Polo Art Pieces Abound at Chisholm Gallery

11 / 1 / 1611 / 3 / 16

Art collector and curator Jeanne Chisholm is passionate about polo art. Her massive collection includes sculptures, paintings, drawings, bar accessories and more . She’s so enthused about giving you the scoop on each piece, it’s almost impossible to get her to stand still for a photo herself.

Case in point: Jeanne does not just show me this black and white image, “Polo Spill at Meadow Brook” taken on, June 4th. 1939. She tells me the crowds paid $15 per seat to see the first of three matches between the best players of Great Britain and the U.S. They got their money’s worth! The Americans forgot team work, rode hell-bent for trouble. Up and down the field they barged and banged, hit rocketing shots , rode the English off the ball , committed 12 fouls. Then U.S. No. 1 smacked Aidan Roark out of the saddle, rolling him onto the turf. Mike Phipps comes to his aid, but slides off his white horse and lands on the rump of Roark’s pony. In ten minutes, Roark was back in the game. Everyone was ok.

“I love anything to do with 18th, 19th and 20th Century sporting art,” Jeanne tells me, while Prince Albert the rescue Labradoodle secures the perimeter (to quote Kiefer during his 24 days).

Town and Country Magazine once noted that she had the largest collection of polo art in the world, and during her 40 years of collecting, she has coordinated massive art undertakings, like the Cartier polo retrospective. Even Ralph Lauren recently turned to Jeanne when he needed create the right atmosphere at his clubby Polo Bar in New York.

So when in Wellington, a stop in to her private gallery is a must. Call ahead for an appointment, and prepare your eyes to be inundated. Polo portraits cover the walls at Jeanne’s townhouse gallery, but it’s just the beginning.

Art rests on every available surface.And in every available container. In this case, the art takes the form of rare and scarce books, notably the 1935 “Hits and Misses” by Paul Brown, which was a limited edition to begin with. Mongolian polo, anyone? These watercolors on linen look like they could be centuries old, but they are painted by the very-much-alive Tsolmon Damba.Rollin McGrail’s whimsical illustrations cover many topics, but the ones with a polo focus are, of course, my favorite. This one was commissioned by Grand Champions Polo Club. And fyi, those pewter ponies at top right double as salt and pepper shakers.Rollin popped in to Chisholm Gallery to personally show me her witty, charming work. Although she’s inspired by New Yorker cartoons, she’ll also do straight-up branding. Despite the fact that section on her website is titled “Delusions of Brandeur.” High-profile clients include Nic Roldan, with whom I recently savored getting up close and personal.Rich Roenisch, on the other hand, did not materialize to give me a personal intro to his bronze, on the left, “Heat of the Game.” Since he lives in Longview, Alberta, and since I often play polo with his nephew Daniel, I guess I can forgive him. The bronze on the right is “When Push Comes to Shove,” by Bunny Connell, a Wyoming sculptor.If you’re not in the market for a bronze right now, Christmas is still coming. Jeanne has these tempting polo trinkets for under the tree. The toast rack can be used as a letter holder. The cocktail stirrers, however, need no alternate use.Or, if Santa Baby is feeling more extravagant, this painting by Royal Family favorite Wilf Plowman is available.Meanwhile, in the boudoir, the walls are still covered with art. But, mysteriously, this room breaks from equine art, turning to another sporting focus: dwarf tossing. But that’s another story.

Have a wonderful winter season, Jeanne and Prince Albert! Thanks for the VIP private tour of Chisholm Gallery!

Polo Style with Nic Roldan

10 / 26 / 1610 / 27 / 16

You may have heard of male model Nic Roldan. Besides making Town & Country’s list for the 10 most desirable bachelors in the USA and Vanity Fair’s Top 50 Hottest Horsemen, he was recruited by the Kardashians to help them keep up with their equitation skills. Heck, even his pony is licking her lips.

