FALL/WINTER 2015COMPLIMENTARY

B IG LUXURYSMALL CARS

IRELAND’SDREAMIESTCASTLE

THE BEST WATCHES, GOLD AND DIAMONDS TO GIVE OR GET

THIS SEASON

KIESZAThe meteoric rise

of a pop queen

BY

Where to eat

Austin now in

HELI-SKI ING HEAVEN in

B.C.

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A G O L D E N M O M E N T E V E RY D AY

T H E N E W B I R K S M U S E ® R I B B O N C O L L E C T I O N

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A G O L D E N M O M E N T E V E RY D AY

T H E N E W B I R K S M U S E ® R I B B O N C O L L E C T I O N

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WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

Performance, audacity, precision: the Breitling Jet Team embodies the entire philosophy ofexcellence that has made Breitling the privileged partner of aviation. In 2015, the world’slargest professional civilian aerobatic display team performing in jets, sets off to conquer

America with a major tour featuring a string of stunning shows. To celebrate this event, Breitling has created a limitededition of the Chronomat 44 personalized in the colors of this exceptional team. Welcome to our world.

CHRONOMAT 44BREITLING JET TEAMAMERICAN TOUR

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WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

Performance, audacity, precision: the Breitling Jet Team embodies the entire philosophy ofexcellence that has made Breitling the privileged partner of aviation. In 2015, the world’slargest professional civilian aerobatic display team performing in jets, sets off to conquer

America with a major tour featuring a string of stunning shows. To celebrate this event, Breitling has created a limitededition of the Chronomat 44 personalized in the colors of this exceptional team. Welcome to our world.

CHRONOMAT 44BREITLING JET TEAMAMERICAN TOUR

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messika.com

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P O I S M O I C O L L E C T I O N

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P O I S M O I C O L L E C T I O N

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BAMBOO COLLECTION

FINE JEWELLERY

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BAMBOO COLLECTION

FINE JEWELLERY

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CLIENT: VAN CLEEF & ARPELS

JOB NO.: 10341374-AA

SPACE UNIT: PGB 4C (B: 9.25” W x 11.125” H; T: 9” W x 10.875” H; L: 8.5” W x 10.375” H)

PUBLICATION: 1879 BIRKS MAGAZINE - FALL/WINTER

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PRINTED AT 100%

1  dag  hammarskjold  plazanew  york,  ny  10017-­2205212.832.3800www.avrettfreeginsberg.com

Captivating Vintage AlhambraNecklaces, yellow gold, white mother-of-pearl, carnelian.

Haute Joaillerie, place Vendôme since 1906

Visit our online boutique at vancleefarpels.com - 877-VAN-CLEEF

IT ’S WITH MUCH PRIDE that we welcome you to the second edition of our magazine—our fall and winter issue. All of us at Birks and Mayors are looking forward to a festive time, starting with September’s Toronto International Film Festival (which Birks sponsors) and the upcoming open-ing of our renovated stores. If you’re in the neigh-bourhood, please be sure to drop by Sherway Gardens in Toronto, Carrefour Laval in Montreal and the Galleria in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to

see the fresh new design and take part in our enhanced shopping experience. We’ll kick o� the Toronto International Film Festival in a grand style—

by debuting a 15-carat diamond from the Diavik mine in the Northwest Territories. �is breathtaking gem is the largest round, brilliant diamond to be cut from a stone mined in Canada. We’ll have the pleasure of unveiling it during the festival at our �agship Bloor Street store, and it will travel to our other stores until a lucky customer falls in love and takes it home. As part of our commitment to social responsibility, this diamond is also an ethical stunner. All of our Birks engagement rings are made with Canadian diamonds that can be traced to their mine of origin, guaranteeing their con-�ict-free provenance.

Speaking of Canadian gems, this magazine celebrates our partnership with Kiesza, the talented pop star who was recently appointed a Birks brand

JE AN C H R ISTOPH E B É DOSPRES IDENT AND CEO, B IRKS GROUP INC.

1 3

Measuring 15.85 mm, our 15-carat gem is the largest round, brilliant diamond

cut from a stone mined in Canada

ambassador. Following the success of her single “Hideaway,” Kiesza has gath-ered a huge fan base around the world. We’re fortunate to have an interview with Kiesza in this issue and we’re lucky to work with her to promote our latest silver jewellery line, Birks Rock & Pearl. She’s the perfect ambassador for the brand. �e Rock & Pearl collection is available at Birks and will be at select Mayors locations starting in the fall. We also invite you to visit Birks.com to peruse and shop the collection.

In other jewellery news, this season marks the introduction of our the Birks Muse Ribbon collection—you’ll get a preview of some of the great pieces from the line in “Solid Gold” (page 38). Finally, we wanted to nod to another golden moment, this one dating back awhile. Our archive rooms at Birks are �lled with images and stories from decades past, and we wanted to share one of these precious moments with you. We tell the story of Princess Grace of Monaco (page 78), on a visit to Montreal in 1967. �ere, she received a little something from Rainier, her Prince Charming.

On this note, I wish you a very happy fall and a delightful holiday season.

A NOTE FROM OUR CEO

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Upfront

20WHO’S WEARING WHAT

A greatest hits of plunging pendants, shoulder-dusting tassels and chic chandelier gems

22THE NEWS

A chic spin on mobile technology, sporty watches with style and the latest colourful gems from Birks

24THE BUZZ

From beekeeping on Montreal roo� ops to shining a spotlight on the best in Canadian � lm, a look at

what we’ve been up to

28THE HOT L IST

If it’s cool, it’s hot: a stunning Swiss hideaway, a Buenos Aires mixmaster and a mind-blowing

museum in Shanghai

30MASTERS AT WORK

Italian jeweller Roberto Coin knows all about tradition. But he’s keeping his eye on the future

Jewel ler y & Timepieces

35BELOW THE SURFACE

With these nine ingeniously cra� ed underwater watches, anyone can dive deep

38SOLID GOLD

� e precious metal is all the rage. Add some � ash to your look and watch your style points soar

43DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

� ey’re delicate, intricate and full of nature-inspired details. Presenting our favourite

new designs

Aesthete

48THE WHITE ATTITUDE� e once summer-only shade has become a year-round hue. Check out the season’s brightest lights

50SMALL LUXURIESHow to shrink your footprint and grow your automotive style

54KIESZAAs the pop sensation’s career skyrockets, she pauses to dish on the style she’s made her own

Compass

58MY LOS ANGELESFrom the Sunset Strip to Malibu, celebrity stylist Kemal Harris shares her Hollywood hotspots

62FANTASY IRELANDNinety minutes from Dublin, Bally� n Demesne delivers a dreamy escape from the modern world

66SLEEPING GIANTLuxury has made its way to the mountain. But a trip to Revelstoke, B.C., is really about the skiing

Palate

70LOSE YOUR HEART L IKE A LOCAL IN AUSTINRenowned sommelier Vilma Mazaite leads a private tour of her beloved Texas haunts

74BYBLOS BETS ON MIAMIToronto’s popular Mediterranean outpost expands into sunny South Beach

Final Cut

78A ROYAL GIFT FOR PRINCESS GRACEOn a 1967 Montreal trip, a surprise for Grace Kelly a� er her husband visits Birks’s � agship store

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CONTENTS

F a l l / Wi n t e r 2 0 1 5

On the cover: Dance-pop star Kiesza, ambassador of the Birks Rock & Pearl collection.

Styling by Erica Wark; hair and makeup by Vanessa Jarman. � is page, from top:

Vince Noguchi; courtesy of Bally� n Demesne; Bu� Strickland, courtesy of laV

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FOR MOST OF US, FALL brings a desire to shop for the season’s latest must-haves, while the holidays make us dream of that perfect gi�—a special piece of jewellery, a timeless watch, a great bottle of a grand cru or an exotic trip with someone special. In this issue, we decided to bring all of these delights together. Of course, as jewellers, we want our readers to be dreaming of sparkling somethings, and we have found beautiful gems and timepieces to inspire your wildest fantasies.

One way is with our new Birks Salon Collection. A jewellery connois-seur’s dream, Birks Salon is an exclusive line featuring one-of-a-kind stones. �is includes the spectacular Floral Cascade necklace you see on this page. According to our stringent selection criteria, we pair only the �nest natural gems and diamonds with human ingenuity. You can discover the collection in select Birks locations starting this fall.

In this issue, we also want to inspire our epicurean readers with a gourmet tour of Austin, Texas, courtesy of sommelier Vilma Mazaite (page 70). We tour the coolest destinations in Los Angeles with House of Cards stylist Kemal Harris (page 58). For adventure-seekers, we visit the mountains of Revelstoke, British Columbia, to ski its sky-high slopes (page 66). We also take you on a visit to Byblos, Toronto restaurateur Charles Khabouth’s foray into the hop-ping Miami dining scene (page 74). If scuba-diving in the Caribbean gets

your heart beating faster, you’ll enjoy the underwater shoot featur-

ing our brands’ �nest diving time-pieces (page 35). And we invite you to

join us on a visit to the atelier of master jeweller Roberto Coin, who shares his secrets with us on

page 30. Based in Vicenza, Italy, Roberto tells us about the true meaning of passion and how it can shape one’s

life. He recounts why every piece of jewellery he designs includes a secret red ruby nestled invisibly on the inside “where it touches a woman’s

skin.” Rubies are, a�er all, a symbol of luck and positive change. As such, we think they should be on everyone’s holiday list this year.

