Playlists,The WFH Edit

WFH (for those who ain’t down, that’s Working From Home) these days can be a rollercoaster of ups + downs, ins + outs + let’s be honest, time spent procrastinating on things that, no matter how long you push it out, still have to be done. Period. Also time spent hoovering, dusting + doing just about anything other than that which you’re ACTUALLY meant to be doing.. anyone else?? Yep thought so. Trust me, you’re not alone. So to help you through your days WFH style, here are some amazing playlists to carry you through from morning till cocktail, sorry, I meant 5pm. Same thing right?!

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S P OR T Y + R I C H

Sporty + Rich is the coolest effortlessly VIBEY brand out there. Exclusive with their brand ‘drops’ - founder Emily Oberg is the ultimate IT girl + the originator of the Sporty + Rich unofficial mood board for life, something that once you’re in, you can never leave, it’s so good!

Compilation by Stella Hitsert.

Check it out here..

S I L O U L O N D O N

Silou London is a chic sustainable activewear brand based in London that I adore. Very much in the vibe of the brand, Silou’s office DJ put together some amazing playlists which the brand shares on Spotify. This one is the perfect WFH with all the chill vibes to get you in the zone..

Silou also has other amazing playlists for yoga at home, working out + cool downs..

Check them out here..

S P O R T Y + R I C H

Another great playlist from Sporty + Rich. It’s super long so can carry you through a good stint of WFH..

Compilation by Margherita Lacapra.

Check it out here..

A F T E R N O O N

Doing exactly what it says on the tin, this playlist is full of cool, chill-out jams that will take you through from lunch to cocktail o’clock without you even noticing..

Check it out here..

L O A D I N G …

A little more upbeat, LOADING.. is a VIBE in itself. Not much to say so just listen your day away + let it turn those WFH terrors into something a little more funk!

Check it out here..

M E L L O W .

Compilation by Stella Hitsert, this is exactly what it implies, MELLOW AF, giving you all the feels of good days to come.

Check it out here..

2 0 2 0

Upbeat + energising, 2020 is a cool (+ super long) compilation also by Stella Hitsert - a little bit of everything, it’s fun, fabulous + will keep you in good spirits the whole day through..

Check it out here..

D O G D A Y S

Described as ‘bike rides through the city on ht summer days’ this is a really chill one with enough beats to keep you motivated while still within the working from home zone..

Compilation by Meha Patel.

Check it out here..

1 8 0 0 H R S S P R I N G I N D O O R S

Another brilliant compilation by Meha Patel, this is the part where you can see, feel + smell that glass of rosé on the 5 o’clock horizon..

Check it out here..

S U M M E R B U M M E R

Full of Lumineers delights + those generally good summer vibes with the windows open, ice coffee mornings + feel all BOSS powering your way through your day’s work, SUMMER BUMMER is another amazing one from Meha Patel..

Check it out here..

Great New Reads, March 2022

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What's Hot on Your Bookshelf, March 2022

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‘PLEASE MISS’ BY GRACE LAVERY

A memoir of gender transition and recovery from addiction, a dance across genres, a ripping-up of the rulebook, Please Miss is unlike anything you’ve ever read before.

Grace Lavery is a reformed druggie, an unreformed omnisexual chaos Muppet, and a 100 per cent, all-natural, synthetic female hormone monster. How could her story be straightforward when she is anything but? The telling of her tale is kaleidoscopic, wild and audacious: Grace performs in a David Lynch remake of Sunset Boulevard and is reprogrammed as a 1960s femmebot; she is targeted with anonymous letters from a mysterious cabal of clowns; she writes a socialist manifesto disguised as a porn parody of QI(or is it vice versa?).

As Grace fumbles toward a new trans identity, she tries on dozens of different voices, creating a coat of many colours. The result is dazzling, unique and unforgettable. Startlingly funny and ruthlessly smart, Please Miss gives us what we came for, then slaps us in the face and orders us to come again.

Shop this title HERE

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‘ANTHEM’ BY NOAH HAWLEY

America spins into chaos as the last remnants of political consensus break apart. Against a background of environmental disaster and opioid addiction, debate descends into violence and militias roam the streets - while teenagers across the world seem driven to self-destruction, communicating by memes only they can understand.

Yet the markets still tick up and the super-rich, like Ty Oliver, fly above the flames in private jets.

After the death of his daughter, Ty dispatches his son Simon to an Anxiety Abatement Center. There he encounters another boy called the Prophet. And the Prophet wants him to join a quest.

Before long, Simon is on the road with a crew of new comrades on a rescue mission as urgent as it is enigmatic. Suddenly heroes of their own story, they are crossing the country in search of a young woman held in a billionaire's retreat - and, just possibly, the only hope of escape from the apocalypse bequeathed to them by their parents' generation.

Noah Hawley's epic literary thriller, full of unforgettably vivid characters, finds unquenchable lights in the darkest corners. Uncannily topical and yet as timeless as a Grimm's fairy tale, this is a novel of excoriating power, raw emotion and narrative verve, confirming Hawley as one of the most essential writers of our time.

Shop this title HERE

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‘THE HUMMINGBIRD’ BY SANDRO VERONESI

Marco Carrera is 'the hummingbird,' a man with the almost supernatural ability to stay still as the world around him continues to change. As he navigates the challenges of life - confronting the death of his sister and the absence of his brother; taking care of his parents as they approach the end of their lives; raising his granddaughter when her mother, Marco's own child, can no longer be there for her; coming to terms with his love for the enigmatic Luisa - Marco Carrera comes to represent the quiet heroism that pervades so much of our everyday existence.

A thrilling novel about the need to look to the future with hope and live with intensity to the very end.

Shop this title HERE

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‘THE EMPLOYEES’ BY OLGA RAVN

The near-distant future. Millions of kilometres from Earth.

The crew of the Six-Thousand Ship consists of those who were born, and those who were made. Those who will die, and those who will not. When the ship takes on a number of strange objects from the planet New Discovery, the crew is perplexed to find itself becoming deeply attached to them, and human and humanoid employees alike start aching for the same things: warmth and intimacy. Loved ones who have passed. Shopping and child-rearing. Our shared, far-away Earth, which now only persists in memory. Gradually, the crew members come to see their work in a new light, and each employee is compelled to ask themselves whether they can carry on as before and what it means to be truly living.

Structured as a series of witness statements compiled by a workplace commission, Ravn s crackling prose is as chilling as it is moving, as exhilarating as it is foreboding. Wracked by all kinds of longing, The Employees probes into what it means to be human, emotionally and ontologically, while simultaneously delivering an overdue critique of a life governed by work and the logic of productivity.

Shop this title HERE

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‘CURTAIN CALL’ BY VESNA GOLDSWORTHY

Milena is a Red Princess living in a Soviet Satellite state in the 1980s. She enjoys limitless luxury and limited freedom; the end of the Cold War seems unimaginable. When she meets Jason, a confident British poet, Milena is appalled by his political naivety and his poor choice of footwear. Still, they fall into bed together, and before long Milena is secretly planning to escape to Britain. 1980s London defies her privileged expectations. The rented flat is grim and the food is disgusting but she is with the man she loves and there are no hidden cameras to record her every move. But then Milena discovers that Jason's idea of freedom hurts even more...

With sharp wit and tender precision, Vesna Goldsworthy unpicks the failures of family and state. Iron Curtain is a sly, elegant human drama that challenges the myths we tell ourselves.

Shop this title HERE

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‘FREE LOVE’ BY TESSA HADLEY

1967. While London comes alive with the new youth revolution, the suburban Fischer family seems to belong to an older world of conventional stability: pretty, dutiful homemaker Phyllis is married to Roger, a devoted father with a career in the Foreign Office. Their children are Colette, a bookish teenager, and Hugh, the golden boy. But when the twenty-something son of an old friend pays the Fischers a visit one hot summer evening, and kisses Phyllis in the dark garden after dinner, something in her catches fire. Newly awake to the world, Phyllis makes a choice that defies all expectations of her as a wife and a mother.

With scalpel-sharp insight, Tessa Hadley explores her characters' inner worlds, laying bare their fears and longings. Free Love is an irresistible exploration of romantic love, sexual freedom and living out the truest and most meaningful version of our lives.

Shop this title HERE

The Weekend Edit 02

The P O D C A S T // The Missing Crypto Queen. Dr. Ruja Ignatova led millions tojoin her “financial revolution”. Her ‘cult leader' status had people hooked. Then, she disappeared. Journalist Jamie Bartlett delves deep into the world of Dr. Ignatova’s criminally led world of greed, crime + the phenomenal mentality of herd following. I listened to this a while back + it had me hooked. This is a 9 part series.

The A R T I C L E // ‘What It Means To Be a Rebel Entrepreneur’ by Halyley at Made by Rove

The M O V I E // Swan Song. Directed by Benjamin Cleary + produced by Rebecca Bourke, both incredible Irish creatives, this is Apple’s big production of the last year + one that had me in floods of tears + deeply in love with the beautiful depth of human connections + the bravery of what it means to really love beyond anything else. Mahershala Ali delivers an astonishing performance + deserves incredible recognition for his portrayal of such depth of character. Also.. the set design + locations in this movie are literally my dream.

The B O O K // ‘To Paradise’ by Yanagihara. This is the book I am currently reading + if you loved Yanagihara’s previous masterpiece ‘A Little Life’, you’ll adore this just as much.

The P L A Y L I S T // ROADS February 22. The perfect, soulful chill to have on in the background as you get your weekend on.

The A C C O U N T to follow // Caroline Walls is an Australian artist who focused on the female silhouette in all of it’s beautiful forms. Her pieces are beautiful as in undertaking one of our personal projects in our first home right now, her work in high on my wish list.

The R E C I P E // Rhian’s Apple Crumble - This is a super delicious + nourishing delight to add into your life this weekend. Created by Rhian Stephenson of Artah

The M O V E M E N T // I have just started a five week digital masterclass with Camilla of The Practice + I’ve shared about Camilla’s energy + vibrancy before since I attended her classes in Stockholm last year but WOW.. you have got to check her out. I can’t put into words how deeply I connect with her vibe + am inspired by the energy she brings to the world.

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Stockholm, A Total Love Story

Admittedly, upon meeting the city of my dreams, we were entirely on cloud 9 + enveloped in the love of us. However, I am entirely certain it wasn’t purely due to my just-married beaming heart that I fell absolutely head over heels in love with Stockholm. It was just 72 hours after we said “I do”, that my husband (I really love saying that) + I landed in Sweden for some time to ourselves following our wedding celebrations + magical time spent with loved ones, for what was a first time for both of us in this most stunning city.

