Latest news with #HighSociety
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Raise a glass at D.C.'s hottest rooftop bars
Raise a glass at D.C.'s hottest rooftop bars With its noisy buzz of titillating political intrigue, Washington, D.C., isn't known for sitting still and dishing up boring. This appetite for creating showy attention-grabbing news has produced a delightfully positive trend: a jaw-dropping spike in bars with a number of rooftop bars across the city is booming, with more than 30 new or renovated locations opening since 2020. What's all the fuss about? In D.C., the sheer exhilaration of being at a rooftop bar is fed by the city's height restrictions, capped at 130 feet since 1910. This unique feature for an American city has fostered the rooftop boom, since scenic views are available from nearly all of scores of great bars offering views of some of the world's most iconic landmarks, it can be paralyzing to know how to whittle your must-visit list. Here are five standout venues to experience this city's passion for elevated socializing: CUT Above Rosewood Washington on the banks of Georgetown's historic C&O Canal Towpath, this elegant rooftop features Wolfgang Puck's elevated culinary program along with an elevated view. It showcases an indulgent interpretation of his full-service restaurant CUT, located on Rosewood's ground refined bar bites while sipping artistic cocktails such as Georgetown Gem, with freshly juiced watermelon, and High Society, with fresh guava and lime. Enjoy enchanting views of the historic area with its spires, the winding Potomac River, Francis Scott Key Bridge and the Kennedy Center. ART DC Arlo Washington DCNear the National Building Museum, National Mall and Union Station, ART DC opened in late 2024. This is your go-to for Japanese and Pan-American themed food and drink — such as edamame hummus, miso salmon rolls and yakitori. Try the Shogun Old Fashioned or the signature Kitsune's Elixir with spiced rum, pear and sake. Note: They offer a "reverse happy hour" from 8:30 p.m. to close. Its convenient central location is mere blocks from two major Metro subway stations, and the view of the U.S. Capitol is bewitching. VUE Rooftop DC Hotel WashingtonThis see-and-be-seen rooftop bar and restaurant is so close to the White House you can peek into the grounds, sweeping the imagination into the dramatic happenings of America's most famous address. Shift in your seat for glimpses of the stately Washington Monument, just two long city blocks at VUE are humorously named with nods to D.C. politics such as Power to the Peaches and Scandal of Kernal Nature. The venue serves dinner with a dedicated children's menu and offers weekend brunch featuring Tres Leches French toast and steak and eggs. Moonraker Pendry Washington DC – The WharfDripping with refinement, this haven sits atop the Pendry hotel in the Wharf District, a lively live-work-play area on D.C.'s waterfront. Find yourself either indoors at the cozy dark wooden circular bar or on the open terrace. By day the space projects a casual lounge personality, whereas the evening scene is energized with boozy culinary focus is Japanese-inspired, with unique cocktails and a bountiful sake and Japanese whisky list. Views include the lively Wharf, Washington Channel, the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial. Top of the Gate The Watergate HotelAt this seasonal open-air rooftop oasis, you'll rise well above past crimes and misdemeanors to enjoy a 360-degree view over the city. Plane-spotters will love being on the Potomac River flight on Mediterranean-inspired fare like seafood towers and truffle fries paired with seasonal cocktails while reveling in sweeping views of the river, The Kennedy Center, Washington Monument, Theodore Roosevelt Island and the crisscross network of bridges connecting the district to Virginia.
