hubert white

Hubert WhiteForum/The Substance of Style/Fall 2011

REFLECTING ON FALL

INSPIRATION: IRELANDSTYLE MATTERS

CLOSET THERAPY

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Fall, for many of us the favorite of the four seasons, is now upon us. Aside from the lower temperatures anddew points perhaps the most significant changes are in our wardrobes. Texture matters again. The richnessand depth of fall fabrics is a great departure from the flat finish of summer clothing. When combined with thecurrent trim silhouettes, these fall fabrics are reminiscent of the elegance of an earlier time. The only differ-ence is that today’s fabrics are much more comfortable, luxurious and performance driven than their predeces-sors. I invite you to stop in and experience our fall collections for yourself.

In this issue of our Forum magazine, we’ve highlighted two of the newest members of our staff. Both are realprofessionals as well as wonderful and fun people. Emily Cochrane is our shoe manager, and Jim Quinn, theseller’s seller, returned to us after a 15-year break. Also, turn to page 6 to learn all about our promotion withBMW of Minnetonka. I’m still not quite sure how they got that car in our front door!

Hope to see you in the store this fall,

Bob White

wel

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OUR FAVORITESEASON…

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Passion for Life15MilMil15 Suit

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Hubert White 747 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-1719612-339-9200

www.hubertwhite.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Karen Alberg GrossmanDESIGN DIRECTOR

Hans GschliesserMANAGING EDITOR

Jillian SpraguePROJECT MANAGER

Lisa MontemorraDESIGNERS

Cynthia Lucero, Jean-Nicole VendittiCONCEPT DIRECTORS

Andrew Mitchell, Russ MitchellMERCHANDISING DIRECTOR

Bob MitchellDIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Peg EadieDIRECTOR OF PREPRESS

Hugh K. Stanton

BUSINESS JOURNAL S FASHION GROUPPUBLISHER

Stuart NifoussiPRESIDENT AND CEO

Britton JonesCHAIRMAN AND COO

Mac BrightonCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Christine Sullivan

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FASHION FORUM MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED IN 12 REGIONAL EDITIONS FOR MEMBER

STORES OF THE APPAREL FORUM COPYRIGHT 2011. PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS

JOURNALS, INC, P.O. BOX 5550, NORWALK, CT 06856, 203-853-6015 • FAX: 203-852-8175;

ADVERTISING OFFICE: 1384 BROADWAY, NY, NY 10018-6108, 212-686-4412 • FAX: 212-686-

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MATERIALS. NO PART OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN

PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHERS. VOLUME 14, ISSUE 2. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

FEATURES2 Welcome Letter 6 Hubert White Introduces Red8 Meet Jim Quinn34 Icons: Guitar Hero

FASHION12 Style: Trends for Men14 Wardrobe: Men’s Fashion in Film 16 Profile: A Decade of Agave18 Life Is But a Dream 24 Why Style Matters

DEPARTMENTS 10 Ask Forum32 Travel: The Eyes Have It 38 Food: Cooking With the Stars 40 Spirits: Cutting-Edge Cocktails 44 End Page: Closet Therapy

28 Contents.qxp:FORUM 7/14/11 10:15 AM Page HUB2

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Hubert White Introduces

a Little Red to its Decor

Last April we added a little color to the sales floor, a bright red BMW Z4 compliments ofBMW of Minnetonka. We even had a drawing for a weekend use of the car during ourCanali and Eton trunk shows. Our friend Brad Olson was the lucky winner.

It was fun to see so many people stop in their tracks upon seeing this beautiful vehiclein our shop and then pause to wonder how we got the car through our front door. Well,it wasn’t easy! It fit only by the smallest of margins and required the pros at BMW tovery carefully ease it through only after removing our doors. It will be hard to top thisvery special event.

Bob White

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www.BMWofMinnetonka.com

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This past year we have had the good fortune to add two new faces to our Hubert White team.

One of those individuals is back at Hubert White after a hiatus of almost 15 years.Jim Quinn brings his great work ethic back to Hubert White, along with his trademarksuspenders and the desire to be “absolutely fantastic” every single day.

Emily Cochran, our footwear manager, uses her keen eye for fashion (she is a graduateof Art and Design at the University of Minnesota) to suggest the correct footwear for ourclients as well as keeping them well dressed on the sportswear side of the store.

We sat down with Jim and Emily and asked them some straight questions to get their“off the cuff” answers.

