Tim Cadogan talks taste

The GoFundMe CEO on Henry V, Yorkshire Tea and how to raise $30bn for charity

Tim Cadogan talks taste

My personal style signifiers are well-worn Birkenstock Arizona sandals, Joe’s Jeans and black Lululemon 5 Year T-shirts. I am perhaps the least stylish person ever, but I do have a distinct uniform. My bald head has also been a signifier for some time now. The last thing I bought and loved was a Mammut Trift long-sleeve shirt in dark navy. It’s light, packable and warm. I love visiting the area surrounding Banner Peak and Mount Ritter in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where I go backcountry running, hike the Thousand Island Lake Loop and camp out in the solitude. A base layer is a key wardrobe item.

The best souvenir I’ve brought home is a compressed-wool rug from Mongolia. My teenage son and I went last year and we stayed with eagle hunters who are semi-nomadic. It was made by the woman we stayed with, which makes it extra-special; I have never seen a weaving technique like it elsewhere.  My interest in philanthropy started with my parents, who supported Oxfam, Save the Children and Amnesty International, among other charities. I grew up in Dorset and went to university in the UK – first the University of London, then Oxford – before heading to California for my MBA at Stanford. I started my career at the Boston Consulting Group, before moving on to OpenX, an ad tech company, then running the consumer search division at Yahoo. When I turned 40, I decided to try a more hands-on way of helping people. I trained for a year and a half to join Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, a 40-person volunteer group funded solely by donations, which helps people anywhere, anytime, in the wilderness. 

One of the best things about humans is that we are hardwired to help each other. Nothing feels better than making someone feel safe on the worst day of their life. It was looking for ways to make that kind of impact that I found my way to GoFundMe, the community-powered fundraising platform, which I joined as CEO in 2020. Much of my focus is on making it easier for people and organisations to ask for help and fundraise successfully. That means a constantly shifting mix of customer meetings, product discussions and operating reviews.

My biggest achievement has been helping people and non-profits use GoFundMe to raise more than $30bn since I joined. We often see generosity demonstrated in moments of major crisis – like the 2025 LA wildfires, when GoFundMe raised $265mn to help people access food, temporary shelter and other essential supplies. But the majority of donations centre around the cycle of life we experience in our communities – acts of generosity that help families through difficult times, fund local art projects, help local businesses stay open or enable students to pursue higher education.  

The best book I’ve read in the past year is Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King by Dan Jones (Bloomsbury). It shows how incredibly challenging it was to be a king: constant political uprising, discontent, arguments with parliament. It’s never-ending. He was hit in the face by an arrow in battle aged 16 and died of dysentery at 35. Being a royal is not all it’s cracked up to be. My philanthropic heroes are Avril Benoît, the former head of Médecins Sans Frontières, who has done outstanding work all over the world, and Australian community leader Zena Armstrong. She did so much to help rebuild the New South Wales community after the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20. She set up a GoFundMe to establish a tool library for locals to borrow and rebuild with.  The best gift I’ve given recently is a painting I bought for my wife on a recent trip to New South Wales. It’s a traditional painting in the Western Australian style – very abstract and in varying shades of brown, like the land there.

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New York’s hottest new restaurants

The tables to book now, from a haute fried-chicken joint to an ultra-cool art destination, classic French cuisine revived and more

Remember the spate of Covid-19 restaurant closures? Well, those days are long gone, and New York’s top tables are more plentiful — and more difficult to book — than ever before. From new neighbourhood gems in Brooklyn to a reimagined French dining institution on the Upper East Side (and virtually everything in between), the city’s diverse culinary energy is palpable. And while the statistics aren’t favourable for new restaurants (approximately one in three will close in the first year after opening), these establishments are sure to be longer-term winners.

Coqodaq 12 East 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010

Old-school fine French cuisine has been given a new life by chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson of Frenchette and Le Rock fame. Bringing the winning mix that they started at Balthazar back in the 1990s (perfect steak frites and île flottante), the original institution that was opened in 1937 has been left largely intact with its low-ceilinged, cherry red banquettes-and-checkered tablecloth swagger. The menu — heavy on organ meats, duck and escargots — isn’t for the faint of heart (or the health-obsessed), but it is for those who crave a sense of occasion, a perfectly executed pâté en croute with natural wine pairings and a vibrant atmosphere that is finally bringing the downtown crowd to the Upper East Side. Three-course prix-fixe menu, $125. lvdnyc.com

The ultimate haute fried-chicken restaurant from award-winning restaurateur Simon Kim and the team behind Michelin-starred Cote Korean Steakhouse, Coqodaq has been a runaway success since opening in January thanks to its vibrant scene, sustainability focus and perfectly crispy soy-sauce, garlic-glaze chicken. Vegetables are celebrated here too, with chilled pickled sides adding zesty flavour and crunchy texture. The opulent Flatiron District location, designed, by the Rockwell Group has Korean-American as well as Art Nouveau design touches, with deep-green leather banquettes, walnut finishes and bronze fixtures all enticing hungry guests to linger in 8,000 sq ft of luxury. Mains, $28–$38. coqodaq.com;

SEA West 30th Street, New York, NY 10001

Chef Jungsik Yim — of the eponymous Korean fine-dining restaurant Jungsik, in Tribeca — has turned his talents to SEA, a modern, casual south-east Asian restaurant near Koreatown that is inspired by many different regions, countries, techniques and ingredients. The 80-seat, low-lit space by Kimoy Studios features wooden banquettes and an intimate bar area for walk-ins and is the ideal backdrop for chefs Yim and Jun Hee Park’s inventive, delicious takes on traditional dishes such as crispy pork, informed by Singaporean and Vietnamese preparations of fried pork belly. Other savoury highlights include dry tom-yum noodles (a Korean/Thai mash-up), delicate Vietnamese prawn rolls made with spring-roll papers imported from Ho Chi Minh City and crab fried rice, which fuses crab omelette with Indonesian nasi goreng. The cocktail list is impressive too, with signature the Dirty “Cha Yen” (Thai iced tea meets a strong Old-Fashioned) and the Baby Banana Martini served well into the night. Mains, $34–$54. ny-sea.com

