Polo Lifestyles October 2022: The Fashion Issue

OPEN

ANNIVERSAIRE DE PATRICK G. HERMES

JOCKEY CLUB

ISPS HANDA POLO CUP · ANNIE CALHOUN-DENVERS MEMORIAL CUP

Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand

Joshua

Joey Velez Wellness Columnist

Eva Espresso

Amritlal

Cezar Kusik

Dana Romita Real Estate Contributor Douglas Elliman @danaromita

William Smith Philanthropy Contributor May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust

Justin Johnson Wellness Contributor Goliath Coaches @goliathcoaches

Michael J. Snell

Eric Carré

Photography

Claire Barrett

Raphael K. Dapaah

Contributor

Gallery

Katerina Morgan Polo Photographer

Art Gallery

Elite autos and collectors take the stage, page 94

The geography of the su per-rich, page 90

Inside the invite-only shows from NYC to Paris, page 128

The perfect sip (and bite) in Santa Fe, N.M., page 184

THE FASHION ISSUE

THE TRENDS AND MUST-HAVE PIECES FROM NYC, LONDON, MILAN AND PARIS

PAGE 128

POLO! FASHION! MORE POLO! THE OCTOBER ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN OVER 80 PAGES OF POLO HAD WE USED ALL OF THE CONTENT AVAILABLE FROM FRANCE, ASPEN AND ARGENTINA. NOT SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HAS THE SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS SECTION BEEN SO ROBUST. WE HAVE GORGEOUS ACTION FROM THE PICTURESQUE OPEN DE FRANCE, ROYALTY (PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX) PLAYING POLO FOR CHARITY IN ASPEN AND, OF COURSE, THE BEGINNING OF THE ARGENTINE SEASON AT JOCKEY CLUB.

Because of the time zone differences, my WhatsApp Business notifications for polo PR groups go off well into the late-evening hours here. I was at dinner last Friday night with a foodie-friend who inquired to the frequency of my WhatsApp alerts. “Someone really wants to get a hold of you,” he said. I explained the alerts where from Justine Jacquesmot in France, who’s coordinated the press – specifically the beautiful images – for the French Open. Many thanks to her and all of the other photographers and press agents who make it possible for us to promote the sport from anywhere in the world.

Beyond polo, Fashion Weeks – NYC, London, Milan and Paris – have dominated my waking hours. Along with our style contributor, Stanley Pierre-Etienne, we’ve assembled top collections and runway styles from each major Fashion Week, along with both men’s and women’s trends from street wear influencers and Fashion Week attendees.

Luxury lifestyles and automotive contributor Michael Snell is back from Pebble Beach and The Quail, where he spent the better part of a week mixing and mingling with elite automotive enthusiasts. His report and insider-scoop, along with a selection of photos of the crème-de-la-crème, are a highly anticipated, annual contribution from behind the invite-only velvet ropes.

You won’t want to miss “The Geography of Billionaires,” “Patagonia Disrupts Capitalism,” or “The Perfect Sip (and Bite),” this month, all which delighted me. Amritlal Singh joins us as our newest contributor, settling into his position as spiritual contributor, and we look forward to going on a reflective journey with him.

See you at polo!

Cheers!

Josh Jakobitz josh@pololifestyles.com

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A familiar design in a stunning new print from the house of Michael Kors for SS23

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Click and comment on our choices... Tag @pololifestyles . We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.

Roger Federer was comforted by Rafael Nadal during his emotional, final match of tennis

A celebration of 90 years for Patrick G. Hermes with family and friends

As summer turned into fall, NYers look to exclusive indoor pools and spas in the city

page 25 WWW POLOLIFESTYLES COM The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle attended services for the late Queen Elizabeth II

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTINE JACQUEMOT

OPEN DE FRANCE

& VOLKERS

PHOTOGRAPHS

BY JUSTINE JACQUEMOT

DE FRANCE

ENGEL & VOLKERS

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTINE JACQUEMOT

ENGEL & VOLKERS OPEN DE FRANCE

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTINE JACQUEMOT

ENGEL & VOLKERS OPEN DE FRANCE

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTINE JACQUEMOT

ENGEL & VOLKERS OPEN DE FRANCE

JUSTINE JACQUEMOT

2022 SENTEBALE

ISPS HANDA POLO CUP

THE DUKE OF SUSSEX PLAYED POLO FOR CHARITY IN ASPEN

ASPEN, COLO. — On August 25, 2022 at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colo., U.S. Polo Assn. provided custom performance jerseys for all teams and umpires and also distributed co-branded caps for all attendees to take home as a souvenir from the event.

The annual polo cup, held in Aspen for the second year in a row, raises vital funds for Sentebale, an organiza tion that was co-founded in 2006 by the Princes Harry and Seeiso, to underwrite Sentebale’s vital work with children and young people in southern Africa whose lives have been affected by

extreme poverty, inequali ty, HIV/AIDS and recently COVID-19. This year’s event included Sentebale’s co-founding patron, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, who showed great athleticism and leadership while playing on the Sentebale team.

“As the Official Apparel Partner and Team Sponsor of the 2022 Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup, U.S. Polo Assn. aims to expand global philanthropic endeavors for our brand and the sport, as well as shine a light on the meaningful efforts behind the Sentebale mission,” said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global

Licensing, which manages the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand.

Richard Miller, CEO of Sentebale said, “The Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup contributes vital funds every year, helping Sentebale to continue our lifesaving and empowering work in Lesotho and Botswana. We are so grateful to U.S. Polo Assn. and all our sponsors for their unwavering support. The power and excitement of polo is enabling vulnerable children and young people, living with, and affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS, to live more healthy and hope ful lives.”

Fans enjoyed the mountain ous views and Aspen tem peratures watching the thrill ing game. In the end, the Cup was won by Team Sentebale, with a score of 3-1.

U.S. Polo Assn.'s Prince add ed, “I would like to thank the beautiful Aspen Valley Polo Club for hosting this year’s event as well as Team U.S. Polo Assn. for representing us on the polo field for such an important cause. We are honored to continue our sup port of Sentebale again this year in order to positively impact communities around the world through the sport of polo.”

SENTEBALE POLO CUP

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY U.S. POLO ASSN.

SENTEBALE POLO CUP

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY U.S. POLO ASSN.

ABIERTO DE JOCKEY CLUB COPA THAI POLO

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATERINA MORGAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATERINA MORGAN

ABIERTO DE JOCKEY CLUB COPA THAI POLO

KATERINA MORGAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATERINA MORGAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTINE JACQUEMOT

COUPE ANNIVERSAIRE

DE PATRICK G. HERMES

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTINE JACQUEMOT

BY JAN MELICHAR

TANGIERS, MOROCCO - The first “Annie Colquhoun-Denvers Tribute Polo Cup,” an International Polo Tournament organized by Rabii Benadada, was played on the beautiful grounds of the Palmeraie Polo Club owned by Patrick Guerrand-Hermès in Asilah close to Tangier. The Threeday tournament ended on Sunday 11th September 2022 with the Royal Cavalry of Oman Team emerging champions after defeating the Bordeaux Team by 5 goals to 0.

The three-day event featured teams from six competing countries; the Kingdom of Morocco, USA, Netherland,

France, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Czechoslovakia, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Sultanate of Oman.

In the finals, the Royal Cavalry of Oman and Bordeaux French Team started the game with great enthusiasm and matched each other goal for goal for most of the first and second chukkas.

But Royal Cavalry of Oman ended the third chukka with a small lead and by the end of the fourth, overran their opponents.

The final event was attended by many celebrities and others of the well heeled

BY JAN MELICHAR

set, as well as Rabii BENADADA the organizer of this amazing event: “This is something that is in the national spot light. It is an event that brought teams from many great countries to Morocco. “

The tournament was named after the late Annie Colquhoun-Denvers, was an icon of Polo for over 35 years, Her husband Nicholas was Chairman of HPC The London Polo Club for 24 years as well as a past Chairman of the Hurlingham Polo Association and past President of the Federation of International Polo.

She will be remembered as part of the history of polo forever.

ANNIE COLQUHOUN-DENVERS TRIBUTE POLO CUP

ANNIE COLQUHOUN-DENVERS TRIBUTE POLO CUP

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAN MELICHAR

THE RISE OF CAR STEALERSHIPS

HIGH DEMAND SPAWNS

SHADY SALES TACTICS

IF YOU AREN'T CAREFUL, YOU COULD PAY THOUSANDS OVER MSRP IN THIS HIGH-DEMAND, LOW-INVENTORY MARKET.

HERE ARE SOME TRIED-AND-TRUE METHODS TO AVOID FEELING RIPPED OFF.

RECENTLY, MY TRUCK WAS STOLEN, FORCING ME TO GET SOME NEW WHEELS. AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, I’VE BEEN LOOK ING TO BUY A NEW CAR.

The process has involved hours of searching. Painful haggling. And en counters with many dealerships that, quite frankly, have been downright du plicitous. The whole thing has been kind of a nightmare.

Cars are, of course, expensive, especial ly with the supply chain fiasco creat ing shortages. But it’s more than that. Shopping for cars is not like shopping for most other products. Unlike, say, computers or refrigerators, cars are typically not sold for one standard price. Ten people could go into a dealership and each pay a wildly different amount to buy the same exact vehicle.

