Editors' Picks 2018: Jessica Thomas
Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club
Surfside, Fla.
It’s hard not to focus on big names when you write about the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club. It’s a Richard Meier-designed glass behemoth set atop a 1930s-era private club that included Winston Churchill, Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra as guests in its heyday. Of its two restaurants, one is the second outpost of the iconic Amalfi Coast hotspot Le Sirenuse, and the other is run by acclaimed chef Thomas Keller. And though it’s technically in the tiny town of Surfside, it’s a stone’s throw from the glitz and decadence of Miami Beach.
It would be easy for all of this to be just a little bit too much, but somehow, it works. Stepping through the front doors and seeing the Surf Club’s iconic Peacock Alley, lined with palm trees and photos of guests of the past, is magical—even if you have to avoid people posing for Instagram photos as you walk through it. Despite the Instagrammers, the Surf Club feels like it belongs in another era, from the cavernous grand hall that used to host parties during Prohibition (now home to a Champagne bar), to the retro-chic, Joseph Dirand-designed poolside cabanas. The hotel, which was one of Four Seasons most hotly anticipated U.S. openings of the past few years, manages to blend seamlessly with the Surf Club, despite the conflicting architectural styles. And even in Miami’s crowded hotel space, the Surf Club, with its warm service and excellent amenities, stands out. 9011 Collins Ave., 305.381.3333, fourseasons.com/surfside
Global Entry
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are not well-kept secrets, but I’m often surprised by how many frequent travelers I meet who don’t have either. The common excuses I’ve heard—that it’s not worth it if you only fly a few times a year, or that you fly out of small airports with short lines, or that it’s a nuisance to have to go to an enrollment center for an in-person interview—are weak. Many things about air travel, like delays and cancellations, are out of your control. So why not make at least one part of the travel process easier?
The service allows you to go through a separate security lane, one that’s significantly sped up because PreCheck means you don’t have to take off your shoes, belt or jacket, get your laptop out of your bag or remove any liquids from your carry-on. Even around the holidays, I’ve never waited more than 10 minutes in a PreCheck line, including when the normal security lines snake around the airport. The Department of Homeland Security has several Trusted Traveler programs, but TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are the most well-known. The DHS website will tell you which program is best for you, but if you travel out of the U.S. even once a year, Global Entry will speed up the customs process (and its fee includes TSA PreCheck). TSA PreCheck is $85 for a five-year membership; Global Entry is $100 for a five-year membership. dhs.gov/trusted-traveler-programs
Hamilton Shirts Women’s Collection
I’ve written before about this family-owned, Houston-based company, which has been selling custom men’s shirts since 1883. Brother and sister team Kelly and David Hamilton now run the family business and last spring launched its first women’s collection. It can be difficult to find women’s button-downs that fit properly without gaping or appearing too oversized, but Hamilton’s custom sizing system—you pick everything from sleeve length, to tail length, to bust size—makes these different. The classic styles Hamilton sells on its website are wardrobe workhorses that have been added to my regular clothing rotation. And its upcoming spring collection, with pop prints and lightweight seersucker fabrics, are fun additions. Shirts start at $265, info@hamiltonshirts.com, 713.264.8800, hamiltonwomens.com
Hotel Emma Fragrance Spray in Milagros
When I visited San Antonio for the first time this year, I was enchanted by Hotel Emma, the brewery-turned-hotel that’s the epicenter of the city’s bustling Pearl neighborhood. We covered it in Worth’s 2018 Destinations Issue, but I still talk about Hotel Emma—and San Antonio—with anyone who will listen. The hotel is all about the details, and its gift shop is no exception: Curio is full of Texas-made jewelry, gifts and items that you didn’t know you needed to have until you stepped inside. When I visited in the summer, I loved Hotel Emma’s signature scent, which was created by Kevin Elkins of Soular Therapy. So I was thrilled it sells both the summer and winter scents in room spray form in the gift shop (and now on its website). Hotel scents can often be too strong and overpowering, but Milagros is clean and botanical in a not-too-feminine way. I spritz the room spray (or, honestly, use it as a perfume) all year long. $45, thehotelemma.com
Respoke Espadrilles
Few items in my closet garner as many compliments as my Respoke espadrilles, which are one of my favorite summer pairs of shoes. After moving to Spain, founder Michael Tonello made a career of sourcing Hermès Birkin bags for wealthy clients (and in 2009 wrote a book about it, Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World’s Most Coveted Handbag). He also started Respoke, which combines his love of designer fashion with classic Spanish footwear. Tonello sources silk scarves from designers like Hermes, Pucci and Chanel, then uses the fabric to make espadrilles at Respoke’s workshop in La Rioja, Spain. Though most of the pairs come in the classic slip-on style, Respoke also has a heeled wedge or mule version. The shoes are well-made, comfortable and guaranteed to start conversations. Respoke Ana Espadrille with Hermès scarf, $495, respoke.com
Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club
Surfside, Fla.
