recognize pain as transformative. The Christian mystics spoke of the “dark night of the soul” as the passage through which divine light is revealed. Neuroscience shows that pain rewires the nervous system—but also provides raw material for renewal through neuroplasticity.

Epigenetics teaches us that we store the trauma of our ancestors within our DNA, filtering our sense of reality to the unhealed aspects of our family tree – magnetizing our experience to repeat similar traumatic experiences, until we learn to heal within.

Healing the pain we carry transforms our genetic expression, alleviates our emotional suffering, and expands our consciousness to experience our lives in the highest light of self-reflection.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AS THE FURNACE OF TRANSFORMATION

“Ignite your heart with the fire of spirit, and it will burn away all impurities.”

- Paramahansa Yogananda

The nervous system is both archive and alchemist. It stores every trauma and every memory, yet it is also the very furnace through which transformation occurs.

In yoga, kundalini fire purifies the body as it rises. In somatic psychology, breathwork and movement discharge trauma energy. Both reveal the same truth: the nervous system is the crucible of illumination.

“The autonomic nervous system is the foundation of resilience, shaping how we respond to threat and return to safety.”Dr. Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory.

The kundalini fire alters our nervous system structure from the inside out, completely transforming how we both perceive and react to our environment.

The greatest benefit is our enhanced capacitance to shine forth our inner star light – the astral radiance that filters through the branches of our nervous system - to guide us more clearly upon our radiant path of success.

FINDING PURPOSE IN THE PAIN

“The obstacle is the path.” - Zen Proverb

Every wound holds a hidden lesson. Mystical traditions see pain as initiation, while psychology describes post-traumatic growth—the ability to transform adversity into purpose.

“Suffering often produces meaning, and meaning is a cornerstone of psychological resilience.” — Dr. Viktor Frankl, Psychiatrist, Holocaust Survivor.

When we stop running from our pain and start listening to it, we find the seeds of destiny hidden inside.

Cultivating and nourishing these radiantly magnetizing and ever-expanding seeds of cosmic awareness becomes our new purpose, allowing for our focus to shift from the pain we hold to the natural effulgence through which we glow.

PURGING SHAME AND INSECURITY

“Shame is a soul-eating emotion.” - Carl Jung

Shame isolates us from our inner beauty. But when shame is met with compassion, whether through confession, ritual, or therapy, it loses its grip.

“Shame activates the same neural circuits as physical pain, signaling deep social threat in the brain.” - Dr. Naomi Eisenberger, UCLA Social Neuroscientist.

ASCENSION

HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD

SPIRITUALITY

As stored pain and toxic emotions rise to the surface, our only choice is to serve the clearing. As shame dissolves, the nervous system calms, and the soul begins to shine again without resistance.

The purging of the old is a natural biological occurrence. It is only through a lack of awareness that we constrict and hold, creating greater discomfort and pain along the journey. With the proper guide, focus and determination, we can dissolve the blockages that constrict our natural radiance to allow the healing power of the soul to pour forth and guide us from the inside.

THE MAGNETIZING EFFECTS OF HEALING

“As you let go of what you are not, you become what you truly are, and the world is drawn to your light.” - Ramana Maharshi

The more healed and integrated we become, the more magnetic our presence becomes. Saints, sages, and enlightened beings radiate an aura described in mystical traditions. Neuroscience shows a parallel truth: our regulated nervous systems naturally draw others into resonance.

“Regulated nervous systems broadcast safety signals that influence others subconsciously, creating trust and attraction.” - Dr. Stephen Porges.

As long as we hold pain, we create a false impression of the world which we believe is true and we behave into, endlessly squeezing ourselves into an ever-tightening box of perception, until the yearning for breath guides us into inner reflection.

LIVING AS ILLUMINATION

FAITH

QUESTIONS GROWTH · FOCUS

“Don’t shine so others can see you. Shine so that, through you, others can see Him.”

- C.S. Lewis

To live as illumination is to embody the alchemy of transformation: fear becomes compassion, shame becomes dignity, wounds become wisdom.

All you seek is revealed as you become the teacher within.

