Red, white and blue celebrations all across the U.S. this past week have defined a July summer palette, with more of the same colours marching right into Bastille Day. We continue to celebrate le rouge, blanc & bleu with a joie de vivre of the summertime season from Versailles and the French Riviera all the way to Tangier. Inside this issue you will find...
JULY SUMMER PALETTE
SUITCASE
Rouge, Blanc, Bleu
French Riviera
LOUIS VUITTON Pacific Chill parfum of blackcurrant + carrot seed + aromatic herbs. "The latest creation by Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, is a daring work of olfactory innovation – the challenge of a wellness fragrance, an invigorating sensation that exhilarates the senses and leads the way to plenitude with sweet notes that caress the skin. Pacific Chill captures nature's energies and does the soul a world of good. A fragrance that's like daybreak over the ocean..." Creative collaborator for the Parfums de Cologne collection by the Maison Louis Vuitton, Los Angeles-based artist Alex Israel brought his signature visual sensibility to the fragrance. For Pacific Chill, Alex Israel painted a California land-and-seascape as if it were an invitation to a secret Palisades hike. An original and exclusive image realized for Louis Vuitton, it captures the indelible emotion of gazing out at the horizon. Parfum de Cologne 200ml, 395€
JACQUEMUS - LE CHOUCHOU La robe Sienna long sleeve lingerie dress red $705. Les sandales Regalo hautes - round square sling-backs red shoes $800. and Jacquemus LE CHOUCHOU Le Bambino small flap bag $680.
TIFFANY & CO. Blue Book 2023: Out of the Blue Collection - Legendary Tiffany & Co. designer Jean Schlumberger looked to the sea for inspiration, choreographing unparalleled manifestations of its majesty and mystery. Honoring this legacy, Blue Book 2023: Out of the Blue - designed by Nathalie Verdeille, Chief Artistic Officer, Tiffany & Co. both perpetuates and reinvents the aquatic worlds that he dreamt up. With geometric and stylized aesthetics, each new design exudes alluring beauty, realized through unparalleled innovation and exceptional craftsmanship.
AN OPULENT OCEAN - Sea Star theme features a field of custom-cut mother-of-pearl starfish entwined in coral-inspired motifs and over 42 total carats of diamonds, providing a snapshot of the sea’s fascinating ecosystem. Exceedingly rare unenhanced padparadscha sapphires of over 24 total carats, together with Umba sapphires, mother-of-pearl and carnelians, give life to the theme. Price available upon request TIFFANY.COM
SUITCASE
Red, White, Blue
California Coast
CASABLANCA PARIS Stripe Logo terry cotton towel features the house's allover logo artwork with a navy border reinterpreted for exclusive Nordstrom Capsule/Casablanca Paris €270
JACQUEMUS - La Chemise Jean - Men's sun printed bowling shirt $385.
THIERRY LASRY - FLEXXXY sunglasses Blue Marble Handcrafted Authentic Italian acetate 100% UV protection $495.
VILEBREQUIN High-quality swimwear tailoring born at the beach 1971 in Saint-Tropez. Vilebrequin is committed to finding new ways to innovate - by creating modern luxury swimwear focused on recycled and recyclable materials, limiting waste and lightening their carbon footprint. Men Stretch Short Swim Trunks Flat Belt Micro Mouettes $315.
VEJA SNEAKERS Campo Chromefree Leather Extra White California Natural $175.
French Riviera
SCENE & SEEN
ANTIBES
DIOR AND HOTEL du CAP-EDEN-ROC a united vision of discreetness and authentic luxury - Dior and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc share passions in paradise where time stands still. Dior has created a multi-facetted Spa with décor that is inspired by the rocks on which the hotel stands, extending into the lush heart of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc grounds and inviting guests to discover settings bathed in the light of the French Riviera and the azure tones of the sea. The Dioriginels Rituals are inspired by the four elements that give this legendary place its unique character: the garden, the sea, the rocks and the sun. Created especially for Dior Spa Eden-Roc - exclusive treatments reveal holistic dimensions of the Dior Spa philosophy to realign energy and explore sensorial limits.