As an aesthete + lover of beauty in all capacities, this city had always been high on my list of places I knew I would connect with on a very deep level. Beautiful, sleek + entirely a vibe, Stockholm exceeded all our expectations + currently sits as somewhere we loved so much that we’re considering an extended period of time there in the very near future. It’s chic.. like chic with a major capital C.

To be honest, as it was just following our wedding, all we really wanted of the time away was to be with each other + to step into a very chilled out vibe; the need to explore as I normally would a new + previously undiscovered city, simply wasn’t as burning as would be my standard plan of total immersion. This lack of urgency in our examinations of journeying through the city actually gave us another perspective of being in the moment, a total time for relaxation, something that can be quite difficult when taking in so much newness in new-to-you parts of the world yet we found Stockholm to be perfect for this type of aimless wandering while perfectly punctuated by beautiful landmarks, galleries + museums, stunning stores, boutiques + cafés worth popping into for yet another hot chocolate or coffee.

It was November + we were blessed to witness the first snowfall of the season which, in our romantic bubble, was so special to wake up to on our first morning along with the most breathtaking sunrise over Stockholm Harbor, witnessing it from our balcony at Hotel Diplomat where we based ourselves for the week. From Hotel Diplomat we ventured out to absorb, at our ease. From lunches + dinners in a variety of picks from some amazing recommendations + strolling the beautiful stores - some beautiful local finds + other well-known brands of Swedish heritage - to taking in the exquisite architecture + design that meets you around every corner, all amid the clear blue skies, crisp cold air + the dream of an evening back at Hotel Diplomat’s hammam + sauna. Each day a dreamy dip into the world of all that Stockholm has to offer.

Wrapping up to take in this sophisticated city is a must in November, it’s freezing but - of course - everyone makes it incredibly stylish. As someone who loves style, it’s truly hypnotic. People watching is breathtaking + there is an endless abundance of shopping - perhaps the best I’ve ever under taken - from (my all-time favourite) Totême (shout out to Elin, the HQ’s incredible manager + personal shopper who helped me further deepen my love of everything Totême creates) + of course, Acne to some of the chicest beauty brands like Mantle + Verso + the exquisite leather goods brand Palmgrens, not forgetting jewellery brand Ennui Atelier; quite frankly the elegant, cool, sleek vibe of Swedish brands is inexhaustible. Pack light as the temptations are all too tempting, trust me. All of these are linked below for your reference.

In terms of my daily movement practice, I found myself returning to Remedy each day which, by + of itself could make me move to Stockholm just to be able to soak up the positive energy of this incredible studio. Founded by Carita Lesche + Amelie Parchami of Stockholm Pilates Centre (the sister studio which is also incredible so try that too), Remedy is a self-care package for your mind, body + soul. It was here that my love of teacher Camilla Ahlqvist (of The Practice) was born along with the sound bath practices of Miriam Morgenstern + garuda classes by founder Amelie. A genuine sanctuary. Continuing my love of movement, classes at STHLM Barre are a must, I’m a huge pilates fan in general + the classes here are so fire! The barre burn is so real. IYKY.

And to top of the appreciation of some time spent delving into the realm of self-care, while my husband did his thing, I spent time treating myself to a treatment (or three) with the incredible Mia Hjalmarsson, owner of Mia Hjalmarsson Skincare, Beauty + Holistic Wellness which has treatment rooms in Hotel Diplomat, where we stayed. I also ventured to her other location at Villa Dagmar (sister hotel to Hotel Diplomat) to try a holistic energy + lymphatic massage with Linda who is also incredible.

So while I can safely say that yes we were on cloud nine on this post wedding trip together, I know that this city, beyond it’s meaning to us at that special time in our lives, is somewhere we’ll love again + again.

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STOCKHOLM, THE HSF EDIT

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H O T E L S // Hotel Diplomat // Villa Dagmar // Miss Clara // Ett Hem // Nobis Hotel // Berns

A R T // Fotografiska // Moderna Museet // Galleri Magnus Karlsson // Fargfabriken // Acne Archive

D I N E // The Restaurant at Villa Dagmar // AG // Café Nizza // Nosh + Chow // Nour // Ichi // Fotografiska // ChiÔi // FRÄMMAT // Naboterrassen //

C O F F E E S T O P S // Butiken Diplomat // Café Pascal // Vete-Katten // Sempre Espresso Bar // Schmaltz //

S H O P S // Toteme Flagship // Palmgrens // Grandpa Store // APLACE // COW Parfymeri // NK Stockholm // Acne Flagship // Svenskt Tenn

M O V E M E N T + W E L L N E S S // Remedy // Stockholm Pilates Centre // The Practice // Beaty treatments at Mia Hjalmarsson // STHLM Barre // HEAT by Sophia Lie //

B R A N D S // Mantle // Toteme // All Blues // Ennui Atelier // Acne // House of Dagmar // Byredo // Sachajuan // Palmgrens // Lisa Yang

W I N E // Cave Nizza (Drop in only) // Blanche + Hierta // Balzac

Wellness Books To Note // Part I

There is no one big answer in or to anything in this life. Having said that, there are undoubtedly lots of little lessons along the way that shine a light on deeper meaning to or a wider perspective on certain parts of life + our place within in. As a person, I’ve always been drawn to understanding things on a deeper level + as part of that personal exploration I’ve found certain self-development books to be hugely beneficial. I’ve found part of myself in + elements of the person I have become are, in part, thanks to the lessons such books have afforded me; some truly have really been a huge part of my journey thus far or in a moment, have helped me go deeper, whether I realized it at the time or only really grasped the depth of the books effect on my journey till later.

Acting as some classification of therapy for many, books that seek to teach at a personal level can contribute hugely to our healing processes + lend themselves as a unique perspective in the techniques we incorporate into our daily lives, ultimately enriching our experiences + very souls. As part of a longer list that I will continue to share, here are some of those books worth their weight in gold:

A T O M I C H A B I T S

I read this book last January (2021) + loved it so much that I re-read it again at the beginning of the year. Atomic Habits is one of those books that speaks to the practical side of bettering our processes some can live the life we actually want. James Clear is an inspirational, honest + genius writer, piecing together a hands-on guide to understanding the science + meaning in routine + how to actually weave new habits into your life with lasting effects. It helped me greatly in creating a better mentality around habits + the idea that habits are simply choices repeated again + again. This is one that I will most likely re-read every year of my life..

Find out more // J A M E S C L E A R

T H E U N T E T H E R E D S O U L

This classic read delves into the truth of who we really are at a soul level + the possibility of what it is to live beyond the limitations of our conscious mind, the part of ourselves that can all too often hold us back from who we really are. It opens us to the potential of what life can be when we break through any + all boundaries we previously thought to be true while the author, Michael A. Singer breaks it down in manageable pieces so you can begin to discover more inner peace day by day.

This is one that, to grasp on a deeper level, I find I must read again + again. I have heard different things from it at various times + also have been able to receive distinctly transformational lessons each time I’ve opened this book.

Find out more // T H E U N T E T H E R E D S O U L

T H E L A S T L E C T U R E

One of those books that has you smiling + crying in the same moment, The Last Lecture by Professor Randy Pausch is a must read for every human. Pausch wasn’t just imagining his last lecture when he wrote this moving + inspirational book, he was living it out as his own reality due to his recent diagnosis of terminal cancer. IN delivering his last lecture, entitled ‘Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’, he imparts his wisdom around about the importance of conquering life’s challenges, facilitating the dreams of others + of making the very most of each moment we have - as he had eventually found out, we sometimes may just have a limited amount left to make anything of. This book is one to be read throughout the ages no matter your age + one that brings depth to what’s most important + a lightness to what can feel all too overwhelming sometimes. This book is a beautiful rendition of what it’s like to live.

Find out more // T H E L A S T L E C T U R E

T H E B O D Y K E E P S T H E S C O R E

Intense. Like really intense. Very real. Incredibly insightful. And remarkably beneficial in it’s approach to + treatment of trauma, The Body Keeps the Score is celebrated the world over for it’s holistic perspective on the stress trauma causes on the body + how, in real everyday ways we can shift away from it + cultivate a new power within to heal + deal with the parts that often lay stuck in our bodies from what has happened. In his widely acclaimed work, Dr Bessel van der Kolk goes beyond the traditional therapies of medication + talking that haven’t always proven entirely instrumental in healing or allowing one go beyond what haunts them - this book is a gift to yourself if you’ve found that no matter how much ‘work’ you’ve done on what happened, you still find the struggle real. It’s like a bible to understanding your stress responses in more depth + how you can bring compassion + action to the healing process.

Find out more // T H E B O D Y K E E P S T H E S C O R E

T H E W I M H O F M E T H O D

I am a huge believer in cold therapy. A few years back my brother’s girlfriend (who is one of my best friends) + I started sea swimming. Thinking we were entirely mad, like full-on cray-cray, we would get up early to met before the day began + get our fix of the freezing cold winter sea. Each day we did it, as we lowered ourselves into the water I’d think we must be f*cking crazy, this is TORTURE. However, each time we got out I’d think, wow I can’t wait to do this again tomorrow, that was AMAZING. One of the most unexplainable feelings, bodies of cold water can literally change your life. Wanting to understand more I delved into the world of Wim Hof + his method of breath-work + cold therapy. I haven’t been able to do sea swims of late, however, I’ve continued the work in as much as possible as it’s SO effective in helping with anxiety, depression, low moods + generally my mental health. Wim Hof is a pioneer in the area + sharing his work with the world he is helping people help themselves with amazing, effective + free techniques that truly are transforming. I highly recommend his work, any podcasts/interviews with him +ultimately this book as a great gateway into his world.

Find out more // W I M H O F M E T H O D

Dervla Louli Musgrave's Hong Kong Hotlist

Based in Hong Kong, founder + Editor-in-Chief of CompareRetreats.com, a luxury well-being retreat discovery platform for the world’s leading wellness destinations, Dervla Louli Musgrave has an impeccable personal style + unique flair when it comes to what should be on your hot list when planning your next trip. Here she shares her favourites for city she, her husband + new baby boy call home..

Best cocktail spot? // Please Don’t Tell

Breakfast? // Bakehouse

Brunch? // Duddells

Dinner? // Yardbird

Date night spot? // Zuma

Girls night out? // Soho House

Museum? // HK Museum of History

Gallery? // Not a gallery but Soho House is full of local art that I love

Artist? // Wilson Shieh

Exercise class? // Family Forme by Lindsay Jang

Yoga studio? // PURE

Hotel? // The Upper House Suites, Four Seasons for the pool, St. Regis for restaurants, Mandarin Oriental for ambiance + Peninsula Heritage for the experiences.

