Guest Edits
My Favorite Things
The second of nine children in a dynastic surfing family, Jonathan Paskowitz cut his own impressive line in the sport, winning, among many other titles, the world’s longboard championship in 1987. His accomplishments on the waves led to a successful career at the helm of the surf-adjacent brands Black Flys, an eyewear line; Lightning Bolt, a beachy clothing label; and Blood, a luxury surf shop on N.Y.C.’s Crosby Street. Beyond the retail space, Paskowitz, alongside AIR MAIL Co-Editor Graydon Carter, co-produced the documentary Surfwise, about his acclaimed family. And more recently, having moved to Paris seven years ago, he dove headlong into the metaverse by developing a blockchain-based authentication tool, called DNA. Herewith, the multi-hyphenate athlete—who, with his family, also started two nonprofits, Surfing 4 Peace and Surfers Healing—shares his top picks of the moment
My Favorite Things
Even if Laila Gohar’s name isn’t immediately familiar, you’ve likely come across photos of her cinematic creations. An established artist who uses food as her medium, Gohar is responsible for a spate of high-profile, experiential collaborations with luxury brands. Her specialty? Dreaming up otherworldly dining events—with the likes of LVMH, Tiffany & Co., Comme des Garçons, among others—in unusual, photogenic spots around the globe. Earlier this year, Gohar teamed up with her sister, Nadia, to launch Gohar World, “a tableware universe that embraces craft, time, tradition, and humor.” (Think: intricate chicken slippers, elegant adult bibs, silk lingerie for baguettes.) Gucci took note, inviting the siblings to launch a capsule collection for their Vault platform this summer. Herewith, she shares her summer shopping list
My Favorite Things
Igee Okafor, founder and editor in chief of Bond Official, identified the need for an online destination for men like himself, he notes, “with smart and ultramodern minds.” Through opinion pieces, interviews, and a podcast featuring a variety of perspectives, Okafor and his team showcase not only first-rate fashion and tastemakers, but also, he adds, inspiration about what it means to be a “courageous, liberated” gentleman. Okafor—a native of Lagos, Nigeria, who moved to N.Y.C. in 2013 to pursue a career in media—additionally oversees the lifestyle and menswear platform Very Igee Okafor. There, visitors can discover and shop a distilled version of its creator’s taste. Herewith, he offers up the items that have his attention this summer
My Favorite Things
Perched above the Mediterranean in the cliffs of Positano, Le Sirenuse hotel is one of those heavenly spots that lingers pleasantly in the mind. Maintaining the destination’s singular atmosphere is a labor of love for Carla Sersale, who, along with her husband, Antonio, and their family, run the Amalfi Coast destination with love and exacting standards. Patrons, in turn, come back for generations. And now anyone can bring a bit of that magic home, thanks to Sersale’s clothing-and-décor label, Emporio Sirenuse, which, celebrated for its colorful prints and breezy designs, “is inspired by the sights, sounds, and sunsets” of the hotel and its sublime setting. Herewith, she reveals the items that she loves most right now.
My Favorite Things
With the Wimbledon finals in full swing this weekend, our thoughts naturally turn courtside. And here to indulge us with a dose of tennis-centric style is David Shaftel, editor and co-founder of Racquet, the independent quarterly magazine celebrating tennis art, style, and culture. With ace design, a tongue-in-cheek throwback vibe, and a global perspective, we like to think it has all the right ingredients. And that worldview comes largely courtesy of Shaftel—who has lived and worked in New York, Trinidad, Mumbai, Phnom Penh, and London—bringing a distinctive voice not only to Racquet the magazine (and the 2020 book of the same name) but to his features for publications such as The New York Times, the Financial Times, and The Guardian. Herewith, he serves up his favorite items of the moment.
My Favorite Things
When shopping for summer staples, Maria Dueñas Jacobs asks herself three questions before checking out: “Is it easy? Is it comfortable? Is it chic?” Her process and criteria were mastered during a career as a magazine fashion editor, most recently serving as Elle’s accessories director. But those questions have become even more valuable these days as founder of the children’s brand Super Smalls, which specializes in—and, quite frankly, nails—sparkly, joyful gifts and accessories. Dueñas Jacobs, who likes to combine her love for all things “fun and kid-centric” with refined, ornate objects, says she derives the greatest inspiration from her three young daughters. Herewith, the entrepreneur shines a light on “my list as I gear up for the season!”
My Favorite Things
Anyone with more than a passing interest in interior design on social media is likely already familiar with Colin King’s styling oeuvre. Part of that success comes from his ability to imbue spaces with difficult-to-pinpoint dynamism—even when working in his preferred muted palette and without human subjects. This talent has led him to regularly contribute to publications such as Architectural Digest and T and collaborates with brands ranging from West Elm to Roman and Williams Guild. It’s only natural, then, that he’s just launched his own collection, inspired by Milan and Marrakech, with Beni Rugs. Herewith, King shares his favorite items for both home and body
My Favorite Things
With her elegant mien, bold style, and recognizable platinum bob, Linda Fargo has reigned as a paragon of the New York fashion world for decades. Her established tenure as S.V.P. and director of women’s fashion at Bergdorf Goodman showcases her inimitable knack for eyeing faraway trends and, in an impressive number of cases, setting them. Not surprisingly, the Midwestern native—who, as the spirit and muse of the Bergdorf brand, now has her own shop within, “which is like my fantasy closet of all my current season favorites”—also has peerless shopping insights. Herewith, Fargo shines a light on the top 12 pieces that have won her attention this summer.
My Favorite Things
When J.J. Martin, the founder of lifestyle brand La DoubleJ, moved from her native California to Milan more than 20 years ago, she brought with her both a sense of spirituality and a maximalist aesthetic. Ultimately those would both come to define the company that she later launched, in 2015, with the goal of encouraging “women to seek joy both inside and out.” In so doing, she relied on her curatorial eye and long-standing friendships with Milan’s leading creative minds, establishing immersive retail experiences and novel collaborations. Many of Martin’s devotees also borrow from her roadmap on how to live fully through spiritual practice. Herewith, the incurable optimist and tastemaker highlights her picks of the moment.
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