Author Archives: Nicholas Lord

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Dining with Alessandro Borghese at New York’s Reimagined Obicà

Alessandro BorgheseImage: Alessandro Borghese.

 

Alessandro Borghese, one of Italy’s most coveted gourmands and the judge of “Junior Masterchef Italia,” brings his culinary genius to New York with a refreshed menu at Obicà, the city’s first-ever mozzarella bar. Just before launching the new range, the chef sat down with ESSENTIAL HOMME to discuss the legacy of Italian cuisine and how to it translates to American audiences.

 

ESSENTAL HOMME: What’s the concept behind the new menu at Obicà?

Alessandro Borghese: Food to share. My idea was that you go to eat, not only for the food but for the experience: to chit-chat, to exchange opinions. I said, “let’s find a concept that’s “food to share.” Many little dishes on the table, conversational dishes. In Italy it’s called “piccoli piatti,” and now we’re doing the same thing in New York.

 

Alessandro BorgheseImage: Alessandro Borghese.

Alessandro BorgheseImage: Alessandro Borghese.

 

EH: What are some of your new delicacies?

AB: I wanted to develop hemp flour pasta. It’s done with a vegetarian ragù, various vegetables, anchovy extra virgin olive oil that I developed, basil, and, of course, delicately smoked mozzarella cheese. Fantastic taste—earthy, vegetarian, and very interesting with the smoked mozzarella. It’s that borderline idea of something fun and transgressive. And it’s healthy.

EH: Obicà is New York’s first mozzarella bar. How does your menu celebrate the cheese?

AB: It’s all about the mozzarella. Three times a week we ship it fresh from Italy with three versions: delicate, intense, and smoked. We put them on all the various dishes; always 100 percent buffalo milk.

 

Alessandro BorgheseImage: Alessandro Borghese.

EH: You were born in San Francisco but grew up in Italy. Do your American roots influence your Italian cooking?

AB: Italians are individuals, very much about the self. In the States you learn how to group up and work in a bunch. That group works for one purpose.

EH: Do you think Italian food is evolving?

AB: For myself and all my colleagues that work in Italy, we’re going back to [our] roots—more produce, less nouvelle cuisine, if you want to put it a French way. I’ve always been a traditionalist. Substance on the dish must be priority, the taste. Eighteen to 20 year olds, they come into my kitchen and I say, “Cook me a simple spaghetti al pomodoro,” and they don’t know how to do it. If you don’t know the basics you can’t innovate.

EH: What’s next for you?

AB: I’m going to LA tomorrow, for Obicà LA. Then the opening of my new restaurant in Milan, in front of City Life. I’m also starting off a new TV show for Sky, and then developing a new concept of Italian healthy food to export around the world.

Chef Borghese’s updated menu is now serving at Obicà Mozzarella Bars worldwide.

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The Stafford London Unveils Remodeled Suites and New Restaurant

The Stafford LondonImage: The Stafford London.

Drawing inspiration from the inimitable charm of British country estates, The Stafford London unveils its redesigned Carriage House suites, a remodeling intended to make guests feel both at home and pampered in aristocratic luxury. Designed by Alexandra Champalimaud, the eleven suites embody a refined country style nestled in St. James’s, one of London’s most elegant and regal neighborhoods.

The Stafford LondonImage: The Stafford London.

Once the former stables of British nobleman and politician Lord Francis Godolphin, the suites emphasize space and comfort, combining modern art with elegant, traditional touches. Custom mirrors, wall coverings, and a mixture of tile and stone creates an English manor atmosphere, with warm tones for the bedding and upholstery. Commanding attention are the tall oversized headboards set beneath walls painted with a brush stroke texture, lending the rooms a personalized, handmade quality. A quiet, cobblestone courtyard divides the suites from the main hotel, an atrium open to guests and viewable from the rooms.

The Stafford LondonImage: The Stafford London.

Luxe five-fixture bathrooms offer double wash basins, deep-soaking tubs, and sleek glass showers, all encased in cream-colored stone walls and white marble floors. Enhancing the luxury are the heated towel racks and indulgent toiletry collection made exclusively for The Stafford London.

The Stafford LondonImage: The Stafford London.

The crowning jewel of the suites is The Gatehouse Room, formerly the hotel’s cherished Guv’nors Suite. The multi-floor townhouse is available as a one-, two-, or three-story suite, the latter two featuring a dining area and private lift. Soft velvets layer into bold patterns, offering a finer, delicate, and supremely luxurious ambience. These rooms boast fireplaces, romantic four-poster beds, original hay hoists, and historic timbers from the wrecks of Royal Navy warships, an exceptionally unique and historic addition. “The heritage of our Carriage Houses has been honored and updated for the modern day,” says Stuart Procter, the hotel’s general manager. “With timeless touches that are sure to continue the suites’ legacy of being some of the most luxurious accommodations in all of London.”