Hidden gem? // Yuet Tung China Works

Weekend escape? // Tai Tam and a chilled boat day

Checking In; CABÜ, Ireland

Escape; a word that evokes entirely different meaning for different people yet one we hear more + more of late, my recent escape came recently just post New Year + after bleak period of isolation due to me contracting Covid that my husband + I, along with our little dog Winston, decided to pack up + swap our every day for something our hearts were craving : the luxury of total switch off from the world - a true escape. Inspired by an adventure that required little thinking or planning, we wanted something within driving distance, something at home here in Ireland that felt easy + seamless. So we checked out CABÜ + checked in.

Set in the most idyllic surrounds of Killykeen Forest Park, CABÜ (By The Lakes) is just over two hours from Dublin + yet it felt as though we were on the other side of the world - in the most welcomed of ways. A collection of log cabins + lake houses, the unique property looks out on to the beautiful viewpoint of Lough Oughter which you can access via CABÜ’s private jetty + all of which links to an elaborate system of lakes + rivers nearby.

Equipped with all the essential luxuries + amenities of a heavenly escape - all available within CABÜ, it was a dreamy situation to arrive to the self-contained, cosy + nurturing nature of a January break in such a location. Enamored by the outdoors, we went on beautiful long walks each day with Winston (CABÜ is dog friendly), my husband kayaked daily, we spent time in the Japanese Bath + sauna each night + basically blissed out in the fact that we were in this most stunning place surrounded by the beauty + healing powers of nature.

This trip was one we will no doubt keep as one of our go-to Irish escapes, the perfect place that brought us back in touch with the simplicities of what’s most enjoyable + what heals your soul - the basics. Well, ok I say basics but let’s be real, I’m all about making it chic too + there’s no doubt a sense of it being a more rustic, Irish version of Soho Farmhouse; in a way, a faultless blend of outdoorsy vibes mixed with the perfect touches of luxury.

Waking up in a forest, filled with singing birds excited by the dawn of another day is quite literally a magical way to start any day. And this, along with the stunning views from the Lake House, is exactly what awaits you each morning - no matter the weather. As someone who leans quite deeply toward very dark + depressed states of being which can play out in my life for extended periods of time, something I always have in my wellness toolkit is the healing properties of nature. Long walks or runs outdoors + simply being outside whether reading on the grass in the summer or sea swimming no matter the season are all extremely beneficial, however for me, forests in particular are a significant part of the wellness-in-nature + one of the parts of nature that I absolutely love getting lost in. So while being in one of those lower periods in myself at the time, our escape to CABÜ was a heavenly moment to regroup + find some clarity + peace within.

The ecology system of the area on which CABÜ sits is marked as an official Special Area of Conservation (SAC) + also a Special Protection Area (SPA) due to it’s biological + ecological importance which of course means that it plays home to an array of beautiful Irish wildlife. Everything from small mammals, a minimum of 47 different species of birds, bees + butterflies, to otters red squirrels, rabbits, voles, stoats, weasels + badgers it is a dream to stroll the grounds knowing that nature is being encouraged to do her Motherly thing. And while this may sound kind of ‘yuck’ to some or perhaps isn’t your thing, to me it felt like you’re a guest in their beautiful world, a world we once took care of + the very one that has me in awe of what nature is capable of when we don’t disturb or destroy her processes. CABÜ must be praised for their work in making this a part of the world that remains somewhat unspolied + wholesome.

Beyond the beauty all around you, what I loved about CABÜ too is the cosy nature of it being a perfect Winter escape (we were there in January). The chic on-site grocery store + the beautiful indoor/outdoor bar area with big old fires + warm cosy blankets + throws to get wrapped up in, along with champagne-in-the-hot-tub evenings under the stars make for a destination you need never leave once you arrive. I highly recommend.

T H I N G S T O D O // Forest bathing // Saunas, Hot Tubs + Japanese Baths // Fishing // Boat trips // Kayaking // SUP // Hiking near + far // Cycling // Running trails //

L O C A T I O N // Co. Cavan, Ireland

L E A R N M O R E // C A B U

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W H A T T O P A C K

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Wellness Retreats on my Radar

T H E P R A C T I C E // D I G I T A L

One single in-person class was all it took to make me fall head over heels in love with THE PRACTICE + the energy of it’s founder Camilla. It was on our honeymoon that I found her teaching at the chicest pilates studio, Remedy, in Stockholm where she shares her incredible method; taking you on a journey that ignites from within + sparks a whole new perspective on the meaning of self-love. Camilla is bringing her wisdom to the world in her digital masterclass which takes place over a 5 week period where she will share a weekly cooking class + a weekly movement practice. Wait till you experience her energy.. I simply cannot wait for this one.

Learn more // T H E P R A C T I C E

C O R E S T A T E // I R E L A N D

Two full days in the magical presence of Audrey, founder of the global digital pilates brand CORESTATE, is a treat to dive right in to with all your being. I am blessed to call Audrey a dear friend IRL, however beyond knowing her, Audrey is an incredibly accomplished pilates teacher with a (fabulously firey) twist. Bringing her own blend of magic to each class + in every part of her practice beyond the mat Audrey is someone who ignites a genuine + deeply connected love of movement, the mind-body connection + the long-term benefits of taking care of + loving our bodies.

Learn more // I C E H O U S E H O T E L

A R T A H // D I G I T A L

With a deep appreciation of the foundational values + practices of ARTAH, as brought to life by Rhian Stephenson, I am here for just about everything Rhian says + teaches. Already a member of the wellness brand’s monthly membership where one is invited to delve deeper into a healthy, loving + nurturing relationship with food + movement, I can safely say that this is one to make a priority note of if you’re looking to recharge without the too taxing an investment. With the accessibility of doing it virtually, this recharge focused retreat will be wholesome, manageable + eye opening.

Putting it all into one simple quote, Rhian says of her practice “I want people to experience the LIFE CHANGING effects of nutrition, not by focusing on what NOT to eat, but by focusing on quality, flavour+the enjoyment of real food”

Learn more // A R T A H

A L L E Z // G R E E C E

A more recent find in my own world, I came across Marion Pearce of Allez during lockdown life + the need for something to change up my at home workouts was answered. Having a spin bike at the house I was delighted to invite Marion + her team into my days as her energy is electric! Along with her high-vibe cycle classes, Marion is a super beautiful yoga teacher - her House Party classes are fire + so will, I can only imagine, her yoga retreat be this May.

Learn more // A L L E Z

A R T A H // S P A I N

With a high emphasise on stress reduction, this is another curated health journey by ARTAH, this time in person (they also have others too) alongside barre teacher Ellya Sam + yoga instructor Olivia del Balzo. Over the 5 days, ARTHA one can enjoy hikes, therapeutic treatments + quiet time to switch off from the world. Alongside all of this soul nourishment, the food at ARTAH is focused on nutrient dense meals that heal + fuel + encourage the body’s natural processes at acellular level. This one is majorly on my vision board..

Learn more // A R T A H

M A I A W E L L C O // T H E C O T S W O L D S

Having dipped in + out of the beautiful world of Maia Wellco over the past few years myself, I can safely say that this escape will be, without a doubt, something for every part of you. Gentle in her delivery yet rooted in a strong physical practice + an obvious mastery of the practice of pilates, Maia Wellco’s founder, Zoe is an entire tonic for the mind, body + soul.

Learn more // M A I A W E L L C O

Designer Spotlight; Theodora Warre

Having begun her career in the fashion side of the industry Theodora Warre is a force to be reckoned with ever since stepping into her own in the jewellery space + setting up her eponymous label back in 2014 . When it comes to dressing up the everyday, Warre stands out from the crowd as she injects a sense of adventure + colour into what can sometimes feel all too mundane.

Part of her very DNA, Warre’s great-grandfather was crown jeweler Harry Garrard who became the first official Crown Jeweler in the United Kingdom, designing pieces directly for Queen Victoria in the 1800’s. And although design most certainly runs in the family, Warre herself is very much at the helm of wearable keepsakes; it is without a doubt that her own style + creative vision as an artist have allowed her abundant success in her own right. An authority on semi-precious pieces while working with sterling silver + gold plate, Warre is heavily inspired by the colourful nature of India + it’s striking vividness that plays into each of her collections while injecting a sense of discovery into each piece. Drawing upon the notable character of Jaipur, where she spends a lot of time + where she also studied at the Gem Palace, is is clear the style of a Theodora Warre woman is one well-travelled + forever in search of the previously undiscovered next gem.

Shop the full collection at T H E O D O R A W A R R E . C O M

All images via Theodora Warre Instagram

Getting Married, A Personal Perspective

Perspective in life is something so subjective + entirely personal to each individual. It’s a unique frame of mind that forms from experience + something, that, in a heartbeat can change forever. Having recently gotten married to my Love, I’ve been reflecting quite a lot about the past few weeks + the lead-up to the day; a time that, on a personal level, brought to light the values I hold close to my heart + the deeply ingrained perspectives life has afforded me + us as a couple. Something, all these years later, I couldn’t be more grateful for.

Planning a wedding is a luxury in life yet SO many people kept saying to me in the time prior, “wow you must be so stressed”. I heard it so many times that I began to wonder, why am I not stressed? Am I supposed to be? Are we missing something?

As someone who comes from the heart on everything in life, I don’t wish to sound in any way unromantic but weddings themselves are an industry - one that thrives on placing a lot of pressure on couples to be perfect in every single way on the day. I’m not one to conform + yes people thought I was so crazily relaxed about it all but perspective kicked in big time + hey.. flowers are flowers. It didn’t matter that I only began shopping for my dress 5 weeks before the day + that it eventually arrived 48 hours prior to walking down the aisle. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful food even though we didn’t do a single tasting before. I didn’t need to book my hair + makeup a year in advance as I previously thought was mandatory for ‘bridal’. Nor did it matter that we only secured the most beautiful singer for the ceremony 36 hours before it. Things worked out; they worked because we reminded ourselves of what’s actually worth getting stressed about in life + happy times simply aren’t one of them. And while yes I’m known to love a chic aesthetic + I very much know what I like in that department - the truth is, simply being with those we love on the day was pretty much everything to us. My only one request of anyone close to me was that nobody got stressed about anything because, we all know, there are way bigger problems in the world than whether my dress fit absolutely perfectly or whether the orchids were the perfect white. Truly, I mean what a luxury it is to even consider such things at all.

There are things to get stressed about + there are things to enjoy + our wedding was one I chose, very consciously, to enjoy with all my heart.

This photo above was us heading to a family dinner the night before. In keeping a realistic perspective on the day itself + intentionally prioritizing it’s meaning - which of course is to BE married to my person in life - I found such a sense of immeasurable calm along with a deep excitement in knowing that I am actually with the person I love the most in this world, a feeling that lasts long after the 24 to 48 hours of celebrations that, no matter how perfect they were + how much we really loved every single second of it all with everyone, are just a touch in the ocean of forever with the one you love.