But, caliente factor aside, let’s not forget that the eight-goaler is the top polo player in North America. Besides, if you ask Nic, as I did, “Polo or modeling” he’ll answer before you can even add the question mark: “Polo. 100%.”

Yet, ever-obliging, he’s up for a little model multi-tasking in the polo-prep milieu, lifting the Town-Crier (the local Welllington weekly) up to L’uomo Vogue level.Before our interview, I had a chance to observe him in his natural habitat: on a tailgate at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. In this case with Michelle Steele, a Calgary ex-pat who escaped the snow for friendly polo climes. He almost seemed like any other spectator.Until he put on those white jeans. That’s when Nic’s true Polo Style begins.Because nothing is more stylish than executing a flawless offside forehand…… or a perfect backhand…… or changing horses without touching the ground. Especially when patrona Melissa Ganzi is walking by. Nic is a third generation polo pro, with Argie blood coursing through his veins. He’s proudly American, but like any excellent polo player, he speaks Spanish fluently. The modeling thing happened accidentally.

“I was working with a couple of brands, and they wanted to do photo shoots,” says Nic. “That’s how I got into it. As an athlete, you’re always going to be doing that type of marketing anyhow.”

Even though he has no plans to give up his day job, his backup career as a smoking hot cover model is a perfect fit. And yes, that pun was on purpose.

“I’ve always been into style,” says Nic. “Even though my style is simple and very neutral, I still love fashion. It’s fun.”

His go-to outfit?

“Jeans, white or neutral colored t-shirt, and Nikes.”

And if you can rip your eyes away from pre-jersey Nic in this photo (ladies, you’re welcome), you’ll notice his green Nikes underneath his chair.Although I averted my camera when he announced to his teammates that he was going to “drop trou,” it wasn’t in time to avoid seeing an unexpected splash of color. So I got the skinny his skivvies.

“I like neon green,” says Nic.The bright green accent continues on his saddle pads, his bridles, even his website. If it’s his lucky color, it’s working.

Meanwhile, he’s quick to list off his favorite designers: “I love James Perse, I love Ralph Lauren, I love Lululemon.” That last one would be the brand of the aforementioned undies.

Despite his Wilhemina sanctioned male model status, you can bet the victorious moment on the podium is his favorite pose. Nic is seen here with crouching Marc Ganzi (the force behind Grand Champions Polo Club, along with his wife Melissa) and biting Glenn Straub (owner of Palm Beach Polo Golf and Country Club).Finally, his advice for minus oners like me? “Get comfortable on the horse. The riding is important. And your hand-eye [coordination]. Just keep working at it. But don’t forget to have fun.”

He makes it sound so easy. My own game is frustrating at times. But the interview was definitely fun. Muchas gracias Nic!

Estee Lauder Fall Preview

9 / 25 / 16

When Estee Lauder invited me to preview their fall collection, I had to go. Not just because they were holding it at Hotel Le Germain, which includes the most amazing chocolate chip cookies as part of their catering, but because Estee Lauder products are some of my absolute faves. They never affect my oh-so-sensitve skin adversely, and always make me feel beautiful. Here are my top picks for most intriguing products.This luxurious Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift collection promises to be worth the splurge. The Estee Lauder experts doled out dollops to try on the backs of our hands, but I couldn’t resist smoothing it into my laugh lines.Estee Lauder has developed an intensive two-week program just in time for dry Calgary winters. Advanced Night Repair micro ampoules promote mega impact. Used nightly, they will rapidly renew the look of over-stressed skin, helping to strengthen its resistance against future assaults. Sign me up.I didn’t expect to see tea on display on the third floor of Le Germain. But the Moringa seed is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Estee Lauder uses the extract in several products to help open aging pathways, clearing the way for collagen production.Estee’s latest perfume release in their Modern Muse line was also on hand for sampling. The official description of Le Rouge Gloss goes a little something like this: succulent fruits, flowers, a hint of spice and a sensual, fearless edge of supple leather with dark woods. Because if you’re going to edge something with leather, throw caution to the wind.Estee’s Double Wear line is an innovative approach to foundation – especially if you’re on the run. The slim jar-slash-stick combines liquid makeup and applicator in one.My final pick of the preview comes from the other Lauder — Aerin. Granddaughter of Estee, she’s a creative powerhouse in her own right, putting her personal touch on a makeup line, handbags, even furniture. Otherwise known as a Global Lifestyle Brand. Her latest perfume is Tangier Vanille, a heady scent inspired by Aerin’s own travels through Morocco, from the palaces and gardens to the legendary bazaars we’ve all heard about. Perfect level of exotic to get you through any Monday to Friday mundane-ness.

