In his carry-on:
I’m pretty simple when it comes to the things I carry. I have to keep some sort of lip balm and my moisturizer [with me], always. I like to carry a travel fragrance and give a little squirt in the restroom before I use it to make sure it smells fresh. And a phone charger, of course.
His priority when planning a vacation:
It’s a beach, for sure. I’ve never understood people who vacation in the cold. I have to have a beach. The only way for me to recharge is listening to the water. I prefer to have a hotel that’s on the beach, where I can hear the waves crashing. I don’t have to get in the water; I just have to hear it. I’m a tropical, warm-climate vacationer for sure.
His first experience in first class:
My first first-class flight was to Rio de Janeiro. One of my best friends, who’s like my older sister, took me as a Christmas gift. It was maybe 10 years ago. First of all, that’s a long flight, and that was my first experience of a lay-flat seat, with the flight attendants at your beck and call. It was an experience that I’ll never forget. I can still remember the feeling of having too much champagne, just because I could. It was amazing. Once you experience that, there’s no going back. It puts this drive in you to get to a place where you can afford to travel that way all the time.
The hotel amenity that means the most to him:
Of course, we love a great robe, we love great sheets, we love great slippers. But what matters to me the most is the way people treat you, that friendly hello. When they say, “Welcome home,” I love that. I think that’s more important than anything else—feeling like your spending money there is appreciated. Feeling respected and safe is the best amenity, no matter where you’re staying.
The best city for style inspiration:
Paris doing Fashion Week, but for overall, constant inspiration, New York is my number one. New York is where people come from all around the world to chase a dream or fulfill a goal, so you have all these super individual people with their individual styles and points of view, and I think that’s so widely reflected in its fashion. I think it’s just such an amazing mix of people. I’ll just sit somewhere and watch people walk past for hours. It’s a treasure hunt, in a way. New York has been a constant source of inspiration for me and my work for many years.