To all the ‘brides to be’ out there, I highly recommend letting go of any stresses you think are worth getting caught up in. It will all be beautiful. It does go fast though so grab every second with all your heart + remember, stressing about the little things means you miss the most precious moments of all.

Great New Reads, November 2021

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What's Hot on Your Bookshelf, November 2021

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‘MALIBU RISING’ BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID

Malibu: August 1983. It's the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over--especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva. 

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud--because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he's been inseparable since birth. 

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can't stop thinking about promised she'll be there. 

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own--including a guest she invited without consulting anyone. 

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family's generations will all come rising to the surface. 

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.
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‘THE EVERYDAY HERO MANIFESTO’ BY ROBIN SHARMA

For over twenty-five years, leadership legend and personal-mastery path-blazer Robin Sharma has mentored billionaires, business titans, professional-sports superstars and entertainment royalty via a revolutionary methodology that led them to accomplish rare-air results. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Sharma makes his transformational system available to anyone who is ready for undefeatable positivity, monumental productivity, deep spiritual freedom and a life of helping others.

In The Everyday Hero Manifesto you will discover: 

- The hidden habits used by many of the world's most creative and successful people to realize their visionary ambitions

- Original techniques to turn fear into fuel, problems into power and past troubles into triumphs

- A breakthrough blueprint to battle-proof yourself against distraction and procrastination so that you produce magic that dominates your domain

- Pioneering insights on adopting world-class routines that will lead you to achieve superhuman fitness and become the most disciplined person you know

- Unusual wisdom to operate with far more simplicity, beauty and peace

Part memoir of a life richly lived, part instruction manual for virtuoso-grade performance, and part handbook for spiritual freedom in an age of high-velocity change, The Everyday Hero Manifesto will completely transform your life. Forever.

Shop this title HERE

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‘WHAT IT FEELS LIKE FOR A GIRL’ BY PARIS LEES

Thirteen-year-old Byron needs to get away, and doesn't care how. Sick of being beaten up by lads for "talkin' like a poof" after school. Sick of dad - the weightlifting, womanising Gaz - and Mam, who pissed off to Turkey like Shirley Valentine. Sick of all the people in Hucknall who shuffle about like the living dead, going on about kitchens they're too skint to do up and marriages they're too scared to leave.

It's a new millennium, Madonna's 'Music' is top of the charts and there's a whole world to explore - and Byron's happy to beg, steal and skank onto a rollercoaster ride of hedonism. Life explodes like a rush of ecstasy when Byron escapes into Nottingham's kinetic underworld and discovers the East Midlands' premier podium-dancer-cum-hellraiser, the mesmerising Lady Die. But when the comedown finally kicks in, Byron arrives at a shocking encounter that will change life forever.

Bold, poignant and riotously funny, What It Feels Like For a Girl is the unique, hotly-anticipated and addictively-readable debut from one of Britain's most exciting young writers.

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‘THE TRANSGENDER ISSUE’ BY SHON FAYE

Trans people in Britain today have become a culture war 'issue'. Despite making up less than one per cent of the country's population, they are the subjects of a toxic and increasingly polarized 'debate' which generates reliable controversy for newspapers and talk shows. This media frenzy conceals a simple fact: that we are having the wrong conversation, a conversation in which trans people themselves are reduced to a talking point and denied a meaningful voice.

In this powerful new book, Shon Faye reclaims the idea of the 'transgender issue' to uncover the reality of what it means to be trans in a transphobic society. In doing so, she provides a compelling, wide-ranging analysis of trans lives from youth to old age, exploring work, family, housing, healthcare, the prison system and trans participation in the LGBTQ+ and feminist communities, in contemporary Britain and beyond.

The Transgender Issue is a landmark work that signals the beginning of a new, healthier conversation about trans life. It is a manifesto for change, and a call for justice and solidarity between all marginalized people and minorities. Trans liberation, as Faye sees it, goes to the root of what our society is and what it could be; it offers the possibility of a more just, free and joyful world for all of us.

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‘CULT FOLLOWING’ BY Bexy Cameron

Bexy Cameron was in her late twenties when the dark events of her past finally caught up with her.

Bexy was born into the Children of God, one of the world's most notorious cults. She was 9 years old when she experienced her first exorcism, held in a secret commune deep in the British countryside. At 10, she was placed on Silence Restriction, forced to be silent for a whole year. Even from an early age, she knew what was happening was not right. At the age of 15, she escaped, leaving behind her parents and 11 siblings.

Haunted by her past, Bexy set off on a road trip across America, embedding herself in the underbelly of religious cults, living with children who, like her, are born into the worlds their parents and cult leaders have created for them.

It is a journey of meth cooks, monks, Jesus Freaks, soap-making Armageddonists, surveillance vans and finally, confronting her parents and herself.

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‘SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE’ BY TIA WILLIAMS

Eva Mercy is a single mother and bestselling erotica writer who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning novelist, who, to everyone's surprise, shows up unexpectedly in New York.

When Shane and Eva meet at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but also the eyebrows of the Black literati. What no one knows is that fifteen years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. While they may be pretending not to know each other, they can't deny their chemistry - or the fact that they've been secretly writing to each other in their books through the years.

Over the next seven days, amidst a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect - but Eva's wary of the man who broke her heart, and wants him out of the city so her life can return to normal. Before Shane disappears though, she needs a few questions answered…

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‘THE HOUSE OF GUCCI’ BY SARA GAY FORDEN

The rollercoaster fortunes of the Gucci family are chronicled in a fascinating biography of Maurizio Gucci that focuses on his murder and the sensational 1995 trial that followed.

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Milan; An Aesthetes Dream

As someone who comes to life in places that evoke a sense of inspired creativity, Milan is definitely a fun place for me to be. Taking a look at some of the places I love in a city I adore, I’m thrilled for my inner aesthete to share just a moment of reverence + appreciation for the parts of Milan that, in all their glory don’t really need to be explained but simply cherished, those contemporary touches that ignite a deep love of design + something only the Italians can do so tastefully.

I’ve been blessed to visit this playful city many times. Most recently, my Love + I spent a few nights, late this summer, one of which was with loved ones after a beautiful few weeks in Lake Como + the remaining just the two of us before catching the train up to Venice - something I absolutely recommend. Each time I visit Milan, I find another part of it I love, another corner previously undiscovered to me + somehow a somewhat deeper appreciation of it’s immensely rich culture + the incomparable vibrancy that makes it so current. What I love most about Milan perhaps are it’s modern touches. The parts of it that speak the beautiful language of contemporary design amid some of it’s more ancient expressions + backdrops. To me, in the most elegant of ways, Milan feels like the bold + more daring little sister to Rome’s more traditional heritage. It is the cooler, more fun one you want to have at your party.

I’ve stayed in several hotels over the years, but one we love + have returned to several times is Room Mate Giulia which was a recommendation from one of my best friends. It is a perfect base thanks to it’s central location while it’s amazing price point + cute vibe make for the ideal place from which to embark upon your Milanese adventure. From here everything is pretty much within walking distance (I walk a lot on city breaks so perhaps check out your own tolerance on maps) + Milan, like any city, is best enjoyed on foot, taking in the Italian capital of fashion be it on sunnier summer days or chic-ly wrapped up in your winter layers.

I always start my days in Milan at a local tabaccaio - those idyllic neighbourhood cafés where locals routinely pop in for their elegant morning espresso + a quick chat before heading off to capture their day. This most recent trip was spent taking in some of my favourite museums, coffee stops + simply strolling endlessly with my Love. In alignment with the very minimalist perspective + way of living, some of the most incredible places for me to visit are always Fondazione Prada + Armani/Silos. Both of these incredible museums warrant unlimited time to explore, relax into + soak up the endless inspired energy each is so bursting with. And then when it comes to a more old-world Italian vibe, Villa Necchi + Casa degli Atellani definitely bring the Italiano energy.

Of course there are the local masterpieces too; the famous Gothic Duomo cathedral, La Scala + Da Vinci’s The Last Supper mural are all part of the Milan experience - that wonderful aspect of Europe I love so much where ancient creations are simply just there.. to be enjoyed + embraced but without that intense commercialization of modern living. There’s an unspoken sense of cool in the coolness of it all. From the old to the new, Milan has it all. And it’s deservedly unapologetic about it too.

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The HAUTE so FABULOUS Milan List

H O T E L S // ARMANI Hotel (see my piece on it HERE) // Room Mate Giulia // Senato Hotel Milano // Magna Pars L'Hotel à Parfum // Hotel Viu Milano // Vico Milano

A R T + M U S E U M S // Fondazione Prada // Armani/Silos // Villa Necchi // Pirelli HangarBicocca // Mudec, Museum of Culture // Triennale di Milano // Villa Panza // La Vigna di Leonardo (da Vinci’s vineyard) // Casa degli Atellani

C O F F E E + G E L A T O // Sant Ambroeus // Bar Luce (see my piece on this HERE) // Pasticceria Marchesi // Emporio Armani Café // Il Massimo del Gelato // Ciacco // Gelateria Paganelli //

W I N E + D I N E // Carlo e Camilla in Segheria // Seta // Bar Basso (where the Negroni Sbagliato, a close relative of the Negroni, originated) // Trippa // UGO cocktail bar // 10 Corso Como (best for lunch in the sunshine) // Dolce + Gabbana Martini Bar (see my piece HERE) // Ceresio 7 // Bice //

S H O P S // 10 Corso Como // Antonia // Armani Libri // Nilufar Depot // Richard Ginori // Excelsior // L’Arabesque // Biffi // Antonioli // Slam Jam // Acqua di Parma // La Rinascente // GUM

Postcards from Venice

Recently, en route home from some time in Italy we decided to take advantage of the fact that, for the first time in 100 years, dolphins had been seen in Venice. With the pandemic having had an obvious effect on life as we once knew it, one of the positives is that the planet has had a second to breathe; albeit seemingly a little too late. With the decline in tourists visiting the city over the course of the past 18 months, the canals of Venice are playing host to types of wildlife that haven’t dared come near the polluted waters in over a century.

Having never been to Venice myself I was excited to experience it for the first time. So, of course, first things first, I booked a date night at Harry’s Bar. Home to the Bellini (my go-to cocktail of choice.. well that or a French ‘75) not to mention a whole series of historical + fabulous moments, glamorous visitors + seductive secrets, Harry’s Bar is a not-so-secret must when visiting this distinctively remarkable city.