BORGO 124 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016

From chef Andrew Tarlow (Marlow & Sons, Achilles Heel, Diner), who is widely credited with putting “New Brooklyn” on the foodie map, comes Borgo, a trattoria in NoMad with a welcoming great hearth at its centre. The menu includes vegetable-driven starters and contorni, antipasti (Sicilian garlic dip with Italian almonds), house-made pasta (ancient-grain spaghetti with Calabrian anchovies and chiles) and meat (fennel pollen-infused pork ribs), fish and seafood roasted in the wood-burning oven. The wine list is extensive and, much like those found at his other restaurants, highlights low-intervention wines from Europe’s most sustainable and noted producers. Tableside martinis and a cocktail cart stocked with an assortment of amari add to the festive vibe. This kind of epicurean brilliance takes a village and Borgo has enlisted its own: Jordan Frosolone will head the kitchen; Tarlow’s eldest son, Elijah (formerly of his family’s restaurants Diner and Roman’s), will serve as sous-chef; and Kate Huling — Tarlow’s wife and business partner in Marlow Goods and Shop Collective — has designed the uniforms. Mains, $30–$60. borgonyc.com;

CAFE MADAO 791 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Prospect Heights has a new player in Cafe Mado, an all-day dining establishment that starts with freshly baked goods from its sibling establishment, Laurel Bakery, in Brooklyn Heights, and transitions into tartines and small plates for lunch. Housed in the former Michelin-starred Oxalis space, it is exactly what the neighbourhood needs: a hub for fresh French-, Italian- and Californian-inflected cuisine served in a bright and bustling space. Light and inventive salads including pea shoots with sugar snaps, and bamboo and littleneck clams pair perfectly with mains such as pici with pesto Genovese and Smoke In Chimneys trout garnished with sungold tomatoes. Crispy baguettes and butter, sides of harissa, craft cocktails and a decadent chocolate sponge with vanilla and raspberry pudding all make for a perfectly casual night. Mains, $25–$32. cafemadonyc.com

CAFE ZAFFRI

16 East 16th Street, New York, NY 10003

From the acclaimed team behind New York hotspots Raf’s and The Musket Room comes Cafe Zaffri, a restaurant fusing Mediterranean and Levant-style cuisines. Situated on the ground floor of The Twenty Two New York hotel (a new sibling property to The Twenty Two London) in Union Square, it will be helmed by executive chef Mary Attea, who brings her Lebanese heritage to the kitchen through such dishes as shakshuka, labneh, meze and more.  Set in a former women’s home built by heiress Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt in 1891, Cafe Zaffri — aka “Zaf’s” — promises farm-fresh cuisine (much of it from neighbouring Union Square Green Market) in an old-world setting by London-based Child Studio and local design firm Post Company. Luxurious velvets, custom rattan furniture and marble elements, as well as a stunning garden atrium all add to the theatrical scene — one where a “skewer service” with Lebanese rice, lamb tartare and spaghetti with crab and saffron are all served in jolly family style. Mains, $28–$65. thetwentytwo.com/newyork

MANUELA 130 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012

From hospitality group Artfarm (which is also behind The Audley Public House and Mount St Restaurant in London and The Fife Arms in Braemar) comes the art-centric Manuela in historic SoHo. The first east-coast project for the group, so named for gallerist and partner Manuela Wirth, this seasonally driven restaurant is a celebration of Tri-State and New England producers. Half the menu is dedicated to plant-focused dishes such as turnips with royal corona beans and grilled brassicas served alongside spiced monkfish skewers with lovage and guindilla peppers. The open kitchen with its wood-fired oven adds to the overall energy in the see-and-be-seen room. Given the restaurant’s ties to Hauser & Wirth, art takes centre stage with specially commissioned artworks by Mika Rottenberg (whose bar is a playful construction of discarded plastic and invasive vines), Rashid Johnson (a bespoke seven-metre dining table that seats 24), Mary Heilmann (colourful tabletops), as well as Lorna Simpson, Pat Steir and Uman (murals), among others. The work of artists who have lived in or been inspired by Soho decorates the vibrant walls, with Louise Bourgeois’ “Spider” paired with pieces by George Condo, Nicolas Party and Cindy Sherman. Designed by Russell Sage Studios (The Fife Arms, Fish Shop Ballater), the buzzing space is full of eco-friendly materials that are vintage, recycled or unused scraps. The result is a perfectly lit, convivial setting that is sure to be downtown’s top table this season. Mains, $25–$127. manuela-nyc.com;

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Fashion designer Ulla Johnson talks taste

The founder of the clothes brand loves Ruinart champagne, loathes minimalism and ‘lives for Christmas’

My personal style signifier is my jewellery. I possibly wear too much, but I change it all the time and have an ever-evolving group of favourites. I collect antique Belperron, Verdura, Cartier, Hermès, Edwardian rose-cut diamonds, angel skin coral, snake rings, tennis bracelets and anything in the shape of a heart or a shell. I like to mix fine jewellery with pieces from my costume collection that features baroque pearls, sea creatures, turquoise, carved wood and gemstones. I wear my jewellery all the time and don’t consider anything “special occasion” or precious. I joke with my family that I want to be buried with all of it.

The last thing I bought and loved was a museum-quality antique Serbian folk dress made from hand-loomed silk and covered in embroidered bullion thread, sequins and lace. I bought it in Belgrade, where my mother is from. She collected folk costumes and Victorian lace, and I inherited her passion. I get palpitations when I find something uniquely beautiful. I believe in the emotional weight of objects that have been made by hand, as they carry the spirit of the maker.

The best souvenir I’ve brought home is a Carlo Bugatti chair from the Paul Bert Serpette flea market in Paris. I had been looking for one for years and this one was perfect for me; it’s upholstered in parchment and illustrated with a bird, and it has his signature inlaid pewter and hammered copper with a silk fringe. A dream!

The best book I’ve read in the past year is Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata. I don’t typically go for science fiction, but I love Japanese sci-fi. This book was excellent. It’s a dystopian novel about a future with controlled reproduction, and an upended vision of marriage and family. It left me feeling something I hadn’t felt before – that’s the hallmark of a great book.