I hope you enjoy this latest issue as much as we did creating it.

EVA HARTLING

Editorial Director and Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Birks Group

A NOTE FROM OUR EDITORIAL D IRECTOR

F a l l / Wi n t e r 2 0 1 5

Above: Birks Salon Collection’s Floral Cascade necklace in white gold, diamonds and 1,177 rubies

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ALISON McGILLFor this issue, McGill, editor-in-chief of Wedding-bells magazine, indulged her inner Lady Mary Crawley and lived like an aristocrat for a few glorious days at Bally� n Demesne (“Fantasy Ireland,” page 62), one of Ireland’s grand-est country house hotels. “From the moment you enter Bally� n’s 614-acre

MATTIA BALSAMINIBalsamini photographed master jeweller Roberto Coin (“� e Golden Touch,” page 30) in Vicenza, Italy. Born in the Italian city of Pordenone, Balsamini moved to Los Angeles in 2008, where he studied and worked as an assistant for various photographers, in-cluding David LaChapelle. Balsamini now moves

SARAH L ISSA writer and editor, Liss’s work has appeared in an array of publications in print and online, including � e Walrus, FLARE, FASHION, Maclean’s, � e Hairpin, Chatelaine and CBC Arts Online. She’s also the author of Army of Lovers, a book about the late artist Will Munro. While interviewing Kiesza

ROB F IOCCAPhotographer Fiocca captured a selection of intricate, nature-inspired jewellery for “Diamonds in the Rough” (page 43). “It was fascinating to explore using textured � owers as a backdrop for the exqui-sitely artful pieces,” he says. Born and based in Toronto, Fiocca is a proud father of two daughters. He has an

estate, you are swept away into an era of old-world opulence that’s truly magi-cal,” she says. “I fell madly in love with the place and the people of Bally� n.”

between Milan and Ven-ice, and shoots for leading editorial clients, including Vanity Fair, Esquire, Mon-ocle and � e New York Times. He also teaches pho-tography at MeLa, the CGI rendering division at IUAV University of Venice.

for the cover story (page 54), she says she was enthralled by the Canadian pop sensation’s playful-ness and candour. “It’s so lovely to see an artist of this calibre who hasn’t lost her sense of wonder and creative verve.” Liss lives in Toronto with her partner, two dogs, one cat and one rambunctious toddler.

extensive client list that in-cludes Kra� , Leo Burnett, JWT and Food & Drink magazine.

EDITORIALEditorial Director Eva HartlingEditor Tralee PearceManaging Editor Pat Lynch

ARTCreative Director Nevien AzzamArt Director Noam LamdanPhoto Editor Liz IkirikoSenior Designer Ruth AlvesAssociate Photo Editor Christie Vuong

CONTRIBUTORSMattia Balsamini, Jay Barnett, Andrew Clark, Mary Dickie, Rob Fiocca, Jacquelyn Francis, Patricia Gajo, Jody Horton, Rebecca Kleinman, Hamin Lee, Jeanie Lee, Sarah Liss, Bruno Long, Alison McGill, Mary Luz Mejia, Vince Noguchi, Daniel Onori, Mercedeh Sanati, Amy Verner, Norman Wong, Sarah Wu

ST. JOSEPH MEDIA for 1879 by Birks and Mayors MagazinePublisher Douglas KellyEditorial Director Maryam SanatiEastern General Manager, Advertising Sales Bettina Magliocco

PRODUCTIONProduction Director Maria MendesCoordinator/Designer Alexandra EganPre-press Coordinator Jonathan Gault

BIRKS GROUP INC. President and CEO Jean-Christophe BédosVP, Marketing and Communications Eva HartlingDirector, Mayors Marketing Linda SchultesDirector, Birks Coop Marketing Amanda Di PardoManager, Birks Brand Marketing Alexandra LeclercManager, Public Relations Francis Guindon

ST. JOSEPH MEDIA EXECUTIVEChairman Tony GaglianoPresident Douglas KnightGeneral Manager and Vice-President, Finance Karl PercyVice-President, Content Solutions Duncan ClarkVice-President, Marketing and Production Darlene StoreySenior Vice-President Lilia Lozinski

CONTACT USFor editorial inquiries, please call St. Joseph Media at (416) 364-3333. For advertising opportunities, please call Bettina Magliocco at (514) 284-2552 ext. 229.

1879 by Birks is named a� er the year Birks was founded. Along with Mayors Magazine, it is published by St. Joseph Media on behalf of Birks Group. © 2015. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted without written consent of Birks Group. Printed in Canada by St. Joseph Printing.

BY

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CONTRIBUTORS

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TAG HEUER CARRERA CALIBRE 1887Take risks. Follow your heart. Dream the impossible. David Guetta does. It is not always easy. But like TAG Heuer, he never cracks under pressure. TAGHeuer.com

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Clockwise from le�: Naomi Watts wears a Bulgari fringe necklace; Jennifer Lopez in Lorraine Schwartz; Fan Bingbing in Chopard chandelier earrings; Bianca Brandolini in Cartier; Uma �urman in Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie

W H O ’ S W E A R I N G W H A T

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T H E N E W S

F R E S H T A K E SA chic spin on mobile technology, sporty watches with style

and the latest in colourful gems from Birks

THE STEALTH SMARTWATCHSmartwatches may be cool, but their geeky Silicon Valley style? Not so much. Frederique Constant has tackled this conundrum by joining forces with Alpina, the storied Swiss watchmaker. To the naked eye, the Horological Smartwatch (above) looks every bit the classic. But its inner workings sync with smartphone applications to track physical activity and sleep patterns 24/7. Available for men and women in a range wristbands, this watch eliminates the need to choose between style and function. At Birks and Mayors. frederiqueconstant.com

TAKE A FL IERInspired by vintage pilots, the white gold Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time watch (le� ) is based on “hour angle watches” used by � iers to calculate their position. � e wearer can keep track of two time zones at once: an invaluable key for travelling in haute style, of course. patek.com

START YOUR ENGINESBack in 1965, American car racing legend Carroll Shelby helped design the iconic Shelby Cobra race car. To mark the 50th anniversary, Baume & Mercier teamed up with Shelby to create the Capeland Shelby Cobra Steel Chrono-graph (above). Its face is inspired by racing stripes. Its band is made of black alligator skin. Turn it over and Carroll Shelby’s autograph completes the cool-dude fantasy. baume-et-mercier.com

NEW GEMS� e Birks Bee Chic and Birks Muse jewellery lines are growing this fall: One of the new Birks Bee Chic collections will focus on silver and gems; another features hexagonal yellow gold settings. � e new Birks Muse Ribbon series fea-tures gilded � ligree earrings, stackable cu� s, pendants and chains.birks.com

� e Birks Bee Chic amethyst and silver pendant

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T H E B AT T I TO D ’ A L I C O L L E C T I O N DAMIANI .COM

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HOT HOTEL

Perched on a hill overlooking the Swiss village of Sils-Maria, the Waldhaus is neither fancy nor fashionable. But that’s what makes it perfectly of the moment. A real-life Grand Budapest Hotel that’s been run by the same family since 1908, it’s a retreat for diplomats, artists, and intellectuals. Einstein, Hesse and Jung were regulars. Guests are drawn in by its old world charm and the roster of sophisticated socials (classical music recitals, vintage car rallies, and poetry readings) hosted there. It’s a perfect antidote to the party-hardy scene in nearby St. Moritz. waldhaus-sils.ch/en

T H E B U Z Z

A L L T H E R I G H T M O V E SFrom beekeeping on Montreal roo� ops to shining a spotlight on the best

in Canadian � lm, a short list of what we’ve been up to

Clockwise from top: Mary Symons and

Bernadette Morra. Birks CEO Jean-Christophe

Bedos, Birks vice presi-dent of marketing and

communications Eva Hartling and St. Joseph

Media president Douglas Knight. Lucia Graca and

Dominique Sirsly

B IG N IGHT OUT� e Royal Ontario Museum’s Bronfman Hall glowed pink for the launch of 1879 by Birks in April. Guests slurped oysters, sipped cocktails and crowed about the glossy new magazine. � e nail bar o� ering fresh manicures to guests was a serious bonus to RSVPing yes. birks.com

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THE BEE WHISPERERWhen Alexandre McLean dropped out of McGill University’s music program, he traded the tinkling of the ivories for the buzzing of bees. As co-founder of the Montreal-based apiary service Alvéole (honeycomb in French), the 24-year-old and his team are spreading the gospel of urban beekeeping.