Jim QuinnFavorite Movie – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Best Shirt – Nothing comes close to my Eton shirts!

The most important thing in my life – My family and being a dad

Favorite Book – Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follet

I’m currently reading –The Confession by John Grisham

Most influential person(s) in my life – My parents have always been my heroes

I love to – Drive around the city lakes while listening to a good book

I can’t stand – Whiners

My next piece of clothing is going to be – Navy three-piece chalk stripe suit

Best pair of shoes – My new custom made, two-tone, black and brownGravati wingtips

I can’t get enough of – The Lake Harriet Pavilion popcorn: It’s the best!

Favorite restaurant – Oceanaire

Best Necktie – RVR: they tie a great knot

Emily CochranWhen I’m bored I love to – Paint, draw or sew

I hate it when – The weather is terrible

I like to spend my free time – Doing hot yoga

Best men’s shoe – It’s a tie, Gravati or Alden

The most influential people in my life are – Definitely my family

Favorite Food – Thai

Guys need to work on – Eating organic!

My favorite movie – Double Indemnity starring Fred MacMurrayand Barbara Stanwyck

My favorite book – The Color Purple by Alice Walker

My next piece of clothing is going to be – A Filson women’s woolTimber jacket

I’m passionate about – Art

My favorite pair of shoes – My Frye engineer boots

Working in a men’s store – Has its ”testosterone moments”

ForumBioPage:HUB_P 7/13/11 5:34 PM Page 8

go tofacebook.com/etonofsweden

tell us your favorite thing about Hubert White and

be automatically entered into a drawing for a $500

eton shopping spree.

fine shirt maker since 1928

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Q:My girlfriend has been buying mescarves but I have no idea how to

wear them. Are they in style?Yes, more than ever! Whether cashmere or wool, bulky handknits or fine gauge with fringe, bright solids or patterned alpinedesigns, a scarf is the easiest way to add personality to yourlook. The trick to wearing them: don’t overthink it! Just wrapyour favorite scarf around your neck a few times, or try theEuropean way: fold a long scarf in half, drape it around yourneck, and pull the ends through the loop. Voila! Instant panache.And don’t wait for the snowstorms: a beautiful scarf is a greatfashion accent, whatever the weather.

Q:Magazines show bright color pants,yet on the streets, most guys wear

jeans or khakis. What’s up with the color? Bright colors (best in slim five-pocket models) are definitely anew direction for men’s trousers, most popular with contempo-rary customers and guys with self-confidence. If you dare, givethem a try: color is fun, mood-elevating and not all that hard towear. (Nantucket red has been a staple in New England fordecades...) If you’re not so bold, try the new five-pocket modelsin neutral shades, in non-denim fabrics like brushed twill andcorduroy. With more options than ever in casual trousers,there’s no need to be boring—or bored.

Q:Why buy clothing in a specialty storewhen so much is available online?

While shopping online can be tempting, there are many caveats.First of all, not all designers produce the same quality goods forall accounts. So a designer polo from a flash sale or discountsite or outlet store might be a different weight or color than the“same” designer polo in an upscale store. Second, at independ-ent specialty stores like ours, you work with store owners andtrained tailors and wardrobe consultants whose reputationdepends on making you look terrific. Most also offer free closetmakeovers: they’ll come to your home, sort through your closetand update your wardrobe with a new piece or two to bring it alltogether. In addition, store owners stand behind their product,so you’ll never get stuck with an impulse-purchase-gone-wrong.

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394 West of 494

A Proud Member of Twin Cities Automotive 15802 Wayzata Boulevard Minnetonka phone: 952-303-7500 bmwofminnetonka.com

The only locally owned BMW dealership.

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FALL AND WINTER ARE JUSTHEATING UP. BY WILLIAM KISSELTRENDS

FORMEN

style

The runways of Milan, New Yorkand Paris showcase fashion at itsmost extravagant. Limited editionwool suits and belts made from the mostexotic skins were paraded out to cause astir—and it worked.

Thankfully there’s more to menswearthan one-off pieces singularly designedwith connoisseurs in mind. This fall,men’s clothing and accessory makershave created some of their most variedand versatile collections to meet theeveryday needs of the stylish modernman. Sharp suits and sportcoats in arich array of autumnal colors andtweedy textures, sporty jackets made ofweatherproof materials, big bold knits insolids and multi-hued variations, andeven a resurgence of cashmere, cor-duroy and camel hair are wearable andon-trend. So whether you’re loungingaround the house, dashing to the office,going for a weekend road trip, or prepar-

A patternedsportcoat can bedressed up ordown, and adouble-breastedcamel peacoatsatisfies threetrends in one.