“Embodiment of new behaviors - not intellectual understanding - creates longterm transformation.” - Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score.

Healing is not erasure of pain, but integration—pain transformed into purpose, suffering into radiance.

The opportunity to transform is always available, it is never too late to discover your true light, aligning your life with a purpose that emerges from the inside.

UNCOVER YOUR EVERLASTING BEAUTY WITH MONARCH VISIONARY

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” - Rumi

You are not your pain. You are the light revealed when pain is released.

Through nervous system purification, the reframing of wounds as purpose, and the shedding of shame, your inner beauty shines forth - magnetic, radiant, undeniable.

Your radiance was never gone. It was simply waiting to be revealed.

Apply for Monarch Visionary’s Rainbow Body Initiation

“When we process and integrate trauma, the brain shifts from survival circuits to creative, relational, and higher-order capacities.” — Dr. Daniel Siegel, Interpersonal Neurobiology

Through the 3/6/12-month sacred containers offered through Monarch Visionary Ventures Society, initiates are guided through the soul-integration process to support the natural emergence of purpose, or Dharma, and allow for our natural beauty to unfold without shame or insecurity.

Share your name, intention, the desired length of your sacred container and a note about your spiritual path to: Amritlal@MonarchVisionary.com with the subject line: “I Am Ready to Ascend.” This is not a program you join. It is a soul agreement you feel is real.

Only 12 seats per container. The fire has been lit. Your sacred oath is remembered. Step forward. Visit MonarchVisionary.com and sign up for our newsletter to receive regular guidance and insights to support the realization and integration of your spiritual mission, as you transform your trauma into leadership potential.

ASCENSION

HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD

SAVE YOUR BREATH THE CRISIS OF NOISE

W“Silence is the language of God, all else is poor translation.”

- Rumi

AMRITLAL अमृत ASCENSION

CONTRIBUTOR @monarch_visionary

E LIVE IN A TIME OF EXCESSIVE WORDS. VOICES ARE RAISED ACROSS PLATFORMS, CONVERSATIONS SPILL ENDLESSLY INTO THE DIGITAL VOID, AND MUCH OF OUR ENERGY IS CONSUMED IN ATTEMPTING TO BE SEEN, TO BE HEARD, TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

Yet, the paradox is this: in our desperation to speak, we often forget to embody; and without empowered action is our message truly being felt at the level necessary?

True presence is not found in the number of words spoken, but in the resonance of energy carried through breath, silence, and action. We perceive others, not by what they say, but how they make

us feel.

“In an age of constant input, silence is now a form of resistance. The brain needs downtime to consolidate information and cultivate creativity.” - Dr. Daniel Levitin.

When words are few, intention becomes stronger. When silence deepens, action carries weight and words flow with magnetizing power. When the breath is honored as sacred, the body becomes a vessel of clarity, power, and healing; rooted in a vision that directs effortlessly through devotion.

In this Ascension guidance, Monarch Visionary invites you to save your breath, to draw back from the compulsion of constant expression, and, instead, step into the subtle power of embodiment upon a path long-forgotten. We discuss how to express power without being drained in conversation, how to broadcast a clear message without being lost in translation, how to inspire your team as a radiant leader without wasting your words and depleting your energy.

As a special gift to birth your apprecia-

tion of silence and purpose, present code CHAKRAS at Healogy5.com for 10% off your entire purchase of sacred healing oil infused products, designed to purify your consciousness for the secretion of the sacred immortal nectar, Amrit.

THE SACRED BREATH – GATEWAY TO PRESENCE

“In an age of constant input, silence is now a form of resistance. The brain needs downtime to consolidate information and cultivate creativity.”

- Dr. Levitin

Breath is the first act of life and the last. Every inhalation draws in not just oxygen but the intelligence of the universe; every exhalation releases not just carbon dioxide but accumulated tension, story, and burden. To heal is to become, mastered in centeredness, resonating to the core. By focusing on the flow of breath to dissolve surrounding tension, every moment can be an opportunity for growth and anchored wisdom.

