Secret Café & ST. Moritz Guide

We have just returned from St. Moritz and created a mini guide for you. Back in London, we're admiring the beautiful Christmas decorations embraced by leading luxury brands and exploring why women have made limited progress in gaining business leadership positions.

LONDON
STORE & CAFE

Inside Alaïa’s new London café and bookstore

Azzedine Alaïa was renowned for hosting intimate gatherings at his Paris atelier on 7 rue de Moussy, cooking for an eclectic mix of guests while his Saint Bernard, Didine, roamed nearby. 'My grandmother always kept an extra place at our table for unexpected guests,' he once said.

Following this tradition, Pieter Mulier, the house's current creative director, has opened a café and bookstore in their London Bond Street location. The space features a central aluminum table and hosts Violet Cakes, an east London bakery. Founded by Claire Ptak, who created Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding cake, Violet draws inspiration from California and Chez Panisse. 'Consistently informed by art and fashion, Violet has long served as a place in which to linger and create,' states Alaïa of the choice.

The third floor features a bookstore curated by Claire de Rouen, offering rare art, photography and fashion books. The reading room-style space includes armchairs and a long table. The renovated flagship now showcases contemporary art by Sarah Lucas, Sterling Ruby and Marc Newson alongside Mulier's collections, reflecting his vision of 'modern beauty' that bridges Alaïa's past and future.

SOCIETY
TALENT IS CREATED EQUALY, OPPORTUNITY IS NOT!

Despite women's advancement in many areas, including presidential candidates and Supreme Court justices, progress in business leadership remains slow. Women hold only 10% of Fortune 500 leadership positions, largely due to insufficient corporate and government support for work-life balance, according to a New York Times DealBook Summit panel.

"Why is progress still limited in business leadership positions?" asked moderator Jodi Kantor, noting the contrast with women's broader social and educational gains. The panel concluded that better policies are needed, including paternity leave, workplace diversity initiatives, improved childcare options, and flexible work arrangements, to help women balance caregiving responsibilities with career advancement.

ST. MORITZ
TRAVEL GUIDE

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