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ing for that big formal affair, thisfall’s offerings have you covered.

DUAL-PURPOSE Perfect for the officein classic pinstripes or subtle win-dowpane patterns, these samejackets come alive at night whenpaired with casual slacks andjeans, coincidentally the way mostreal men now define weekendwear. If you want to try somethingnew, check out this year’s crop ofdouble-breasted jackets, or DBs, asthey’re known. Nearly everydesigner from Armani to Zegna isbanking on double-breasted suitsplaying a starring role in men’swardrobes, this fall and beyond. Tothat end, double-breasted jackets

come in many variations, from lowfour-button models with softshoulders and very straight lapelsto serious, military-inspired highsix- and even eight-button, peaklapel jackets with strong shouldersand streamlined waists. Many ofthese shapes also carry over intoouterwear and sportcoats.

SWEET PEAS The pea coat originat-ed in the 18th century, when thedurable jackets were used to clothesailors and other military person-nel who found the “pij” material(from the Dutch word pijjekkermeaning twilled cloth) used tomake them incredibly warm.Modern menswear makers couldnot have foreseen record cold tem-peratures across the globe whenthey developed their own versionsof these hearty coats, but rest

assured that the double-breastedtoppers are ready to work doubleduty when necessary.

STRIKE A CORD Corduroy comes inmany sizes—from pinwale to extrawide wale—and this season topbrands like Belvest, Kiton, Zegna,Loro Piana and Canali have

employed the time-honored ribbedcloth in everything from jeans,jackets and sport shirts to outer-wear, blazers, and even tailoredclothing. Pinwale corduroy in acotton/cashmere blend is HugoBoss’s top dog this season, whilecashmere kingpin BrunelloCucinelli prefers brushed corduroyfor his collection of quilted coats.

OUT OF THE DESERT Few items in aman’s wardrobe have ever beenmore luxurious than a camel topcoat. Now that familiar topper—astaple of 1930s and 1940sHollywood royalty—has been rein-terpreted in everything from carcoats and high-waisted trousers tosportcoats and even full camel hair(or colored) suits. Designers asdiverse as Hermès, GiorgioArmani, Tom Ford andErmenegildo Zegna offered just apreview of the full camel stampedeto come this winter.

TECHNO? TECH YES! RememberZegna’s imaginative I Jacket withits built-in touch control panel atthe cuff, allowing one to interfacewith his iPod without touching it?Or how about Loro Piana’s innova-tive Storm System technology,which renders even the most opu-lent fabrics like superfine wool andcashmere water repellent? Thosebrilliant ideas have come full circleand spawned a whole generation ofhigh tech, high style garments.Whether it’s a polyester and nylonjacket that actually breathes as thetemperature rises, or a top coatdesigned with touch technologythat lets you hide your electronicsand control them remotely, thisseason, it’s high style to wearsomething high tech.

Technicallyspeaking... Thiswool and down

jacket offersThermore

insulation andtaped seams for

waterproofperformance.

THIS SEASON, IT’S HIGH STYLE TO WEARSOMETHING HIGH TECH.>>

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ward

robe 1941

Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese FalconDetective Sam Spade: cunningsleuth, dapper dresser

1962Sean Connery in Dr. NoA rare casual moment for 007, who dons a tuxedomore often than not. Whatever the occasion, hisfirearm (in this case, a Smith & Wesson CentennialAirweight) is never far from sight.

1974Robert Redford in The Great GatsbyRalph Lauren outfitted the entirecast for the movie adaptation ofF. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel.

1959Cary Grant in North by Northwest Proof positive that youcan still look put togetherand polished while runningfrom the bad guys.

70 YEARS OF CINEMATIC STYLE BY JILLIAN SPRAGUE

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1980John Belushi and Dan Akroyd in TheBlues Brothers

1994Jim Carrey and JeffDaniels in Dumb and Dumber

2007Rowan Atkinsonin Mr. Bean’sHoliday

SUITS CAN’T SAVE YOU NOWTHESE MEMORABLE MOVIE GOOFBALLSPROVE THAT YOU CAN DRESS THEM UP, BUTYOU CAN’T TAKE THEM OUT.