Observer
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Cartier jewellery worn by royalty and celebrities to go on display in London
An exhibition celebrating jewellery made by the prestigious French luxury goods company Cartier since the start of the 20th century, including watches and tiaras, opened at London's V&A Museum on Saturday. Established by Louis-François Cartier in Paris in 1847, the family-run business went on to become a household name popular with royalty and Hollywood stars alike. "It never goes out of fashion... we see it being worn by English aristocracy 100 years ago and Hollywood royalty practically today," Helen Molesworth, a senior jewellery curator at the V&A and exhibition curator, said at a private launch of "Cartier" on Wednesday. She said the connection between Cartier and the British royal family dates back to 1902, when King Edward VII issued his first royal warrant, a certificate for providing goods and services to the royal family. Making up some of the 350 jewels and objects on display is a flower brooch with a rare pink Williamson diamond that the late Queen Elizabeth II commissioned in 1953 and later wore at King Charles's wedding to Diana. A rose clip brooch made in 1938 and worn by Princess Margaret at her sister's coronation is also on display. Meanwhile, items connected to celebrities include actress Grace Kelly's diamond engagement ring seen in the 1956 film "High Society" and a ruby necklace given to Elizabeth Taylor by her third husband, Mike Todd. There is also a sapphire, yellow and rose gold wristwatch from 1962 owned by former U.S. first lady Jackie Kennedy and later owned by reality star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian, as well as a tiara from 1902 that was made for the Countess of Wessex and later worn in 2016 by singer Rihanna. "As a jewellery historian, I see how they've used lots of wonderful elements to come up with brilliant new ideas," Molesworth said. "They've always pushed boundaries and at every new point in history they have a nod to their heritage today, yet they have come up with new jewels that really speak to the modern woman." Around the turn of the 20th century, it was Cartier's grandsons who pushed the global prominence of the brand, opening branches outside France in cities such as New York and St. Petersburg. Cartier, which remained under family control until 1964, is currently owned by Swiss holding company Richemont. —Reuters
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Cartier jewellery worn by royalty and celebrities to go on display in London
LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) - An exhibition celebrating jewellery made by the prestigious French luxury goods company Cartier since the start of the 20th century, including watches and tiaras, will open at London's V&A Museum on Saturday. Established by Louis-François Cartier in Paris in 1847, the family-run business went on to become a household name popular with royalty and Hollywood stars alike. "It never goes out of fashion... we see it being worn by English aristocracy 100 years ago and Hollywood royalty practically today," Helen Molesworth, a senior jewellery curator at the V&A and exhibition curator, said at a private launch of "Cartier" on Wednesday. She said the connection between Cartier and the British royal family dates back to 1902, when King Edward VII issued his first royal warrant, a certificate for providing goods and services to the royal family. Making up some of the 350 jewels and objects on display is a flower brooch with a rare pink Williamson diamond that the late Queen Elizabeth II commissioned in 1953 and later wore at King Charles's wedding to Diana. A rose clip brooch made in 1938 and worn by Princess Margaret at her sister's coronation is also on display. Meanwhile, items connected to celebrities include actress Grace Kelly's diamond engagement ring seen in the 1956 film "High Society" and a ruby necklace given to Elizabeth Taylor by her third husband, Mike Todd. There is also a sapphire, yellow and rose gold wristwatch from 1962 owned by former U.S. first lady Jackie Kennedy and later owned by reality star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian, as well as a tiara from 1902 that was made for the Countess of Wessex and later worn in 2016 by singer Rihanna. "As a jewellery historian, I see how they've used lots of wonderful elements to come up with brilliant new ideas," Molesworth said. "They've always pushed boundaries and at every new point in history they have a nod to their heritage today, yet they have come up with new jewels that really speak to the modern woman." Around the turn of the 20th century, it was Cartier's grandsons who pushed the global prominence of the brand, opening branches outside France in cities such as New York and St. Petersburg. Cartier, which remained under family control until 1964, is currently owned by Swiss holding company Richemont (CFR.S), opens new tab.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘The king of jewellers': V&A charts the rise of Cartier in new exhibition