Economists call this sort of pricing strategy “price discrimination.” That’s when, instead of charging everyone the

same price, sellers charge people differ ent prices based on their willingness to pay. In simpler terms, it means that the seller milks as much money as they can out of you. Not all dealerships engage in this pricing strategy, but many do it aggressively, often with snake oil-style salesmanship, deceptive marketing tactics, hidden fees, and overpriced add-ons, like floor mats, alarm systems, or anti-rust undercoating. Some con sumers call the outfits that employ these tactics «stealerships.»

BY GREG ROLASKY/SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES

The tricky pricing strategy used by deal erships can be maddening for consum ers, and I’ve personally found haggling over the price of a new truck with slick, commission-seeking salespeople to be exhausting (fortunately, my partner has proved herself to be a talented haggler).

A slew of economic studies has found patterns in who bears the brunt of this pricing strategy. It’s not pret ty. For example, a number of stud ies find that dealerships tend to charge people of color more than white folks. Another study finds that older people tend to be charged higher prices than younger people, and that older women tend to be charged the highest price of all.

One study found that dealerships tend to treat a buyer›s decision to trade in their used car like a neon sign on their foreheads, flashing, «Charge me more!» That›s because trading in your used car, while easier than selling it directly, also fetches less money. Dealerships appar ently see this as an indicator that you›re either unsavvy or willing to burn cash — so they jack up the price of the car they sell to you. The type of car you trade in

also offers a wealth of information on how much they can charge.

In normal times, when supply is am ple and dealerships are more worried about getting cars off the lot, it’s com mon for them to charge less than the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). But with supply-chain prob lems creating shortages of new vehicles recently, many dealerships have been charging more – much more – than MSRP. Meanwhile, the dealerships that don›t add markups to MSRP are seeing their inventory depleted quickly, and often have wait times of months or even years for coveted vehicles.

Michelle Krebs is a longtime automotive researcher who serves as the execu tive analyst of Cox Automotive, which owns brands like Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. “This is the first time in my career — and it’s a long career — that I’ve seen most dealerships charging at list price or over,” she says. “And it’s simply because there’s high demand, low inventory, and they can do it.” Krebs says she’s seen some cases where dealerships have charged buyers literally tens of thousands of dollars over MSRP.

Dealerships are usually independent franchises of their affiliated automaker, which means they are autonomous busi nesses that can basically do what they want when it comes to setting prices. But many automakers are not happy with their franchises charging crazy high markups. A recent study from the consumer group Growth for Knowledge suggests that excessive price gouging sours consumers on not just a particular dealership, but the car brand as a whole.

At least some automakers know this. Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor Company sent a letter to its dealerships urging them to end deceptive practices, such as advertising a low price online and then charging a much higher price when customers go into the store. The company complained that sky-high markups were «damaging our brands› long-term ability to capture new cus tomers and retain loyal ones.»

Likewise, Ford Motor Company urged its dealers to cut down on mark ups and threatened to cut back on send

AUTOMAKERS VS. DEALERSHIPS

ing them Ford›s most coveted vehicles if they didn›t. And yet the new Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck and the Ford Bronco are some of the most marked-up vehicles on the market, reg ularly being priced at much higher levels than what Ford has said they should be sold for. The problem for Ford: dealer ships are independent and the MSRP is just that, suggested.

Newer automakers like Tesla and Rivian have been trying to build distribution and service networks that jettison the use of independent dealerships. They are building a direct-to-consumer retail model in which consumers custom-de sign their vehicles on the Internet and receive them directly from the manufac turer — without dealership middlemen and exhausting haggling over price with commission-seeking salespeople. For in-person needs, these automakers pro vide their own dealerships and service centers.

However, there are state franchise laws across the country that protect indepen dent dealerships — and these laws have made it difficult to disrupt the dealership system and offer consumers potentially a better way of buying a vehicle.

A V8 POLITICAL ENGINE

To be fair to dealerships, they do provide important services. They offer a distribu tion and service network, which is vital to both manufacturers and car buyers. They offer buyers the ability to check out, test drive, and learn about cars at their facilities, which really do cost a lot when it comes to real estate, inventory, and manpower. If the manufacturer recalls something, there are thousands of local dealerships across the nation there to fix the problem. They also, of course, create tons of jobs in local communities.

But, while having a sprawling network of local dealerships may be valuable, this geographic reach also gives them outsized political power. Spread out all over the place, local dealerships are important constituents for a whole slew of federal, state, and local politicians. That — together with the fact that

they’re a trillion-dollar-plus industry — makes them an effective lobbying force. And opponents argue that the protective franchise laws they›ve worked to erect and maintain thwart entrepreneurs› abil ity to create new, more efficient business models that better serve consumers.

We reached out to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), which represents more than 16,000 dealerships across America, and they provided a statement. “State legislatures passed franchise laws — and continue to overwhelmingly support franchise laws — to separate car sales from manufacturing, prevent monopoly pricing by factories, promote competi tion in auto sales and service, and keep jobs and investment local,” says NADA Vice President of Communications Jared Allen. “The franchise system delivers these tremendous benefits better than anyone.”

Some of these claims — like the fact that local dealerships create jobs — are undeniable. Others are highly debatable. First of all, there are more than a doz en automakers in the United States, so no single car maker comes close to being a monopoly. And it›s not clear how add ing a middleman to the process reduces prices for consumers, especially when you consider that this middleman often resorts to a slew of tactics that tends to raise prices. Many of these dealerships, by the way, are not mom-and-pop shops; the industry is seeing growing consolidation, with multi-billion-dollar corporations now owning hundreds of dealerships across the nation.

For years, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency tasked with looking out for American consum ers, has advocated relaxing state fran chise laws so that companies like Tesla or Rivian can create new, direct-to-con sumer business models. “States should allow consumers to choose not only the cars they buy, but also how they buy them,” FTC officials wrote in 2015. But franchise laws continue to protect the dealership model and thwart innovation. Earlier this summer, the FTC proposed

new rules aimed at combating the graft and skullduggery found at many dealerships. “As auto prices surge, the Commission is seeking to eliminate the tricks and traps that make it hard or impossible to comparison shop or leave consumers saddled with thousands of dollars in unwanted junk charges,” the FTC said.

The new rules the FTC proposes include a ban on deceptive advertising in which dealerships market cars as way cheaper than they actually intend to sell them for; a ban on “junk fees for fraudulent add-on products and services that pro vide no benefit to the consumer”; and a requirement that dealerships disclose upfront all costs and conditions for buy ing their vehicles.

NADA, not surprisingly, opposes these proposed rules. “The FTC’s proposed rules would cause great harm to con sumers by significantly extending transaction times, making the customer experience much more complex and inefficient, and increasing prices, and NADA again urges the FTC to go back to the drawing board before forcing imple mentation of a series of unstud ied and untested mandates that will have such significant negative impacts on customers,” says NADA Vice President of Communications Jared Allen.

BUYING A CAR IN THIS BON KERS MARKET

I asked Krebs, the longtime automobile industry analyst, if she had any advice for me — and, more importantly, you, our cherished readers — about buying a car in this bonkers, supply-constrained market. “I always say pack your patience and persistence,” Krebs says. “You have to keep looking, keep shopping. You must be flexible on your choice. You may not get the brand or car style you want. And, importantly, expand your geographic search. Most people don’t want to shop more than 25 miles away, but you may need to go farther than that.”

LIFESTYLES & WEALTH

THE GEOGRAPHICAL PATTERNS OF BILLIONAIRES

THESE CONTROLS, WHICH ARE BURIED INSIDE PRODUCTS FROM APPLE, GOOGLE, META AND OTHERS, MAKE US SHARE MORE DATA THAN WE NEED TO…OR PERHAPS OUGHT TO.

RICH BOYS AND GIRLS, IT SEEMS, ARE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY ON EARTH.

In a new report detailing the world cities with the most millionaires, the US holds half of the top 10 spots, Bloomberg reported Tuesday morning.

Unsurprisingly, New York sits at the very top of the list, with 345,600 highnet-worth individuals. Tokyo (304,900 HNWIs) and the Bay Area (276,400 HNWIs) came in second and third, respectively. The top five were round ed out by London (272,400 HNWIs) and Singapore (249,800 HNWIs).

Despite those impressive numbers, seven of the top 10 cities actually saw

a loss of high-net-worth residents in the first half of 2022. At the very top, New York saw a 12 percent drop in its HNWI population, while Tokyo saw an 8 percent decrease. The Bay Area, one of the few metropolises to see growth this year, experienced a 4 percent jump. The only other two cities in the top 10 to see positive movement were Singapore (a one percent increase) and Houston (which sits at No. 8 in the ranking and

saw a six percent increase).

Henley & Partners, the residency adviso ry firm that compiled the report, also highlighted the 25 fastest-growing cities in the world in terms of their HNWI population. Those with robust oil and gas industries make up a large part of that list, with Riyadh coming in first, followed by Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

As far as the United States is concerned, Austin is the first American city to appear on the fastest-growing list, as its HNWI numbers have increased 14 percent in 2022 alone, with 15,800 such people residing in the Texas city. As many companies move their offices to Texas and Florida, a number of other cities in both states are also seeing a rise in high-net-worth individuals moving to them, Henley & Partners noted. West

TOP 20 CITIES FOR MILLIONAIRES

New York Tokyo

San Francisco Bay Area London Singapore

Palm Beach and Miami, in particular, were two standout Florida cities.