Thanks for the preview, Team Estee! And the cookies. All of them.

REVIEW: Jamming with Nesta Earbuds

9 / 11 / 169 / 11 / 16

With their IKEA-like name, I was inspired to nest these Nesta Earbuds in all sorts of places to get a shot. Anywhere but my ears, which weren’t feeling their fifteen minutes today. Alas, the camera on my iPhone 6s couldn’t quite pick up the beveled details with these multi-faceted white surfaces reflecting the light, but at least my mobile has a headphone jack. Take that, smug new iPhone 7 owners. I predict a revolt against the enforced bluetooth headphones. I’m hoping for one anyhow. Do you really think people will be ok with lesser sound quality, Tim Cook? But I digress. Back to the earphones, and since you can’t fool all the people all the time, I might as well reveal that they weren’t named for a Swede, but rather, Robert Nesta Marley.I’m always up for attractive aesthetics for a starting point, and these new “Zirconia Ceramic” earbuds by Marley fit the bill. The Marley logo is a subtle, rose gold M, and the stylish, shoe-string style cord is tangle-resistant. That’s anti-aggrovigliamento, for my knotty Italian friends. An in-line microphone (not pictured) means you can take calls when you’re plugged in. The angled earphones are ergonomic, and they come with a selection of ear tips so you can get the best fit. Shout-out and a carrot to my pony Mojito for the modeling in this photo.Bottom line? Besides looking pretty, they sound great – offering an audio clarity I wouldn’t expect to find with in-ear headphones. The ear tips are comfy enough to wear for hours, blocking outside noise, allowing you to focus on the music. Bob bonus: the Nestas come with a stash bag to remind us of their Jamaican roots.

REVIEW: Butter up with BVspa

7 / 31 / 168 / 1 / 16

This summer in Calgary has been unusually humid, thanks to our wet, stormy weather. Bad for polo, but great for the skin — so much so that I’d dropped my usual obsession with moisturizing. Until one day I woke up and felt as dry and cracked as this old fence — which is a charming part of the scenery at the Calgary Polo Club… but not something I want to emulate on my epidermis. So I gave a new collection of lotions and potions a try — from BVspa by Bon Vital.To start, I sloughed off dull, dry skin cells in the shower with BVspa Sugar Scrub. The pomegranate and acai berry made for a summertime fresh scent. Besides leaving my skin refreshed and smooth, I almost didn’t have to moisturize afterward — the scrub is sublime with shea butter and natural oils for a smooth finish.The rich, creaminess of BVspa’s Body Butter makes it my current nighttime fave for slathering on hands and feet before I go to sleep. Besides being deeply moisturizing with cocoa butter, shea butter and essential oils, the lavender and rosemary scent is appropriately pre-Z soothing.

Should you prefer savory rather than sweet in the skin exfoliation department, BVspa by Bon Vital also has a salt scrub to use in the shower or bath. A blend of Dead Sea salt with jojoba, olive and safflower oils, this scrub’s pink grapefruit scent will leave you exuberantly smooth and refreshed. At least, it did for me.Follow up the scrub with BVspa’s Pink Grapefruit Body Lotion. Layering scent is one time that it’s ok to get all match-matchy. Also, in the summertime (especially if you’re experiencing the heavy humidity that Calgary is this year) it’s nice to go with a body lotion, which has a lighter consistency than a butter. BVspa Body Lotions contain squalane, which is a vegetable based extract that can help prevent free radical damage that causes the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They also have jojoba oil and sunflower oil, with their magical moisturizing powers.