The Stafford LondonImage: The Stafford London.

Completing the ultimate Stafford London experience, the hotel also unveils its The Game Bird restaurant, helmed by renowned chef James Durrant. The restaurant’s décor departs from the country charm of the Carriage House suites, instead opting for classic London luxury, boasting wood paneling, fire places, burgundy leather chairs, and marble pillars. Celebrating traditional British cuisine, the menu features such decadent tastes as Norfolk black chicken, Clarence Court egg, bacon jam, pickled mushrooms, Orkney sea scallops, and roasted cauliflower.

Historic, charming, and opulent, the Carriage House suites and The Game Bird restaurant are sure to make guests feel “more British than the British.”

The Carriage House suites and The Game Bird restaurant are open now at 16-18 St James’s Place, St. James’s, London.

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Givenchy Unveils Monte-Carlo Spa

Spa by GivenchyImage: Hotel Metropole.

Givenchy offers its aristocratic elegance in therapeutic form with the opening of Spa Metropole by Givenchy in Monte-Carlo, the brand’s latest retreat. Built within the opulent walls of the Hotel Metropole, a seaside palace that combines Belle Époque luxury with modern resort comfort, the spa devotes itself to indulgence and Mediterranean charm.

Spa by GivenchyImage: Hotel Metropole.

Spa by GivenchyImage: Hotel Metropole.

Designed by architect Didier Gomez, the spa opens with marbled interiors accented by décor that reflects serenity and the fashion house’s couture designs, such as the embossed white and gold walls. The retreat boasts ten treatment rooms, including a sauna, hammam, caldarium, nail studio, and state-of-the-art fitness center. Taking the experience to the next level are the chromatherapy bathtubs, sensory showers, guest-chosen playlists, and unique Givenchy services, including the anti-aging L’Intemporel facial and Celestial Body Interlude scrub. A Givenchy beauty store showcases the brand’s products, including fragrances that can be incorporated into the spa treatment. Combining the exquisite charm of Monte-Carlo, the hotel, and the monumental style of the French fashion house, Spa Metropole by Givenchy promises a unique engagement with the science of relaxation.

The Spa Metropole by Givenchy is open now at 4 Avenue de la Madone, Monte-Carlo, Monaco.

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Baracuta x Barneys Debut XO Harrington Jacket

Baracuta x Barneys New YorkImage: Baracuta x Barneys New York.

Few styles have such universal appeal as the iconic Baracuta Harrington jacket, worn by icons such as Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra and popular among British punks and Ivy Leaguers alike. Paying tribute to these eclectic subcultures and the piece’s unique history, Baracuta teams up with Barneys New York to release a limited edition G9 Harrington jacket, dubbed XO. Replacing the traditional Fraser lining with leopard print and woven vintage, the jacket is a throwback to British counterculture from the ‘60s and ‘70s, times when people reclaimed style as their own. Windproof, water resistant, and available in two select styles, XO features a double zipper, ribbed cuffed hems, and a classic fastening collar. With a lightweight, oversized fit, the jacket is easy to pair and promises a foolproof style that will last through generations.

Baracuta x Barneys New YorkImage: Baracuta x Barneys New York.

The Baracuta x Barneys XO will be available in select stores and online beginning May 1, 2017.

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Lacoste Releases Spring/Summer 2017 Tennis Sports Collection

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Images: Lacoste.

Drawing inspiration from ‘90s streetwear, modern architecture, and the latest sports technology that doesn’t sacrifice style, Lacoste releases its Spring/Summer 2017 Tennis Sports Collection. Fresh off its latest Yazbukey collaboration that invigorated classic apparel, the latest line features traditional piqué polo shirts with dramatic color accents—bright coral, turquoise, purple, and orange—splashed across the chest and jacquard collar. The geometric print alludes to the layout of tennis courts, though it doesn’t forget Lacoste’s heritage clean-lined, slim-fit aesthetic, honoring its history with the iconic crocodile on the breast pocket and shorts cuff. For the rainier games, the water-resistant taffeta jacket features in fluorescent yellow and white and navy, and a gray sweatshirt boasts a chic tennis player print, a vision of the Lacoste man. Finishing the collection are the LT Spirit and LT Spirit Elite footwear styles, available in versatile black, gray, or navy. With a heel comfort clip and dual-density outsole, the shoes combine on-court precision with off-court style. Executed with variety and functionality in mind, Lacoste continues to push sports innovation.