It's the museum that has explored the history of underwear, the death of the suit and the glamour of Italian fashion. Now the V&A is turning its attention to Cartier with an exhibition of more than 350 jewellery pieces including gobstopper-sized diamond rings and dazzling tiaras. The exhibition charts the evolution of the French jeweller across fashion, design and craftsmanship since the turn of the 20th century. The V&A's existing jewellery collection is one of its most visited galleries and the Cartier story is already proving popular. Tickets for the first six weeks of the show, which starts on Saturday, have sold out. Helen Molesworth, who has co-curated the exhibition, said her team had worked with international museums, the royal collection and private collectors to secure a variety of pieces, some of which have never been displayed publicly before. These include a wafer-thin brooch adorned with dozens of diamonds that was made in 1910 and a black opal tiara previously worn by Mary Alice Cavendish, the Duchess of Devonshire. Founded by Louis-François Cartier in 1847, by the early 20th century his three grandsons Louis, Pierre and Jacques Cartier had transformed a small family-run Parisian business into a global household name. Much of the exhibition explores the relationship between the British royal family and the jeweller. King Edward VII called Cartier 'the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers,' issuing it with a royal warrant just two years after it opened its first London store in 1902. The whimsical floral designs by the British artist Frederick Mew, who worked for Cartier from the late 1920s until his retirement in 1971, were favoured by the British royals. In 1953 Queen Elizabeth II commissioned Mews to create a brooch showcasing a rare 23.6-carat pink Williamson diamond, previously presented to her as a wedding gift. Mews' preliminary sketches, which have never before been displayed, are shown alongside the finished brooch, which is on loan from the royal collection. Molesworth says she also came across sketches in the V&A archive by Mews for an rare black pearl bracelet that she realised were in fact, the initial designs for a wristlet commissioned in 1953 by the Maharani of Baroda. The bracelet, on loan from a private collector, is considered one of the most valuable in the world. Cartier's fanbase today spans from royalty to Hollywood stars, with the jeweller's Love bracelets, which are secured on the wrist with a tiny screwdriver, appearing on many aspirational shopping lists. An engagement ring worn by Grace Kelly in High Society, which she received from Prince Rainier III of Monaco months earlier, is displayed next to a Tank wristwatch first owned by Jacqueline Kennedy and later acquired by Kim Kardashian. Many of the rarest items on show came directly from clients, who commissioned Cartier to mount them. In 1933, the American heiress Barbara Hutton requested 27 marble-sized jade beads from Myanmar (then Burma) be mounted as a necklace. Cartier set them with a diamond clasp before later adding tiny rubies. There is also a necklace featuring seven tiers of yellow and white diamonds originally commissioned in 1928 by Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala. Other designs feature jewels sourced by the Cartier brothers, including emeralds from Columbia, sapphires from Sri Lanka and diamonds from India and South Africa. The history of colonialism and unethical supply chains they would have relied on is generally glossed over. The final room is dedicated to tiaras dating from the 1900s to the present day. Molesworth says she expects some people to visit several times. 'You could spend hours in each room. To see this collection of objects together is very unusual. It's very special.'
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How The Lana Is Tapping Into Middle Eastern Wellness Trends
From The Lana's rooftop pool, Dubai's skyline shimmers in the cloudless sky. In the distance, towering over Downtown Dubai is the iconic Burj Khalifa, and down below, the city's Marasai Marina gleams as the sunlight hits its pristine fleet of luxury yachts. Designed by Foster + Partners, The Lana overlooks Marasai Marina. When The Lana, The Dorchester Collection's first hotel in the Middle East, opened last year, it bought a new approach to hospitality in the region. Rather than shouting 'luxury', The Lana whispers it. The building—a bold, interlocking H-Shaped gem that gleams like a piece of jewellery—was designed by British architects Foster + Partners and it sits in the Business Bay area of the city, marking a new dawn for the area and a confident statement from the Dorchester brand. The rooftop pool at High Society, The Lana. Unlike many other hotels in the city, there's no overstated glitz inside the 30-storey hotel, instead it's the epitome of 'quiet luxury'. Interiors across the 225 rooms and suites have been designed by the Parisian duo Gilles & Boissier and ooze sophistication—bedrooms have beautiful detailing, such as pink onyx surfaces, grey-veined marble bathrooms and rose-pink velvet tub chairs. A powdery, barely-there pink is the palette of choice throughout the property—from the sumptuous vases of powder-pink roses in reception to the plaster-pink leather interiors of the lifts, while the carefully curated selection of more than 50 art pieces, commissioned by local and global artists, adds touches of complementary colour. The lobby's gold artwork by Sophie Coryndon. One of these is an oversized wall artwork by British artist Sophie Coryndon, found in the lobby. It's the first thing that greets you after you step out of the hotel's Rolls Royce Phantom, which is the top-end transport of choice to pick guests up from the airport. The art's gold textural finish is sculptural, like overlapping waves, echoing the water of the marina outside as well as giving a nod to the hotel's name. It turns out that 'The Lana' has multiple meanings, says The Dorchester. One, in its Arabic translation, evokes a warm sense of belonging. Another means to gently float in calm water. 