McLean maintains four beehives—that’s about 200,000 bees—on the roo�op of jewellery retailer Birks’s �agship Square Phillips store in Montreal. “Beekeeping in cities is crucial,” says McLean of the program. “It increases pollination, which greens our cities and increases urban production of food. It also creates awareness about the bee population decline.” alveoleto.com

TOASTING EXCELLENCE AT TIFFFor the third year running, Birks is pairing up with Tele�lm Canada to celebrate 10 outstanding women in �lm at the Toronto International Film Festival. “�e essence of the Birks brand lies in its Canadian heritage,” says vice-president of marketing and communications Eva Hartling. “We are therefore proud to continue our partnership with Tele�lm Canada to highlight Canadian women’s important contribution to the �lm industry.” Last year, honourees included actor Molly Parker and directors Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu. �is year’s roster? Stay tuned: �e Birks Diamond Tribute to Canadian Women in Film is September 15 at Toronto’s Shangri-La Hotel.Tele�lm.ca

IN TIMEIn May, Miami Rolex a�cionados got a sneak peek at the latest haute timepieces from Basel-world, the prestigious annual Swiss jewellery and watch showcase. �e exclusive Mayors event took place at the city’s Dadeland Mall.Attendees included Gibran Khan and Gustavo Copelmayer, above.mayors.com

AN ENDURING PAS DE DEUX�e French luxury jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels has been in a love a�air with the ballet for much of the last century. �e house was known for its delicate ballerina brooches during the 1940s. �en, in the 1960s, a friendship bloomed between New York-based Claude Arpels—who opened the brand’s boutique there in 1939—and New York City Ballet co-founder and choreographer George Balanchine. �e meeting of the minds gave rise to Balanchine’s 1967 ballet Jewels, recently performed by the Boston Ballet (at le�). Earlier this year, the house returned as a sponsor for the School of American Ballet’s Winter Ball, raising funds for scholarships and studio maintenance. Bravo!vancleefarpels.com

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HOT HOTEL

Perched on a hill overlooking the Swiss village of Sils-Maria, the Waldhaus is neither fancy nor fashionable. But that’s what makes it perfectly of the moment. A real-life Grand Budapest Hotel that’s been run by the same family since 1908, it’s a retreat for diplomats, artists and intellectuals. Einstein, Hesse and Jung were regulars. Guests are drawn in by its old world charm and the roster of sophisticated socials (classical music recitals, vintage car rallies and poetry readings) hosted there. It’s a perfect antidote to the party-hardy scene in nearby St. Moritz. waldhaus-sils.ch/en

O V E R T H E T O P�is season’s cool places, people and things include an alpine hideaway,

a Buenos Aires mixmaster and a “bioclimatic” museum

t e x t M e r c e d e h S a n a t i

T H E H O T L I S T

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HOT CERAMICIST

Montreal-based interior designer Trudy Crane has a thing for white. But in her world, a stark palette is anything but boring. Crane shares her mini-malist aesthetic on the blog Looks Like White, featuring photos of her own work and glimpses of rooms and homes that have inspired her. Recently she’s branched into pottery, creating textured all-white matte and glossy bowls, cups and plates that turn ordinary meals into elegant a� airs. lookslikewhite.com

HOT RESTAURANT

Chinese street food gets a modern-day makeover at Little Bao, a Hong Kong diner that specializes in burgers (bao) stu� ed with grass-fed organic beef, braised pork belly and � sh tempura. Chef and owner May Chow’s colourful dining room shows o� the work of local muralists, while her menu is a culinary masterpiece in itself. Fries come with tru� e mayo and pickled daikon, Brussels sprouts are topped with � sh sauce and fried shallots, and for dessert, salted ice cream is served bao-style in deep-fried buns with caramel. little-bao.com

HOT BARKEEP

In Buenos Aires, master mixologist Tato Giovannoni gives revellers good reason to stay for another round. On most nights, he’s behind the bar at Floreria Atlántico, an uber-hip watering hole/� ower shop/record store that he started up in 2013 with sommelier Julian Diaz. House specialties include Negroni Balestrini, an ode to Tato’s Italian ancestry, and Clericos No. 6, a sparkling tonic concoction with hints of yerba mate and grapefruit. Both are made with Tato’s home-brewed brand of artisanal gin. � oreriaatlantico.com.ar

HOT MUSEUM

International design � rm Perkins+Will is behind the new Shanghai Natural History Museum, an edgy, eco-friendly structure that is home to more than 10,000 artifacts from all seven continents. Shaped like a nautilus shell, the “bioclimatic” building spirals downward to the earth (three � oors are below ground level) and makes use of geothermal and solar power and recycled grey water. Six levels of exhibition space and a 4D theatre allow visitors to get up close and personal with everything from Ming Dynasty mummies to deep-sea creatures.perkinswill.com/work/shanghai-natural-history-museum

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Italian jeweller Roberto Coin knows all about tradition. But he’s keeping his eye on the future

t e x t P a t r i c i a G a j op h o t o g r a p h s M a t t i a B a l s a m i n i

M A S T E R S A T W O R K

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A man of many secrets: Roberto

Coin tucks hidden gems into every

piece of jewellery he designs

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Coin’s designs are not for shrinking violets: From his chunky Pois Moi bracelets and rings to his jewel-encrusted Ani-malier line of tigers, snakes and other � erce creatures, his work remains consistently bold

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M a s t e r s a t Wo r k

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ITALIAN JEWELLERY MASTER ROBERTO COIN has a way with secrets. Just ask him about the power of a hidden ruby set on the inside of a ring or a bracelet clasp, invisible to onlookers and known only to the wearer. He tucks them into every glamorous piece he designs—even those otherwise dripping in gems.

“I read about Egyptian pharaohs who believed the ruby was a positive stone,” says Coin, on the phone from his atelier in Vicenza. “So they always gave it as a gi�

to their wife or friends. � ey believed when a ruby touched the skin of the woman, it brought happiness, good health and prosperity. And I said, ‘My god, how can I give all my clients these things?’”

Coin � rst hid a secret eye-shaped ruby in his Appassionata collection of � uid gold mesh pieces in 1996. Today, the secret red gem is a signature in all his collections and he’s received more than 5,000 letters of gratitude for the clever gesture: “People say, ‘Roberto, you solved my problem.’ I don’t want to become a doctor, but that is my willingness, to please people.”

Calling gold his “� rst love,” Coin says he started his own factory in Vicenza in 1977—the medieval city has gold in its DNA. At � rst, he produced jew-ellery for others, but it wasn’t until the mid-’90s that he o� cially launched the Roberto Coin brand. Still leaning heavily on intricate gold designs, today Coin’s skill with gems is equally strong a� er almost 40 years of cra� ing his lavish wearable art. In 2003 he launched his patented “Cento” diamond, an exclusive cut with 100 facets.

Coin has since made waves with his chunky tough-chic Pois Moi line of gold bracelets and rings and the jewel-encrusted Animalier line of tigers, snakes and other � erce creatures he adds to annually. His is not a line for shrinking violets.

Vicenza may be his spiritual home, but Coin’s family tree can be traced to Venice in the early 1500s, when he believes that his ancestors arrived from a little town in Spain called Coín. Coin was orphaned at seven years of age along with three siblings. � is, he says, led to his independent outlook and drive.

“We grew up without parents and we learned everything we did in life by our-selves,” he says. � at included catching the design bug. His aesthetic sensibility was sparked as a young boy living next door to an atelier that produced ladies’ garments: “� ere were all these ladies being dressed in a beautiful manner. I got fascinated by fashion, clothing and dressing women.”

As an adult, he � rst turned to the hospitality business, becoming co-owner of a luxury boutique hotel on the island of Guernsey, just o� the coast of Nor-mandy. In time, however, Coin’s love of fashion would stir again. “I thought, ‘I will probably be wasting my time, but I do want to try it,’” he says. He le� the hotel and set out to learn his dream trade in � ne jewellery directly from the maestros at their factories.

Today, as he produces up to 600 new designs a year—� erce birds of prey for his Animalier collection among them—he is resolutely focused on � gur-ing out what the next generations covet next to their skin.

“In order to appeal to the young,” says Coin, “you have to follow them.” Case in point: He’s working on a design for a novel “chain” that transforms the Apple watch into a pocket watch. “You can wear it even in the evening. It will have a � ower for women, and be plain for men. It can be gold. It can be steel. It can be with precious stones, without precious stones. It will be fabulous.”

Indeed. And while Coin does have a succession plan in mind—his eldest son, Carlo, is also a master and swi� ly following in his father’s footsteps—he is the � rst to admit he can’t see himself turning o� the idea faucet anytime soon. “Never!” he insists. “� is is the beauty of my work. I was born happy—and I will die happy.”

3 3

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THE

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3 6

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4 3

THEY’ RE DELICATE, INTRICATE AND FULL OF NATURE -INSPIRED DETAILS .

