spending time in st. moritz
What do some hundred horses, Karl Lagerfeld, Percy Sledge and a Finnish jazz band have in common? Under normal circumstances, perhaps not much. But during the last few days they were all in St. Moritz; the roof of Europe, which on Sunday hosted the season’s last race day on the frozen lake. This year, Arabian horses had joined the cast to make the setting even more surreal, amidst palm trees, champagne bars and some 14,000 spectators. “When you race in St. Moritz it’s not for the money. It’s a little bit like the Olympics, with a completely different atmosphere and a unique backdrop. You’re not on the ground but in 1,900 meters altitude, with an amazing audience,” said Joachim Weissmeier, trainer of Fanal El Samawi, who won the Arabian race.
For Karl Lagerfeld, St. Moritz was a bit like the Olympics too, as he exhibited his latest art works, Fire Etchings, at the Gmurzynska, his longtime gallery for the past 17 years. “I’m a paperfreak. In fashion all collections begin on paper, just as in photography. My profession is to sketch. Whenever I have an idea I see it in three dimensions, I have a technique and then I put it on paper,” said Lagerfeld, whose images were etched into backlit glass with fire. Meanwhile, at the Kulm, a Finnish jazz band played divine tunes worthy of the late Miles Davies,while Percy Sledge performed at the Badrutt’s with a little help from his wife. When asked how a man from the deep South stays close to his roots in the Swiss mountains his answer was simple. “My fans.” Photo Camilla Alfthan
the odd one out
“Dear contemporaries, don’t you realize how different we are? Although I depict you as equals and like the ancients you never change.” Piero Fornasetti – the designer of dreams who this year is the subject of his own 100th aniverssary.
www.fornasetti.com www.christinahartmann.com
rider’s best
With so much talent around at the latest edition of the Gucci Masters interviewing was a real joy as each person had a string of interesting quotes and anecdotes that reflected their individual personalities. Here are some of my favorites. For the rest, stay tuned for the up and coming Master’s magazine :
Ludger Beerbaum, the German legend on multi tasking: ”I don’t know how many horses I’ve had during the years. 250-300 when it’s just the ones I’ve been on to international competitions. The family always comes first, the horses come second. Also, I’m not in love with my horses. I like them. Some people say, I love, I love, I love….but it’s not the German way of interpretating feelings.” Christian Ahlmann + Judy-Ann Melchior, the world ranking’s number one + the showjumping mother of Leo, who was born on the inaugural day of the London Olympics: Christian : We compete against each other all the time. It doesn’t make us fight, for sure not. I think it is the only sport where women and men compete together. ” Judy-Ann : “When we’re both at the shows there’s much more chance that at least one of us was good. So when Christian was riding alone for nine months his results were terrible. But when we’re together it is always more likely that one will win.” Reed Kessler, youngest Olympian ever on the US team: ”I’m one of those people who really likes pressure. Sometimes when there’s not a big enough atmosphere or when it’s not as important a show it can make me a little casual.” Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, number one during ten months in 2012 : ”The ideal horse has to be with you. They must fight for themselves and the rider. They need to be brave and careful. Not too careful, so they wont take any risks, and not too brash either. They have to go out there and do the job everyday.” Marco Kutscher, winner of the Gucci Grand Prix 2010 on his all time favorite : ”Cash. He’s the one who gave me the most victories and the most prize money. In the end, the mind of the horse is very important and he was always figthing for me. I have some other ones and we’ll see how they develop. But so far, there’s only one Cash in my life.” Georgina Bloomberg, showjumper and novelist on never saying never: ”The last couple of years have been a bit of a struggle. But I’m not done in this sport yet, I want to give it another shot, and its going to take a little more than a few broken bones to keep me out. ” Jean Rochefort, actor, breeder and co author of Louvre à cheval: ”In the old days, horses worked for us. Now we are trying to create a bond with them. It is this bond that you see in great performances..Equestrian art is the result of two species that find confidence in one another.” Photos by Thierry Poussard, www.thierrypoussard.com A lasting impression : Charlotte Casiraghi’s horse at the Style & Competition class – Casiraghi’s innovative concept in which she came second with her accomplice, Edwina Tops Alexander.
africa is calling
At lot has happened since the Danish story teller, Karen Blixen, travelled to her farm in Kenya while passing through Jean Patou’s couture atelier in Paris to make her new wardrobe. Blixen needen’t have looked any further than the Masaï tribes at her plantation who’m designers today tap for their immense creativity and craftmanship. One of them is Vivienne Westwood who goes to Kenya to make products that were touched by the hand. Quality instead of quantity is the designer’s mantra just as dealing with the global warming that so affects the local lives. All of which she brought up at the IHT’s latest luxury conference in Rome where Africa was the major theme. And Westwood must have been happy with at least one thing; instead of following the roads to the Eternal City it was possible to watch the entire conference as an online delegate. Apart from sustainability and craftsmanship; the rebranding of Africa was the major topic. From the local founders of Style House in Laos and the Fast Track shows in South Africa; to a former salesman of frozen foods in England who had found a new meaning in life after he went to Gambia and discovered the (almost) untapped virtues of the wild growing Baobab fruits. That we all share the same dreams was pointed out by a speaker from the cosmetics industry; Joanne Crewes CEO of P&G Global Prestige, who referred to the early discoveries of the German psychoanalyst, Karl Jung. Whether it is about beauty, craft or the dignity of holding a meaningful job we all want the same basic things. And as it turned out, fashion can play a role in changing the world when music cannot. This was proven by the Irish rock star, Bono who in 2005 founded the African based luxury brand, Edun, with his wife Ali Hewson. Three days after the couple’s first trip to Uganda, where they now produce cotton for their line, a civil war broke out while the military made head quarters of their hotel. Only days after Bono had performed to the locals music was prohibited by law.