My style icon is my mother, Jasmina Draskovic-Johnson. She had a very personal and recognisable style – mostly black or camel tones, a strong shoulder and chunky silver jewellery that she collected in the Near East when she was working on archaeological excavations. She was also a fan of opulently embroidered shawls – and always a red lip. She knew what she loved and was committed to it. Having a singular point of view and confidence without arrogance are the things I admire in other women.

The best gift I’ve received is a Victorian bloodstone locket with a trifold pullout – very rare as they mostly have space for just one or two images. My husband gave it to me with baby pictures of our three children. It is my most cherished possession. The best gift I’ve given recently was an embroidered sweatshirt, to my son, the night before he left for college. He was always sketching weird characters as a child. I recently unearthed a detailed drawing he had made of a headless boy holding a large balloon and a drooping lollipop. I had the image embroidered on the sweatshirt. He was quite surprised. 

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Inside curator Demet Müftüoğlu-Eşeli’s party house in Istanbul

A former fisherman’s house with views over the Bosphorus has become a chic 1970s-inspired hub for creative exchange at an international level

Sharing a wall with the imposing Metamorfosis Greek Orthodox Church and surrounded by simple Ottoman-era timber houses, the home of Demet Müftüoğlu-Eşeli and her husband Alphan Eşeli in the Istanbul neighbourhood of Kandilli looks unassuming.  “Kandilli is one of those rare neighbourhoods on the Asian side of the Bosphorus that still feels untouched by time,” says Müftüoğlu-Eşeli. “It carries the soul of old Istanbul”. The name Kandilli, she says, means “with candles”, and was inspired by the palace built by the sultan Murad IV that was filled with lanterns. Also in the area is the Adile Sultan Palace, now a cultural centre. “That layered sense of history is part of daily life,” says Müftüoğlu-Eşeli. Leaning into the area’s roots, the couple have built a home that aims to spark creative exchange. 

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DOLOMITES in DEMAND

With the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics right around the corner, the the time to plan your trip is now.

By Christina Ohly Evans

On the heels of the successful Paris Olympics, plans for the next Winter Games are well underway. These will be held primarily in and around the dramatic Dolomite mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage– designated range named for the pale dolomite rock that forms striking, craggy peaks and some of the best ski terrain on the planet. Whether you’re there for the quaint, historically rich Sudtirol towns, with their convivial public squares and chic après-ski scenes, or you’re a serious alpinist in search of epic hikes and backcountry wilderness, there is some- thing for every taste and fitness level. Best of all, this northeastern region of Italy has retained the the wonderful parts of Italy (aperi- tivo is religion here and wood-fired pizzas are ubiquitous) with touches of nearby Austria including handmade lederhosen and hearty cuisine (ricotta-laden gnocchi alla cadorina and hyperlocal gewürztraminer wine) that are fuel for days spent outdoors.

Regardless of the time of year—from brilliant green, wildflower- strewn summers to the pristine winters that are reminiscent of fairy tales—the Dolomites are unique among mountain destinations. The landscape is forever changing; with the light and the weather; from one valley to the next; and from rifugio to rifugio (the system of mountain huts that served as critical lodging during World War I and now house and feed hikers, skiers and appreciative tourists in the the most stunning, high-altitude settings).

To take advantage of all that the region has to offer, enlist an on-the-ground operator (Scott Dunn offers great local knowledge and has access to excellent area guides for skiing, hiking, biking and camping) to craft an itinerary that is relax- ing, breathtakingly scenic and often exhilarating. There is no right way to do the Dolomites, but this sample itinerary is a great way to start exploring.

MILAN TO LAKE GARDA

A visit to northern Italy’s lake district—Lake Como, Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore, in particular—can be a great way to beat jet lag after arrival in Milan. Just two hours away by car, the emerald- green waters of Lake Garda beckon with a stay at the Grand Hotel Fasano, the former hunting lodge of the Austrian royal family, providing a perfectly regal reset. A night in one of the opulent, lake-facing suites and an aperitivo on the terrace followed by a Michelin-starred meal at Il Fagiano, and you’ll be ready to scale the Dolomites on Day 2. ghf.it

Minimalists should opt for the new Cape of Senses, a design- led, serene spa resort on the opposite shore that offers stunning sunsets and a sleek infinity pool that juts out over the lake. Suites feature natural materials—wood, stone, neutral linens—while comprehensive fitness and treatment menus add to the relaxing ethos. capeofsenses.com

GATEWAY TO THE DOLOMITES

Surrounded by vineyards and fruit orchards, the small city of Bolzano is a relatively undiscovered gem. Here you’ll find medieval streets and arcades and the not-to-be-missed South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, home to the remains of Ötzi, a man killed in the Alps about 5,300 years ago whose well-preserved body was discov- ered encased in ice in 1991 (be sure to book tickets in advance). Check in at the stunning Castel Hörtenberg, a 16th-century castle hidden behind gates on a tree-lined street that combines original elements, including imposing towers and lush gardens, with sleek Italian design. Original frescoes have been meticulously restored in the light-filled guest rooms and a soothing color palette of linen and beige recalls the style of Axel Vervoordt. Multiple dining spaces offer everything from a breakfast buffet to a South Tyrolean meal in a former wine cave. In summer, a sleek pool provides a respite from the heat, while the design-led spa specializes in sauna/ cold plunge combinations. castel-hoertenberg.com

ON TO ALTA BADIA
Start any ski adventure with a stay at the uber-charming Aman Rosa Alpina in the town of San Cassiano, with its onion-shaped belltower. Run by the third generation of the Pizzinini family and soon to be reopened with Aman Hotels & Resorts, this original hotel exudes traditional chalet warmth. The ski slopes of Alta Badia—some 80 miles of them—are within walking distance of the hotel and are equally popular in summer for hiking and climbing. Of special note here is the three Michelin-starred St. Hubertus, which is refined but never fussy. Helmed by chef Norbert Niederkofler, whose philosophy is “cook the mountain,” the restau- rant serves dishes infused with local ingredients in a serene, wel- coming space. The casual Wine Bar & Grill is the spot for pizzas and beer after a day on the slopes. aman.com