SAINT-TROPEZ
GUCCI POP UP Gucci summertime pop-up is taking over Loulou Ramatuelle - the très chic Côte d’Azur Beach Club in Saint Tropez with an outpost shop featuring all things Gucci, including an exclusive, special edition Saint-Tropez collection - from woven slides & breezy summer wear to haute couture handbags. Guests can soak up the view of the Mediterranean while lounging on the most exclusive sunbeds dressed in signature Gucci motifs and plush midnight blue pillows embossed in the brand's classic interlocking G under the shade of striped Gucci umbrellas and cabanas. Sip cocktails designed by House Gucci's Giardino 25 Florentine restaurant concept and enjoy the Pampelonne shore.
MONTE CARLO
BILLIONAIRE DINNER SHOW in the legendary Salle Des Etoiles at the Sporting Monte Carlo - Billionaire nights will offer a spectacular mid-summer dinner show adventure premiering in Monte Carlo July 31st to August 22nd, 2023. Billionaire's first time in the Côte d’Azur, this nocturnal adventure luxury dining concept paired with an extraordinary show, will take center stage at the thousand square meters legendary Salle des Etoiles ‘Hall of Stars’, with its unique panoramic views and tables set around an impressive stage. Billionaire’s Executive Chef Batuhan Piatti has selected a surprising array of dishes, specifically for Monaco, from classic Italian to New-Asian cuisine, all characterized by the freshest ingredients presented with an elegant and theatrical touch.
JUAN-LES-PINS
JAZZ À JUAN FESTIVAL Running since 1960, this legendary festival has attracted international jazz greats to play on a stage in a small patch of pine trees overlooking the Mediterranean Sea as one of the iconic festivals of the French Riviera summer. This year it will play host to jazz musicians Winton Marsalis and John McLaughlin among others, with over 30 concerts between mid-July and late August 2023.
MONACO
THE GRIMALDI FORUM MONACO will hold an exhibition event entitled "Monet in Full Light", curated by Marianne Mathieu. This exhibition is organized by the Grimaldi Forum with the support of the Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris. This exhibition will follow Monet's work and the artist's life on the Riviera with nearly 100 paintings from all over the world, including many masterpieces that have rarely been shown together - and one that has never been seen before. "In 1883, halfway through his long life and settling in at Giverny, Claude Monet, still in search of inspiration, made his first trip to Monte Carlo and the Riviera, which he discovered with his friend Pierre-Auguste Renoir. He returned alone in 1884 and again in 1888. In Monte-Carlo, Roquebrune, Bordighera and Antibes, he nourished his quest - obsession, to capture light. As a northern painter, he discovered a new palette of colors, new elements, and found it difficult to paint them. It was during his final stay in Antibes in 1888, that he envisioned his famous series painting from the Salis beach, the fort of Antibes in all the seasons." EXHIBITION MONET IN FULL LIGHT
ROUGE, BLANC, BLEU
Back in The States
SCENE & SEEN
YOUNTVILLE, CA
THE FRENCH LAUNDRY - BLACK TRUFFLE & CAVIAR DINNER July 21st and August 25th Australian Black Winter Truffle and Regiis Ova Caviar Dinner $1,200 per person. Since 2007, the Michelin Guide has awarded The French Laundry their highest rating of three stars, making Chef Thomas Keller the only American-born chef to have two three-starred Michelin restaurants. The James Beard Foundation gave The French Laundry the highly coveted “Outstanding Restaurant Award” and awarded Chef Thomas Keller “Outstanding Restaurateur” in 2007. Since 2007, the restaurant has been the recipient of the Wine Spectator Grand Award. The French Laundry is a member of French-based Relais & Chateaux, Relais Gourmands and Traditions & Qualité; organizations recognized for their dedication to maintaining the highest international standards for hospitality.
MIAMI
TORY BURCH POP UP Aventura Mall - The Tory Burch pop-up shop is open through the end of July and features the iconic T Monogram collection with a Miami mix of shoes, accessories, and handbags. Visitors will also find the latest Ella Bio - a tote released every season in collector’s edition prints, along with many of the label’s classics.
COSTA MESA, CA
FENDI - Fendi Astrology, a celestial collection that draws from both the archives, and present-day tones. The Italian fashion house has taken over the South Coast Plaza’s Jewel Court, a luxurious shopping destination in California Costa Mesa. Enjoy an immersive and interactive astrology-themed video booth, which creates digital animations that are social-media-shareable. Find Fendi zodiac bikinis, celestial crochet jumpers, and more astrological additions.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA
DIORIVIERA POP UP BOUTIQUE & SPA an exclusive Dior pop-up experience at The Beverly Hills Hotel’s iconic pool, to celebrate with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience with the summer’s Dioriviera capsule collection - brought to life by Grazia, revealing a luxe wardrobe brimming with printed swimwear, kaftans, and oversized tote bags. Guests can browse through the bungalow suites where they’re welcomed by Maria Grazia’s toile de Jouy signature pink and the Dior Spa Cabana. Outside, hotel guests can enjoy branded hammocks, umbrellas, and lounge chairs and a Dior ice cream cart serving hourly refreshments on the weekends.