Of course, many HNWIs split their time between cities, so you don’t actually have to choose just one millionaire-laden area to settle down in.

Los Angeles and Malibu Chicago Houston Beijing Shanghai Sydney Hong Kong Frankfurt Toronto Zurich Seoul Melbourne

Dallas and Fort Worth Geneva Paris

THE QUAIL & PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE

BY MICHAEL SNELL, LUXURY LIFESTYLES & AUTOMOBILES CONTRIBUTOR

MONTEREY CAR WEEK

HIGH SOCIETY

HONORING WORLD-CLASS AUTOMOBILES

CALIFORNIA’S CARMEL VALLEY FOR THIS ANNUAL VERSION OF DRIVE-ANDTELL, BETTER KNOWN AS MONTEREY CAR WEEK.

Just as you would normally have a rival classmate competing to impress the professor, this rival game of one-upman ship continued to exacerbate this year without exceptions.

Entering into this 2022 combo edition

of all things auto: a convergence of high-stakes auctions, bespoke brand experiences, reveals, previews, concours displays and parties (you get the idea) at exclusive locations (only the coveted wristbands granted entry), this week is the true mecca for those who eat, sleep and drink petrol.

The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, opened the formal prestige event at The Quail Lodge & Golf Club. With attend ees wearing their Sunday bests, they

navigated the show field as 19 models premiered for the first time, 200 classics were set on display and supercars and exotics were judged for the Best of Show title.

Throughout the day, mem bers of the press and automo tive community were delight ed as reveals of new, open-air models were scattered across the show’s program. Maserati showcased the 621 hp MC20 Cielo Spyder alongside the MC20 coupe and new Grecale SUV.

An earshot away, Bugatti lined up its 1,600 hp W16 Mistral inspired by the 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid and built on a revised Chiron tub.

“Bugatti has always been associated with the puri

ty of open-top driving,” said Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, in the official announcement. “So even though the legacy of the road-going W16 ends with the W16 Mistral, we continue the legacy of the roadster, first established by Ettore Bugatti more than a century ago.”

Yet another roadster that attracted the crowd was the 1,817 hp convertible Hennessey Venom F5, with only 30 units planned for production, priced at a cool $3 million each. We also saw McLaren draw a large crow moments before lifting the cover off the track-only Solus GT, also with 25 units planned for production (each of the 25 already allocated.)

But if you are a Porsche fan, you would have been pleased. With an unmistakable presence that you couldn’t miss, the brand pulled out all the stops for the re veal of the new 911 GT3 RS, in alignment with the re-imagined 911s, and the 993 Turbocharged Coupe re mastered by Gunther Werks, and Turbo Study of the 964 Cabriolet by Singer.

This was the year for many independent design firms coming through with mod ification, performance and tactical enhancements that are speaking to consumers more than ever.

The EVs and SUVs groups were also represented — the Lucid Air and Lamborghini Urus Performante were

among the standouts with the Polestar line-up also on full display.

While the latest high-per formance offerings seemed to draw most of the atten tion, the concours kicked off with a bang. Among the latter, three commemora tive categories comprised the 50th Anniversary of the BMW M Division, awarded to a 1981 BMW M1 owned by Benjamin Clymer of New York; 70 Years of Jaguar and Their Wins at Le Mans, won by a 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy belonging to Mark Miller of California; and All Things Mini, with a 1965 Austin Mini Cooper S owned by Eric Breslow of Nevada taking the title. Crowned as top, Best of Show overall car was William Pope’s impec

MONTEREY CAR WEEK

cably restored 1956 Jaguar D-Type.

While there are true fewer honors for most collectors to have, the coveted award of honor received at The Quail is quite the symbol of achievement. While this gathering of combustion and coachwork speaks to the elite quality of the machines within the competition, both commercially and among collectors, it made for a win ning day all around.

Throughout each evening, should you be savvy enough

to be graciously bestowed an invite, manufacturers played host to a very select group of individuals in the form of party. Known as ‘house par ties,’ it’s common to swoon over a friend’s mention when you hear them recit ing their upcoming evening stops at ‘House of Bentley,’ ‘Lamborghini House’ or ‘McLaren House’ knowing full well where the hot spots will be with the flashiest people, cars, drinks, food and dancing… 6 p.m. until late.

If you are able to survive the

late nights, early press meet ings, manufacturers’ events or catch one of Gooding & Company’s record setting auctions for this year (as they totaled $456.1 million in car sales – the highest record yet) you get to experience something truly unique –The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

While this, too, is one of the world’s most-elite, classic car shows, here we witnessed the pinnacle of marquee vehi cles, on display from global destinations, each with their

own historical impact. While each year varies with theme and class, this year’s featured classes included vehicles from the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centennial, 1932 Ford Historic Hot Rods, Lincoln V8, Lincoln V12, Graber Coachwork and McFarlan, as well as classes for Ferrari, Duesenberg, Packard and Rolls-Royce, among others.

The tradition of excellence has a legacy dating back to 1950, when sports cars used to race through the nearby Del Monte Forest.

MONTEREY CAR WEEK

Transitioned into a displayed spectator event, Pebble Beach’s Concours d’Elegance is one of the most-respected, judged events globally that celebrates the automobile.

While you stroll along the manicured fairway, it is a true sight to behold the history of coach-craftsmanship and engineering artistry. These preserved pieces of transpor tation are carefully arranged while crowds of spectators, armed with smartphones and digital cameras, carefully re cord the affair’s ambiance to commemorate all the details.

For this year, the event cele brated its 71st Concours d’El egance, with over 200 cars traveling from 21 countries, all judged by the world’s top authorities on the automo bile. Who knew that knowing the “correct” brightness of chrome plating or gloss depth on exterior paint is such a thing, but for the semi-foren sic eyes at Pebble, the analysis is part of the process to attain the elitist class.

The 1932 Duesenberg J Figoni Sports Torpedo owned by Lee R. Anderson Sr. from Naples, Fla., was the winner

of the Best in Show with sev eral other notable autos this year including 1937 TalbotLago T150C-SS Figoni & Falaschi Teardrop Coupé as a Best of Show Nominee, 1932 Lincoln KB Murphy Roadster taking the Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible, 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Zagato Berlinetta taking the Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car, 1911 Rambler Model 65 Seven Passenger Touring taking the Ansel Adams Award and the 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Fuller Double Pullman

Limousine taking the Lucius Beebe Trophy to name a few.

In addition to the record attendance this year, The Pebble Beach Concours raised more than $2.67 million for charity, bringing the event’s total charitable donations more than $35 million to date. Through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the primary charitable partner of the Concours, these funds benefit more than 95 local charities, impacting the lives of more than 10,000 children annually in Monterey County.

MONTEREY

MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

ERIC VAN HOUTEN

WHEN ERIC VAN HOUTEN MOVED TO NASHVILLE FROM HIS HOMETOWN OF BUFFALO, N. Y., HE HAD ANY THING-BUT-TYPI CAL BIG PLANS TO FURTHER HIS MUSI CAL CAREER AND MAKE WAVES IN THE PROCESS.

Van Houten is already recog nized for a silk-like voice and emotion-driven lyrics. With his high energy and a new age style of songwriting, he sets life to music while sport ing an edgy and organic, yet authentic, sound. Known to be a charmer, Van Houten transports his listeners to another place with a careful combination of his blended sound. He draws inspiration from a mixture of country and rock that bleeds into the heartbeat and soul of each piece.

The Polo Lifestyles team spoke with Eric to ask him about writing, his current projects and about his in spirations. Here is what this young artist has to say about the industry:

What drives you to write and sing about your inspirations?

“Honestly, everything. From personal experience, to watching friends go through something. I have even

(draw inspiration from) just watching someone in publicfor example, an older couple having the time of their lives with each other, or some teenagers breaking up at a diner. All life experiences are something personal and as they are witnessed, they play a huge role in each song that I write. This is because to capture emotion and to translate into a song, it must be done from the most pure and natural of life’s occurrences.”

While all musicians aren’t original writers of their own music, why do you find such a natural fit between yourself and the microphone and audience once you get behind it?

“The connection is real between the songs I write and the songs I get to sing. I live to express to people these authentic pieces of who I am and what I feel every day. So, it feels like there is an automatic connection with the fans or audience every time we play because at some point in everyone’s life they’ve felt the same bit of love, pain, hurt, happiness or joy, that we sing about and put into our songs.”

People say country music themes are usually about loving, leaving, or just getting by. Are these inspirational themes true to the genre of music and what is your sweet spot?

“For me, a lot of the emotion and material I write is love related. The good, the bad, and the ugly of what love is a lot of what country music speaks to. It’s about speak ing the truth from within and conveying your feelings into a melodic expression so someone else can feel it as well.”

Out of the country legends, who do you pull inspiration from and how has it shaped your music?

“Keith Urban is by far the biggest influence on my music in the country music

world. Coming from New York, I loved country music growing up but was a total rock kid: from 80s Hair Metal to Goo Goo Dolls, to the Eagles, and everything in between. What I truly drew from Keith Urban was the way to help to learn to blend it all!”

Eric Von Houten’s latest Album, ‘Dreamers’ is now available to stream on Spotify and you can learn more about upcoming shows and releases by following @ericvanhouten on Instagram.