The Sky Pool Deluxe suite at Cape of Senses

VERY VAL GARDENA
From a luxurious base at the atmospheric Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa in the town of Ortisei, you can explore the alpine meadows of the magnificent Alpe di Siusi in summer, followed by lunch at the buzzing Sanon Hut, an authentic, on-mountain res- taurant where beef goulash and speck dumplings are the orders of the day (arrival by horse-drawn sleigh is another atmospheric option). Start any day here at the hotel’s enormous breakfast buffet full of fennel-infused breads, jams, cured meats, yogurt and eggs made to order, and either head for the mountains or explore nearby towns including Santa Cristina. The Grödnerhof offers a warm, familial atmosphere (larger suites with kitchens cater to groups)— no concierge request is too great, and bikes, dining reservations and extreme adventures can all be arranged. After days spent on- mountain, book in for restorative spa time: state-of-the-art ZeroBody Cryo therapies promise to soothe sore muscles, while massages incorporate aromatic Alpine herbs. Swimming, saunas and plunges and simply lounging in the chalet’s garden are equally beneficial. After all of this wellness, savor a gourmet extravaganza at the pine-paneled Anna Stuben, where cozy tables in rooms adorned with antlers and traditional Ladin stoves set the stage for multicourse Michelin-starred meals. gardena.it

CORVARA IS CALLING
Another great base is Corvara in Badia, where the Hotel La Perla offers a full-on chalet-style experience courtesy of the Costa fam- ily. Dirndl-clad staff—many of whom speak the Ladin language— serve Tyrolean cuisine in the charming Les Stües and La Stüa de Michil (half board is standard). In winter, you can ski straight from the hotel onto some of the most idyllic pistes in Europe, fol- lowed by a Turkish bath and sauna in the well-appointed spa. laperlacorvara.it

Alta Badia provides access to the ski runs around the Sella Massif, which makes it the perfect starting point for some of the most beautiful ski tours in the Alps, including the Sellaronda, the Great War Tour and the route to the Marmolada Glacier. The Sellaronda is perfect for intermediate skiers because of its wide breadth of lifts and terrain. The beauty here is that everything is connected: four Dolomite passes and five Ladin valleys (Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Val di Fassa, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Livinallongo) all meet. Staying in one of the slopeside rifugios in Val Gardena is a truly magical, old-world experience. In summer, opt for a hike on the Seceda plateau followed by lunch at Rifugio Firenze with views of the Sella Massif and the Puez-Geisler Nature Park. The free-roaming cows with their atmospheric bells add to the overall Tyrolean vibe.

A SKIING SAFARI

For anyone who really loves to ski—and doesn’t mind missing the après scene at the end of the day—a five-day ski safari offers the chance to ski from hut to hut, staying in family-run rifugios and quaint inns along the way. With 12 interconnected resorts to choose from and more than 745 miles of groomed trails (plus endless off-piste options), a knowledgeable guide and a Superski pass (the Ikon pass is also honored here), a safari is a wonderful way to experi- ence the mix of Italian, Austrian and Ladin cultures that meet in these mountains. There is something for every skill level; this isn’t heli-skiing, so even novice skiers can find suitable terrain, while guides can ensure that experts are challenged. dolomitemountains.com

Because these are luxury safaris, belongings are transferred from one place to the next each day. Trips typically end in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a chic town that played host to the Olympic Games once before, in 1956, as well as international competitions for skiing, snowboarding, curling and snow polo.

Moro, Morocco’s chicest boutique

A Marrakech mecca, a few steps from the Jardin Majorelle

Next to the Jardin Majorelle and a five-minute walk from the Yves Saint Laurent Museum sits Moro, a boutique, café and hotel almost as beloved among design-oriented visitors and locals as its neighbours. Opened in 2020 by friends Mohcyn Bousfiha and Mouad Mohsine, the shop has drawn everyone from fashion designers Kim Jones and Michèle Lamy to actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson with its edit of hand-crocheted sun hats, silk kaftans, wine glasses made in the Atlas Mountains and colourful ceramics of Bousfiha’s own design.

Bousfiha and Mohsine first went into business together in 2016 with The Moroccans, a range of natural skincare made with prickly pear seed oil sourced from a farm they bought in coastal Essaouira. Four years later, they were approached by friends about taking over the ochre-coloured building where Moro now lives, then a hotel, as a retail space. “We weren’t looking for a project, but we saw that it had such beautiful potential,” says Bousfiha. With its distinctive rounded edges and soaring ceilings, “it reminded us of a 1970s-esque Melrose Place”. 

To reimagine the sprawling building and surrounding courtyards, they leveraged their training; Bousfiha as an interior architect and designer, Mohsine as an agricultural engineer. They planted smar plants, which grow by the nearby Ourika river, and papyrus plants to shade the terraces, and lined the walls with raw ivory-coloured plasterwork. The result, says Bousfiha, is a series of spaces that allow visitors to enjoy “different ambiences throughout the day”. 

Of the fashion, a standout is the crochet collection, inspired by a woman Bousfiha spotted wearing one of her own designs as an abaya. The pair enlisted her, alongside a cooperative of women, who make djellabas (€550), cardigans (€320), hats (€88) and chemises (€280) in shades of burnt orange, cobalt and teal. Elsewhere, silk kimonos and wide-leg trousers (from €220) feature patterns hand-drawn by Bousfiha, while silk crepe versions feature prints of furniture, the art of Picasso, vases, YSL inspirations and, of course, Marrakech. One-of-a-kind pieces are made using vintage flea-market fabrics found on the partners’ travels (from €300). Mohsine points to the delicate 18ct-gold and freshwater pearl bracelets, statement rings and chains (from €280 to €1,250) made by Casablanca-based Hasnaa Bennani as among his favourite jewellery items. “They’re made in a poetic way that I love,” he says. Evil eyes, suns, moons, snakes and scarabs feature across furniture designs, alongside traditional babouche slippers and lambskin belts.

Customers come for the curation but mostly for the founder’s own creations. A patio is lined with shelves holding platters and pitchers that Bousfiha has decorated with colourful glazes (from €65 to €220). Inside, a wall of niche shelves displays The Moroccans beauty products: a Royal Saffron & Honey Mask (€65), Neroli shampoo (€25) and Mazhar extrait de parfum (€155).