All BVspa products are now available at Shoppers Drug Mart. Happy moisturizing!

BOOK REVIEW: In the Name of Gucci

6 / 19 / 166 / 19 / 16

I’ve always loved Gucci, as my many of my shoes, clothes and four handbags will attest. It actually used to be five, until one was stolen from checked luggage somewhere between Maui and Vancouver. But that’s another story.

On to the Gucci legend, and the first book written by a direct descendant of company founder Guccio Gucci: his granddaughter, Patricia Gucci.

I vaguely recall Gucci’s sale to a faceless corporation, which resulted in diluted brand, and the subsequent clawing back up to the luxury level reserved for but a few designers in the 1000-threadcount receptors of our brains. However, I never knew the back story in detail.

So when I was approached to be one of the first to read Patricia Gucci’s memoir, I couldn’t resist. And it seems only fitting to post my review on Fathers Day. The love child of Aldo Gucci, she weaves a masterful tale of her father, from the perspective of a person who had to live in the shadows for years — a child born out of wedlock used to be illegal in Italy. Discovery would mean certain scandal, possible ruination and potential imprisonment.

Patricia traces her parents’ love story, Aldo’s battle for the business, and touches on her own rise as Gucci’s spokesperson, although I would have liked to hear more about her career. Maybe another book is coming.

Besides the gripping interpersonal drama, I discovered (not really a spoiler alert, don’t worry!) the stirrup style elements did not come from a saddle-making background — Aldo just wanted an elevated equestrian association for the brand. And, looking at Louis V, who wouldn’t?

It’s hard to resist the combination of Made in Italy and superb story-telling. Bottom line for the interlocking G, as told by Patricia? I normally don’t do memoir, but I couldn’t put In the Name of Gucci down! Two G’s up.

Fashion Film Fest coming to Calgary

5 / 18 / 165 / 18 / 16

The first ever Canadian International Fashion Film Festival debuts this summer, not in Montreal or Toronto, but Calgary. The glitzy, glam launch party at Township Kitchen+Bar offered a perfect view corridor to one of the forces behind the fest.It makes sense that artist, film lover and Calgary fashion icon Katrina Olson co-founded CANIFFF, for many reasons beyond her Moschino suit. With a rich, diverse arts community and many indie fashion designers here, Katrina tells me it’s time to put Calgarian and Canadian fashion film on a festival pedestal. She didn’t come out and say it, but she might be more partial to the former, since she’s a Calgarian born and raised.As the head of Nobles Management, a modeling agency, co-founder Antonija Klotz is also a perfect fit for a fashion film festival—a metaphorical Size 0.You don’t have to be fabulously dressed to enjoy a fashion film festival — but it certainly doesn’t hurt. Cue Evie Eshpeter’s entrance in a gorgeous Eliza J skirt from stage left. The director of Jelle Public Relations is helping spread the word about CANIFFF.Fashion film festivals are taking global style centers by storm. Paris has one. So does Berlin, New York and Milan. Just what is this hot new trend? Take off your Anna Wintour-esque black sunglasses and watch the trailer:

The festival runs July 22-23 at the Glenbow Museum, for a two-day showcase of all things luxurious, life-stylish and beautiful. Right up Blue Besos’ alley! And btw if Blue Besos actually had an alley, it would be in the Meatpacking District.

Cowtown? Or Couture Town? Decide during a darkened theater of sweet Stampede relief in July. See you at CANIFFF!

AirSprint Hangar Party

5 / 11 / 165 / 11 / 16

When you’re celebrating the addition two new planes to the private, friendly skies, why be subtle? “Cocktails and Jets” read the invitation, speaking the language of party destiny. Canapes could only be a bonus.