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PREVIOUS PAGE, FROM TOP Van Cleef & Arpels ring. At Birks. JB Star � oral eternity band. At Mayors. Van Cleef & Arpels between-the-� nger ring. At Birks.

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THE BIRKS SNOWFL AKE DIAMOND C OLLECTION IS AN HOMAGE TO THE DAZZLING BEAUT Y OF CANADIAN WINTER

4 5

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JEWELLER VALERIE MESSIKA INC ORPORATES SUBTLE DETAILS IN HER

DESIGNS, LIKE SINGLE DIAMONDS “DANCING”

INSIDE A BANGLE

4 6

J e w e l l e r y & Ti m e p i e c e s

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LEFT, FROM TOP Messika’s

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� e once summer-only shade has become a year-round hue. A look at some of the brightest lights of this season

THE WHITE ATTITUDE

MAISON RABIH KAYROUZ CASHMERE COATA colour revolution has been gaining traction at fall runway collections in the past few years. Conven-tional hues of rust, sa� ron and olive—the palette of falling leaves and harvests—are giving way to com-pelling pastels usually associated with spring, such as powder pink, icy blue and winter white. � is ivory cashmere standout from Rabih Kayrouz—a quiet, yet widely respected Paris-based designer—oozes intellectual style, projecting elegance and newness in equal measure. Notice how the lapels sit � ush to the body, the pockets drape almost invisibly and the folded interior paneling adds dimension. All reasons this white topper will never be at risk of being confused for a lab coat.maisonrabihkayrouz.com

MARTONE CYCLING REAL B IKEWhen Lorenzo Martone launched his namesake line of commuter bikes in 2013, buyers instantly embraced its high performance and high design. � e majority of models feature a two-gear auto-matic hub, which means no shi� ing is required. � e double-wall aluminum frames are almost always monochrome, save for the signature red chain. In polished white, the bike cuts a � ne � gure zipping through city streets—being light doesn’t hurt, either (approximately 12 kilograms for the men’s model; 11 for the women’s). Martone is his own best spokesperson: � is past June the Brazil-ian-born New Yorker rode from San Francisco to Los Angeles as a participant in AIDS Life Cycle, raising more than $20,000 (U.S.)—in serious style.martonecycling.com

t e x t A m y Ve r n e r

A E S T H E T E

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SELETTI ESTETICO QUOTIDIANO TABLEWARE Why yes, that is a cake plate with a dinosaur as a base. If a brontosaurus doesn’t do it for you, try a sturdy stegosaurus. � e Italian manufacturer Seletti is fearless in playing with tradition. One of its collections brings together seemingly broken halves of heirloom-style patterned plates into single mismatched designs. Another features all-white tabletop essentials inspired by disposable items. A cake stand looks like stacked paper plates and spice jars mimic tin cans. Whimsical yet hy-per-real, all of these designs are nothing short of ingenious—especially because you’ll be inspired to actually use them instead of locking them up in a fusty china cabinet. seletti.it

LOU SPIKES MEN’S FLATA modern guy can never have too many white sneakers. For starters, white goes with everything, from sweats to suits. � en there’s the preservation consideration: You may have every intention of keeping your kicks in mint condition, but they will never look as fresh as the moment you took them out of the box. You’ll want to have a few pairs in rotation. Christian Louboutin’s “clou” (spike) pattern looks just as sharp today as it did in 2010, when he � rst introduced it, perhaps because it has evolved from shiny metal to matte monochrome. And here, the studs are limited to the toe-box, keeping the � ash to a minimum. In Louboutin’s vernacular, they’re an exercise in minimalism—that is, until you spot the bold red sole. christianlouboutin.com

AETHER CONE SPEAKERSAnyone who worships at the altar of Apple ap-preciates the purity of all-white design. � is Cone speaker takes both form and function in a fresh direction. Smooth and sculptural, a white Cone will do any chic table-scape proud. But it will also dole out superior audio, thanks to its three-inch woofers, 20-watt ampli� er and dual tweeters—all delivering your music of choice via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and a custom Aether Cone app. Cone also features a voice recognition feature, called Nuance, which allows you to verbally request albums and radio stations alike. And since it sup-ports AirPlay, you can also stream music simply from any of your Apple devices. Cue a round of surround-sound applause.aether.com

F a l l / Wi n t e r 2 0 1 5

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t e x t A n d r e w C l a r k

How to shrink your footprint and grow your automotive style

S M A L L

A e s t h e t e

L U X U R I E S

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As anyone who’s received a tiny jewellery box knows, the very best things can come in small packages. � is hasn’t always been true in the car world, with its giant SUVs, gas-guzzling muscle mobiles and other scene-stealers. Now, thanks to fuel prices and our burgeoning environmental guilt, that’s changing. And, as these Lilliputian rides demonstrate, you can cram a lot of luxury into a little car, so there’s no compromise required.

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THE ECO CHOICE

BMW i3 and BMW i3 Range Extender (REX) From $53,420

If you’re the kind of driver who wants to burn rubber but not fossil fuel, this car’s for you. � e i3 is the � rst purely battery-powered vehicle from BMW, a company known for high performance, and this is one of its fastest. With 184 lb-� of “pin-you-to-the-back-of-your-seat torque,” it can go from a standstill to 48 km/h in 3.5 seconds. It gets 130 kilometres per charge. If you’re a little worried about running out of juice, you can opt for the BMW i3 Range Ex-tender, which uses an onboard fuel-powered generator to double your driving range. (If your battery dies, the generator takes over.)� e BMW i3 is a narrow vehicle—you might say it looks like somebody’s kid

designed it while playing Minecra� —but that’s a result of the aerodynamic ex-terior and LifeDrive architecture (a design speci� c to electric cars) that reduces weight and increases range. Twenty-� ve per cent of its interior is made from re-newable and recycled materials, and its underpinnings are built with reinforced plastic, making it one of BMW’s lightest vehicles. And when you’re done with it, you don’t have to feel guilty. � e BMW i3 is 95 per cent recyclable.

THE FAMILY MOBILE

Lexus CT 200h From $39,767

Do you fall asleep at night fantasizing about a world in which you can put the words luxury, hatchback and hybrid together in the same sentence? Well, dreamer awake! Meet the Lexus CT 200h. It seats � ve, has hybrid fuel e� -ciency and all the mind-numbing one-per-centerish luxury you could desire. Want to pretend you’re a pilot? Lexus refers to the inside as a cockpit. � e CT 200h also comes with a spindle grill, a shark � n antenna and seats bound in leather or NuLuxe, an animal-friendly alternative.

� e car is powered by the Lexus Hybrid Drive, which was � rst introduced in 2004. It’s a full hybrid that can run on electric, combustion or both. For instance, at low speeds, the Lexus CT 200h runs silently on the electric motor. At high speeds, the combustion engine takes over. � e Hybrid Drive system selects the most e� cient power source. No need to plug in. � e hybrid battery recharges during driving.

You can get it fully loaded with environmentally friendly luxury. Case in point: the Lexus CT 200h comes with either a six- or 10-speaker sound system that makes use of sustainable bamboo charcoal resin in its design. Lexus says the speakers o� er a wider frequency range than conventional ones, resulting in a “richer sound clarity and more re� ned acoustics.” Sounds like a sweet ride.

Le� : � e i3 is BMW’s � rst purely battery-powered car. Above: Lexus’s CT 200h is a high-performance hybrid. Far le� : Mini’s John Cooper Works contains the brand’s most powerful engine

Green Cars V2_FINAL.indd 51 8/20/15 12:10:24 PM

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THE B IG-SPENDER

McLaren 570s and 540c From $228,000 (570s) and $203,000 (540c; available in 2016)

It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “�e McLaren 570s is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Either him or Voltaire. It’s the �rst of the British automotive manufacturer and racing giant’s McLaren Sports Series and the perfect starter F1-inspired street supercar. Is it fast? It goes from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 9.5 seconds, and peaks out at a gnarly 328 km/h. It boasts McLaren’s M838T E (“E” for evolution) 3.8-litre twin turbo V8, which can muster 562 bhp and 443 lb-� of torque. �at means you could pick up milk at the corner store in approximately 87 seconds.

Compared to the $1.4 million McLaren P1 hypercar, the 570s is a steal at $228,000. Still, if that’s still a little steep for your wallet, why not opt for the 540c, the second of the Sports Series, an “entry level” vehicle that’s a little slower than its brother but a supercar nonetheless? Road and Track magazine calls it “the everyday McLaren.” It truly is, if every day you get up and spend �ve or six hours counting all your money.

THE LUXURY STARTER CHOICE

Mini John Cooper Works From $38,400

Top Gear calls it “the ultimate evolution of the multi-faceted and ubiquitous Mini.” �e three-door John Cooper Works is the epitome of good things coming in small packages. It contains the most powerful engine ever �tted in a serial production model of the Mini Cooper brand—a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder spark igni-tion engine developed according to racing principles and drawn from the latest generation of power units with Mini TwinPower turbo technology. �is little wonder can hit a top speed of 246 km/h. �e John Cooper Works comes with six-speed manual transmission as standard (0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds), and six- speed Steptronic sports transmission as an option (0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds).