1987Michael Douglas in Wall StreetFat ties—and fat wallets—epitomized the1980s. The pleated pants popular thenare just starting to reappear on runways,but haven’t yet made it mainstream.

2001George Clooney and Brad Pitt inOcean’s ElevenUnbuttoned elegance as the bigscreen’s most charismatic criminals

1992The cast of Reservoir DogsThese guys were ahead of the trend in slim suits and ties.

2011The cast of The Adjustment BureauWhile overcoats and fedoras are classics,the style in multiples is downrightintimidating. These men mean business!

1980Richard Gere in American GigoloArmani became a household nameafter outfitting gigolo Julian in hissignature suits.

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y mission 10 years ago was to make the best jeans inthe world; that’s still our mission today,” assertsAgave founder Jeff Shafer. “We started with eightjeans; last year we did $11 million in sales, a recordfor us, just in men’s. My wife Lauren (who retired

from the business 16 years ago to raise our son Jacob) is back asdesigner of women’s. We’ve become a true luxury label focused onUSA-made quality product.”

How do you compete with bigger brands?I knew the secret of making the best jeans was inthe denim. I found the best denims from boutiquemills in Japan. I focused on fabric and fit, partner-ing with a Japanese jeans manufacturer with pro-duction and laundry in L.A. that made jeans forLevi’s. They knew how to make a jean authentical-

ly and accurately. Agave stands for the highestquality jeans, made authentically in the USA. Our customers

know this and appreciate our commitment.

How tough is it to work with your spouse?I wouldn’t be a designer today if it weren’t for Lauren. Twocompanies ago we started working together: I was theowner and she was doing production. We hit tough timesand had to let our designer go, and Lauren encouraged me

to do the design myself; she actually taught me how. Ifound my passion thanks to Lauren and I’ve been trying to get

her back to work with me for a long time. Last September, ourson Eli started high school and she finally agreed. Here’s why it works: We are equals; we trust each other and don’t

compete with one another. We try not to discuss work at home.

We have the same taste level but complementary skills. Weshare values, integrity and the same commitment to quality.

What’s the next big thing in denim for fall 2011?The news is COLOR in bottoms, not just shades of indigo,black and gray, but brown, olive and camel. The other excite-ment is alternative weaves (twills, cords, etc.) in five-pocketmodels, washed down to a beautiful patina.

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prof

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Above: Jeff andLauren ShaferLeft: Items fromAgave’s men’sand women’s fallcollections

A DECADE OF AGAVE

AUGUST 2012 WILLMARK THE 10-YEAR

ANNIVERSARY OFAMERICA’S COOLEST

DENIM. BY KARENALBERG GROSSMAN

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Fall 2011 has us dreamingabout texture... lush knits, comfy cashmeres, velvety cords. So many soft waysto stay warm this fall...

life is but a

PHOTOGRAPHY: Sergio Kurhajek | STYLING: Wendy McNett | HAIR & MAKEUP: Claire Bailey

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DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM AAAAAAAAAAAAA LLLLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEE DDDDDDDDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM OOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.........


WHYSTYLE MATTERSMaking a good impressionhas never been more important. Nor has it ever been easier!

Studies show that well-dressed men

get higher paying jobs, enjoy better

social status and are more attractive to

the opposite sex.

Here are some simple tips on how

to spruce up your look, because

yes, style matters!

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BUILDING A GREATWARDROBE IS SIMPLERTHAN YOU THINK.

WITH A FEW NEW BASICS, A WONDERFUL

FOUNDATION (AND BETTER FIRST IMPRESSIONS)

CAN BE BUILT.

1. Dressy Casual 2. Sartorial 3. Sporty Casual

simple updates forall your modes...


Plaid ClassicA great neutral

plaid adds instant

style to jeans and

moves gracefully

from offi ce to

dinner.

Color StatementA bolder plaid

in rich fall colors

adds excitement

to solid basics

and layers well

with sweaters.

THE ESSENTIAL SPORTCOATTHE MVP OF DRESSY CASUAL

Dressy Casual

No single item is more effective in transforming

a man’s wardrobe than the sportcoat. It makes

a man look “dressed,” while enhancing and

concealing all the right body parts...


UnconstructedA soft, unlined

jacket is an

indispensible

basic this season.

It looks casually

elegant and fi ts like

a second skin!

CollegiateCorduroyToasty warm and

versatile, corduroy

has come back

with a vengeance.