Ancient traditions—from the yogic pranayama of India to Taoist breath cultiva-

tion and Indigenous breath rituals—have known that breath is not merely biological. It is vibrational. The breath connects the physical body to the energetic body, the seen to the unseen, the finite to the infinite.

Science of Breath: Research shows that slow, coherent breathing patterns activate the vagus nerve, harmonize the heart’s rhythm, and regulate the nervous system. This creates states of calm focus where intuition and higher cognition unfold.

Sacred Dimension: Breath is the carrier of spirit (pneuma, ruach, prana). To breathe consciously is to commune with the essence of life itself.

To save one’s breath is to preserve this sacred current - not to scatter it in idle speech but to channel it into creative force, healing presence, and purposeful silence.

THE POWER OF RESONANT ACTION

“What you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Words can explain, but action demonstrates. Words can be misleading, yet action penetrates within inspiration. Resonant action is the alignment of intention, energy, and movement. When action arises from deep coherencewhen body, mind, and spirit move as one - it carries an unmistakable power that no speech can equal. Resonant action does not require validation; it ripples outward like a tuning fork, changing environments, people, and circumstances by its very presence.

Leadership and Resonance: The most effective leaders are not those who speak the most, but those whose actions embody values so clearly that others naturally align with them.

profoundly than explanation.

Healing Through Action: In therapeutic and spiritual traditions, embodied action - whether ritual movement, laying on of hands, or service - often heals more

“Humans are wired to detect congruence. When behavior aligns with intention, trust and influence are exponentially amplified.” - Dr. Stephen Porges, Neuroscientist (Polyvagal Theory).

The silent tree gives oxygen. The sun does not announce its rising; it simply shines. Resonant action carries that same natural power witnessed in the world at large.

SILENCE AS POWER

“Silence is sometimes the best answer.”The Dalai Lama

Silence is not absence. It is intentionally led presence condensed. In silence, we listen more deeply—not only to others but to the inner voice, to the whispers of intuition, and to the subtle signals of the body. Silence reclaims energy lost in argument, gossip, or unnecessary explanation.

Mystical Silence: Monastic traditions across Christianity, Buddhism, Sufism, and Hinduism have emphasized silence as a doorway to revelation.

Psychological Silence: Neuroscience shows that quieting verbal thought enhances neuroplasticity, creativity, and emotional regulation.

Relational Silence: In communication, silence often speaks louder than words, signaling depth, respect, or refusal to engage in conflict.

Silence is not weakness - it is conservation of power for the moments that matter.

“Studies show that two minutes of silence is more restorative for the brain than even relaxing music.” - Research, Heart Journal

Silence allows us to disconnect from the external chaos, to preserve our reserve for the intuitive center to charge and source from a higher plane of attunement from which true leadership reigns most brilliant.

INTUITIVE FACULTIES - THE VOICE BEYOND WORDS

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant.”Albert Einstein

When speech softens, other faculties awaken. Intuition is the deeper voice of the soul, requiring no argument or proof. It arises through symbols, feelings, dreams, and sudden knowing.

The Science of Intuition: Studies suggest that the body detects subtle environmental cues before conscious awareness, guiding decisions that appear “instinctive.”

The Spiritual Faculty: Intuition is the antenna of higher consciousness, the whisper of cosmic intelligence guiding us toward purpose and alignment.

By speaking less, we amplify inner listening. Intuition becomes audible only in the quiet.

“The body can respond to information milliseconds before the conscious brain is aware of it - this is the measurable basis of intuition.” - Dr. Dean Radin, Institute of Noetic Sciences.

Emotions are interpreted faster than words and affect us more deeply without the possibility for miscommunication. Through silence, we can become more aware of the energy being dispersed, ultimately, the instructions that we are sending to our teams, peers, friends and family.

HEALING THROUGH EMBODIMENT

“The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.” - B.K.S. Iyengar

To heal is to integrate, and integration requires embodiment. Many wounds persist not because we have not spoken about them, but because we have not lived differently in response to them.

Somatic Wisdom: Trauma research shows that healing is less about re-telling

and more about re-patterning - teaching the body to move, breathe, and exist without reliving old pain.