The café, found on one of the terraces, is shaded by a Kiria, or Moroccan canvas. Moro’s chef sources locally and is known for her fresh-pressed strawberry juice, briouats (a kind of spring roll stuffed with shrimp, chicken or vegetables), chicken pastilla with almonds and honey, and an orange-blossom favoured flan. For full Moro immersion, there are 10 enormous hotel suites upstairs, furnished with Berber carpets in earth tones, some with terraces overlooking the cerulean and canary yellow tiles of the Jardin Majorelle. There’s also a pool in the central courtyard of the first floor where guests can escape the city’s hustle. “The best, for me, is when visitors linger,” says Bousfiha. He wants them to come away from Moro having had “a beautiful experience”. Moro, Rue Yves St Laurent, Majorelle 40000, Morocco. moromarrakech.com

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Jeremy O Harris’s guide to Williamstown Theatre Festival

The playwright and actor tours the event’s ‘hallowed’ Berkshires home

I came to the Berkshires in the most millennial-Gen Z way possible. Today’s CV is an Instagram account, and the managing director of Williamstown Theatre Festival DM’d me to ask if I’d like to get involved. I’ve been working in theatre for 15 years and have never been approached by a festival, let alone Williamstown, which is legendary. Fast forward a year or so and I am spending the summer in Williamstown as the festival’s creative director, and my latest play, Spirit of the People, has its world premiere here in July.

Williamstown is a hallowed space in regional theatre: James Cusati-Moyer cut his teeth here, as did Andrew Burnap. For a young theatre obsessive, this was always the gold star. Tennessee Williams visited the festival many times, and Edward Albee and Sam Shepard spent time here, too. There is such a rich artistic community in the Berkshires: you have filmmakers, musicians, dancers, painters and writers within a 30-mile radius, so there is creativity everywhere.

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The great HTSI guide to luggage

What bag to carry, wherever you’re going, whatever you’re doing

FOR THE LONG HAUL

Defining features These sleek brushed aluminium cases feature reinforced corners, three closures to keep contents secure, an ergonomic, four-height adjustable handle, speedy wheels and a quilted taffeta lining for extra luxe. Perfect for Chronic over-packers, and anyone who won’t mind inevitable scrapes and dings from the cargo hold.   See also The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder bag (£360).

FOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS

Defining features Lightweight and durable, with a multi-wheel system that assures agility when running late.   Perfect for Art-world heavyweights, C-suiters who don’t want to overthink it. See also The Vérité weekend bag by Métier (£3,850) in double-faced water-resistant linen has multiple pockets for SPF, books and a 16-inch laptop. See also the Bennett Winch Weekender (£975): waterproof cotton canvas, leather trim and brass finishes.

FOR THE BEACH 
Defining features A soft structure as well as interior and exterior pockets make it ideal for organising drinks and towels. Each bag is made in a factory in the Philippines that’s committed to fair labour and environmentally sound practices.  Perfect for Extroverts who enjoy a little virtue signalling. Bonus: the fabrics are del día – chosen from what’s available “of the day” – so every bag is one of a kind.  See also Loewe Large Basket bag in palm leaf and calfskin (£495).

FOR BOATING
Defining features The ultimate dry bag for sailors and yachtspeople due to its airtight seams, a protective roll top and a removable shoulder strap.  Perfect for Practical seafarers who care about protecting devices from salt air and prefer a streamlined aesthetic.  See also LL Bean’s Boat and Tote (from £42) is a classic made of thick canvas, with a genius flat bottom that keeps everything upright – whether on deck or in the office.

FOR ALPINE ADVENTURES
Defining features A minimalist pack for summer hiking with an ultra-light frame, easy-access pockets, compression straps, trekking pole loops and a whistle. Perfect for Shorter treks – think rifugio to rifugio in the Dolomites as opposed to summiting Everest. See also Alpine Luddites, a one-man shop in Vermont with an 18-to-24-month waiting list, makes the ultimate colourful climbing packs and expedition luggage. 

FOR THE FLEX
Defining features A rolling, old-school objet d’art, with bold colourways, hand-moulded corners and polished- chrome carbon-steel locks. Perfect for Anyone who appreciates fine craftsmanship. See also Berluti’s Formula 1005 Scritto rolling leather suitcase (£6,850) is Italian perfection, while the Louis Vuitton Horizon 55 suitcase (£3,300) by Marc Newson in Epi cowhide is the height of functional design.

FOR THE ECO CONSCIOUS
Defining features This carbon-neutral roller made of recycled materials is both fashionable and feelgood (the company offsets its emissions). The lining has multiple pockets and a laundry bag.  Perfect for Hamptonites and the Hawaii-bound who favour the brand’s collabs with pro packers like Marie Kondo. See also Berlin-based Horizn Studios makes 97 per cent recycled hard shell luggage and accessories and offers a lifetime warranty (worth it for that alone). 

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Which New York members’ club are you?

From cool co-working spots to ritzy rooftop bars, these are the best subscriptions in town

CHEZ MARGOT

What: A scene-y club with a sexier atmosphere than its rivals. It is set in the former Spice Market space, and the decor is all 1930s Parisian glamour courtesy of designer Lauren Mishaan, the grand staircase welcoming members into subterranean splendour lined with crimson banquettes and gilded private nooks. Roam through the big-cat-themed Lounge; enjoy chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s inventive takes on sashimi. But Gaux Gaux – the caviar-and-cocktail bar/after-hours nightclub with its solid glass Sogni di Cristallo bar and chandeliers – is really the spot to see and be seen. Where: Located at the intersection of West 13th and Greenwich Streets, it has a red-lacquered entrance reminiscent of a secret cabaret.

Who: A cool, creative and well-connected crowd that includes Taylor Swift and Zoë Kravitz. Come for the black pepper shrimp, and stay for the party that begins at 10pm at Gaux Gaux. The membership is largely downtown and young – as is reflected in the pricing (under-30s pay a $1,250 initiation fee, then a $3,000 annual fee; upwards of 30 is a $2,500 initiation, $4,000 annual fee). Khaite tailoring and Jessica McCormack diamonds abound.