Soft CashmereUnconstructed

and elegant, it

works with dress

pants, jeans and

everything in

between.


The IntellectualAdd a sweater

to a windowpane

wool suit for a

super smart look.

The Young TurkA well-cut dark

suit can take you

everywhere... and

a great wool tie is

an easy way

to add some

personality.

The PlayerA fun shirt (without

a tie) with an open

suit jacket is a

refreshing

upgrade

to jeans.

Sartorial

FITThe New

Slimmer

Silhouette

is here

to stay

From a fi rst interview to the corner offi ce,

one properly fi tting neutral suit in a transitional

fabric is an essential basic for the well-

dressed man.

(NEW)


The StatesmanHerringbone in

warm fall tones

plus a buttoned

vest spells

confi dence.

The MogulNavy pinstripe

suit, blue shirt,

red tie, slim cut...

need we say

more?

whichSUITSyou?


Sporting Event With ClientA quilted, fi tted,

double breasted-

jacket is as warm

as it is fl attering.

Weekend OutingCold, blustery

days can be faced

in style with an

elegant update to

the classic parka.


Soccer SidelinesThrow a great

scarf over a

versatile pullover

and be the

best looking

dad on the fi eld.

Country DriveGo antiquing and

lunching in style in

a chocolate suede

driving jacket,

also perfect for

everyday.

Sporty Casual

RELAXEDSTYLE

Whether it’s

the weekend,

or you just

want it to

feel that way.


32

Green visions abound in thegardenscapes of the Dublincountryside. By David Lyon

trave

l

When filmmakers want to evoke the formal lush countrysideof Georgian Ireland or the mythical Celtic landscape of dap-pled glades, they train their cameras on Powerscourt Estate,one of the greenest corners of the Emerald Isle. Set onDublin’s doorstep in County Wicklow, the gated lands origi-nally surrounded a 13th-century castle that helped guardthe city. In 1731, the lord of Powerscourt upgraded to theiconic Georgian manor that still occupies the high ground,gazing across a rich array of gardens and over a small laketo the hunched backs of the Wicklow Mountains.

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For full immersion in the lifestyleof latter-day Irish gentry, retire tothe Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt,where you can nurse a tumbler ofTyrconnell single-malt Irishwhiskey on the terrace. The 200-room resort opened in 2007 and isjust a five-minute saunter from thePowerscourt manor. Its statelyPalladian architecture andGeorgian-inspired décor are com-plemented by the sybaritic ESPAspa and invisible (but indispensa-ble) contemporary technology.

Concierges can advise guests onthe best woodland hikes and runsand provide maps and electronickeys to the hidden, gated parts ofthe estate. They can also arrangehorseback riding through thecountryside, golf on either ofPowerscourt’s two 18-hole courses,or fly fishing for sea-run trout onthe River Dargle.

Dublin is only a half hour away,making it possible to combine therustic pleasures of the Irish coun-tryside with the urban rush of theIrish capital. It’s worth making apilgrimage to the august neo-Gothic grounds of Trinity Collegeto see the Book of Kells displayedin the library. Created in the 9thcentury, this stunning volume ofthe Gospels is one of the earliestsurviving illuminated manuscriptsand an Irish national treasure.

The Irish also treasure the out-sized personalities of their artists.At the National Gallery of Ireland,one section is dedicated to theYeats clan: portraitist John ButlerYeats and his sons, poet and some-times painter William Butler Yeatsand modern Expressionist master

Jack Yeats. The gallery backs ontoMerrion Square, one of Dublin’sfinest Georgian squares, whererows of elegant townhouses aredistinguished by differently col-ored doors and hand-burnished

brass fixtures. Oscar Wilde lived at1 Merrion Square from 1855 to1876, and should you wonderwhere he wet his whistle, a goodbet might be O’Donoghue’s, a pubestablished in 1792 only a blockaway. The barkeeps still pull a finepint of Guinness, and the room isfamous for its nightly live music.

The Ritz-Carlton has its ownpub, McGills, where the AlbaquirkyTurkeys play a driving version oftraditional Irish music. The resort’sgastronomic jewel, though, is itscasual fine-dining restaurant,Gordon Ramsay at Powerscourt,the London-based chef’s first Irishventure. Conceived as a farm-to-fork venue relying intensely onIrish products, the restaurant pro-vides a literal taste of the country-side in a country about the size ofWest Virginia. The lamb is raisedless than 20 minutes away, thevegetables come from an organicfarm a mile down the road. As forthe mushrooms, the kitchen staffforages them in the woods andmeadows of Powerscourt.