LOS ANGELES, CA
KEITH HARING; ART IS FOR EVERYBODY - at The Broad through October 8th, 2023. Keith Haring has never had a museum show in Los Angeles. The Broad has rectified this with an exhibition spanning nearly the full arc of the street artist’s career, from his studies at New York’s School of Visual Arts to 1988, two years before Haring’s death from AIDS at age 31. Interactive element to the exhibition with a gallery illuminated in black light and set to the sounds of one of Haring’s own playlists. THE BROAD.ORG
L.A. to NICE
JACK & JONES x LA BOULISTERIE Collection made in collaboration with Jack & Jones is a declaration of love for the French art of living with more than 50 styles - unisex T-shirts and sweatshirts, swimsuits, apron and work jackets, caps and bobs, sweaters, polo shirts, marcels and flip-flops for at pétanque, the beach or on holiday.
LA BOULISTERIE
Summer palette USA
WANDERLUST
à la française
TUBA CLUB which is located in the Marseille neighborhood of Les Goudes in a little fishing village with a small port and signs made out of driftwood - has been listed in VOGUE as Fashion Designer Simon Port Jacquemus' favourite. Towards the edge of town is the Calanques National Park known for its famous 'calanques' limestone cliffs that soar above the sea with incredible views and prime dive off points. Tuba Club gets its name from its past life as a scuba diving center. “We heard that oceanographer and filmmaker Jacque Cousteau used to come here,” said co-founder Greg Gassa, we wanted to keep the story of the location." Legendary free diver Jacques Mayol also frequented the diving club in the 1980s. Tuba Club houses 5 historic rooms, all riveted on the water, conceived in a minimalist vision inspired by the work of Le Corbusier. They have recently added three new suites by Marseille interior designer Marion Mailaender in collaboration with her colleague Delphine André, "sober and solar luxury" she says, in harmony with the environment and the nature of Les Goudes. French street artist, Invader - also added one of his trademark mosaics. The decor style is a vintage 70s Glam and you will find a diving theme continuation throughout Tuba with books about “la plongée”, shell-shaped lighting and valve levers that are reminiscent of boat machinery.
At every stage of the creation of Tuba Club, they have made a dedicated point of respecting the environment, with a deep and sincere commitment to sticking to it. On this piece of rock almost at the end of the world, the restaurant team provides dishes according to the seasons, working only with local agricultural and farm to table - sea to table in support of organic and responsible farming. The menu is a happy mix of Mediterranean influences: Sicilian sweets, Marseille grills, Provençal marinades, Greek, Niçoises or Roman salads, local Corsican products as well as seafood of course. For those who stay the night, the small buffet breakfast is classic French with fresh-from-the-oven croissants and DIY soft-boiled eggs with coffee. If you're not among the lucky few to score a dinner reservation or one of the cozy sea-facing rooms, you can enjoy specialty cocktails with refreshing house-made herbal syrups on the new terrace bar perched above the rock and the restaurant - LE BIKINI'S. Here stands a bar converted from an old boat hull - the work of the Ateliers Laissez Passer with the decor thoughtfully orchestrated by Marion Mailaender in the same responsible spirit with turquoise tables and armchairs recovered from an old beach restaurant, upcycled in B&W gingham. On the menu, Chef Sylvain Roucayrol draws from his Catalan origins - tapas cuisine, sandwiches and bluefin tuna pizzettas. Sip one on the rocks during apéro while the sun sets or enjoy lunch on the deck and be sure to bring your swimsuit if the area’s famous mistral winds are blowing - you will get splashed. The bar compliments the culinary offerings with cocktails that reflect flavours and stories of Marseille - and Tuba's own radio station provides the perfect soundtrack. Whether you come just for a swim, a cocktail, a meal, or to stay overnight - reserve far in advance to grab your spot at this popular destination for France's in-the-know creative set. Note: there's no elevator to rooms and rock area.