Thankfully my younger self no longer plays a part in how we now travel. The perfectionistic part of me used to think it was imperative to see + experience absolutely everything possible no matter how short our stay somewhere. Now, without that pressure to do it all, travel is a treat to be slowly enjoyed at a much deeper level. The rich culture + historic nature of Venice is overwhelmingly intriguing + somewhere that requires little but a desire to stroll with ease + soak it all up. Beyond it’s beauty, Venice is undoubtedly awe inspiring. One must stop to take it in; the extraordinary way in which the city was first imagined + then brought to life is as though to be immersed, almost 1500 years after it’s birth, in beauty that not only envelopes your soul but transports to you an entirely other world long before this digital, fast-paced life we live in. For this one we put our phones away (ok when I say phones I mean, more honestly, just Google Maps) + got entirely lost each day, strolling through the pretty streets + taking a water taxi to another part of the city; all for the simple pleasure of exploring. Unlike most who visit Venice, we didn’t take a Gondola ride through the canals - perhaps an obvious mistake on our part but it felt extremely touristy + as a walker, we were content to stay on foot.

Experiences I loved were, of course, the Prada Foundation, our sweet date night at Harry’s Bar, the glamour of the Aman, sailing past ‘Building Bridges’ by Lorenzo Quinn by night + visiting the Peggy Guggenheim collection. On the contemporary side of things, I was so thrilled to water taxi over to the island of Certosa to see the Doug Aitken kaleidoscopic catwalk which was commissioned specifically by Saint Laurent’s creative director Anthony Vaccarello for the fashion houses menswear spring summer 2021 fashion show which took place just before we arrived. The installation was out-of-this-world incredible. Breathtaking. Unfortunately only there for a short two week stint but Doug Aitken’s mirrored house in the Swiss Alps is one of his more permanent structures to check out.

Back to Venice, the endless jaw-dropping architecture + the sheer way in which it was constructed has to cement it’s place as the coolest, most dramatically interesting city in Europe. Three nights though, I will admit, is perhaps just one too long. Were we to revisit, it would be for just two + with a specific reason to be there; say the Biennale or one day perhaps, a visit to the Opera or something fabulous like that. And without a doubt, any future visits will be out of season. It’s a place with a sense that, unless you could magically remove all the tourists (+ we were blessed to be there without that many in July this year as Europe scrambles to recover from the pandemic) needs to be experienced intimately. Venice, were it a verb, is a moment in life to immerse yourself in the depth of it’s charm, a moment to savour as privately as possible.

The HAUTE so FABULOUS Venice List

HOTELS // AMAN // Hotel Danieli // Hotel Londra Palace // San Marco Suite 755 // Belmond Hotel Cipriani // San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice // Cima Rosa

ART // The Peggy Guggenheim Collection // Fondazione Prada // Palazzo Grassi // Pinault Collection: Punta Della Dogana // Victoria Miro // Ca’ Pesaro // Grassi Palace // Scuola Grande di San Rocco // Building Bridges by Lorenzo Quinn //

THINGS TO SEE + EXPERIENCE // Wander Saint Marco Square // Visit Doge’s Palace // Enter Saint Mark’s Basilica // Take a trip to the Murano Glass Factory // Look up the history of Bridge of Sighs (people love Rialto Bridge but I much much preferred this tiny bridge + it’s history) // Take a water taxi to San Giorgio Maggiore // Climb the Campanile di San Marco //

WINE + DINE // Date night at Harry’s Bar // Dine in old-fashioned Venetian mode at Locanda Cipriani // Treat yourself to a fancy lunch at Osteria Boccardoro // Chic Cocktails at the AMAN //

Great New Reads, August 2021

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What's Hot on My Bookshelf, August 2021

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‘EMPIRE OF PAIN’ BY PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE

The Sackler name adorns the walls of many storied institutions – Harvard; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Oxford; the Louvre. They are one of the richest families in the world, known for their lavish donations in the arts and the sciences. The source of the family fortune was vague, however, until it emerged that the Sacklers were responsible for making and marketing Oxycontin, a blockbuster painkiller that was a catalyst for the opioid crisis – an international epidemic of drug addiction which has killed nearly half a million people.

In this masterpiece of narrative reporting and writing, Patrick Radden Keefe exhaustively documents the jaw-dropping and ferociously compelling reality. Empire of Pain is the story of a dynasty: a parable of 21st century greed.

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‘ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS’ BY OCEAN VUONG

International movie star meets the beautiful son of a millionaire. Their kisses write headlines and their fights break the internet. Nobody needs to know it's not real.

Win knows that Hollywood demands perfection - especially from a woman of colour.

Leo just wants to enjoy life, and shift press attention away from his dysfunctional family.

Together they control the narrative.

Except this time, on the shores of Saint-Tropez, Leo is hiding a secret that is about to send Win's world spinning. Now everyone's dream couple must confront the messy reality of their relationship. Just as they're starting to realise that they might actually be falling in love...

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‘SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE’ BY Tia Williams

Eva Mercy is a single mother and bestselling erotica writer who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning novelist, who, to everyone's surprise, shows up unexpectedly in New York.

When Shane and Eva meet at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but also the eyebrows of the Black literati. What no one knows is that fifteen years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. While they may be pretending not to know each other, they can't deny their chemistry - or the fact that they've been secretly writing to each other in their books through the years.

Over the next seven days, amidst a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect - but Eva's wary of the man who broke her heart, and wants him out of the city so her life can return to normal. Before Shane disappears though, she needs a few questions answered . . .

Shop this title HERE

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‘WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? CONVERSATIONS ON TRAUMA, RESILIENCE + HEALING’ BY BRUCE D PERRY + OPRAH WINFREY

Through wide-ranging and often deeply personal conversation, Oprah Winfrey and Dr Perry explore how what happens to us in early childhood – both good and bad - influences the people we become. They challenge us to shift from focusing on 'What’s wrong with you?' or 'Why are you behaving that way?' to asking 'What happened to you?'. This simple change in perspective can open up a new and hopeful understanding for millions about why we do the things we do, why we are the way we are, providing a road map for repairing relationships, overcoming what seems insurmountable, and ultimately living better and more fulfilling lives.

Many of us experience adversity and trauma during childhood that has lasting impact on our physical and emotional health. And as we’re beginning to understand, we are more sensitive to developmental trauma as children than we are as adults. ‘What happened to us’ in childhood is a powerful predictor of our risk for physical and mental health problems down the road, and offers scientific insights into the patterns of behaviours so many struggle to understand.

A survivor of multiple childhood challenges herself, Oprah Winfrey shares portions of her own harrowing experiences because she understands the vulnerability that comes from facing trauma at a young age. Throughout her career, Oprah has teamed up with Dr Bruce Perry, one of the world’s leading experts on childhood trauma. He has treated thousands of children, youth, and adults and has been called on for decades to support individuals and communities following high-profile traumatic events. Now, Oprah joins forces with Dr Perry to marry the power of storytelling with the science and clinical experience to better understand and overcome the effects of trauma.

In conversation throughout the book, the two focus on understanding people, behaviour, and ourselves in the context of personal experiences. They remove blame and self-shaming, and open up a space for healing and understanding. It’s a subtle but profound shift in our approach to trauma, and it’s one that allows us to understand our pasts in order to clear a path to our future - opening the door to resilience and healing in a proven, powerful way.

Grounded in the latest brain science and brought to life through compelling narratives, this book shines a light on a much-needed path to recovery – showing us our incredible capacity to transform after adversity.

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‘THE CHIEF WITNESS’ BY SAYRAGUL SAUTBAY ALEXANDRA CAVELIUS

Born in China’s north-western province, Sayragul Sauytbay trained as a doctor before being appointed a senior civil servant. But her life was upended when the Chinese authorities incarcerated her. Her crime: being Kazakh, one of China’s ethnic minorities. 

The north-western province borders the largest number of foreign nations and is the point in China that is the closest to Europe. In recent years it has become home to over 1,200 penal camps ― modern-day gulags that are estimated to house three million members of the Kazakh and Uyghur minorities. Imprisoned solely due to their ethnicity, inmates are subjected to relentless punishment and torture, including being beaten, raped, and used as subjects for medical experiments. The camps represent the greatest systematic incarceration of an entire people since the Third Reich.

In prison, Sauytbay was put to work teaching Chinese language, culture, and politics, in the course of which she gained access to secret information that revealed Beijing’s long-term plans to undermine not only its minorities, but democracies around the world. Upon her escape to Europe she was reunited with her family, but still lives under the constant threat of reprisal. This rare testimony from the biggest surveillance state in the world reveals not only the full, frightening scope of China’s tyrannical ambitions, but also the resilience and courage of its author.

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‘THE ECHO CHAMBER’ BY JOHN BOYNE

What a thing of wonder a mobile phone is. Six ounces of metal, glass and plastic, fashioned into a sleek, shiny, precious object. At once, a gateway to other worlds - and a treacherous weapon in the hands of the unwary, the unwitting, the inept.

The Cleverley family live a gilded life, little realising how precarious their privilege is, just one tweet away from disaster. George, the patriarch, is a stalwart of television interviewing, a 'national treasure' (his words), his wife Beverley, a celebrated novelist (although not as celebrated as she would like), and their children, Nelson, Elizabeth, Achilles, various degrees of catastrophe waiting to happen.

Together they will go on a journey of discovery through the Hogarthian jungle of the modern living where past presumptions count for nothing and carefully curated reputations can be destroyed in an instant. Along the way they will learn how volatile, how outraged, how unforgiving the world can be when you step from the proscribed path.

Powered by John Boyne's characteristic humour and razor-sharp observation, The Echo Chamber is a satiric helter skelter, a dizzying downward spiral of action and consequence, poised somewhere between farce, absurdity and oblivion. To err is maybe to be human but to really foul things up you only need a phone.

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‘THE PAPER PALACE’ BY MIRANDA COWLEY HELLER

Before anyone else is awake, on a perfect August morning, Elle Bishop heads out for a swim in the glorious freshwater pond below 'The Paper Palace' -- the gently decaying summer camp in the back woods of Cape Cod where her family has spent every summer for generations. As she passes the house, Elle glances through the screen porch at the uncleared table from the dinner the previous evening; empty wine glasses, candle wax on the tablecloth, echoes of laughter of family and friends. Then she dives beneath the surface of the freezing water to the shocking memory of the sudden passionate encounter she had the night before, up against the wall behind the house, as her husband and mother chatted to the guests inside.

So begins a story that unfolds over twenty-four hours and across fifty years, as decades of family legacies, love, lies, secrets, and one unspeakable incident in her childhood lead Elle to the precipice of a life-changing decision. Over the next twenty-four hours, Elle will have to decide between the world she has made with her much-loved husband, Peter, and the life she imagined would be hers with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn't forever changed the course of their lives.

Tender yet devastating, The Paper Palace is a masterful novel that brilliantly illuminates the tensions between desire and safety; the legacy of tragedy, and the crimes and misdemeanours of families.