Opposite page: The 19th-centuryPepperpot Towerwas modeled on

a peppermillbelonging to the

seventh ViscountPowerscourt,

Mervyn Wingfield.This page, top: A

fountain inWalled Garden at

PowerscourtGardens

Center: GordonRamsay’s County

Wicklow lambwith potato

galette Bottom: The

Mountain ViewSuite at Ritz-

CarltonPowerscourt

YOU COULD SPEND DAYS AT POWERSCOURT SAVORING THE IRISH GENIUS FORLANDSCAPE GARDENING OR WANDERING LIKE MYTHIC KING FERGUS IN THE GENTLEWILDS OF THE WOODLANDS AND MEADOWS OF THE 1,000 ACRE ESTATE.

HUB Travel_Ireland.qxp:Travel_Ireland 7/18/11 10:48 AM Page 33

arlier this year, an exhibit called Guitar Heroes: LegendaryCraftsmen from Italy to New York opened at theMetropolitan Museum of Art. Featured were the handcraftedguitars of three 20th-century Italian-American master crafts-men: John D’Angelico, James D’Aquisto and JohnMonteleone, who from workshops in NYC sought to carry onthe traditions of centuries-old European masters.

In preserving these age-old techniques, these craftsmen haveinspired a new generation. Among the best, Jens Ritter is a young Germanluthier from the quiet village of Deidesheim, near the RhineRiver in the heart of Germany’s wine country.

Ritter, who pro-duces 50 to 60 instru-ments a year with thehelp of a single skilledassistant, introduced his firstbass guitars in 1995. They causedan immediate sensation based on theirsheer beauty, innovative designs andremarkable sound. The exquisitelines and symmetry of his instru-

ments are simply breathtaking; his fertile imagination has yieldeddesigns from medieval to futuristic. Add in the warmth and beauty ofexotic hardwoods and other natural materials (sometimes even preciousgemstones!) or the stark high-tech sleekness of mixed synthetics, and it’sclear why Ritter’s guitars are coveted by top players (George Benson, PhilLesh, Josh Dunham) around the world.

We recently caught up with Ritter, who was in New York City to to see the GuitarHeroes exhibit at the Met and for this exclusive interview with Forum magazine.

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LIKE FINE CUSTOM CLOTHING,A GUITAR BY JENS RITTER IS ONE-OF-A-KIND, HANDCRAFTED, STEEPEDIN TRADITION. BY BILL WEISS

GUITAR HERO

Known as theGermanStradivari, JensRitter pushesthe limits ofhis craft.

icons

“I’M NOT KNOWN FOR FOLLOWING RULES; IPREFER TO EXPERIMENT WITH NEW IDEAS.”

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How did you get started?I played bass in a band as ateenager and was never happywith the instruments. I didn’t havethe money to buy an expensivebass guitar so I tried to modifyparts of my instrument to make itbetter, like changing the electron-ics and eventually cutting and saw-ing the body to change the shapeand weight and maybe improve theergonomics. Eventually I was ableto buy some high quality wood andspent lots of time designing andbuilding my own bass. It helpedthat my grandfather was a wood-worker who taught me how to han-dle wood and treat wood surfaces.

What makes your instru-ments so special?They’re super custom-made butwithin aesthetic limits, kind of likea custom suit. I’m not knownfor following traditional rulesand I love to pursue newdesigns, try new woods,experiment with new sur-faces. Sometimes I’ll try devel-oping a new instrument formyself or to demonstrate at atrade show, and the responsemight lead to new ideas.

Are your instruments art?Once considered a functional tool,the guitar is now a huge culturalsymbol, a valued entity in itself.Years back, the guitar heroes werethe musicians who played theinstruments, not the craftsmen whodesigned and built them. Think ofJimi Hendrix: He’d pour lighterfluid on his guitar and burn it onstage, like he did in 1967 at thefamous Monterey Pop Festival.Today those guitars are famous ontheir own; even burned ones havesold for hundreds of thousands of

dollars, just so someone can hangthem on their wall as a holy relic.What was once a simple tool of themusician has evolved into function-al art, achieving its own identity asa cultural symbol.

