Anne de Courcy has written a series of critically acclaimed biographies and social histories including The Viceroy’s Daughters, Debs at War and The Husband Hunters: Social Climbing in London and New York. In this issue of Beyond, she looks back at Manhattan’s Gilded Age, and the legendary soirees given by Caroline Astor, mother of St. Regis founder John Jacob Astor IV. “This summer I shall be visiting the beautiful Côte d’Azur,” she tells us, “where I’ll be researching the book I’m currently working on, Chanel’s Riviera.”
In between writing articles for Wallpaper* and Condé Nast Traveler, Emma O’Kelly is busy renovating a 1960s house in Italy’s sleepy Lake Maggiore. “This summer we’ll have lots of visits from friends and family,” she says. “We’ll basically live lakeside all summer. I’m hoping to do the one-mile village swim this year.” For Beyond, she talked to polo star and St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras about his stunning modernist polo ranch, designed by visionary Argentinian architects Estudio Ramos.
This issue’s cover was shot by Swedish fashion photographer Pelle Crépin at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Mexico. Pelle’s crisp Scandinavian style has seen him working with global retailers such as COS, Uniqlo and Mr Porter as well as shooting for publications such as Elle, 10 Magazine and Kinfolk. “This summer I’m planning a trip to Japan,” he tells us. “I’m hoping to explore the nature, culture and, of course, the food. Hopefully I’ll pick up a few tips on inemuri (napping in public) as well.”
George Pendle is a writer based in Washington, DC. He contributes to Esquire, Frieze and Atlas Obscura, and has written a number of books. On page 78 he looks at the career of one of the world’s greatest living painters, Georg Baselitz. This summer, George is looking forward to visiting Rensselaerville: “It’s a tiny village, two-and-a-half hours north of NYC. It only has 200 inhabitants, but they’re a mixture of major contemporary artists, billionaires and hay farmers, who all mingle quite happily.”
Born in Guangzhou, China, Jun Cen is an award-winning illustrator and animator. His illustrations can be found in The New York Times, The New Yorker and The Washington Post, and his animated short films have been shown at a number of international film festivals. He illustrated our Sweet Dreams feature on page 84. This summer, he plans to visit Mexico: “I’m looking forward to seeing the spectacular ancient Teotihuacán sites and modern Mexican art. It’ll be great to have my creative Mexican friends showing me around.”
London-based still-life photographer Louisa Parry shot the noteworthy artifacts included in our regular World in Seven Objects feature (keep an eye out for the chic new Jack’s Club slippers on page 23). Her clients include luxury brands such as Elizabeth Arden, Red Valentino and Sony, and her work can be found in the pages of Robb Report UK and Wired. This summer, Louisa is looking forward to visiting family in Hawaii. “I can’t wait to go surfing,” she says. “I’m not brilliant, but still… what a place to do it!”