ART & AUTOS

ART & AUTOS

MICHAEL SNELL LUXURY LIFESTYLE & AUTOMOTIVE CONTRIBUTOR @agnello_1

IXED IN BE TWEEN THE BOU TIQUES AND ARTISANAL EAT ERIES, YOU’LL HAVE TO DO A DOUBLE TAKE IF YOU ARE DRIVING TOO FAST FOR FEAR OF MISSING THIS QUAINT HOME DATING ITSELF BACK TO 1810.

The J.H. Coles Homestead, located in what is now referred to as the down town district of Glen Cove, found on the gold coast of Long Island, New York it recently took on its latest set of inhabitants.

The First City Project Collective is a 501c3 non-profit organization which is dedicated to creating a widespread

appreciation of art with the main focus being on community involvement. FCP sets itself apart as a catalyst for cultur al energy in the town, as this spirited non-profit organization has reinvigorat ed the community through the exposure of new art mediums while fostering a new spirit of creativity and culture.

MFirst City Project Collective’s roots can be traced back to 2017, when Martino Auto Concepts owners and philanthropists Joe LaPadula and Jon Holzer transformed the Coles House into a kaleidoscopic street-art exhibit. Since then, LaPadula, Holzer and the Collective all with Co-Founder Soojin Kim have spearheaded community events, including last fall’s “Arts and Automobiles” an exhibition at RXR Village Square; a successful pop-up art installation; and an array of holiday-sea son events, including one of the nation’s largest annual Toys for Tots drives held at the Nassau Coliseum.

This year’s Art and Automobiles event took place in true artistic fashion with

a mid-week FCP Collective Private Preview & Reception curated by Cambridge Art Gallery which was by invitation only and built-up anticipation for the weekend’s larger event. The main event which featured a full street closure to showcase over 150 rare and unique autos, paired with a pop-up shop and the art instillation was highly attend ed. Artists that were featured within the gallery included Natasha Neary, Artlord, Woodzy, Cope 2, Hektad, Cais, Fazzino,Art by Bash, Wheezy McFly, Andrew Thiel, Sen 2, Jared Long, Ian Actual, MarinoC, BC and the hospitality was compliments of NY SpaceFinders, Peroni, Hospitality Inc. NY, Southdown Coffee, La Bussola, The Owls Brew. The weekend’s strategic automotive part ners included Hagerty, Ryan Friedman Motor Cars, Rally Point East, Ferrari Club of Long Island, Long Island Sportscars, Martino Auto Concepts, Autostrada 187, Ferrari of Long Island, Race the North, Castriota Design and The MJS Groupe and featured select merchandise available in the pop-up

ART & AUTOS

shopping experience from Royal Native, Sugar Cayne Al, Clean Kicks LI, Lost 350 Vintage, Soho Youth Club, Travy Patty’s Kicks.

“FCP Collective aims to start a dialogue with the commu nity where a balance can be achieved through a new art medium and a new spirit of creativity that can rise along side the traditional values within the first city on Long Island,” LaPadula, the found

er, president and chair of First City Project Collective’s Board of Directors, said.

Future programming is envisioned to encompass a portfolio of live art events and walks, mural projects, student art classes, artisanal food events, art-themed boutiques, pop-ups at Coles House, and more, with a goal of creating a “welcoming place where people flock to see not only great street art”

that boosts tourism and cre ates an attraction for locals to enjoy.

“First City Project Collective really seeks to become a unique catalyst for a cultural energy in the city of Glen Cove,” said co-founder Soojin Kim, who is First City Project Collective’s program and spe cial events director and vicechair of the Board. “We really want to develop the public art and cultural activities spaces

to celebrate our community and bring positivity through artistic vibrancy. A huge part of FCP Collective is to enhance the neighborhood identity, strengthen econom ic development, engage the town’s youth, drive tourism, educate, and enrich the spirit and pride of Glen Cove. I’m just so happy to be part of it all!”

LUXURY BUNKERS UNDERGROUND LAIRS

WHEN CIVILI ZATION COL LAPSES, J.C. COLE WILL BE READY.

He’s founded Safe Haven Farms, a maximum-se curity compound to ride out the next pandemic or climate-change disaster. And those who can afford to join him will also have a shot at survival, he promises. But the price tag isn’t cheap.

A $3 million investment in his startup isn’t just about getting admission. Members “also get a stake in a poten tially profitable network of local farm franchises that could reduce the probabil ity of a catastrophic event in the first place,” writes Douglas Rushkoff in his new book, “Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires.”

Cole, 66, has two farms in development, one outside Princeton and the second somewhere in the Poconos, which he envisions as “a network of secret, totally self-sufficient residential farm communities for mil lionaires, guarded by Navy SEALs armed to the teeth,” writes Rushkoff.

The developer, who says he’s not independently wealthy

but “did well in real estate,” won’t share the exact loca tions of either farm, at least not to outsiders, nor will he pose for photos — as his con cerns about security and the end of the world rides high.

“The majority of Americans do not have an insurance policy by their choice,” Cole told The Post. “If/when the supply chain collapses, these people will not have food. A

certain percentage of them will break the law and do whatever possible to get food. Therefore we want to remain ‘not findable.’ ”

Cole is far from alone. The world’s richest are increas ingly “insulating themselves from the very real and pres ent danger of climate change, rising sea levels, mass mi grations, global pandemics, nativist panic, and resource depletion,” writes Rushkoff.

For the wealthy and privi leged, writes Rushkoff, the future of technology is about “only one thing: escape from the rest of us.”

And they’re escaping in style. Texas-based Rising S Company sells luxury bunkers that run up to $9.6 million for the “Aristocrat”

model — which comes with a private bowling alley, swim ming pool, “bullet-resistant” doors and a “motor cave exit,” so you can sneak out for errands like Batman.

California-based compa ny Vivos sells luxury under ground apartments, convert ed from Cold War missile silos and storage facilities into “miniature Club Med resorts,” writes Rushkoff.

Ultra-elite shelters like The Oppidum in the Czech Republic—billed as “the largest billionaire bunker in the world”—include ame nities like simulated natural sunlight, a wine vault, and a place to hide all your stuff that’s “impregnable” to hos tile outsiders.

APOCALYPSE... NOW?

MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR BUNKERS ARE THE

LIVING WITH

AND

LIVING

LUPITA NYONG'O

LUPITA NYONG'O

LUPITA NYONG’O HAD A BUSY SUM MER—FROM ITALIAN TRAVELS TO PRE PARING FOR THE RELEASE OF BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, OUT THIS FALL.

Yet, in the midst of all that, Nyong’o surprised 40 young women at the NAACP National Convention in part nership with Lancôme and presented each woman with a $10,000 scholarship during the ACT-SO award ceremony in Atlantic City, N.J.

ACT-SO is a year-long pro gram targeted at high school students across that country that promotes their growth in disciplines ranging from visual arts and business to performing and culinary arts and provides scholarship opportunities.

“It’s a powerful initiative to support young women as they branch into their inde pendence as adults and seek further education,” Nyong’o said. “To be able to support that and to be able to facili tate literacy in adulthood is necessary. With a program like Write Her Future that is about that empowerment in young women, it’s good

community building.”

Through the NAACP’s partnership with Lancôme, the Write Her Future Scholarship Fund focuses on empowering women through literacy and education, as well as mento ring and entrepreneurship opportunities.

“Since I was a child, I have always had big dreams, and my education has played a huge part in helping me real ize them,” said Nyong’o. “I’ve always loved learning and I believe that learners change the world. I am so thrilled to award this incredible group of women with these game-changing scholarships.”

Nyong’o continued, “I come from a very close-knit family, so I was surrounded by strong women. And my father is an activist in his own community. I witnessed him really choose to fight for a better future over his imme diate comfort. That was really inspiring to me and, I think subconsciously, gave me my way of approaching social responsibility. My mother, too, has always been extreme ly involved in community and doing more than work ing beyond the walls of your home. That type of social responsibility was built into me. I like to approach my life with a consciousness of other people.”

STYLE

THE SARTORIAL SET DESCEND ED UPON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK TO KICK OFF THE SEASON OF SPRING 2023 SHOWS, AND AS IS OFTEN THE CASE WITH THIS CONCRETE JUN GLE OF DREAMS, THE CITY DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

So good was the style at New York Fashion Week, in fact, that we’re already

plotting the integration of next year’s trends into our current wardrobes... because whoever said that patience is a virtue clearly has never seen what Brandon Maxwell and Tom Ford can do with sequins.

In addition to the display of new SS23 collections, this season was peppered with pop culture moments that’ll be occupying well-deserved space in our minds for the foreseeable future. The shows began with Janet Jackson showing up to Elizabeth

Taylor’s former townhouse (Christian Siriano) and ended with Madonna on the former trading floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange (Tom Ford), as well as included Lil Nas X’s runway debut at Coach, an IRL The Devil Wears Prada moment on the Michael Kors FROW, and a scattering of Serena Williams appearances in her post-tennis glory.

But not even one of the greatest early-2000s film throwbacks of all time could distract from the clothes

themselves this season, which featured extra-long skirts that were dazzling enough to make a mermaid jealous, gar ments dripping in eye-catch ing tassels and strings, and polka dots aplenty.

As the dust begins to settle on the New York catwalks and the style stars turn their attention toward London, we’ve channeled our lingering excitement over it all into a roundup of the top Spring 2023 trends you can add to your shopping cart right away.