But it got better. President and COO James Elian invited me aboard a shiny new Embraer Legacy 450, the latest luxury addition to AirSprint’s aviation fleet. A full-fledged teenager, AirSprint just celebrated its 16th anniversary providing fractional jet ownership (don’t call it a timeshare) in Canada.Surrounded by tiger wood paneling and creamy leather, I immediately asked the most unoriginal question I could: “What’s the strangest request you’ve ever gotten from a client?”

James, obviously an old hand at interviews, told me a passenger once wanted their jet supplied with half a dozen chocolate chip cookies. Each with six chips.

The story sounded suspiciously ready for prime time, but I was distracted by my ability to stand in wedge heels — without my hair grazing the ceiling. That, said James, is because the cabin is 6 feet tall and 6’10” wide. With seats that stretch out for snoozing, as long as you don’t mind playing footsie with the person across from you.Meanwhile, this intrepid reporter moved on to more intense, investigative questions. Like… does the loo have a view?And is the sink better than the ones in most apartments? Yes and yes. Important things to consider if you’re taking the jet to Palm Beach, because, my polo friends, this plane can get you there, direct from Calgary. Or to the Bahamas. Or to Cancun. However, if you want to say aloha to Maui with the Legacy 450, you’ll need to gas up in Vancouver. Or Oakland.Outside the aircraft, the hangar was a hotbed for high style, exemplified by marketing connoisseur Britni Weston and Avenue cover girl and creative agency head Sharie Hunter.Jory Kinjo and co went to the mile-high limit to provide the soaring tunes.The party was also a launch pad for AirSprint’s new CJ3+, but a nearby Aston Martin received more lustful looks.

No need to worry about parking… … or legroom on the 450, either in the cabin or the cockpit. I couldn’t resist giving the 450 an imaginary test drive. This is your captain speaking: Congratulations on your new jets, AirSprint!

REVIEW: House of Marley’s Get Together

4 / 28 / 164 / 21 / 16

My new Get Together portable audio system is so damn good looking, it trumps any other minor issues it might have. Part of the House of Marley’s product lineup, co-founded by Bob’s son Rohan Marley, it isn’t your average set of visually unappetizing bluetooth speakers.I love its bamboo panels, front and back, along with its grey fabric accent. House of Marley builds all their products with earth-friendly, sustainable materials, like Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods and recycled plastics. Plus, Marley products support 1Love, the family charitable organization. The system instantly picked up my Google Play app from my iPad (I would prefer it to be Songza but we all know what happened there) to stream tunes wirelessly. The built-in rechargeable battery will go for 8 hours. If I stop playing on my iPad, the Get Together powers down on its own. Nice touch!

If I could change one thing, the Get Together would have an equalizer panel, because I find I’m craving more base.I grew up playing classical cello, so I’m picky about my sound. Other portable speakers in my collection are by Bose and JBL, which both offer a satisfying richness. However, ultimately, I’m aesthetically driven, and the previously mentioned brands are still too tech-dude for me. I moved the Get Together out of my large living room and into a medium-sized bedroom, and soon found the contained sound had me feeling alright.

REVIEW: ChopSaver Lip Care

2 / 17 / 16

It’s been a weird winter in Calgary. With temperatures above freezing for weeks now, there’s no snow left on the ground. Our ice rinks are melting. But one thing that we can rely on around here, no matter what scary signs of global warming abound? Dryness. And no one wants to pucker up to someone with peeling, chapped lips.ChopSaver Lip Care to the rescue! It keeps your kisser soft without being greasy. I like it, although the no-nonsense, non-sensual scent would not be my normal go-to. Kind of makes me think of camping. Which is why I think this chapstick is great for the guys. And also musicians on the job — the Arnica oil-based ChopSaver was created by professional trumpet player, Dan Gosling. Available with or without SPF.