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Kate Prince, Ancient + Brave Co-Founder ; The Interview

Ancient + Brave is a brand I’ve been using for quite some time. I’m not a nutritionist or dietician but what I do know is as we age - more specifically around 30 - our body slowly starts producing less collagen which naturally makes the skin become thinner, drier + less elastic. And while protection is never the aim, nor is stopping the ageing process, I’m a big believer in certain things that WORK. And so, on my personal journey to finding a collagen supplement that wasn’t bulked with nasty toxins + unnecessary fillers, I found - and fell very much in love with - Ancient + Brave, a female-founded company that focuses on feeling good from the inside out. Here I speak with the brand’s co-founder Kate Prince about her journey thus far in the wellness world, her ups + downs + what her philosophy is on ageing gracefully..

HSF - Kate, Ancient + Brave is hands down one of the brands I’ve found myself quickly (+ gladly) addicted to in my own wellness practices. How did it all start + what brought you into the wellness space?

KP - I previously worked as a media lawyer, working on many TV programs from reality to documentaries. It felt like time for a change, so I started a tea company called Prince & Sons Tea which can be found at hotels such as The Newt and The Pig and we now export around the world. This started my passion for products, brand and formulation. Products should provide balance - from the ritual of opening beautiful packaging, to enjoying amazing ingredients which are not only good for you but taste delicious as well. As I learnt more about nutrition I realised that there is a compromise with many of the wellness blends and protein powders found on the market - many are in plastic containers and you really need to take them as a shot or in a smoothie to hide their challenging taste. We knew we could offer something different and do it better and so, Ancient + Brave was born and is designed to make lifestyle and wellness strategies, such as keto, paleo, exercise and intermittent fasting, simple and effective.

HSF - The brand’s core philosophy revolves around lifestyle choices + fasting strategies, can you take us into that at a deeper level + what that means on a daily basis for those wanting to understand more about the Brave Method..

KP - Whilst using our products alone and in combinations can support specific strategies. While many wellness strategies leave you feeling tired, hungry and sluggish, our Brave Method is designed to benefit you with key nutrition and sustenance when you need it most. Whatever your goal is - stress resilience, immunity support, ketogenics there are products to help you smoothly overcome motivational pitfalls, side-step progress plateaus, support energy and metabolism to easily achieve your goals. The Brave Method cleverly works alongside many of these wellness strategies often making the experience more achievable and empowering.

HSF - How can people use the products in a more self-directed way? Say for those who don’t wish to directly follow intermittently fasting as a rule?

KP - All the products support a whole variety of concerns so not just fasting but those who wish to nourish their skin from within, supplementing a vegan diet, aid recovery from sports injuries, there is an enormous list. We’ve consciously made all the products either completely odourless and tasteless (and therefore easy to add to your chosen drinks and food) or with delicious ingredients that make them a joy to incorporate into your daily rituals.

HSF - How does the sourcing process unfold at Ancient + Brave for specific ingredients?

KP - I absolutely love developing new products and sourcing organic, innovative ingredients. We work with suppliers all over the world to bring together the best ingredients we can find. It's obviously crucial that our products are potent and efficacious so we are really rigorous in our testing and developing phase, it takes such a long time!

HSF - At Ancient + Brave, how do you practice sustainability + continue to ensure you’re always progressing in terms of conscious partnering + your commitment to a better environmental practices?

KP - We regularly go through every aspect of the business and question whether we can do better for the planet. This has meant sourcing better ingredients, packaging and even simplifying our website so it takes less loading time. We also have dedicated environmental officers who continually work together to lower our impact. We’ve partnered up with 1% For the Planet, this is where we donate 1% of every purchase to our chosen charities. We have dedicated a further 1% for charities that specifically help communities to thrive.

HSF - As a female founded company, what challenges have you overcome in the journey thus far?

KP - I read a shocking statistic recently that only 1% of venture capital goes to female founded businesses. There is still such a long way to go for female founded businesses. I have to say that I’ve had nothing but incredible support from other female founders. It’s a very generous community. I don’t fear competition and really love collaborating with other female entrepreneurs.

HSF - What has been the most important piece of advice you’ve received?

KP - Mainly, I think the advice to stay true to your values is the most important. I’m very fortunate to have Renee Elliot, founder of Planet Organic, as a mentor. She’s wonderfully wise, but I love one of her sayings which is don’t overestimate what you can do in a day but don’t underestimate what you can do in a year.

HSF - Being in the wellness space + not to mention, living in a fast-paced world that can feel so overwhelming at times, how do you find balance in your days?

KP - I find the best way to find balance is to start my day incredibly early, I am a complete morning person and love being awake before everyone else. I can often be found in the Ashdown Forest running with my dogs as the sun comes up. I have a beautiful cedar wood, Swedish hot tub which I absolutely love. Next on my wish list is an infrared sauna! My meditation is practicing the drums, albeit quite badly.

HSF - What are your biggest tips on staying healthy?

KP - Concentrating on the basics - drinking lots of water and getting enough sleep – although this is easier said than done with a business, two sons, three dogs and five chickens! I really believe in the healing power of being in nature. We recommend various ancestral rewilding techniques through the Brave Lifestyle; I love walking barefoot and wild swimming. Since lockdown I’ve really got into the classes on Peloton and have a few favourite instructors.

HSF - Do you have a morning + night time routine?

KP - I start everyday with the same ritual of Cacao + Collagen with added True Collagen. I don’t wear a lot of makeup but do really look after my skin. I adore AMLY products and use their products everyday – I have their Exfoliant, Face Mist, Serum all of which are a joy to use.

HSF - On beauty + wellness in general I find it so destructive that women have been sold the idea of “beauty” being something elite. There’s a false sense of necessity in it to ensure one’s success in life; something you can attain in the next procedure or blow-dry, moisturiser or mask. I guess so much of the industry has been all about the aesthetic for far too long. I love seeing this shifting toward an importance around actually feeling good + living healthily though. Beauty from the inside out I guess. I really admire brands that prioritise wellness as a form of beauty. Thank you for being part of that for women.Do you see people’s mentality shifting when it comes to the value of overall well-being? Is that a driving force behind Ancient + Brave or something that just naturally results in what you do?

KP - Thanks so much Rebecca.

I really admire Carla Oates, the Beauty Chef. She was one of the early pioneers of championing beauty from within. I have always been very conscious of what products I consume and so there was absolutely no question of ensuring that our products were ethically sourced, environmentally sustainable and 100% natural. We talk about our products empowering your body, activating your brain and nourishing your beauty - it’s a balance of these three elements that are working together from the inside out.

HSF - What are your thoughts on ageing gracefully?

KP - Yes! Absolutely I am all for ageing gracefully. Longevity is so important to us all – I’ve always been passionate about choosing natural and organic products for myself and it was one of the [key focuses/driving force] when I started Ancient + Brave. I like to think I’ll age a little disgracefully too. I feel I have some pink hair and tattoos in me yet…

HSF - What has been your greatest challenge to date + how have you dealt with it?

KP - Personally, I put myself through the Hoffman Process ten years ago. It’s an exceptionally intense experience but it made me completely re-evaluate my life, allowed me to support my vision and made me the person I am today. Professionally, Brexit! It has been extremely challenging. We’re out the other side of it now and have solved a lot of the problems it created but it has been a very frustrating process, to say the least.

HSF - And your proudest moment?

KP - We’ve just submitted our application to become a B Corp, which is not a process you go through lightly. It may sound dry but creating our environmental, social and governance policy makes me enormously proud. We are constantly having to make business decisions both big and small but sticking to our ethics and values means we can grow the business knowing we are doing things the right way and not foregoing those principles.

HSF - What are some of your unfulfilled ambitions?

KP - We have some brilliant new products in development, which we’ll be launching later this year, with more planned for the future. We’ve sourced some incredible, innovative ingredients; iodine from algae in Iceland, minerals from the pristine waters off the Irish coast. Creating efficacious, potent and sustainable formulas will always be the passion at the heart of the brand and so I’m really excited to launch these and continue to develop our offering.

HSF - And lastly Kate, what’s on the horizon for Ancient + Brave?

KP - We’re at an incredibly exciting stage, I am really excited to continue to grow the team. It is very inspiring to work with such a talented group of people - we are a 100% female team so far!

Shop Ancient + Brave here // A N C I E N T A N D B R A V E . E A R T H

And click through for two of my favourite recipes using Ancient + brave // True MCT and Collagen (Keto) Energy Balls + My own go-to morning smoothie (on repeat no matter where I am)

Investment Wellness + Beauty Tools I Love

Working from home has always been the norm for me being self employed, but doing just about everything else at home this past 18 months has, like for us all, become slightly tiresome + a little repetitive. I’m definitely not complaining one bit as it’s very much a first-world problem (I’m in no way discounting how blessed I am to have somewhere safe to call home) but I guess it had become more + more important to ensure we’d been doing all the nice little things possible to make the whole experience a little brighter + lighter. While I’m not exactly the girl who has a million things in my social diary as lockdown slowly lifts - book me dinner with friends + get me home by 11 + I’m a happy lady. Apart from restaurants + cute weekend brunches though, one thing I’m definitely excited to have back in our lives is the ability to book in for a facial (I literally booked in with my facialist on her first day back) or a major ‘beat-the-crap-out-of-those-shoulder-knots” massage.. now that’s what I call LIT!! Totally my jam.

However, in spending so much time at home through it all, it’s been pretty cool to see what we CAN do in terms of our beauty routines + what treatments, I for one, will definitely continue to enjoy at home which includes some of the beauty tools I’ve invested in + used + truly love. Here today I’m talking about the investment beauty + wellness tools that, if you’re in the market for something new or uplifting, I absolutely recommend.

H I G H E R D O S E S A U N A B L A N K E T

I’d been wanting to try the Higher Dose at-home Sauna Blanket for a while + in December I took the leap to buy it. It’s basically a sleeping bag/blanket that acts as a sauna, the benefits of which are on par with an in-person session in an infrared sauna. I’m someone who LOVES to get a good sweat on, whether working out or doing Bikram (I get the reddest red face of.all.time - I’m an over-heater if ever you met one). I love the feeling of toxic release. It feels like a tonic to me. So with Higher Dose, it’s super simple, all you do is set up where you want to do it (always ensuring the wire isn’t under the blanket), let it heat for 10 minutes + then enjoy the time to relax, read (if you’re keeping your arms out of the blanket itself), watch a movie or, like I sometimes do, lay in the dark with a chic R O A D S candle lit + listen to a meditation // audiobook // podcast.

The benefits of Higher Dose are pretty incredible + as I’m not a healthcare professional of any sort, I share only my own experience - for me it’s been things like better sleep, increased mood + a lift in my energy levels as I find the time I spend in the blanket entirely relaxing that I absolutely see a boost in my energy the day after which is of course helped by the better sleep the blanket encourages.

SHOP at HIGHERDOSE.COM + use my personalised discount code HAUTE75 for $/€75 off your purchase..