photos courtesy Tuba Club
Fashion Designer Simon Port Jacquemus showcased his Spring/Summer 2024 Fashion Show - "Le Chouchou" at the Palace of Versailles on June 26th. Filled with head-turning runway looks and plenty of star sightings, guests sat in white row boats anchored alongside the red runway to watch the presentation. The collection was an ode to the late Princess Diana. As the designer explained after the show, “chouchou” has multiple meanings... "but when building this collection - teeming with references to Diana’s wardrobe choices, from her taffeta puffball cocktail dresses to pearl chokers and her white lace wedding dress." Bubbled silhouettes, portrait collar coats, silver sequins and a finale in sweeping French tricolore of a July summer palette - the mood harkened back to Yves Saint Laurent and Emanuel Ungaro who both made history at the palace in 1973 at the famed Battle of Versailles Fashion Show - American and French designers were pitted against each other as a fundraiser for palace renovations.
photos courtesy
Jacquemus' Versailles Show
Corbis via Getty Images
VILLA MABROUKA former home of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, is opening its doors once again in Tangier. Nestled in a sanctuary from the neighboring cities of Kasbah and Medina, this 12-room villa has been refurbished into an oasis hotel by British designer Jasper Conran. Yves Saint Laurent would travel to Marrakech twice a year, in June and December, seeking inspiration for his collections. "Before Marrakech, everything was black," Yves Saint Laurent once famously said, "This city taught me color, and I embraced its light, its insolent mixes, and ardent inventions." He and his partner Pierre Bergé purchased the Villa Mabrouka in 1990 overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar and the North Atlantic Sea, the villa's essence was of 1940s modernist architecture paired with traditional Moroccan design and the interiors of an English country house. Jasper Conran acquired the property in 2019 and sought to honor its original aesthetic while modernizing its infrastructure. New rooms have been added along with garden cottages, a rooftop coffee and cocktail bar, three restaurants and three beautifully decorated garden pavilions. One original pavilion designed by American architect Stuart Church, has also been faithfully restored. “Working on Villa Mabrouka has made me even more aware of its importance as a landmark and place of historical significance. For me, this has been a conservation and preservation project as much as a design project.” said Conran in a press release. Conran has also enlisted a replanting of the garden and preservation program adding 6,500 new plants, trees and shrubbery with two pools - one larger pool carved into the clifftop's rocks, cascading with water and the new smaller plunge pool.
Villa Mabrouka is available for private hire with fully staffed villa and kitchens for intimate dinners and catered parties to enjoy the very essence of a large private coastal home for a group of friends or family where everyone can enjoy something a little different. Whether soaking up the sun by the pool, reading in the shade, enjoying the array of fine food and drink on offer or venturing out into the Kasbah, Medina and the souks of 'The White City'.
photos courtesy Villa Mabrouka
Le Bikini
Brigitte Bardot
Cannes Film Festival 1953
1ST BIKINI DESIGNER Louis Réard introduced his design, a two-piece swimsuit with a g-string back made out of 30 square inches of cloth with a newspaper type pattern, which he called a bikini, named four days after the first post-war tests of the atomic bomb began at Bikini Atoll. Louis Réard could not find a runway model willing to wear his revealing design of a two-piece swimsuit, being risqué for its time for exposing the wearer's navel and too much skin - so he hired Micheline Bernardini, a French dancer at the Casino de Paris, who agreed to model his creation at a press conference at a popular public pool in Paris - the Piscine Molitor, on July 5th,1946.
French women welcomed the design, but a majority of the public found it scandalous. Contestants in the first Miss World Pageant wore them in 1951, but the bikini was then banned from the competition. It was French actress Brigitte Bardot who caused a sensation wearing a bikini on the beach during the 6th International Cannes Film Festival 1953. The French actress first arrived to the festival as an unknown, but once the cameras discovered her, frenzy escalated as she promoted the film Manina, la fille sans voiles or The Girl in the Bikini. Soon other actresses followed, including Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner. In the early 1960s, the bikini appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated giving it additional legitimacy and then Ursula Andress made a huge impact when she emerged from the surf wearing what is now an iconic bikini in the James Bond film DR. NO in 1962. The bikini grew to gain wide acceptance in Western Society - as stated by French fashion historian Olivier Saillard, "the bikini is perhaps the most popular type of female beachwear around the globe because of the power of women, and not the power of fashion."
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