It’s hard not to focus on big names when you write about the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club. It’s a Richard Meier-designed glass behemoth set atop a 1930s-era private club that included Winston Churchill, Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra as guests in its heyday. Of its two restaurants, one is the second outpost of the iconic Amalfi Coast hotspot Le Sirenuse, and the other is run by acclaimed chef Thomas Keller. And though it’s technically in the tiny town of Surfside, it’s a stone’s throw from the glitz and decadence of Miami Beach.
It would be easy for all of this to be just a little bit too much, but somehow, it works. Stepping through the front doors and seeing the Surf Club’s iconic Peacock Alley, lined with palm trees and photos of guests of the past, is magical—even if you have to avoid people posing for Instagram photos as you walk through it. Despite the Instagrammers, the Surf Club feels like it belongs in another era, from the cavernous grand hall that used to host parties during Prohibition (now home to a Champagne bar), to the retro-chic, Joseph Dirand-designed poolside cabanas. The hotel, which was one of Four Seasons most hotly anticipated U.S. openings of the past few years, manages to blend seamlessly with the Surf Club, despite the conflicting architectural styles. And even in Miami’s crowded hotel space, the Surf Club, with its warm service and excellent amenities, stands out. 9011 Collins Ave., 305.381.3333, fourseasons.com/surfside
Global Entry
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are not well-kept secrets, but I’m often surprised by how many frequent travelers I meet who don’t have either. The common excuses I’ve heard—that it’s not worth it if you only fly a few times a year, or that you fly out of small airports with short lines, or that it’s a nuisance to have to go to an enrollment center for an in-person interview—are weak. Many things about air travel, like delays and cancellations, are out of your control. So why not make at least one part of the travel process easier?
The service allows you to go through a separate security lane, one that’s significantly sped up because PreCheck means you don’t have to take off your shoes, belt or jacket, get your laptop out of your bag or remove any liquids from your carry-on. Even around the holidays, I’ve never waited more than 10 minutes in a PreCheck line, including when the normal security lines snake around the airport. The Department of Homeland Security has several Trusted Traveler programs, but TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are the most well-known. The DHS website will tell you which program is best for you, but if you travel out of the U.S. even once a year, Global Entry will speed up the customs process (and its fee includes TSA PreCheck). TSA PreCheck is $85 for a five-year membership; Global Entry is $100 for a five-year membership. dhs.gov/trusted-traveler-programs
Hamilton Shirts Women’s Collection
I’ve written before about this family-owned, Houston-based company, which has been selling custom men’s shirts since 1883. Brother and sister team Kelly and David Hamilton now run the family business and last spring launched its first women’s collection. It can be difficult to find women’s button-downs that fit properly without gaping or appearing too oversized, but Hamilton’s custom sizing system—you pick everything from sleeve length, to tail length, to bust size—makes these different. The classic styles Hamilton sells on its website are wardrobe workhorses that have been added to my regular clothing rotation. And its upcoming spring collection, with pop prints and lightweight seersucker fabrics, are fun additions. Shirts start at $265, info@hamiltonshirts.com, 713.264.8800, hamiltonwomens.com
Hotel Emma Fragrance Spray in Milagros
When I visited San Antonio for the first time this year, I was enchanted by Hotel Emma, the brewery-turned-hotel that’s the epicenter of the city’s bustling Pearl neighborhood. We covered it in Worth’s 2018 Destinations Issue, but I still talk about Hotel Emma—and San Antonio—with anyone who will listen. The hotel is all about the details, and its gift shop is no exception: Curio is full of Texas-made jewelry, gifts and items that you didn’t know you needed to have until you stepped inside. When I visited in the summer, I loved Hotel Emma’s signature scent, which was created by Kevin Elkins of Soular Therapy. So I was thrilled it sells both the summer and winter scents in room spray form in the gift shop (and now on its website). Hotel scents can often be too strong and overpowering, but Milagros is clean and botanical in a not-too-feminine way. I spritz the room spray (or, honestly, use it as a perfume) all year long. $45, thehotelemma.com
Respoke Espadrilles
Few items in my closet garner as many compliments as my Respoke espadrilles, which are one of my favorite summer pairs of shoes. After moving to Spain, founder Michael Tonello made a career of sourcing Hermès Birkin bags for wealthy clients (and in 2009 wrote a book about it, Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World’s Most Coveted Handbag). He also started Respoke, which combines his love of designer fashion with classic Spanish footwear. Tonello sources silk scarves from designers like Hermes, Pucci and Chanel, then uses the fabric to make espadrilles at Respoke’s workshop in La Rioja, Spain. Though most of the pairs come in the classic slip-on style, Respoke also has a heeled wedge or mule version. The shoes are well-made, comfortable and guaranteed to start conversations. Respoke Ana Espadrille with Hermès scarf, $495, respoke.com
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