M A N U C U R I S T

Next up is a new best friend to my nails. Manucurist is the BOMB!! I love it. I feel clean + fresh when I have my nails done + I’d been missed having the luxury of a nice manicure. However, since I tried Manucurist I’m all about my at-home DIY job. It’s super quick, so effective + fabulously glossy with no mess. It takes just about 8 minutes in total too so it’s perfect for while I’m on a (non-video) call or sitting at my desk listening to something. You can read all about it at Manucurist.com but basically it’s the first ‘clean’ non-toxic gel polish on the market so it’s also a super healthy option for your nails + I’ve been using it for a few months now + can attest to the fact that it doesn’t peel any layers of your nails or leave you with chipped varnish, in fact it lasts about 10 days; no joke.

SHOP at M A N U R C U R I S T . C O M

C E L L U M A

Like many big investment pieces, I do a lot of research into which one I really want to go with, always staying clear of or at least being aware of the many fads that storm their way through IG + my at-home LED ‘mask’ was definitely one I was super cautious about. With so many on the market I was unsure which weren’t just a trend + I also really wanted one that was FDA approved (be aware that most aren’t). So, as with all things skin related I asked my facialist Dawn, the founder of Floraison, which mask she would recommend. Enter Celluma Face LED. This isn’t a traditional ‘mask’ so-to-speak - not like the ones you typically see on IG these days, but rather a wrap which, with it’s flexibility means it can actually be used on many parts of the body like arms, legs, or the chest + neck area. LED light therapy has been around for a long time but in recent years, you’ve most likely seen how it’s been zapped up by the beauty industry + made into a highly commercial trend of sorts. However, what isn’t a quick trend is the medical grade technology of Celluma’s scientifically proven ability to provide the compromised cells in our skin the opportunity for tissue repair, an increase in micro-circulation + decreased inflammation which together, support the skin in it’s natural ability to look + feel healthy. And who’s not into that. With two settings, the Celluma is multifaceted + allows for the treatment of wrinkles + acne at a more topical level, while at a more muscular level, the management of pain + deeper healing. The Celluma isn’t just any ‘mask’, it’s a medical grade experience at home.

If you’ve been toying with the idea of an at-home LED mask, I absolutely recommend the Celluma as a brand + would propose you speak with Dawn about it directly if you’re considering investing.

SHOP at F L O R A I S O N . I E

D E R M A F L A S H

Working as an effective exfoliation procedure, dermaplaning is one of the hot topics on the agenda of beauty seekers and aestheticians alike. Short + sweet, the procedure is very simple with endless results. DERMAFLASH allows for the ability to do derma planing at home safely; derma planing consists of a sterile surgical blade which gently “shaves” off the surface of the skin in order to remove all excess dead skin + peach fuzz hair around the face. 

Again another thing I love to get done in normal times when getting a facial, it was suddenly no longer an option during lockdown so I thought I’d try this + I’ve not looked back. It’s not for everyone but I love the results. So easy to use + with very little way to do it ‘wrong’ (make sure to watch the videos on the Dermaflash website here though to ensure full safety) or harm your skin, it’s a really good investment if you’re looking to continue your dermaplaning journey at home. I love it.

SHOP at C U L T B E A U T Y . C O M

F A C E G Y M P R O T O O L

I’ve had my FaceGym Pro Tool for a long time now + absolutely love it.

The whole idea behind FaceGym is genius. It’s that, just like we workout our bodies, so should we approach the muscles in our face the same way. It was founded by Inge Theron who once worked for the Financial Times as one of their Wellness, Beauty + Spa writers where she shared her tried + tested reviews of endless amounts of beauty + wellness retreats, procedures + treatments in her column, ‘Chronicles of a Spa Junkie’ until one particular face-lifting procedure went wrong + left her house bound. She then sought to find the most organic way of working-out + lifting the face + so, FaceGym was born.

The brand now has 13 studios across the UK + US territories + is honestly such a fun way to get a facial in when you can get to a physical location.. However when at home or if you can’t get to one in person, their FaceGym Pro Tool, created in partnership with Xtreem Pulse is a powerful + non-invasive addition to any any-home skincare routine; it simply uses electrical pulses to stimulate your muscles just like we do our body when we workout. I use mine several days or nights a week alongside my Gua Sha routine + genuinely adore it for taking the tightening + toning in the face to another level. I see + feel a real difference with this in my weekly routine.

SHOP at F A C E G Y M . C O M

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Designer Spotlight; Eliurpí

ELIURPÍ is a hat lovers everything come to life. An aesthetic addict’s fantasy made real in the everyday. And perhaps quite fitting to this summer’s heightened desires (if not urgency) to do nothing but sit by a pool in the heat, it’s exactly the reason you book a flight to the South of France or the Amalfi Coast right now so you can revel in the elegance of a life lived ELIURPÍ style. With a vision to ensure the romanticism of artisanal craftsmanship continued to be celebrated + respected at it’s core, ELIURPÍ was founded in 2010 by designer Elisabet Urpi + her partner + photographer Nacho Umpiérrez, ELIURPÍ who began with a small studio in Carrer de Petritxol, Barcelona + have grown to be one of those brands that, for those who know.. well IKYK, amirite?

Creatively, the brand is of genius standards having grown slowly but steadily over the past decade with decidedly brilliant collaborations with the likes of William Morris fabrics + a collection with Tara Jarmon. Their first store opened in Barcelona in 2013 with a slew of achievements, that for a small, considered brand only come for those who truly have it. Stockists include Browns, Harrods, Land Crawford Shanghai + Hong Kong, Ilum in Copenhagen, not forgetting many others across Japan, Russia, Greece, France, Italy + Indonesia.

With it’s origins in millinery - the brand has since become more accessories focused with bags now a part of the collections - each piece is created to shield the wearer from the sun yet designed to attract attention, it seems obvious to say that a core value for the brand might be that the wider the brim the more distinctive the statement; something I am all about when it comes to an investment hat of this calibre. And for the first time, this season sees the brand design a collection of dresses - that for those who love to feel wow’d + wow, well there’s little else to say, let’s let ELIURPÍ do the talking. See the SS/21 collection below.

Shop at E L I U R P Í . C O M

ALL IMAGES VIA ELIURPI

Sarah Hoover's NYC Hotlist

As if we needed more reason to spend time in NYC but hey, here’s the city’s coolest lady’s hotlist of the city’s best places for just about every situation. Welcome to Sarah Hoover’s New York City favourites:

Way to spend a day alone? // Barrys Bootcamp, pedicure, museum wandering!

Best cocktail spot? // The Crosby Hotel Bar

Breakfast? // Balthazar

Brunch? // American Bar

Dinner? // Milos

Cocktail? // Vodka martini up with extra olives on the side

Date night spot? // Jua 

Girls night on the town? // Indochine forever

Museum? // The Met, Centre Pompidou, the Prado

Gallery? // Gagosian! But so many others, too. Ropac, Paula Cooper, Salon94, Spruth Magers

Artist? // Cecily Brown

Exercise class? // The Limit Fit, Barrys Bootcamp

Local fashion designer? // Markarian

Hotel? // The Carlyle

Hidden gem? // My amazing neighborhood pizza spot, Emporio

Weekend escape? // Parrot Cay

To find out more about Sarah, read the HSF x Sarah Hoover Interview here

Dervla Louli Musgrave, Founder of Compare Retreats

As the founder + Editor-in-chief of CompareRetreats.com, a luxury well-being retreat discovery platform for the world’s leading wellness destinations, Dervla Louli Musgrave is a lady on a mission to bring much needed transparency to the wellness travel industry. With her impeccable style + otherworldly travels the Irish-born, Hong Kong based entrepreneur has created not only her dream job but a much needed safe, reliable + those seeking their escape + the next step on their inward journey.

Here Dervla speaks about her career + shifting gears, her own wellness routines + what’s next on her list once international travel resumes..

HSF - Dervla, firstly if you would, tell us a little about yourself + how have you been over the past year of crazy changes through the pandemic?

DLM - I’m an Egyptian Irish wellness travel entrepreneur + lifestyle editor based between Hong Kong + Ireland. I’ve worked for Tatler, contribute to Vogue + love geeking out about digital + print content creation. I founded CompareRetreats.com in 2017 to help people find + book the best tried, tested + trusted wellness retreats around the world + have three gorgeous rescue puppies Roxy, Clive + Chloé.

My initial reaction to the pandemic was to stress bake + I started a botanical baking business in Hong Kong. Once the initial shock wore off I made important + difficult business decisions to ensure CompareRetreats.com would survive the pandemic + thrive once travel resumes. I came to Ireland for Christmas to see my parents + have been here ever since, it’s been special to have so much time at home with family + friends.

HSF - What originally attracted you to Hong Kong as a city?

DLM - It’s small, dense, easy to navigate + is extremely dynamic + fast. I had just graduated from Trinity with a masters of finance + wanted to work for HSBC in Hong Kong but ended up pursuing publishing once I arrived. It’s a vibrant city full of hikes, beaches, secret islands + a perfect hub from which to explore Asia. I love the mix of high rises, markets, positive people + the incredible food scene.

HSF - Prior to founding Compare Retreats, you had an inspiring career in publishing - what lessons did you take with you from that time?

DLM - In my opinion content now has to work harder than ever so keep that in mind when you’re creating it. Plan out how you can edit it for social, digital + print before you put pen to paper or pick up a camera. I think listening to feedback, constantly learning new skills + knowing when to move on if you’ve stopped learning are three useful lessons.

HSF - For those new to it’s concept, explain exactly what Compare Retreats is as a platform + what it offers wellness seekers..

DLM - CompareRetreats.com is a bible of the best five star wellness + fitness retreats around the world. Less than 1% of wellness retreats worldwide meet the criteria + my approach is quality over quantity. We offer exclusive benefits via our travel concierge + booking portal + in depth reviews by certified health + fitness professionals. The retreat collection + our clientele are global so we can always find a retreat that suits someone whether that’s a sleep retreat in Thailand, an Ayurveda getaway in India or a spa break in Ireland. I’ve personally vetted most of the retreats + each one offers something very special. We even have a wellness retreat in the wild for animal + nature lovers.

HSF - What are some of the things that must be present, values so to speak, when you choose a retreat to add to the platforms exclusive collection?

DLM - Each property in the collection is so unique so there’s no set criteria per se but in general it must be beautiful + comfortable with excellent wellness experts, customer service + facilities. The retreat programmes must be transformative too.

HSF - What has been the retreat you’ve most loved?

DLM - There are too many to count but Aro Ha, COMO Shambhala Estate, Amanoi, Nihi Sumba, Royal Mansour + Joali are some standout spots.

HSF - And the one highest on your bucket list?