I’m very gratified that mydesigns are perceived as art at thesame time they’re played on stagesall over the world. On occasion,I’ve sold instruments to art collec-tors and museums for display only.

What are you working onthese days?I’m mostly filling orders from thetrade shows in L.A. and Frankfurt,but I’m also developing a new gui-tar model scheduled for release inJanuary 2012, and creating a newsignature six-string bass guitar forThe Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh.

What’s the best part of yourwork?To be immersed in inter-

national culture isan incredible blessing. To possiblyinfluence it—now that’s intense!

Above: A colorful

example ofRitter’s more

outrageous side Below: Mary J.Blige is one ofmany celebrity

clients.

I’M VERY GRATIFIED THAT MY DESIGNS ARE PERCEIVED AS ART AT THESAME TIME THEY’RE PLAYED ON STAGES ALL OVER THE WORLD.”

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T H E U L T I M A T E T R O U S E R

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t’s a crisp fall day, perfect fora bike ride in the park orbrunch with friends at an out-door cafe. But thanks to theFrench Culinary Institute, Iam instead joining 200 otherfood enthusiasts at the thirdannual New York Culinary

Experience. The event raisesmoney for the The Future ChefsScholarship Fund, enabling aspir-ing chefs to attend culinary insti-tutes. It’s also a unique opportu-

nity to spend two days with theworld’s most renowned chefs.

For foodies, tasting a truly greatdish is pure bliss. But cooking sideby side with illustrious chefs likeTodd English, Morimoto, MarcusSamuelsson and Jacques Torres,among many others, is ecstacy.

Participants attend two classeseach day. Between morning andafternoon sessions, lunch seminarsfeature conversations with

key experts. In the evening, winereceptions and tastings provide yetanother opportunity to get up-closeand personal with culinary heroes.

Unlike other “fantasy foodcamps” I’ve attended, these classeswere truly interactive. For starters,a pastry class with Gina di Palma,who insists that baking need notbe an exact science: even if resultsvary, it will likely still be

PURE HEAVEN FOR A FASHION FOODIE. BY SUSAN F. SIDOR

COOKING WITHTHE STARS

food

WINE RECEPTIONS AND TASTINGS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET UP-CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH CULINARY HEROES.

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delicious! Next, bouillabaisse withAlain Sahlac, Dean of the FrenchCulinary Institute, a warm, gentleFrenchman who instructed us inthe fine art of putting lobsters tosleep. Then we prepared pan roast-ed duck and asparagus with Comtécheese foam with David Bouley, afan of healthful artisanal cooking.

My final class was Thanksgiving-themed, led by superstar chef ToddEnglish, whose demonstrationswere entertaining and informativewith a side order of dry humor. Tobreak with the whole-bird tradi-tion, we made a cornbread stuffedboneless roast turkey breast (andeven took home ingredients forour own Thanksgiving feasts).

After spending my entire careeraround fashion’s who’s who, thesewonderful food masters havebecome my new rockstars. Iremain their ever-devoted groupie.

Previous page,left: David Bouleywith his students

Right: Panroasted duck

This page, left:Todd English

slices stuffedturkey breast. Right: English

tops off hispumpkin lasagna.

The next NewYork Culinary

Experience willbe held on April28th and 29th,

2012. [email protected]

to request moreinformation.

PUMPKIN LASAGNARecipe by Todd EnglishServes 2

Ingredients:1 sugar pumpkin7 sheets blanched rosemary pasta(substitute 7 sheets fresh pasta)1/2 cup mascarpone cheese1/4 cup ground amaretti cookie1/4 cup ground almonds1/2 cup parmesan cheese, gratedbutternut squash sauce watercress, for garnish

For the Butternut Squash Sauce:(Yields 1 quart)1 butternut squash1 sprig rosemary, choppedsalt and pepper, to taste2 cups half and half2 cups heavy cream2 oz. butter1/4 cup maple syrup

Directions: Peel the squash and dice into large

pieces. Place the squash in saucepot and add the liquids and rose-mary. Slowly cook until the squashbecomes soft. Drain off the liquidand reserve. Place the squash intoblender. Add just enough liquid tocover, then blend and add butter.Adjust seasoning and consistency.

Next, slice top off pumpkin, scoopout seeds and any membrane.Clean seeds and toast separately.Roast pumpkin at 400°F for 40minutes, or until inside meat iscooked. Turn oven down to 350°F.Toss pasta in butternut squashsauce. Lay one sheet of pasta inthe bottom of the pumpkin. Spread1-2 tablespoons of mascarponecheese on top, then sprinkle alayer of cookie, almond andparmesan. Continue layering untilpumpkin is filled. Top with parme-san cheese and bake 30 minutes.