TOM FORD

LIL NAS X FOR COACH

BADGLEY MISCHKA

BIBHU MOHAPATRA

FENDI

JASON WU

KHAITE

MICHAEL KORS

PHOTOS COURTESY

FENDI

CONTENT AND PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION

LONDON &

MOLLY GODDARD

TORY BURCH

ULLA JOHNSON

COACH

PRABAL GURUNG

VOLUME VI / ISSUE X / OCTOBER 2022 page 134 NYFW TOM FORD

LONDON FASHION WEEK

BURBERRY SS23

FOR SPRING 2023, RICCARDO TISCI TAKES BURBERRY FOR A BEACHWEAR-INSPIRED EXPLORATION OF CLOTHING’S DUAL PURPOSE TO CONCEAL AND REVEAL.

“The tension between dressing and undressing, between revelation and protection, underwear and outerwear… I was inspired by the liberation and openness of youth, of people embracing their bodies and revealing them – a pride in themselves,” the designer said.

This reference to beachside dressing or

undressing doesn’t manifest too literally (other than the flip flops, sun hats, and diving goggles), instead making itself abstractly felt as a deconstructionist sensibility that reworks familiar codes with new design principles of exposure and revelation. Removed sleeves become waist-defining belts; bodysuits are worn over dresses, while elsewhere exaggerat ed fishnets are worn under them; under wear details like garters and clasps are made into visible structural features of outer layers; the lines of strappy bikinis inform tops and dresses. Defying the un spoken cut-out code that certain things must remain concealed, a few dresses are given what can only be described as

STYLE

butt-windows.

A sense of the gothic ro mance that characterized much of Tisci’s iconic run at Givenchy threaded its way through the collection, palpable in the lacy and sheer

layering, as well as the forays into kink. What may prove to be the collection’s best-selling piece were the accompa nying T-shirts and sweat shirt printed with esoteric, secret-society-esque graphics and slogan. Subverting the

feeling of sunshine suggested by the beachy inspiration, luxurious off-the-shoulder velvet gowns struck deadly all-black silhouettes to close out the show. Also tying into this movement was the introduction of a new

bodycon, lacy tights fabric with a monogram that incor porates the house’s historic equestrian knight logo, and seems primed to rival Gucci’s similar pattern.

MILAN FASHION WEEK

FERRAGAMO

DOLCE & GABBANA

STYLE

STYLE

BOTTEGA VENETA

GIORGIO ARMANI

GUCCI

GUCCI

GUCCI

PARIS

FASHION WEEK

DIOR

DIOR SPRING

BALMAIN

CONTENT & PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION

STREETWEAR

MEN'S TRENDS FROM GLOBAL FASHION WEEKS

DOUBLING UP DENIM

What would fashion (weeks) be without denim? And again, this season proves that denim will never go away as we watched fashionistas finding new ways to style that wardrobe essential. With clean, head-to-toe denim outfits, bleached and DIY effects and artsy details on denim-on-denim looks, the streets brought fresh air to the traditional texture.

PREP SCHOOL

No one saw it coming except for the late Virgil Abloh, who re-invented the way we see the conservative and snobby style that is preppy. And the streets took notice. Now, preppy is an essential part of street-style. At fashion week for the Spring 2023 season, we saw fashionistas adding different twists to prep style with color, graphic prints, cartoon-ish motifs and, of course, we spotted the Louis

STYLE

Vuitton varsity jacket, a fitting tribute to Virgil Abloh’s influence on this design trend.

THE TANK TOP

We can blame it on Prada for re-intro ducing the tank as the new must-have fashion essential. After the resuscita tion of this 90s/Y2K trend, the streets

couldn’t let go of it. Everywhere you go, the tank top is present and as a streetwear item, we spotted it massively on the streets for Spring 2023 fashion weeks. Tank tops are rapidly becoming a street-style essential for all genres and (almost) all occasions, due to its versatility.

STREETWEAR

WOMEN'S TRENDS FROM GLOBAL FASHION WEEKS

CRAFTY KNITS

Crochet was omnipresent this season and set an unprec edented street-style trend dominated by hand knit, DIY crafts. We spotted cute tops, dresses and pulls in 2022’s hottest trendy color: Pink. Even more ingenious are the ways those crocheted pieces were used: cross-body, overthe-shoulder and around the waist, which shows the versa tility of the crafty knit trend.

BUTTON DOWNS

The button down was another way to fight the heat while parading stylishly in streets for the Spring 2023 Fashion Week. This trend was seen in both womenswear and mens

wear with both genres exhib iting great taste with mono chromatic looks, crisp shirts, and even wearing harder fabric like denim. There was some very chic over-layering, too, with complete unbutton ing and crop tops underneath to inspire cute outfits under the sun.

THE MIDRIFF

Who let the belly out? seems to be the motto for attendees of Copenhagen’s Spring 2023 Fashion Week. Showing the belly with very tiny crop tops was the most daring trend spotted on these streets. The ladies dominated that trend with tops resembling sports bras, but in a chic, stylish and sophisticated way. Some dar

ing men joined the party, too, showing fuzzy six-packs.

CASUAL CHIC

Graphic tees, clean tops and long skirts, jackets over white shirts and caps paired with long dresses remind us why casual chic is the epitome of street style. You just can’t go wrong with it. Casual chic is the essence of street style and this season, the fashionistas reminded us once again how important and essential “less is more” is when it comes to streetwear.

PLAYFUL WORK WEAR

Proving once again that boring work wear is blasé, we spotted some very notewor

STANLEY PIERRE-ETIENNE STYLE CONTRIBUTOR

thy and polished outfits with blazers in bold colors, crisp tailored pants, suspend ers over crisp white shirts, monochromatic suits and white tank tops underneath oversized vests. More than a statement, this interesting way to wear work wear is blatantly revolutionary and we want more.

MUMMY

Stating loudly that the trend started by pregnant Rihanna is here to stay, many women were showing their round figures in the most stylish outfits proving that even at this stage in life, women can still be chic, stylish and a part of the global street-style conversation.

LUXURY REAL ESTATE

ALWAYS WEATHERING THE STORM

THE STEADFAST NYC REAL ESTATE MARKET HOLDS ITS GROUND

DANA ROMITA  LUXURY REAL ESTATE CONTRIBUTOR  @danaromita

THOUGH

I HAD A DIFFERENT TOPIC IN MIND FOR THIS PIECE, I FELT THAT I COULDN’T IGNORE THE CON TINUED DRAMATIC ECONOM IC ACTIVITY THAT DEFINES OUR LIVES.

It preoccupies me daily, as I work with clients. I look for patterns, correlations, evidence of how economic events are impacting the NYC real estate market, consumers’ mindsets, and behavior; and

how I should my approach change, if at all. My current assessment is a result of reading, listening, watching, and most importantly of being in the trenches each day.

I believe that the NYC real estate market remains a stable investment path head ing into Q4 of 2022. Inflation, rising interest rates, and declining equities

define the current financial landscape; and anyone considering a transaction in the NYC real estate market is trying to understand the correlation between this economic climate and the market. While headlines dominate the news about the declining housing market, housing market slump/slowdown –NYC remains a stand-alone market, defining its own path through this volatile financial climate, which is what those who specialize in studying and understanding NYC real estate have been saying. According to the RealDeal

on September 9th, “Private Equity is back to betting big on New York Rentals”; and Mansion Global on the 19th, “High end deal making doubled from the prior week in the Manhattan Luxury Market even as stocks plunged.” The Olshan Luxury Market Report stated that “Twenty contracts were signed last week at $4M and above in Manhattan…last week’s total was not only a robust rebound, but a par ticularly unexpected perfor mance…in the wake of one of Wall Street’s worst weeks

of the year.”

The NYC real estate market is unique in that rising inter est rates don’t automatically slow down housing demand.

Rising interest rates will have an impact on transaction activity in NYC; they will es sentially bifurcate the market.

Cash buyers and those with large budgets will be mostly unphased by rising interest rates (I see this firsthand daily), while buyers in the lower end of the market will be more circumspect with their decision making. The below $4M market segment

may realize some downward pricing, but this will be miti gated by the lack of inventory coming to market which could result in, overall, fewer transactions. Lower inven tory levels in Manhattan will keep prices from decreasing as one might anticipate they would in the wake of higher interest rates. Manhattan new condo inventory has fallen below 6000 units for the first time since 2018 according to Brown Harris Stevens. I hear brokers bemoaning regu larly “there just isn’t enough inventory coming to market!”

Luxury NYC market pricing should remain steady while new development pricing will trend higher, which is what I am seeing at my current new development projects.

New development is back on track, but with a few chang es. There are overall smaller floor plans, despite the pur ported desire for home office space. In contrast to smaller floor plans for individual units, amenities and outdoor space are now prioritized and designed even larger than in the past. Remember how we were seeing just the

opposite during the pandem ic – amenities were off limits and/or shunned and people sought more private space. Additionally, the buyer pro file has shifted – the luxury new development market is now fueled by domestic rather than international buyers. With luxury listings still commanding high prices and new development pricing on the rise, what are buyers in this market prize willing to pay ultimate premium for? It is the views that will command a premium in a premium market. Central Park is the most prized view, in second place are the city’s

LUXURY REAL ESTATE

iconic buildings, and water views take the bronze medal in third place.

