SHOP A U.K. Staple of Slow Fashion Sets Up Shop in Brooklyn
Over the past 27 years, home and fashion boutique Toast has become a go-to for its artisanal wares, repair studios, and design collaborations with sustainability-focused designers like Phoebe English. Until recently, the U.K was the only place where one could stumble upon—or seek out—one of its 20 stores. With the opening of its new Brooklyn outpost, though, shoppers across the pond have the opportunity to discover its easy-wearing linen day dresses, Scottish and Welsh knits, and furniture and decor from its 2024 class of New Makers: Amy Krone, Polly Liu, Will Nock, Kate Semple, and Rosie Stonham. Thanks to the brand’s in-house design talent, the tin-ceilinged and brick-walled Boerum Hill boutique creates an airy and relaxing environment for moments of discovery. Don’t sleep on Felicity Irons’ collection of bulrush-woven napkin rings, placemats, and bread baskets, which are a Brooklyn boutique exclusive. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
Photography by Benoit Florençon…
VISIT In Paris, Harry Nuriev Aces a Silvery Ping-Pong Setup
In anticipation of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, French-Iranian architect India Mahdavi has enlisted Harry Nuriev of Crosby Studios to dream up a ping-pong installation at her Project Room space. Titled Match Point (a.k.a. Project Room #14), the setup reimagines play and exercise as integral aspects of domestic life by inviting visitors to enjoy a free game on a first-come, first-serve basis. It also seeks to evoke childhood joy and curiosity, which Nuriev enhances by blanketing the entire room—including the table and paddles—in reflective silver surfaces. “One of my favorite parts of the project is that it has no color,” Nuriev says of the monochrome spatial mirroring, which he often deploys to trippy effect in his other projects. “Everything is gray and silver—and reflects everything happening around and outside.” Catch it in Paris until August 2. —Ryan Waddoups
Image courtesy of Issey Miyake…
OBSESS Issey Miyake x New Balance MT10OV1
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics isn’t the only place where fashion, art, and sports collide. For proof, look no further than Issey Miyake and New Balance’s first collaborative shoe. The MT10OV1 channels Issey Miyake’s trademark minimalism as a barefoot-effect trail running shoe. Its lugged sole and leather construction make it equally well-suited to the great outdoors or city streets. —J.A.D.
Images courtesy of Tonen…
STAY Hotel Bella Grande Brings Grand Glamour to Copenhagen
It was a trip to Italy that inspired Tonen’s vision for the 109-room Hotel Bella Grande located near Copenhagen’s City Hall. Studio founders Malene Bech-Pedersen and Mette Bonavent wanted to honor the historic building’s magnificent architecture and found themselves captivated by the pink courtyard of a Venetian palazzo. In an homage to their muse, the duo transformed a dank inner atrium to a light-filled Italian restaurant named Donna, done up in mauve marble flooring, damask floral upholstery, and pops of chartreuse for contrast. Guest rooms, by comparison, exude the serenity of midcentury Italy with parquet floors, shades of cream, and the occasional pop of burnt orange. Lampshades and upholstery by the makers behind Danish brand Oi Soi Oi create a subtle but meaningful connection to Hotel Bella Grande’s local roots. —J.A.D.
Image courtesy of Studio Suryan/Dang …
PLAY A Cave-Like Speakeasy in Mumbai’s Chicest Enclave
Charlee’s dark speakeasy vibe may belie its location in a tony Mumbai suburb lined with old-world bungalows housing Bollywood stars and stylish cafes that serve chia juice, but the Batcave was at the top of Kaviar Collaborative’s design moodboard. Guests enter through a glitzy spirits store before descending into a cave-like watering hole that blends rough-hewn textures with glamorous polished brass details. Gently lit by Japanese-style screens to the side, the dimly lit environs carve the ideal ambiance for a quick nightcap before becoming enveloped in the evening’s mystery. Try the creamy Movie Time, where Bourbon whiskey meets popcorn flavor, a classic Negroni mixed with cacao-infused gin, or an affogato tiramisu martini for an extra burst of energy. —R.W.
Photography by Ola Rindal, courtesy of Tekla and Artek…
SEE Shohei Shigematsu Unpacks the Mythos of Miss Dior
The origin story of Christian Dior’s New Look is practically common knowledge by now, after numerous museum exhibitions and an Apple TV series. Less well-known is the story of how the Miss Dior fragrance launched alongside the New Look, but a new Shohei Shigematsu–designed exhibition at the Roppongi Museum is changing that. The OMA partner was dealt no easy brief: conceptualize and create an engaging backdrop to tell the story of something as abstract as scent. The resulting show unfolds over nine rooms, detailing how the designer launched Miss Dior with his legendary silhouette, and how it has reverberated across art, ready-to-wear, campaigns, and even future perfume iterations since. Details like Japanese wood block-style floral motifs, Eva Jospin tapestries and textiles, couture garments, and a lot of pink ensure Miss Dior’s story will not be forgotten. —J.A.D.
Image courtesy of Wittkamper Studio…
SAVOR In Minneapolis, Dario Offers High-Contrast Italian Eclecticism
When it comes to pasta, raw fare, and sheer vibes, there’s nowhere in the Twin Cities’ North Loop neighborhood better suited to the occasion than Dario. Interiors by homegrown firm Wittkamper Studio are characterized by a palette of soft pink and teal, creating a breathtaking contrast. An irreverent lineup of contemporary art, along with blonde oak millwork and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, keeps the space awash in light and adds to the essence of levity, avoiding self-seriousness. Thoughtful touches, like scalloped high-gloss tiles, velvet teal banquettes, and architectural archways throughout create a just-right amount of drama. Where Dario does take itself appropriately seriously is its menus. Founders Joe Rolle and Stephen Rowe have calibrated a sumptuous pasta lineup, which features braised beef agnolotti, truffle risotto, and spaghetti with blue crab, calabrian chile, and lemon, alongside seasonal veggies and a fish and meat menu that ensure guests won’t leave unsated. —J.A.D.