And just take a look—this car is the hippest racer on the road. With its classic two-tone �nish, it begs for speedy excursions along winding country roads. �e exterior is completed by LED headlamps with white direction indicators, a radiator grille, side scuttles and a centre-mounted exhaust con-nected to its signature twin tailpipes—together they create a zippy sound to match the car’s sporty appearance.�ink of it as the “maxi Mini.” Few little cars will provide you with as much

pure driving pleasure.

Above: McLaren’s Sports Series takes its

cues from F1. Right: �e engine in Mini’s John Cooper Works

was designed according to racing principles

A e s t h e t e

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I E S Z A

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As the pop sensation’s career skyrockets,

she pauses (momentarily) to dish on the

style she’s made her own

t e x t S a r a h L i s s

A e s t h e t e

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iesza is a body in motion. � is is true in a big-picture sense: � e Calgary-bred dance-pop sensation has been caught up in the momen-tum of a quickly accelerating career

since February 2014, when the video for her relentlessly catchy single “Hide-away” went viral. Since then, Kiesza (née Kiesa Rae Ellestad) has been nomi-nated for scads of awards (she nearly swept her categories at Canada’s Junos), penned songs for Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez and released her own collection of streetwear with New York’s Bad Bunch. She’s taken on a role as ambassador of the Birks Rock & Pearl jewellery collection. In the realm of rising stars, it’s fair to say Kiesza’s ascent has been meteoric.

But as the slick choreography in “Hideaway” suggests (the video was shot in a single take with the singer bopping through the streets of Brooklyn), Kiesza’s body is perpetually in a more literal kind of motion. Like Michael Jackson, the pop icon she cites as her greatest in� uence as a performer, she’s as much an acrobat as she is a singer and songwriter, captivating crowds with dazzling moves—including her signature pose (below), cribbed from the “Hideaway” video, which she’s busted out on countless red carpets. � ose routines come naturally to the 26-year-old, who trained as a ballerina and was a member of the Young Canadians dance troupe from the age of eight.

An awareness of movement is key to Kiesza’s fashion philosophy and her vision of style. “One thing I’ve learned,” she says, “is that certain clothes look better when you’re moving in them.” For her, that can mean anything from

K

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kicky knee-high crew socks to airy mesh tanks to a Wonder Woman bodysuit that, in the context of a high-energy show, comes across as classy fun, not high camp. She showed up for the 2015 Juno Awards wearing a skin-tight metallic sheath by Cana-dian designer Mikhael Kale; as she struck poses for the cameras, the dress exuded a holographic shimmer. At this year’s Gover-nor’s Ball, the Renaissance woman modelled pieces from her Bad Bunch collection, springing across the stark platform at New York’s Randall’s Island Park in a graphic panelled jacket and leg-gings with a blocky white-on-black detail that evoked lightning.

Kiesza’s performance looks, she says, are an enhanced version of her personal style.

O�stage and on, she delights in wearing the same item in di�erent and unexpected combinations. A pair of retro black Reebok pumps with a pylon-orange detail, for example, showed up on her feet on red carpet a�er red carpet, paired with a graf-�ti-print bomber and tearaways, or a Moschino mesh crop tank and drop-crotch pants, or artfully distressed jeans and a silky kimono-style coat.

Kiesza says she’s still prone to sartorial phases like those in her teens. “I was wearing Reeboks all last year, and suddenly I’m pretty into Doc Marten combat boots. I attach myself to speci�c items for a while and then move on. I love to create personalities with fashion.” More o�en than not, she seems to be channelling a kaleidoscopic clash between Spice Girls—part Sporty, part Scary; entirely ballsy and at ease in her skin.

As in high school—“I was the not-so-wealthy kid at a wealthy school”—she gravitates toward thri�-store �nds rather than designer labels, and prides herself on her ability to improvise, readily chopping up items and mixing custom cosmetics to suit her fancy.

Her recent successes may have expanded her horizons (and upped her budget), but Kiesza retains that curious sense of loyalty. In the “Hideaway” video, she sports scarlet Reebok Classic hi-tops—the girl does love her Reeboks—that became staples o�-camera. “I wore them till they fell apart. It’s funny—those shoes became sort of iconic, but they were basically just the only ones I could a�ord, and the only ones I wore for, like, six months.”

She’s had to make a few fashion concessions to accommodate her active lifestyle. In keeping with her a�ection for a ’90s aes-thetic—her songs hinge on the propulsive rhythms of that era’s house music—the artist used to favour heavy gold chains as part of her onstage uniform. �e he�y bling looked fantastic, but it proved to be problematic for Kiesza’s fancy footwork.

“When I dance in them, they hit me in the face,” she explains. “�ere was a point where my chin was bruised, I had bruises all over my elbows, my knees had, like, 40 bruises from all the knee slides.” She was so black and blue that for the 2015 Junos, the

makeup artist had to paint the performer’s knees. Even in a conversation about something as silly as sneakers

and bling, you get a strong sense of what drives her. She’s both enterprising and down-to-earth, �ercely ambitious and goo�ly whimsical, self-directed and eager to work with creative collabo-rators who will challenge her.

Lucille Ball, she says, is her guiding star in this arena. Kiesza was �rst made aware of her �ame-haired forebear a�er countless acquaintances pointed out their physical resemblance.

“She had values and she stuck to them, even if that meant a sacri�ce in her own career,” Kiesza says. “She had chances to do A-level movies, but maybe the director wanted to sleep with her, so she turned down this or that opportunity.” �e reverence in her voice is palpable, as she waxes poetic about Ball’s many accomplishments—her breakthrough at age 40, her innovation in the realm of live studio audiences, her dogged business savvy.

“For me, in an industry that is still very male-dominated at times—especially when I was very new in the industry and trying to �gure out how to make my way—you sometimes �nd yourself with the wrong people in your search for the right people. Know-ing about a person like Lucille Ball just drilled in that you can have strong values, you can stick to them, and it’s worth it, especially in the long run.” A�er all, even a body in motion needs a strong centre of gravity to stay the course.

One of Kiesza’s style must-haves continues to elude her: the perfect black lipstick. So she makes her own.“When I perform, things do not stay on my face. I use Lip Mixer from MAC—it’s a base, and you can mix di�erent colours to-gether, like paint. I com-bine di�erent pigments to create a thick liquidy, powdery lipstick. I’ll layer that and add something with a subtle hint of colour, still dark. It adds personality to the black. I’d love to team up with a company and develop a lipstick myself.”

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With a spikey rock-girl pro�le, it’s easy to see why this silver Birks Rock & Pearl pendant is one of Kiesza’s favourite pieces

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C O M P A S S

5 8

Kemal Harris’s favourite store in L.A. is Tenoversix on Melrose. “�e Isabel Marant that I see at Barneys and don’t need, I see at Tenoversix and feel I need it. �e owners—Kristen Lee, Brady Cunningham and Joe Cole—are so sweet and don’t pressure you at all.” See shop.tenover6.com

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elebrity fashion stylists tend to measure their worth in red car-pet glamour and paparazzi exposure. But To� no, B.C.–born Kemal Harris has carved herself a more discriminating cool-girl niche while dressing the rich and famous.

Most notably, the New York–based Harris is responsible for Robin Wright’s current minimalist, femme-fatale style. It reads as don’t-mess-with-me real—not as fantasy dress-up. For Wright’s on-screen House of Cards persona, Harris amps up the sex appeal, but never falls into caricature. Harris’s A-list clique also includes Amy Poehler and Olivia Wilde. Hell, she’s even given Justin Bieber some aesthetic cred (for personal cred he’s on his own).

As red carpet styling and music video gigs increasingly lure Harris to Hollywood, the avant-garde style arbiter (and bassist in the rock band Matte Black) delights in sweeping aside the glitter and uncovering an edgier, grit-tier California dream.

L.A. lets her indulge in her own brand of wanderlust.“I’m always � nding things by way of happy accidents. � ere are so many

nooks and crannies and little neighbourhoods in Los Angeles,” she says. “But, also, the word of mouth is so strong; one person sends me someplace and it’s my natural instinct to wander and see what’s down the street.”

Here, Harris shares her picks for doing Hollywood with a bit of grit.

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From the gritty Sunset Strip to the beaches of Malibu, celebrity stylist Kemal Harris on her favourite Hollywood hotspots

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Canadian fashion stylist Kemal Harris is known for the cool-girl looks she creates for clients such as Robin Wright. � e To� no–born Harris spends a great deal of time working in Los Angeles, where she � nds time to discover new haunts

M Y L AN G E L E SO S

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MY B IKER-CHIC F IND“Many of my friends are part of the motorcycle scene and have clothing lines. My friend Oliver Jones has one called � e Cut Rate and recently relocated from Baltimore to L.A. Usually, he has a T-shirt for me. I just love his “Locals Only” rebel streetwear. An-other favourite is Tri Co on Hollywood Boulevard. � ey carry jewellery by the Great Frog. � ey make pieces for all the rock stars; they’re excep-tionally well-made and great for layering. � ey also have a lot of vintage clothing. Plus, it’s right next door to Umami Burger so it’s worth the trip when you can combine it with lunch.”