The question remains whether to rent or buy in this market. According to Mike Naftali “Buyers that need fi nancing will slow down. They will go to the rental market or compromise”. But with the median rent in Manhattan reaching $4000 for the first time in history, and luxury apartments renting for close to 44% more than they did before the pandemic, the rental market is a challeng ing destination for would be buyers. Though mortgage

rates are double what they were at the end of December, depending on one’s time horizon, it typically makes more sense to purchase than rent. A recent buyer looking to finance a purchase said to me, “The higher interest rates make buying a little more complicated, but it still makes more sense than renting; and I can always refinance when rates come down.” They are looking to be in this home for at least the next 5 years, so I agree with this perspective.

Unfortunately, inflation is going to define the economic landscape for the foreseeable

future, ergo I believe real assets remain an intelligent investment option. NYC has a track record of being one of the best long-term real estate investments in the US. The market continues to rise year over year, with home prices nearly doubling over the last decade. If you have a longer-term time horizon, in vesting in NYC real estate can be a wise choice. Manhattan is an island of finite size– it was a smart investment in 1626 and still is!

Dana Romita sells real estate in Manhattan/Hamptons at Douglas Elliman dana.romita@elliman.com.

PHILANTHROPY IN FOCUS

DISRUPTING CAPITALISM: PATAGONIA'S BET TO SAVE THE PLANET

WHETHER PATAGONIA FOUNDER YVON CHOUINARD IS SETTING A NEW TREND IN CAPITALISM AND PHILANTHROPY OR WHETHER HIS GIFT STANDS OUT AS A ONE-OFF, THERE IS NO DENYING THAT ITS INCREDIBLY MAGNANIMOUS AND DIRELY NEEDED.

WILLIAM SMITH @willismith_2000 COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR

WHO GIVES AWAY A BUSINESS VAL UED AT THREE BILLION-WITH-A-B DOLLARS? RELUCTANT BIL LIONAIRE YVON CHOUINARD, THAT’S WHO.

Last month, the octogenarian founder of Patagonia and outdoor enthusiast turned climate change champion, be came head of one of the most charitable families in the United States when he, his wife, and their two adult children gave away their entire ownership inter ests in the outdoor gear company.

Chouinard is a real “rags-to-riches” story. Of French-Canadian ancestry, at one early point, he sold pitons (for rock climbing) out of the back of his car,

with enough success that he went on to found a company whose core business was based on innovations in climbing equipment.

VOLUME VI / ISSUE X / OCTOBER 2022 page 166 His story also calls to mind the business acumen of Harry Bailey, the father of George Bailey in the Hollywood classic film It’s a Wonderful Life. “If we could do the right thing while making enough to pay the bills, we could influence cus tomers and other businesses, and maybe change the system along the way,” he

wrote on the company’s Web site in the announcement of the historic gift. That same care extended into the com pany where, early on, there was a focus on employee well-being.

But unlike the Baileys, whose constant challenge was to have enough money to pay their own bills, Patagonia’s sales exceed $1 billion USD a year. And with it, his own personal wealth grew, land ing the elder Chouinard on Forbes list of the wealthiest, to which he bristled. “We strongly oppose being includ ed on this list,” a spokesman for Patagonia told Forbes in 2017 when he landed on the list. Chouinard himself was blunter, telling the New York Times in a recent interview, “I was in Forbes magazine listed as a billionaire, which really, really pissed me off.” I don’t have $1 billion in the bank. I don’t drive Lexuses,” he said.

Long before the Chouinards

were contemplating their collective legacy, Yvon’s at tention turned to not just an enjoyment of the outdoors, but a deep care for it.

Since 1985, the company itself has been donating “1 percent of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment” resulting in $140 million in cash and in-kind donations to environmentally focused efforts. The commitment gained further steam when Chouinard co-created the non-profit “1% for the Planet,” a “global network of businesses, individuals and Environmental Partners tack ling our planet’s most press ing environmental issues.”

And in 2011, he led efforts that turned Patagonia into a certified B Corp, demonstrat ing the company’s commit ment to a new way of doing business long before most other companies even knew what a B Corp was.

That all pales, of course, in

comparison to actually giving the company away.

“Earth is now our only shareholder,” proclaimed the statement announcing the gift. “If we have any hope of a thriving planet – much less a business – it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resources we have. This is what we can do,” the statement continued.

Accomplishing the gift required the creation of two entities – a trust called the Patagonia Purpose Trust and a second non-profit organi zation called the Holdfast Collective. The Trust will ensure the purpose of the gift and the company’s mission to give away its profits for environmental causes and the Holdfast Collective will receive and distribute those profits.

What is a win-win for the Chouinards and for the plan et, caused quite a stir among the corporate set and the crass capitalism so prevalent

in the global economy.

“I don’t respect the stock market at all,” he said to the Times in explaining why tak ing the company public was not an option. “Once you’re public, you’ve lost control over the company, and you have to maximize profits for the shareholder, and then you become one of those irre sponsible companies.”

Whether Chouinard is set ting a new trend in capitalism and philanthropy or whether his gift stands out as a oneoff, there is no denying that its incredibly magnanimous and direly needed.

For me, I’m awaiting the cool fall weather so I can sport my new Nano Puff Patagonia jacket in Metric Orange, showing off both inimitable outdoor style as well as my commitment to live more sustainably and support com panies with my own dollars that share my values. Thanks, Patagonia.

MANSION OF THE MONTH

A BEAUX-ART MASTERPIECE

25 RIVERSIDE DRIVE NYC 10023

APALATIAL BEAUX-ARTS

MANSION IS CURRENT LY ON THE MARKET FOR SALE. A CORNER BUILDING, SEVEN FLOORS

HIGH, ENHANCED WITH EX POSURES ON THREE SIDES.

Abundant light captures stunning sunset views from the river with park access directly in between. A home of this scale, detail, and size is rarely available in NYC.

Located on a hilltop corner at 75th Street and Riverside Drive, this 3-sided detached one-of-a-kind mansion has not been listed since a meticulous renova tion, completed in 2022, and bringing it into the 21st century. Sweeping palisades views from 70 windows – oversized and curved, with outdoor terraces on 4 floors.

This grand palatial home, offering river vistas covers over 12,000 square feet with above-grade basement; at 30 feet in width and soaring 12-14 feet in ceiling height.

The home has eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms, two half baths, three kitch ens, six fireplaces and an elevator to all seven floors. The staff quarters include kitchen, bath with separate entrance: a gym, wine cellar, office and storage rooms; ideal for a variety of recreational equipment.

Plantings of pear trees and exotic flora can be viewed through the main level rooms and onto the outdoor garden. One would expect these exceptional views in a country manor, but they are remarkable when considering you are in

the center of New York City.

Terraces, enhancing the bed room suite creates country living while overlooking sunset views from Riverside Park. The entertaining floor has original coffered corklined ceilings, with a chef’s kitchen and two ovens, two copper sinks, two dishwash ers and two refrigerators.

The fourth-floor study with Tiffany and La Farge stainedglass doors creates a magical entrance. It has been retro fitted with Jacobean-style paneling and a Mueller tiled fireplace.

There are three additional bedrooms, a playroom and two bathrooms. A mahoga ny theater is the focal point

on the fifth floor plus a full kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and wood burn ing fireplace.

The piece de resistance, on the 6th floor landing, includes a glass conservatory with sweeping 180-degree views and a terrace large enough for seating 100 –imagine candlelit dinners and

elegant entertaining.

This home is one for all seasons and one to capture all the senses. A rare opportuni ty to own a truly significant property in the most coveted city in the world.

Listed by Elizabeth L. Sample and Brenda S. Powers.

HUS STUD FARM

This exceptional estate comprises not only a historic chateau but also one of France’s biggest equestrian facilities with

the capacity to house approximately 400 horses. The castle has been restored and offers 1000 sq. meters of perfectly renovated living space including an in door pool, a steam room and a gym. The spacious grounds comprise 128 hectares including private access to the River

Erdre, a 30-meter mooring, extensive equestrian training facilities including show jumping and dressage with 200 hectares extra rental. Restored outbuild ings, helicopter pad and only 35 kilome ters from the international airport. The sale includes 300 horses.

CASTILLO

NOW YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL: LIFESTYLE, LUX URY, LOCATION AND LIMITED TAX LIABILITY. WITHOUT DOUBT CASTILLO CARIBE IS ONE OF THE FIN EST BEACH-FRONT ESTATE HOMES IN THE WORLD OF FERING EVERY LUXURY FOR MODERN DAY LIFE WITH ALL THE LIFESTYLE OPTIONS ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND THE CARIBBEAN.

Although the Cayman Islands enjoy year-round sunshine and a temperate climate, this benefit is eclipsed in most people’s eyes by the Islands’ offshore status. The Cayman Islands are well known as a financial center on the world’s stage and provide the highest quality of lifestyle available in a tax

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In Search of SolaceThe Perfect Sip and Bite

THE PERFECT SIP (AND BITE)

WILLIAM SMITH @willismith_2000 COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR

EARLIER THIS YEAR, I PENNED

A PIECE IN POLO LIFESTYLES

ON SUMMER WINE EVENTS AND FESTIVALS (APRIL 2022).