Masaï hands make the products of Lauren Bush Lauren‘s sustainable brand, Feed, just as it is the case with Maiyet which is based on indigeneous craftsmanship from around the world.
hello handsome
Handsome was the nick name of the Danish race horse, Fly Society when he bolted out of the starting stalls in Klampenborg north of Copenhagen. Dark, elegant and with a talent for dressage he was elected breeding stallion for the Danish Warmblood race when he was seven and still on the turf. And that is not the end of the story as the Germans have also taken him on; first for the Trakhener breed and now for the Oldenburgers. At age elleven, Fly Society xx, which is his new breeding name, is literally flying.
let them eat cake
Pucci and the Ferragamo family were my subjects on a recent trip to Florence, and good to know that fashion people actually eat – and drink. After a Florentine lunch with Laudomia Pucci and a visit to the vineyards of the Ferragamo family, Louise Ferragamo took me on a tour of the city to show me her favorite places. Most of them sold pastry – which actually makes sense as she just started her own event company. Check it out onhttp://www.facebook.com/madeybymade in case you are getting married or throwing a party.
best of the best
Authenticity, l’art de vivre and the splendour of nature are some of the things that make the Best of the Alps – 12 Alpine resorts that sum up the wise words of Confucius, when quoted by mountaineer and Michelin chef, Pierre Carrier of Albert 1er ; ‘All men think that happiness lies on the summit of the mountain – when it is all about how you climb it’. Aiguille du Midi
climbing high
I would have, I should have, I could have…if a knee injury hadn’t kept me grounded at the local spa in Sass-Fee. But then the mountain guide came with his rope and rucksack and….
Photos Joakim Lloyd Roboff
Download Saas-Fee1.pdfDownload Saas-Fee1.pdfthe dream goes on
It was fashion week in Paris where temperatures reached a sweltering 30 degrees. But as it turned out, the real supermodels during the first week-end of October were on the turf of Longchamp where the German filly, Danedream, beat the favorites in the Prix de l’Arc du Triomphe a surprise victory. So it was fitting that I two weeks later should interview horse whisperer, Monty Roberts,who originally got her father, Lomitas, out of the starting stalls to embark on an impressive career. Getting a good start is always essential, and one of Monty’s favorite stories was about how he and his brother raced their donkey against some of the best horses – and won. At a 30 feet distance the donkey was always halfway before the horses got out of the stalls. Meanwhile, on rue de Longchamp in Paris, my friend, Anette and her children were reading Fontaine’s Fables, La Tortue et le Lièvre, where the hare takes a nap and loses the race to a turtle. Surprises are always nice – and apart from a record five length victory, it would seem like Danedream won with her eyes closed!
trading places
Racing fans don’t usually follow the show jumping scene and vice versa, and to most people dressage is just plain boring. But when the seventh leg of the Global Champions Tour took place in Chantilly it was the occasion to swap roles. While the world’s best show jumpers competed in a 1.000 m sprint, some of the world’s best jockeys got in the saddle to jump a ten obstacle course. The experiment was interesting as most of the jockeys had never jumped anything before. Thanks to some coaching from their show jumping partners, they all made it through the course and in a style that greatly improved once they were racing against the clock. And it was not over here; after Saturday’s polo lessons at Aprémont, show jumpers Edwina Alexander and Pénélope Leprévost took a crash course in dressage. Even if everything was new to them, including the long stirrups and uncomfortable Stübben saddles, both were hooked and made attempts to piaff, passage, and do a Spanish walk as well as a curtsey.
“It is definitely more physical work than in jumping, where we have horses that have more blood so you don’t have to ride so strongly with your legs. But when you think a little bit about what you want to do these horses just react straight away. It shows that there’s been a lot work training them,” said Alexander who won the GCT Grand Prix on a wet and slippery course where it was all about having complete control. To Pénélope Leprévost, who came in third, the elevated trot of her horse was most extraordinary feeling. “It is different than show jumping were it’s all about the movement of the gallop, which I like to keep round with the horse’s head down. I liked the different personalities of each horse and that the rider can adapt to them. They are formidable and trying to do their best for us. In the race the feeling was fantastic; here I think it is a lot about communicating with the horse, so I didn’t dare to say to much as I didn’t want him to lose confidence in me,” said Leprévost who won Friday’s race in front of jumping pros such as Kevin Staut, Eric Lamaze and Rodrigo Pessoa.
Photos Pascal Renauldon