� e Cut Rate thecutrate.com

Tri Cotricostore.blogspot.com

Umami Burgerumamiburger.com

MY RECORD F IX“My recreation is record shopping. I joke that going to Amoeba Music, one of the largest independent record stores, is like my spa day; I � nd it so relaxing. � ey have rows and rows of records. It’s the thrill of the hunt rather than instant grati� cation.”

Amoeba Musicamoeba.com

MY HEALTHY STOP“If I’m just running around, I’ll hit the M Café, which has a few locations in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. It’s just a little health food place.”

M Cafémcafedechaya.com

MY HOTEL“� e Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood. It has an art gallery � lled with tons of old rock ’n’ roll photos. � ere’s a recording studio in the basement and an intimate whisky bar, and I love the lush tropical courtyard. � e beds are super comfy and it’s always spotless.”

Sunset Marquis sunsetmarquis.com

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MY GETAWAY“I’m so anti-pool scene in L.A. I would rather go to the ocean or the beach. I have a really dear friend who lives in Topanga Canyon so I always end up down in that area. It’s not as packed or touristy as the Santa Monica Pier. �ere is a really cute vintage store in Topanga called Hidden Treasures. �ey have serious vintage—like true old-school turn-of-the-cen-tury shoes and Victorian lace—stu� you probably wouldn’t even wear, which is amazing. From Topanga, it’s easy to go to the beach in Malibu.”

Hidden Treasures hiddentreasurestopanga.com

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MY BEACH“�e sun and palm trees in L.A. are so great for li�ing the mood. It’s always nice coming over the hills and seeing the ocean. Recently, I discovered a placed called the Malibu Beach RV Park, where you can camp at the ocean in an RV. You either come with one or you bring your camping gear. It’s on a hill and the view is insane. Right below, down the hill, is a famous market and café called Malibu Seafood. �ey sell fresh seafood and they will fry it up for you with amazing fries and coleslaw.”

Malibu RV park maliburv.com

Malibu Seafood malibuseafood.com

MY VINTAGE MECCA“Wasteland Vintage has the most insane vintage rock T-shirts. You can never have enough of those.”

Wasteland Vintage shopwasteland.com

MY ARTSY STOP“I also like a gi� store called Poketo. �ey have the cutest mix of stationery and ceramic mugs and all these random artistic items. You walk into that store and think, ‘I didn’t know I needed another little hand-painted bowl.’”

Poketo poketo.com

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C o m p a s s

In the heart of the Irish midlands, Bally� n Desmesne delivers an opulent escape from the modern world

t e x t A l i s o n M c G i l l

I R E L A N DFA N TA S Y

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’ve always known the life of an aristocrat is the one for me. But lacking my own blue blood, I’ll settle for even a few days of charmed Downton Abbey living now and then, es-pecially if it can be as magical as my recent visit to Ireland’s Bally�n Demesne.

From the moment I arrive at the grand Bally�n gates and my driver enters the long, winding road leading to the main house, I am swept away from the bustle of modern life and ensconced in a bygone era of tradition, romance and luxury. I spy hares and pheasants, as well as miles of lush greenery and acres of springtime bluebells. It all makes me anxious to get on my tweeds and wellies and start living the Crawley high life.

Of the 600 rambling demesnes—or “Big Houses”—that symbolized Anglo- Irish ascendency during the 18th and 19th centuries, Bally�n is now one of only 100 such estates that remain. Many were destroyed during the Irish Civil War of 1922. Of those le�, some are private residences. Others are tourist sites and some have been converted into country house hotels.

Unquestionably one of the grandest is Bally�n (a Gaelic name translating to ‘lovely place’). Nestled in the Irish midlands in County Laois, Bally�n is a 90-minute drive from Dublin. �e estate was originally built in the 1820s for Sir Charles Coote, whose English family’s wealth was built on land rentals. It is revered as Ireland’s most extravagant Regency mansion and sits in 250 hectares surrounded by stone walls.�e Coote family sold Bally�n in 1928 to the Patrician Brothers, a Roman

Catholic teaching order that ran a school on the estate for over 70 years. In 2002 a Chicago couple named Fred and Kay Krehbiel bought the property and have completely restored and transformed it into a small hotel (fun fact: some of the school’s former students now work at Bally�n as sta�). �e extensive renovation took almost a decade to complete and the hotel opened in 2011.

Upon my very early arrival, the night porter met me, whisked my luggage to my room and gave me a tour of the house’s common spaces.

Every setting is cinematic. �ere’s the dramatic cantilevered staircase, which overlooks the reception area, painted robin’s egg blue and lined with ancestral portraits of the Coote family. It leads to the state rooms, all of which are both incredibly grand and wonderfully intimate. �e Gold Room is the perfect place to take a�ernoon tea and marvel at the intricate gilded plaster-work and the lavish chandelier, which once hung in the Paris mansion of the Queen of Naples, sister to Emperor Napoleon I.

Each of Bally�n’s 20 guestrooms and suites is spacious and designed to re�ect the spirit of the original house. Many of the rooms’ ornate furnishings and �xtures were recovered and restored from the Coote era. I stayed in the Maryborough Room at the front of the house on the southeast corner. It boasts dreamy views of gardens and a lake—even from the bathtub, where I enjoyed twice-daily soaks infused with Bally�n’s bespoke wild rose and sandalwood bath �zzies—which makes it one of the most popular staterooms.

I eventually did make my way outside to wander about (at one point even losing a shoe in the mud only to have it gallantly retrieved by head butler

Below: Bally�n’s indoor pool overlooks the courtyard garden. Top right: �e Gold Room takes its name from the gilded plaster ceiling and silk-covered walls. Bottom right: Ancestral portraits of the Coote family hang next to the cantilevered staircase

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Lionel). �e estate’s vast parkland can be explored on foot or by golf cart, horse, bicycle or horse-drawn carriage. �ere are miles of wild�owers, hidden waterfalls, a grotto, a medieval-style tower and walled gardens complete with formal borders and kitchen gardens brimming with sage and salad greens.

For more rosy-cheeked adventure guests can try their hand at archery, clay pigeon shooting, falconry or �y-�shing in Bally�n’s 11-hectare lake. A picnic lunch is the best way to while away an a�ernoon on the estate—you pick the place and sta� will cater it there. On days when the Irish weather is a bit temperamental, take lunch inside the cozy, �re-warmed picnic house.

Food is a passion at Bally�n and everything served is sourced from the property (eggs, fruit, vegetables, honey) or from nearby farms. Dinner hour is a grand silver-spooned a�air—you can even borrow a period costume to complete the upper-crust fantasy. Over cocktails in the library guests are pre-sented with chef Michael Tweedie’s menu of daily selections, including local highlights such as Kilkenny lamb and Kilmore Quay scallops.

Whatever you choose, save room for the cheese course, replete with Irish artisanal darlings such as Coolatin cheddar and Crozier blue cheese. All are served on a posh cheese trolley trundled to your tableside, aristo-style.

Of course, Ireland’s famous hallmarks are plenty: the warm and generous people; the whiskies and ales; the picturesque ruins; and the bucolic country-side. While a stay at Bally�n admittedly costs a little more than a pint at the local pub, it o�ers a rare glimpse into the country’s splendid past. And the chance, if only for a moment, to inhabit it as if it were all your own.

BALLYFIN DEMESNE Ballyfin, County Laois, ballyfin.com

WHEN TO VIS IT Anytime. The demesne changes with the seasons, o�ering a spec-tacular experience year-round.

PRICE RANGE In high season (June through August), rooms and suites range from €700 to €1700 per night. Rate includes food.

DISH TO TRY “The Ballyfin Full Irish”—two or-ganic eggs, sausage, bacon, black pudding, tomato, chestnut mushroom and soda bread— with a glass of fresh-pressed apple juice straight from Ballyfin’s own orchard.

INS IDER T IP Visit Ballyfin’s wardrobe depart-ment, stocked with period cos-tumes for ladies and gents so you can authentically dress the part of an aristocrat for dinner. Your sartorial selection will be delivered to your room and if you need assis-tance lacing your corset, a Ballyfin dresser is just a call away.

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IF YOU GO

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t e x t P a t L y n c h / p h o t o g r a p h B r u n o L o n g

Luxury has made its way to the mountain, but make no mistake: Revelstoke is all about the skiing

Sleeping

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e had come too far to chicken out now. Five hours on a plane from Toronto to Kelowna. � ree more navigating snow-covered Okanagan Valley roads before passing carefully through the Monashee Mountains. We’d waited

in a long li� line, hopped on a gondola then a chairli� and ascended 560 storeys out of the village at Revelstoke Mountain Resort before hiking another 20 minutes to end up here, trembling on a cornice near the summit of Mount Mackenzie in southeast British Columbia.