The Lacoste Spring/Summer 2017 Sports Collection is available online now.

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Instagram Weekly Roundup: Stampd, Huf, and More

This week’s complete social snapshot, distilled for your pleasure.

From the hottest celebrity parties to the regretful morning-after shots, ESSENTIAL HOMME‘s Weekly Instagram Roundup brings all of the hottest designer, model, and trendsetting pics from the week directly to you. After all, no one has time to scroll through anything but the best.

Stampd

STAMPD announces its ongoing collaboration with PUMA, teasing a grayscale sneaker characteristic of STAMPD’s minimalistic aesthetic. The brand has been busy with collaborations this year, such as its recent IKEA partnership designed to exhibit clothing when it isn’t being worn.

Huf

Skate-wear brand Huf invites us to paint the town pink with the Huf x Pink Panther collection, featuring the feline icon across a series of tees, jackets, and accessories. Combining vintage-inspired bowling shirts, chainstitched embroidery, and fleece, the brand always remains one step ahead—just like the Pink Panther.

 

Gucci

Performing his debut single “A Sign of the Times” on Saturday Night Live, Harry Styles wore a checked wool suit and silk shirt from Gucci’s Autumn/Winter 2017 collection. The collection offshoots the brand’s Pre-Fall 2017 collection, featuring similarly-tailored suits with rich chintzes and warm tweeds.

Mr. Porter

Online retailer Mr. Porter teases a new shot from its Made in California collection, inspired by the U.S.’ Golden State. Featured here is the AMIRI Vitellino leather biker jacket, embellished with jewel-encrusted palm trees—emblems of the sun-drenched state.

Follow ESSENTIAL HOMME on Instagram at @EssentialHomme.
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Sperry x Jack Spade Debut Spring/Summer 2017 Footwear Collection

Sperry x Jack SpadeImage: Sperry x Jack Spade.

American menswear staple since 1935, Sperry teams up with Jack Spade New York for a footwear collection that celebrates the warmer seasonal shift and its accompanying trends. Combining the iconic Sperry boat shoe with the gentlemanly aesthetic of Jack Spade, the range offers a new direction for Sperry, boasting lively colors and patterns that evoke the pleasures of summer.

Sperry x Jack SpadeImage: Sperry x Jack Spade.

Sperry x Jack SpadeImage: Sperry x Jack Spade.

Sperry x Jack SpadeImage: Sperry x Jack Spade.

The collection begins with the cream-colored slip-ons, embellished with three unique patterns: a geometric red stripe, a blue and green accent, and nautical horizontal stripes, respectively. A similar color pattern features across sneaker and boat shoe styles, with contrasted soles and sole linings. Bourgeoning into new territory are the camouflage print two-eye boat shoes, available in brown and navy, with yellow outer-stitching. All styles feature an orange innersole and the dependable Sperry grip, ensuring durability through the active summer odysseys that the brand represents.

The Sperry x Jack Spade collection is available in select stores and online now.

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Berluti Releases Bomber Jacket Collection

Berluti BombersImage: Berluti.

The only exclusively men’s fashion house under LVMH, Berluti retains its masculine, utilitarian aesthetic with a range of bomber jackets, released alongside its Spring/Summer 2017 collection. Offering a warmer alternative to its Summer Essentials range, the collection includes a rock-inspired lambskin jacket, featuring a removable shearling collar with an alligator undercollar in blood-red, a shade reflected in the jacket’s silk lining. The collection is a part of creative director Haider Ackermann’s debut for the brand, a coveted designer whose modern, sophisticated draping and knotting style reflects his international upbringing.

Berluti BombersImage: Berluti.

Berluti BombersImage: Berluti.

Rounding out the collection, the remaining styles reunite the bomber with its military history—a jacket made with calfskin nubuck, finished in unfussy walnut-brown with a shearling collar and quilted lining, and a cashmere bomber in medium gray and violet, featuring a Berluti leather patch beneath the breast. With Ackermann’s skillful blending of color and material, Berluti redefines a classic men’s style.

The Berluti bomber jacket collection will be available in select stores starting April 18, 2017.

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Lacoste x Yazbukey Release Tennis Collection

Lacoste x YazbukeyImage: Lacoste x Yazbukey.