Coco’s at Colette

The corporate raiders’ canteen

What: The city’s ritziest power-lunch scene, located within the co-working club dubbed “WeWork for the 0.01 per cent” by Bloomberg. Run by Edmond Safra, of the billionaire Safra banking family, and Juan Santa Cruz, of Casa Cruz restaurant empire fame, the stylish Gonçalo Alves wood-panelled space hums from breakfast through to dramatically lit dinner. The mirror-lined omakase sushi bar is perfect for discreet negotiations. Where: The 37th floor of Midtown’s imposing General Motors Building, at the sweet-spot intersection of Fifth Avenue, Midtown and the Upper East Side.

Who: CEOs, hedge-fund managers and beauty execs meet for efficient yet delicious meals: egg-white omelettes and green juices are in demand early, while the Rainbow salad (add protein) and the Dover sole served tableside are crowd favourites at lunch and dinner. Membership tiers are split between the restaurant Coco’s (membership, $5,000; then $4,000 annual dues) and the full club space, Colette (POA). The latter caters to the businessperson who wings into New York for the day and needs an office, catered conference room and gym. Members love the personal-box service (a posh version of a locker) where beauty products, supplements or photographs can be stashed for subsequent visits.

The Twenty Two New York

What: This offshoot of the popular Mayfair hotel and members’ club is already a magnet for New York’s bright young things. Reuben Brothers, which is backing Robin Birley’s uptown venture Maxime’s, is also involved here, with the club occupying the second floor of a landmarked brownstone that also houses a hotel and restaurant. The interiors by London-based Child Studio are cinematic, with leopard-print carpets and Calacatta-marble surfaces, along with rooftop dancefloors and excellent cocktails (order the white Negroni). Members love the all-female chef team also of local Mediterranean restaurant Raf’s and the Michelin-starred The Musket Room. Where: Uptown meets downtown in this former Vanderbilt-owned mansion in Union Square.

Zac Posen: ‘My style signifier is my smile’

The creative director of Gap Inc loves Deeda Blair, comfortable cinemas and his miniature poodles, Tsuki and Bizet

My personal style signifier is denim on denim. I wear a mix of the brands I work across: Gap jeans, Old Navy T-shirts and heavy denim shirts from Banana Republic. I always wear my Rolex Daytona, a silver bracelet I got at the iconic Hi Ho Silver in San Francisco and my silver and jet W Hammond engagement ring. I’m also loving my woven leather Timberland boots that look just like Bottega Veneta. But, really, my style signifier is my smile. The last thing I bought and loved was a packet of purple cosmos seeds, as well as other wildflower seeds for planting on our terrace in New York and at my parents’ farm in rural Pennsylvania. I have a collection of different heirloom seeds — 13 varieties of tomatoes, chervil, spinach, bok choy, lemongrass — that I repropagate every year with my mom. She even has Corsican seeds from a famous artist’s garden that she’s been growing for more than 30 years.

The places that mean a lot to me are in nature, my parents’ vegetable garden in particular. I also love William Poll, the gourmet-sandwich and prepared-foods shop on the Upper East Side. It symbolises both heritage and innovation: my go-to order is a roast beef sandwich with a watercress spread. The restaurant Omen Azen in SoHo is also very special because I’ve celebrated so many milestone moments there over the years — birthdays, post-fittings, new collections. In a city where restaurants come and go, this place has stood the test of time.

I’m too busy for podcasts. I have, however, caught up on every movie on every airline during my 48 trips from New York to San Francisco to visit the Gap headquarters this past year and a half. I’ve recently rediscovered all the Star Wars spin-offs on Disney+ — right now I’m deep into Andor and The Book of Boba Fett — but also the originals The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. I’m a child of the ’80s, and these movies and live-action series provide a comforting escape. American style is all about confidence and effortlessness. Nothing embodies this as much as a pair of jeans: they are utilitarian, elegant and made out of agriculture — really just indigo and cotton. My first memory of Gap is the store on Sixth Avenue quite near West 4th Street. I was in middle school and went shopping there for the little pocket T-shirts that I wore for my school photos.

My style icons are both understated and deeply extravagant. At one end of the spectrum is Deeda Blair, who is so elegant and timeless. At the other end I like A$AP Rocky for the way he wears both clothing and jewellery. He wore the most magnificent diamond brooch and necklace at this year’s Met Gala to celebrate the exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”. We’re living in an incredible time for men’s style because it has become a canvas for expression in terms of shape, risk and identity. Men are dressing up again — mixing tailoring with streetwear, embracing style with intention. The codes of gender and the banal, nondescript uniform have fallen away. There is a freedom and a sense of individuality now.

The best gift I’ve given recently was an entire new wardrobe for my partner, Harrison Ball. I was on a trip to Tokyo and I bought him some beautiful indigo pieces from brands including Hollywood Ranch Market, Blue Blue and Hysteric Glamour, a ’90s rock-inflected brand that is so imaginative. I also gave my mom the navy Gap shirtdress with polka dots — aka the “Anne Hathaway dress” — from my first collection for Gap, which made me very happy.  And the best gift I’ve received is an enormous bouquet of yellow and orange tulips from my florist, Zeze. They were cut from his own garden and the blossoms were the size of teacups. We’re talking Victor Fleming Munchkinland size. 

The last music I downloaded was Chan Marshall’s Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert, a live recreation of Bob Dylan’s 1966 concert at the Manchester Free Trade Hall — mistakenly attributed to the Royal Albert Hall — that includes such classics as “Mr Tambourine Man” and “Like a Rolling Stone”. I also download a lot of the music that Harrison listens to for his work as a choreographer, including New Ancient Strings by Malian musicians Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko, which is almost hypnotic.

The best way to spend $20 is to go to the movies by yourself, preferably one with comfortable seats. The Film Forum in Greenwich Village is always nostalgic, as is the Angelika Film Center for indie and foreign films. The Film Forum has a great Summer Double Feature series with pairings like The Big Lebowski and The Last Picture Show, and Open City with Voyage to Italy. I’m hoping to see one of these. In my fridge you’ll find everything: apple cider vinegar, eggs, clementines, apples, yoghurt, chicken stock, leeks, thyme, bay leaves, nuts, dashi, nori and sea moss. I’m a real cook, and live on soups made in a Breville pressure cooker.