Our guide for the day, Revelstoke’s snow school manager, Dan Sculnick, had promised us a powderhound’s paradise if we followed him up the Lem-ming Line, a short hike o� the uppermost li� . He downplayed what we might have to go through to get there. Just a couple of quick turns, he said. Oh, and watch out for the rocks.

By the time my buddy Gary and I had clicked our snowboard bindings tight, Sculnick was gone, his stocky frame disappearing over the edge of a chute at freefall speed.

We peered over the lip to try to spot him.� e hill was steeper than a steeple, with school bus–sized boulders framing

a two-metre gap. � e only trace le� of Sculnick was a wisp of snow dri� ing past a towering wall of stone and the joyful woo-hooing of a grown man rediscovering his 12-year-old self in a stash of hip-deep powder.

It was time to go. I bid Gary farewell, and tipped the nose of my board over the lip. Swoosh, swoosh, swooooooosh. I shot through the rocks and out into an open bowl, � oating fast and loose high above the tree line.

Sculnick hadn’t lied. We may have spent the day before picking out un-touched runs from the cockpit of a helicopter high above the mountain range, but inbounds at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, I’d just found some of the best snow I’d ever ridden.

Since the early ’70s, Revelstoke, B.C.—Revy to locals—has been a magnet for the world’s most dedicated skiers and snowboarders. It’s remote enough to retain its hardcore credentials—500 kilometres and three mountain ranges west of Calgary, the nearest major city—but accessible enough for busloads of skiers to roll into town every year. � e area has more than a half-million acres of skiable terrain and 12 to 18 metres of annual snowfall (that’s 20 per cent more snow than you’ll � nd at Whistler). Revelstoke itself is a classic ski town tucked into the Columbia River basin just west of Rogers Pass, where

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Previous page: a sweeping view of Mount Mackenzie. Top le�: the Sutton Place hotel, the wood-and-stone showpiece in Revelstoke village. Bottom le�: après ski at the Rockwood Wok. Right: Coming through the clouds on the Stoke Chair, Revelstoke’s uppermost li�

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the Selkirk mountain range meets the Monashees. It’s the kind of unassuming place where ski-lugging locals can be found thumbing a ride to the hill at the � rst sign of snow. Heli-skiing operations were once the primary draw to the region. Cat skiing—where groups of skiers are ferried to remote peaks via grooming machines—also � ourished here, a natural, cheaper addition to the ski menu.

And when Revelstoke Mountain Resort opened in 2007, it o� ered the tri-fecta: not only cat-skiing in the near backcountry and heli-skiing on a seem-ingly limitless variety of mountain peaks, but li� skiing within the resort’s patrolled boundaries. Built on Mount Mackenzie, the resort is home to North America’s biggest vertical drop. At 1,712 metres, it’s bigger than both Whistler and Blackcomb. Revelstoke village has been in a state of constant reinvention since 2007, adding a handful of mid- to upscale dining options and bars and a slopeside luxury hotel, the Sutton Place. Situated at the base of the gondola,

it’s a condominium–style property, with 1,300-square-foot mountain-view suites, a spa, in-room yoga sessions, outdoor hot tubs and a soaring, wood- and stone-accented lobby bar. � at said, few visitors come here for the so� touches: A trip to Revelstoke is all about the skiing.� e day before we dropped into that chute high atop Mount Mackenzie,

Gary and I took a short shuttle from our suite at the Sutton Place to the Coast Hillcrest Hotel, home base of Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing. � e company has � own around Revelstoke for 37 years, opening up its expansive but inacces-sible terrain to skiers and snowboarders looking for that next-level run.

A� er breakfast and an avalanche safety session (sample dialogue: “If you get buried in a slide, you want to try to create as big an air pocket as possible around your head…”), we hopped in a � ve-seat helicopter and � ew into the Selkirks. � e terrain below unfolded before us: Wide-open glaciers spilled into untouched alpine meadows, steep chutes framed by towering pines fed into perfectly spaced glades, and gigantic bowls opened up over the crest of each passing peak. � e guides at Selkirk have myriad options to choose from, and they’ll tailor every run to the skill set onboard the chopper that day.

We � ew with some of their � nest: Je� Honig, the lead guide, Chad Hemp-

hill, Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s avalanche forecaster, and Steve Adams, a tail guide who followed us down each run, making sure neither Gary nor I was le� behind, head� rst in a crevasse. All three are transplanted Ontarians who moved here for the snow and never le� . Over the course of the day we rode about 5,000 vertical metres of powder in eight helicopter rides.

When we got back to the lodge at the Coast Hillcrest, we sipped beer with a German family who had travelled to Revelstoke for a week of heli-skiing. “� is is my dream trip,” the father, an engineer with BMW, told me. He’d wrangled his two university-age children, who’d been studying abroad, to join him and his wife here for a family vacation before graduation sent the kids out into the world.

“We o� en go to St. Anton,” he told me, recounting how the Austrian hill—one of the top-rated ski resorts in the world—is one of Europe’s biggest party destinations. “But coming here is more about the skiing. � ere’s nothing like it. � is is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

Right: the mountain ranges around Revelstoke o� er up

more than a half-million acres of skiable terrain. A haven for

heli-skiing, the area gets up to 18 metres of annual snowfall—more

than you’ll � nd at Whistler

I woke up the next morning at Revelstoke Mountain Resort with 90 min-utes to spare before the gondola opened. Call it optimism or ski bum’s intu-ition, but it felt like it had snowed overnight so I pulled back the curtains to see how the day was shaping up. � rough thick snow� akes swirling on the other side of the glass, I could make out a lineup for the gondola. � ere were already well over 100 skiers and snowboarders queued up for the � rst li� of the day and the sun had yet to rise. So much for beating the hordes to the � rst li� —you’ve got to get up early in Revelstoke to get � rst tracks.

Dan Sculnick met Gary and me at the gondola.“So if we’re going to � nd fresh tracks, I know exactly where we need to go,”

the snow school manager told us.We clambered into one of the gondola cars, nodding.“Well, we were up in the heli yesterday, Dan,” I replied. “Gonna be hard to

top the runs we had with Selkirk Tangiers.”Sculnick smirked and assured us he knew where we’d � nd powder near the

peak that would rival anything we’d ever encountered. “We’ll just have to make a couple of quick turns,” he said. “Oh, and watch

out for the rocks.” Dan Sculnick didn’t lie.

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P A L A T E

L O S E Y O U R H E A R TL I K E A L O C A L

A U S T I N

t e x t M a r y L u z M e j i a

Sommelier Vilma Mazaite leads a private tour of her beloved haunts

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P a l a t e

t can’t always be love at � rst sight. Sometimes the seduction takes time, each meeting amplifying the attraction. � is is how Austin, Texas won the heart of Lithuanian-born sommelier Vilma Mazaite.

A� er stints at Michael Mina’s SeaBlue restaurant in Las Vegas, Mario Batali’s Babbo in Manhattan and the Little Nell hotel in Aspen, Mazaite de-camped for Austin in 2012.

Her adopted home embodies the perfect midway point between New York City and Aspen, with a thriving music scene and a burgeoning food culture that has evolved far beyond its trademark barbecue scene. “It has everything that a bigger city would have to o� er, but at the same time retains its small town charm,” she says.

Today Mazaite is part of a quartet of women (along with chef Alison Jen-kins, pastry chef Janina O’Leary and general manager Jamie Wagner Roun-savall) at the helm of the Provençal-inspired laV, one of Austin’s most elegant restaurants. Amid the so� heather greys and the French sage greens of the wine bar on a recent visit, it’s easy to see how anyone could be seduced by the vision these women have laid out.

Highlighting seasonal fare, laV lures diners with the � avours of the Medi-terranean, from Morocco to Italy, with a strong dash of Southern France.

Mazaite’s wine list focuses on France, Italy and the United States. “Bur-gundy is our strength, but I like discovering producers who are maybe not as well known, whose wines are amazing quality for a fraction of the price of their more famous neighbours.”

Outside laV’s walls, Mazaite admits she sees Austin through rose-coloured glasses. A� er all, she convinced her � ancé, fellow sommelier Juan Carlos Flores Mazon, to move there from Cabo San Lucas in 2014.� e couple has explored Austin as newcomers in a city full of transplants,

eating their way through its o� -the-radar gems to � nd the best barbecue, ro-mantic eats and cozy hideaways. Turn the page to read about their favourites.

Previous pages: Far le� , the wine bar at laV in Austin. Right page, top le� : Sommelier Vilma Mazaite, a partner in Austin’s Provençal-in-spired restaurant laV. Bottom right: � e elegant room lures diners with seasonal fare infused with the � avours of the Medi-terranean, such as pastry chef Janina O’Leary’s Meyer lemon budino

laV’s house-made chicken liver pâté with grain mustard, cornichons and house preserves

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BEST ROMANTIC DINNER À DEUX

“�e food at Lenoir is playful: French with Asian in�uences and a menu that changes frequently. Go for the three-course, $35 tasting menu. It’s always inventive. �e room is small and intimate with white �owing curtains and spar-kling lights. It was where Juan Carlos and I had our �rst date. And, well, it worked.”