Gearing up for the French Open and warmer weather, sports-inspired clothier Lacoste collaborates with quirky accessories brand Yazbukey on a playful new collection. The line features a series of charming avatars, including three tennis ball characters and a re-imagined crocodile—two parties that seem to be embroiled in their own tennis match, or, as Yazbukey calls it, “a game of seduction.” The images appear on the breast pocket of the iconic Lacoste polo shirts, featured in white, navy, and red, with some boasting horizontal stripes in contrasting colors. Also included is a striped t-shirt design, a pair of summer shorts, a collection of leather goods, and a white cap showing three crocodiles chasing a tennis ball.

Lacoste x YazbukeyImage: Lacoste x Yazbukey.

Lacoste x YazbukeyImage: Lacoste x Yazbukey.

Lacoste x YazbukeyImage: Lacoste x Yazbukey.

Lacoste x YazbukeyImage: Lacoste x Yazbukey.

The collaboration solidifies Lacoste’s reputation of unexpected partnerships—such as its recent teamup with streetwear titan Supreme—and invites fans to experience the lustrous world of Yazbukey, a flourishing brand known for its pop culture-inspired designs. Practical and playful yet distinctly Lacoste, the collection captures the spirit of a summer’s tennis game.

The Lacoste x Yazbukey collection will be available online starting April 14, 2017.

 

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Tom Ford Autumn/Winter 2017 Lookbook

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Images: Tom Ford.

Tom Ford’s Autumn/Winter 2017 lookbook operates with one sartorial agenda: deliver the definitive, lustrous style we expect from the brand, while inspiring us with something new. The brand’s signature suits, as seen in its Spring/Summer 2017 campaign, are renewed this season in monochrome, with double-breasted and pinstriped jackets pairing with semi-flared and straight leg pants. Adding a fresh slant are ’70s-inspired designs, boasting warmer tones of burnt sienna, powder blue, and sea green, and featuring in cheetah, camouflage, and floral prints. Characteristic of the brand, the range gravitates toward formalwear, though casual styles are dressed up with velvet, suede, and shearling. The minimalist photography is also unmistakably Tom Ford: tenebrous backdrops that avoid dramatizing the range and bring the attention back to where it’s needed. The combined collection champions the pivotal challenge of reinvention facing major fashion powerhouses of today.

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Fred Perry x Raf Simons Reteam for Updated Capsule Collection

Axel ArigatoImage: Fred Perry x Raf Simons.

After almost a decade of cutting-edge collaborations, Belgian designer Raf Simons and British staple Fred Perry have again joined forces for a new capsule collection. Transcending previous collaborations that featured alternative color schemes and geometric designs, the range brings Fred Perry back to its eponymous tennis legend’s roots, his original unicolor polo shirt here re-imagined with bold heritage colors of red, white, and black, and finished with contrast collars and tipped cuffs. The laurel wreath logo, a symbol of victory and achievement, is featured on the left breast of all designs, though renewed with “Raf Simons” written beneath. Also included are sweatshirts and t-shirts, several of which boast a washed denim patch, giving the garments a lived-in feel. The darted, streamlined silhouettes ensure a slimming effect, and the buttoned collar across the range strikes a balance between smart and casual styles. With reformed yet classic designs, Raf Simons and Fred Perry exhibit the spirit of British youth culture.

Axel ArigatoImage: Fred Perry x Raf Simons.

Axel ArigatoImage: Fred Perry x Raf Simons.

Axel ArigatoImage: Fred Perry x Raf Simons.

Axel ArigatoImage: Fred Perry x Raf Simons.

The Raf Simons x Fred Perry collection is available online now.

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Fear of God Debuts Behind the Scenes Look at Upcoming Campaign

Video: Fear of God.

In anticipation of its Fifth Collection release, Fear of God debuts a behind-the-scenes film from the campaign shoot, a visual story told to Chance the Rapper’s “Finish Line/Drown.” Directed by Lane Stewart, the candid film depicts the brand as a family, revealing the collaborators’ efforts to evoke the nostalgic essence of the collection. Inspired by the childhood of Creative Director Jerry Lorenzo Manuel, profiled in ESSENTIAL HOMME February/March 2016, the shoot borrows furniture from Manuel’s grandmother’s home and features family photographs beside test shots of the models. The garments themselves embody this retrospective theme, including styles from ’80s and ’90s streetwear—oversized sweats, khakis, flannel, basketball shorts, and light selvedge denim paired with statement sneakers. The pieces remind Manuel of a time when “cool” and “fashion” grew organically, and wasn’t dictated by media: “The only information you had access to was your closet,” he says. “You had to make it work somehow.” At the end of the film, we see the past and future of Manuel and Fear of God: an intimate shot of the man and his son walking through Sacramento beneath a violet sky.