I do not believe in life after death, but I do believe in a creative spirit taking other forms. This is a bigger conversation about the definition of life in the time of AI and supercomputers.  I couldn’t do without my miniature poodles, Tsuki and Bizet, who travel with me from coast to coast and have a very good life. I’m also very attached to my Gingher Left-hand Knife-edge Dressmaker Shears, as well as my dress form and mannequin.

I am a lotions-and-potions person and have a mixed skincare regime that includes SkinCeuticals’ toner and an Orveda serum and face cream. I also like the body oil from my friend’s company, Monastery Made, and the Meder Masks I get from Knockout Beauty; they are incredibly moisturising. Meder Beauty Science Hydra-Fill Mask, $115 for a pack of five, knockoutbeauty.com. Monastery Made Lapiz body oil, $59. Orveda Vital Sap, £165, and Firm Brew Botanical Cream, £350. SkinCeuticals Equalizing Toner, £46 The works that changed everything for me were the clothes of Issey Miyake, Azzedine Alaïa and Yohji Yamamoto that I saw at Charivari Workshop as a kid growing up in SoHo. I later interned at The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and saw the works of Madeleine Vionnet and Cristóbal Balenciaga — especially his gowns in taffeta — that totally changed my life.

My grooming gurus include Thom Priano, who cuts my hair on the East Coast, and Dennis Gots, who cuts it on the West. I get regular facials at Monastery in San Francisco and with Ludmila at Knockout Beauty in New York. I also take a lot of vitamins: black seed oil to reduce inflammation, CoQ10 for heart health, and NACs, which support the immune system. 

In another life, I would have been a film or theatre director — anything that involves storytelling and costumes. I’ve done some of this in the past: with the costumes for Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour for the San Francisco Ballet, for the Broadway production Lady in the Dark and for Graham Moore’s film The Outfit. I love the research, character development and artistic collaboration. Never say never.

The best bit of advice I ever received was something that Stephen Sondheim said: “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.” Take advantage of things presented to you. 

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Met Gala maestro Andrew Bolton talks taste

The head curator of The Met’s Costume Institute loves dachshunds, The Vicar of Dibley and Villa d’Este

My personal style signifiers are pretty casual and consistent: my tortoiseshell glasses – I’ve worn various brands over the past 20 years – and a navy cashmere four-bar cardigan, chino trousers, white cotton Oxford shirts, a rep tie and classic wingtip brogues, all by my partner Thom Browne.  The last thing I bought and loved was a painting by Ewa Juszkiewicz, the Surrealist Polish artist. She recreates paintings from the renaissance to the 19th century, but obscures their faces with fabrics or phantasmagoric wigs. Ours references the 17th-century portrait of Maria van Strijp by Dutch golden age artist Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck, which belongs to Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. We’d been looking for one of her paintings for a long time and were lucky to get it in a Sotheby’s evening auction. 

The work of art that changed everything for me is Francis Bacon’s “screaming Pope”, after Diego Velázquez’s 17th-century Portrait of Pope Innocent X. It’s such a depiction of postwar existential angst and I tend to gravitate toward artists who reinterpret history in different ways. The best book I’ve read in the past year is Alan Hollinghurst’s Our Evenings, a social comedy about gay life in England from the 1960s to the pandemic. I’ve always loved his operatic writing style. It’s told through his lived experience, and I think it resonated with me because I was also reading Monica Miller’s Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity at the same time. Both examine issues of race, gender and sexuality and are rooted in history, and Miller’s book inspired our upcoming exhibition at The Met.

The place that means a lot to me is Villa d’Este in Lake Como. It was the first place Thom and I went on holiday together and we still go two or three times a year. It’s become a home from home. We tend to go right after the Met Gala in May, after the fashion shows in Milan and for three weeks at the end of August. Lake Como has such a microclimate: one day it’s sunny, one day it’s hailing, one day it’s snowy, so it’s a very biblical place in terms of the weather. We used to explore the lake more, but now we just stay put and catch up on reading. 

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Euro STARS

BY CHRISTINA OHLY EVANS

For those interested in a summer holiday in Europe, the time to start planning is right now. With a strong U.S. dollar, increased flight capacity and added routes to smaller cities, the appetite for adventures abroad shows no signs of waning. Here are just a few of the recently—or soon to be—opened hotels across the Continent and in the U.K. From a chic French chateau to a design-led, historic project by British architect Sir David Chipperfield in central London, travelers are spoiled for stylish choice this spring.

FRANCE

HÔTEL BALZAC

Just off the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement, this 58-room hotel is a chic haven offering Eiffel Tower views and open-air terraces. With a recent re-do by Festen Architecture, the glass-roofed lobby lounge invites guests to linger, while the Japanese-inspired Spa Ikoi is a unique offering in the city’s well- ness space. Of special note is one of Paris’ chicest hotel bars (don’t miss the elevated take on a lobster roll) where travelers and locals alike meet for aperitifs. hotelbalzac.paris

CHÂTEAU DE FIAC

The lesser-known Occitania region in the South of France is now home to Château de Fiac, a 19th-century castle-cum-boutique hotel. Just 30 miles from Toulouse, the property’s 16 rooms and suites have been designed by Alexis Dupont and incorporate both historical and modern elements— with each enjoying expansive views of the surrounding lush gardens. A state-of-the- art Revivo spa (the first one for The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts brand in Europe) inspired by the original Balinese outpost is focused on the power of the ocean, from marine peels and spirulina- boosted facials to an Icelandic plunge pool, swimming pool and a hammam. Signature Retreats are also offered (a three-night minimum) to destress, detox and focus on nutrition and yoga technique. chateaudefiac.com

Kartell’s Claudio Luti on skis, sculpture and slim-cut suits

The CEO of the Italian design company talks taste

My personal style signifiers are custom Caraceni slim-cut suits – very English – in classic colours such as navy and grey. My shirts are custom E Marinella. I’m a typical Milanese man and I like to work so I’m very comfortable in a suit, though my style has changed over the years. In my previous career I worked with Gianni Versace as managing director to help build the brand, and I only wore his clothes. Today’s dress is more traditional. The last thing I bought and loved was a light-blue hand-knit cashmere sweater at the weekend market in Forte dei Marmi, a seaside town in Tuscany. It’s an excellent spot for high-quality shopping because it caters largely to tourists. It’s nice walking there – there are beautiful flowers and excellent vendors selling everything from ceramics to local leather goods.