Lenoir lenoirrestaurant.com

BEST FOOD TRAILER

“We live in the east end, so we like to keep it local. For some of the best ethnic food in the city, we head to �ai-Kun. �eir spicy beef Panang curry is made with ka�r lime leaf and served over steamed jasmine rice. Hot, just the way I like it.”

�ai-Kunwhislersatx.com/thai-kun

BEST NEW IT SPOT AND COCKTAIL GO-TO

“Launderette is a sunny converted laundromat and gas station with great energy and a small, thought-ful menu full of Southern gourmet bites. �ey’ve also got a top-shelf cocktail program for when you just need to unwind. But of course, I prefer a good glass of Marcus Hubert Gruner Vetliner Traisental, from Austria.”

Launderette launderetteaustin.com

BEST BBQ

“My �ancé and I will drive 40 minutes to Smitty’s Market in the nearby town of Lockhart for the best brisket and sausage. �eir open �re pits mean serious BBQ business. When we go, I usually order the three-meat plate and coleslaw —it’s Texas on a dish.”

Smitty’s Market smittysmarket.com

VILMA MAZAITE ’S AUSTIN HOTSPOTS

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P a l a t e

t e x t R e b e c c a K l e i n m a n

With the blue sea and skies as a backdrop,

Toronto’s renowned Mediterranean restaurant � nds itself right at home

in South Beach

B Y B L O S B E T S O N

M I A M I

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Pa l a t e

ike many sun-seeking Canadians, Charles Khabouth needs his tropical time. � e founder of INK Entertainment, a decades-old hospitality group based in Toronto, Khabouth has been visiting Miami about twice a month for the last 25 years. His hometown’s brutal winter—February was its coldest month on record—

makes the launch of his � rst restaurant in South Beach all the more satisfying.“I even come down in the dead of August,” says Khabouth while basking in

the sun, naturally, on the terrace at the historic Royal Palm hotel, where the second location of his popular Toronto pan-Mediterranean restaurant Byblos is about to open. “� is context, with its bright blue ocean and streaming natural light, is even better suited for Byblos’s Mediterranean inspiration than the original.”

And that’s saying something, because Khabouth is all about getting the details just right. When he opened the � rst Byblos—his latest in a long line of hits—he drew rave reviews for both the lavish space and the decadent, tangy dishes. � e heaping platters of lamb, the house-made yogurt called labneh, the classic tomato sauce and egg dish shakshouka (this one using rich duck eggs) and a masterful cotton-candy-like dessert garnish had critics in awe.

For this outpost, Allesandro Munge, Khabouth’s long-time collaborator and principal at the Munge Leung design � rm in Toronto, has chosen décor that subtly suggests the Mediterranean without being too obvious. Just as the cuisine borrows � avours from various sea-touched regions, the room and its accessories meander through the Middle East, Morocco and other ancient locales.

On a tour of the space, Munge points to 11 custom chandeliers shaped as tagines and painted a so� gold, comparing the series to an art installation. Each is as big as one of the trendy eco cars zipping around the island.

David Hicks, the British interior designer who de� ned the mid-century modern aesthetic, would approve of Munge’s banquettes in bold geometric prints with a Greek Isle colour scheme of brilliant turquoise, white and citrus brights. � e ornately patterned parquet � oors are sanded down to their natural perfectly pale state. If you dine here and feel like you’d like to move in, well, that’s part of the plan.

“We wanted to achieve a freshness with the space, like you’re in someone’s home,” says Munge, who lowered the bleached wood tables for a casual, loungey call to linger a� er dinner. “But they aren’t so low that one has to hunch over to eat. It’s about being relaxed and making this your one-stop place for a night out.”

For Khabouth and Munge, part of the fun of opening a new restaurant clearly involves the hunt for lust-worthy accessories. A full-time décor scout amasses the collection with an eye for the eclectic—but also for function.

Décor lovers will covet the antique European sideboard of carved pine the pair picked up in Toronto’s Distillery District. It will be put to good use to store preserves and a trove of artfully mismatched glasses and dishware. � ere are decorative silver platters to serve roasted lamb, authentic clay pots for rice medleys and all the trappings for full tea service. � e sideboard sits next to a large meze bar in the main dining room, where

patrons will be able to watch chefs preparing salads, tartares and dishes with

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Byblos’s signature labneh. It starts with wild salmon in a South Beach diet twist on kibbeh nayeh, a raw dish traditionally made with chopped beef. Here, the meaty � sh is blended with shallots, Turkish chiles and mint for a tartare to top Persian barbari � atbread.

Executive chef Stuart Cameron, who also oversees INK’s Toronto spots Patria and Nao Steakhouse, among others, is also here. He’s overseeing the in-stallation of a wood-burning oven like a doting mother hen attending to her chicks. Diners won’t be able to view the closed kitchen’s hearth in action; it’s one of many enviable hidden details being sewn into the design, like a hidden pocket in a Savile Row suit.

“We’ll use it to bake whole � sh and � atbreads for piadina sandwiches that curl up like a shallow bowl to � ll with whatever ingredients are kicking around at that time of year, whether pickled ramps or tru� es,” says Cameron. He has recently toured Paradise Farms, a well-known organic wonderland for tropical fruits, oyster mushrooms and greens an hour south of Miami. He collected rose petals for jam and ice cream made to look as good as it tastes.

“I’m going crazy for their array of edible � owers because we can’t get them up north, where we only � nd blossoms sprayed with pesticides.”

Working beside him, Raquel Perramoń acts as a taste-tester for the mouth-watering Byblos recipes being turned out on the day I visit. She’s in town to set up another prized element before the restaurant opens: a high-tech olive oil machine that stores and dispenses custom blends.

A� er her mother, Maria José San Román, a Spanish chef known as the sa� ron queen, bought one for the family’s Michelin-starred restaurant,

Monastrell, in Alicante, they decided to distribute them. Byblos proudly owns one of only two OliveToLive systems in the U.S., the � rst being at the Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone restaurant in Napa Valley.

Perramoń says the system will keep the oil at the ideal temperature—16 de-grees Celsius—and protect it from being exposed to oxygen, allowing the chef to have a few varieties at his disposal without worrying about spoilage. She’s stocking Byblos with herbal, spicy and mild varieties. “Say Stuart is making mashed potatoes,” she says. “Each oil will create an entirely di� erent dish.”

At this point, the whole crew has gathered to sample the oils, Cameron’s pantry staples and test dishes—Spanish green olives that burst with um-ami, rosewater- and sugar-coated almonds and Attiki Honey, produced by thyme-loving bees in Greece, that hints at the baklava that will be served here. Cameron has also located the perfect cow’s cheese to fry halloumi-style from Ballard Family Dairy in Idaho, and he will toss it with Key West pink shrimp for güveç, a classic Turkish stew warmed in a clay pot.

Meanwhile, outside Khabouth and Munge are still tweaking the big picture. � ey’re contemplating a secret garden where families and friends can feast during Miami’s endless summer. � ey stand amid teak sofas and area rugs in contemporary patterns that will soon come together as an outdoor living room. Flower petal-shaped grooves adorn pedestal tables—a perfect perch for Cameron’s edible � orals to come.

“It’s going to be camou� aged from the street, as if you’re in a cocoon of lush vegetation,” says Munge, as giddy as any northerner would be with an exterior space he can savour for more than a single season.

Previous page: � e sunny interior of the new Byblos outpost in Miami. Far le� : Team INK, le� to right, president Danny Soberano, executive chef Stuart Cameron, Hanif Harji and founder Charles Khabouth. Le� : � e historic Royal Palm hotel, with its Art Deco roots, will be home to the new Byblos. Right: � e restaurant will serve up pan-Mediterranean dishes such as crispy qatayef, a kind of stu� ed dumpling topped with edible � owers

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A ROYAL GIFT FOR GRACE KELLY

As Princess of Monaco, the inimitable Grace Kelly knew her way around the �nest jewels. Royal tiaras came with the territory, of course, but the blond beauty was also known to wrap her wrists in rows of diamonds and her neck in pearls, and to populate her lapels with a rotating menagerie of animals—most famously a poodle and a somewhat counter-intuitive chicken—all rendered in glittering gems and gold.

Princess Grace of Monaco travelled with Prince Rainier to Montreal’s Expo 67 to open the Monaco Pavillion on July 18, 1967. During the trip, the prince visited Birks to shop for his bride

Her jewellery collection had a Canadian connection, too, with a Birks design alongside her Cartiers and Van Cleef & Arpels. While the princess and Prince Rainier were in Montreal for Expo 67 to open the Monaco Pavillion, the prince stepped away from the festivities long enough to buy his princess an exquisite sapphire necklace at the historic Phillips Square store. Now that’s a souvenir.

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