Spiritual Embodiment: When divine insight is carried into the body through practice - breathwork, ritual, movement - it crystallizes into lived transformation.

Speaking endlessly about our suffering keeps it alive. Embodying a new way of being dissolves it.

“Trauma is not just an event that took place in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body.” - Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score.

So many remain unaware of the stored pain laden within our words, that hold our lives in continuous loops of despair. Silence allows us to remain within our place of power, our inner sanctum, where the guiding light of intuition leads us out of our own unhealed narratives.

As a thought-leader, connecting with the body to harness the power of its subtle language, allows us to sense how we are being subconsciously guided, so that we may steer our emotions and amplify our charge, to consciously direct our lives and the lives of those we love, respect and honor in a positive direction.

THE LONG HORIZON – CHOOSING OUTCOMES OVER ARGUMENTS

“Do not waste your breath arguing with a fool, for they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” - Proverbs

Every word spoken is a seed. But not all seeds deserve planting. Many conversations entangle us in short-term emotions and conflicts, while the wise conserve their energy for long-term harvest.

Strategic Silence: Saving words for what serves the future rather than the fleeting present protects vision and momentum.

Energetic Investment: Every breath is currency. Where we invest it determines

whether we build fleeting gratification or enduring legacy.

The silence of restraint is not avoidance; it is devotion to the larger arc of destiny.

“Long-term orientation requires impulse control, delayed gratification, and the ability to inhibit reactive responses in favor of future goals.” - Dr. Walter Mischel.

Silence allows us to hone in our intuitive, psychic abilities, whereby the toxic ego is gradually overcome for the higher senses to emerge.

Radiant leaders recognize the long-term rewards of being guided through stillness, of sensing the calm that can be felt in the bosom of an illuminated, intuitive heart, that beats in synchronicity with the celestial rhythms of harmony.

THE ALCHEMY OF LESS

“By letting go, it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go.” - Lao Tzu

When you speak less, you are capable of both perceiving more and at a higher frequency than the incoming distractions – your sense for decision-making naturally rises above potential traps and loops that deter you from your ultimate goal. When you save your breath, you conserve sacred energy while exuding and attracting honor and respect. When you embody more, you become a living teaching rather than a powerless voice in the drowning crowd of senselessly driven souls.

The alchemy of less transforms words into presence, silence into power, breath into spirit and action into resonance.

“Minimalism in communication increases clarity and influence. Fewer words, when strategically placed, increase message retention.” - Dr. Carmine Gallo.

Radiant leaders empower the masses by conserving their energy. This is not about repression but refinement. The voice becomes sacred when it is used rarely, wisely, and with the full force of embodied truth.

BECOME THE BREATH OF ONENESS AND POWER

“Your breath is your anchor to the present moment. Live each breath fully and you live fully.” - Zen proverb

Are you tired of not being heard? Perhaps the deeper questions are: Are you ready to be felt? Will you let your heart be known? Speech may reach ears, but embodiment awakens hearts, moves bodies, and aligns destinies. The path is not to speak more loudly but to breathe more deeply, to live more wholly, and to move more resonantly. Our words contain feelings, and it is the feelings that we communicate that are carried through the air.

Save your breath. Speak less. Embody more. In doing so, you become not just a voice in the world but a living presence of the world’s unfolding purpose.

APPLY FOR MONARCH VISIONARY’S RAINBOW BODY INITIATION

Through the 3/6/12-month sacred containers offered through Monarch Visionary Ventures Society, initiates are guided through the soul-integration process to support the natural emergence of purpose, or Dharma, and restore psychic connection with the empowering forces of natural law.

Share your name, intention, the desired length of your sacred container and a note about your spiritual path to: Amritlal@MonarchVisionary.com with the subject line: “I Am Ready to Ascend”

This is not a program you join. It is a soul agreement you feel is real. Only 12 seats per container. The fire has been lit. Your sacred oath is remembered. Step forward. Visit MonarchVisionary.com and sign up for our newsletter to receive regular guidance and insights to support the realization and integration of your spiritual mission, as you transform your trauma into leadership potential.