'To us, it simply represents a place of tranquility, comfort and exceptional hospitality.' High Society's terrace lounge overlooks the iconic city. At the 30th-floor rooftop, you can literally dive into the waters of the angular swimming pool. Here, you can relax in a poolside cabana, the city laid out before you, and order sun-themed cocktails from High Society, th adjoining bar and restaurant (the signature 'Secrets of the Archipelago' is an inventive twist on a rum cocktail with pineapple, pink pepper, Campari and coffee). Inside a couple's treatment room at The Dior Spa at The Lana. Take the lift down one level to the 29th floor, and you'll enter another one of the hotel's gems: the Dior Spa. The intimate retreat is a paeon to Dior's fashion-rooted luxury: from its navy Toile de Jouy print (found on blankets, curtains and cushions in the therapy rooms) to the circular table of scents in the entrance way. Creamy marble, light wood and floor-to-ceiling windows infuse the space with light, yet the rooms give a cocooning, almost floating feel, to guests as they look out over the urban skyscrapers outside. Krystsina Storazheva, spa director, reveals how the spa brings an alternative to what is on offer elsewhere in Dubai: 'The Dior Spa at The Lana embodies Dubai's luxury spa culture, blending opulence and the best in wellness. However, it's not just a place to get a spa treatment—it's an immersive experience where guests can indulge in the beauty, refinement and sophistication from one of the most prestigious names in fashion.' The Dior Spa is a haven from the city outside. Across five treatment rooms, signature spa rituals are customized so each guest has a personalised experience. As well as cutting-edge technologies, such as cryotherapy, Icoone laser treatments and infrared therapy, there is also a collection of holistic treatments on offer, such as the signature Constellation Massage, which incorporates slow and enveloping movements over the body, to release tension. The spa, says Krystsina, is intuitively tapping into the rise in wellness in the Middle East, It's a trend that has been highlighted in the The Future of Wellness 2025 Trends report, by the Global Wellness Summit. 'The Middle East is emerging as a global wellness leader, blending cultural heritage with cutting-edge innovation and sustainability, fueled by national strategies and vast new developments' says the report. 'Wellness is touching every part of Middle Eastern society, from innovative health solutions to religious gatherings, and as oil-dependent countries seek new revenue streams, wellness is emerging as a prime sector.' Personalisation is key at the Dior Spa. 'There is indeed a growing emphasis on wellness, health, and self-care in the Middle East, as there is worldwide,' says Krystsina. 'The Middle East, being a home for many nationalities, has an advantage of adopting the best wellness practices from across the globe.' She continues: 'What's more, there is a growing interest in a holistic approach to well-being that includes not just physical fitness but also mental, emotional, and spiritual health. In this region, this resonates with traditional practices such as yoga, meditation, and the concept of balance that has existed in many of the region's cultures for centuries. The UAE Government is actively encouraging healthy living amongst its residents and guests by hosting a variety of fitness events, as well as fuelling a growing interest in sustainability, healthy eating, fitness, and stress management.' Wellness is a growing driving force for tourism to Dubai. 'Dubai and the wider Middle East region have established themselves as top wellness destinations by offering a unique combination of luxury, modern healthcare, traditional healing practices, and stunning natural surroundings,' says Krystsina. 'Simply put, they cater to all tastes. Whether visitors seek relaxation, fitness, or holistic treatments, they can find a range of wellness experiences tailored to their needs.' Like elsewhere at The Lana, luxury at the Dior Spa is found in the details: you select from a choice of Dior scents to fragrance your massage oil, for instance; your treatment room has its own relaxation area where you are served tea following your treatment and there are personal fitness sessions and sunrise yoga classes on offer. The Royal Suite Bedroom offers pink-hued luxury. 'Wellness is constantly evolving,' Krystsina tells Forbes. 'But at the moment, personalised wellness is gaining momentum. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all health advice, people are seeking customised solutions that cater to their unique needs, genetics, and lifestyle. This includes personalised fitness plans, DNA-based diet recommendations, and wellness assessments that help individuals discover the best approach to nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being.' She continues: 'There's also an increasing focus on lifestyle practices for longevity. This includes exercise, balanced nutrition, and even mindset techniques aimed at slowing down the aging process while promoting health. Finally, with a growing awareness of the importance of sleep for overall health, sleep optimisation has also become a major focus. This trend involves improving sleep hygiene, using smart mattresses and sleep trackers, and incorporating relaxation rituals.' Luxury is found in the details in a Junior Suite at The Lana. Luckily, sleep health was a priority in the design of The Lana's bedrooms, with slumber easily induced by the most comfortable Vispring mattresses, dressed with soft Frette linens. Once the electric curtains close out the city outside, it's easy to escape to another world.