It was great fun to research and write, but a recent experience made me realize I missed a key point of many wine festivals – the food. The omission, in retrospect, feels nearly sacrilegious. So I am taking some license this month and creating an addendum of sorts to that original piece.

I’m a believer in these two truisms –wine makes food better and food makes wine better. And what better a place to test out these truisms than at a hallmark wine festival designed to feature both.

I’m lucky to live in a place with a great festival: the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta. The additional benefit is that the event features so many of our incredible local restaurants, many of which can point to James Beard Nominations and Awards to back up their culinary bona fides.

First, let’s talk about the wine. This year, more than 90 wineries were pouring their grapey goodness. One name famil iar to me was Napa’s Round Pond Estate. I’d been to Round Pond for a wedding four years ago and what I remembered from that that experience was a gor geous setting and a rightful focus on the bride and groom. I also remembered their lineup of unctuous olive oils. What I didn’t remember were the wines.

Shame on me, for rediscovering Round Pond Estate was pure bliss.

Round Pond Estate is nestled into the acclaimed Rutherford Region of the Napa Valley, counting among its

adjacent neighbors such well-regarded names as Frog’s Leap, Caymus, Honig, Beaulieu, and St. Supery. At the Fiesta, I tasted the 2019 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon which the winemaker describes as “a true reflection of the sig nature Rutherford dust.” It’s deliciously that and more.

Deep crimson in the glass, aromas of dark fruits, soil and minerality jump out in a most inviting way. Deep yet subtle, it’s a balanced mix of roasted spices and cocoa hints that left me wanting yet an other tasting. It also felt like the perfect food Cabernet, so the hunt was on for its perfect pairing bite.

Although Round Pond’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was perfect on its own, like most cabs from Napa, I want it along side some roasted or grilled beef. With more than 60 restaurants taking part in the Fiesta, there were no lack of options. But close to where Round Pound was pouring, was the exceptional stalwart of Santa Fe’s food scene, Geronimo.

SANTA FE WINE & CHILE FIESTA

Geronimo’s accolades are many and it’s been a favorite of mine for decades. Their luxuriously inviting dining room, along Santa Fe’s famed Canyon Road and nestled into an historic adobe from the mid-18th century, is out done only be the exceptional dishes delivered from the kitchen, helmed by Executive Chef Sllin Cruz.

At the Fiesta, Geronimo was offering a bite of decadent

ly rich, boneless beef rib, slow-roasted for umpteen hours and served atop creamy mashed potatoes with just a hint of the region’s ubiquitous green chile.

Fatty and caramelized from the roasting, the succulent meat was the perfect bite to accompany Round Pond’s Cabernet, underscoring that even a simple wine festival can create a sublime experi ence for the senses.

I’d be remiss if I also didn’t mention that the savoriest of experiences also always has me eager to experience the sweet side.

And so I did, finding that another favorite of mine, Joseph’s Culinary Pub, was serving up their legendary butterscotch pudding with caramel sauce and sea salt. It, too, went perfectly with what remained in my glass of the tasting of Round Pond’s cab

ernet. And yes, I did go back for a second tasting pour. What are wine festivals for if not to indulge in one’s favor ite finds more than once?

Salud y buen provecho!

ALIGN WITH YOUR INNER PEACE THE EVOLUTION OF INEVITABLE

AMRITLAL SINGH SPIRITUALITY CONTRIBUTOR @monarch_visionary

IMAGINE THE DIS TRESS OF

BEING TORN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS? ONE THAT YOU’VE

ALWAYS FELT SHOULD BE AND THE OTHER WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PERCEIVE.

A life that sings to your soul like an ancient memory, beckoning you forth from a world in which few can bear to be. As our focus shifts, the question aris es: “How would it feel to be free?”

Trapped within the confines of the mind, drowning in the escalating sadness of not becoming, an unrealized soul shall always yearn to be whole. Such is the call that shakes our hearts free from the shackles of the material world, igniting our collective imagina

tion to guide us into harmony.

The mental health crisis has become a global epidemic, plaguing citizens of every country with unaccounted for inner panic and disharmony. The desire to escape this world are mounting as sentient souls become more aware of the emotional pain we’ve been avoiding.

The dissonance that has formed be tween our hearts and minds has created a void that can no longer be ignored. According to a 2018 Reuters press arti cle, the rising mental health crisis could cost the global economy up to $16 tril lion between 2010 and 2030 if a collec tive failure to respond is not addressed.

Even in these uncertain and terrifying times, as so many are experiencing the darkness that has masked itself for so long within ourselves, our families and society, it is the acts of compassion and designs of spiritual innovation that are pouring forth in support of humanity’s collective transition into unity, that are guiding us into the prophesied Golden Age.

Despite the impending doom of many headlines, nature has demonstrated, through observation of her infinite miraculous creations, that stress births evolution, and through the osmotic pursuit of peace and harmony, natural systems evolve through divine organic equilibrium.

When we are pressured into change, we outperform our own perceived limita tions. As we are forced to fly, we learn to soar with grace. Together, we remember the glory of our interconnected, cosmi cally seeded star race.

MENTAL LIBERATION

It is the mind that cages the heart’s potential and the soul’s realization that ignites the heart’s struggle for liberation. Our own misperceptions from false ap prehensions are causing so much strife in our lives during what should be the most celebrated of times.

Healing our own anxiety is the first step to breaking free from the twisted cords that ensnare our organs and toxify our relationships. Our bodies create our

In a world lost With confusion and disarray Our strength

To establish internal harmony Will transform our reality

- AMRITLAL SINGH

YOUR PURPOSE

IN SYNC WITH YOUR VIBE

own medicine, and it is the internal struggle that leads to energetic and chemical imbalances between our cere bral hemispheres.

As our hearts wrestle free from our own mental en ergetic blocks, it is the flow of life force that is freed through the healing of our nervous system that evolves the expression of our spirit to gradually reveal our destiny. Guided by the rising of the inner flames, just as our fears enslave us, it is our love for the undeniable magnificence of our eternal soul’s journey that liberates us.

HEALING KARMA TO ESTABLISH DHARMA

When the drive to live over comes the ease of being lulled to sleep, society shall awaken, for as we honor our right to experience peace by living in honor of the sacred laws, our higher vision comes into focus, revealing opportunities to bring us each into purpose.

In response to the inner call for peace, the momentous ef fort to liberate our authentic selves evolves our thinking, transforming our conscious mental states to experience the Earth as her true majestic

being, as we respect and hon or our individual sovereignty.

According to the Chopra Center, “When you live in the harmonious flow of dhar ma, the entire field of pure potentiality opens to you. You’re able to create as much happiness and wealth as you want because you’re aligned with the domain of spirit, the unlimited source of all manifestation.”

The evolution from victimiza tion to empowerment reveals to us that we are the source of our own unique reality, an energetic kaleidoscope of spiritual cosmic energies. We are both the cure and the disease. Not only are we the power that we seek, we are the gift that we bring, for as we individually step into our roles of service, we deliver to those in need; we embody the truth that sets us free.

The universal spiritual laws are always in action even for those who may be oblivious to a higher force benefiting our soul’s karmic adventure. Quantum science establishes that we are a constant ener getic manifestation, attract ing that which we embody. As human quantum field generators, we receive exactly

what we release into the field, and as a result, experience the reality with which we resonate. Through the realiza tion of our collective spirit, we enlighten the planet as we embark upon our journey through the spiritual realms of the cosmos. We experience the peace which we create.

RESURRECTING THE INNER MAGI

Within us all lies an ancient power, a sleeping giant, stirred by the wounds of our despair and resurrected in our remembering that leads us upon an inner path of self-discovery. Propelled forward through a mystical process of soul recovery, our drive to unite with our own supreme being unravels the wisdom, guidance and strength to rise up in appre ciation for that which has al ways been, simply forgotten.

Beneath our heavy personal ities, the dense skin that we adorn ourselves in, the blind ers that limit our perception of life’s infinite magnificence, upon a throne of heart-fire gold, sits a bright-eyed, ev er-powerful child whose love shall never grow old.

Dulled through the senses,

though never fully aban doned, our crown is restored with the promise of joy that comes as a reward for incar nating upon such a chaotic, backwards-spinning world. Unwavering in determination to realize liberation, as we test our roar, we soon realize that we are capable of creating the life we truly deserve.

Nature always delivers, to those who pray, as a reward for training in the power of our focused emotional ener getic state. The quantum laws of vibratory resonance are now as clear as day. Through the healing of the child within, through the power of breath, presence, awareness, yoga and other ancient prac tices, we discover our true majesty.

We are the ancient ones, shining in embodiment as we create ourselves from higher states of consciousness.

THE LEGIONS AWAKEN

Imagine a world where one’s worth is determined by our contribution to the Earth. A species focused on cultivating the fire within whose power knows no end. Imagine a life spent in delivery of the vision

RENEWAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT EXPLORATION · ENERGY

that pours forth as we invest our sacred energy in mani festing our cosmic prophecy.

Empaths awakening to the distress signals of the inner kingdoms are ascending across the world in service to balance, harmony, purpose and devotion. As the joy of discovering our collective potential and the awe of the vision to be manifested shifts our focus, it is the power of the heart’s cosmic force rippling across the collective

DNA that frees the sacred stream of universal life force, manifesting herself into its perfected divine being.