The place that means a lot to me is the Mediterranean Sea, aboard my 80ft Wally sailboat. It was built in 1999 and stays in Genoa during the winter. From May until September, though, it’s easy to explore the islands of Italy and Greece. I especially love Bolza and Capri and the Aeolian Islands in July, and the island of Symi – just off Turkey – in August when Italy is crowded. There are so many beautiful bays and places to anchor in this part of the world. The waters off Rhodes are very special too.

The best book I’ve read in the past year is The Count of Virtue: Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan by ER Chamberlin. It’s a biography of a fascinating man who took Milan to the pinnacle of power in terms of politics and culture at the beginning of the Renaissance. It is also a story of a despot who ultimately succumbed to the plague that decimated so many at the time. And the best souvenir I’ve brought home is a warrior sculpture from a recent sailing trip through the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. Local people arrived by canoe to sell us crafts and trinkets, and I bought this sculpture in black wood. He resides in my living room in Forte dei Marmi.

My style icon is Beppe Modenese, the former honorary president of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, a non-profit that helps promote the Italian fashion industry. When I worked in fashion as a young man out of university, I thought he was the epitome of elegance, good manners and good taste. He was known as “The Gentleman” and “Italy’s Prime Minister of Fashion”, and his suits, ties, pocket squares – everything – were perfection. The best gifts I’ve given recently were 20 Christmas presents to my wife last year. It’s a family tradition and I pick them out with my children and grandchildren. From jewellery and clothing to art books, there are gifts from every category, at all prices. One of the best was a gold floral necklace; I went to the store to buy a small necklace for my granddaughter and ended up getting a much grander version for my wife. Another favourite was a sculpture by the Calabrian artist Pino Deodato, inspired by Giorgio de Chirico’s Mysterious Baths sculpture.

The best way to spend €20 is on a stack of newspapers – preferably to read first thing in the morning. I still like to touch the paper versions. And the best gift I’ve received is a “patino” rowing boat from my wife. It is a simple, traditional boat that is typical in Forte dei Marmi and I love it for casual paddling. It says “Claudio & Maria” on the side and was the perfect present. I have a collection of skis and also tennis rackets. I started doing both of these sports when I was very young. Back then, we had really long skis, so those are like antiques now. I also have short skis that turn much more easily, and a rotating selection of newer, high-performance demo skis that I trial, all for downhill skiing, not Nordic, where the terrain is flat. They are all different colours and brands, but my favourites are Atomic. It’s the same for my rackets; I love to play and I always like to try new models.

A way to make me laugh is my golden retriever, Jack. He is always amusing. He goes everywhere with me – to the office, to Forte dei Marmi in summer, to St Moritz in the winter – everywhere but the boat. In my fridge you’ll always find fresh pasta and ragù, some type of fish, herbs, cheeses, aubergine, all kinds of berries and freshly squeezed orange juice. I also have tea and brioche, but not in the fridge, of course. To be honest, I don’t do much cooking.

I’ve recently discovered Laos. I spent my last vacation there and found it to be so beautiful and different from other countries in that part of the world. The people were so kind and well educated, and the trip was full of culture. Amantaka is a spectacular hotel in the Unesco-protected town of Luang Prabang. Being near the Mekong River, the Buddhist temples and the famous night market made for an incredible visit. I don’t know if I believe in life after death because I went to Catholic school and Catholic university, where I studied ethics. It’s difficult to say, so I’ll go with maybe.

The last items of clothing I added to my wardrobe were several ski jackets – a grey Moncler one and two from the Norwegian brand Kjus. They are in brighter colours – cherry red and blue – and I keep them at my home in St Moritz. I choose a jacket according to the weather. An object I would never part with is a vintage blue Porsche Cabriolet that my wife gave me 24 years ago. I’m too old for this car, but it’s such a dream – and it’s special because she purchased it with her own money. It lives in our garage here in Milan and no one else is allowed to drive it. My other cars, yes, fine. But this one? Never.

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Musician Leon Bridges: ‘There’s a specific Texas pride in Fort Worth’

The Grammy Award winner loves his hometown for its tacos, dive bars and custom-made cowboy boots

I moved to Fort Worth when I was two years old, so I’m Texan through and through. I love the slower pace here and that the people are so salt-of-the-earth. I’m always on the move – to Los Angeles, to New York, on tour – and I sometimes find people a little superficial or pretentious. There is a simplicity to life here. My parents still live in Fort Worth and my inner circle – people I met on the cusp of fame, including my security – are all based here too.

Fort Worth isn’t as progressive as Austin, but the food scene and population are both evolving. There’s a specific Texas pride here – in our roots and in our culture – and I think my music reflects that. It’s Texas twang meets R&B and the whole Western aesthetic that goes along with it.

The city has seen the addition of many cool smaller hotels recently: Bowie House is one of the best. It’s a great environment to meet people, and it’s also near Dickies Arena, so people are drawn there from all over to see musicians such as Paul McCartney and Janet Jackson. I’ve played there, too. Hotel Dryce is another cool option – it’s set in an old industrial warehouse – and I like Hotel Drover in Fort Worth Stockyards for its great bar and true Texas spirit. The Stockyards is where cowboys historically traded cattle, and it still has that classic Western vibe, right down to the rodeo. There are so many dope places to stay. 

I cut my teeth on Magnolia Avenue, an artsy part of town with lots of music venues and restaurants. Sadly some of the staples have closed as musicians have moved on to Nashville and LA, but there is one dive bar – The Boiled Owl Tavern – that’s particularly significant as it’s where I was discovered. I still like to go and play impromptu shows with the original musicians from back in the day.

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