Garnish with watercress and serve.

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You’ll get a compliment every time you wear one!

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COLD COMFORTA

s cold weather approaches, ‘tis time forwinter sports, a cozy new coat and aheart-warming cocktail. After ice skating,

cross country skiing or snowshoeing at theLake Placid Lodge in New York’s Adirondackmountains, guests keep out the chill with thehotel’s winter drink, the Barkeater. BartenderLori Kudelski, who created the Barkeater,shares the recipe for this snug concoction.Ingredients: 1 oz. vanilla vodka, 1 oz.Frangelico, 1 oz. Amaretto, a splash of NewYork State maple syrup, and 4 oz. cream. Mixvodka, Amaretto, Frangelico and maple syrupin a shaker, then pour over ice in an old fash-ioned glass. Top with cream and garnish witha mint leaf. Cheers!L

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Experience life’s little luxuries. BY DONALD CHARLES RICHARDSON

GREEK REVIVALA

few steps behind the Kapsaliana Village there’s an ancient olive tree. It stands alone, determinedly rooted into a slightrise. From here, the view stretches across the largest olive grove on Crete, over a lush valley, to the sea. The scene isquiet and stunningly beautiful. Originally home to a thriving olive press worked by monks (the historic Arkadi

monastery is nearby), the settlement was gradually abandoned after the press was closed in 1955. Today, under the brillianttuteledge of architect Myron Toypoyannis, Kapsaliana Village has been rebuilt and restored and named a member ofHistoric Hotels of Greece. The age-old architecture is combined with modern comforts. Twelve guest houses, hewn from theoriginal dwellings, are set on cobblestone alleys. The olive press is now a museum. The restaurant offers superb traditionalCretan food, and there’s a luxurious swimming pool. But most of all, there’s an atmosphere of tranquility and seclusion, as iftime had paused to offer visitors a few moments of complete serenity.

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44

SOMETIMES, THE ANSWERSTO LIFE’S QUESTIONSAREN’T IN YOUR BRAIN.THEY’RE IN YOUR CLOSET.BY JAMES RARUS

A former boss, the president of a luxury apparel firm,used to scream at me: “You know what your problem is?You think too much! Just sell!” Today, I work for myself. Iplay menswear psychologist and at a psychologist’s rate,though I’m not a doctor.

Analyze this: Twice yearly, menswear merchants filltheir shops with thoughtfully selected apparel, trans-forming their stores into virtual treasure troves of luxu-ry. A man’s closet should be a similar treasure trove, theclothes he pulls out each morning helping to determineif people will buy into his personality, business acumen,credibility, or whatever he’s selling.

I recently worked with a client in his cedar paneledcloset. His trousers, dress shirts and blazers hung evenlyspaced on cedar hangers. His shoes rested in perfect rows,his belts and ties were arranged meticulously.

I thought about this client, a bachelor with a highfinance job: trim physique, handsome features, great hair,beautiful clothes. But then a flash: he owned no sweaters!Mother Nature took the time to create this perfect speci-men, almost begging to be wrapped in luxurious fabrics,and not one cashmere knit!

I looked around his spectacular apartment with itsexpansive views of Central Park and envisioned thewomen he’d soon date thanks to this newly conceivedwardrobe. A breakthrough moment, said my inner Freud.

Want your own breakthrough? Think of your favoritestore as your closet; then think of your wardrobe as a jazzsong with layered textures, colors, tones and dimensionsto help showcase your own unique qualities.

Soon after shrinking my client’s head with this musicmetaphor, he became the proud owner of a dozen two-and four-ply cashmere knits and a few merinos in mas-culine shades both deep and pale. His wardrobe is nowbalanced with casually elegant cardigans, turtlenecks,V-necks and crews; his tailored clothing pieces nowdouble as sportswear. His love life has improved, too:wearing an outfit of his own creation featuring a knitcardigan, he recently met the woman of his dreams.

When people ask me what I do for a living, I often say,“I alter men’s perceptions of their closets so that whenthey get dressed each day, they’re energized andinspired.” To which they usually respond, “You think toomuch! But let me ask you a question. Can I wear…?”

CLOSET THERAPY

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t : 612.867.5667

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