The universal spiritual laws that govern all life radiates in magnetism as humanity em bodies them. Children of the Elements, we are the power source of the Earth’s ecosys tem. Stepping into our truth, we become the synchronicity.

Through this karmic un folding process, the Earth’s

rising heartbeat, measured as the Schuman resonance, is awakening her children to their light missions as the Guardians of our planet, our species and our souls. In re sponse to the Earth’s ascend ing vibrational state, rising up as healers, New Earth scientists, way showers and shamans, we are all deliv ered to our respectful places. There is no separation.

As the liberation of our individual free will directs

the alignment of our harmo nious coexistence, it will be our coordinated efforts to unravel our collective stress that births the evolution of our consciousness.

As the rising of the divine feminine unites the Earth’s clans, the concerted healing of our mother’s pain sets our love free.

Peace is inevitable.

MOLD YOUR MIND

THE POWER OF UNLOCKING YOUR MIND

COMMUNICATION IS TOUGH

THE BEST WAY TO HAVE A HARD CONVERSATION

JOEY VELEZ HEALTHY LIFESTYLES CONTRIBUTOR @joeyavelez88

HEN YOU NEED TO HAVE A TOUGH CONVERSATION, WHERE THE STAKES ARE HIGH AND HIGH ER LEVELS OF EMOTIONS ARE INVOLVED, DO THEY ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED? DO THEY TEND TO GO OFF TRACK? DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF FEELING FRUSTRATED MID CONVO?

Chances are you have no doubt at tempted to have conversations that were planned out in advance, but soon get adjusted after the first question is asked. Chances are also that you have started a conversation about one topic, but ended up talking about a completely different topic.

If you have experienced either of these, I bet you’ve been left with some kind of frustration, annoyance, or some other emotion with a negative connotation to it. Without the proper tools, the

chances of these conversations being ef fective drastically decreases. In order to communicate effectively, you must un derstand why these tough conversations are tough, but also what to do when you find yourself in a tough conversation.

WTough Conversations are...Tough

Research tells us that when conversa tions matter the most, we are generally on our worst behaviors. There are two potential reasons for why this may be the case: we are designed wrong as humans and we default to acting in self-defeating ways.

The way your physiology is designed makes having tough conversations difficult. When you experience elevated levels of stress, the organs at the top of your kidneys begin to pump adrenaline into your bloodstream. With blood pumping, the fight or flight response is triggered, and your body prepares itself for battle.

However, as this process unfolds, the brain diverts blood away from “non-es sential” areas to more “high priority” areas.

As the larger muscles of your body, such as your arms and legs, get prepared to face this stressful situation, less blood gets pumped to the areas of your brain that are tasked with reasoning. So yes,

our body is preparing for this tough conversation, but in an extremely inef fective way.

You also tend to “lose” the conversation before the conversation even begins. This happens due to a self-defeating thought process, which often sounds like “this is going to make matters worse.” When you go into a conversa tion with the assumption that it will not be helpful, you overcompensate by being too aggressive and pushing people away or being too passive and not communi cating your true intent for having that conversation.

This was me for the longest time. Knowing I needed to have a tough conversation but feeling that I had lost before the conversation even happened. I always thought it would make things worse, or I would quickly back down once the conversation began. However, once I realized how these conversations could benefit me, I became more open to the process.

Being able to have tough conversations strengthens your relationship with that person. You are able to talk about a difficult topic, be vulnerable, and come out with a better understanding of each other. Also, the process of entering into that uncomfortable situation tells your body that you are able to face a stressful

situation and still come out on the other side.

How to Be a Better Communicator

To give yourself a chance at having an ultimately pro ductive conversation, it is important to make sure you control your emotions, you are clear with your mes sage, and you are confident in your ability to have this conversation. When there are disagreements or raised voices from the other person, it is important to control your emotions. Fighting fire with fire is a recipe for disaster, so when the other person gets aggressive, stay calm and in control of your emotions. Being clear and

specific in your message will help keep the conversation from veering too far off track. Vagueness can lead to more questions and more frustra tion from both parties, so it is best to be as clear as possible. Finally, it is important to be confident. If you feel like you “lost” the conversation before it begins, then there is very little chance the conversation will go well. Have confidence in your ability to hold the conversation, to speak your peace, and in your ability to listen to others.

Conversations do not always go according to plan, so it is important to have strategies in place if you notice you are losing control. First, take a deep breath. An effective way

to lower your stress levels just enough to where you can think more clearly and be more effective in the conver sation is by focusing on your breathing. Second, under stand that it is OK to take a time out and come back to the conversation later. This gives you both a chance to cool down, to get your bear ings straight, and then come back to the conversation in a better mind state. Finally, whether this happens during your time out or at some point during the conversa tion, remind yourself why you are having the conversa tion. This can help you stay involved, stay in a more con trolled state by underscoring why this conversation is

important to have and how it can be beneficial for yourself and the relationship.

Final thoughts

Having tough conversations are never easy, but they are important to have. Rather than letting your thoughts and emotions towards anoth er person fester, take the time to have a productive conver sation with them which can lead to a better understand ing of each other. Not only will this help strengthen your relationship, but it will also help you strengthen your ability to handle stressful situations in general.

Embrace the tough conversa tions and watch yourself and those around you grow.

EXERCISES

MONDAY-MORNING QUARTERBACKING

CONSIDER THE CRITICISM

JUSTIN "GOLIATH" JOHNSON WELLNESS CONTRIBUTOR @goliathcoaches

ET'S, FOR A MOMENT, PLAY A GAME CALLED MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK. THIS IS HOW IT WORKS: FOR A SECOND, BEFORE YOU CONTINUE TO READ, LOOK AT WHO YOU ARE NOW AND THEN THINK ABOUT YOURSELF FIVE YEARS AGO.

I want you to highlight and think about all the different ways you have grown to be a better version of yourself. The things that held you up, maybe it was a limiting belief in yourself, or confidence issue.

Maybe now you are able to speak confi dently in front of a crowd. Or maybe it was getting out of your shell and being more social, which led you to meeting the love of your life.

LMaybe it was re-engaging with a level of spirituality you lost or never experi enced. Maybe it was just the self-actu alization that you haven’t been doing your best and now you are putting forth your highest self. We can all look back and see how we have grown.

Now, I want you to look back at your self and try to remember those things you had to learn by way of people giv ing you feedback about yourself.

Parents, friends, significant others or even a coworker that saw something in you that was very hard for you to realize within yourself. Were they right? Maybe not all the way correct, but if they had your best interest at heart (these would be the only people you

should reflect on) think about how you may have grown taking in that advice.

About 15 years ago, my ex-wife and my then-best friend both sat me down after an argument I was having with my friend. He said “Bro, you are so damn passive aggressive”.

I replied “I am not passive aggressive, if anything I am just aggressive.” He laughed in a condescending fashion as my ex walked into the room. He said to her, “Be honest because he needs to understand this; isn’t he passive aggressive?”

I looked at her with every inch of this-guy-is-crazy in my eyes. She replied, “Babe, you are kind of passive aggressive”.

I was thrown aback, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and this started a trickle down effect on how I perceived myself.

ARE YOU

I was aggressive. I was pas sive aggressive. But I was also intentionally aggressive. The trauma from my environ ment helped me form a ver sion of myself that steadfastly believed I needed aggression to survive.

My trauma response was tru ly swelling up into the hulk, figuratively and physically, to protect the child that was truly afraid of rejection and non-acceptance. It was my defense mechanism and I used it at every confrontation to assert my dominance in hopes no one would see the true person underneath.

The person I was then was self-conscious, possessed very low self-value and was wholly convinced I needed to assert myself physically to be respected.

This ended up taking me down a long road of prob lems and confrontations that could have ended with me losing my life. It’s harsh

Monday morning quarter backing, but true.

Consider the criticism

We far too often take crit icism as someone being a hater or categorize this as someone being envious of us. Although these situa tions may be true on occa sion, it makes more sense that you are not perfect. It makes more sense that you are implicitly and likely not consciously expressing the criticism people are express ing about you.

I’ve written previously in Polo Lifestyles that the hard est fight you are ever going to be in is with yourself.

You must become a master of defending yourself from anything that makes you feel inept, unworthy or self-con scious. So much so that the personality traits that you exude based around your trauma become security blankets for you. One of the

things that most of us fear is change.

We will defend ourselves to no end to keep our root ideas that can very well be birthed out of trauma.

Conduct an experiment with yourself just to gauge an inventory on who you are, to realize your best self. Ask the people closest to you to provide criticism about you. Assure them that you won’t react to their words and ensure you create a safe environment for them to be honest.

When you receive this infor mation, be cognizant of the answers. Pay close attention to the consistent answers. Then, take the information and treat it as truth. Take that truth and act on it for a des ignated period of time and see if that results in a better version of you. What doesn’t apply, let it fly and what does, take it into consideration.

We all have blind spots and even the most introspective people can miss huge things about themselves.

The goal is to use your close community to help you become a better version of yourself. The inner work is the hardest work to do and the hardest work to accept. You may find out things about yourself that you never noticed but may be seri ous issues in your success and your interpersonal relationships.

I promise you don’t know it all, none of us do. The more we accept criticism, we can let go of the negative ideas we attract to our being. We can grow, learn and skip over the downfalls our egos create for us.

Continue to fight to become your best version of your self because you deserve it. Trauma doesn’t have to be your dharma, we can do this!