DLM - I was supposed to go to India in 2020 but life had other plans so Vana + Ananda are both high on my list.

HSF - As a tech + wellness entrepreneur, how do you see the industry changing due to COVID; where do you see things settling for both retreat hosts + wellness lovers in search of their bliss..

DLM - I think it will come back stronger than ever, we just need to be patient. I do see a huge increase in travel insurance sales, reliance on independent travel experts + longer stays on the horizon. We have received enquiries every day since COVID hit so the demand is there + as soon as it’s safe to send our clients away they’ll be running to retreats.

HSF - In being your own boss, how do you manage a work/life balance? It can be all consuming at times, especially, I find, when we love what we do so much + it doesn’t feel like work..

DLM - I have an amazing small team who help me get through a lot of the work that comes with running CompareRetreats.com + I love writing + creating content so much it’s not work per se because it’s second nature to me now. I think the reason we work for ourselves is because we find joy in building our own dreams instead of someone else’s. So I would say I don’t balance my work and my life, I just go with the flow.

HSF - What does a day in your life look like typically?

DLM - I naturally wake up at around 7 or 8 do some daily affirmations in bed, kiss my husband, tell my dogs how wonderful they are, then some water + coffee and go outside for a stroll if it’s a nice day while checking emails, booking enquiries, Instagram or I’ll do a PT session with a trainer. I’m not into breakfast so I usually have some eggs + fruit around midday + do most conference calls, Zooms + meetings in the afternoon. You’ll then probably catch me scrolling through Net-a-Porter trying to navigate what to wear through Ireland’s ever changing temperatures before catching up with friends. I’m loving Sporty & Rich tracksuits + anything cosy by Varley at the moment. Most of my writing for publishing clients happens at night while I listen to the extended version of Intro by The XX on repeat. Playing the same track when I need to write tells my brain it’s work mode. Then it’s time for my evening skincare routine which includes Skinceuticals and Dr. Lara Devgan serums, Augustinus Bader cream, Sarah Chapman’s oil, Amanda Harrington tan + some Gua Sha massage. My skin changed in my thirties + I’m now vigilant about preventing acne + pigmentation. I put on some Olivia Von Halle pyjamas, journal affirmations Sonia Samtani has given me that month + put on a SLIP mask before reading a book + lights out.

HSF - Hopefully we’ll get back to traveling at some point in the near future.. what are some of your top tips to remain balanced when traveling?

DLM - Allow yourself to let loose + have fun (you’re on a holiday after all!) + just make sure to keep on top of your three or four most important wellness habits. For me that means staying hydrated, only eating when I’m hungry, getting enough sleep + getting outdoors in nature for a walk on a daily basis if I can.

If you’re on a wellness retreat your day will be laid out so just try to let your mind rest while the experts take you through your paces. If you feel a resistance towards the regime you’re on breathe through it + remember positive change is always uncomfortable but worth it. Look at a retreat like a mini hero journey with lessons to teach you about yourself along the way. If you’re resisting eliminating coffee for example it’s because you’re probably too dependant or attached to it, be gentle + kind with yourself at all times.

HSF - What will we always find in your check-in // hand luggage?

DLM - Clarins Rose Hip lip balm, some cashmere, BOSE noise-cancelling headphones, Chanel card holder, Smythson notebook, a Maison Michel sun hat if I’m going somewhere warm, my Macbook + Kindle. In my dreams my poodle would be in there too.

HSF - When not participating at an in-person retreat, how do you value wellness in your everyday life?

DLM - I think wellness is an inside job that you can get outside help for but you need to invest time + effort into it. I work on my body, mind + spirit a little bit every day + from what I’ve learned it all begins with loving yourself so that everyone around you gets the best version of you.

HSF - I call them my daily positive practices, those things you know you just simply aren’t your full self when you skip them. Do you have daily rituals do you swear by?

DLM - Here’s my daily wellness list that Sonia Samtani helped me develop. It used to be very military + now it’s a lot softer which is great. Be Happy, Have Fun, Eat Protein, Move, Journal, Rest. I love this list + it works for me because they’re invitations not orders.

HSF - We connected recently through DM’s on Instagram when I shared about my experience with an eating disorder. I consider those who have recovered to have a strength so deep it makes you somewhat unbreakable once you’re through it. How has your own experience with an eating disorder + recovering from it played a part in shaping you as a person, both personally + professionally?

DLM - For most of my teenage + adult life I struggled with unhealthy eating patterns + beliefs around food. It wasn’t until recently with help from two experts Muk and Sonia that I was able to get better physically + mentally. I’ve become more patient, hardworking + committed as a result both personally + professionally.

HSF - Can you share, if you’re comfortable, what tools you have found helpful in your journey back to health?

DLM - A great therapist, Sonia specialises in inner child healing, hypnotherapy, NLP + so much more. Hypnotherapy is my favourite form of ‘travel’ these days, even if it is into my own subconscious. A positive, fun, knowledgeable + experienced coach to help you with nutrition, my trainer Muk is the best. I journal affirmations at night, say them to myself in the morning + sometimes play them in the car or while I’m walking. Realising there is no quick fix, that it is daily work and that you’re worth putting time and effort into are great realisations. Headspace for meditations, an Apple Watch to make step tracking fun + MyFitnessPal for macro counting are in my arsenal.

HSF - In your own experience, at what point did you come to terms with the fact you needed to make recovery a priority?

DLM - When we decided we wanted to start a family.

HSF - For anyone on the fence or frightened to commit fully to their wellbeing, what would you say?

DLM - Spending time improving your body, mind + spirit is the greatest investment you’ll ever make. You’re worth it.

HSF - What freedoms has your own commitment afforded you?

DLM - I’m so much kinder to myself + enjoy life much more, my cortisol levels have dropped, my relationships have improved + I’m just much happier + lighter.

HSF - Thank you Dervla, I relate to this so much. On a lighter note, what is the last book you enjoyed?

DLM - American Dirt

HSF - And movie?

DLM - Promising Young Woman

HSF - Documentary?

DLM - Social Dilemma

HSF - TV show?

DLM - Lupin

HSF - Podcast?

DLM - The Good Glow episode with Claire Moore

HSF - What are some of your unfulfilled ambitions?

DLM - I’d like to publish a book of some kind one day

HSF - And lastly, Dervla, what is next for you + Compare Retreats?

DLM - We’re adding the best luxury wellness retreats + spa breaks in Ireland + the UK to the collection

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Follow Dervla @dervlalouli // Book your next wellness retreat at CompareRetreats.com

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Sarah Hoover, Director at Gagosian; The Interview

Sarah Hoover, a director at Gagosian since 2007 - one of the world’s most influential contemporary art galleries, is an art dealer, based in New York City. With a wonderfully sarcastic sense of humour you can’t help but fall for Hoover’s genius portrayal of her own life though her fabulously unfiltered Instagram account @sarahhoov. As she navigates the world with her son Guy + husband Tom Sachs, Hoover is a force to be reckoned with. Defying any roles society works hard to box us into as women, her strong + empowered storytelling conveys a sense of the badass woman she is, one that’s intellectually interested + interesting, hilarious + with just the right amount of self-deprecating humour she brings it all together in her breathtaking + impossibly beautiful collection of outfits + Chanel filled wardrobe.

Here she chats style philosophy, social media + daily routines..

HSF - What does a day in the life of Sarah Hoover look like?

SH - Different now than pre pandemic! I like to work out first thing, then shower + take time getting ready. Spend an hour or so hanging out with my son in the morning before he goes to school, then do correspondence + zoom calls + get them out of the way before lunch. I need a big chunk of time in the afternoons to write—three hours or so, half of which I waste procrastinating + suffering from extreme imposter syndrome, half of which I actually accomplish things. And then I like to hang out with my son between his dinner + bed time. He’s my favorite person. At night I have dinner with my husband most nights, + our best couple friends about half the time. I reserve at least one night a week for girlfriends—I’d reserve them all for girlfriends if I could!

HSF - It’s safe to say your style is a D R E A M. What is your perfect outfit? Like what makes you feel your best?

SH - I feel my best in short skirts + dresses because I like when my legs feel free! I hate being overly hot + as you may know I am an extreme overheater which I love to talk about constantly. It’s pretty sexy.

HSF - On the note of personal style, you’re the Queen of “when art + fashion collides” what is your style philosophy / how do you build out your wardrobe?

SH - My style philosophy is that trends don’t matter + you should wear things that make you feel comfortable + happy. I’ve always loved pastels + sparkles + matching looks. I indulge it! At night I love to feel sexy + wear all black, lots of leather + fitted looks, and I indulge that too. I’m not sure either vibe is “on trend” but I don’t really care.

HSF - Where do you find yourself most inspired? And by whom?

SH - When I’m reading really good fiction + really good poetry. Specifically Sylvia Plath, TS Elliot, Hemingway. I also love to see museum shows of beautiful + radical art.

HSF - To what do you attribute your success thus far?

SH - So much luck + good fortune that I don’t deserve. But also, trying to treat everyone with grace + kindness + going above and beyond with every task.

HSF - What upcoming exhibitions or emerging artists are currently catching your attention in terms of art?

SH - Adriana Varejao at Gagosian West 21st street will be beautiful!

HSF - And in fashion?

SH - Christopher John Rogers + his use of color. Rodarte + how they follow their imagination + inspirations.

HSF - Favourite established designer?

SH - Chanel

HSF - And someone more emerging?

SH - Markarian + Prabal Gurung

HSF - You’re one of the coolest people to follow on Instagram as a Mum, style icon + career lady. Your sharp sense of humour + incredibly articulate + smart manner defies the fatigued + repetitive nature of so many accounts these days. How do you switch off though? Do you find the pull of social media + always being turned on a challenge? Where do you find balance in doing it all?

SH - I definitely find the pull of social media to be hard to resist! But I think being mindful of doing things that bring true joy + inspiration, not things that are just rote habit, is super important—so if I’m just looking at social media + absorbing it but not creating content + creating thought expression that is fulfilling for me, that’s when it’s time to lock my phone away.

HSF - Do you have a morning + evening routine? Anything that you do every day without fail?

SH - I write in my journal first thing when I wake up. Sometimes it’s for five minutes, sometimes it’s for thirty, but I try to do it first thing every day. And I’m really into oral hygiene.

HSF - What was the last book you enjoyed?

SH - The Margot Affair and Stephanie Danler’s memoir, Stray, which is beyond beautiful writing

HSF - And film / TV show?

SH - I love Succession + can’t wait for it to come back. 

HSF - What are some of your unfulfilled ambitions?

SH - I want to write + publish lots more, both academic + fiction

HSF - And lastly Sarah, what’s next for you?

SH - I wrote a book last year that I hope will be published in 2022!

Follow Sarah via Instagram // @sarahhoov

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